On the Moon Training NASA and Design Squad: Team up to inspire a new generation of engineers

The NASA/Design Squad Partnership NASA Design Squad The Design Process Activity: Roving on the Moon Engineers! Activity: Feel the Heat On The Moon More Resources from Design Squad and NASA Q & A AGENDA

NASA and Design Squad share common goals: We want kids to learn about engineering and experience it firsthand We aim to inspire the next generation of engineers We want to improve the public image of engineering Together, we help YOU bring hands-on engineering and the adventure of space to life for kids THE PARTNERSHIP

NASA NASA asks questions like: What’s out there? How do we get there? What will we find? How will what we learn improve life on Earth? Engineers work in various fields include aeronautics, exploration systems, science, and space operations By the year 2020, NASA plans to build a lunar outpost capable of housing teams of astronauts for six months or more

identify good landing sites measure temperature and levels of light, dust, and radiation so equipment will work reliably look for useful resources to support life on the moon - like minerals and ice NASA’s Missions LRO and LCROSS Before building the lunar outpost, NASA needs to learn more by sending robotic missions to:

DESIGN SQUAD 13 episodes  1 host  8 contestants Two teams  One challenge One winner  $10,000 scholarship from Intel Web site  35 hands-on activities

SNEAK PEEK Click here to view the Design Squad Overview video. You can either click the link above from “Slide Show” mode OR you can copy and paste this URL into your browser: ()

Includes: leader notes open-ended questions extension activities curriculum connections NASA background National Science Standards ON THE MOON 6 activities that bring NASA’s moon missions to life.

DESIGN PROCESS Use it with kids to: expand their thinking become more innovative learn from their mistakes Every aspect of Design Squad reinforces the design process.

ROVING ON THE MOON Challenge Design and build a rubber band-powered rover that can scramble across the floor. Design Questions: What will make the rover move? How can you make different wheels? How will square wheels affect how it moves?

Build Create the basic design. Test Power it up and let go. Redesign Are the wheels turning freely? Does it travel in a straight line? Can you make it travel further? BUILD & TEST

Engineers dream up creative, practical solutions and work with other smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and build things that matter. They are changing the world all the time. WHAT’S AN ENGINEER?

Think creatively. Work with great people. Explore possibilities. Change the world and make a difference. WHAT DO ENGINEERS DO AT WORK?

D Squad Pro File Click here to view the Design Squad video. You can either click the link above from “Slide Show” mode OR you can copy and paste this URL into your browser: ()

FEEL THE HEAT Design Questions What color background will heat the water the best? How fast should the water flow through the tube? How can zigzagging the tube help? Challenge Design and build a solar hot water heater and see how big a temperature change you can get.

Build Create the basic design. Test Be sure to record temperatures before and after. Redesign Is the water flowing too quickly? Is the water leaking? How can we make a more drastic temperature change? BUILD & TEST

ON THE MOON ChallengeEventsGrades 3-5Grades 6-8Grades 9-12 Launch ItXXX TouchdownXXX Roving on the Moon XX Heavy LiftingXX On TargetXX Feel the Heat X nasa.gov or pbs.org/designsquad/parentseducators

MORE RESOURCES Educator’s Guide 4 Units, 10 Activities (Workshops) Event Guide 5 Activities (Events) Activity Guide 5 Activities (Workshops or Events) Find them online at: pbs.org/designsquad/parentseducators Order your own copy by ing: Coming soon! Invent Today (working title) New guide about invention and innovation. Available EWeek 2009 (February).

FLEXIBILITY Offer On the Moon activities: Individually As a unit of 2 or more activities Combine with other NASA and Design Squad activities Create an Engineering Club that meets weekly

EVALUATION: SERIES After viewing four Design Squad episodes: students’ understanding of the Design Process increased. their stereotypes of engineers were broken. they wanted to enroll in an engineering afterschool program. they understood the science content on the shows. they had a better sense of teamwork. AND they liked it! Goodman Research Group, Inc. October 2007

EVALUATION: EDUCATOR’S GUIDE After using the Educator’s Guide: program leaders found it useful and wanted to use it again. they felt more comfortable talking about engineering. they developed a better understanding of the Design Process. students’ understanding of engineering and science concepts improved. AND students liked the engineering activities! Goodman Research Group, Inc. October 2007

Design Squad Web Site

NASA Web Site

QUESTIONS?

KEEP IN TOUCH! Thank you! Rick McMaster Executive Project Manager, IBM Chair, Central Texas Discover Engineering Thea Sahr Associate Director, Educational Outreach Susan Buckey Outreach Project Director quad