In this activity children discuss the value of a space mission and what they think we could learn by travelling into space.
Description
The Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on 4 July 2006. Its mission was to take supplies and food and a new crew member to the space station currently orbiting our Earth. A big space launch is unusual these days and is very costly. After two serious accidents the public have questioned the value and safety of sending people into space.
Children can discuss the value of a space mission and what they think we could learn by travelling into space. They consider how viewing the earth from space helps us to understand some common phenomena such as day and night, the size and shape and movement of the Earth and Moon etc. Children design a new shuttle by considering the problems of the past.
Learning Objective:
- To consider the past problems of the space shuttle and how they might be overcome
Children will learn:
- That the Moon and Earth are round and how to provide evidence for this
- To understand why we have night and day
- How the Space Shuttle works and the functions of its parts
These resources were initially developed in partnership with the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University.