Space Station Survival' is
designed to add excitement to the
teaching of either chemical reactions
or heat transfer. Pupils embark on
a virtual mission to the International
Space Station (ISS), with the help
of audio, images and video clips.
When disaster strikes, they have to
learn about making and testing carbon
dioxide, or heat radiation, in order
to stay alive.
Audio files of the Space Mission
Commentary to create atmosphere
and set the problem.
Video clip footage from the ISS
mission to visually enhance the
audio commentary.
A PowerPoint document that integrates
picture images with the audio commentary.
A poster-style context-setting
sheet (in Teachers).
Problem and help sheets for the
two challenges (in Pupils).
Teacher and Technician Notes.
In Space Station Survival
there are two alternative problems
offered:
Problem 1 - Carbon dioxide scrubber
The challenge: The space station's
CO2 cleaner has failed,
and CO2 is rising to
dangerous levels. Can pupils design
and test a home-made device to remove
CO2 from the air in time?
This challenge provides a context
for the Year 7 unit Simple Chemical
Reactions (QCA SoW). For example,
how acids react with carbonates,
the evidence for a reaction and
the test for carbon dioxide.
Problem 2 - Protective cladding
The challenge: A solar panel has
broken off, exposing vital circuits
to the heat of the Sun and the intense
cold of space. Can pupils design
some protective 'cladding' to minimise
heat transfer?
This challenge provides a context
for the Year 8 unit Heating and
Cooling (QCA SoW). For example,
mechanisms of heat transfer and
how radiation allows energy to travel
through a vacuum.
You can also use the challenges
to address the Key Skill of problem
solving including using unfamiliar
resources, devising, planning, trying
out and making changes.
There is a specially recorded audio
mission commentary, taking pupils
from launch, through to living in
the ISS, and finally to the moment
of disaster. It is a conversation
between the Flight Commander and Mission
Control at key moments during the
mission. There is a separate commentary
for each problem. Alternatively, you
could show a combined audio/visual
presentation through a digital projector
or interactive whiteboard, using the
PowerPoint file supplied (which contains
appropriate NASA images, timed to
the audio track).
You must have
the latest Real Media Player
(version 8 or above) to use
the files below. If you do not
have the player installed please
do so by clicking the image.
