Elementary school students, as scientists, investigate forces and motion to answer the driving question: How did they get the James Webb Space Telescope into space? Students observe images of Jupiter taken with a telescope on Earth and with the JWST. Students watch a video of the rocket carrying the James Webb Space Telescope being launched into space. Next, they generate initial questions about how the JWST was launched into space. Finally, students develop an initial model explaining how the large payload was launched into space using their ideas about gravity and forces.

This lesson plan is lesson one of the Launching the James Webb Space Telescope Unit. The unit was created in collaboration with AIAA and Estes Education.

Click the Download PDF button above for the complete Lesson Plan.

Student Materials

Per Student

• Blank Notice and Wonder Template
• Initial Model Template
• James Webb Space Telescope Fact Sheet

Teacher Materials

• The Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope Front Matter
• The Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope Storyline Outline
• The Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope Video
• Card Sort and Answer Key
• Digital Scale
• Dumbbell weight (1-10 pounds)
• 1 gallon of water
• 1 full box of cat litter
• Density Cube set with hooks (similar to the option found here) OR if you already have a Density Cube set without hooks, in L2 you can attach hooks that screw into the cube, like these, or use adhesive to attach hooks like these. Make sure that you follow all safety directions for screwing or sticking hooks to the\ blocks.
• L1 Slides