Curated OER
NASA Plans Moon Base
Students react to statements about the moon, then read a news article about NASA's plans to build a permanent base on the moon. For this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and a...
Teach Engineering
The Great Gravity Escape
Groups simulate an orbit using a piece of string and a water balloon. Individuals spin in a circular path and calculate the balloon's velocity when the clothes pin can no longer hold onto the balloon.
Curated OER
Do Some Research: Rockets
After completing library or internet research about a question on the "Father of American Rocketry," students summarize their findings in a short report in the space provided. Students can also include a small drawing to illustrate what...
Curated OER
Altitude Tracking
Students construct simple altitude tracking devices for determining the altitude a rocket reaches in its flight. They estimate the altitude a rocket achieves during flight.
Curated OER
Strawkets and Weight
Students investigate the effect that weight has on rocket flight. They construct a variety of straw-launched rockets that have different weights, observe what happens when the weight of a rocket is altered by reducing its physical size...
Curated OER
Alka-Seltzer Rockets: How to Build Your Own Rocket
Students create a rocket using Alka-seltzer of baking soda and vinegar. In this physics lesson, students identify the factors affecting the length of time the rocket is propelled. They relate this activity to actual rocket launched in...
Curated OER
Rocket Rhymes and Songs
Students use rhymes, chants, songs, and creative movement about rockets to demonstrate words that rhyme. They place sentence strips in order, and identify words that rhyme.
Curated OER
Rocket 1-20
In this dot-to-dot puzzle learning exercise, students connect the dots from 1-20 to finish a picture of a rocket fixing to blast off into space.
Curated OER
Blast Off!
Fourth graders investigate the third law of motion. In this third law of motion lesson, 4th graders explore the forces necessary for a rocket to launch. Students compare and contrast propellant and fuel. Numerous resources are provided.
Curated OER
Destination: Station
Students examine the significance of the International Space Station. They view and discuss photos of rockets, space shuttles, and the International Space Station, develop a graph of objects in the sky, and create drawings.
Curated OER
Newton's Laws: Making Simple Rockets
Students can use rocketry to understand Newton's Three Laws of Motion.
Curated OER
Rocket Science
Students conduct an experiment. In this physical science instructional activity, students learn about Isaac Newton's theory that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Students show this theory by looking at how a...
Curated OER
Getting in Shape Again
Students create rocket shapes out of pattern blocks. They draw a picture of a rocket, build a pattern block rocket following simple directions, and complete a graph of the shapes used.
Curated OER
Up, Up and Away
Fourth graders design and launch rockets. In this rocket lesson plan, 4th graders observe the changes in outcome caused by size and fuel variables. Students navigate the NASA website to learn the parts of a rocket. Students load the...
Curated OER
Dream Big
Young scholars discuss the success of privately built and flown space crafts by reading and discussing a news article. They develop adventure trip proposals to present to Sir Richard Branson. Students write essays reflecting on the...
Curated OER
Exploring the Ares 1-X Launch-Downrange Distance
For this Ares 1-X launch worksheet, high schoolers read about the path of this rocket's launch and solve 2 problems. Students find the number of seconds it took the rocket to fall from a given altitude and they determine how far from the...
Curated OER
The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
Curated OER
How Do Probes Get To Space
Students investigate how force works to propel rockets into outer space. In this physics lesson, students use a drinking straw, fishing line, a balloon, and tape to explore how force works in outer space. Students repeat the experiment...
NASA
Engineering Design for Human Exploration
What would it take to live on the lunar surface? Small groups build model rockets in order to simulate launching a habitat into space and rebuilding it. Divide the class into groups to design and build a model of a lunar habitat. The...
Curated OER
The Mathematics of Ion Rocket Engines
In this ion rocket engines worksheet, students read about how heavy atoms are used to create the thrust in rocket engines. They solve 5 problems including determining the speed of atoms in a satellite, finding the average acceleration of...
Curated OER
Shape Rocket
In this Shape Rocket worksheet, learners move across a game board according to the spinner. The spinner includes eight different geometric shapes.
Curated OER
Richie's Rocket
Fourth graders, while working in centers read Richie's Rocket by Joan Anderson, and then create a puzzle using ideas, emotions, and experiences from the story. In addition, they write specific definitions for certain words, use those...
Curated OER
Aircraft vs. Spacecraft
High schoolers investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
Curated OER
Richie's Rocket
Fourth graders, after reading with intonation and expression the book, "Richie's Rocket," by Joan Anderson, circulate in centers to create a puzzle with emotions and experiences from the ideas in the story, write the definition of words...