This website is a resource component connected with the Toys in Space Investigation, a videoconferencing module offered by NASA's Digital Learning Network. The videoconference allows students to play the role of scientists and engineers in examining the physics of popular toys and games in the classroom and try to answer the question: Will this toy work in microgravity? The four toys featured (soccer, jump rope, kendama, and boomerang) are from the International Toys in Space video; a thirty-two-minute video program available from NASA Education.

If your class is participating in the DLN Toys in Space Investigation module, you will need to download the following document which contains background information about the program, pre and post classroom activities, and other relevant information.

Toys in Space Investigation (DLN) Teacher Guide (PDF)

Student Investigation Document (PDF)

Boomerang Template (PDF)

Finally, as part of a pre or post videoconference activity, you may want to have your students view some of the many other toys and games that have gone to space. Below you will find many of the other toys that have gone to space as part of NASA Education payload experiments.


Suggested NASA Links:
 
 

Toys in Space (the original)- This video was from a payload experiment sent to space as part of NASA Space Shuttle mission STS 51-D. STS-51D went up in April, 1985 with Commander Karol J. Bobko, Pilot Donald E. Williams, Mission Specialists M. Rhea Seddon, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, S. David Griggs and Payload Specialists Charles D. Walker and Sen. E. Jake Garn. The TOYS Experiment included: gyroscope, Wheelo, yo-yo, ball and jacks, paper airplane, paddle ball, magnetic marbles, Slinky, car and racetrack.

Video from first TOYS experiment:

 

Toys in Space II- This video was from a payload experiment sent to space as part of NASA Space Shuttle mission STS 54. STS-54 went up in January, 1993 with Commander John H. Casper, Pilot Donald R. McMonagle, Mission Specialists Mario Runco, Jr., Gregory J. Harbaugh and Susan J. Helms. The payload footage was turned into a video program called Toys in Space II as part of the NASA Liftoff to Learning video series. The Toys in Space II is avaialble on the International Toys in Space DVD available from NASA CORE. Additionally, the videos are listed below.

 
Toy in Space II Videos mov wmv
Ball and Cup mov wmv
Balloon Helicopter mov wmv
Basketball mov wmv
Dual-Hand-Helicopter mov wmv
Paper Grasshopper mov wmv
Paper Gliders mov wmv
Tippy Top mov wmv
Whee-lo mov wmv
Paper Whirly Bird mov wmv
Car & Track mov wmv
Comeback Can mov wmv
Flapping Bird mov wmv
Gravitron mov wmv
Horseshoes mov wmv
Jacob's Ladder mov wmv
Klacker Balls mov wmv
     
Toy in Space II Videos mov wmv
Magnetic Toys mov wmv
Paper Maple Seed mov wmv
Mass Marbles Demo mov wmv
Paper Boomerang mov wmv
Rat Jumper mov wmv
Rattleback mov wmv
Slinky mov wmv
Spring Jumper mov wmv
Swimmers mov wmv
Swimming Frog mov wmv
Velcro Target mov wmv
   
     
 

International Toys in Space- This video was from a payload experiment sent to space as part of NASA ISS Expedition 5. This was the first "toy" experiment to occur inside the Internation Space Station and featured toys from around the world. The payload video was used to produce the video program International Toys in Space, which was released as a DVD through NASA CORE.

Expedition 5 occurred between June and December of 2002 with Commander Valery Korzun (RU), Flight Engineer and US Science Officer Peggy Whitson (US), and Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev (RU).
International Toys in Space mov wmv
Astrojax mov wmv
Climbing Bear mov wmv
Flipping Bear mov wmv
Hand-Helicopter mov wmv
Hockey mov wmv
Lacrosse mov wmv
Marbles mov wmv
Origami mov wmv
Videoguide for educators for International Toys in Space video (PDF)
International Toys in Space mov wmv
Pecking Hens mov wmv
Spinning Top mov wmv
Density Wand mov wmv
Yo-Yo mov wmv

 

The Kendama, Jump Rope, Paper Boomerang (ISS), and Soccer Ball are not posted to this website because they are part of the videoconference.
 

 

Questions about this site: scott.c.anderson@nasa.gov