Two subjects I've always been fascinated by are twin studies, and space exploration -- an unlikely pairing which, in the mission of Scott Kelley, has enabled scientists to glean data, as never before, on the effects of spaceflight on the body.
You can watch all the episodes of Time'sdocumentary, "A Year In Space," here; and find learning activities based on the series here and here. Visit the following sites for additional free resources about astronauts and space:
All About Spacesuits: This interactive resource, created by NASA, explains how a spacesuit functions as a personal, mini-spacecraft that enables an astronaut to live and work in the harsh space environment. Learn about the suits worn for the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, shuttle, and spacewalk missions.
Space Exploration Mini-Unit: Seven lessons, with articles and videos, beginning with how to become an astronaut, and culminating in the future of space exploration.
Train Like an Astronaut: Combine learning about the requirements of space exploration with physical fitness. This site offers videos and free activity guides that explain how exercise and proper nutrition help astronauts maintain and improve important aspects of fitness such as physical strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, balance and coordination.
Astronaut Videos: See how astronauts eat, sleep, brush their teeth and do other tasks aboard the International Space Station.
Interactive Eye:The guide takes you through each step of the visual process; the anatomy of the eye; how each part works; how the brain interprets images.
Interactive Ear:View interactive models of outer, middle and inner ear, with descriptions of each part.
Smoking Lung: See how the lungs work and the difference between healthly lungs and lungs affected by smoking.
Earth Science Concepts for Middle School: CK-12 Flexbook with 14 chapters covering: earth’s features, rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, water, atmosphere, weather and climate, landforms, natural resources, the solar system and beyond.
High School Earth Science: CK-12 Flexbook with 26 chapters on earth and space science, plus a glossary.
Earth Science Illustrated Guide:Contains maps, charts, graphs and diagrams, with associated explanations, illustrating key earth science and space concepts. There’s a glossary at the end. This download has 209 pages.
Earth Science Lessons for middle school from Oregon State University. Covers plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, rocks and minerals.
Earth Revealed: Series of 26 half-hour videos on geology; for high school students.
Activities:
Inside the Earth Webquest: Guide to various sites to gather information and fill out a Google document on earth’s layers, convection currents, drifting continents, sea floor spreading, and plate tectonics.
Geology Lab Online: Several online activities for learning about earthquake epicenters, how geologists and archaeologists date rocks and ancient artifacts, and river processes.
Earth Science Paper Models: Cut out and assemble 3-D models of volcanoes, landforms, fossils, planets, and other things related to earth science.
101 Earth Science Demos:Demonstrate concepts using just a few everyday items. The objective of the demo, procedure to follow, and science behind the demo is described. Five sections include geosphere, atmosphere, hydroshpere, space, and miscellaneous. This download has 106 pages.
Weather Proverbs: Examine weather proverbs to determine their meaning, and the scientific principles they're based on.
Earth Guide: How is the earth different from other planets? Where does the sky become space? These and other questions are answered in a series of interesting animations.
