Seeds in Space
Name: Mary Hagen-Frederiksen
School: Northern York County School District
Audience: Grades 6 to 8
Duration: 80 minutes
Objectives: The students will identify the benefits of hydroponics for the future of space travel.
Process Skills: Communicating, Comparing, Contrasting, Inferring
Standards: S4.A.1.1, 3.4.7.D
Materials: Assorted materials as mentioned in the anticipatory set
Anticipatory Set: Given a selection of recycled materials (empty deli and take out containers, Styrofoam
materials, paper products, straws, etc.), give students the task of designing a greenhouse for a future
space station where astronauts, scientific researchers or tourists could live for one year. Student groups
will report to the class how each part of the group’s model functions.
Procedure:
1. Discuss the common features of each group’s model. What challenges will scientists face trying
to feed explorers of the future?
2. Define hydroponics using the frayer model . How does hydroponics supply the items necessary
for plant survival? (light, air, nutrients, thirst)
3. Having studied astronauts’ needs during short term space travel, students will pair and share
their ideas of pros and cons of being dependent on hydroponics for food source.
4. Pairs should report their ideas to the class and then regroup into their original groups to
examine their models again. What parts could work? What parts will not work?
Evaluation:
Students should include several of the following pros and cons on their lists and in their oral reports:
Pros:
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Scientists are developing crops that can be grown in small areas.
Scientists have been growing with hydroponics for 20 years.
Without gravity, plants can grow in any direction.
Plants grow well at 25 degrees (space travel temperature).
Plants will grow with Mars’ low light conditions.
Astronauts would not have to pack as much food.
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Antioxidants in fresh vegetables are thought to be beneficial for exposure to radiation.
Fresh vegetables have more nutrients than preserved vegetables.
Plants consume carbon dioxide from the space environment.
Plants provide positive psychological benefits (reduction of stress).
Research for growing plants in regolith (Martian soil) may help people who live in areas of the
Earth that have poor soil.
Cons:
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The water nutrient system must be managed so that it doesn’t escape in microgravity situations.
Growing plants on Mars may require the use of solar collectors to build up heat during the day
and insulate at night when the temperatures plummet.
Nutrients, water, air, light and temperature must be managed in a small growing space.
Mars has only 1% of Earth’s atmospheric pressure.
Under low light, many plants grow tall and leggy while searching for light. Under high light,
plants grow more compact and increase production.
Frayer Model
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