12 Activities

NASA

NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.

Introduce youth to space and build STEM skills with activities that include experiments, observations, and team building.

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Activities

Cookie Box Spectrometers

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Cookie Box Spectrometers

Grades 4 - 12

1 Hour

Students create their own spectrometers; also, they learn about the color spectrum.

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Exploring the Colors of Mars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Exploring the Colors of Mars

Grades 3 - 5

2 Hours

Students use satellite and rover images to learn about the various features and materials that cause color variation on the surface of Mars. They will then use their knowledge to color a line drawing of Mars and add relief features using glue and powdered minerals. Students explain their choice of colors and minerals based on Mars minerology.

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Design a Crew Module

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Design a Crew Module

Grades 6 - 8

1 Hour

Are you ready for a challenge? Design and build a crew module model that will secure two 2 cm astronaut figures during a drop test.

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Heavy Lifting

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Heavy Lifting

Grades 5 - 8

45 Minutes

Students construct balloon-powered rockets to launch the greatest payload possible to the classroom ceiling.

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Make an Eclipse Viewer

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Make an Eclipse Viewer

Grades 4 - 12

45 Minutes

Students create a simple pinhole projector. Also, students have the opportunity to test their projectors and view the sun safely!

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Sound on a String

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound on a String

Grades K - 2

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Students will rotate through a series of center activities to develop a hypothesis for how sound travels as they experiment with different types of string, sizes of string, types of cups and sizes of cups.

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Solar System Bead Activity

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Solar System Bead Activity

Grades 1 - 6

1 Hour

Students construct -- and where appropriate, calculate -- a scale model of the solar system using beads and string.

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Stomp Rockets

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Stomp Rockets

Grades 4 - 9

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Work individually or in teams of two to construct and launch paper rockets using a teacher-built PVC-pipe launcher.

Following the flight of their rocket, calculate the altitude their rocket achieved. Based on the flight performance of their rockets, analyze their rocket designs, modify or rebuild them, launch again, and calculate the altitude achieved to determine if their changes affected the performance of the rocket. Conclude the activity by writing a post-flight mission report.

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Sound Effects

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Sound Effects

Grades 6 - 8

1 Hour

Students will learn about the principles of sound, specifically how to amplify and reduce sound volume. Students will construct a speaker to amplify the sound and then will be challenged to find a solution to reduce the perceived sound volume.

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Phases of the Moon

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Phases of the Moon

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour

Students learn about the phases of the moon, what they look like and how often they rotate between the cycle. The moon affects our ocean tides every day and depending on what phase it's in affects our high tides and low tides differently.

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Make a Straw Rocket

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Make a Straw Rocket

Grades 4 - 8

30 Minutes

Create a paper rocket that can be launched from a soda straw – then, modify the design to make the rocket fly farther!

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Habitat Planning

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Habitat Planning

Grades 5 - 8

45 Minutes

Students think about and discuss the basic needs and activities that astronauts might partake in while living on the moon, and draw a habitat that can accommodate those activities.

Discover Activity

Cookie Box Spectrometers

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Cookie Box Spectrometers

Grades 4 - 12

1 Hour

Students create their own spectrometers; also, they learn about the color spectrum.

Discover Activity

Exploring the Colors of Mars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Exploring the Colors of Mars

Grades 3 - 5

2 Hours

Discover Activity

Design a Crew Module

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Design a Crew Module

Grades 6 - 8

1 Hour

Are you ready for a challenge? Design and build a crew module model that will secure two 2 cm astronaut figures during a drop test.

Discover Activity

Heavy Lifting

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Heavy Lifting

Grades 5 - 8

45 Minutes

Students construct balloon-powered rockets to launch the greatest payload possible to the classroom ceiling.

Discover Activity

Make an Eclipse Viewer

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Make an Eclipse Viewer

Grades 4 - 12

45 Minutes

Students create a simple pinhole projector. Also, students have the opportunity to test their projectors and view the sun safely!

Discover Activity

Sound on a String

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound on a String

Grades K - 2

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Discover Activity

Solar System Bead Activity

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Solar System Bead Activity

Grades 1 - 6

1 Hour

Students construct -- and where appropriate, calculate -- a scale model of the solar system using beads and string.

Discover Activity

Stomp Rockets

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Stomp Rockets

Grades 4 - 9

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Work individually or in teams of two to construct and launch paper rockets using a teacher-built PVC-pipe launcher.

Discover Activity

Sound Effects

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Sound Effects

Grades 6 - 8

1 Hour

Discover Activity

Phases of the Moon

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Phases of the Moon

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour

Discover Activity

Make a Straw Rocket

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Make a Straw Rocket

Grades 4 - 8

30 Minutes

Create a paper rocket that can be launched from a soda straw – then, modify the design to make the rocket fly farther!

Discover Activity

Habitat Planning

The Natural World, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Habitat Planning

Grades 5 - 8

45 Minutes

Students think about and discuss the basic needs and activities that astronauts might partake in while living on the moon, and draw a habitat that can accommodate those activities.

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