Filed under: Educational Materials, K-12, NASA, STEM, Science | Tags: Videos
The Educational Materials section of NASA’s Web site offers classroom activities, educator guides, posters and other types of resources that are available for use in the classroom. Materials are listed by type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available for downloading.
Calculator-Controlled Robots: Hands-on Mathematics and Science Discovery Educator Guide — Grades 6-9
This guide provides activities for using calculator-controlled robots over the course of one semester. Students create programs in TI-BASIC to run Norland Research calculator robots. Missions are built sequentially on the knowledge of previous activities. The first missions have step-by-step programming instructions that gradually lead students to create their own programs in later missions. Students use and apply math and science concepts to direct their robots through a variety of challenges.
Additional Video Learning Clips Added
The educational video clips listed below have been added to the Videos section of the NASA Educational Materials site. Click on the link below each list of video clips to access the videos online.
Designed for students in grades 5-8, these video clips from the NASA CONNECT™: Functions and Statistics: Dressed for Space DVD show viewers how NASA engineers and researchers build on past spacesuit technologies and use functions and statistics to create the next generation of spacesuits for the International Space Station and beyond.
Titles in this series:
– What Is Atmospheric Pressure?
– The Construction and Design Elements of Spacesuit Technology.
– The Importance of Spacesuit Fitting and Sizing: One Size Does Not Fit All.
– Hands-on Activity in Spacesuit Design.
Targeting students in grades 5-8, these video clips from the NASA CONNECT™: Geometry and Algebra: The Future Flight Equation DVD show students how NASA engineers develop experimental aircraft. Viewers learn about the Hyper-X Research Vehicle, an experimental plane that uses scramjet engine technology to propel itself to 10 times the speed of sound. Students will understand how the Hyper-X is part of the Future Flight Equation and observe NASA engineers using geometry and algebra when they measure and design models to be tested in wind tunnels.
Titles in this series:
– NASA’s Experimental Plane: What It Is and What It Does.
– The Process Involved in Aircraft Design.
– Hands-on Aircraft Design Activity.
– Preparing for Flight: Testing the Hyper-X.
– NASA’s Plane Math Online Activity.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/NASAs_Experimental_Plane.html
The video clips in the Liftoff to Learning: Microgravity DVD series are designed for students in grades 5-12. These clips focus on four scientific disciplines in microgravity studies: fluid physics, materials science, biotechnology and combustion. Experiments within these disciplines explore how the effects of buoyancy-driven convection and sedimentation, seen in ground-based laboratories, are diminished in space, allowing scientists to expand their knowledge in these areas. “Microgravity” describes the restrictions that gravity imposes on scientific experimentation and how they can be greatly reduced in the exciting research environment of the space shuttle and later on in the International Space Station.
Titles in this series:
– The Constant Pull of Gravity: How Does It Work?
– What Is Microgravity?
– Simulating the Low-Gravity Conditions of Space in the Lab.
– The Role of Microgravity in Scientific Research.
– Fluid Physics Experiments in Space.
– Biotechnology Experiments in Space.
– Materials Science Experiments in Space.
– Combustion Experiments in Space.
Designed for students in grades 5-12, these video clips from the Liftoff to Learning: Mathematics of Space — Rendezvous DVD address the basic mathematical operations of spacecraft rendezvous in Earth orbit. Middle school mathematics students solve problems that occur when the space shuttle docks with the Russian space station MIR.
Titles in this series:
– Importance of Mathematics in Space Exploration: Calculating a Rendezvous.
– Calculating Time in Space: Mir’s Rendezvous Over Moscow.
– Setting Up the Mir Rendezvous Positioning Problem.
– Solution to the Mir Rendezvous Positioning Problem.
– How an Increase in Velocity Can Change the Altitude of an Object in Space.
– Determining the Velocity Increase Needed for a Successful Rendezvous in Space.
Targeting students in grades 5-12, these video clips from the Underground Railroad: Connections to Freedom and Science DVD raise student awareness of the Underground Railroad and the role celestial navigation played in the Railroad’s success. The series also highlights the importance of modern Global Information System technology in reconstructing historical topographies and finding the exact route of the Railroad. By combining amazing historical facts-such as the use of mathematics for communication with handmade quilts, remote-sensing technology, Earth system science and astronomy, the series presents an educational experience that is dynamic, moving and broadly cross-curricular.
Titles in this series:
– Follow the Drinking Gourd: Using the Science of Astronomy in History.
– The Importance of Waterways in the Success of the Underground Railroad.
– Slaves and the Use of Horticulture Along the Underground Railroad.
– The Science Behind the Maps of the Underground Railroad.
– Navigating to Freedom With the North Star.
– Exploring and Preserving the Underground Railroad With Modern Technology.
– Archeological Research and the Underground Railroad Today.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Follow_the_Drinking_Gourd.html
Filed under: Higher Education, NASA, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities | Tags: Astronauts, Career Exploration
NASA’s deadline for accepting applications for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class is July 1, 2008. Those selected could fly to space for long-duration stays on the International Space Station and missions to the moon.
To be considered, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required. Typically, successful applicants have significant qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience flying high-performance jet aircraft.
Teaching experience, including work at the kindergarten through 12th grade level, is considered qualifying. Educators with the appropriate educational background are encouraged to apply.
After a six-month period of evaluation and interviews, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009. Astronaut candidates will report to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston during the summer of 2009 to begin the basic training program to prepare them for future spaceflight assignments.
To apply to be an astronaut, visit: http://www.usajobs.gov
Additional information about the Astronaut Candidate Program is available by visiting: http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/recruit.html
Filed under: K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities
U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc. presents NASA-sponsored 3D-VIEW (Virtual Interactive Environmental Worlds). Designed for students in grades 5 and 6, 3D-VIEW is an award-winning, comprehensive research-based Earth science curriculum with strong literacy and math achievement components.
3-D stereo is used as a tool to learn science content in richly thematic units for Earth science. These units include Air, Life, Water, Land and Earth Systems.
Week-long online training sessions are taking place this summer. Applications are due July 3, 2008. For more information and to register for training sessions, visit http://www.3dview.org .
Summer is heating up with presentations by NASA Solar System Ambassadors at local venues — libraries, schools, state parks, museums and more — across the U.S. Themes planned for these public events include “Barnstorming the Solar System,” “Phoenix Landing,” “Summer Solstice and the Sun,” “Moon Observing,” and “Twin Robots on Mars in 3-D.”
Solar System Ambassadors is a public outreach program designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation. Ambassadors are space enthusiasts from various walks of life who are interested in providing greater service and inspiration to the community at large. In 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, 523 Ambassadors are now bringing the excitement of space science and exploration to the public in their local communities.
For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/events.html
Planning on being in Washington, D.C. at the end of June or beginning of July? Join NASA at the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The festival invites learners of all ages to meet exemplary masters, whether they are calligraphers from Bhutan, polka players from Texas or astrophysicists from NASA. The event will take place at the National Mall from June 25-29 and July 2-6, 2008.
NASA: Fifty Years and Beyond will showcase the role that the men and women of NASA have played in broadening the horizons of American science and culture, as well as the role that they will continue to play in helping to shape the future by stirring the public imagination.
The festival will include live presentations; hands-on educational activities; demonstrations of skills, techniques, and knowledge; and narrative “oral history” sessions. NASA exhibits will explore the spirit of innovation, discovery, and service embodied by the agency and its personnel. Visitors will be able to interact with astronomers, astronauts, astrophysicists, educators, engineers, graphic artists, nutritionists, pilots and other NASA experts.
For those who can’t attend in person, the NASA Folklife Festival Web site will have interactive content to allow users to attend virtually. The site will include a rollover map of featured exhibits with links to learn more, and image galleries of photos taken during the festival. Visitors to the Web site can also learn about NASA careers by reading biographies of the NASA presenters.
For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/50th/Folklife/index.html .
(from our friends at OMSI)
Summer officially begins with the summer solstice on Friday, June 20 at 4:59 pm PDT. The earth is tilted so that the north pole is at its closest point with the sun. (Yet, the earth will be at its farthest distance from the sun, called aphelion, on July 5) As a result there will be more minutes of sunlight in the northern hemisphere than there are at any other time of the year.
Summer Solstice facts:
· The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin sol-stitium, for sun-standing. The summer solstice is the time of the year when the sun stops its northern climb and stands briefly before turning back toward the equator.
· On June 20 and 21, we will have nearly 17 hours of daylight to enjoy. From March 21 until September 24, there are more hours of daylight than darkness. After June 20, the days will gradually grow shorter until December 21, the winter solstice.
· As seen from Portland, the sun will reach its highest northern point in the sky at 67.54 degrees from the horizon on June 20 at approximately 1:12 p.m.
· The earliest sunrise (5:21 am PDT) of the year occurs on June 14th. The earliest sunrise, longest day, and latest sunset do not coincide. The longest days occur around the solstice (June 21) and the latest sunset (9:03 pm PDT) happens on June 28.
· The summer solstice produces the shortest sunset and sunrise of the year. The sun will rise from the NNE (54 degrees azimuth) and set at NNW (268 degrees azimuth).
· At this time of year, the full “strawberry” moon ( June 18 ) will appear low above the southern horizon. It will rise from the SE (130 degrees azimuth) and set at SW (230 degrees azimuth). The moon will only reach a maximum altitude of 16 degrees at 1:44 am (June 19). Whenever a full moon is not too high above the horizon it looks bigger and more colorful than usual. The moon is close to the horizon we always view it through the thicker layers of the earth’s dusty atmosphere so a low riding full moon almost always looks more colorful than a full moon that’s riding high.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/16jun_moonillusion.htm?list914996
Around the World
In ancient times, the beginning of summer was met with as much joy.
Summer meant a new beginning; the snow had thawed, the leaves were green, food was easier to find and crops could be planted. The season was so important that literally hundreds of groups celebrated it with religious festivities.
Ancient Sweden – A tree was set up and decorated in each town to celebrate summer solstice. The villagers would dance around the tree and females would bathe in the local river. The ritual was supposed to bring rain for the crops.
Ancient Egypt – Summer solstice was considered the beginning of the new year. It coincided with the flooding season when the soil would be fertilized and water would quench the arid Nile Valley.
Latvia and other Baltic States – Summer solstice was celebrated with a feast of traditional beer and cheese. All work would be put on hold during the festivities.
North American Natives – Several Native American tribes marked the solstice with rites and ritual celebrations. The Sioux tribe would perform the Sundance in a specially constructed lodge and the Hopi Indians held ceremonies with masked dancers in brightly colored costumes. The dancers represented the spirits of rain and fertility.
What’s probably the biggest celebration of summer solstice happens at Stonehenge. Every year thousands of New Age followers, who call themselves Druids, gather to dance, play music and watch the sun rise.
The mysterious stone circles southwest of London align with the rising of the sun on the longest day of the year. Some experts say they are part of a huge astronomical calendar.
Solstice to the south
Not everybody is celebrating. Far to our south, across the equator, winter has arrived.
For people in the southern hemisphere, June 21st, will be the shortest day of the year. It also means the beginning of their winter.
Six months from now, when the earth has made half of its yearly trip around the sun, the northern hemisphere will experience that cold weather. December 21 will be winter solstice. That’s when we have the fewest hours of sunlight and winter officially begins.
Filed under: Educational Materials, K-12, STEM, Science | Tags: NOVA, Volcanoes
Next on NOVA: “Mystery of the Megavolcano”
http://www.pbs.org/nova/megavolcano
Tuesday, June 17 at 8 p.m.
(Check your local listings as dates and times may vary.)
NOVA joins four scientists in their global pursuit of clues to a massive volcanic eruption that appears to have had a devastating impact on the Earth 75,000 years ago. And if they’re right, the ancient supervolcano — and others like it — may someday reawaken, with catastrophic consequences for our modern world. Now, an array of clues — scattered ashes and ice cores, tiny ocean creatures and steaming lakeside rocks — are brought together to solve the “Mystery of the Megavolcano.”
The Mystery of the Megavolcano companion Web site includes:
The Next Big One
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/megavolcano/bigone.html
What could we expect if a supereruption were to occur today?
Why Toba Matters
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/megavolcano/shindell.html
NASA’s Drew Shindell reflects in this interview on the lessons we can learn.
A Supersized Volcano
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/megavolcano/supersized.html
As this interactive shows, Toba’s upheaval dwarfs all eruptions of recorded history.
Blasts From the Past
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/megavolcano/blasts.html
Explore a map of supereruptions around the world.
Also, Links & Books, the Teacher’s Guide, the program transcript, and more:
http://www.pbs.org/nova/megavolcano
(From our friends at OMSI in Portland, OR)
June 14, 2008
OMSI Star Party – Summer Solstice Celebration at Rooster Rock
Summer officially begins with the summer solstice on Friday, June 20 at 4:59 p.m. PDT. On Saturday evening, June 14, OMSI, Rose City Astronomers and Vancouver Sidewalk Astronomers will celebrate the summer solstice and the beginning of summer with a free Star Party! Join us as we gaze at the spring / summer night sky at Rooster Rock State Park, located 22 miles east of Portland on I-84 (east of Sandy River) at exit 25, starting at 9:30 pm. Parking is $3 per vehicle.
Members of RCA and VSA will make their telescopes available to anyone who attends, and OMSI Planetarium Manager Jim Todd will present informal talks on the occurrence. From beginners to experts of all ages, visitors will have the opportunity to view the stars and other objects through a variety of telescopes.
Viewing highlights includes the planet Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, the waxing gibbous moon, a meteor or two of the Lyrids Meteor Shower, several clusters, and more! For possible weather cancellation, call (503) 797-4610 on June 14 after 4:00 PM to get the latest information.
The Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber project continues as participants are still receiving seeds. After your students complete the project, be sure to visit the challenge Web site and provide information about your seed growth. Certificates of Participation will be available for each student after the challenge feedback form is completed.
What’s the Challenge?
The August 2007 flight of space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station also launched a challenge to the engineers of the future. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade were challenged to design and build a model of a lunar plant growth chamber. Packets of cinnamon basil seeds were flown on Endeavour, returned to Earth and distributed to participants who registered for the challenge. Participants also received seeds that were not flown in space. The two sets of seeds were used to evaluate the student-designed plant growth chambers.
Registration is still open to participate in the challenge. For additional information and to sign up to receive space-flown basil seeds, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge
Filed under: Educational Materials, Interactive Materials, K-12, NASA, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities | Tags: Buzz Lightyear, Disney, Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-124
Buzz Lightyear, the Disney / Pixar character that made famous the movie line “To infinity, and beyond!” has been assigned a new mission on the International Space Station. The space ranger from the “Toy Story” movies is joining the crew of the STS-124 space shuttle mission.
The STS-124 space shuttle mission will deliver the next piece of the Japanese “Kibo” laboratory to the station. Kibo is about the size of a large tour bus and will be the station’s largest laboratory. It will feature 10 experiment racks where astronauts will conduct microgravity research that will focus on space medicine, biology, Earth observations, material production, biotechnology and communications research. In celebration of Buzz’s flight, Disney Parks partnered with NASA to create five interactive games with educational activities and special messages from Buzz Lightyear. These will be added to the NASA Kids’ Club Web site throughout the mission.
The games are:
Load the Shuttle
Kids use mathematics and problem-solving to load the space shuttle payload bay with parts and supplies for the International Space Station. Students have to consider weight and space available to solve the challenge.
Mission Matchup
Players match the name of the country with that country’s contribution to spaceflight and technology. As the matches are found, an image of the completed International Space Station is revealed.
I Spy
Everyday objects such as a football helmet, sunglasses and even an ice cream cone are hidden on a space station. All the hidden objects are spin-offs of NASA-developed technology.
Connect It
Players predict how to use the space shuttle’s robotic arm to move and attach the new Japanese module “Kibo” to the International Space Station.
Toys in Space
Players fly Buzz Lightyear around a space station and land him on a variety of toys to reveal videos of astronauts playing with the toys in space. Toys in the game include a yo-yo, a soccer ball, a jump rope and a car on a track.
Buzz Lightyear will stay on the station with the Expedition 17 crew for approximately five months. He is scheduled to fly home with the crew of the STS-126 shuttle mission, targeted for November 2008. These missions are an important step in preparing for the future of spaceflight. NASA is currently working to carry out a long-term plan that will lead to humans’ returning to the moon and beyond.
Follow along by visiting the NASA Kids’ Club site throughout the STS-124 mission to read Buzz’s Mission Logs, download the activity guides, and play the interactive games. Mission log updates will be posted as the mission progresses.
To visit the NASA Kids’ Club, go to http://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub
To learn more about the STS-124 space shuttle mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/sts-124-main.html
