Space Escape Pod - A STEM Design Challenge for Students

Calling All Young Space Engineers: Design Your Escape Pod for a Space Adventure! This activity is perfect for students to extend their thinking and apply their research and design knowledge to a popular STEM theme, space. Students will research, design, and write connecting multiple skills. This activity is designed to be done entirely on the computer but can easily be done on paper as well.

 

Description:

The "Force" is strong with you, young space engineers! Today, you'll step into the role of a starship designer tasked with creating the ultimate escape pod. Imagine a daring escape from a malfunctioning spaceship or a dangerous space battle. Your challenge is to design an escape pod that can withstand the perils of space and get its occupants safely back to civilization!

 

This STEM design challenge will test your creativity and problem-solving skills. Think about all the challenges a space pod might face:

• Heat Shield: How will your pod protect its passengers from the scorching heat of atmospheric re-entry?
• Landing Gear: Will your pod use a parachute for gentle landings on planets or rocket thrusters for a smooth touchdown on space stations?
• Life Support: How will your pod provide air, water, and waste management for stranded passengers?
• Communication: How will your pod send a distress signal to rescuers across the vast reaches of space?

 

Get creative! Sketch your escape pod design or use drawing software to bring it to life. Don't forget to give your pod a cool name! Feeling extra adventurous? Write a short story about a daring escape using your escape pod design!

 

"May the Fourth Be With You"... and May Your Escape Pod Designs Be Stellar!

 

Science and Engineering Practices (SEP):

• Developing and Using Models: Students will create a model (sketch or computer drawing) of their escape pod design.
• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: While not a formal investigation, students will consider different solutions (design choices) for the challenges faced by an escape pod.
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Not directly applicable in this activity, but could be incorporated if students research real-world data on heat resistance or parachute effectiveness.
• Engaging in Argument from Evidence: Students can discuss and defend their design choices based on the challenges of space travel.
• Communicating Science Ideas: Students will present their escape pod designs and explain their reasoning through drawings, descriptions, or short stories.

 

Included in this activity:

✔ Student handout

✔ Student example

✔ Teacher instructions

✔ Grading rubric

✔ DOCX and PDF Versions of each file.