Astronaut on a Space Walk

Prepare to walk in space! Create your own astronaut as you learn about space exploration.

• 1.

  Who was the first human to venture into space? What was the mission? What did scientists discover? Read about the history of space flight and the key countries and people responsible for its success. Research the components of astronaut gear.

• 2.

  Design a replica of an astronaut in space using these ideas to whet your imagination! If you create your astronaut in several sessions, store the pieces in a resealable plastic container so the modeling compound will continue to stick to itself as you work.

• 3.

  Choose a foam ball for the astronaut’s head and space helmet. Cover it with a thin layer of black Model Magic® modeling compound. Blend the seams into each other.

• 4.

  Cover a chenille stem with a long rope of white Model Magic. Loosely coil the coated chenille stem to look like the oxygen hose that goes from the astronaut’s pack to the spaceship. (Hint: To keep the compound from sticking to itself when coiling, wrap it around a small cup. Press the ends onto the cup to hold it in place. Cut off these ends later.)

• 5.

  Choose a snack canister for the torso of your astronaut. The bigger the torso, the bigger the astronaut! Make sure the size is appropriate for the head. For the astronaut body, create basic arms, legs, and feet out of crumpled aluminum foil. Do not add ha

• 6.

  Use white Model Magic patches to smooth over hard edges and create shoulders. Then cover the entire body with a thin layer of the same color. Using the edge of a rounded modeling tool or your fingers, push in a wrinkled texture for the suit.

• 7.

  Press the black covered foam ball onto the top of the torso for a space helmet. Roll a thin white Model Magic layer flat. Cut a straight edge on one side with Crayola Scissors. Cover a little more than half of the back of the helmet with it, straight edge

• 8.

  For gloves, take two small balls of any color of Model Magic compound and flatten them a little. With a tool, cut out two opposite glove shapes. Press the edge of a tool into the spots where the fingers touch to create the look of fingers. Then attach the

• 9.

  To create the tread on the boots, roll two long skinny ropes of a light color of Model Magic compound. Wrap one of them on the bottom of each boot and flatten. Use a tool to etch vertical tread marks all around the boots.

• 10.

  For the astronaut’s backpack, use a small cardboard box about the size of a box of raisins. Cover the box completely with a thin layer of white Model Magic compound. Add details or pockets if you like. Press the pack on the astronaut’s back.

• 11.

  For the hoses that connect from the suit to the pack, roll four small balls of a light color and flatten onto the chest of the suit. Roll four thick long ropes of white Model Magic compound similar in length. Attach each one from the bottom of the backpac

• 12.

  Attach the chenille stem air hose to the bottom of the backpack with a little bit of compound. Decorate the suit with Model Magic flag patches, names and initials, or whatever you like! Model Magic® dries to the touch overnight and dries completely in 2 t

Benefits

• Students identify important figures in space travel and learn about advancements made possible because of their contributions.
• Students identify the parts of an astronaut’s space suit.
• Students use multiple armatures to construct a realistic replica of an astronaut dressed for a space walk.

Adaptations

• Visit a planetarium. Learn about stars and locate major constellations. Read about asteroids, comets, and meteors. Find out how they’re different, what they’re made of, and how they’re formed.
• Create a to-scale drawing of this solar system with Crayola Sidewalk Chalk on a large, safe outdoor surface. Label each planet with fun facts such as the planet’s size, distance from the sun, and number of moons.
• Make a cosmic memory game! Cut out 12 or more paper squares. On half of them, write a space-related vocabulary word. On the other squares, use markers to draw coordinating pictures. Mix them all up and lay them upside down. Flip over one card at a time and try to locate its matching half.
• Write a short story about an imaginary trip to Mars, the moon, or another planet. Write about what you would bring along and what kinds of strange life forms you might see.
• Assessment: Are constructions accurate representations of authentic astronaut gear? How detailed are the replicas? Did students work diligently and imaginatively to design their astronauts?