Ares I Can Model (PDF, 772 KB)
K-12 Educational Products
This is a hands-on activity to build an Ares I rocket model using cans. Instructions for building a ramp to display the can model are also provided. This activity was developed by the Human Factors Engineering Team at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
> Ares I Can Model Poster (PDF, 265 KB)
> Funnel Template (PDF, 136 KB)
> Ramp Diagram (PDF, 438 KB)
> Ramp Assembly (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Ares: Launch and Propulsion [Grades 5-12]
In Ares: Launch and Propulsion, students become familiar with how rockets are launched as well as learn how and why specific rockets are chosen for varying payloads. This guide gives students a hands-on opportunity to experiment with variables that might affect the performance of a launch vehicle. Working in teams, students investigate one variable in detail by performing tests. After these tests, students will engage in a competition to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible.
Engineering Design Challenge: Thermal Protection Systems [Grades 6-9]
When spacecraft travel at high speeds through the Earth's atmosphere they generate high temperatures on their surfaces due to frictional heating. Space vehicles must have thermal protection systems (TPS) to protect them from this heat. Working in teams students design, build, and test a thermal protection system of their own. They use simple materials such as wood dowels, hot-melt glue, aluminum foil and copper screening to build a model that can withstand the heat of a propane torch. The models are tested under a tight protocol in order to maintain classroom safety. As a culminating activity, each team prepares a poster documenting and summarizing their design.
Engineering Design Challenge: Spacecraft Structures [Grades 6-9]
The structural elements that hold together an aerospace vehicle must be strong and as light as possible to minimize the fuel needed to get to orbit. NASA engineers strive to develop new materials and methods in structural design. In this challenge, students will undertake the problem of designing a strong but lightweight thrust structure that can withstand the launch of a bottle rocket by means of a wooden lever. Using simple materials like craft sticks, cardboard, and hot-melt glue they strive to make their structure light while maintaining strength. The goal is to build a launcher that can repeatedly withstand the force of launching a one-kilogram bottle of water a meter into the air.
The Courage to Soar [Grades 3-5]
This guide traces the history of flight from kites to NASA's X-43 experimental aircraft. There are ten activities in this book. The content is primarily science but is rich in the language arts skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For many of the lessons, a student text with a vocabulary list is provided for guided reading instruction.
The Courage to Soar Higher Educator Guide [Grades 4-6]
This integrated unit allows students to launch pop rockets; create a pop-up book about the solar system; build Mars colonies; and learn about the history of NASA and space exploration. Some activities include vocabulary lists and reading selections. Each of the 20 lessons in this guide support national mathematics, science, technology, geography and language arts standards.
2008 Rockets Educator Guide
NASA has embarked on a 21st Century Space Exploration Policy that will establish a permanent human presence on the Moon and carry astronauts to Mars and beyond. The best ideas of our space exploring past are being merged with dreams for the future. It is a wonderful time for you and your students to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Rockets will be your vehicle for learning. The Rockets Educator Guide provides you and your students many opportunities. Together, you will examine early rockets and meet thinkers and dreamers. You will learn about rocket science and mathematics and what rocket scientists do. You will see pictures of events and technologies that many of us grew up with -- Sputnik, Apollo and the Moon, and the space shuttle to name a few. You will see what the future of space transportation will look like. You will learn why rockets are the only vehicles we can use to "go where no one has gone before."
Launching to the Moon and Beyond Fun Pages
These coloring pages include labeled drawings of the Ares rockets that will take astronauts to orbit and return them to the moon. The pages also include a word search puzzle, a maze, a connect-the-dot puzzle and a cut-out Ares I rocket.
K-12 Educational Products in Development
Engineering is Elementary
These four separate activities are based on a curriculum developed by Boston’s Museum of Science. The aim of the curriculum is to “foster engineering and technological literacy among children.” There is a lesson on Mechanical Engineering, Acoustical Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.
Activities, Games, & Puzzles
The Space Place
Cassini-Huygens: Kids Space
Mars: Just for Kids!
Welcome to SCIENCE FUN!