ISGC works with NASA Student Involvement Program

Sample Student Drawing
    Sample Student Drawing

 

 


These are just three examples of the types of projects students can immerse themselves in as part of NASA's Student Involvement Program (NSIP), a national program of investigations and design challenges that aims to engage K-12 students' interest in learning through an inquiry process.

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC), a NASA-supported group consisting of Drake University, Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, has recently begun working with NSIP to expand participation in the program. The ISGC coordinates NSIP activities in the central region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Last year, Iowa had 23 schools participating, and we hope to increase that number," said Jay Staker, associate ISGC director and program director of E-SET (Extension - Science, Engineering and Technology). Although this is the first year that the ISGC has been involved with the program, NSIP has been around for several years.

This year NSIP offered six challenges/competitions for grades K-1, 2-4, 5-8 and 9-12. They were My Planet, Earth; Science and Technology Journalism; Aerospace Technology Engineering Challenge; Design a Lunar-Based Mission to Mars and Beyond; Watching Earth Change; and Space Flight Opportunities. The competitions were open to individuals, teams or whole classes.

NSIP challenges and teacher resource guides support national education standards for science, mathematics, technology and geography. "NSIP is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn by getting involved in NASA's story of adventure, discovery and invention," said Staker. "Students design space missions, investigate Earth from space, explore Earth systems in their neighborhood, and learn about the latest developments in aerospace technology."

Teachers receive information on the competitions at the beginning of the school year, and the deadline for entering is January. Entries are judged by teams of scientists, engineers, educators and journalists. Participating teachers and students win prizes according to their competition category and grade level.

The ISGC's role in the NSIP process is to help promote the competitions to states in the central region, to help coordinate the judging and to assist in presenting awards.

"NSIP brings NASA into the classroom to support inquiry-based units on space, history, math, language arts, engineering, geography, and the sciences," said Staker. "Students have an opportunity to get involved in the sciences in a variety of ways." To learn more about NSIP, visit its website at www.nsip.net.

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Each of this year's challenges, as well as the grade levels and competition categories--individual, team, or whole class--is briefly described below.

My Planet, Earth
Grades K-1, whole class; Grades 2-4, whole class or teams of 2-4
NASA scientists have learned that the Earth shows different faces and tells different stories when it is observed from many perspectives. Students identify and describe features and creatures of the air, land and water. Their drawings and observations of the site are gathered, shared and combined into one story.

Science and Technology Journalism
Grades K-1, whole class; Grades 2-4, whole class or teams of 2-4; Grades 5-12, individuals or teams of 2-4
Research NASA spin-off products such as virtual reality games, ribbed swimsuits, voice-controlled wheelchairs, or satellite mapping. Produce a report describing the need for the product. Who needs it and why? What is the NASA technology being utilized by the public sector? The news report may be either print (article with relevant graphics laid out for publication) or VHS video (5-minute report in choice of format: newscast, investigative, documentary, etc.).

Aerospace Technology Engineering Challenge
Grades 5-8, teams of 2-4
With inexpensive everyday materials, students construct and test a structure that can withstand the forces of launch. By designing, building, testing, and redesigning their own models, students learn about the challenges faced by NASA engineers as they work on the next generation of aerospace vehicles.

Designing a Lunar-Based Mission to Mars
Grades 5-8, 9-12, individuals or teams of 2-4
If you could send a mission from the Moon to Mars, how would you do it and why? Define your science questions, then design a mission to answer them! You may design a robotic mission (orbiter, flyby, lander, etc.) or even send humans to explore firsthand!

Watching Earth Change
Grades 5-8, individuals or teams of 2-4; Grades 9-12, individuals
Students use NASA data to test their own hypotheses about how Earth is changing. Select a time period and gather information (articles, press releases, testimony, etc.) to monitor changes relevant to your hypothesis.

Space Flight Opportunities
Grades 9-12, teams of 2-4
Design an experiment and fly it into space! NASA will fly winning experiments above 99.8 percent of the atmosphere on a dedicated NASA sounding rocket. NSIP will provide information, guidance, and support your team needs to propose a winning experiment.