Astronomy: Out of This World Food

This lesson builds on the standard NGSS 5-PS1-1. Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. Students will explore the law of the conservation of matter by dehydrating and rehydrating foods and measuring them. Students will learn how astronauts’ food choices are influenced by the conditions in outer space, and how scientists prepare the foods to meet those conditions and the astronauts’ nutritional needs. Students will learn about different methods for preserving foods to be consumed by astronauts in outer space. 

Curricular Connections:

Next Generation Science Standards:

NGSS 5-PS1-2. Matter and Its Interactions

Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling, or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved.