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Overview: Children explore (with their imaginations) the wonders and excitement of outer space. The book "Outer Space" is first read to the children so that they can see the pictures and learn about the first spaceships and some of the others that were used in the NASA space program. You will want to discuss with the children what they think worked or didn't work in the spaceships and why they kept changing the shapes of the ships.
Booklink: Outer Space by Tim Furniss, Puffin Books, 1989. ISBN 0-414-050884-8 Another day (or later the same day) you should read the first half of The Mice on the Moon by Rodney Peppe.
Science Activity Link: Children will build their own spacecrafts (or work in small groups) using "what materials are available" like in the book The Mice on the Moon while refering to what they've learned about "what is really needed" in the book, Outer Space.
Objective: Students will design and construct model spaceships and describe how they work.
Science Processes and Content: Processes-Predicting, observing, inferring, measuring, communicating, and designing models. Content-Children will predict, investigate and construct their own model spacecrafts. They will describe the characteristics of real spaceships and be able to explain the purpose of each part of their model spaceships. If they are in a small group, learning to work cooperatively as a team would also be an objective.
National Science Education Standards: Unifying Concepts and Processes, (1) Science as Inquiry, (2) Physical Science, (3) Life Science, (4) Earth and Space Science, (5) Science and Technology, (6) Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, (7) History and Nature of Science
Materials: Empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, white and colored constuction paper,aluminum and or gold foil, plastic straws (air hoses) egg cartons, buttons, bottle caps, masking and scotch tape, glue, crayons or markers, and scissors. (Have students help you collect these materials approximately a week or so before you begin the lesson.)
Procedure:
1. Read and discuss the book Outer Space. It's important for the children to observe and talk about each spacecraft and to have them voice their ideas about why the ships were built with a certain design, what might have been a good or bad idea, etc.
2. Next, start the book The Mice on the Moon. When you reach the part where the mice decide to build their own spaceship (they go to visit a junk dealer to get what they need to build the ship) close the book and invite the children to return to their desks to build, individually or in small groups, their own spaceships.
3. In the middle of each group of tables or on a separate table place all of the materials that you've collected for construction. (I asked them a week before to bring in the supplies.)
4. Give them as much time as you feel is necessary for them to build a ship. Allow them time as a group (or individually) to describe and explain their model to the class.
5. Leave time for a question/answer period. There will be lots of questions and some amazing explanations as to how they breathe, eat, and as to how the ships actually work. Encourage student interaction.
Safety: None
Related Books:
The Mice on the Moon by Rodney Peppe, Penguin, 1992. ISBN 0-670-83823-3
The Solar System by Paul Sipiera, Childrens's Press, 1997. ISBN 0-516-26175-4
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