Course: Orion's Path

See the moon as youve never seen it before, and fly there on Orion—the spacecraft that will take future explorers into space. Moon phases, eclipses, craters, tides, and the dark side—all come to light in this lively lesson with NASA astronaut LeRoy Chiao, host Katrina Miller, and University of Colorado Professor David Klaus. In virtual labs, drive a lunar rover on moon rocks, and make your own oxygen and water from resources that you find in space. Flying to the moon and meeting the challenges of survival in space is a fantastic learning experience in Orion's Path.

Video Excerpt:

Course Lesson Plan:

Each course segment contains a comprehensive video and quiz
or lab.

Introduction
Returning to the Moon
Orion and the Contstellation Family
Preparing for Work on the Moon
Spacesuits and the Moons Environment
How the Moon got its Name
Orbit and Phases
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Volcanoes and Craters
Gravity and Tides
Rotation and Distance
Moon Formation
Giant Impactor Theory
Air and the Apollo 13 Challenge
Where will People Live?
Living off the Land
Packing for Your Trip Lab
Rovers, Power and Oxygen Virtual Lab
Making Water on the Moon Virtual Lab
From the Moon to Mars
The Red Planet
Space Program Goals

Teachers:

Be sure to see the lesson extensions created by The Space Foundation on the Control Panel for Teachers. Click on "Lesson Resources".

Sponsors:

Main Sponsor:

With lesson extensions by:

This course can help you meet the following National Science Education Standards:

The National Science Education Standards present a vision of a scientifically literate populace.
They outline what students need to know, understand and be able to do in order to be scientifically literate at different grade levels.

NSE Standards in this course:

Middle School:
As a result of their activities in grades 5-8...

Content Standard	...all students should develop:
A	Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry An understanding of scientific inquiry
B	An understanding of: Properties and changes of properties in matter Motions and forces Transfer of energy
D	An understanding of: Structure of the earth system Earth's history Earth in the solar system
E	Abilities of technological design Some understanding of science and technology
G	An understanding of: Science as a human endeavor Nature of science History of science

High School:
As a result of their activities in grades 9-12...

Content Standard	...all students should develop:
A	Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry An understanding of scientific inquiry
B	An understanding of: Structure of atoms Structure and properties of matter Chemical reactions Motions and forces Conservation of energy and increase in disorder
D	An understanding of: Energy in the earth system Geochemical cycles Origin and evolution of the earth system
E	Abilities of technological design Some understanding of science and technology
G	An understanding of: Science as a human endeavor Nature of science Historical perspectives

Getting Started: