stellar-visage

This project gives educators a way to explore space science with their students and then to allow the students to engage their imagination about future space exploration. There is a collection of descriptions about various bodies in space, as well as examples of "what could happen" in the future. Students are able to create their own art to represent components of the visual representation, which are uploaded into the software and displayed when the planet is selected.

For pre-k through 2nd grade (beginner level), there are reading level appropriate descriptions of planets, the sun, asteroids belt, the moon and the ISS. Lessons can include imaging what the planet looks like (including geographical features like volcanoes and mountains), the atmosphere, and the path a rocket ship might take to get there. Young student can think about what space ships might need to look like to land on these place and work together to think about the sorts of thing people and robots can do on these space bodies.

For 3-6 graders (advanced), there is an increase in the details in the description of the space bodies. Additionally, the advance levels include Ceres in the Asteroid belt, the Kuiper Belt and Eris and Pluto as representations of dwarf planets. There are links for students to read about planned and past missions. Teachers can have students create space missions, including thinking about what types of resources they might need, how they might engineer a mission, and what that would look like. This can include using the asteroid belt as a jumping off point for exploring the outer planets and using rouge asteroids and comets as potential things to hitch a ride on to save on the need for fuel to travel around the solar system. Additionally, social issues about long term space adventures are included. This includes how you would pick people for the mission, how you would create a new society on a planet, and how you would create rule, to inte4rgreat the social sciences into the mission.

Teachers are encouraged to bring in literature as a resource for students to help think creative about potential space missions. A short list is included, but teachers will be encouraged to give fee back on resources they are using to expand this in the future.

Project Information

Resources