On THE MOOn nASA And dESign SquAd TEAM up TO inSpirE A nEw gEnErATiOn Of EnginEErS ENGINEERING CHALLENGES in collaboration with the FOR SCHOOL AND National Aeronautics and AFTERSCHOOL Space Administration PROGRAMS GRADES 3–12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dear Educators, In 2004, President Bush announced a new vision for the United States’ space program. Today, that vision is becoming reality. The men and women of NASA are working on the next generation of spacecraft that will return Americans to the moon by 2020. A new generation of students across the country and around the world will be inspired by what President Kennedy called the “greatest adventure on which humankind has ever embarked.” As NASA prepares for the future of exploration, we recognize that the young people of today are the engineers, scientists, and astronauts of tomorrow. Creativity, curiosity, and analytical thinking are the trusted tools of NASA’s engineering arsenal, and we continually direct our educational efforts to create experiences that allow young people to develop these skills as they investigate and solve challenging problems. NASA is proud to partner with Design Squad®, PBS’s reality competition series focused on the fun and excitement of engineering. Central to this partnership is our belief that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education will play a vital role in solving the problems of the 21st century. On the Moon is part of our long, proud tradition of showcasing how engineering fuels space exploration. By structuring the activities around real-world engineering applications, it is our hope that you will find the On the Moon activities to be effective, innovative ways to engage your students in the engineering design process, encourage their interest in space exploration, and inspire them to pursue a career in engineering. NASA supports people like you who play a key role in preparing the minds that will strengthen the Nation’s future. Use this guide to bring the possibilities of engineering to life for young people and to inspire them to solve challenging problems. Engage their creativity, foster their curiosity, and teach them to autograph their work with excellence. Sincerely, n o ati d n u o al F n o ati uc Joyce Winterton d E H Assistant Administrator for Education B G W 8 0 0 2 © / M d T a u q S n g esi D What’s In thIs GuIde NASA and Design Squad® team up to bring kids in your school or afterschool program six hands-on challenges. These fun challenges will get your kids thinking like engineers and excited about NASA’s missions to the moon. Why Have NASA and Design Squad Teamed Up? 1 Introducing the Design Process 2 Want More How to Use this Guide 3 ChallenGes lIke these? Going to the Moon with NASA 5 Get Design Squad Talking with Kids about Engineering 7 challenges, activity guides, games, and much more at Online Resources from NASA and Design Squad 8 pbs.org /designsquad. Challenges: Launch It 9 Design an air-powered rocket that can hit a distant target. Touchdown 13 Create a platform that can safely cushion “astronauts” when they land on a table near you. Roving on the Moon 17 Build a rubber band powered rover that can scramble across the room. Heavy Lifting 22 Build a cardboard crane and see how heavy a load it can lift. On Target 27 Modify a paper cup so it can zip down a line and drop a marble onto a target. Feel the Heat 32 Heat things up by building a solar hot water heater. Education Standards 37 n o dati Credits 44 n u o al F n o ati uc d E H B G W 8 0 0 2 © / M d T a u q S n g esi D Why hAve NASA AND DeSigN SquAD TeAmeD up? NASA is one of the biggest employers of engineers in the world—about 90,000 among its own employees and its corporate partners. So it’s not surprising that NASA wants kids to learn more about engineering, become interested in the things engineers do, and experience the world of engineering firsthand. Design Squad is all about engaging kids in engineering by offering them opportunities to give it a try. Through its award-winning TV program, Web site, and hands-on challenges, Design Squad helps kids unleash their creativity, experience the fun and excitement of engineering, and see that engineers make an important difference in the world. By teaming up to develop the On the Moon guide, NASA and Design Squad help you bring hands-on engineering and the adventure of space exploration to life for kids. NASA exploreS SpAce What’s out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we discover there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth? NASA has been working on these questions for over 50 years, pioneering space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. NASA wants kids to learn more NASA scientists and engineers work in a wide range of settings around the country, about engineering. from laboratories to airfields to wind tunnels to control rooms. The main areas they work in are: • Aeronautics: where they pioneer new flight technologies that have practical applications on Earth and improve our ability to explore space. • Exploration Systems: where they create new technologies and spacecraft that make human and robotic exploration more affordable and sustainable. • Science: where they explore Earth, the moon, Mars, and beyond; chart the best ways to learn about the universe; and help society reap the benefits of Earth and space exploration. • Space Operations: where they manage the space shuttle and International Space Station and provide flight support. DeSigN SquAD eNgAgeS kiDS iN eNgiNeeriNg Design Squad is an award-winning TV show that airs on PBS. It’s a powerful way to n o ati open kids’ eyes to the exciting world of engineering. On the show, two teams of nd Design Squad helps u al Fo teenagers take on a wide array of imaginative engineering challenges. The lively kids experience the on action and fun-filled challenges demonstrate for viewers the rich variety of problems fun and excitement ucati that engineers tackle as they work to improve people’s lives and our society. Design of engineering. d E BH Squad’s Web site and activity guides put a range of valuable resources into the G W 8 hands of educators, parents, and kids. These materials engage and empower kids 0 0 © 2 by having them use their ingenuity to solve problems and design and build / d TM interesting projects. a u q S n g esi 1 D INTRODUCING THE DESIGN PROCESS When NASA engineers try to solve a problem, their initial ideas rarely IDENTIFY PROBLEM work out perfectly. Like all engineers, they try different ideas, learn from mistakes, and try again. The series of steps engineers use to arrive at a solution is called the design process. BRAINSTORM As kids work through a challenge, use questions such as the ones below to talk about their work and tie what they’re doing to specific steps of the design process. BRaINSTORmING DESIGN • At this stage, all ideas are welcome, and criticism is not allowed. • What are some different ways to start tackling today’s challenge? BUILD DESIGNING • T alk through the brainstormed ideas. What’s really possible given your time, tools, and materials? • What specific goal are you trying to achieve, and how will you know REDESIGN TEST & if you’ve been successful? EVALUATE • What are some problems you’ll need to solve as you build your project? BUIlDING, TESTING, EvalUaTING, aND REDESIGNING • Does your design meet the goal set out in the challenge? SHARE SOLUTION • Why do you have to test something a few times before getting it to work the way you want? • What can you learn from looking at other kids’ projects and discussing them? SHaRING SOlUTIONS • What were the different steps you had to do to get your project to work the way you wanted? • What do you think is the best feature of your design? Why? • What are some things everyone’s designs have in common? • If you had more time, how could you improve your design? n o ati d n u o al F n o ati Photo: Lauren Feinberg uc d H E The design process is built into B G each challenge. Over the course W 08 of doing a challenge, kids see 0 © 2 that the steps of the design M/ process let them think creatively ad T about a problem and produce a u Sq successful result. n g esi 2 D How to use tHis Guide This guide offers six hands-on challenges that bring engineering and NASA’s moon missions to life for kids in schools and afterschool programs. The challenges take an hour (except Feel the Heat, which takes 1½ to 2 hours), use readily available materials, give kids many ways to succeed, and can be done with large groups. The activities also meet many of the national science, technology, and mathematics standards. How to Get started Choose a challenge. You’ll want to consider the number of the kids in your group and their ages and ability levels. The chart below will help you find the right activities for your program’s age group. Also check the related Science, Math, and Technology Standards starting on page 37 to find challenges that are a good match for your curriculum. Challenge Events Grades 3–5 Grades 6–8 Grades 9–12 Launch It    Touchdown    Roving on the Moon     Heavy Lifting   On Target Feel the Heat  Read the leader notes. These notes will assist you in facilitating the challenges. They include suggestions to help you prepare for, introduce, and run the activity as well as discussion questions to help kids explore the activity’s science, engineering, and space-related themes. Try the activity yourself. A practice run will help you figure out the best way to introduce the activity and anticipate potential problems your kids may run into. Print the challenge sheet. This handout walks kids through a challenge, providing them with a materials list, questions to brainstorm, building tips, and interesting stories related to the challenge. Get kids excited about NASA’s moon missions. By the year 2020, NASA plans to build an outpost n on the moon and have teams of astronauts live there. Get your kids excited about what’s involved in o dati living and working on the moon. On pages 5 and 6, you’ll find a brief description of NASA and two of n u oal F its moon missions. Share this information with your kids. n o ucati Decorate the room with space images. You can motivate kids and help them visualize the moon d E H and NASA’s moon missions by displaying space-related images. NASA has many excellent ones you B G W can print out. (Visit moon.msfc.nasa.gov.) To get the NASA images used in this guide, use the URL 8 0 20 found below each image. © / M Td a u q S n g esi 3 D LeadinG a CHaLLenGe for eVents and Grades 3–8 LaunCH it LEADER NOTES Never led an engineering challenge before? Don’t worry! From getting started, to TDIrononhe c tsektheie igCsstn thfc irnahaognaml dllrel e eabnsn ugusgiltleetdrs,a ;akw ina;d ns(a2d if r)o( -p4llalo)ou wtwnre yct rhhteo etd h c ereonoinrgc sirknoiesectteke ternhitnta lguyt s dhcieniatsg na i ga htn aibt rpa garlelo odtco iewsnsti;tas h(n 3 ttto)h :tie am(i1rrpg )rr eodotcev.kese itgthsne. airn rdo cbkueiltd b aa sed helping kids succeed, to wrapping up the activity, the leader notes give you all you 1Prepare ahead of time nfoelelodw tinog f asceiclittiaotnes a: challenge with kids. 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Discuss the questions in the Brainstorm and Design section. • Wsotfr haaaiwrt ’ isan r wtehe esigo bhmat;el lto hwoena wy; sae niygdoh uth oacwnad nt hscehhyaa prneegl eoeaf aste hr eot hcneko eastei?rc. )o(Knied;s t hcea nn uchmabnegre a: nthde p loesnigtitohn o off t fih nes s; ttrhaew a; mthoeu nt • Hthoew s twrailwl ’asd ndoinseg owre piglahcti ntgo fit hnes nsetraarw th’se n boascek ocra hna hveinlpg ifit nfl ys satfrfaeicgth theor.w) it fl ies? (Adding weight to Introduce the challenge: Provides a script you can use to introduce the activity’s • W(TLhahisue nncco yhuoilndug bl aaeu rano ccghkre eyato tsu torrp aspitgorharttw uun prio tsyce ktnoed tes,x hipto lohwrige dh ao bneugstl e tnsho ewt liftaahur ;nk sicdthrsa .a)ignhgtl eo uatf fmecatk ewsh iet rfea lil tq luaincdklsy? t o the fl oor. 4Build, test, evaluate, and redesign (30 minutes) key ideas and show how the challenge relates to NASA’s goal of having people live He•l pst hkteiidcmsk sww tiitpohe t ahitne. y A laolsufo nt,h ccehh fesoctlkrloa twwhia—ntg Tt hihsees ubsetarslalo.w oF nom rii sge hxinta flmh aaptveleed , b eiefn ctohouemg hse.t wraewt arosc kkiedts: blew through it. If so, have • veers off course—Add fi ns, either at the rear or middle of the rocket. on the moon. • lands on its side instead of nose fi rst—Add a little weight to the nose. 9 Leader notes page Brainstorm and design: Helps kids think about different ways to meet a challenge. Since challenges offer kids many ways of succeeding, this section jump starts their thinking about various approaches and possibilities. La naasau/desniGn CsQuaHd CH aiLLtenGe Build, test, evaluate, and redesign: Lists issues that might surface during a Gkmgeeoieltien ptsgh b (etu2orse9 yt., .h0S eT0o h0m, e so kirtomo ncb)?ka p ceYektors, u hrN’eollAl uanSrxe.A ,eB adsun etadn i dtreo ssnc tjtkoioleyl tt tt.hah ePke elm uvssio e aoswbnoo. mgueot ttuhhpri entego s d1 at8oy, s0 0to0 we CHaLLenGe You to… challenge and suggests strategies to use with kids who face these issues. …Brdeasiingns tanodr bMui lda nand a dir-peoswieGrend rocket that can hit a distant target. Da(sciestiecv uiptsyas’sg ewk eh2ya ftco ohr naacpnep poetvnsee,r dvh:iee Plwpr ionovgfi d tkheiisds s qp urreoeflcseetcisotsn o)s,n a( ahnnoddw h atighnheslywig uehsrtsien)d gf o thhro erwe dv teihesewig icnnhg pa trlhloeecn egses T••••B123h ...u inHHHflWwFttNeNbfi rhhkinaiLoeoooohehree dlmdsaxwwwwesle o.ttsbtr? n h,eo,lmwtElto o arihb nbyiniuainatulteuo.ul htw g n ns iuliSaelbt. alyctd wdhdlr ralnihp aa iddipaldnal alwuleiyol sg nupnbsy oos?gitgoecatnuhn r hurtlwtreia l hot rrofi ewry ua wwonoroaisto gnsci iur dhtcmhbo -krhpwe kt aceo i seo gictlktsultltowhll.ore t ta abytr oeBtty aaoweh.anr l wnouoe?e Uf.rdf rr wd oMeso s fs lccenlotiaaatnrkt tlrua ktudoetahhnwoen twoett,c ’ch htsa w hhhrhwee o ontee yy iictwdto goorihkt.epsh uuh eidS entrrisot no l ssaitvosh edresteitraasrrer atr-awvh apr ltaaw1e waoh bwfn—–v w.eoyr di2 o A nret0lt ocagitratim,aenhk u pbfi2pedcen .iln hn,et ocL r.rsego wohoei srtc cat t a u hkmdkf(anfpe3eeoeiog rt t–wctb l.r5hfle etna S ie ?.helacel oosmfafw.oel) n coio ttntf o er( o wcidkee ts ••••••••Mtr aabsp11tttwswhaatmcaa i)eprwttielpghhsla eioerewi sdlnaolrtoiei d nlasr( buebssLtumr otsslarlxpa ’tws ( rwlpoa- iedtefwhy rcoae lrrt ao d pyficr atakspwe etinn)r s oind)e test, eVaLuate, and redesiGn relates to NASA’s moon-exploration efforts. Sitta ewrtg ietuhtp e yaov eutarry rr goteicmtk.e eS?t.t aTCrnayd nt 5h ye ofseuee m tt h(a1ikn.e5g s ym oifu) yra owruoarcy kr oeactn kdhe ittt r:tyh teo hit l(athuinnc shterra w) eExxpteanndd tthhee ecxhpaellreienngcee: sP rtehseey nhtasv seh hoardt ainc taiv icthieasll ethnagte k.ids can do to reinforce and TM/© 2008 WGBH Educational Foundation •••• fwmawdrsswbaoutniaeiofilciprglsflcilneksegeolskee’ hr oettqiessthtt ns’u. n fl.sedt ic yuto crnleh py aksot..e u tlhsmAAy rnetea lloacss.t ilorhoorgaeg , ,hu t s.etthttnrrt—reyyc—a hawbgSL dlr esoiaodsetwuui r ndianinnfgrwc dgy fih w—. —n t IehisftRM ie gimate ha tdia tskd ukneticeof’ tfe ,eat hrt heeen t balloon Kids’ challenge sheet Curriculum Connections: Lists the topics in a challenge that relate to concepts commonly covered in science, math, and technology curricula. tips for faCiLitatinG open-ended CHaLLenGes • There are multiple ways to successfully tackle a • Have kids come up with several ways to solve a challenge, so one successful solution is as good problem before they move ahead with an idea. as another. Help kids see that the challenges are not competitions. Instead, they’re Photo: Renée Mattier opportunities to unleash an individual’s ingenuity and creativity. • When kids feel stuck, have them describe what they’re doing by explaining why they think they got the results they did. Then ask questions to get kids back on track rather than telling them what to do. For example, ask: “Why do you think n o ati this is happening?” or “What would happen d n ou if…?” or “What is another thing you could try?” al F on • When something’s not going as desired, ati uc encourage kids to try again. Problems are If a design doesn’t work as planned, encourage kids to d BH E opportunities for learning and creative thinking. try again. Setbacks often lead to design improvements G and success. W 8 0 0 2 © / M d T a u q S n esig 4 D GoinG to the moon with nasa Could people live on the moon for months at a time? Yes! By the year 2020, NASA plans to build a lunar outpost capable of housing teams of astronauts for six imaGination fuels months or more. But there’s a lot to learn before this can happen. Between now innovation and then, NASA will prepare by sending several robotic missions to: To explore the frontiers • identify good landing sites. Orbiting spacecraft will image and map the surface of Earth, the solar system, and identify hazards, such as steep slopes, rough terrain, and other obstacles. and the universe, NASA engineers find solutions • measure temperature, lighting, dust, and radiation levels. NASA needs to know to extraordinary this to design materials and equipment that will work reliably on the moon and challenges, and turn assure astronaut safety. dreams into reality. • look for useful resources, such as minerals and ice. Shipping things from Earth is costly—over $25,000 a pound! NASA needs astronauts to make as much as possible of what they need on site, using raw materials found on the moon, like calcium compounds to make cement and nitrogen compounds to fertilize crops. The two missions featured in this guide—the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite—are the first two missions NASA is sending and are the first step in NASA’s effort to return to the moon. n o ati d n u o al F n o ati uc d EH NASA plans to build a lunar outpost to house astronauts for six months or more. B G Get this image at: www.nasa.gov/images/content/148658main_jfa18833.jpg W 8 0 0 2 © / M Td a u q S n g esi 5 D the lunar reconnaissance orbiter (lro) LRO is an unmanned spacecraft that will orbit the moon for at least a year. It will help NASA select safe landing sites, study radiation levels on the moon, and identify lunar resources. LRO will use the following sensors to help NASA put together a comprehensive understanding of the moon’s features and resources: • Cosmic-ray Telescope: Studies the effects of radiation LRO orbiting the and its potential impact on living things. moon. Get LRO images at: • Diviner Lunar Radiometer: Gives detailed information about surface and www.nasa.gov/ subsurface temperatures as well as landing hazards, such as rocks and rough mission_pages/LRO/ terrain. multimedia/index. html. • Lyman Alpha Mapper: Maps the surface of the moon, searches for ice and frost at the surface, and images the moon’s permanently shadowed regions, such as at the bottom of deep craters. • Neutron Detector: Maps the distribution of the element hydrogen, which is an indicator of possible water and ice. It also provides information about radiation on the moon. • Laser Altimeter: Measures the steepness of slopes and surface roughness and generates a high- resolution, 3D map of the moon. • Camera: Takes detailed pictures of the moon, capturing images of objects as small as one meter. • Radio Frequency Demonstration: Searches for ice deposits beneath the surface of the moon. the lunar crater observation and sensinG satellite (lcross) LCROSS has a specific mission: search for ice. If astronauts are going to live on the moon for extended periods of time, finding water is essential. Astronauts need water to drink, and plants need it to grow. Water also can be broken down into oxygen, which can be used for breathing, and into hydrogen, which can be used for fuel for the return trip to Earth. Water is heavy, so sending all the water that a long-term mission needs from Earth would add considerable expense to the moon exploration budget. LCROSS approaches the moon. Get LCROSS LCROSS to the rescue! It’s helping NASA look for a source of water on the moon. images at: www.nasa. gov/mission_pages/ on LCROSS will test the theory that ancient ice exists in the permanently shadowed ati LCROSS/multimedia/ und craters near the moon’s poles. Since no sunlight reaches the bottom of these deep index.html. o al F craters, the dark, frigid conditions there are perfect for preserving possible ancient n o ati ice deposits. NASA is sending LCROSS’s two sections hurtling into a crater near the uc Ed moon’s South Pole. Their impacts will make two deep pits in the crater floor, sending H B G up a plume of dust and gas 6 miles (10 km) high. Instruments on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, W 8 0 the Hubble Space Telescope, and Earth will analyze the plume for the presence of water (ice and vapor), 0 2 /© carbon compounds, and minerals that contain water. M d T a u q S n esig 6 D Talking wiTh kids abouT engineering Few kids can describe what engineering is or what an engineer does. Yet once they find out, many are hooked. You can be the one to help a young person discover whaT’s engineering? just how cool engineering can be. As you work with kids, use the information below “E ngineers get to imagine the to talk with them about engineering. future and design for it.” whaT’s an engineer? Marisa Wolsky, Design Squad Executive Producer Engineers dream up creative, practical solutions and work with other smart, “E ngineering is about thinking inspiring people to invent, design, and build things that matter. They are changing through problems, finding the world all the time. solutions, and helping whaT do engineers do? people.” Daniele Lantagne, environmental engineer • Think creatively. Engineering is an ideal outlet for imagination and creative problem solving—the perfect field for innovative thinkers. “T he best part of being an • Work with great people. Engineering takes teamwork. As an engineer, you’ll be engineer is the creativity that’s involved and the surrounded by smart, creative people. satisfaction that comes from • Solve problems and design things that matter. Engineers improve people’s solving hard problems.” lives by tackling problems, improving current designs, and coming up with Jananda Hill, solutions no one else has thought of. computer-science engineer • Change the world and make a difference. Among many other pursuits, “E very day I see things that engineers develop systems that save lives, prevent disease, reduce poverty, could be made better by just and protect our planet. applying some good engineering know-how.” how do engineers Make The world Jessica Miller, a beTTer Place? biomedical engineer Here are some things engineers do to help improve people’s lives. • Build spacecraft that travel to the moon • Develop state-of-the-art cell phones • Create more fuel-efficient cars • Invent artificial retinas to help restore vision • Design lighter bike frames • Construct tall skyscrapers and high bridges • Build systems to purify water and process waste • Design clothing that repels mosquitoes erg b • Create satellites that detect drought around the world ein ation • Develop feather-light laptops auren F und Lo: al Fo Find ouT More Phot n o ati uc Explore more about engineering. The following Web sites offer fun projects, videos You can be the one to help d BH E of engineers doing innovative work, and videos of real-world STEM connections: a young person discover just G how cool engineering is. W 8 • NASA eClips at nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/nasaeclips 0 0 2 © • Engineer Your Life at engineeryourlife.org / M d T • Discover Engineering at discoverengineering.org a u q n S • Design Squad at pbs.org/designsquad g esi 7 D