NASA Squeak Web Activities Web Site

Randy's Index Page at CNU -

With OLPC XO-friendly links below.

Squeak file links below bypass the NASA site and link directly to the source Squeak files on the CNU web site. When the Squeak file loads into Etoys, there was a suggestion to click once on the grey Etoys menu bar to shift frocus to it, press CTRL + Enter to hide / show the menu bar. This doesn't work.

GIS Challenge (March 2005) Correct URL

Norbert and Zot have created a Geographical Information System (GIS) for forests on planet Earth. Can you help them gather, plot, and analyze data for their final report?

* Concepts: GIS, deforestation.
* Math: Areas, fraction, percent, random sampling, measurement, plotting, data analysis.

Episode: Hidden Challenges: Landscape Archeology©

GIS Challenge > 1024x768 > Students >

Forest GIS - gis.003.pr
"Your computer display must be set to 1024x768 for this activity to work correctly."

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Sundial Challenge (March 2005)

Norbert has lost his watch, but he can still tell time using Sun shadows. Take, plot and analyze data on a simulated Sundial. Can you explain the daily change in the shadows?

* Concepts: Sundials, Earth-Sun motion.
* Math: Angles, symmetry, measurement, plotting, data analysis.

Episode: Ancient Observatories©

Sundial Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Sundial - ancient.010.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Park and Mail Challenge (November 2004)

Come to Norbania and learn about energy. Observe Norbert park in his Massive Space Garage. Help Zot mail a package using the magical Norbanian Postal System.

* Concepts: Kinetic and potential energy, position and velocity.
* Math: Measurement, plotting, data analysis.

Episode: Rocket to the Stars©

Park and Mail Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Park - MassSpring362.001.pr

Mail - BallGravity362.001.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Norbesaur Challenge (October 2004)

We take a trip back in time around 100 million years ago to study the Norbesaur - Norbert’s fictitious ancestor. Learn how scientists use ratios to determine how fast dinosaurs ran.

* Concepts: Biomechanics, position and velocity.
* Math: Measurement, plotting, data analysis, ratios.

Episode: Good Stress: Building Muscles and Bones©

Norbesaur Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Norbesaur - DinoRun362.001.pr

Tracks - DinoTrack362.001.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Laser Challenge (April 2004)

Norbert and Zot need help calibrating their laser system and measuring thicknesses of unknown aerosols and clouds. Learn how the laser light intensity decreases as it passes through aerosols and clouds.

* Concepts: Lasers, calibration and measurement.
* Math: Plotting, data analysis, ratios and algebra.

Episode: The "A" Train Express©

Laser Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Laser - laser362.002.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Extrasolar Challenge (March 2004)

Norbert and Zot need help to make a model of Norbania. They are homesick. Learn about the relation between the distance of the planet from its sun and its period of revolution.

* Concepts: Motion, solar system, Astronomical Unit, period.
* Math: Plotting, data analysis and ratios.

Episode: The Venus Transit©

Extrasolar Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Norbania - norbania362.001.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Robot Challange (December 2003)

Design a Norbot or Zotbot to complete a mission on the International Spaced Station. Learn the relation between geometric figures as you assemble the needed parts into the Norbot or Zotbot.

* Concepts: Reading comprehension, design and analysis.
* Math: Relations among geometric figures.

Episode: PSA: The Astronaut Helper©

Robot Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Mission 1 - mission1362.003.pr

Mission 2 - mission2362.003.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Rocket Launch Challenge (December 2003)

Launch rockets and learn about motion and gravity. Take and plot data to better understand position, velocity and acceleration. Try your rocket on the Moon and other planets.

* Concepts: Position, velocity, acceleration, and gravity.
* Math: Plotting and data analysis.

Episode: Festival of Flight©

Rocket Launch Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Launch - elaunch362.001.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Exercise Challange (September 2003)

Put Norbert and Zot through their paces with an exercise regime. Try to make their average heart rate 100 beats per minute. Check and plot your own heart rate.

* Concepts: Exercise and heart rate.
* Math: Plotting, data analysis, estimation and average.

Episode: Better Health from Space to Earth©

Exercise Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Exercise - heart362.001.pr

Heartplot - HeartPlot362.001.pr

GPS Challenge (August 2003)

Where in the world are Norbert and Zot? The computer in a GPS uses geometry to determine positions on the surface of the Earth. That's why math is so important!

* Concepts: GPS, trilateration and geography.
* Math: 2D and 3D geometry, circles and spheres.

Episode: Virtual Earth©

GPS Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

GPS - NZgps362.001.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Theorem Challange (August 2003)

Explore parallelograms more deeply and create theorems about parallelograms. Creating theorems will help build the muscle of your mind.

* Concepts: Parallelograms and theorems.
* Math: Reasoning, proof, angles, sides, and areas.

Episode: The "Wright" Math©

Theorem Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Theorems - pargram362.001.pr

Northern Lights Challange (No date)

"Some Squeak" No apparent downloadable files.

Answer the question "Do Northern Lights exist on other planets?" Exploration tools in the Squeak project are waiting for you to explore the other planets.

* Concepts: Electromagnetism, electrons, and atmosphere.
* Math: Data analysis, ratio, and proportion.

Episode: Dancing in the Night Sky©

Northern Lights Challange > Some Squeak (screenshots)

No web activity?

Freefall Challange (November 2002)

Norbert and Zot are waiting in an elevator. Make them weightless. "Design" the elevator so that it gets to the lobby as soon as possible while Norbert and Zot remain comfortable.

* Concepts: Position, velocity, acceleration, weight, mass.
* Math: Plotting and data analysis.

Episode: Who Added the "Micro" to Gravity?©

Freefall Challange > 1024x768 > Students >

Freefall - freefall362.001.pr

Elevator - elevtech362.001.pr

Plotting - plot362.002.pr

Playing - demo362.004.pr

Ratio Challange >

Radio Challange Web Activity - gearratios.003.pr

You have a box of gears that work. Can you determine the relation between the ratio of the number of teeth and the ratio of the number of turns for any two gears?
The Right Ratio of Rest: Proportional Reasoning

Cars Challange >

Cars Challange Web Activity - carstrack.009.pr

You can choose from several cars on a race track. Can you experiment to find the right variables to make your car complete one lap in the shortest time?
Team Extreme: The Statistics of Success

Pyramid Challange >

Pyramid Challenge Web Activity - pyramid.013.pr

Norbert and Zot are trying to measure the height of their newly discovered pyramids. Are you up to helping them with this challenge?
The Path of Totality: Angular Distance

Graph Challange >

Graph Challenge Web Activity - graph.009.pr

You are trying to break barriers and design the fastest balloon X-1 aircraft. Can you gather, plot and analyze data to help you in the Breaking Barriers in-class activity?
Breaking Barriers: Solving Linear Equations