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Engineering Design Extra
09.30.06
What's an "Extra"? Every month NASA compiles a list of educational resources related to a NASA theme. Visit each month to find new educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites.

The theme for October 2006 is "Engineering Design." Science and art, mathematics and creativity, models, and even predictions -- engineering encompasses all of these. Engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgment and logic in ways that benefit people.

An aluminum bulkhead of the center truss segment for the International Space Station
NASA TV Education Schedule
During the week of Oct. 16-22, 2006, NASA TV showcases videos that highlight engineering design. Check the schedule for titles and descriptions of the broadcasts.
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Image to right: Bulkheads like this are part of the 43-foot-long center truss segment for the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

NASA Educational Products

Front of poster showing a drawing of the Wrights' 1902 glider 1902 Glider Poster
The poster describes the steps the Wright brothers took that led to the development of the 1902 glider.
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The front of the Key to Discovery Poster showing a keyhole in front of different space and science images A Key to Discovery Poster
Use this NASA educational poster to teach about research on the International Space Station.
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The words Build It With Spacewalks above an image of an astronaut on a spacewalk and another picture of an astronaut in a spacesuit Build It With Spacewalks Poster
Use the activities on the back of the poster to teach the technology behind space suits.
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A picture of the International Space Station on the horizon with the words International Space Station above it International Space Station Poster
This poster shows an artist's rendition of the International Space Station with all of its components.
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The front cover of the 3...2...1... Liftoff! Educator Guide with a drawing of the space shuttle and the International Space Station 3... 2... 1... Liftoff! Educator Guide
These lesson plans and activities demonstrate the role that rockets play in the construction of the International Space Station.
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The front cover of the Exploring the Extreme Educator Guide with an image of an airplane on it Exploring the Extreme Educator Guide
Teach the basics of aeronautics through hands-on involvement, prediction, data collections and interpretation.
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Cover of guide showing Wilbur and Orville Wright walking Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers' Adventure Educator Guide
The educator guide has information about Wilbur and Orville Wright and activities for building gliders.
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The front cover of the Rockets Educator Guide with different types of rockets on it Rockets Educator Guide
Learn history, scientific principles and mathematics of rockets through these activities and lesson plans.
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The front cover of the Suited for Spacewalking Educator Guide with images of spacewalks in the background Suited for Spacewalking Educator Guide
Capture students' imaginations with this guide to spacewalking.
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The front cover of the 757 Glider Kit 757 Glider Kit
With these problem-solving challenges, students can build a paper glider model of a 757.
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The front cover of the Cool Suits Activity Cool Suits Activity
Challenge your students to find the relationship between energy reflection/absorption and color with this lesson plan.
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The front of the Designing a Crew Exploration Vehicle Activity sheet Designing a Crew Exploration Vehicle Activity
Spark your students' creativity as they design a model of the CEV in this classroom activity.
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The front of the Ray Sheilding Activity Ray Shielding Activity
The lesson challenges students to analyze different materials to simulate space radiation shielding on a spacecraft and select the best material to build a spacecraft.
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The front cover of the X-Glider educational brief that shows how to build a glider X-Gliders
In this activity, students build a glider, learn how to change its flight characteristics, and conduct an experiment to answer a question.
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NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

Picture of CD, tape, slides and guides
The Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE, is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes are bundled by topic and may include DVDs, CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Search words for CORE materials: engineering design

CORE
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Follow the Theme -- Activities, Adventures and Web Sites of Interest

Two robots made from plastic building blocks Robotics Alliance Project
RAP supports robotics competitions, facilitates robotics curriculum, and develops a national clearinghouse for robotics education and career resources.
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An image of an ace and an airplane The AceAir Challenge
In an interactive challenge for grades 3-5, students design an airplane and test mathematical skills.
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World Book @ NASA Airplanes From World Book @ NASA for Students
This article tells about the different kinds of airplanes and their history.
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F-16 Using Research Tools to Design an Airplane
NASA Quest's Aero Design Team Online explains what it takes to successfully design a new airplane.
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A collage of kids holding the experiments they created Engineering Design Challenges
Middle and high school students can design, build and test models just as the NASA engineers do. Educator guides and videos can be downloaded from the Web site.
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Drawing of two kids standing by a Future Flight Design sign and an airplane

Future Flight Design
Middle school students are invited to become "NASA researchers" designing the air transportation system of tomorrow. Two educator guides are available.
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Case of the Challenging Flight
While designing their plane, the Tree House Detectives learn about the four forces of flight (lift, thrust, drag and gravity) -- all in an attempt to build an "eggs-tra-ordinary" flying machine. The educational videotape is designed for grades 3-5.
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Annual Great Moonbuggy Race
High school and college students are invited to design, build and race a moonbuggy in NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Great Moonbuggy Race.
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Space Settlement Design Contest
The annual contest is for 6th-12th-grade students from anywhere in the world. Students develop space settlement designs and related materials.
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Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Kid's Site
Students can learn the parts of a jet engine, play the Plane Game, trace the history of flight, and participate in fun activities about aeronautics.
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Wind Tunnels -- Laboratories of Flight
Take a virtual tour and learn about the origins of wind tunnels and how they work. Educators will be interested in the teacher's guide and activities for students.
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Behind the Scenes: Engineering
Engineers design the tools and equipment astronauts will need in space, as well as any software that may be needed to run that equipment. They also design equipment that can be used in future space missions. From the pistol grip tool that allowed astronauts to service the Hubble Space Telescope to the sleep station that gives space station astronauts added protection from space radiation, engineers continually strive to make it easier and safer to work in space.
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NASA's Constellation Program
NASA's Constellation Program builds on the legacy of Apollo and the space shuttle to deliver a new generation of spacecraft that will carry human explorers to the moon, Mars and beyond.
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Videos showcased in the October 2006 Education File Schedule to support "Engineering Design" are listed below.
Aeronautical Oddities (7-Adult)
BioBLAST (9-12)
Colors of the Sun (5-8)
Destination Tomorrow™ Two (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Five (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Six (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Nineteen (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Twenty (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Twenty-One (9-Adult)
NASA CONNECT™: Breaking Barriers: Solving Linear Equations (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Doing More in Less (5-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Geometry and Algebra: Glow With the Flow (5-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Geometry and Algebra: The Future Flight Equation (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: The Centennial of Flight Special Edition: Problem Solving: The "Wright" Math (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Venus Transit (6-8)
Passport to Knowledge: Bouncing to Mars (All)
Passport to Knowledge: Countdown to Mars (4-10)
Science in Action: Nerf Glider (K-12)
Space Place Live! Kip Thorne, Program 1 (3-6)
Space Place Live! Karsten Danzman, Program 2 (3-6)
Space Place Live! Deb Vane, Program 3 (3-6)
Space Place Live! Dr. Chris Martin, Program 4 (3-6)
Space Place Live! Donya Douglas, Program 5 (3-6)
Space Place Live! Michelle Thaller, Program 6 (3-6)
Starfinder Program 30: Cosmology (6-10)
THAT NASA SHOW - Program 2: Space Wear (3-8)
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