Pass your cursor over the navigation buttons (About...Site Map) above. The colors of the stars are in order from hottest to coolest (temperature-wise!) just like they are on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (included in chapter 2 of Space and Astronomy). Stars are classified by their color and those colors correspond to the surface temperatures of the stars. The classes are designated by letters: OBAFGKM which astronomy students remember with the phrase: Oh Be A Fine Girl (Guy) Kiss Me! The hottest stars, O and B, are violet/blue, A and F stars are white, G (like our sun) are yellow, K are orange, and M are red. Brown dwarfs do not have enough mass to sustain nuclear fusion, so are not stars, but are too large to be planets. So, like my "Site Map" are in a category of their own!
Models
Make a model of the Earth/Moon system. HOME ON THE MOON contains an activity Scaling the Moon that shows you how. Using Adobe Acrobat Reader (free via www.adobe.com), you can print out Earth/Moon images to cut out and glue on your scale model.
Photograph or sketch the full Moon and label the major features using the Dyson Animated Moon Map. Can you find the 6 Apollo landing sites? Click on the underlined letter "N."
Home on the Moon includes an edible model of a lunar breccia, a type of rock that includes bits of basalt and anorthosite melted and combined with regolith (crushed rocks, represent3ed by rice cerearl in the recipe). Here is a photo of some real Moon rocksto compare with your creation. From L to R, basalt (dark because of iron and magnesium, is represented in the recipe by chocolate), breccia, anorthosite (light-colored aluminum and silicon represented by marshmallows in the recipe), and another breccia. The first breccia is dark and the second is light. Which one most resembles your "rock" when sliced open?
Puzzles
NEW! Build your vocabulary and learn some space names via wordfinds! Find Spacecraft Names: Spacecraft Names Wordfind. Stumped? Here's the Spacecraft Names Solution!
NEW! Try the Solar System Moons Wordfind. Stumped? Here's the Moons Solution!
Test your space knowledge via crossword puzzles! Here's one for you Martians: Mars2 Crossword. Stumped? Here's the solution!
NEW! Test your knowledge of the constellations: Constellations Crossword 1. Need Help? Here's the solution! There's a space station crossword on the station history page and Moon crossword on the animated moon page.
To practice Korean and other Kuk Sool mental drill, try the crossword and wordfind puzzles on my Kuk Sool martial arts page.
Writing Activities
Want to write a science fiction story but can't think of a character or problem to write about? Use the Mission Control chapter of the multiple-award-winning book, Space Station Science, as a springboard to create your own short story. The Mission Control chapter and directions for writing a story are posted on the Science Fiction Writing page. For best results, you'll need a copy of Space Station Science. It is available in many libraries, or you can order a copy through my BOOKS page. If you invite me to be your "Flight Director," I can provide books for loan.
"Trip to the Moon" Workshop Activities
The following activities are part of the author's Out-of-This-World Workshop (though they can also be done at home!).
Activities
It takes about 4 hours (depending on number of activities) for a workshop and 7 hours for a "camp." (Younger children need more time for activities.) A large room with 3 work areas or three small rooms are needed for a workshop or camp. The first area is "Earth," the second is the "International Space Station," and the third is the "moon." "Earth" requires one table, chairs for all students, a TV/VCR, and enough space for students to lie on the floor. The ISS room requires 3-5 tables with chairs and easy access to water, a washable floor, and a high ceiling (if used for camp). The "moon" room requires 3-5 tables with chairs and a place to hang a large poster. A TV with DVD player is optional.
Out-of-This-World Workshop/Camp Stages
Phase 1: Prelaunch Briefing and Launch. Students are given assignments (pilots, engineers, doctors, etc.), formed into lunar expedition teams, given badges and "tools," and launched from Earth to the ISS. They lie on the floor with their feet up on chairs, so girls should wear shorts under skirts. Each student needs a pillow or coat for their head and 3 heavy textbooks to pile on their chests. Campers need measuring tapes or home-made one-foot paper rulers to wrap around their ankles. A TV/VCR is required for the launch video (supplied by the author). Workshop 40 minutes/Camp 60 minutes.
Phase 2: Space Station Lunar Prep. At the ISS, they assemble robotic hands. (Directions are in Space Station Science, but see notes and photos below.) After an overview of lunar geography, teams choose landing sites on the moon. Campers make a scale model of the Earth/moon system (directions in Home on the Moon) and build their rockets and launch them (see information below). Workshop 90 minutes/Camp 2 hours.
Phase 3: Lunar Exploration. Upon arrival at the moon, students weigh themselves. (Special scale provided by author.) They then go on a space walk and use the robotic hands to collect "rock" samples. Some "rocks" are used to make craters. (Directions are in Home on the Moon.) Campers test the force of impacts using eggs. (Directions in Space Station Science.) They will build rovers (directions in Home on the Moon) and take them exploring. Workshop 60 minutes/Camp 60 minutes.
Phase 4: Space Station Rest Stop. Students return to the ISS where they "test" their (edible) samples and enjoy a space drink. (Directions below.) Campers build a gravity detector (directions below) and weigh a weightless rat (directions in Space Station Science). Workshop 20 minutes/Camp 60 minutes.
Phase 5: Earth Return. Students pack their samples and fly back to Earth on the space shuttle. (Author provides landing video.) Students participate in a post-flight press conference and answer questions from reporters (author and teacher/parents). Campers write a science fiction story based on their experience. Workshop 40 minutes/Camp 2 hours.
Set-up and Clean-up require 15-30 minutes and are not included in the times above. Breaks are also not included. Therefore, rooms should be reserved for 4.5 hours for a workshop and 8 hours for a camp.
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Space Drink Activity*
How is a space drink different from an Earth drink? The water is carried to space separately from the drink mix. Why? It takes less energy to carry a packet of drink mix than a jug of lemonade whether you are hiking to a picnic or blasting into space. On Earth, we can add the water via a fountain at the picnic site, and in space, the water is provided as a byproduct of the Space Shuttle's electrical power system.
This drink is appropriate for all ages and can double as the refreshment for children's snack time, a star party, or as part of an outdoor fair or picnic. Party organizers can set up a 3-table assembly line, or prepare bags ahead of time and start with step 5 of the Directions.
Note: classes can make a space lunch to go with their drinks using the "Prepare A Space Meal" activity in Space Station Science. Space Drink Supplies/Assembly Line
Supplies for Space Drink for 150 people, assuming assembly line with 10 people standing at each table (5 on a side) at one time and preparing snack-sized drink:
1) Two boxes of Gladlock Zipper sandwich bags, 6 5/8 x 5 7/8, 100 to a box; 2) Ten Marker pens (that can write on plastic bags); and 3) Ten rulers.
Second Table:
1) Ten Tablespoons, and 2) Seven cans of drink mix that make 8 quarts (each can has about 48 TBSP, so can make 24 drinks). Third Table:
1) 150 bendable plastic straws; 2) Seven gallons of water in easy pour containers or several water fountains; and 3) Large trash can for waste.
Space Drink Directions
1. Take one reclosable plastic sandwich bag (Gladlock Zipper, 6 5/8 x 5 7/8, 100 to a box).
2. Mark a horizontal line up from the bottom of the bag to show how much water to add. For full-sized drink (which will use 1 1/3 cups water), mark the line 2 1/2 " from the bottom. For snack-sized drink (which will use 2/3 cups water), mark the line 1 3/4" from the bottom. Lay new bags on top of already-marked bags to avoid having to measure each time.
3. Measure powdered drink mix (Tang!) into bag. For full-sized drink, use 1/4 cup mix. For snack-sized drink, use 2 TBSP mix. Note: drink mix cans that make 8 quarts have enough mix for 12 full-size or 24 half-size drinks.
4. Add one bendable plastic straw to bag. See drink photo 1
Step 5 should be done over a sink, outside, or in a non-carpeted area! 5. Using a water jug, faucet, or fountain, add water up to the line on the bag. 6. Seal the bag (with the straw inside).
7. Knead the bag until the drink mix is completely dissolved. See drink photo 2
8. Pop open one corner, slip the straw out, and drink!
9. Reseal the bag when finished and refill or dispose of properly.
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Robotic Hand Activity Notes
How do you pick things up in space? You let a robot do it! This activity is to make a robotic hand that uses the same principle as the ones on the space shuttle and space station. If there is only time for one activity, this one is recommended because it gives the students something to take home, can be done all indoors, and leaves no mess to clean up. Directions are in Space Station Science. A paper lunch bag works well to hold supplies. Distribute supplies prior to the start of the activity, either in bags or via an assembly line of 5 stations. Activity requires 20-30 minutes. Author requires a microphone to avoid having to shout directions to "uncontrolled" robots.
1. One toilet paper tube/student. (Author can supply these for Houston-area workshops.)
should be no wider than 4" and about 9" long to fit around the outside of the toilet paper tube with a finger-width gap between them.
See photo showing size of outer tube
Note: if the cardboard is not cut ahead of time, it adds a significant amount of time to the activity, and scissors must be supplied. 3. Need 3 thin (size 10) rubber bands (about 2" in diameter)/ student. Fat ones will not work! Rubber bands must be cut. (Do ahead of time or provide scissors.)
4. Marker pen (optional) helps in placing the rubber bands on the tubes, and allows students to decorate their "hands." 5. A roll of scotch tape/2 students. Book directions call for using a stapler to make the outer cylinder and to attach the rubber bands. Staples make the hand stronger, but are not necessary. For workshops, especially with younger children, use tape instead of staples.
See photo of hand holding toy
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Lunar Rocket
This activity involves shooting off rockets that can sometimes reach the ceiling in a classroom. Therefore, it is recommended that the rockets be built in the class and taken outside or to a gym for launching. Author requires a microphone to maintain "mission control."
1. Each student will need one Fuji film canister (the kind with lids that fit inside the canister) - Kodak canisters will not work! Most film processing stores will provide these for free.
2. Each student will require one seltzer tablet cut in half.
3. Each student will need a plastic spoon and a source of water.
4. Author will provide a master of the rocket for hosts to copy on heavy colored paper and cut-out for each student. This must be done ahead of time or it takes an additional 15 minutes.
5. Each student should have their own roll of tape.
It takes about 30 minutes to assemble the rocket probe and launch it (one half tablet/launch). The water and seltzer leave a gooey mess on the floor, so paper towels are needed for clean-up if done indoors. This activity is for 4th grade and up, though can be done with younger students if parent volunteers are provided.
See rocket probe photo
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"Egg-citing" Impacts
How does speed change the force of an impact? Find out for yourself! The directions for this activity are in Space Station Science. Each student will need 1) a raw egg in a plastic cup, 2) a meter stick or tape measure, 3) a nickel, and 4) a pencil. The cups are best placed on the floor, so this is best done in an uncarpeted room. The activity takes 10-15 minutes, and is for grades 3-8.
Gravity Detector
How do oil and water behave differently in freefall versus in a gravity field? This experiment will show you!
To save time, it is best to have students grouped at tables of 3-5 with 1) one bottle of cooking oil, 2) a teaspoon, 3) and a squeeze bottle of food coloring (red, blue, and green work well - yellow is too hard to see) at each table. Each student needs a trasparent plastic cup or test tube filled to 1/4" of the top with water. This activity can be done by all ages, but note that the food coloring stains, so that if young children are involved, it is a good idea to do this at tables outside and have lots of paper towels ready! This activity takes 10 minutes.
See gravity detector photo
*Copyright, Marianne J. Dyson, all rights reserved. This page may be copied/downloaded for personal use only. Questions? Send e-mail to the author.
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