Moon STEM Pack

Moon Landing Science STEM Pack M O O N S C I E N C E & S T E M P A C K

INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to your Moon Theme STEM Pack filled with great science activities and STEM projects every junior scientist or astronaut should try! I hope it sparks creativity and curiosity within your young scientists, inventors, and engineers.

In this pack, find a fun selection of neat moon theme activities, challenges, and activities. I have added supplies, setup instructions, and simple science information for each activity. The pack also includes STEM projects and a few fun extras to share with your kids. A new lunar landing STEM story also awaits your budding readers!

Feel free to use this pack with one junior scientist or a whole group of junior engineers. You may copy activities as many times as you like for your class, but please send your friends to grab their pack instead of sharing files.

~ Thank you! M O O N S T E M P A C K E X T R A S Build a rocket, make a Thaumatrope, play bingo or I-Spy! S T E M : S T O R Y C H A L L E N G E Go on a STEM filled adventure with this Lunar Landing STEM Adventure pack! Read the story and solve the challenges.

What's Included:

Engaging STEM Story STEM Challenges STEM Journal Pages STEM Supply List STEM Drawing Page S T E M : M O O N C H A L L E N G E S Add these Moon theme STEM challenge cards to a simple engineering kit filled with easy to find supplies. Encourage the kids to get creative! Fun individual or group activity.

What's Included:

Moon STEM Challenges STEM Design Process STEM Supply List M O O N : S C R E E N F R E E C O D I N G Explore and learn about binary code and algorithms with screen-fee activities!

What's Included:

Printable Algorithm Game Printable Binary Code Craft

Both activities have their own instructional pages as part of the packs! N E I L A R M S T R O N G Learn more about Neil Armstrong with this workbook pack. M O O N P H A S E S A C T I V I T I E S Grab some cookies and recreate the phases of the moon! Put together a mini-moon book to learn about each phase or chart the moon on a calendar! A P O L L O L A N D I N G

Learn all about the lunar landing of Apollo 11 that put the first two men on the moon! Make your own mini book to celebrate the anniversary or explore the landing of Apollo 11.

M O O N A C T I V I T I E S Explore hands-on activities with a moon theme for easy to setup STEAM activities. Sensory, science, art, and more! Go ahead and cut out and color the moon below too. M O O N : M A K I N G C R A T E R S

SUPPLIES:

4 cups of baking flour

1/2 cup of cooking oil

Small rocks, marbles, or other weighted objects (for making craters)

Astronaut figure (for sensory play after the crater making activity)

Round baking pan

PROCESS:

STEP 1: Add 4 cups or so of any baking flour to a bowl.

STEP 2: Add a 1/2 cup of cooking oil to the flour and mix!

TIP: The mixture should be moldable or packable.

STEP 3: Add the mixture to your circular "moon" shaped pan! Get your objects ready for making moon craters. You can lightly smooth out the surface of the mixture, so your craters are more visible.

STEP 4: Making craters is simple and fun. Read more about craters below. To explore moon craters, have your kids drop a variety of weighted objects onto the surface as seen below). Slowly and carefully remove the object and examine the crater.

Tip: Enjoy sensory play with the moon dough too! Scoops, small figures, and small containers can fill and dump this fun mixture. Or recreate your own moon landing with mini astronauts.

W H A T A R E M O O N C R A T E R S ? HOW ARE CRATERS FORMED?

Is the moon made of cheese, Swiss cheese to be exact, because of all the holes?

Those holes aren't cheese, they are in fact moon craters!

The South Pole-Aitken Basin is the most significant and well-known crater on the moon along with others called Tycho, Maria, and even Apollo!

Craters are formed on the lunar surface, so they are called lunar craters or impact craters.

The craters are made from asteroids or meteorites that collide with the lunar surface just like the rocks or marbles collide with the moon sand when you drop them!

There are thousands of craters on the moon surface. The moon does not have the same atmosphere as we do here on earth, so it is not protected from asteroids or meteorites hitting the surface.

Some characteristics of a crater include loose material that is scattered around the outside of the depression, a rim around the perimeter, a mostly flat crater floor, and sloped crater walls.

We have craters here on earth, but water and plant life cover them better. The moon does not have much going on in terms of erosion such as rain or wind or even volcanic activity to change the appearance or camouflage the craters. Nor is there vegetation to cover them.

Just like the craters you made in your moon dough, not all of them will have the same depth or diameter. Some of the largest craters in circumference are considered pretty shallow at 15,000 feet deep. Whereas some newer craters are over 12 miles deep but smaller in the distance around! M O O N : C O O K I E M O O N P H A S E S

SUPPLIES:

Chocolate and cream cookie sandwiches Paper plate Plastic fork or spoon Markers: black, blue and green Printable phases of the moon pack

PROCESS:

STEP 1: Open up a pack of cookies and twist 8 cookies apart carefully.

STEP 2: Use the edge of a fork to draw a line down the center of the icing, carefully scrape off half the icing, and set onto the top of the paper plate to begin your first quarter Moon cycle.

STEP 3: Work from left to right on your cookie moon cycle, with next being waxing gibbous. Use the fork to draw the line, scrape off the icing, and set on the left of the first quarter Moon.

STEP 4: Work your way around: full Moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent, new, waning crescent, and back to the first quarter.

STEP 5: Once all the Moon’s are on the plate in a circle, carefully draw the Earth in the center with markers.

STEP 6: Use a marker or pen to write which Moon phase each cookie represents next to the appropriate Moon cookie model.

Learn about the Moon's phases: Use the phases of the Moon printable mini book pack to learn about each phase while you enjoy some cookies and a glass of milk!

M O O N : M O O N P H A S E S C R A F T

SUPPLIES:

White paper plate Blue and green felt (or paper) Thin black felt (or paper) White paper 1” circle punch Ruler Marker or pens Scissors Printable moon phases pack

PROCESS:

STEP 1: Draw and cut a 3” circle out of blue and green felt or paper.

STEP 2: Glue the green circle to the center of the plate.

STEP 3: Cut out the water from your blue circle and glue to the green circle to make the Earth.

STEP 4: Use the circle punch to punch out 8 black pieces of felt and glue them around the Earth. If you don't have a circular punch, go on a hunt for the right size circular object to trace instead!

STEP 5: Use the punch to make 8 white circles and cut them out according to the Moon phases.

STEP 6: Glue the white cut circles on top of the black circles and let them dry.

STEP 7: Use your marker to write the Moon’s phases by each moon.

Learn about the Moon's phases: Use the phases of the moon printable mini book pack to learn about each phase as you assemble this craft! Which phase of the Moon are you in today?

M O O N : F I Z Z Y M O O N R O C K S

SUPPLIES:

Baking Soda White Vinegar Water Black, blue, purple food coloring Glitter (optional) Pipette, meat baster, or squeeze bottle

PROCESS:

STEP 1: Add a few cups of baking soda to a bowl. This will be a recipe you play by ear depending on how many moon rocks you want to make!

STEP 2: In a separate container color the water as desired. We chose a dark, spacey theme. Just remember once the color mixes with the white baking soda, it won't be as dark.

STEP 3: Slowly add the colored water to the baking soda a little bit at a time. Add a few shakes of glitter if desired. TIP: You want to aim for a crumbly mixture that makes a "snowball" when packed together.

STEP 4: Shape the mixture into your moon rocks. They don't have to be perfect and can be any size. You can wrap in saran wrap to help keep the shape in the freezer. Let them harden in the freezer for a half hour or more.

STEP 5: Put the moon rocks in a baking dish and set out a bowl of white vinegar with a pipette, baster, or squirt bottle. Make them fizz! Using your chosen tool for experimenting, have your kids squirt some vinegar onto a moon rock, and observe what happens!

QUICK SCIENCE: The baking soda is a base, and the vinegar is an acid. When you combine the two, you produce a gas called carbon dioxide. You can see, hear, feel, and smell the chemical reaction. Explore states of matter! Liquids, solids, and gasses. Which is which? Baking soda is a solid, vinegar is a liquid, and the carbon dioxide produced from the reaction is the gas. M O O N : F I Z Z Y P A I N T S T E A M

SUPPLIES:

Black card stock (heavyweight paper) Baking soda Vinegar Shades of blues craft paint Plastic spoons or forks Paper or plastic cups Paintbrushes Spray bottle

PROCESS:

STEP 1: Fill up a small spray bottle with vinegar.

STEP 2: In a few separate cups, mix a 1/2 tablespoon of paint with a tablespoon of baking soda.

STEP 3: Draw a circle on a piece of black card stock.

STEP 4: Use the paint brushes to paint the Moon with different shades of blue (the paint should be thick).

STEP 5: Let your Moon dry and draw a few stars around it with a white crayon or marker.

STEP 6: Use the spray bottle to squirt vinegar onto the Moon and watch it fizz.

Go ahead and make a whole solar system of fizzy Moons, planets, stars, and sun!

QUICK SCIENCE: The science behind this summer STEAM project is the chemical reaction that occurs between the baking soda and the vinegar! Baking soda is a base, and vinegar is an acid. When the two combine, they make a gas called carbon dioxide. You can hear the fizz, see the bubbles, and even feel the fizz if you hold your hand close to the surface of the paper. M O O N : P U F F Y P A I N T S T E A M

SUPPLIES:

Paper plates Elmer’s glue Foam shaving cream Yellow glow in the dark paint Paintbrush Mixing bowl Spatula Measuring cups Scissors

PROCESS:

STEP 1: In a mixing bowl, measure and add 1 cup of shaving cream.

STEP 2: Using 1/3 cup, fill almost to the top with glue, leaving room for a tablespoon or so of glow paint and pour the glue mixture into the shaving cream. Mix well with a spatula.

STEP 4: Use a paintbrush to paint your homemade glow in the dark puffy paint onto the plates and let dry overnight. You can even leave spots for craters!

STEP 5: Cut the plates into different Moon phases if desired when they are dry.

STEP 6: Place the Moon in the light, and then bring it into a dark room to watch it glow.

Learn about the Moon's phases: Use the phases of the Moon printable mini-book pack to learn about each phase!

The Historic Lunar Landing of Apollo 11 On July 16, 1969 the Apollo 11 mission was launched. It became the first manned mission to land on the Moon. The first steps by humans onto the moon were taken by Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969. The astronauts also collected soil samples and returned them to the Earth for study. Apollo 11 achieved its primary mission - to perform a manned lunar landing and return the mission safely to Earth.

The Crew The Apollo 11 lunar landing mission crew, pictured from left to right, Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., “Buzz” lunar module pilot.

The Launch Site Saturn V SA-506, the rocket carrying the Apollo 11 spacecraft, is rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building and down the 3.5 mile crawlerway to Launch Complex 39-A.

© www.LIttleBinsforLittleHands.com The Launch The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifts off with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., at 9:32 a.m. EDT July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. An estimated 1 million people watched from nearby locations. And the event was aired live on television in 33 countries.

The Lunar Descent The Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle, in a landing configuration was photographed in lunar orbit from the Command and Service Module Columbia.

The Lunar Landing The lunar module touched down on the moon's Sea of Tranquility, a large basaltic region, at 4:17 p.m. Eastern time. Armstrong notified Houston with the historic words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

© www.LIttleBinsforLittleHands.com Stepping on the Moon Astronaut Armstrong emerged from the Eagle lunar module first. While descending, he released the television camera which humankind's first step on the Moon, July 20, 1969. Astronaut Aldrin pictured right was the second man to step onto the moon. Armstrong’s famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Surface Operations The astronauts carried out a planned sequence of activities that included deployment of a Solar Wind Composition (SWC) experiment, collection of a larger sample of lunar material, panoramic photographs of the region near the landing site and the lunar horizon, close-up photographs of in place lunar surface material, deployment of a Laser-Ranging Retroreflector (LRRR) and a Passive Seismic Experiment Package (PSEP), and collection of two core-tube samples of the lunar surface.

Collecting Soil Samples One of the surface operations for the astronauts was to collect samples of soil from the Moon’s surface. They collected a total of 21.7 kilograms.

© www.LIttleBinsforLittleHands.com Placing the Flag Astronaut Buzz Aldrin placed the flag into the Moon’s surface. He saluted the flag which is what the picture shows to the right. On the flag pole were these words:

HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON JULY 1969, A.D.

Lunar Ascent About two and a quarter hours after stepping onto to the surface, the astronauts began preparations to reenter the Eagle Lunar Module. Once they returned the two astronauts slept. The ascent from the lunar surface began 21 hours and 36 minutes after the lunar landing.

Docking & Jettison Eagle returned and docked with the Columbia on July 21. Once the astronauts returned to the Columbia the Eagle was jettisoned into lunar orbit, eventually it impacted somewhere on the surface of the moon. Note: This photo shows the Lunar Module separation from the command module.

© www.LIttleBinsforLittleHands.com The Return After the journey back from the Moon, the Apollo 11 command module sheds flaming pieces of its protective ablative covering as it hurtles through the Earth atmosphere toward splash down, July 24, 1969.

Photo Courtesy: NASA, Apollo 11 Mission. Public Domain

© LittleBinsforLittleHands.com Lunar Landing STEM Adventure Lunar Landing STEM adventure is a STEM story adventure challenge. The goal is for the story to serve as the spine for the STEM study. The story prompts the student to help the characters solve problems. Using information within the story students can brainstorm ways to resolve the problems. Using the STEM challenge cards (cut these out) students are given a challenge related to the story. They will need to brainstorm resources available to them. Made decisions on how to best utilize those materials to resolve the problems. Then through experimentation they will work through their ideas to see what works and what doesn’t work. NOTE: The story booklet is designed to print on 8.5x11 pages and is designed in booklet format. Which means you will need to print double sided. Then stack your pages according to page number, fold the booklet in half, and staple together.

© LittleBinsforLittleHands.com My STEM Park Adventure Challenges Design a Spacecraft Design a moon buggy The spacecraft will have three Answer questions like how far will modules: a command module, the buggy need to travel service module, and lunar module. and what will fuel the buggy.

What materials What materials might you need? might you need?

Design a Spacecraft Design a Lunar Space Station Make a robot that travels easily How long can the astronauts stay across the moon’s surface. Also on the moon? What will it be made decide how you will control the of and look like? What supplies will movement of the robot. they need to live on the moon?

What materials What materials might you need? might you need?

Going to the moon is going to take a lot of planning by the STEM crew. Through research and resourceful thinking, the team can solve the STEM challenges. Use this page to brainstorm what you will need, who you might need to speak with, draw plans for your spacecraft, robot, and lunar station. What problems might arise that you need to address in the planning stages?

Write out your ideas for your STEM Adventure Draw Your Designs

Draw Your Designs What books are you using for research?

How can I solve the problem?

What materials do I have/need?

I will test my solution,

What changes can I make My Draw & Tell lunar landing STEM Adventure Draw a picture of the deserted STEM Island, and then tell what you think it would be like to be on the island.

First Quarter New Moon Waning Crescent Half Moon Waxing Gibbous

Last Quarter New Moon Waning Gibbous Half Moon Waning Crescent LABEL THE MOON PHASES

What phase is the moon in tonight?

LittleBinsforLittleHands.com Waxing Crescent

Waxing Gibbous

Waning Crescent

Waning Gibbous

Last Quarter

First Quarter Cut out the moon phases below and match to the correct. the to match and below phases moon the out Cut

Full Moon

New Moon Answer Key Answer LittleBinsforLittleHands.com

You Need  1 Oreo cookie per phase, (8 total)  1 Popsicle stick Twist the top off of the Oreo cookie. Using the popsicle stick, scoop

Oreo Cookie Phases of the Moon off the frosting leaving the correct amount to form each phase of the moon. Charting the Moon Phases Use the chart below to sketch the phases of the moon each night of the month.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

© www.LittleBinsforLittleHands.com MOON THEMED ALGORITHM CODING GAME littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com littlebinsforlittlehands.com

binary code

Coding ornaments are the perfect craft activity for the kid who doesn't care too much for crafts! Screen-free coding and ornament making as you explore the binary code.

SUPPLIES

 3 Colors of Beads  Pipe Cleaners  Printable Binary Code Sheet

Choose one color bead for the number 1 and another color bead for the number 0. Choose a 3rd color bead to use as a spacer between letters.

Bend your pipe cleaner into any whimsical shape.

Choose a word or your name to be represented with the binary code. Use the printable sheet to write down the code.

If your word is too long for one pipe cleaner, simply attach another! Use ribbon or another type of fastener to hang in your window or tune into a keychain!

The computer doesn't read the letter A like we read the letter A. It reads it in a series of 1's and 0's. Each letter has its own code of 1's and 0's. This code is called the ASCII Binary Alphabet.

The binary number system is a base-2 number system. This means it only has two numbers: 0 and 1. The number system that we normally use is the decimal number system. It has 10 numbers: 0-9.

Computers work best with an “on” and “off” system and that is just what the binary code is all about. 1 is “on” and 0 is “off”.

littlebinsforlittlehands.com Alphabet in binary code

Write your name in code ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— —————

littlebinsforlittlehands.com Write sun in Write star in binary code binary code

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

Write planet in binary code Write galaxy in binary code ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

littlebinsforlittlehands.com Write mercury Write venus in in binary code binary code

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— Write earth in binary code

Write moon in binary code ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

littlebinsforlittlehands.com Write mars in Write jupiter binary code in binary code

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— Write saturn ———— in binary code

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

littlebinsforlittlehands.com Write uranus Write neptune in binary code in binary code

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— ————— —————

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Outer Space

littlebinsforlittlehands.com 1

Outer Space

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littlebinsforlittlehands.com Outer Space BINGO Outer Space BINGO

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littlebinsforlittlehands.com Outer Space BINGO Outer Space BINGO

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Cut out each circle. Tape a straw to the back of one of the circles, then match the other image to the back like 2 sides of a coin, tape or staple the edges. Then using the straw roll quickly between fingers back and forth.

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Body Tube: Cut out, roll into a cylinder, add glue along this edge and press the other side forming the tube.

ted lines. lines. Glue ted indicated where the cone. forming to flaps Use the the inside top glue rocket body. the of Cut along along the Cut black lines and the dot- along fold

Fin 1 Fin 3 Fin 2 Fin 4 3d Paper Rocket Paper 3d

Glue

wrap

Glue

Scissors tape or glue Paper Paper color pencils, crayons, or markers

the tube. the Tape Tape tothetop of Pressurecap:

The4th isfin option- tube,anduseas a guidethefor fins. aroundthebody Finguide:

Space Challenge Supply List Acrylic paint Golf tees Scissors Aluminum foil Google eyes Screws Baggies Headphones Screwdriver Beads Knobs Shells Bicycle tubing LEGO® bricks Shredded paper Cardboard Lids & Rings (for Mason jars) Shovels & Pails Casters Magnets Skewers Clothes pins Marbles Sponges Coffee filters Measuring cups Springs Cotton balls Metal tubing Stapler Cotton swabs Needle and thread Straws Craft paper Nuts and bolts Styrofoam balls Craft sticks Paint brushes Tape Doilies Paper Tape measure Dryer tubing Paper cups Tea lights Duct tape Paper clips Timers Fabric Paper tubing Tin can Faux plants Pencil Toilet paper rolls Felt Pinecones Toothpicks Flat marbles Pipe cleaners Toy planets Foam board Plastic cups Twine Food coloring Plastic spoons Twist ties Funnel Plastic wrap Washi Tape Gears Pom-poms Water Gems Raffia Wire Glitter glue Ribbon Wooden planks Glow stars Rubber Bands Yarn Glue Sand Zip ties

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Design & Build a Spacecraft Design and build a spacecraft with a command module, service module, and lunar module. Research some examples of the three types. Make sure to give each one a name!

Possible Supplies: Cardboard, plastic wrap, plastic cups, old knobs, nuts & bolts, foil, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, casters, astronaut action figure, timers,

Design & Build a Robot Design and build a robot to go out and explore the moon as well as gather samples. Think about what this robot will need to hold samples and move over uneven terrain. How will you control the robot?

Possible Supplies: Cardboard, plastic wrap, plastic cups, old knobs, nuts & bolts, foil, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, casters, astronaut action figure Dryer tubing, wire, knobs

Design a Space Station Design a space station for extended stays on the moon. What features would provide com- fort and good working conditions for the astronauts?

Possible Supplies: dryer tubing, toilet paper rolls, straws, toothpicks, skewers, tape, duct tape, glue, cardboard, wheels, gears, K’nex, LEGO bricks, nuts & bolts, springs, foil, plastic cups, plastic spoons

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Design & Build a Moon Buggy Design and build a moon buggy for traveling around the moon.

Possible Supplies: cardboard, plastic wrap, plastic cups, old knobs, nuts & bolts, foil, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, casters, paper bags, action figures, glow in the dark stars, toy planets, timers, wires, metal tubing, paper tubing, bicycle tubing

Design & Build a Flag Design your own flag to leave on the moon!

Possible Supplies: Skewers, straws, sticks, fabric, cardboard, paint, paintbrushes, glitter paint, clue, stapler, markers

Craft a Moon Model Craft a moon model complete with craters and other features you have learned about based on your research of the moon. Learn the names of several craters. How big are they? Can you measure one outside to better understand the size of it?

Possible Supplies: Styrofoam balls, plastic or paper cups, plastic bowls and spoons, fabric, glue, glitter glue,

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 What is the problem?  How have others solved the problem?

 What information will I need to solve this problem?

 What resources do I have or need to solve this problem?

 How can I solve this problem?  Have I found an “out of the box” solution?

 What materials do I have/need?  What steps will I take to solve this problem?

 I will test my plan!  I will take notes of my process/observations!

 I will reflect on my design.  What changes can I make to improve my plan/solution?

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