Investigating Space Technology in the classroom Identifying modern curriculum needs, and the standards to go with them is not an easy task when working with many school systems. In Jackson County, the November in-school curriculum had been focused on reinforcing concepts related to the moon phases. However, during a review of the planned lesson a new concept unfolded, instead of focusing on such a small portion of the education standards, we refocused on a standard about space technology: S4E1a. Ask questions to compare and contrast technological advances that have changed the amount and type of information on distant objects in the sky.
The new lesson utilizes Nearpod in a presentation about the technological impact of space travel, how that technology has developed and changed, and what it has shown us about the wider universe. The lesson starts off with students seeing a list of seemingly random objects (smartphone cameras, wireless headsets, freeze-dried foods, etc.). They are then challenged to identify what the items have in common (developed as a result of space travel). The presentation includes a look at the International Space Station, a short history of space travel, and a panoramic view of Mars. This leads to a discussion on how the smartphone cameras they use for selfies were originally developed for use on the Mars rovers.
Finally, this concludes with a discussion about the current advancements in space travel. This portion can include the New Horizons probe, James Webb telescope, Artemis program, and Perseverance rover. Interspaced throughout the presentation are images of different planets, nebulas, and space phenomena to help expand their understanding of what is in the universe. To wrap up the lesson there are two hands-on activities from NASA JPL’s educator website that can be utilized: straw rockets and the paper helicopter. The straw rocket is a segue into a discussion of how we get to space and how it is not as simple as it seems. The paper helicopter connects to the use of flying drones and rovers on Mars. The lesson and activity have been warmly received by teachers and students, the students have especially enjoyed finding out how to get their
Military Spotlight:
This lesson can be used for base 4-H Club meetings. Consider breaking the lesson into 2-parts if you need to shorten the lesson to fit within your timeframe. Due to the many activities, the lesson can be divided up fairly easily. You can also extend the lesson for a 6-week club by incorporating an additional lesson on learning from an astronaut, connecting with Space Force to do a virtual visit, or using the previous 4-H Science Kit that focused on Mars. There are a lot of fun ways to extend this lesson topic for a 6-week club. If you need help reach out to Laura Goss at laurwalt@uga.edu
Lesson Resources
Lesson Visual Aid:
https://app.nearpod.com/?pin=B03C911FA07DD69F3BA23713AB58C692-1