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Space Faring: The Radiation Challenge Middle School Educator Guide

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Radiation image

Audience

Educators

Grade Levels

Grades 5-8

Subject

Life Science, Space Science, Space Biology, Space Radiation

Type

Educator Guides, Lesson Plans / Activities, Other Multimedia

Radiation biology examines the effects of radiation on living systems. The lesson plans are hands-on investigations that encourage the use of science, mathematics, engineering, technology, problem solving and inquiry skills. The activities provide a general framework that can be modified based on student needs and classroom resources.

Radiation biology is an interdisciplinary science – biology, physics, astrophysics, planetary science and engineering – that examines the effects of radiation on living systems. The Space Faring: The Radiation Challenge educator guide links these disciplines in the context of a lunar outpost by providing background, discussion and research questions, objectives, and inquiry-based activities to introduce radiation biology to middle school students. The guide includes a pretest, lessons, student sheets and answer keys.
The activities in the guide are:

  • Radiation: Radiation Exposure on Earth
  • Radiation Damage in Living Organisms: Modeling Radiation-Damaged DNA
  • Protection From Radiation: Space Weather Forecasting
  • A section on Applications to Life on Earth: Radiation as a Tool is also included.

Space Faring: The Radiation Challenge Middle School Educator Guide

Related Lesson: Earth Space Science STEM Cases


The following videos supplement the educator guide:

Act 1: What Is Radiation and Where Does It Come From? Video 

Act 2: Space Radiation and Human Health Video

Act 3: Protection From Space Radiation Video