Satellites & Education Conference XXV – August 9-11, 2012

Join the Satellite Educators Association for an education conference being held Aug. 9-11, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. The annual conference is for educators interested in discovering ways to use satellites and related technologies in the classroom. Participants learn ways to help students appreciate and understand the complex interrelationships among science, technology, individuals, societies and the environment. Conference attendees learn to develop and apply inquiry and technology skills to study authentic questions and problems.

In conjunction with this year’s conference, a two-day training session for the GLOBE program will take place Aug. 10-11.

The conference is hosted by California State University, Los Angeles. The event is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, Aerospace Institute, Boeing, Raytheon, SpaceX, Lockheed-Martin, Sally Ride Science Festivals, Traveling Space Museum, Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence’s West location and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

For more information, visit http://www.sated.org/.

NASA’s Mars Rover Curiosity Landing Educator Conference – August 3-5, 2012

Bring “Curiosity” Into Your Classroom! Join in the historic landing of NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity at Gale Crater Aug.3-5, 2012, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Bring the excitement of Mars exploration to your classroom with standards-aligned, STEM-based, hands-on activities and take home image-rich learning materials. Mission team members will share their stories, and you can see mission control, rover test beds and more. Then, view Curiosity’s anticipated landing at 10:31 p.m., Aug. 5.

For more information and to register, go to: http://marsed.asu.edu/curiosity.

Human Body: Space Adaptations Web Seminar – June 28, 2012

The human body changes in space.

NASA Explorer Schools and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute live professional development Web seminar for educators on June 28, 2012, at 2 p.m. EDT. Space is a harsh environment. When an astronaut goes into space, his or her body immediately begins to change, causing the astronaut to feel and even look slightly different. During this seminar, you will get information about the effects of microgravity on astronauts. You also will be guided through three student activities, which provide a first-hand look at the effects of reduced gravity on bones, the fluid shifts in the body and the amount of oxygen needed to survive.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES2/webseminar27.aspx.

To learn more about the NASA Explorer Schools project, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.

Free Webinar – Is There Water on Mars? – June 20, 2012

Attend a free webinar, June 20, 2012 – Chemistry of Water: Mars Exploration – Is There Water on Mars?

Chemistry of Water: Mars Exploration – Is There Water on Mars? Web Seminar

As part of a series of electronic professional development experiences for educators, the NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute Web seminar on June 20, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. EDT. “Chemistry of Water: Mars Exploration — Is There Water on Mars?” is an inquiry-based lesson on how atmospheric pressure and vapor pressure affect the boiling point of water. See why the boiling point of water is pressure-dependent, rather than temperature-dependent. Then, by extension, you will deduce if there could be liquid water on Mars.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES2/webseminar25.aspx.

To learn more about the NASA Explorer Schools project, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.

2012 Gregory G. Leptoukh Online Giovanni Workshop for Scientists, High School and Undergrad Educators – September 2012

In September 2012, the NASA Goddard Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) will host an online workshop focused on the use of the pioneering data visualization and analysis tool, Giovanni. The online workshop will be organized around four main themes: Earth system research utilizing Giovanni; Giovanni applications (air quality, disaster management, environmental monitoring, etc.); planned and desired augmentation of Giovanni; and educational use of Giovanni. The workshop will primarily consist of online author-led presentations coupled with real-time discussions about these presentations. Presentations and chat logs will be available online for review, for those not able to participate in live sessions. To indicate interest, please email Dr. James G. Acker, (james.g.acker (at) nasa.gov) or visit the workshop website for more information.

http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/giovanni/additional/newsletters/gregory_leptoukh_2012_online_giovanni_workshop

Skeletal System: Human Physiology in Space Web Seminar – June 12, 2012

Human Physiology in Space Web Seminar

NASA Explorer Schools and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute live professional development Web seminar for educators on June 12, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. EDT. The seminar focuses on human physiology. Obtain information about the effect microgravity has on the physiology of astronauts and learn about the countermeasures NASA uses to help overcome these effects when they return to Earth.

Outer space is an exciting part of our lives and promises to be an even more exciting part of the future for your students. It provides scientists with a unique laboratory, allowing scientific studies never possible in the history of civilization. Future space missions will continue to involve sending humans into space. But after extended stays in microgravity, astronauts must return safely to Earth and lead normal, healthy lives.

This seminar will provide instruction on how to integrate the Skeletal System: Human Physiology in Space lesson into your curriculum. There are two classroom activities in this lesson focusing on the effects of spaceflight on human physiology.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES2/webseminar26.aspx.

To learn more about the NASA Explorer Schools project, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.

Free NASA Education Webinar Series – June 2012

Free NASA webinars for educators available through NEON

The Aerospace Education Services Project is presenting a series of free webinars through June 2012. All webinars can be accessed online. Join aerospace education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources to bring NASA into your classroom.

Understanding Earth, Moon and Sun Connections (Grades K-8)
June 12, 2012, 2 – 3 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Sonja Williams will introduce cultural perspectives related to the phases of the moon and the solar system. Attendees will participate in an activity based upon a Native American/Western science story. Participants will receive culturally relevant materials related to stars and constellations that they can share with their students.

NASA in the Classroom (Grades K-12)
June 12, 2012, 4 – 5 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Tom Estill will introduce K-12 teachers to various NASA education resources. Participants will learn how to find science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, lesson plans, current teacher/student opportunities and NASA videos for classroom use. Teachers will also be shown how to use local NASA-related resources.

The Real Lord of the Ring (Grades K-4)
June 13, 2012, 6 – 7 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Alexis Harry will introduce teachers to a set of lessons that enhance basic communication skills through scientific exploration based on the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. Throughout the lessons, participants practice a variety of language arts skills, including descriptive writing, note-taking, poetry, illustration and oral communication.

Mars Uncovered: Revealing the Geologic History of Mars (Grades 5-12)
June 18, 2012, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Tony Leavitt will share an inquiry-based lesson that presents a critical-thinking approach of studying the surface of Mars. This process is similar to the approach used by NASA scientists. This lesson will teach students to examine geologic features of a planetary surface and use relative-age dating techniques to analyze the information and interpret the geologic history.

Sun-Earth-Moon Relationships (Grades 2-8)
June 20, 2012, noon – 1 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Rick Varner will present sun-Earth-moon models that help to explain the phases of the moon, and both lunar and solar eclipses. Additionally, the activity Kinesthetic Astronomy will be introduced for its explanation of the seasons.

I’m Signed up for NEON — Now What?? (Grades K-12)
June 20, 2012, 6- 7 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Anne Weiss will introduce participants to basic features of the NASA Educators Online Network, or NEON, professional/collaborative learning community. Participants will also learn how to use NEON to find appropriate NASA standards-aligned activities that satisfy state-specific teaching standards.

Our Solar System: A Model Overview (Grades 4-9)
June 25, 2012, 11 a.m. – noon EDT
Aerospace education specialist Steve Culivan will present NASA inquiry activities that demonstrate remote sensing and scale models to better visualize our sun, planets, asteroids and other objects as a whole system.

Our Solar System: A Model Overview (Grades 4-9)
June 25, 2012, 3 – 4 p.m. EDT
Aerospace education specialist Steve Culivan will present NASA inquiry activities that demonstrate remote sensing and scale models to better visualize our sun, planets, asteroids and other objects as a whole system.

For more information about these webinars, and to see a full list of webinars taking place through August 2012, visit http://neon.psu.edu/webinars/.

Free Professional Development Webinar – Is There Water on Mars? May 14, 2012

Attend a free professional development webinar on May 14, 2012 – offered by the NASA Explorer School Program.

As part of a series of electronic professional development experiences for educators, the NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute Web seminar on May 14, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. EDT. “Chemistry of Water: Mars Exploration — Is There Water on Mars?” is an inquiry-based lesson on how atmospheric pressure and vapor pressure affect the boiling point of water. See why water’s boiling point is pressure-dependent, rather than temperature-dependent. Then, by extension, you will deduce if there could be liquid water on Mars.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES2/webseminar25.aspx.

To learn more about the NASA Explorer Schools project, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.