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Students explore:
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- types, components, and purposes of different satellites and the orbits they use;
- how to put science and technology design principles to work in planning and launching satellites; and
- how satellite technology positively impacts and expands our capacity to effectively communicate.
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Satellite:Connect
How do satellites work?
Students gain critical science and technology design skill as they learn how satellite systems are designed and used!
In Satellite:Connect students assemble a satellite and safely launch it into orbit above the earth. In the process, they must consider the various types of satellites and components that have been designed to meet specific purposes. They must learn about influencing factors such as our atmosphere and orbital velocities required to maintain proper position, and make decisions that involve weighing design constraints such as payload capacity and required fuel. They must also launch their satellite, evaluate its effectiveness, and make modifications that improve their design and better meet its original intended purpose.
As they play the game, in the role of “launch commander,” students relate the above applications to the basic principles of technological design. They gain first-hand experience in how solutions to problems are driven by need and purpose, design choices are made with consideration of constraints and importance of certain design features, and design solutions are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness in order to better meet original need and purpose. They also implicitly learn that with technological tools, we can often design, implement, and evaluate solutions in a much more efficient and economical manner than would be possible without these tools.
Built for students in grades 4-7!
Correlated to national education standards!
- Standards for the English Language Arts
- National Educational Technology Standards for Students
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