The National Institute of Aerospace’s (NIA) Center for Integrative STEM Education team worked with NASA’s Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD) to offer a face-to-face experience with fourth grade students participating in the Newport News SPARK program. Forty-two students from Newport News Public Schools’ Summer Program for Arts, Recreation and Knowledge (SPARK) visited the NASA Langley Research Center on August 4th to participate in a hands-on STEM experience facilitated by NIA’s educators. Students worked side-by-side with SACD engineers to learn about engineering design. The students performed activities relevant to SACD: design a glider, self-propelled vehicles, and space capsule landing. Students were encouraged to ask questions as they went along, work as a team, and test and refine their designs. The experience culminated in a panel discussion where SACD engineers answered students’ questions that were noted throughout the experience. The interaction was filmed and will be edited to create an informational video that SACD may use to engage and build students’ career awareness.
