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Saturday Morning Science
 Posted on Feb 01, 2012 01:16:42 PM | Denise Miller
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One of the most interesting things about life on the space station -- besides floating, and being in space, and observing Earth from above -- is seeing how everyday things respond to microgravity. (Okay, I'm saying this as someone who has only wished to go into space, but I'm taking my best guess based on what I've seen and heard.)

From November 2002 to May 2003, Don Pettit, who holds a doctorate in chemical engineering, spent 161 days on the International Space Station as Expedition 6 NASA ISS Science Officer. During Pettit's time off on Saturday mornings, he conducted spontaneous experiments in microgravity with everyday items. He recorded the experiments on video and called them Saturday Morning Science.


Water with drops of color suspended in a wire loop
Water is being held in place by a metal loop to demonstrate
surface tension in microgravity.

Pettit performed experiments with large spheres of water, soap bubbles, antacid tablets and other items on the station. Microgravity had interesting effects on those simple items. You can watch some of the experiments on these sites:




We have made some of Pettit's clips available in the DIY Podcast Micro-g module. Students may want to perform and film some of these simple experiments to add a comparison of their 1-g experiments to Pettit's micro-g experiments to their podcast episode.

Students may want to use some of the photographs of Pettit's experiment. The photos begin on this page.

Pettit returned to the station on Dec. 23, 2011 as a crew member for International Space Station Expeditions 30 and 31. You can check the NASA website to find out what he's doing on the station this time.





DIY Podcast Micro-g module

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Micro-g -- One of the Best Modules Yet
 Posted on Jan 20, 2012 03:30:20 PM | Denise Miller
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Our newest DIY Podcast module is one of the best yet -- IMHO -- in my humble opinion.

With the Micro-g module, you and your students can build podcast episodes about the fun part of space exploration -- microgravity.

Water sphere floats with colored candies and the symbol for microgravity inside it

Fifty-five video clips are in this module. Nancy Hall, a NASA engineer for space station research, explains microgravity and NASA’s interest in using microgravity research.

Mike Fincke has firsthand experience with microgravity -- more than just a little. As an astronaut, he has spent more time in space than any other U.S. citizen. Fincke has logged 381 days, 15 hours and 11 minutes in orbit. He was a space station science officer and flight engineer for Expedition 9 on the International Space Station in 2004. In October 2008, he returned to the station as the commander of Expedition 18. His most recent mission in orbit (and in microgravity) was space shuttle mission STS-134 in 2011. In the videos, Fincke shares his experiences in microgravity.

Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineers Nicole Stott and Bob Thirsk discuss microgravity from the station.

Besides those interviews, we have fun B-roll -- you know, that extra background footage like they use on the news. This footage includes astronauts enjoying free fall by doing things you can’t do on Earth. Footage also shows the behavior of liquids in microgravity. You can use footage of NASA’s microgravity platforms that show how NASA creates microgravity on Earth -- reduced-gravity aircraft, the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and drop towers.

Start previewing and downloading now. Students are sure to have fun with this module.

Micro-g

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Train Like an Astronaut
 Posted on Dec 16, 2011 11:13:26 AM | Denise Miller
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2012 is just around the corner. Maybe you've resolved to get in shape, as most of us do after the damage we've done from Thanksgiving to January 1. A new year may be the motivation you need to build a podcast using the Fitness module.

The Train Like an Astronaut project is a good place to begin. The site was developed in cooperation with NASA scientists and fitness professionals working directly with astronauts. The activities are a physical and inquiry-based approach to human health and fitness on Earth and in space. Teach your students physical activities modeled after the real-life physical requirements of humans traveling in space.

Cartoon astronaut and the words Train Like an Astronaut

NASA recently added several new items to the Training Videos module with demonstrations of the physical exercises. Astronaut and educator Dottie Metcalf-Lindenberger and newly selected astronaut Kjell Lindgren introduce the activities. NASA trainers then explain the exercises to a group of students as they perform them.

The Train Like an Astronaut hands-on activities help students understand the science behind nutrition and physical activity in their lives and in the lives of astronauts in space.

A podcast made with the Fitness module and the Train Like an Astronaut project can easily become an interdisciplinary lesson -- science and health education join with technology and physical education. See the post "Fitness Topic Module Offers Opportunity for Integrated Curricula".

The following videos have more background information for student research on astronaut fitness:

Working Out Aboard the Station
How Space Exploration Affects Muscles
Exercise Helps Keep Astronauts Healthy in Space
NASA Now Minute: Exercise Physiology: Countermeasures

Train Like an Astronaut is inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's “Let's Move!” initiative, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity and encouraging families across the country to commit to living healthier lives.

DIY Podcast: Fitness

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Better Videos -- Tips From OPTIMUS PRIME
 Posted on Nov 25, 2011 11:24:44 AM | Denise Miller
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NASA is a sponsor of the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Award. In this contest, students submit videos about NASA Spinoffs. A spinoff is NASA technology that is being reused in different ways. 


The Making Your Video page of the contest website has five videos with tips for creating a video. You and your students may use these tips as you create productions with DIY Podcast modules.


Video screengab from NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Award "Making Your Video" page


                       Watch simple tips to improve the quality of your podcast episode


Tip 1: Enough is enough! This tip discusses the ideal length for your clips.
Tip 2:  Get framed. Discover techniques on framing the subject of your video, including how to choose the best angle for and distance from the subject.
Tip 3:  What was that? Learn how to avoid audio issues, including background noise.
Tip 4:  Movin’ on. Get tips on transferring videos from the camera to the computer.
Tip 5:  Cut! Begin editing your video.

Each video lasts less than two minutes but gives enough information to help even the novice video producer create a better product.


Check out the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Award site, and submit your video. Registration is open to students in grades 3-12, and the registration deadline is Jan. 3, 2012. Video submissions must be received by Jan. 17, 2012.



NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Award  


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TRANSFORMERS and OPTIMUS PRIME are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.


The Laws That Govern NASA
 Posted on Oct 21, 2011 06:40:53 PM | Denise Miller
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From launching rockets and flying airplanes to understanding masses and orbits or planets, NASA depends on Newton’s Laws of Motion. We have great resources for those who teach physical science. Three DIY Podcast modules include videos and audio with astronauts and NASA experts explaining the laws of motion.  

Students can combine clips from Newton's Laws, Sports Demo, and Rocket Science with their own demonstrations to create a podcast episode explaining the laws of motion.

Below I’ve listed some NASA resources that you can use with your class.

Lunar Nautics: Newton’s Laws of Motion Activities
Newton's first law of motion
Navigating by Good Gyrations

Why Do the Planets Go Around the Sun?

A Short Introduction to Black Holes

The Spinning World of Spacecraft Reaction Wheels (PDF)

Fundamental Aeronautics Program: Newton’s Laws for Students

"From Stargazers to Starships" Site:

Newton and his Laws

Mass
    Mass Measurements Aboard Space Station Skylab
    Comparing Masses Without the Use of Gravity

Newton's Second Law

Newton's Third Law
    Momentum
    Work
    Work Against an Electric Force: The Van de Graaff Generator

Motion in a Circle

Newton's Theory of "Universal Gravitation"


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Rocketry Website
 Posted on Oct 06, 2011 04:41:14 PM | Denise Miller
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We have your rocketry needs wrapped up in one place. Have you seen NASA Education’s Rocketry website? Here’s a list straight from the source.
Rocketry Education website
Things you can do on this site:

   • Answer the question: What is a rocket?
   • Investigate and learn about rockets at NASA.
   • Learn the terms that the rocket scientists use.
   • Visit the Rocketry Image Gallery.
   • Read about the careers of rocketry experts.
   • Learn about the history of rocketry.
   • Check out lesson plans for your classroom.
   • Stay up-to-date with information about NASA-supported rocketry competitions.
   • Watch and download video and multimedia features about rocketry.
   • Browse NASA websites for information about rocketry.

For students, the site features the interactive How Do Rockets Stack Up? in which students can compare model rockets to the real thing. The site also has an image gallery with more than 50 rocket-related images. The multimedia section has links to more images, interactive pages, videos, animations and podcasts.

For you the teacher, the site has lesson plans, a career corner in which scientists and engineers talk about their career paths in the field of rocketry and their work at NASA, a page of opportunities for participation, and a link to related sites.

Students will find information and media that they can use to create a first-rate podcast.

Rocketry Education website
Rocket Science DIY Podcast topic module
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You in Microgravity
 Posted on Sep 15, 2011 11:38:23 AM | Denise Miller
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For years, doctors have been writing books with word "You" in the title. Well, how about telling your own story: You in Microgravity?

NASA does not run short on the cool factor. And here's another cool way for teachers to get involved. When you're not planning lessons to meet education standards, teaching those lessons, or grading students' work, along with all of the other things you do, you might consider proposing an experiment that could be conducted in microgravity.

The Teaching From Space Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas has announced an opportunity for K-12 teachers to propose an experiment that could be conducted on a reduced-gravity aircraft. The aircraft will fly approximately 30 roller-coaster-like climbs and dips to produce periods of microgravity and hypergravity, ranging from 0 g's to 2 g's. You are invited to submit a proposal for an experiment that you and a team of your colleagues could perform in reduced gravity.

The DIY Podcast connection is this: Your students are building a podcast using one of the modules filmed on the International Space Station. They have seen examples of experiments conducted in microgravity but still have questions. If you had been selected to fly your experiment on the microgravity aircraft, you could give them a firsthand account of the experience. Design an experiment with your students. If you are selected to fly, they could use video footage from your experiment in their podcast.

Ideas for experiment should include a variable that is affected by gravity. Look at the Sports Demo module for some examples. Maybe there is an experiment that students would like to see that demonstrates one of the laws of physics.

Visit the Microgravity University website for more information or send an email to jsc-rgeducator@nasa.gov. Your team's proposal must be submitted by Sept. 21, 2011.

For more ideas, read these articles and watch these videos:

The Ups and Downs of Liquid Density
The Ups and Downs of Water Droplets
The Ups and Downs of Convection
Toys in Space Mission 5 Buzz Lightyear To Infinity and Beyond! Games
Buzz Lightyear Toys in Space Activity
Toys in Space


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