NASA camp for St. Joseph’s Indian School students

During the last week of school at St. Joseph’s, the eighth graders enjoyed

Linea, St. Joseph's Teacher
Linea, St. Joseph’s Teacher

NASA Camp. We explored space and did activities to help us understand the obstacles and mysteries of space that confront our scientists and astronauts.

We started by making journals to keep track of our activities – it was very important to journal our findings. “Art and the Cosmic Connection” was an activity designed to engage our students in space science by becoming artist explorers.

The “Pocket Solar System” activity helped students understand the

Students made planets out of play dough to create a “pocket solar system.”
The “Pocket Solar System” activity helped students understand the distances between the orbits of planets and to get a handle on how large our solar system is.

distances between the orbits of planets and to get a handle on how large our solar system is. We made our planets out of play dough.

We also did an activity that applied the scientific method to determine degree of bone loss and learn why healthy bones are important in space and on Earth.

One of our last activities was to use the design process to build a structure

Design, creation and problem solving skills all went into the tower-building activity.
Students had to create and build a structure to handle the greatest load possible – with spaghetti!

to handle the

greatest load possible.  Students had to identify the problem and then brainstorm, design, build, test, redesign and share their solutions.  They loved the competition!

Learning about space was a great way to end the school year – we had an awesome time!

Linea

Teacher

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

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