Science Palooza
I have been put in charge of a 'Science Palooza' day at my school--here is a draft of all the things we have planned. I LOVE doing stuff like this . . . which means to me, making the day different for students! They will remember these different days . . . and these days can have the biggest bang for a teacher's buck! :) I am lucky to have such great friends (other educators) and famous friends (like Tess) that can support me, give ideas, be excited too, and help make this day extra special for our students. There are links to all videos and activities. 😊😊😊😊😊
Science Palooza
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 (early release day)
GUEST SPEAKER, STEM LESSONS, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES! WE ARE HAVING A SCIENCE PALOOZA!!!
When: All Day January 27th (it is an early release day as well)
Where: Cedar Creek Intermediate
How: STEM Activities/Lessons will take place all day (but don’t worry, it is done for you, lesson plans/google slides are attached)!!
Why: Students have been working hard on their Science Fair Projects. This will be their culminating celebration of all their hard work and effort in that endeavor. Students will learn who gets to go on to the regional science fair right before dismissal. The Vision for our district is that all “graduates of BISD are empowered to become successful and productive in a global society.” By encouraging, engaging, inspiring, and sharing our LOVE of learning with our students, we are doing just that. STEM careers are growing faster than any other occupations, and our students will be earning more money in a STEM career as well. We prepare them to be successful by having awesome days like this!! THANK YOU for helping the Science Department make this day rewarding (in so many ways) for our wonderful students!!
*Please read this document in its entirety!! Having everyone on the same page as to our goal for the day, to the lesson plan you facilitate in your classrooms, will make ALL the difference. Again, we cannot say THANK YOU enough for helping us make this day…..different. These are the days students remember!!
Smaller (but important) activities that will make this day different:
1. ‘NASA Johnson Style’ will be playing on the TV or Intercom as students enter/leave school, and/or ‘It’s a Great Day to be Alive.’
2. Science Career Dress-up Day!! Teacher participation is a MUST (showing we are excited, will get students excited too).
3. Decorations on campus that reflect SCIENCE EXCITEMENT (balloons, banners, etc.).
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Schedule for SCIENCE PALOOZA!!
8:30-9:15 Guest Speaker Dr. Tess Caswell
“Dr. Tess Caswell is an Alaskan engineer and geologist fascinated by humanity's exploration beyond Earth. She has worked in Mission Control for the International Space Station, flown in zero-gravity and spent 30 days in a simulated space station. In her free time she enjoys running, board games, and sharing the joy of spaceflight with future scientists and engineers” (https://www.planetary.org/profiles/tess-caswell).
Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Sc.M. Geological Sciences, Brown University; Ph.D. Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University
Dr. Caswell will speak to the WHOLE school during this time through a Zoom meeting. Zoom information is here:
Topic: Tess Caswell Guest Speaker
Time: Jan 27, 2021 08:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting
She will give a presentation for 30 minutes, and then there will be a question/answer time for 10-15 minutes. Some questions will be given to her ahead of time from CCI students.
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9:15-12:00 Activity #1 and Activity #2 and Lunch and Recess and . . .
Activity #1 Balloon Rockets (Feel free to follow these directions and/or use the Google Slide Presentation to set student expectations and directions.)
TEKS: Science-5.6 D Design an experiment that tests the effect of force on an object; 3.8 D Identify the planets in Earth’s solar system and their position in relation to the Sun; 5.8 C Demonstrate that Earth rotates on its axis once approximately every 24 hours causing the day/night cycle and the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky; 6.8 A Compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy; 6.8 B identify and describe the changes in position, direction, and speed of an object when acted upon by unbalanced forces; Math-5.1 A Apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace; 4.8 C Solve problems that deal with measurements of length
Academic Vocabulary: atmosphere, axis, orbit, revolution, rotation, position, motion, force, friction, gravity, pull, push, stable hypothesis, valid conclusion, variable
Introduction: We are the Explorers (narrated by Optimus Prime)
“We are the explorers. We have a need to find what is out there. It is a drive inside each and every one of us. The drive to wonder, to push the boundaries, and to explore!”
Background: Background Information Video; NASA’s current goal is to continue the exploration of the Moon and Mars. The Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s sent twelve American Astronauts to the lunar surface. We landed on the Moon six times, placing an American flag there each time (yes, there are six American flags on the Moon). Over the past 40 years, our focus has turned to building a “fortress in the sky,” the International space station. It is completed now, so we look to deep space to the Moon and Mars. NASA’s goal is to return to the moon and land the first woman and next man by 2024. We will set up a permanent base there for exploration, and a spaceport to launch our next space vehicles to the Martian surface (it will be a lot easier to launch our spacecraft from the lunar surface due to less gravity).
But, what obstacles will NASA have to overcome to reach their goal of landing on Mars? NASA has learned so much by landing multiple robots/spacecrafts on the lunar surface. Sojourner landed on the Martian surface in 1997 (if you watched the movie Martian, Mark Watney found Sojourner to communicate with Mission Control). Sojourner was the size of a microwave. Then the twin spacecraft, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on the Marian surface in 2004. And, then in 2012 Curiosity (the size of a small car) landed on the Martian surface. These robots/spacecraft have increased our knowledge of Mars, and will allow us to land humans safely on the surface as well. But, how long does it take to get to Mars? Here is where Math comes in . . . . Unfortunately, we can’t go on a straight path directly to Mars, because we are rotating on our axis and orbiting the Sun. Mars is doing the same thing. It rotates on its axis, and is orbiting the Sun as well. So, how do we get there? We have to leave Earth at just the right time, to reach Martian orbit when Mars is there. Currently, that takes 8.5 months. We must remain on Mars until we can safely land back in Earth’s orbit, which means an additional 24 months!! Can you imagine spending almost three years in space?! NASA, as well as, other companies like SpaceX and Boeing, are working to make this possible.
Your challenge today is to help NASA Astronauts reach the Martian surface. Do you think you can help?! Your supplies (which must be included in your spacecraft) include a balloon, cup, and straw. You must propel your spacecraft down the fishing line (attached to the fishing line with the straw) reaching Mars! Can you do it? How can you use the balloon to propel your spacecraft? Remember what you learned in class as we have discussed Newton’s Laws of Motion. Can you add things to your rocket? Of course! But remember when you add mass to your rocket, it will be harder to put that object into motion (Newton’s Second Law). Good luck!
What You Need (for each balloon rocket)
Balloon
Fishing Line
Scissors
Drinking straw
Cup
Tape
Steps
Stretch the fishing line from one side of the room to the other (you can do this with multiple lines, so students can test their spacecraft without a long wait, this also allows for races). Tape one side of the fishing line to the board labeled Mars. That’s your rocket launch pad. Cut with scissors.
Thread one straw onto the twine or string. Repeat for each straw.
Take the string and pull it tight, then attach it at both ends of the rocket launch pad.
Inflate each balloon until full but instead of closing it with a knot, twist the end and secure it until ready for launch.
Use tape to attach each balloon and cup under a straw.
Time to launch! Release the squeezed end of the balloon at the same time and watch the balloon rockets zoom away.
This video is only for teachers, but will give you an idea of how this looks in the classroom. Your goal is to give them as little information as possible, so they can truly start to engineer their rockets. At first, they will sit there like deer in headlights, and then as they see other students start to progress with their rockets, the ideas will ffffllloooowwwww! Remind them of the importance of REDESIGN!! And . . . Failure is NOT an option!
Conclusion: Once you had the balloon set, what happened when you let go of it? What causes this to happen? The balloon travels along the fishing line (track). Pressure from the gases inside the balloon pushes the gases out of the balloon when it is released. As the gases escape from the balloon, they exert a force on the outside air, which in turn exerts an opposing force and pushes the balloon forward (Newton’s Third Law-For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction).
What do you think will make the balloon move faster? Increasing the pressure of the gas inside the balloon will make the balloon move faster along the track (adding more air to the balloon).
What would happen if you added cargo to the balloon rocket? The increased weight from the cargo slows down the balloon rocket (Newton’s Second Law of Motion-The greater the mass of an object, the greater amount of force is needed to accelerate the object).
Did you know that fireworks, developed by the Chinese are considered the earliest form of rockets?
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Activity #2 The Golden Record (Feel free to follow these directions and/or use the Google Slide Presentation to set student expectations and directions.)
TEKS: Science-3.8 D Identify the planets in Earth’s solar system and their position in relation to the Sun; 6.11 C Describe the history and future of space exploration including the types of equipment and transportation needed for space travel; Reading-5.16 Writing/Literary Texts. Students write literary texts to express their ideas and feelings about real or imagined people, events, and ideas; 5.17 Students write about their own experiences.
Academic Vocabulary: orbit, revolution, rotation, position, gravity, personal narrative
Background: Background Information Video; “In 1977, NASA launched two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, on a grand tour of the solar system and into the mysteries of interstellar space. Attached to each of these probes is a beautiful golden record containing a message for any extraterrestrial intelligence that might encounter it, perhaps billions of years from now. . . . Voyager 1 entered interstellar space in 2012. It is almost 21 billion kilometers away from the Earth. Speeding along at 17 kilometers per second. . . . We may never know whether an extraterrestrial civilization ever listens to the golden record. It was a gift from humanity to the cosmos. But it is also a gift to humanity. The record embodies a sense of possibility and hope. . . . The Voyager Interstellar Record is a reminder of what we can achieve when we are at our best--and that our future really is up to all of us.” (The Voyager Golden Record, Pescovitz, Daly, and Azerrad).
If you were on the Voyager Interstellar Record Committee, what would you want others to know about our planet? Would it be how beautiful the Texas Bluebonnets are in the Spring? Or what about the delicious enchiladas only your mom can make to perfection? Or what about the beautiful mountains, canyons, the beaches in Galveston or Corpus Christi? Would you tell them what it was like to feel a great big hug from your Grandma? Would you want them to know about your best friend that you can’t imagine to not have at CCI? Would it be a quote from your favorite song? Or a chance to show them how to play ‘Among Us’? What makes Earth unique, special, . . . your home?!
Students can write their responses on this paper or (if the teacher has access to a camera/phone) please record their responses. Videos will be sent to Mrs. Bright (abright@bisdtx.org), and I will create one big golden record of ALL the things that are soooooo important to CCI. What we would tell extraterrestrial beings about the place we call home.
Allow students five minutes to sit in silence and ponder the question, and then have them begin to write or express themselves in video.
Conclusion: So, what did Carl Sagan, his wife, Linda, Frank Drake, Ann Druyan, Timothy Ferris, and Jon Lomberg (the original Voyager Interstellar Record Committee in 1977) include on the Golden Record aboard Voyager 1 and 2, this:
The greatest music from multiple people and eras including Bach and Beethoven, Chuck Berry’s 'Johnny B. Goode’, and Mozart.
Natural sounds of birds, a train, a baby’s cry, a kiss.
Greetings in dozens of human languages.
100s of images that depict who, what, we are.
A letter from the President at the time, Jimmy Carter.
And much more (you can visit Mrs. Bright’s room to see/hear more).
When Voyager I reached the outer stretches of our solar system (about 6 billion kilometers from home) on February 14, 1990, we turned its cameras back to its home, to us, the Earth. What did Voyager I see?
Please play the following video for your students, Pale Blue Dot.
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The theme for this year’s Science Fair is from a quote by Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry. He said, “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.”
My Grandmother, who rode in a horse and buggy to town when she was a little girl, would look up into the night sky with wonder and awe. In her lifetime, she not only saw the development of cars, trains, and airplanes, she saw the first human step foot onto the Lunar surface, the Moon, that she had only dreamed about. What are our dreams? What will be the reality of the future? What is truly impossible?!!!!
Thank you for spending the day with our students and SCIENCE!!
12:00-12:15 Science Fair Winners will be announced.
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EXTENSIONS:
Reading Passages:
Voyager, the Interstellar Mission
Music:
Videos:
7 Minutes of Terror, the Landing of Curiosity
NASA 2021: Let’s Go to the Moon!
Just for Fun:
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