Activities
As the Moon Turns - A Puppet Show
In this 60 minute “Launch” activity, children ages 5–11 learn about the formation and history of our Moon and how NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission will help us return. Children make puppets and then listen to — or present — a puppet show.
Moon Tune
Children ages 9–12 sing about NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission to the Moon in this 10–20 minute alternate “Launch” activity. They learn about how our Moon formed and changed through time, the search for water and other resources on the Moon, and future lunar outposts!
Moon Pie
Children ages 8–11 work in teams to apply their knowledge about the Moon, its environment, and the LRO Mission to match responses to Moon questions. With the correct responses, they build a picture of the Moon in this 20 minute activity.
Build an LRO
Children ages 5–10 build edible or non-edible models of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in this 30–45 minute activity. They learn about the instruments that the spacecraft will carry and how these instruments will help us better understand the Moon and plan for a future lunar outpost.
The Scoop on Moon Dirt
In this two-part 75 minute activity, children ages 8–11 compare the different ways in which soil forms on the Earth and the Moon. They examine different soil samples and compare them to lunar “soil” simulant. They use ice rocks, toast, and graham crackers model how water, wind, and impactors help to make soil.
Make a Volcano
Over a 90 minute time period, children ages 10–13 build and map (optional) a play-doh volcano using repeated “volcanic eruptions” of vinegar and baking soda. They determine a volcano's history of eruptions based on the layering of different flows. Children examine images of lava flows on the Moon and use their experience to interpret the history of the flows. These activities are from the Explore! Shaping the Planets module, but support learning concepts of this module.
Impacts!
Children ages 10–14 examine images of Moon craters and speculate about what caused them in this 60 minute activity. They model crater formation by dropping impactors into a box of different layered powders. The children examine and measure (optional) the effects of each impact and the features that impacts create. They compare their model results to lunar images. These activities are from the Explore! Shaping the Planets module, but support learning concepts of this module.
Mission Moon!
Children ages 10 and up work in teams to assess environmental conditions, resources, and scientific relevance of different locations on the Moon, using data collected from previous lunar missions. They select the site they believe has the best potential for a future lunar outpost. The teams debate their conclusions and work together to determine which single site to recommend to NASA. This 90 minute activity can be divided into parts.
Build a Colony!
Children ages 8–13 learn about space colonies and work individually or in teams to construct a lunar base out of craft items in this 60–120 minute activity.
Ice in Space
Children ages 9–12 explore how scientists investigate the properties of ice remotely using light of different wavelengths. These activities are from the MESSENGER Ice in the Solar System curriculum, but support learning concepts of the Explore! To the Moon and Beyond module.
Ice in the Shadows
Children ages 8-13 build an understanding of why ice may exist in craters at the lunar poles. These activities are from the MESSENGER Ice in the Solar System curriculum, but support learning concepts of the Explore! To the Moon and Beyond module.
