Curriculum
Order the Lesson Plan
A 38-page lesson plan, Dream Flight One, The Teacher's Resource Guide to Teaching Space in the Classroom, is available for only $49.95. Topics range from how to get the community involved in your space program, turning schools into planets, to the countdown and lift-off. Sharon Ryan, (Left) a Presidential Award recipient and the creator of the Dream Flight USA program, is the author of the lesson plan.
The price includes postage and handling.
Or, please send your check to: Dream Flight USA Foundation, P.O. Box 1931, Wausau, WI 54402-1931.
Work Stations On Board the Shuttle
There are 3 major areas of investigation on the shuttle. The first is a gathering area in which 3 groups, each consisting of 2-3 students, all work on the same activity. The first is a constellation activity wherein the students learn about constellations and then create their own. It includes a hands-on approach, as well as shared discussion and written work. It works very well with younger students (3-5), but also pretty well (just carry it to a higher cognitive level) with upper grades.
An optional activity is a lesson about the International Space Station. This activity is better-suited for higher elementary students. It is designed to help students learn about the Space Station, and then use that knowledge to design their own stations. They can share their ideas and write a paper to explain how and why they designed their stations as they did.
Both activities are self-directed, with little need of teacher assistance once the activity has begun.
The third area of study on the shuttle consists of eight work stations, where the students experiment to learn about space, space travel, and living and working in space. Click here to see students at each of the 8 stations on board the shuttle.
- Station 1: A study of the Earth's seasons, and the reasons for them
- Station 2: Making a model in order to understand a lunar eclipse
- Station 3: Using spectrometry to identify gases
- Station 4: Viewing space through the lens of a microscope
- Station 5: Space repairs - much more difficult than it looks
- Station 6: Working with a robot - practice and teamwork
- Station 7: Understanding micro gravity
- Station 8: Solar System
The final area is designed for small-group (5-8 students) study. The students watch a short video about the Solar System and then do an activity in which each chooses a planet, researches it, and then uses that research to complete a hands-on project and a written paper.
The activities on the shuttle are meant for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, but can be adjusted for the 7th grade level. Third graders may be included, but the challenges will be more difficult. Up to 20 students can participate on board the shuttle at one time. Students will spend an hour and a half or more on board the shuttle, depending on class sizes and time restraints.
Planning Your Mission
There are several options to consider when thinking about a shuttle visit to your school or school district. The curriculum is varied, from a full semester of possibilities leading up to a visit by the shuttle, to simply having the shuttle on hand with a visiting teacher conducting a day of classes on board the vehicle. (MORE)
You may simply wish to have the shuttle land at your school and have your classes spend time conducting various activities. The shuttle has eight work stations and two lounges that can be utilized for activities.
The extended curriculum will allow you and your class to experience several activities, from the pre-launch training, countdown, the launch into space, a stop at your favorite planet, to your return home to earth.
Pre-launch activities can include training, just like the real astronauts. This is a good way to get your community involved, as students can train as pilots, meteorologists, geologists, medical experts, scientists, problem solvers, planet specialists, computer specialists, etc. Members of the community involved in any of these and countless other occupations can be invited to your classroom to provide memorable instructions to your students.
Schools or classrooms can be converted into planets. The Dream Flight USA Shuttle will land on your planet, and your imagination can take you from there. Citizens of the planet, the students, can come aboard and do activities on the shuttle. You may even have some of your own space lessons that you and your class developed that you would like to bring on the shuttle.
Please e-mail us to get the process moving, and we can work out what best serves your class, school, or district.
