Audience
Educators
Grade Levels
Grades 5-8
Subject
Human Space Exploration, Life Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Living and Working in Space, Space Biology, Problem Solving, Energy, Space Radiation
Type
Lesson Plans / Activities
Students protect a potato “astronaut” from the harmful effects of the radiation in their ovens after they have compared and contrasted radiation exposure on Earth with radiation exposure in space.
Students will:
- Identify everyday radiation exposures on Earth.
- Contrast Earth radiation exposures with those experienced by astronauts in deep space.
- Explain the effects of radiation exposure on the human body.
- Investigate the importance of radiation shielding for deep space travel.
Next Generation Science Standards: MS-PS3-3, MS-LS3-1, MS-ETS1-2
This lesson plan is part of the Hazards to Deep Space Astronauts educator guide.