STAR TREK LIVE! - Ontario Science Centre
STAR TREK LIVE! - Ontario Science Centre
STAR TREK LIVE! - Ontario Science Centre
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<strong>STAR</strong> <strong>TREK</strong> <strong>LIVE</strong>!<br />
Your Body in Space Learning Center Cards<br />
Learning center #1 — Balance<br />
Did you know:<br />
Tiny hairs cover your inner ear? Their tips float<br />
in liquid and tell your brain the position of your<br />
head. Your brain then controls the muscles to<br />
help keep you balanced.<br />
Discussion question:<br />
What is balance, and how may living in space<br />
affect it?<br />
Try it out:<br />
1 Stand on one leg with your eyes OPEN.<br />
2 Stand on one leg with your eyes CLOSED.<br />
Discuss findings:<br />
Is it easier to keep your balance when your eyes<br />
are open or closed? Which body parts help keep<br />
your balance?<br />
Learning center #2 — Bones<br />
Did you know:<br />
On Earth our bones are strong enough to help us<br />
stand up against the force of gravity?<br />
Discussion question:<br />
What happens to your bones in a low-gravity<br />
environment?<br />
Try it out:<br />
1 Take one chicken bone from the resealable<br />
bag. Try to bend it.<br />
2 Take one chicken bone from the jar of vinegar.<br />
Wipe it with paper towel. Try to bend it.<br />
Discuss findings:<br />
How does the bone from the resealable bag feel?<br />
How does the bone from the jar feel? Why do your<br />
bones need to grow and stay strong? Why may<br />
an astronaut’s bones weaken in space?<br />
© 2010 Mad <strong>Science</strong> Productions. All Rights Reserved. © 2010 Mad <strong>Science</strong> Productions. All Rights Reserved.<br />
Learning center #3 — Health<br />
Learning center #4 — Muscles<br />
Did you know:<br />
Sneezing, coughing, and breathing spreads<br />
germs through the air?<br />
Discussion question:<br />
Why may it be easier to catch a cold in space?<br />
Try it out:<br />
1 One group member sticks their hand in the<br />
bag of rice. The rice should stick to the hand.<br />
2 The group member uses the hand that touched<br />
the rice to shake a group member’s hand. That<br />
person shakes another group member’s hand<br />
until everyone has shaken hands.<br />
Discuss findings:<br />
How is a classroom like a spaceship? What does<br />
the rice show in this experiment? How do we<br />
keep germs from spreading?<br />
Did you know:<br />
Some muscles develop when you push against the<br />
force of gravity?<br />
Discussion question:<br />
Why is it especially important to exercise in space?<br />
Try it out:<br />
1 Grasp your right hand with your left hand with<br />
your palms facing up. Pull and push in opposite<br />
directions for ten seconds.<br />
2 Place your hands against a wall or stationary<br />
object. Run in place for 10 seconds.<br />
Discuss findings:<br />
Why may exercises similar to these be important for<br />
astronauts to do daily in space?<br />
© 2010 Mad <strong>Science</strong> Productions. All Rights Reserved. © 2010 Mad <strong>Science</strong> Productions. All Rights Reserved.