Audience
Educators, Students
Grade Levels
Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12
Subject
Careers, Physical Science, Matter and Its Properties
Type
Lesson Plans / Activities, Videos
NASA Role Model: Douglas Hofmann
NASA Center: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Topic: Materials Scientist
Original Air Date: Aug. 11, 2021
Join NASA principal scientist, Douglas Hofmann, for this episode of “NASA STEM Stars”. As the principal scientist, Hofmann shares his STEM journey that led him to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Find out what it’s like to develop new materials that are used for rockets and spacecraft.
STEM Short Activity: Build a Heat Shield
Objective: As a team, design and build a heat shield that will protect the contents (candy) of a crew module (paper cup) from a simulated atmospheric re-entry (hair dryer).
Duration: 1 hour
Materials Needed: Cardboard, index cards, construction paper, etc., hair dryer, scissors, tape, 5 oz paper cups, stopwatch, infrared thermometer, unwrapped snack size candy bars
Difficulty: Moderate
Next Generation Science Standards: MS-PS3-3, PS-ETS1-1
Common Core Math Standards: MP1, MP3
“NASA STEM Stars” is a webchat series. Each chat introduces a science, technology, engineering or math career, addresses a STEM topic and highlights a NASA mission. The chat includes a STEM activity that students can do at home. After the interviews, experts answer students’ questions.