Moon ExplorationMoon Exploration Pre-Service TeachersPre-Service Teachers

STEM Lesson STEM Lesson Spring 2009Spring 2009

66thth Grade Lesson Grade Lesson

IntroductionIntroduction

In this lesson, students will be able to stimulate the four STEM topics In this lesson, students will be able to stimulate the four STEM topics and gain knowledge through each extended activity along with NASA and gain knowledge through each extended activity along with NASA owned projects. In these activities, students are to generalize how the owned projects. In these activities, students are to generalize how the activities all relate to the topic of the planned lesson. They will use a activities all relate to the topic of the planned lesson. They will use a hands-on experience to simulate a paper rocket prototype that hands-on experience to simulate a paper rocket prototype that engineers follow in their preparation for moon exploration. Their engineers follow in their preparation for moon exploration. Their activities consist of building the rocket that is shown through activities consist of building the rocket that is shown through engineering, propulsion applied through a lesson of science. engineering, propulsion applied through a lesson of science. Technology will consist of being able to describe how the Technology will consist of being able to describe how the communication works through satellites. The mathematics lesson will communication works through satellites. The mathematics lesson will focused on measurements using units. They will also spend time focused on measurements using units. They will also spend time looking at the tools and materials they will use to make an exploration looking at the tools and materials they will use to make an exploration successful and safe. successful and safe.

MaterialsMaterialsHeavy paper (60-110 index stock or construction paper)Heavy paper (60-110 index stock or construction paper)

Plastic 35 mm film canistersPlastic 35 mm film canistersStudent sheetsStudent sheets

Cellophane tapeCellophane tapeScissorsScissors

Effervescing antacid tabletEffervescing antacid tabletPaper towelsPaper towels

WaterWaterEye protectionEye protectionWriting PaperWriting Paper

Average sized balloonsAverage sized balloonsColored markersColored markersDry erase boardDry erase board

RulerRulerTapeTape

ObjectivesObjectives

Students will be able to:Students will be able to: Explain what propulsion is and how it is applied through Explain what propulsion is and how it is applied through

Isaac Newton’s third law of motion. Isaac Newton’s third law of motion. Explain how a nano rover communicates through satellite Explain how a nano rover communicates through satellite

connections. connections. Build a rocket, understanding how it is built and how each Build a rocket, understanding how it is built and how each

part plays an individual role in making sure everything is part plays an individual role in making sure everything is correct for take off. correct for take off.

Convert measurements through units and create a solar Convert measurements through units and create a solar scale of distance from the Earth to the moon. scale of distance from the Earth to the moon.

Recite how many inches are in a foot, how many feet are in Recite how many inches are in a foot, how many feet are in a yard, and how many yards are in a mile.a yard, and how many yards are in a mile.

Application of EngineeringApplication of Engineering Short Lecture for EngineeringShort Lecture for Engineering

– Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister. (Paper should be wide Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister. (Paper should be wide enough to circle around the canister) The lid end of the canister goes down!enough to circle around the canister) The lid end of the canister goes down!

– Tape fins to your rocket. (prefer trapezoid shapes)Tape fins to your rocket. (prefer trapezoid shapes)– Roll a cone of paper and tape it to the rocket's upper end.Roll a cone of paper and tape it to the rocket's upper end.– Ready for flightReady for flight– COUNTDOWNCOUNTDOWN– Put on your eye protection.Put on your eye protection.– Turn the rocket upside down and fill the canister one-third full of water.Turn the rocket upside down and fill the canister one-third full of water.

Work quickly on the next steps!Work quickly on the next steps!– Drop in 1/2 tablet.Drop in 1/2 tablet.– Snap lid on tight.Snap lid on tight.– Stand rocket on launch platform.Stand rocket on launch platform.

Steps of Process for Engineering LessonSteps of Process for Engineering Lesson

Step 2 <<<<<<

Step 1<<<<<

Step 3<<<<<

Step 4>>>>>After this step, sit it flat for take off…..

Application of ScienceApplication of Science Guided Instruction for ScienceGuided Instruction for Science::

As a group, the students will discuss the understanding of As a group, the students will discuss the understanding of the definition and each captain will report their collaborative the definition and each captain will report their collaborative thoughts to the teacher. From the students’ understanding, thoughts to the teacher. From the students’ understanding, the teacher will explain Newton’s Third Law of Motion. the teacher will explain Newton’s Third Law of Motion. Then, the teacher will explain how Newton’s Third Law of Then, the teacher will explain how Newton’s Third Law of motion relates to propulsion. motion relates to propulsion.

Steps of Process for Science LessonSteps of Process for Science Lesson

Step 1<<<<<

Step 2<<<<<

Step 3<<<<<<Release It!!

Application of MathematicsApplication of Mathematics

Guided Instruction for Mathematics: Guided Instruction for Mathematics:

Teacher will explain the process of converting larger units Teacher will explain the process of converting larger units of measurement to smaller units of measurements. From of measurement to smaller units of measurements. From teacher’s instruction, students are to develop their own teacher’s instruction, students are to develop their own scale to measure the distance from the Earth to the Moon scale to measure the distance from the Earth to the Moon

Steps of Process for Math LessonSteps of Process for Math Lesson

Step 1<<<<<

Step 2<<<<<

Step 3>>>>>

Application of TechnologyApplication of Technology

Guided Instruction for Technology:Guided Instruction for Technology:

Students will learn about what a nano rover is through a Students will learn about what a nano rover is through a short lecture. After that, the students will be slit up into short lecture. After that, the students will be slit up into teams of two or more and one student will get a chance to teams of two or more and one student will get a chance to look at some objects. After ten seconds, the student will go look at some objects. After ten seconds, the student will go back to his/her team members and describe what he/she back to his/her team members and describe what he/she has seen through communicating. This activity will be a has seen through communicating. This activity will be a real life representation of how the nano rover to engineers real life representation of how the nano rover to engineers and technicians on Earth. and technicians on Earth.