Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium Newsletter for Teachers

[Irene Svete]

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

-- CASSINI LITERACY OUTREACH (K-4)
-- EARTH SCIENCE WEEK KITS FOR TEACHERS (K-16)
-- MESSENGER TO MERCURY LAUNCHES
-- SPECIAL ASTRO ADVENTURES WORKSHOP (4-9)
-- JOIN NASA CONNECT ON THE “A” TRAIN EXPRESS (6-8)
-- THE SCIENCE OF FLIGHT FOR TEACHERS (5-12)
-- NASAEXPLORES: A SUMMER READING LIST (K-12)

------

CASSINI LITERACY OUTREACH (K-4)

The Cassini K-4 Literacy Program is now available online, focusing on 
ways to strengthen elementary students' basic skills in reading and 
writing through scientific content. This month the Cassini-Huygens 
spacecraft began sending back the first up-close images of Saturn, its 
mysterious moons, the stunning rings, and its complex magnetic 
environment.

The materials developed for "Reading, Writing, and Rings," are divided 
into 2 grade level units. One unit is designed for students in grades 1 
and 2 while the other unit focuses on students in grades 3 and 4 unit 
includes a series of lessons that take students on a path of 
exploration of Saturn using reading and writing prompts.  For more 
information, go to

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/edu-k4.cfm

EARTH SCIENCE WEEK KITS FOR TEACHERS (K-16)

The 2004 Earth Science Week kit supports the  theme of “Living on a 
Restless Earth ” through activities suitable for elementary through 
college-age students, for use in the home or classroom. Educational 
materials will include posters and fact sheets from AGI, NASA, IRIS 
(Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology), and DLESE (Digital 
Library for Earth System Education), as well as an Earth Science Week 
bookmark with the geologic time scale on the back. The Southern 
California Earthquake Center will be supplying an informational booklet 
entitled “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country.” The U.S. 
Geological Survey and National Weather Service will also be 
contributing materials. To request a kit, visit

http://www.earthsciweek.org/index.html

MESSENGER TO MERCURY LAUNCHES

The MESSENGER spacecraft to Mercury is scheduled to launch from Kennedy 
Space Center between July 30 and August 13. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and 
Mars are terrestrial (rocky) planets. Among these, Mercury is the 
smallest, the densest (after correcting for self-compression), the one 
with the oldest surface, the one with the largest daily variations in  
surface temperature - and the least explored. NASA scientists say 
understanding this "end member" among the terrestrial planets is 
crucial to developing a better understanding of how our own Earth 
formed,  how it evolved, and how it interacts with the Sun. For more 
information, go to

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/

There is also a special link for teachers, students and families to 
celebrate the launch at

http://challenger.org/messengercelebration/

SPECIAL ASTRO ADVENTURES WORKSHOP (4-9)

On July 28-30, "Astro Adventures II: A Summer Workshop for Teachers" 
will guide educators through content and activities in "Astro 
Adventures II," the new version of the popular Pacific Science Center 
curriculum designed to cover the Washington State EALRs and the 
National Science Education Standards for astronomy in grades 4-9. The 
workshop will be lead by Dennis Schatz, the author of the book and vice 
president of the Pacific Science Center, and by Dr. Julie Lutz, 
director of the NASA Educator Resource Center.

The workshop takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Condon Hall 311, 
University of Washington. All participants will receive a copy of 
"Astro Adventures II," as well as many other useful curricula 
materials. A $15 registration fee covers parking, all materials, 
instruction, snacks and beverages. The registration fee must be 
received on or before July 26, 2004. To register for the workshop call 
206-543-1943 or (toll-free) 1-800-659-1943 or e-mail

nasa at u.washington.edu

Please include your home address in the message so we can mail you a UW 
parking pass for the workshop days. For more information, go to

http://www.waspacegrant.org/astrowork2.html

JOIN NASA CONNECT ON THE “A” TRAIN EXPRESS (6-8)

On ”The ‘A’ Train Express” students will learn how weather affects 
everyone's daily lives, and will see national and international 
scientists using satellite technology to help improve weather 
forecasting and our understanding of aerosols and clouds. They will 
also be introduced to two NASA satellite Earth Science missions, 
CALIPSO and CloudSat.  By conducting inquiry-based and web activities, 
students will make connections between NASA research and the 
mathematics, science, and technology they learn in their classrooms.
 
NASA CONNECT is an annual series of free integrated math, science, and 
technology programs  with three components--television broadcast, 
educator guide, and Web activity--designed as an integrated 
instructional package. For more information, visit

http://connect.larc.nasa.gov/

SCIENCE OF FLIGHT FOR TEACHERS (5-12)

Two aviation camps for teachers will be held at Paine Field in Everett 
this summer. The fourth annual "Science Flight for Teachers" will be 
offered July 26-29 and Aug. 2-5.

Sessions include two hours of flight instruction, aircraft rides, field 
trips to aviation-related sites such as Airlift Northwest, the Boeing 
Co. and the Museum of Flight, demonstrations and strategies for 
teaching aviation. The cost is $250 and provides three Seattle Pacific 
University graduate credits. For more information, contact Gary Evans 
at 360-629-2005 or e-mail

AB7RK at aol.com

NASAEXPLORES: A SUMMER READING LIST (K-12)

NASAexplores is pleased to present its summer reading list for 2004. 
Topics range from observations to hands-on projects. NASAexplores will 
resume its regular publication schedule of articles and lessons on July 
29. For more information, go to

http://www.nasaexplores.com
 
or directly to the 2004 reading list at 

http://www.nasaexplores.com/extras/reading_lists/summer_2004/

FEEDBACK

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

isvete at ess.washington.edu

--------

If you are not a regular subscriber and would like to receive our 
newsletter, send an e-mail to listproc at u.washington.edu with the 
following command in the body of your email message:

	subscribe sgteachers <your name>

The e-mail account from which you send the message is the account that 
will receive the newsletter.

If you would like to stop receiving this newsletter, send an e-mail to
listproc at u.washington.edu with the following command in the body of 
your message:

	unsubscribe sgteachers

Concerned about spam? Please note Space Grant does not sell its address 
lists.