Astronaut Training: 4C's of STEM Middle School Unit | Engineering Our Cosmos

Astronaut Training: Stage 1 STEM Activities | Engineering Our Cosmos

This product is part of the Engineering our Cosmos series for middle school and includes 18 stand-alone activities centered around developing the 4 C’s, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. With these in mind, the activities are framed around the theme of Astronaut Training, inspired by NASA Astronaut, Jonny Kim. Student badges are provided and teachers have the flexibility to do as many activities as desired for each category. 

Students will be introduced to the storyline of Jonny Kim and then create their very own mission patch. As activities are completed, student badges can be added to the mission patch. Teachers can decide to give students a badge for each activity or a badge for each category.

Your mission: Complete astronaut training and collect all four badges!

1. Creativity is about coming up with new and unique ideas or ways of doing things. Astronauts use creativity to think of smart solutions when things don't go as planned during space missions.

2. Collaboration is working well with others as a team to achieve a common goal. Astronauts rely on everyone's strengths to complete tasks in space missions.

3. Communication is sharing thoughts and information clearly and listening carefully to others. Astronauts communicate with each other and mission control to survive the dangers of space.

4. Critical Thinking is thinking carefully about problems and making evidence-based choices. Sometimes things go wrong in space, and astronauts must use critical thinking to solve problems.

Astronaut Training Activities include:

• Mission Patch

• 5 Creativity Challenges: Creativity Tools (4 challenges: Reinterpret, Debut, Ideate, and Merge) + Save the Earth Asteroid Challenge

• 5 Collaboration Challenges: Roll & Build, Pipecleaner Tower, Space Docking, Space Walk, Helium Stick Icebreaker

• 3 Communication Challenges: Sneak a Peek, Robot Tool, Heat Tower

• 5 Critical Thinking Challenges: Think like a Scientist, Science in the News, Think like an Engineer, Engineering Around Us, Mystery Box

Real-World Connections:

• Real-world space stories connecting 4Cs to astronaut training and space exploration, and a spotlight featuring NASA astronaut Jonny Kim!

• Career Connections: Aerospace Engineering, Astronaut, Astronomer

• Missions: Soyuz MS-10, Apollo 13, Space Shuttle launch, Mars Rover

Materials Needed:

• Construction Paper or Card Stock

• Colored Pencils / Markers

• Dice (2 per group)

• LEGO® blocks (or other building bricks)

• 15 Pipe Cleaners per team

• Straight Straws

• Clear tape 

• Blocks

• Paper Plates

• 40 feet rope

• 3 in. PVC DWV Hub x FIPT Adapter and 4 in. PVC DWV Street Spigot x FIPT Female Adapter (instructions and alternatives provided in teacher guide)

• Scissors

• Lighter

• Plastic playground ball