Eating in Space 5E Science: Design a Menu for an Astronaut!
Post by Kristina Klammer
Posted: July 26, 2024
Did you know that astronauts eat mac and cheese in space? That’s just one of 203 different things on the menu!
Get your students excited about nutrition and healthy eating with a 5E science unit that covers the science of food, daily energy needs, and nutrition labels—all centered around eating in space! Read below for all the details on this exciting lesson that includes a hands-on calorimeter demonstration and culminates with students planning a healthy menu for a NASA astronaut!
Overview of Eating in Space STEM Unit
To learn more about the motivation behind this lesson, we talked with Michelle Bogden, Vivify STEM Education Specialist and creator of the Eating in Space STEM unit:
“As a middle school science teacher, I think it is important to balance the science content students need to know while engaging them in experiences that excite them about the subject. Through 5E STEM units that integrate science with engineering, I find I am able to not only educate students about science concepts but also engage them in STEM challenges, real-world experiences, and STEM careers.
The intersection of science and engineering is a focal point of a 5E STEM unit. In this unit, students learn the science behind macromolecules and the basic building blocks of life while also engaging in thinking as engineers. I also love to incorporate the space component, as this is always exciting for students! The goal is for students to walk away with an understanding of science and excitement for space, engineering, and STEM careers.”
In this unit, students will:
Analyze the nutritional value of food choices.
Understand that food is a source of energy and calculate daily personal energy needs.
Differentiate between various types of food based on their nutritional content, acknowledging that not all foods are equal in terms of providing health benefits.
Discuss the implications of eating challenges in space on nutrition and compare food options for a space environment based on weight, shelf life, nutrition, and ease of consumption.
Collaboratively design a healthy menu for an astronaut that meets NASA’s health requirements.
This unit is aligned with the following NGSS Standards for Middle School and High School:
MS-LS1-7, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3
HS-LS1-6, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3
Eating in Space 5E Unit Details
This unit takes five 90-minute sessions to complete. It is broken up into four parts that align with the 5E learning cycle.
Part 1 (Engage): What’s on your menu?
Students are tasked with writing down all their food choices from the previous day and discussing whether their choices are healthy and suitable for space. The goal is to introduce the topic of designing a menu for astronauts and gather students’ prior ideas.
Part 2 (Explore + Explain): Food is Energy
Calorimeter Demonstration: Before introducing science concepts, students will make predictions and explore the measurement of energy in food through a calorimeter demonstration. The demonstration will introduce the idea that food is fuel and involves a form of energy transfer.
Not All Food is Equal
Are all calories the same? What makes food healthy?
The lab is followed by a class discussion on daily energy needs and calories, how to read a nutrition label, and an understanding of how all foods are not equal even if they have the same calories. This discussion is connected to an understanding of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
Part 3 (Explore + Explain): Food in Space
Time to bring in the space connection! NASA has a great series on Eating on the Space Station, which allows students to observe the challenges of eating in space. A favorite is also this one on making a taco in space. National Geographic also has a great overview revealing the behind-the-scenes of selecting food for space travel - check it out below!
Part 4 (Elaborate + Evaluate): Design a menu for an astronaut on the ISS + Reflection questions
After understanding the unique challenges of eating in space, the lesson moves to a STEM challenge of designing a menu for astronauts. Using the provided game board and cards, students work in teams to apply their knowledge of healthy eating and take into account NASA requirements.
The menu must meet minimum health requirements for calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students will also learn about foods from around the world as they are challenged to include items from at least 3 different countries. The final task is to identify Your Choice items, where students research and select additional food items to complete their menu.
Design a Space Menu
During the game, students will need to balance calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Game cards include popular food options from all around the world!
Want to learn more? Check out this deep dive into the Eating in Space STEM unit presented at the 2024 Champions for Science conference.
Extensions
Want to take it even further with your students? Consider adding these extensions for further learning:
Dehydrating Food: Students can explore the concept of dehydrating food as a space-efficient and nutrient-preserving method. They will understand the challenges of providing nutritious meals in the ISS environment and how dehydrating food helps address these issues by reducing weight and conserving space. Through a hands-on activity or demonstration, students can dehydrate fruits or vegetables and compare the results with their fresh counterparts, reinforcing the significance of this technique for sustaining astronauts during their space missions.
Simulating Microgravity: Explore the effects of microgravity and eating in different environments!
Blindfold Challenge: Take turns covering your eyes with the blindfold and using the utensils to eat. How did it feel to eat without visual feedback? What challenges did you face while trying to handle the utensils? What strategies did you use to adapt?
Non-Dominant Hand Challenge: Use the utensils with your non-dominant hand to eat a food item. How did it feel to use your non-dominant hand? What challenges did you face while manipulating the utensils? What strategies did you use to adapt?
TomatoSphere: An educational program that engages students in science experiments by sending tomato seeds to space and comparing them with control seeds on Earth. Learn more and register at Tomatosphere™ - First the Seed Foundation
Additional Resources
We love these videos related to food, nutrition, and eating in space:
Want to implement this activity in your classroom or program? Check out our full teacher and student STEM guide. This includes editable teacher slides and student handouts for each step of the project, and a rubric for assessment.
