From 69344d3a6b0470599044ac3cea1812ff36b36902 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dane Sabo Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:48:46 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] vault backup: 2024-09-30 17:48:46 --- .../2024-09-30 MoonTree Activity.md | 100 ++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 100 insertions(+) create mode 100644 2.1 GSA Meeting Notes/2024-09-30 MoonTree Activity.md diff --git a/2.1 GSA Meeting Notes/2024-09-30 MoonTree Activity.md b/2.1 GSA Meeting Notes/2024-09-30 MoonTree Activity.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9bffb1bc --- /dev/null +++ b/2.1 GSA Meeting Notes/2024-09-30 MoonTree Activity.md @@ -0,0 +1,100 @@ +# Kindergarten (Easy) +**Objective:** Introduce the kids to the idea that trees need certain things to grow, and the moon doesn’t provide them. + +1. **Introduction (Simple, bold text with pictures):** + - **What do trees need to grow?** (Big colorful images of the sun, soil, water, and air) + - Sun for warmth and light ☀️ + - Air for breathing 🌬️ + - Water for drinking 💧 + - Soil for standing and food 🌱 +2. **What’s different on the Moon?** (Visual comparison between Earth and Moon) + - No air (simple “X” over a cloud of air) + - No water (simple “X” over a water droplet) + - Too much sun with no protection (UV rays image) + - Different soil (moon dust vs. Earth soil image) +3. **Activity:** + - **Challenge:** How can we help a tree grow on the Moon? + - Example solutions (visual): Build a bubble, bring soil, give the tree a space helmet. + - **Cut and paste activity:** Provide basic shapes (bubble, helmet, water droplet, etc.) for them to cut out and paste on their tree drawing. +--- +# 3rd Grade (Medium) +### **Handout for 3rd Grade (More In-Depth Problem-Solving)** + +**1. Introduction:** +- **What do trees need to grow?** + - **Sunlight** 🌞 – Trees need light to make their own food through photosynthesis. + - **Water** 💧 – Water helps trees drink and grow. + - **Air** 🌬️ – Trees breathe air (specifically carbon dioxide). + - **Soil** 🌱 – Trees need soil to hold their roots and get nutrients. +- Include small pictures/icons next to each item to make it visual and engaging. + +**2. What’s different on the Moon?** +- **No air:** The Moon has no atmosphere, so there is no air for trees to breathe. +- **No water:** There is no liquid water on the Moon. +- **UV Rays:** The Sun’s rays on the Moon are much stronger without Earth’s atmosphere to protect plants. +- **Different soil:** Moon soil, called “regolith,” is very dusty and doesn’t have the nutrients trees need. + +**3. Activity:** +- **Challenge:** How can we help trees grow on the Moon? + - Provide a few prompts for them to think about: + - **How will the tree get air?** + - **How will the tree get water?** + - **How can we protect the tree from the Sun’s strong UV rays?** + - They should try to **come up with their own solutions** by thinking about: + - Building a special **container** to give the tree air and water. + - Designing a **shield** or using glass to protect the tree from UV rays. + - Mixing special **soil** to help the tree stand tall and grow. + +**4. Sketching Their Ideas:** +- Provide a large box where they can **draw** their idea for how they would help the tree grow on the Moon. + - Encourage creativity: “Can you build a dome around the tree? Or give it space boots? Maybe it needs a special watering system?” + - Include fun ideas like **bubbles** or **domes** that could help them visualize. + +**5. Additional prompts (Optional):** +- **How would astronauts care for these trees?** + - Have them think about how people living on the Moon could check on their trees and water them. + +--- +# 5th Grade (Hard) +### **Handout for 5th Grade (Engineering Design & Problem Solving)** + +**1. Introduction:** +- **The problem:** Trees need sunlight, air, water, and soil, but the Moon doesn’t have these things. + - Briefly recap each element: + - **Air:** The Moon has no air (it’s a vacuum). + - **Water:** No liquid water is available. + - **Sunlight/UV Rays:** The Moon has no atmosphere, so the Sun’s UV rays are too strong. + - **Soil:** Moon dust (regolith) is different from Earth soil—no nutrients for trees. + - Provide short, scientific explanations next to simple visuals. + +**2. Engineering Challenge:** +- **Your Mission:** You are an engineer designing a system to help trees grow on the Moon. + - Ask them to think about **three main problems**: + 1. **Providing air** – How can we make sure the tree has enough air to breathe? + 2. **Providing water** – How can we give the tree water in an environment where there is none? + 3. **Protecting from UV rays** – How can we protect the tree from the Sun’s strong rays? + +**3. Engineering Design Requirements:** +- Introduce the idea of **requirements** and **constraints**: + - **Requirements:** Things the design must do. Example: The tree must be able to breathe air. + - **Constraints:** Limitations to the design. Example: It must use materials that astronauts can bring to the Moon. + +**4. Activity:** +- **Sketch Your Design:** + - Provide a large space for them to draw their solution to the problem of growing trees on the Moon. + - Encourage them to think about: + - **What materials would you use?** + - **How will the tree get water and air?** + - **Can you create a system to recycle air and water for the tree?** + - Prompt them with ideas like a **bubble dome**, a **watering system**, or using **solar panels** to power the tree's environment. + +**5. Write About Your Solution:** +- Add a small section where they can write 2-3 sentences about **how their design works**. + - Example questions to prompt them: + - “How does your tree get air?” + - “How does your system protect the tree from UV rays?” + - “What materials will you use to build your solution?” + +**6. Bonus:** +- **What if something breaks?** (Optional prompt for advanced thinking) + - Ask them to think about how astronauts or engineers could **fix** the system if something stops working. \ No newline at end of file