STAR TREK LIVE! - Ontario Science Centre

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