Extensions
Crafts, activities, songs, and games that may allow further exploration
LRO Goes To The Moon, mmm-hmmm
By Christine Shupla, LPI
Sung to the tune of Froggy Went-A-Courtin’
Rocket took off and it did fly, mmm-hmmm,
Rocket took off and it did fly, mmm-hmmm,
The rocket took off and it did fly
With a bang and an orbiter at its side, mmm-hmmm.
Traveled all the way to the Moon, mmm-hmmm,
Traveled all the way to the Moon, mmm-hmmm,
It traveled all the way to the Moon,
And would not come back anytime soon, mmm-hmmm.
Orbiter started going ‘round, mmm-hmmm,
Orbiter started going ‘round, mmm-hmmm,
The orbiter started going ‘round,
It would not ever touch the ground, mmm-hmmm.
Lookin’ for where the water is, mmm-hmmm,
Lookin’ for where the water is, mmm-hmmm,
Lookin’ for where the water is,
So explorers will know where to dig, mmm-hmmm.
Measuring hot and cold out there, mmm-hmmm,
Measuring hot and cold out there, mmm-hmmm,
Measuring hot and cold out there,
The moon gets both without any air, mmm-hmmm.
Searching for valuable minerals too, mmm-hmmm,
Searching for valuable minerals too, mmm-hmmm,
Searching for valuable minerals too,
Gonna need them to build a lunar igloo, mmm-hmmm.
Gonna need it all to build a lunar igloo, mmm-hmmm, mmm-hmmm, mmm-hmmm.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission offers a plethora of hands-on activities — and links to activities — for children ages 5 and older. The site includes video clips, games, and images, and organizes educational materials by age level.
Exploring the Moon is a rich integrated portfolio of hands-on activities that investigate what we know about the Moon, what Apollo lunar samples tell us, and where we may go next. Grades 5–12.
The Hawaii Space Grant provides an activity for children ages 12 and up, including: Lunar Landforms - identifying features of the Moon using photographs taken during the Apollo mission.
Reaping Rocks - making predictions about the origin of lunar rocks by collecting and analyzing rocks on Earth.
Regolith Formation - comparing the process of regolith formation on Earth and on the Moon.
Ice in the Solar System offers a suite of hands-on investigations that explore the properties of ice, different types of ice, and where ice might exist. How could ice possibly survive the hot temperatures of the Moon? Where might the ice come from? Why is ice so important? Children ages 5 and up will enjoy these activities.
Enchanted Learning’s Zoom Astronomy offers a coloring page of the Moon showing the Moon’s interior layers. This activity is appropriate for children ages 8 to 12.
HOU Workshop features a mosaic print-out of the Moon. Challenge children ages 8 and up to piece together the Moon. There is also a link to other Moon Mysteries including an on-line jigsaw puzzle of the Moon.
NASA Organization Structure
Bring lunar samples into your educational setting! NASA offers training workshops to formal and informal educators so that they can borrow lunar sample sets to share with children and the public. Certification workshops explore information about the Moon, lunar samples, and securing the samples. Contact the Office of Education at the closest center for information about certification and borrowing samples.
Space Colony Web Quest challenges children ages 11–13 to work in teams to develop a proposal to put a colony of 600 humans somewhere beyond Earth. An educator page is also provided. Nice collection of links about our Moon.
Space Walking in Style is an activity for children ages 5–9 to design a space backpack and helmet.
Coloring Page
This is a simple connect-the-dot coloring page of the Moon that very young children will enjoy.
