Space Nutrition
This NASA guide from 2012 covers nutrition as well as exercise and other important human health considerations for space travel. It combines a friendly…
Plants in Space
Can plants tell which way is up? Students find out by setting up some radish seedlings in a dark, moist environment, then turning the…
Which Lights Do Plants Like? from Adventures of the Agronauts
Do plants use some colors of light more than others in the processes of growing and making food? Students use radish seed, opaque film…
Get a Leg Up
When astronauts first travel to the International Space Station (ISS), they feel as if they have colds and their faces look puffy. At the…
Cleaning Water
Students design, build, and test the performance of their own water filtering systems in this activity from NASA’s 21st Century Explorer series published in…
Crystal Growth in Microgravity
Learners investigate the growth of crystals under different temperature conditions using heat pack hand warmers. This activity is from page 148 of the immense…
Bone Loss in Space: “Bag of Bones”
Students learn about factors that affect bone density, including the microgravity environment experienced by Space Station astronauts. They experiment with bags of cereal to…
Space Food and Nutrition
Everyday nutrition becomes more interesting when you learn it in the context of spaceflight! This guide gives a detailed history of space food up…
Microgravity: Earth and Space
Published in 2001, this Microgravity Educator’s Guide provides a thorough introduction and eight activities that each target specific grade ranges. Students create microgravity in…
Rockets: 3, 2, 1, Puff!
Students construct small “indoor” paper rockets, check their flight stability, and launch them by blowing air through a drinking straw. This activity is from…
Water Rockets
Students design and construct water-powered rockets using plastic soft drink bottles, cardboard or Styrofoam, tape, and glue. Includes instructions for building the water rocket…
Keeping Your Cool
Students learn about the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU), or spacesuit, and experience the water-cooling technology that helps maintain the astronaut’s body temperature. This activity…