lesson: survival/ cool space suits activity: keeping your cool

Imagine It! Explore It! Do It!

Lesson: Survival/ Cool Space SuitsActivity: Keeping Your Cool

Life Science Unit

Dr. Shirley CampbellShirley.Campbell@NASA. GovLS5C1A1

mailto:Shirley.Campbell@NASA


Environment in Space

When do Astronauts wear space suits?



From what hazards do astronauts have to be protected while they are in space?



How can color be used to help protect astronauts in space?


Protecting the Human Body in Space

• Cooling system for the body to protect it while it is in space

• Activity 1 – Keeping Your Cool– Explore technology used to keep the Space Station

and astronauts cool– Explore the concept of using absorbing and

reflecting features of colors

• Activity 2 – Cool Suits


Body Protection in Space• Against temperature– Hot and cold!

• Air to breath• Air pressure


Keeping Your CoolHow can color help to keep the temperature inside the space suit and space station comfortable?The students will…• collect data by measuring temperature in 2

different colored envelopes (black and white).• use data to infer which color, black or white,

reflects energy better and which color absorbs energy better.


Before the Students Arrive• Determine where your test area will be

– Windowsill, sunny outside location, or artificial source like a light

• Make envelopes – one white and one black per group – Requires construction paper, stapler or glue– Put the cotton balls in before you close the top– Remember the space for the thermometer!


As You BeginNASA’s 21st Century Explorer 30-second newsbreak, “How will your imagination

help you become an explorer?”

(Download the newsbreak at http://education.jsc.nasa.gov/explorers.)

http://education.jsc.nasa.gov/explorers

http://education.jsc.nasa.gov/explorers


Scientific MethodThis activity is a great opportunity to

practice and emphasize scientific method • Review the problem• Observe• Hypothesize • Test


What You Will NeedPer Class• 1 thermometer to serve as the control for the entire class (calibrated in units of 1-2

degrees Celsius)• Sunny location OR heat source (like a lamp)

And Per Group (of 2 or 3 students)• 1 ruler or measuring tape per group• 2 construction paper envelopes (made earlier)

– Cotton Balls, too

• 2 thermometers (calibrated in units of 1-2 degrees Celsius)• Stopwatch or watch with second hand• Shoebox (don’t need lid)

And Per Student• Printout of Cool Suits Student Section


Activity Procedure• Review the problem – Which color reflects

energy better? Which absorbs energy better?

• Have students read Observation section and discuss in groups

• Whole group discussion – characteristics of colors of clothing, similarities, seasonal, etc.


• Help students to use the KWL chart (in handout) to organize prior knowledge, identify interests, and make real-world connections.• Have students share predictions and

create Hypotheses, then share with group.• Test using this procedure.


ProcedurePlace “control” thermometer at test site to keep track of temp without envelopes.• Be sure to tell students where this is and

why it is there• Announce beginning temp to students

and show them where to record temp


ProcedureEach student group should• place both envelopes inside a box to hold

them upright.• carefully place the thermometers into the

envelopes.– Let rest for 10 minutes, then take initial temp.


Procedure• Move envelopes from box and place in

sunny site, making sure each gets the same light)

• Predict temp changes and discuss within group

• Measure and record temp every 5 minutes• Repeat last two steps for 30 minutes


Study Data• Study recorded data within small groups• Discuss the answers to the Cool Suits Student

Section questions. Have the students update the LEARNED column in their KWL chart.

• Help students write a conclusion by restating their hypothesis and explaining how the results do, or do not, support their hypothesis.


New Questions• How does your data compare to the class

data. What patterns are there? • How do these findings relate to the

development of new space suits for space exploration?

• What they wonder now? What do you think we should do next to learn more about this?


More Information

• Alignment to standards• Curriculum Explorations • Math, LA, Engineering

• Career Links


Additional Thoughts or Advice

Student Evaluation Rubric


Activity 2 – Cool Suits• Later today…..

• Questions?

lesson: survival/ cool space suits activity: keeping your cool

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