Make a Space Center

Make a Space Center is part of Crabtree’s “Make-It Models” series. This book aims to provide students with both specific instructions for designing and building different components of a space center while also encouraging them to use their creativity to extend the learning in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

The illustrations in Make a Space Center are colourful, simplified drawings that support the instructions of the text. The pages are well-laid-out, and the instructions for each project are numbered in reasonable length chunks of information. The projects vary in complexity. Projects include “We Have Liftoff!” (a rocket ship and launcher), “Launchpad”, “Command Module”, “Parachute Descent”, “Space Satellite”, “Human Gyroscope”, “Passenger Spaceship”, “Mars Rover” and “Planetarium Projector”. The final double-page spread shows “And Here is Your Finished Space Center!” This illustration is very helpful to see how everything can fit together in a space center display.

Fact boxes are used to highlight important or additional information. These include “What You Need”, “Tip”, “Take It Further”, and “The Science Part!”. Although most of the “Take It Further” boxes merely offer more instructions, rather than challenging students to dig deeper to ‘take the learning further’, the “Mars Rover” projects identifies a problem and asks students to use their creativity to solve it in any way they can.

Take It Further
Our model has fixed wheels, but on a real rover, they can turn in all directions. They can even move up and down to get over obstacles. How would you make wheels that can do this?

A “Further Information” section at the back of the book includes “Where to Get Materials”, “Books” and “Websites”. It is nice to see that the “Where to Get Materials” section includes thrift stores.

It is always a good idea to check thrift stores when you can, because they often have all kinds of handy household items and craft materials at very low prices.

My main reservation about Make a Space Center is the complexity of some of the projects. Some of your independent learners will thrive with limited support and the encouragement to create, but be prepared to offer support to others when needed. The projects will not likely turn out exactly like the illustrations, but with help, it should be an opportunity for an interesting and worthwhile learning experience.