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Sandy,
I have used NASA Explorer School (NES) lesson plans in the past, but when I went to pull in a link, I noted that the website is down. NES was a tremendous resource for engineering and science related activities and lessons that kids really liked and could get engaged in - hands-on and minds-on. Does anyone know if the lesson plans and activities are available elsewhere?
I still do the NES "remote drop" moon lesson. It is based upon the NASA LCROSS mission; I forget the actual name of the activity, but my kids love it!! Here is a link to the mission website: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html
For this activity, students need to design an apparatus that will glide along fishing wire and remotely (student standing behind the drop site) release a marble to land on the "X" on the floor (of the moon). Kids get one index card,one small dixie cup, string (can be a limited amount), tape (can also be a limited amount), a marble (to drop) and a paperclip. They are allowed to use scissors in their design, but I will not supply additional supplies once the initial supplies have been distributed.
I also have my students design foil rafts using 2 straws and a set size of aluminum foil. The raft that can hold the most pennies wins! We also build straw bridges and compete to see which can hold the greatest amount of washers. There is also a spaghetti noodle and marshmallow tower building contest. I love challenging students in engineering design, and I love helping them to learn to work through failures - and there are plenty when trying to build the tallest tower with spaghetti noodles and marshmallows.
There are just a few of the things I do with my students. I look forward to reading others ideas here too!
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