The planned program for grades 3 to 5 begins with research questions and comparisons, then develops investigations from students’ interests. The current preview contains the interest survey and two activities described below. Classroom investigations and spaceflight work are later stages.
Learn How to Investigate a Question
Students will state what they want to find out, review what is already known, and make a prediction with a reason. They will choose observations or measurements that address the question. A comparison introduces what to change, what to keep the same, and the starting design or group used as a reference.
Students will then read results, describe patterns, and explain whether the observations support their prediction. They will distinguish an observation from an explanation and suggest a question for a later investigation.
Explore Interests and Activities
The survey asks about 12 topics and activities such as building, observing, measuring, drawing, comparing, and explaining. Learners can be unsure or skip a question. Teachers will use the answers to offer later choices, including topics selected by only one learner.
Compare Two Board Designs
In the first activity, a helper in an imagined space habitat uses a board to match six cards to six toolboxes. Learners choose how to compare the board designs while keeping other test conditions the same. They then examine invented counts and describe what happened in each round.
Plan a Test in a New Setting
The second activity considers adapting a habitat board to help people find library books. Learners choose how to compare the old and new boards on the same task, include visitors with different reading and vision needs, and check cost and everyday use. This introduces translation: developing and testing a possible use for a finding or design.
Develop a Ground Investigation
After the introductory activities, students and teachers will choose a question for a ground investigation. They will plan the comparison, decide how to record observations, and identify the materials, supervision, and time needed. Results will guide changes to the method and any proposal for later spaceflight work.
Try the Classroom Pilot
The first pilot is planned for an existing class of five students. The teacher will observe learners using the journey and ask them to explain their choices. These observations will help identify instructions or controls to revise. Participation and data arrangements must be completed before students use accounts.
Adults can review the student journey using fictional details or read the parent and teacher information.