Eating in Space STEM Challenge: Design a Menu for an Astronaut! (5E Science)

Eating in Space 5E STEM Unit:

Design a menu for astronauts on the International Space Station! This unit is ideal for middle and high school students and introduces key science concepts related to energy transformations, calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

This unit, developed for five sessions of 45 - 90 minutes, engages students in a discussion about their food choices and their suitability for space. An optional calorimeter demo introduces the idea of food is energy, which is connected to daily energy needs and calories. Students then explore the idea that not all food is equal and build an understanding of how to categorize food choices for a healthy diet. These ideas are then applied to Menu Planning Game for astronauts in space, including international foods and NASA restrictions.

Key Concepts:

• Food is Energy: Energy Transfer, Daily Energy Needs, Nutritional Labels

• Not all Food is Equal: Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Lipids

• Challenges of Eating in Space

Unit Overview:

The unit follows the 5E learning model to include science inquiry and engineering design in the following activities.

• ENGAGE: What did you eat yesterday?

• EXPLORE: Food is Energy: Calorimeter Demonstration

• EXPLAIN: Connect to Science Concepts: Daily Energy Needs + Calories

• EXPLORE: Food Sorting + Nutrition Label

• EXPLAIN: Connect to Science Concepts: Not all Food is Equal: Carbohydrates, Proteins and Lipids + Career Connection

• ELABORATE: Menu Planning Game - Design a menu for an astronaut on the ISS

• EVALUATE: Assess Student Learning with Discussion, Reflections + Exit Ticket

Included in this Unit:

• 5E Learning Cycle to promote science concepts and engineering design practices

• Real-world connection: nutrition labels, astronauts, and eating in space videos

• Careers: food scientist and food engineer

• Teacher guide with detailed instructions, links to resources, and photos of example student projects

• Editable Teacher Instruction Slides

• Editable Student Handouts including printable Eating in Space Menu Planning game!

NGSS Alignment:

• MS-LS1-7 Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.

• MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

• MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

• HS-LS1-6 Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

• HS-LS1-7 Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed, resulting in a net transfer of energy.