ROCKETROCKET LABLABTM O G n e R C Social Studies A l a s D s L E e Space Pioneers s s S o n 3 P l - a 5 S n T E N P (15 minutes) A Standard 8 LEARN T I Science, Technology, and 1.Objectives O Society: Understands major • Students will discover the significance of the various N discoveries in science and contributions made by John Glenn and Sally Ride in space A technology, some of their transportation. L social and economic effects, • Because John Glenn’s and Sally Ride’s accomplishments were S major scientists and inventors on rockets, students will construct and launch a model rocket. T A responsible for them N Materials D Benchmark 10 Pictures of John Glenn and Sally Ride A Knows about people who Firestreak SST™ Rocket Lab Pack™ (24 pack) - 1 or more R have made significant contri- Rocket Engine Lab Pack™ (24 pack) - 1 or more D butions in the field of trans- Electron Beam® Launch Controller - 1 or more portation (e.g., Henry Ford, Porta-Pad® II Launch Pad - 1 or more Amelia Earhart, John Glenn, Sally Ride) Time One class session Background The Space Race On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union surprised the world when they launched an Earth-orbiting satellite called Sputnik I.This was the first successful entry in the race for space between the United States and the Soviet Union. Several months later on January 31, 1958, the U.S.Army launched Explorer I. InOctober of 1958, the U.S. formally organized its space program by creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA’s goal is “peaceful explo- ration of space for the benefit of all humankind.”NASA space programs have included the Mercury, Gemini,Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, Mars and International Space Station. 1 ROCKETROCKET LABLABTM O G n e R John Glenn C A l John Glenn is an engineer, fighter pilot and a decorated World War II and a s D s Korean War hero. After the Korean War, he became a test pilot and the project L E officer on many aircraft. In 1959, he was selected as one of the first seven astro- e s s S nauts for the Mercury Project. He was a business executive from 1965 to 1974 o n 3 and was a U.S. Senator from 1974 to 1999. He accomplished these Space Firsts: P l - a 5 1. One of the first seven astronauts. n 2. John Glenn was the first man to orbit the earth. On February 20, 1962, he piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7 rocket. He orbited the earth three K times and reached an altitude of 162 miles. E altitude 3. He is the oldest man to travel in space (77 years old). It Y astronaut was a nine day mission on the Space Shuttle Discovery W from October 29 - November 7, 1998.This research John Glenn O flight conducted NASA studies on spaceflight and the NASA R aging process. orbit D physics S Sally Ride pioneers Sally Ride is from Los Angeles, CA. She earned bachelors and robotic arm masters degrees and a Ph.D. in physics. She joined NASA in Sally Ride 1978. During her astronaut training she was the Capsule satellite Communicator and helped develop the Space Shuttle’s robotic Space Race arm. In 1987, Dr. Ride left NASA to work at Stanford University transportation and in 1989 she became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and Director of the California Space Institute. She is cur- rently on a leave from the university and is the President and CEO of Sally Ride Science, a company that has hands-on science programs for upper elementary and middle school girls to motivate them to have science careers. Dr. Ride’s Space Firsts are: 1. A member of the first astronaut class to have women. (July,1978) 2. First American woman in Space.This was the Space Shuttle Challenger flight from June 18 - June 24, 1983. 3. First woman to complete two space flights. Her second Space Shuttle was again on Challenger. It launched in October, 1984. Note: For older or advanced students, add two more astronauts. Suggestions: Alan Shepard, Mae Jemison, Elison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Guion Bluford, Edward Lu, Barbara Morgan. 2 ROCKETROCKET LABLABTM O G n e Activity R C 1. Ask students if they have heard of John Glenn and Sally Ride. Discuss A l a who students think they are and what they accomplished. s D s 2. Explain how The Space Race began and that there were many firsts L E e during this time. Discuss the Space Firsts of John Glenn and Sally Ride s s S and why they are important to today’s transportation. o n 3 3. Show students pictures of both people. Pictures are available from their P l - websites or from NASA’s website (www.nasa.gov). Search for Astronaut a 5 Biographies. n S T E P BUILD (15 minutes) 2.Activity 1. Explain since the Space Firsts of John Glenn and Sally Ride were accomplished with and on NASA rocket flights, students will make and launch their own miniature version of a NASA rocket - a model rocket. 2. Build the Firestreak SST™ together with students, using step-by-step procedures.This is a snap together rocket that needs no gluing or cutting. S T E P 3. LAUNCH (30 minutes) Activity 1. Assign and post launch jobs for students. Launch jobs are in the Estes Educator Guide for Teachers & Youth Group Leaders. 2. Prepare rockets for launching in your classroom before going outside to launch. Follow the Engine Preparation steps located in the Firestreak SST™ Instructions. 3. Launch rockets outside at a soccer field, football field, baseball field, green grass area or blacktop area. Wrap Up - Touch Down & Recovery 1. Summarize why the Space Firsts of John Glenn and Sally Ride are important 3 ROCKETROCKET LABLABTM O G n e to transportation. R 2. Use a webbing activity to show students what they know about C A l transportation. Students will write the word TRANSPORTATION in the a s D s middle of a sheet of paper, write and connect all kinds of transportation L E words and people associated with transportation. e s s S o n 3 Extensions P l 1. Students will do more in depth research on John Glenn and Sally Ride or - a 5 find other space pioneers. Provide names for the research or let them find n pioneers they consider made significant contributions to space exploration. Students will write a biography on one of the space pioneers. 2. Students can write and perform a skit about what they learned about a space pioneer, do a radio broadcast describing the pioneer or compose a rap song about the pioneer. Evaluation/Assessment • Students’ participation in the class discussion on Space Pioneers. • Students will complete the webbing activity on transportation. • Students will assemble and launch the Firestreak SST™ model rocket. References • Estes Educator™ - Guide for Teachers and Youth Group Leaders • Estes Educator™ Website - www.esteseducator.com • NASA - Astronaut Biographies - www.nasa.gov © 2008 Estes-Cox Corp. All rights reserved. 4.