Google Expeditions

Science | Ages 7-11

  1. 1. International Space Station - Introducing the International Space Station
  2. 2. International Space Station - Life in microgravity
  3. 3. International Space Station - Microgravity and experiments
  4. 4. International Space Station - Build your own Space Station
  5. 5. Gravity when rock climbing
  6. 6. Friction when rock climbing
  7. 7. A day in the life of a mini-beast

International Space Station - Build your own Space Station

Part of:

Google Expeditions
Lesson overview

In this lesson students will develop their understanding of the construction of the ISS, investigating why it is made up of modules and the different roles those modules play. They go on to design and build their own module suitable to connect to the modules of other teams.

Learning outcomes
  • To be able to name at least two ISS modules and their purposes
  • To record their observations using scientific language
  • To design their own module suitable for its purpose that can connect to the modules of other teams
  • To find out more about the countries which have contributed to the ISS

Expedition Prep Checklist:

Instruct students to bring shoe boxes to class.

Download the Google Expeditions App on all devices and select the expedition International Space Station – Node 1 & Node 2.

Explore the expedition and locate points of interest.

Review the video content in the Lesson resources section to update your knowledge and develop some teaching ideas.

Lesson steps
  1. Introduction (10 mins)
    Students discuss in pairs why the ISS is made of modules and what role each module has. Explain that the ISS is not finished, and new modules are still being added.
  2. Expedition (20 mins)
    Students to complete the expedition and then using the Student Sheet, found in the Lesson resources section to document their experience in the table provided.
  3. Activity (30 mins)
    Students work in small groups to build a module for the ISS in a shoe box, you may wish to assign each member a role. Students first produce a plan of their module with a key explaining the role of each element and then construct their module. Finally, the class connect all their modules into a big space station.
  4. Extension
    Students watch videos from the lesson resources and the videos from The Kid Should Know This website and research parabolic flights and how / why people can experience weightlessness on them.