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SPACE
SURVIVAL CHALLENGE
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a WebQuest for Sixth Grade Science
by Leslie Hoellger
Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, Lakeland
Central School District
Introduction | Task
| Resources | Process |
Evaluation
| Conclusion
Introduction
You are a member of a spaceship crew scheduled
to meet with a mother ship on the lighted surface of the moon. Because
of an energy failure, you and your 2 crewmates had to crash land about
300 kilometers from the mother ship. During reentry and landing much
of the equipment aboard was damaged. Only eight items of equipment
were left undamaged. Since survival depends upon reaching the mother
ship as soon as possible, the most critical items must be chosen to help
you get back to the mother ship.
The Task
(Click here
to get a printed version of your TASK)
You will be working in groups of three as a team
of astronauts. Your survival depends on selecting no more than 5
objects to bring with you as you try to meet back with the mother ship.
Your challenge is to rank in order (most important to least) those
objects that have been left undamaged on your ship. Base your decisions
on what you already know about conditions in space and on the moon, as
well as the new information you will access on the sites listed under RESOURCES.
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select 3-5 objects from the following list
that your team needs to survive during your attempt to meet back with the
ship
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rank your objects in order from most to least
important
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justify your choices in your group discussion
and on the Decision Chart
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present your findings to the class in a group
oral presentation
ITEMS
| box of matches |
magnetic compass |
| two 100 lb. tanks of oxygen |
stellar map of moon's constellation |
| 5 gal. water |
solar powered receiver-transmitter |
| 50 ft. nylon rope |
food concentrate |
Resources
NASA
KIDS - LIVING IN SPACE
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
THE
EARTH'S MOON
WATER,
WATER NOT EVERYWHERE
The Process
(Click here
to
get a printed version of the PROCESS)
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Brainstorm for possible solutions based on
what you know about conditions in space and on the moon.
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Fill out the Decision Chart as a group to
evaluate possible solutions.
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Using the RESOURCES listed above, answer
the following questions to help you in your decision-making.
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How have humans used technology to explore space?
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Which weather elements do you need to be prepared
for?
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Why haven't there been more lunar landings in recent
years?
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Is there water on the moon? If yes, what
form does it take? What uses of water do scientists predict for the
future?
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Why is daily exercise essential in space?
Evaluation
Your survival success rate (grade) will be based
on the following :
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Individual work - 20 points
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Group work - 20 points
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Research on Internet - 30 points
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Oral presentation - 30 points
Conclusion
Now you have an idea of how to adapt to changing
conditions in order to survive. You've discovered the value of teamwork,
which depends on each member's contribution. You've learned that
some ideas and actions are more necessary than others to solve a problem.
Now you're ready to take the next space challenge: Think about these
BIG QUESTIONS. You know how to find information on the Internet to
look for possible solutions!
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Group A: Explain a typical
day in the life of an astronaut in a manned spacecraft. What are
the everyday problems he/she faces?
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Group B: If you could
create a space probe, what would your message be? What information
would you want to collect?
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Group C: Only twelve
men have ever walked on the surface of the moon. Who do you think
will be the 13th? Who will be the first woman?
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