On Board the Shuttle

Grade Levels

The Dream Flight USA shuttle experience was developed for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. As the school year progresses, 3rd graders become better prepared for the next grade level. We often have second semester 3rd grade classes on board the shuttle.

Class Sizes

To assure the students get the most out of their shuttle experience, we ask that you keep the class sizes to 20 students or less. Space on the shuttle is limited.

Prior to the Mission

A few weeks before the shuttle and its crew arrive at a school, mission plans are developed by our on board teacher and the host school. Together they determine the parking area for the shuttle, the number of groups to participate in the shuttle experience, and the time to be spent by each group on the vehicle.

Time On Board

The optimum time on board can range from 90 minutes to two hours, depending on the academic level of the students. Time and school budgets are also a factor and, as a result, several schools have limited student time on the shuttle to one hour.

The Shuttle Experience

It is all hands-on. During their time on the shuttle, the students rotate through the various work stations. Our on board teacher and shuttle pilot guide the students through the stations. We ask that a teacher from the host school join us on board throughout the mission.

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.

The second 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.

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.

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 lessons 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.