NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Unit: Engineering -- Exploration

  Grade Levels: 4-6

  Connection To Curriculum:
  Science and Technology

  Teacher Prep Time: 15-30 minutes

  Lesson Time Needed: 1 hour

  Complexity: Basic

  Keywords: simulations, computer
  simulations, computer-based

Materials:

Computers with Internet access

Description
Students will use NASA Web-based simulators to follow sequenced directions and complete ordered tasks while learning how the shuttle is made ready for flight, how the shuttle docks with the International Space Station, how the shuttle lands, and how NASA retrieves the solid rocket boosters.

Objectives
Students will:
• Follow given directions throughout the simulation media to complete the proper sequences.
• Incorporate the use of technology when presented with various simulated situations.

Lesson Guide NASA Simulations Lesson [241KB PDF file]

Professional Development Training Module for This Lesson

› Launch Mission Simulators training module  → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load. Download Video

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Lesson Activities and Sequence

1. Introduce students to the interactive media resource provided by Information Technology and Communications Services at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
2. Students should begin with the first simulation and continue.
3. Discuss what happened: Instruct the students to share their simulation experiences and talk about how they solved any problems that came up.
4. Evaluation: Observe and record students’ successes in the use of technology and the simulation interface to complete each mission.

Keywords: simulations, computer simulations, computer-based

National Standards: