Audience
Educators
Grade Levels
Grades K-4
Subject
Earth Science, Engineering Design, Space Science, Planet Earth, Solar System and Planets, Earth's Moon
Type
Educator Guides, Lesson Plans / Activities
Big Idea: The engineering design process helps humans to solve the problems of growing plants for food on the moon.
Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long-duration missions to the moon. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon, and the plants could be used to supplement meals.
In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, or ITEEA, present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers – while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. Students participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.
Moon Munchies Educator Guide – Design, Build and Evaluate [4MB PDF file]
Lessons/Activities:
Lesson 1: Natural Resources on Earth
Lesson 2: Exploring the Moon
Lesson 3: Providing Light for Your Plants
Lesson 4: Watering Your Plants
Lessons 5 and 6: Designing and Building the Lunar Plant Growth Chamber
Related materials:
Moon Munchies Educator Guide – Design and Evaluate [2MB PDF file]
More Guides in the Human Exploration Project Series
Elementary
Moon Power – Energy and Power (Grades 1-5)
Middle School
Lunar Colonization – Energy and Power (Grade 6)
Packing Up for the Moon – Lunar Plant Growth Chamber (Grades 5-8)
Creating a Space Exploration Infrastructure – Transportation (Grade 7)
Space Transportation: Reshooting the Moon – Transportation (Grade 8)
High School
Engineering Design for Human Exploration – Energy and Power (Grades 9-12)
Lunar Plant Growth Chamber (Grades 9-12)
NASA: Moving Cargo – Transportation (Grade 9)
Transportation and Space: Reuse and Recycle – Transportation (Grades 10-12)
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