NASA Essay Contest: To the Moons!
Posted on February 11th, 2013 by Mary Lord
NASA is hosting an essay contest for students in grades 5 to 12 to help choose whether the next big mission to the outer solar system should go to Saturn’s moon, Titan, or to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. The deadline for submissions is February 28.
Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs | Comment »
Tags: Astrobiology, Competitions for Students, Contest, Essay Contest, Europa, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, moons, NASA, Solar System, space experiments, space exploration, Titan
In this activity, student teams learn about construction and engineering design by building a domed structure with an internal frame that is strong enough to support 120 grams of coins or candy on top. They present their domes to the class and complete reflections on the lessons learned.
How will humans use science and technology to explore space, and what mysteries will we uncover? What scientific and technological tools must we create to explore the solar system and beyond? NASA’s second international Humans in Space Art asks students ages 10 – 18 to answer those questions through art. The deadline for submitting musical, literary, visual, or video artwork is midnight U.S. Central Standard Time, October 21, 2012.
In this lesson, students in grades 3 to 12 explore how engineers incorporate the latest materials and manufacturing techniques to improve the performance of sports equipment by constructing a functional racquet out of everyday materials that can volley against another team’s racquet at least six times.
In this activity, students in grades 7-9 explore the sound-dampening capability of materials by designing and prototyping model sound booths. They learn about how sound is reflected and absorbed, and how it travels through various materials, providing an overview of sound dampening propagation in the context of engineering.
In this activity, teams of kids in grades 4-7 follow the engineering design process to invent a holder for six cans that’s animal-safe, sturdy, convenient, and easy to carry. They learn why discarded plastic rings can be a problem for wildlife and brainstorm animal-friendly ways to package six cans. They then build, test, and redesign their system and discuss what happened.
In this activity, students in grades 4 – 12 will do math like a computer. They will learn the basics of binary number systems by writing and then counting on their hands, and use their knowledge to decode numbers and letters.
In this lesson, students in grades 6-8 discover how engineers can use biomimicry to enhance their designs. They learn how careful observation of nature — in this case, reverse engineering a flower — can lead to new innovations and products. 
You don’t have to be an engineer to introduce engineering concepts and design into your classroom. The eGFI site includes scores of inexpensive, engaging lessons – searchable by grade level or subject – that cover the various engineering disciplines. To kick off the school year and acquaint you with eGFI, we’ve assembled a dozen of 2011’s most popular lessons and activities. Have fun putting some “E” in your STEM classes this semester!
