Howard B. Owens Science Center
K-2 program
Post-Visit Materials
Tiny Trekker Stations
Your students have rotated through 3-4 different stations. Hand back their folders and allow
them to look at their task cards. Allow time for students to complete the ones they didn’t finish
while at HBOSC. Discuss with your students the skills needed at each station. Talk about which
stations used STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills. Use the list
below to guide the conversation.
1. Animal Graphing
11. Microgravity Tank
 Graph real animals on bar graph
 Answer questions by comparing data
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Work in a glovebox filled with water
Assemble cube piece underwater
Match the pre-created design
2. Ant Works
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Explore a real ant farm
Count and compare ants on top and bottom
Learn interesting ant facts
3. Are You Listening?
 Listen to sounds and identify the source
 Match pictures to each sound
12. Microscopic World
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13. No Bones about It
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Compare the bones of a skeleton to your own
Measure the length of bones
 Order bone size from largest to smallest
4. Can You See It?
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View things through the eyes of insects ant, praying
mantis, and a hornet
Describe how the world is different with each of the
different views
5. Casting Shadows
 Explore the shadow lengths made when the sun is at
different heights in the sky.
 Predict shadows based on the angle of the light source
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6. Computer Station
 Check out Sammy’s Science House
14. Puzzle Place
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Connect the dots to make constellations.
Count total number of dots
Compare constellations
8. Life Cycles
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Explore the life cycle of a variety of insects ants and
lady bugs.
Order the life cycle stages using a model
Observe a live ant farm and Ladybug Land
9. Marble Launcher
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Drop marbles from different heights
Measure distance they launched
Record and compare data
10. Meteorite Holes
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Construct a variety of puzzles
Draw a picture and create a name for your puzzle
15. Rock Dig
 Dig for rocks in a sand base
 Match rocks to chart
 Draw pictures of rocks
16. Sprout and Grow
 Observe roots developing and growing in the soil
through the large, transparent Window.
 Identify parts of the plant using a 3D model
 Label the parts using a plant model
7. Constellation Station
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Use a magnifying glass/hand lens and pocket lens
to identify tiny words or images.
Examine insects using the tools
17. Stick to It
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Use a magnetic wand to collect marbles
Count the number of marbles and record data
Repeat trial three times and compare data
18. Temperatures Rising
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Read temperatures using a thermometer
Compare Celsius and Fahrenheit using
19. Weighing Station
 Find the mass of flasks using a digital scale
 Record data
 Order flasks from lightest to heaviest
Record data
Order the panels from least to greatest
Stations Are Dynamic and Are Continuously Changing
Now that your students have experienced what it is like to be an astronaut, visit the NASA
website to complete some extension activities.
NASA Kids Club
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html#.Up5PfSfhB2Y
The NASA Kids Club has a variety of activities that are very engaging for students of all
ages. There are puzzles, painting, math, science, social studies, and more. The skill levels go
from 1 to 5 modifying the difficulty level from each activity. You have an option of having many
of the activities read aloud as well.
One of my favorite activities is the Astro-Matic 3000.
Astro-Matic 3000
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/clubhouse/Astro-Matic_3000.html
Students get to put in their age and weight and see what it would be on other planets and
moons. I have attached a worksheet that I use with students when doing that activity. It is fun
to have students complete that activity and then compare their weight and age with other
students. You can do a lot with the data from ordering and comparing to beginning to look at
statistics with finding the mode.
Use the first planet sheet (below) for the Kindergarten and low 1st grade students. Use the
second planet sheet for advanced 1st graders and 2nd graders. The last page of questions can
be used as a group activity for the Kindergarten and low 1st grade students and an
independent activity for advanced 1st graders and 2nd graders. After all students have
completed the activity you can look at the data again. Compare numbers for students. Write
the numbers for each planet on the board. Have students order the numbers, compare the
numbers, and look at the median and the mode.
If you have an IPad there is an called AstroApp. AstroApp has a section on it
called “Suit Me Up” that lets you insert your student’s face into an astronaut’s
helmet. The students really love it.
If you have any questions about the Tiny Trekker Post-activities please contact me at:
Howard B. Owens Science Center
Tel: 301.918.8750
Shari Sternberg
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Your Weight and Age on Other Planets
Your Weight in Space
Did you know that your weight on other planets and moons would be different
than your weight on Earth? Why? Gravity is a force that pulls you toward the
center of the planet or moon. When you step on a scale on Earth, you see how
much Earth’s gravity is pulling your body toward its center. Gravity is not the
same on other planets or moons, so you would not weigh the same on other
planets as you do on Earth.
Count Your Age in Space
A year is the time it takes a planet to go around the sun one time. Your age is
how many Earth years you have lived. Years are not the same on other planets
or moons. If you use another planet’s year, your age would not be the same
there as it is on Earth.
On your worksheet enter your weight and/or age in the
blank that looks like this.
You will now see your weight or age on other planets and
moons.
Copy the numbers on your worksheet.
On which planet or moon do you weigh the most?
On which planet are you the oldest?
On which planet do you weigh the least?
On which planet are you the youngest?
Is there any planet or moon where your weight and age is
the same?