STEM Challenge: Space Helmet
Hook, Challenge, and Constraints
Hook
Disaster in orbit! On their way out of Earth’s atmosphere, the astronauts were sabotaged by the notorious trolls, who nearly knocked them out of orbit. The captain was able to regain control of their rocket ship, but his crew began to argue with each other. They started blaming (“Oh man! The trolls spilled our hot chocolate!”), complaining (“Now we don’t have any hot chocolate for the marshmallows we brought!”), and some even wanted to give up (“We should just go home right now!”).
Challenge and Constraints
Captain Smith has asked us to build a very special space helmet — one that with activities the astronauts can do calm down in case they get upset again. In order to help the astronauts, our space helmets should include 3-5 activities they can do to calm down. Your space helmets should be able to fit your own heads completely. You don’t want the astronauts to suffocate in space!
Materials
You may also provide these optional materials: cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, Dixie cups, and aluminum foil.
Logistics
- Materials: Students can use no more than five of any one material per creation! For example, a student can use five straws and five pieces of paper, but not ten straws. If you provide aluminum foil, no more than one arm’s length piece for each student!
- Groups: Students can work with a partner or on their own. No groups of three!
- Time to Build: 45 minutes
