on the moon training

On the Moon Training

NASA and Design Squad:Team up to inspire a new generation of engineers

• The NASA/Design Squad Partnership

• NASA

• Design Squad

• The Design Process

• Activity: Roving on the Moon

• Engineers!

• Activity: Feel the Heat

• On The Moon

• More Resources from Design Squad and NASA

• Q & A

AGENDA

NASA and Design Squad share common goals:

• We want kids to learn about engineering and experience it firsthand

• We aim to inspire the next generation of engineers

• We want to improve the public image of engineering

• Together, we help YOU bring hands-on engineering and the adventure of space to life for kids

THE PARTNERSHIP

NASA

• NASA asks questions like:

What’s out there?How do we get there?What will we find?How will what we learn improve life on Earth?

• Engineers work in various fields include aeronautics, exploration systems, science, and space operations

• By the year 2020, NASA plans to build a lunar outpost capable of housing teams of astronauts for six months or more

• identify good landing sites

• measure temperature and levels of light, dust, and radiation so equipment will work reliably

• look for useful resources to support life on the moon - like minerals and ice

NASA’s MissionsLRO and LCROSS

Before building the lunar outpost, NASA needs to learn more by sending robotic missions to:

DESIGN SQUAD

13 episodes 1 host 8 contestants

Two teams One challenge

One winner $10,000 scholarship from Intel

Web site 35 hands-on activities

SNEAK PEEK

Click here to view the Design Squad Overview video.

You can either click the link above from “Slide Show” mode OR you can copy and paste this URL into your browser:

http://www.pbs.org/media/wgbh/designsquad/s2/ds2_overview_funder_card_hi.mov( )

Includes:• leader notes• open-ended questions• extension activities• curriculum connections• NASA background• National Science

Standards

ON THE MOON

6 activities that bring NASA’s moon missions to life.

DESIGN PROCESS

Use it with kids to:

• expand their thinking

• become more innovative

• learn from their mistakes

Every aspect of Design Squad reinforces the design process.

ROVING ON THE MOON

Challenge

Design and build a rubber band-powered rover that can scramble across the floor.

Design Questions:What will make the rover move?How can you make different wheels?How will square wheels affect how it moves?

Build

Create the basic design.

Test

Power it up and let go.

Redesign

Are the wheels turning freely?

Does it travel in a straight line?

Can you make it travel further?

BUILD & TEST

Engineers dream up creative, practical solutions and work with other smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and build things that matter. They are changing the world all the time.

WHAT’S AN ENGINEER?

•Think creatively.

•Work with great people.

•Explore possibilities.

•Change the world and make a

difference.

WHAT DO ENGINEERS DO AT WORK?

D Squad Pro File

Click here to view the Design Squad

video.You can either click the link above from “Slide Show” mode OR

you can copy and paste this URL into your browser:

http://www.pbs.org/media/wgbh/designsquad/s1/ds_106_pro_file_evan_hi.mov( )

FEEL THE HEAT

Design Questions

What color background will heat the water the best?

How fast should the water flow through the tube?

How can zigzagging the tube help?

Challenge

Design and build a solar hot water heater and see how big a temperature change you can get.

Build

Create the basic design.

Test

Be sure to record temperatures before and after.

Redesign

Is the water flowing too quickly?

Is the water leaking?

How can we make a more drastic temperature change?

BUILD & TEST

ON THE MOON

Challenge Events Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Launch It X X X

Touchdown X X X

Roving on the Moon

X X

Heavy Lifting

X X

On Target X X

Feel the Heat

X

nasa.gov or

pbs.org/designsquad/parentseducators

MORE RESOURCES

Educator’s Guide4 Units, 10 Activities (Workshops)

Event Guide5 Activities (Events)

Activity Guide5 Activities (Workshops or Events)

Find them online at:pbs.org/designsquad/parentseducators

Order your own copy by e-mailing:designsquad_feedback@wgbh.org

Coming soon!

Invent Today (working title)New guide about invention and innovation. Available EWeek 2009 (February).

FLEXIBILITY

Offer On the Moon activities:

• Individually

• As a unit of 2 or more activities

• Combine with other NASA and Design Squad activities

• Create an Engineering Club that meets weekly

EVALUATION: SERIES

After viewing four Design Squad episodes:• students’ understanding of the Design Process

increased.

• their stereotypes of engineers were broken.

• they wanted to enroll in an engineering afterschool program.

• they understood the science content on the shows.

• they had a better sense of teamwork.

• AND they liked it!Goodman Research Group, Inc. October 2007

EVALUATION: EDUCATOR’S GUIDE

After using the Educator’s Guide:• program leaders found it useful and wanted to use it

again.

• they felt more comfortable talking about engineering.

• they developed a better understanding of the Design Process.

• students’ understanding of engineering and science concepts improved.

• AND students liked the engineering activities!Goodman Research Group, Inc. October 2007

Design Squad Web Site

NASA Web Site

QUESTIONS?

KEEP IN TOUCH!

Thank you!

Rick McMasterExecutive Project Manager, IBM

Chair, Central Texas Discover Engineering

Thea SahrAssociate Director, Educational Outreach

Susan BuckeyOutreach Project Director

www.pbskidsgo.org/designsquad

www.nasa.gov