Lessons by Season

Guidelines for Instructional Use

These free videos are intended to be used for instruction or remediation of primary and secondary students . They can be viewed in their entirety or the instructor can pause them periodically to discuss various parts of the video during the learning process.

Instructional resources for each video are included in the Instructional Resource Directory tab and include guided notes (with a word bank) as well as related classroom hands-on activities. We always recommend previewing the videos to maximize their instructional impact.

season 1 Episodes

Episode 1 - What's the Matter with Change?

This Physical Science focused episode will cover the demonstration of physical and chemical change and how the Astronauts use the impact temperature has on reactions to save the station when an accident occurs on board. (running time 31 minutes)

Episode 2 - King of the Lunar Kingdom

In this Life Science focused episode, the scientist aboard the station will briefly discuss the Linnaean classification system and then identify the differences between the Kingdoms of Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Fungi, and Protista. This review will be an essential part of identifying and categorizing an unknown biological material that was found on the Moon and is being evaluated to determine if it is of terrestrial origin. (running time 25 minutes)

Episode 3 - The Heat of Re-entry

In this Nature of Science, Physical Science and Earth/Space Science related episode, the crew of Spacegate Station works with the Scientists of the Lunar Research Center to discuss the impact gravity and atmospheric drag has on a Space Capsule when it returns to earth. In this lesson, the students will be given directions on how to apply the scientific method to investigate, design, and build a space capsule re-entry system. Using different materials, provided by their instructor, students will have to figure out the best way to help slow down the capsule and overcome the problems of re-entry. (running time 14 minutes)

Episode 4 - The Miracle of Motion

In this Life Science based episode, the crew will help students learn about muscles, bones, and nerves and how they interact in the human body to provide movement. Students will also see how science has taken the understanding of this process to create artificial computer-controlled systems that can emulate human movement. In this lesson, using different materials provided by the instructor, they will create an artificial finger to better understand how both the human and artificial machines work to create movement. (running time 20 minutes)

Episode 5 - The Power of Programing

In this Math and STEM-based episode, the crew will help students learn about computers and the fundamental process of how a program is designed. Students will be introduced to the concept of algorithms which consists of instructional sequences, decision making, and command repetition. In this lesson, using instructional handouts’, the student will then create their own algorithm to better understand the essential parts of developing a program to operate a computer. No computers are needed for this activity. (running time 22 minutes)

Episode 6 - Gravity and Orbits in Space

In this Math and Physical Science based episode the crew will teach about about how gravity effects the orbit of objects in space and how this impacts the operations of Spacegate Station as it maintains its orbit around the moon. Students will also learn the process and practice the math involved in keeping Spacegate Station in its orbit using the necessary computations. (running time 21 minutes)

Episode 7 - Accuracy, Precision and ASCII

In this Math and STEM-based episode, the crew will help students learn about the importance of precision and accuracy in experimentation and review the use of the American Standard Code for information Interchange (ASCII) table. Students will be able to practice the process for converting character based information to hexadecimal, using the ASCII table, so they can better understand the process involved in communicating with Spacegate Station's booster engine computer. (running time 22 minutes)

season 2 Episodes

Episode 8 - Building the Future

In this Engineering/STEM - based episode, the crew will help students learn about basic engineering design practices that are used to create structures such as houses. This lesson includes the reading of the children's book "If I Built a House" by Chris Van Dunsen. At the end of this lesson, using different materials provided by the instructor, the students will create their own dream home. (running time 18 minutes)

Episode 8B - Building the Future (Design Practices Version)

In this version of the episode, the program is reduced for older children and focuses on basic engineering design practices and people that are used to create structures such as houses. At the end of this lesson, using different materials provided by the instructor, the students will create their own dream home. (running time 6 minutes)

Episode 9 - The Mighty Macromolecules

In this Life science-based episode, the crew will help students learn about the four major types of large biological molecules called Macromolecules. At the completion of this lesson, students will be able to describe the basic molecular structure of the four types of Macromolecules and their primary functions. (running time 19 minutes)

Episode 10- An Electrical Encounter

In this Physical science-based episode, during a station emergency, the crew and the students learn about electricity, series and parallel circuits, the importance of conductors and insulators as well as the method used to measure the flow of electricity. (running time 20 minutes)

Episode 11 - The Drone Dilemma

In this Nature of Science, Physical Science, and Earth/Space Science related episode, the crew of Spacegate Station help students learn about what Drones are, how they operate, and what makes them a special type of flying vehicle. Students also learn about the related concepts of thrust, drag, lift, gravity, their effects on flying objects, and the implications of operating a Drone on the planet Mars. (running time 18 minutes)

Episode 12 - Postcards to Space

In this episode of Spacegate Station, students will learn about a FREE special program sponsored by the Blue Origin Club for the Future called Postcards to Space. Students create a postcard that is loaded into the crew capsule of Blue Origins New Shepard rocket which is launched into space . When the postcards are recovered, they are stamped "Flown to Space," and mailed back to the students to keep as their own space-flown keepsake. (running time 10 minutes)

season 3 Episodes

Episode 13 - Weathering the Storm

In this Earth/Space Science based episode the crew of Spacegate Station, with the help of Action News Jax Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh, have to manage a weather-related problem with a deep space probe investigating the North Pole of Saturn. As a result, they learn about what weather is, and the various components that make up the weather such as air temperature, humidity, precipitation, and air pressure. (running time 16 minutes)

Episode 14 - Power of the Planets

In this Earth/Space Science-based episode the crew of Spacegate Station, with the help of an astronomer, guide students as they learn about how to distinguish between objects of the Solar System such as the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. (running time 16 minutes)

Episode 15 - Matching the Method

In this Nature of Science episode the crew of Spacegate Station help students learn about the importance and the differences between the scientific method, used by scientists to perform experiments, and the engineering design process which used by engineers to solve problems and make new things. During this lesson, students also learn about what engineering is and the different types of engineers. (running time 17 minutes).

Episode 16 - Security in Cyberspace

In this Computer Science episode, the crew of Spacegate Station help students learn about the importance of Cyber Security and the various ways they can keep themselves safe when operating in Cyber Space. (running time 17 minutes).

Episode 17 - A Summary of Stories

In this English Language Arts-focused episode the crew of Spacegate Station helps students learn about the difference between fiction and non-fiction text and the specific way a student would summarize each unique form of literary expression. (running time 19 minutes).

Episode 18 - The Concept of Coding

In the process of fixing the Rover, they review some of the major concepts in basic coding including algorithms, how flow charts are used, the application of conditional statements, and the part that event handlers play. (running time 19 minutes).

season 4 Episodes

Episode 19 - The Source for Sources

In this episode, the crew of Spacegate Station, with the help of Action News Jax Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh, take on the differences between Primary and Secondary sources and their implications in Literature, History and Science. (running time 21 minutes)

Episode 20- Diving into Density

In this physical science episode, the crew of Spacegate Station take a hands on look into the concepts and mathematical formulas related to the density of solids, liquids and gases. In addition, the crew briefly discuss the impact density had on the formation of the planets in our solar system. (running time 23 minutes)

Episode 21- Understanding Heat Transfer

In this Physical Science based episode, the crew of Spacegate Station reviews the concept of Heat Transfer in solids, liquids and gases as well the process of conduction, convection, and radiation. In addition, the crew briefly discuss the impact heat transfer has in weather and the ocean. (running time 17 minutes)

Episode 22- The Physical Properties of Matter

In this Physical Science based episode, the crew of Spacegate Station will be talking about the physical properties of matter with the help of Meteorologist Robert Speta from First Coast News in Jacksonville, FL, USA. They will be focusing on the primary difference between intrinsic (intensive) and extrinsic (extensive) properties. (running time 18 minutes)

Episode 23- Considering the Carbon Cycle

In this Life Science based episode, the crew of Spacegate Station, while working with Martian Regolith, discuss the carbon cycle and the relationship that cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and the conservation of matter have in this process. (running time 14 minutes)

season 5 Episodes

Episode 24 - The Science of Flight

In this Earth Space Science based episode, the crew of Spacegate Station help students understand the basics of flight dynamics as well as how control surfaces on an airplane are used to control the craft in flight. (running time 15 minutes)

Episode 25 - Atoms and the Periodic Table

In this physical science-based episode, the crew of Spacegate Station, with the help of some Elementary students, will be talking about basic atomic structure to include protons, neutrons and electrons. They will also explain the basic design of the Periodic Table and some of the rules used to interpret the information it contains. (running time 16 minutes)

INSTRUCTIONAL LESSONS BY SEASON

Guidelines for Instructional Use