Let's Train Like an Astronaut

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an astronaut? How would it feel to be weightless? What would it be like to wear a space suit and go on space walk? The NASA Train Like an Astronaut program explores these questions and more. We are fortunate enough at Sappington to be involved with this program thanks to Mrs. Driemeyer! The physical and hands-on challenges that are part of the program are designed to encourage health, fitness, and learning about space travel while on Earth but at the same time discovering what is physically required of the astronauts while traveling in space. After Mrs.Driemeyer asked if we would like to get in on the fun in our makerspace, we couldn't say no!

Our 2nd and 3rd grade friends were able to expand on what they've learned in PE class in the library. One of the many things they discovered was that although being weightless may sound like fun, it certainly isn't without its challenges. Some of the students never thought about how the simplest tasks are much more difficult in space because of zero gravity: eating, going to the restroom, sleeping, etc.

They also learned that astronauts must wear very cumbersome suits and gloves to protect their bodies whenever they are required to go outside of the space station or space shuttle in order to make repairs or conduct experiments. To give them an idea of how the extravehicular activity gloves or EVA gloves the astronauts wear can make tasks much more difficult, they were challenged to go their entire tinker time in the makerspace wearing winter gloves. Wearing EVA gloves, although necessary in the unforgivable environment of space, can negatively impact strength, dexterity, manipulability, and tactile perception in human hands. It was interesting to see how wearing gloves much thinner than actual EVA gloves affected  the 2nd and 3rd graders during their regular tinker time activities, such as, Lego construction, using tools in the take apart center, building circuits, or using markers, scissors, and beads in the creation station.

For our friends that were using an iPad or our new Sprout, we were able to show them how certain gloves will allow you to still activate the touch screens on these devices, while other types of gloves made this impossible. It was exciting for them to test the different types of gloves out for themselves to discover the differences! 

There was even a new center they could visit in the makerspace. This center was set up at one of our share tables where our friends were able to listen to an astronaut read a book aloud from the space station on the large share screen there. If you would like to check out what they were able to watch  for yourself, you can visit storytimefromspace.com.

When asked if they thought wearing gloves made tinker time more difficult, and the general response was, "Yes!"  Many students added that it got much easier the longer they wore the gloves, but that their hands were very sweaty. They said that they hoped that the astronauts didn't have sweaty hands every time they had to wear their EVA gloves! :)

Overall, the 2nd and 3rd graders really enjoyed this extension of their astronaut training! A big thank you to Mrs.Driemeyer for allowing us to participate!