Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium Newsletter for Teachers

[Irene Svete]

The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium's electronic newsletter for
teachers provides curriculum ideas, Internet links and other resources to
help you better meet the Washington EALRs and the National Science Education
Standards.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

-- SUMMER WORKSHOPS PLANNED (3-12)
-- KIDS' EARTHQUAKE SITE AVAILABLE (K-12)
-- STAYING COOL ON THE ISS
-- WATER IN THE EARTH SYSTEM COURSE (K-12)
-- SPACE SCIENCE FOR THE CLASSROOM (1-12)

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TWO SUMMER WORKSHOPS PLANNED (3-12)

Washington NASA Space Grant will offer two in-depth summer workshops for
teachers. The first one, geared to middle school and high school teachers,
will focus on volcanoes. The second, designed for elementary and middle
school teachers, explores astronomy topics.

Planetary Volcanism, scheduled for July 7-14, combines field trips and
classroom work. Participants and instructors will spend four days touring
the Cascades volcanic range, then follow up with three days on the UW campus
developing hands-on lessons to share their new knowledge with their
students. The workshop features instructors from UW and the Lunar and
Planetary Institute in Texas. Workshop space is limited. Credit and clock
hours are available.

Astounding Astronomy, geared to grades 3-8, will take place July 30-Aug. 3
at the UW Olympic Natural Resources Center in Forks.  The workshop targets
EALR Levels 1 and  2 for astronomy and related subjects and the approach is
inquiry-oriented.  Topics include stars and constellations; the day, year,
time and the seasons; the scale and contents of the solar system; phases of
the moon; and life in the universe, including a brief glimpse beyond our
solar system. For registration and housing information on Astounding
Astronomy, contact June at 360-374-3220, extension 232, or e-mail

jpowers at u.washington.edu

For information on Planetary Volcanism,  call 206-543-1943, or toll-free,
1-800-659-1943. You can also e-mail us at

nasa at u.washington.edu

KIDS' EARTHQUAKE SITE AVAILABLE (K-12)

Earthquakes for Kids, part of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, includes
links to lesson plans rated by grade level,  ideas for earth science fairs
and earthquake facts (did you know that the largest recorded earthquake in
the world was a magnitude 9.5 (Mw) in Chile on May 22, 1960?). To visit, go
to

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/eq4kids.html

STAYING COOL ON THE ISS

In a strange new world where hot air doesn't rise and heat doesn't conduct,
the International Space Station's thermal control systems maintain a
delicate balance between the deep-freeze of space and the Sun's blazing
heat. 

"Staying Cool" is the second in a five-part series on the construction of
the ISS. The series is being posted online in installments. The first story
examined the Station's architecture and structural design. Future
installments will explore the power, plumbing, and ergonomics of the
Station. To read the first two stories, go to

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast21mar_1.htm?list125900

WATER IN THE EARTH SYSTEM COURSE (K-12)

The American Meteorological Society (AMS), with funding from the National
Science Foundation, is developing an Internet-based course directed towards
middle-school teachers, but open to all K-12 teachers.

Water in the Earth System Online incorporates inquiry-based instructional
strategies and a holistic concept of Earth from oceanic, atmospheric and
terrestrial water and problem-focused perspectives. Participants investigate
the mass and energy flows associated with the global water cycle and with
related issues.

Local implementation teams have been established in Idaho and Oregon. For
information and contacts, visit

http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/WES/index.html

SPACE SCIENCE FOR THE CLASSROOM (1-12)

The NASA Regional Educator Resource Center will host two more free Saurday
workshops this spring. On April 21, Orchard Heights Elementary teacher Ann
Paoletti will share a variety of simple science activities, some of which
she picked up by attending really fun and interesting NASA  teacher
workshops.  The workshop is geared to teachers in grades 1-6. Paoletti says
she especially looks forward to working with teachers who feel like
"newbies"  to elementary science teaching.

Ed Sobey -- author of Fantastic Flying Fun with Science: 69 Projects You Can
Fly, Spin, Launch and Ride -- returns May 19 with new rocket launching
devices K-12 teachers can make and use with inexpensive materials.
Participants will build and launch rockets using  air pressurized by a bike
pump.   Additional activities include making pneumatic blast rockets and
launchers.  Very cool!

All workshops are free and take place from 1-4 p.m. at the Washington NASA
Space Grant office, Rm. 401, Johnson Hall. Free parking is available on
campus. Pre-registration is required and clock hours are available. To
register, call (206) 543-1943, or e-mail

nasa at u.washington.edu

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FEEDBACK

Ideas, comments and Web sites of interest to other teachers should be sent
to Irene Svete, newsletter editor, at

isvete at geophys.washington.edu

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