Texas 4-H students blast off at Johnson Space Center
2014-10-30
Oct. 8 was a jam-packed day of scientific engagement for youth across the country as they participated in the seventh annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). Students and guests traveled to various celebratory locations to complete the 2014 National Science collaborative project, including Johnson Space Center.
In collaboration with NASA’s Summer of Innovation (SOI) program, 30 Texas 4-H students, along with 4-H representatives, arrived at JSC bright and early for a full day of celebrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The students achieved the opportunity to come to JSC by winning a statewide 4-H essay contest that successfully answered questions about NASA’s newest exploration vehicle—the Orion spacecraft—set to blast off into space for the first time this December.
“NASA’s Summer of Innovation project has partnered with Texas 4-H and Oklahoma 4-H to make National Youth Science Day possible at the Johnson Space Center and on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma,” said Dynae Fullwood, JSC Educator Professional Development Activities manager. “This was the first time Johnson has partnered with Texas 4-H to celebrate NYSD, and we’re excited to continue our partnership in the future with more celebrations and activities.”
This year’s NYSD theme was Rockets to the Rescue, and JSC Education planned tours and presentations to enlighten 30 Texas middle-school students about Orion’s history, engineering design and rocketry dynamics as presented by subject-matter experts, and also introduced the diverse career opportunities available at NASA.
In addition, students spent the day, in teams, designing and constructing a vehicle for the hypothetical Rockets to the Rescue experiment, where an aerodynamic food-transportation device would deliver food to victims in a fictional natural disaster.
At the conclusion of the day, local 4-H Texas members and JSC team members were invited to bring their children out to see the student stomp rockets in action. The rockets soared above, beyond and onto the “island”—while the rockets that did not meet the specified targets were reevaluated for improvements in precision and accuracy.
“These types of scenarios are essential in team-building and allowing students to use their imagination,” Fullwood said. “Allowing students to prepare and explore settlement on planets such as Mars takes precise planning and accounting for details such as food transportation in future rocketry missions. This is extremely relevant to current NASA initiatives such as the Orion vehicle.”
JSC SOI also worked with Texas A&M University AgriLife and Oklahoma State to develop rocketry education videos and resource materials for 4-H programs in Texas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma 4-H will be visiting JSC this December for a tour and to learn more about NASA and help JSC celebrate Orion’s first launch to space.
For more information on how your organization or institution can partner with JSC Education to bring STEM activities to local and national students and educators, please contact Dynae Fullwood.
Ashlé Harris
NASA Johnson Space Center
In collaboration with NASA’s Summer of Innovation (SOI) program, 30 Texas 4-H students, along with 4-H representatives, arrived at JSC bright and early for a full day of celebrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The students achieved the opportunity to come to JSC by winning a statewide 4-H essay contest that successfully answered questions about NASA’s newest exploration vehicle—the Orion spacecraft—set to blast off into space for the first time this December.
“NASA’s Summer of Innovation project has partnered with Texas 4-H and Oklahoma 4-H to make National Youth Science Day possible at the Johnson Space Center and on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma,” said Dynae Fullwood, JSC Educator Professional Development Activities manager. “This was the first time Johnson has partnered with Texas 4-H to celebrate NYSD, and we’re excited to continue our partnership in the future with more celebrations and activities.”
This year’s NYSD theme was Rockets to the Rescue, and JSC Education planned tours and presentations to enlighten 30 Texas middle-school students about Orion’s history, engineering design and rocketry dynamics as presented by subject-matter experts, and also introduced the diverse career opportunities available at NASA.
In addition, students spent the day, in teams, designing and constructing a vehicle for the hypothetical Rockets to the Rescue experiment, where an aerodynamic food-transportation device would deliver food to victims in a fictional natural disaster.
At the conclusion of the day, local 4-H Texas members and JSC team members were invited to bring their children out to see the student stomp rockets in action. The rockets soared above, beyond and onto the “island”—while the rockets that did not meet the specified targets were reevaluated for improvements in precision and accuracy.
“These types of scenarios are essential in team-building and allowing students to use their imagination,” Fullwood said. “Allowing students to prepare and explore settlement on planets such as Mars takes precise planning and accounting for details such as food transportation in future rocketry missions. This is extremely relevant to current NASA initiatives such as the Orion vehicle.”
JSC SOI also worked with Texas A&M University AgriLife and Oklahoma State to develop rocketry education videos and resource materials for 4-H programs in Texas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma 4-H will be visiting JSC this December for a tour and to learn more about NASA and help JSC celebrate Orion’s first launch to space.
For more information on how your organization or institution can partner with JSC Education to bring STEM activities to local and national students and educators, please contact Dynae Fullwood.
Ashlé Harris
NASA Johnson Space Center
Texas 4-H students visit Space Center Houston and JSC to learn more about our history and upcoming space exploration missions. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Thirty Texas 4-H students spend the day not only learning about NASA, but building and preparing their stomp rockets for the Rockets to the Rescue science experiment. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Students were able to emulate rocket scientists during their fun-filled day. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
The JSC experience included learning and hands-on activities during the seventh annual 4-H National Youth Science Day. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Students blast off of their stomp rockets to rescue a fictional island with food and supplies. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford