|
Overview: After reading Regards to the Man in the Moon, children will be inspired, like the boy in the story, to use their imagination combined with scientific knowledge to plan and simulate a trip to Outer Space.
Booklink: Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats, Aladdin Books, MacMillan Publishing Co., 1981. ISBN 0-689-71160-3
Science Activity Link: Children will collect materials to build their own spacecrafts and spacesuits. Students will choose a name and create a logo for the spacecraft. Then groups will brainstorm and problem-solve to choose, eliminate, and share items to bring on an imaginary space voyage.
Objective: 1. Students will design and construct an effective spacecraft, communicating their design plan to classmates. 2. Students will recognize the necessary items for a space voyage and apply knowledge of the Solar System through Creative Writing.
Science Processes and Content: Processes-observing, inferring, communicating, and constructing models. Content-the solar system, space vehicles, and design-redesign technology.
National Science Education Standards: Unifying Concepts and Processes, (1) Science as Inquiry, (2) Physical Science, (4) Earth and Space Science, (5) Science and Technology, (6) Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, (7) History and Nature of Science
Materials: Solar System books and resource materials, book Regards to the Man in the Moon, cardboard, poster board, etc. -- gathered materials to build spacecraft, one shoebox per student for voyage cargo, group
worksheets for "Voyage to Outer Space".
Procedure:
1. Review information learned about planets and our solar system and space travel from previous lessons, projects, and research.
2. Read Regards to the Man in the Moon, discussing/inferring what the children in the story encounter on their imaginary voyage (moon, meteorites, the asteroid belt, etc.).
3. Explain to students that they too will design a spacecraft to take their own imaginary space voyage. Brainstorm possible materials, names for a spacecraft (Imagination 1 in text).
4. Put students in groups to brainstorm a name and materials they want to bring from home to build a spacecraft.
5. Give students a few days to bring in materials and construct spacecraft.
6. After spacecraft construction, have groups work through "Voyage to Outer Space"
worksheets to choose items to bring on a voyage. Stress that students should choose only the most important items because they will only be allowed one shoebox-sized cargo container. Once items are chosen, each student will make a final list and fill their shoebox with these items from home (snack, water, blanket, family photo, etc.).
7. If time allows, students could also design a spacesuit, helmet, badge etc. for their mission voyage.
8. Have a "Space Voyage Simulation Day" when each group shares their spacecraft (explaining construction and name) and shoeboxes (explain why each item was important). End with a countdown and Blastoff!
9. Each student will write a creative story about his or her group's voyage to outer space. Students will make up a new planet and use knowledge of the Solar System and space travel to explain how they got there and describe what they saw and experienced during their voyage.
10. Share stories, pictures (pretend photos) and things collected from the planet for their voyage.
Related Books:
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, Joanna Cole, Scholastic Inc., 1990. ISBN 0-590-41428-3
|
