Hi Teachers!

 

We look forward to meeting you and your students for our upcoming Space STEM Program.

Below are details about the program structure along with some background information.

First things first:

  • Total program time is 2-3 hours pending grade level and schedule availability

  • For any questions, please contact us at spacestemprogram@gmail.com

Part 1

Presentation outline

30-45 minutes (depending on grade level)

A STEM Coalition presenter and Guardians from the US Space Force will present a kinesthetic, interactive program that introduces your students to the following concepts:

•    Space, Rockets and Satellites

•    The importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in our pursuit of knowledge in space

•    Why a focus on academics is important even when school and STEM are challenging

•    Importance of higher education (college/vocational school) and pros of pursuing it

•    Introduction to the Space Force and their jobs

•    Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate as fully as possible

Part 2

Hands-on activity

30-50 minutes (depending on grade level)

•    Students will build rockets out of paper and tape with the assistance of the volunteers

•    Engineering concepts and methodologies are emphasized during rocket build

•    Students will decorate the rockets coming up with an imaginative name for their rocket

•    Once rockets are built, students head outdoors led by the teachers to “launch their rocket”

•    Students keep their rockets to bring home

Part 3

Launching rockets

30-50 minutes (depending on grade level)

Outdoors (weather permitting): Led by the teachers, the classes will move outside aided by the US Space Force volunteers and the STEM Coalition presenter.  In the case of inclement weather, we can perform smaller launches indoors

Pneumatic “Air” Rocket Launcher:  Each student will launch their own rocket in a simulated launch pattern as though they were in a Launch Control Center.  Rockets are launched four to eight at a time.

Expectations:  Rockets can fly up over 100 feet into the sky before safely coming back down in the outdoor area.

Safety:  While each rocket is launched, students should remain behind the rocket launcher.  When the volunteer provides the “all clear”, students that just launched their rocket can go and retrieve it. Safety instructions are emphasized and provided to the students.

Expectations

We thank you for your time and the privilege of working with your class.  If teachers would like to provide information to students in advance of the presentation, the following are concepts that coincide with this program:

•    What is space?

•    What are rockets and how do they work?

•    What are satellites and how are they used in everyday life?

•    What most excites you about space and the future?

 

We look forward to meeting you and flying in our imaginations to Space with you and your students.