Safe Shelter Activity

An asteroid is going to hit Earth! Use geometry

to build enough safe shelters to save your city!

Grades 5th – 8th

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 Note to Teacher
Thank you for purchasing Asteroid Math! We hope you and your students enjoy these fun
activities that bring math to life through exciting space themed activities! Recommended for extra
curriculum math homework, extension of a space unit, a math center activity, or as part of an out
of school STEM program. This packet includes Activity 4 below:

Click here to purchase the other Asteroid Math Activities

Activity 1: Russian Meteor Event –30 to 45 minute activity that incorporates math word
problems with a real meteor event. Activity can be completed as a class, in small groups, or
individually. Additional background on asteroids is provided on the resources page. Supplies
needed: Internet and laptop for video
a) Students answer introductory questions and learn relevant science terms.
b) Students read news article on Russian meteor shower and complete discussion questions.
Recommend showing a video of the Russian asteroid impact: Warning – cut video off at 2:30
to avoid cuss word! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR49rHKycpE)
c) Students complete math word problems (ratio reasoning and percentage) based on facts
from the article.
Activity 2: Asteroid Invasion – 20 to 30 minute activity depending on level of students. Students
evaluate and apply an algebraic equation to determine the threat of an impeding asteroid. Activity
is best completed individually or as part of a center.
a) Students learn the equation that predicts which asteroids will impact Earth.
b) Students perform calculations using the equation and unit conversions to
determine the threat of different asteroids.

Activity 3: Save the Earth – 30 to 60 minutes activity to be completed in teams or individually.

Students use critical thinking and creativity to come up with ideas to stop an impeding asteroid.
The activity is flexible and can be tailored to fit your time constraints. Students can work
individually or in teams. Additional background is provided on the resources page including real
strategies being developed by scientists and engineers.
a) Students brainstorm methods to stop a possible asteroid from landing on Earth.
b) Students draw a diagram of their top idea.
c) Students write a description of their idea.

Activity 4: Safe Shelter Calculations – 20 to 30 minute activity to be completed as a class or

individually once the classroom measurements are provided. This activity centers on the need for
safe shelters to protect people from an impeding asteroid. Students use geometry to determine
how many safe shelters would need to be built to house all the people in their city.
Bonus! Career Connection: This handout connects the space-themed activities to two STEM
real world careers: Aerospace Engineer and Astronomer.

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 Activity Standards
Asteroid Math activities are aligned to the Common Core and Next Generation Science
Standards.
This activity is aligned with the National Math Common Core Standards listed below as well as the Standards
for Mathematical Practice.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4 Model with mathematics.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP6 Attend to precision.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP7 Look for and make use of structure.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP8 Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Common Core Math Standards Activity

Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 1
6.RP.A.3c 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole,
given a part and the percent.

6.RP.A.3d Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and 1, 2

transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.
6.EE.A.2 Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers. 2

6.G.A.1 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, 4
and volume
7.G.B.6 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, volume and 4
surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles,
quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, and right prisms

Next Generation Science Standards Activity

MS-ESS1-3 Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the 1, 2
solar system
MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient 3
precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant
scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural
environment that may limit possible solutions.
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on
3-5-ETS1-2 3
how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

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Free Space Education Resources
Asteroid Background
• http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collectio
n/cub_/lessons/cub_space8/cub_space8_lesson03.xml
• http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/education/program/expmetmys.cfm
Asteroid Mitigation Strategies
• http://www.neoshield.net/en/mitigation-measures/overview.htm
• http://science.howstuffworks.com/stop-an-asteroid.htm
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/space/asteroid-detection-
and-deflection/
Space Scale Models
• http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/summ
er/education_resources/earthspacescience_grades7-9/ESS_ss-
scale-models.html
• http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/DawnClassrooms/1_hist_dawn/history
_discovery/Development/a_modeling_scale.doc
Adventures in Rocket Science, NASA Publication
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/265386main_Adventures_In_Rocket_Sc
ience.pdf

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 Career Connection
Scientists and engineers are very interested in asteroids that fly near our planet. They
monitor and track the activities of asteroids so we can predict and prevent asteroid
impacts that could cause devastation on Earth. This study of asteroids is just one area
of space research that interests scientists. Here are two career paths that involve
space:

Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace Engineers make objects fly! They are involved in the design and
construction of airplanes, space shuttles, missiles, and helicopters. They often work
as part of a large team in places such as NASA, the Department of Defense, Boeing,
Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. This work requires at least a bachelors of science
degree in engineering. Some examples of aerospace engineering work:
• Design more efficient engines for an airplane to use less fuel.
• Test a part from an aircraft after a crash to find out why it failed.
• Design a mitigation strategy to avoid an asteroid impact on Earth.
• Test solid rocket boosters to find the most reliable configuration.

Astronomer
Astronomers think big! They want to understand the workings of the universe from
the sun to the galaxies and everything in between. An astronomer's work can be pure
science—gathering and analyzing data from instruments—or the work can be
applied to practical problems in space flight and navigation or satellite
communications. Astronomers require a Ph.D. in Astronomy. Examples of astronomy
work:
• Help plan a voyage to another planet and explain the mission to the public.
• Determine the composition of a planet, its atmosphere, and its moons.
• Investigate how galaxies are formed.
• Use sensitive radio telescopes to spot comets and asteroids with the potential
to impact Earth.

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 Safe Shelters
Name:______________________________ Date: _________________

NASA is concerned about the potential of a large asteroid hitting Earth!

Scientists are working on strategies to prevent a collision, but they need a back-
up plan. Your task is to build enough safe shelters for your city! NASA has
decided that the best size of each shelter is the size of your classroom.

1. How big is your classroom? Using a measuring tape or ruler, determine the
size of your classroom. If you are unable to measure height, provide the best
estimate.
Dimension Size of Classroom

Length

Width

Height

2. What is the area of the floor of your classroom?

3. What is the volume of your classroom?

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 Safe Shelters
4. How many beds can the safety shelter hold?

a) A typical bed is 36 inches x 78 inches. Calculated the area of a bed in ft2

b) Each bed will need a foot of space around the entire perimeter for
walking. Calculate how much area of space each bed will take up.

c) If only half of the safety shelter will be used for sleeping, how many
beds can the shelter hold?

5. How many shelters do you need to hold the population of your city?

Name of Your City: _____________________________

Population of Your City: _____________________________

If you place the same number of people as beds in each shelter, how many
shelters will you need to build?

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 Safe Shelters
4. How many beds can the safety shelter hold?

a) A typical bed is ___________x ___________. Calculated the area of a

bed.

b) Each bed will need a ___________ of space around the entire perimeter
for walking. Calculate how much area of space each bed will take up.

c) If only half of the safety shelter will be used for sleeping, how many
beds can the shelter hold?

5. How many shelters do you need to hold the population of your city?

Name of Your City: _____________________________

Population of Your City: _____________________________

If you place the same number of people as beds in each shelter, how many
shelters will you need to build?

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