The Learning Technologies Channel, and the NASA Langley Research Center's Office of Education present...

The NASA "Why?"Files

Produced by Langley Research Center's Office of Education, the NASA "Why?" Files is a series of instructional programs designed to enhance the teaching of science, math, and technology concepts in grades 3-5. The series introduces students to scientific inquiry, scientific method, and problem-based learning through various problems that challenge our six tree house detectives.

Each program in the series has a 60 minute video, includes a resource-rich teacher guide, and is complemented by the NASA "Why?" Files web site. to suport the national mathematics, science, and technology standards.

The NASA "Why?" Files is FREE to educators and the programs in the series are in the public domain. All you need to do is visit the web site: http://whyfiles.larc.nasa.gov and register. The four programs in the series can be down linked from satellite, seen on PBS stations, and downloaded from our web cast right here on the Learning Technologies Channel. Video copies of the programs can be purchased from CORE, NASA's Central Operation of Resources for Educators, .http://core.nasa.gov. Join the NASA "Why?" Files tree house detectives as they seek to solve challenging cases as they introduce you to scientific inquiry.

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Programming for 2001

DATE	EVENT	Video Archives	Description
02/15/01	The Case of the Electrical Mystery	View the Archive	In this program, students are invited to actively join the tree house detectives as they investigate the "Case of the Barking Dogs." The tree house detectives accept the challenge of determining why dogs in the surrounding neighborhoods have unexpectedly started barking early in the morning and late at night. Using scientific inquiry, our detectives discover what is causing the neighborhood dogs to bark. In determining the "why," the detectives learn about sound: what it is how it is transmitted, and how humans and animals hear. While solving the case, the tree house detectives learn that determining the source of the barking requires the use of logic and "sound"reasoning.
03/15/01	The Case of the Challenging Flight	View the Archive	In this program, students are invited to actively join the tree house detectives as students from a rival school challenge them to compete in a flight contest. The tree house detectives accept their rival's challenge to compete in the "design it, build it, and fly it" competition. Using scientific inquiry, our detectives learn about the four basic components of flight: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. The tree house detectives get a little help from their man, Jackie Chan, Burt Rutan, the U.S. Navy, the National Air and Space Museum, and many other experts. Using what they learn, the tree house detectives design and build an "egg-tra-ordinary" flying machine.

Programming for 2000

10/11/00	The Case of the Unknown Stink	View the Archive	In this program, students are invited to join the tree house detectives as they investigate "The Case of the Unknown Stink". The tree house detectives accept the challenge of trying to find the source of the unpleasant odor that is invading the surrounding neighborhoods. To determine the source of the stink, our detectives learn about the sense of smell: what it is, how humans and animals smell, and how wind speed and direction influence the movement of odor. They also learn how NASA's Atmospheric Science reearch can help solve the case. While investigating the case, the tree house detectives learn that the source of the "unknown stink" is right under their very noses".
11/8/00	The Case of the Barking Dogs	View the Archive	In this program, students are invited to actively join the tree house detectives as they investigate the "Case of the Barking Dogs." The tree house detectives accept the challenge of determining why dogs in the surrounding neighborhoods have unexpectedly started barking early in the morning and late at night. Using scientific inquiry, our detectives discover what is causing the neighborhood dogs to bark. In determining the "why," the detectives learn about sound: what it is, how it is transmitted, and how humans and animals hear. While solving the case, the tree house detectives learn that determining the source of the barking requires the use of logic and "sound" reasoning.