Take your 4-H'ers on a journey of exploration with our Space Explorers Curriculum.  In these activities youth will learn how NASA studies planets, build rockets, use the engineering design process, explore with Sphero Robots, design and test rovers, learn about the search for life, design a model greenhouse and plant bean seeds.

You may choose to teach all or some of the lessons in this curriculum.  To provide the best experience, it is encouraged that you include at least one activity in each section.

This curriculum was designed as part of the Imagine Science partnership grant with the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County.

 

Discovery & Planning

 

1-Mission Patch Design   

Youth will learn about NASA mission patch design and work together to design a mission patch for their group.

• Design a Mission Patch PDF
• Design a Mission Patch Powerpoint

 

2-Strange New Planet

Youth will learn how scientists gain information from looking at things from different perspectives.  They will observe model planets through a variety of simulated techniques including Earth-based telescopes, flyby and orbiter missions.   

• Strange New Planet PDF
• Strange New Planet Student Worksheet
• Strange New Planet Powerpoint

 

3-Marsbound

In this card based activity, youth will work in teams to design a mission to a planet.  Youth will determine goals and work within engineering constraints (mass, power, money) to build a spacecraft.  (Requires sets of game cards and board) 

• Marsbound PDF
• Marsbound Student Worksheet

 

Rockets!

 

4-Stomp Rockets

Youth will build rockets using cardstock and tape to be launched by stomping on a 2L soda bottle. 

• Stomp Rockets PDF
• Stomp Rockets Student Worksheet

 

5-Foam Rockets

Youth will construct a rubber band powered rocket with copper pipe insulation and duct tape.

• Foam Rockets PDF

 

6-Egg Drop

Youth will work in teams to engineer a device to protect a raw egg when it is dropped from a height, simulating landing a spacecraft on another planet. 

• Egg Drop PDF
• Egg Drop Student Worksheet
• Egg Drop Powerpoint

 

Exploring the Surface 

 

7-Balloon Rovers

Youth work in teams to design, build, and test balloon powered rovers. 

• Balloon Rovers PDF
• Balloon Rover Student Worksheet

 

8-Mars Helicopters

Youth will learn about the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter. They will construct and test a paper helicopter. 

• Mars Helicopter PDF
• Mars Helicopter Student Worksheet
• Mars Helicopter Template
• Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Powerpoint

 

9-Cipher Space

Youth will explore cybersecurity by using a Caesar cipher wheel to decode and create secret messages and participate in a relay race. 

• Cipher Space PDF
• Cipher Space Student Worksheet

 

10-Sphero Rover/Mars

Youth will practice coding and problem solving to complete a sample Mars mission using the Sphero BOLT robot. (Uses Sphero BOLT robots and iPads or other devices)

• Sphero Rover PDF
• Sphero Rover Student Worksheet

 

Colonization

 

11-Looking for Life

Youth will develop a definition of life and examine simulated extraterrestrial soil samples for signs of life. 

• Looking for Life PDF
• Looking for Life Student Worksheet

 

12-Engineer a Greenhouse

Youth will use the engineering design process to design and build a model greenhouse.

• Engineer a Greenhouse PDF
• Engineer a Greenhouse Student Worksheet

 

13-Bean is a Seed

Youth will learn about the life cycle of a plant and make necklaces to germinate bean seeds. 

• Bean is a Seed PDF
• Bean is a Seed Student Worksheet

 

14-Bean in a Bottle

Youth will learn about hydroponics and build a water bottle planter. 

• Bean Life Cycle Worksheet
• Bean in a Bottle PDF
• Bean in a Bottle Student Worksheet