Space Fridge STEM Challenge (Astronaut Food Science & Engineering)

lesson overview

Heat Shield Space Exploration STEM Challenge

Students learn about the systems that keep astronauts safe during re-entry and recovery. Their mission is to design a heat shield to protect their spacecraft and crew. 

Real-world STEM Connection:

• Material Scientist

• NASA's Orion spacecraft

• Science of heat shields

As with many STEM activities, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.

Included in this product:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Editable teacher companion presentation slides

• Photos and videos of student examples

• Editable printed student handouts to guide them through the design process

• Videos to motivate and support learning

• STEM Career Connections and real-world examples

• Science handouts

• Student recording sheet for each step of the process

Suggested Materials:

• Hair dryer

• ¼ of regular Hershey’s chocolate bar (per test)

• Tongs

• Large binder clip

• Thermometers

• Masking tape

• Scissors

• Foil

• 2 cardstock sheets

• Cotton balls

• Paper plate

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Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide

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