Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium Newsletter for Teachers

[Irene Svete]

The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium's electronic newsletter for=20=

teachers provides curriculum ideas, links and other resources to help=20
you better meet the Washington EALRs and the National Science Education=20=

Standards.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

-- THE EDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYTSEM (5-8)
-- AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN SPACECRAFT (K-12)
-- SPACE SCIENCE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WORKSHOP (K-12)
-- GENESIS SPACECRAFT RETURNS TO EARTH (K-12)
-- FREE NASA GEOLOGY AND BIOLOGY GUIDES (5-8)

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THE EDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYTSEM (5-8)

"Unlocking the Mysteries: Science on the Edge of Our Solar System"=20
features the award-winning Discovery Program, a 23-minute video which=20
takes you along on the explorations being conducted by NASA's Discovery=20=

missions. Viewers can then become the scientists and engineers and=20
design their own missions to investigate the cosmic unknowns.

The program package also contains a teacher guide, supporting materials=20=

and a list of Internet resources including 10 engaging activities, one=20=

from each Discovery mission. The materials can also be adapted for=20
after-school programs or week-long camps. For more information, go to

http://discovery.nasa.gov/education.html

AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN SPACECRAFT (K-12)

Long before the first launch of the Space Shuttle, NASA launched people=20=

into space aboard another winged spaceplane: the X-15.=A0 This forgotten=20=

spacecraft, which set records for speed and altitude, is featured in=20
lesson plans this week on NASAExplores.

A second set of lessons features the glow-in-the-dark material used for=20=

safety devices on the Space Station, and as an emergency-lighting=20
pathway on the station in the event of power failure. Lessons are=20
available in packages for grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12. To access the=20
materials, please visit

http://www.nasaexplores.com

SPACE SCIENCE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WORKSHOP (K-12)

The "Exceptional Space Science Materials for Exceptional Students"=20
workshop, sponsored by NASA Space Science Network Northwest, still has=20=

a few openings. The workshop will take place from July 17-22 on the=20
University of Washington Seattle campus. Presenters from the NASA=20
Office of Space Science (OSS) Education Support Network will=20
familiarize educators with standards-based space science materials=20
adaptable for exceptional needs students. The workshop will also serve=20=

to familiarize developers of NASA OSS education materials with the=20
diversity of exceptional classroom and audience needs.

Applications must be submitted by May 24. Workshop participants pay a=20
$75 fee which covers lodging (double rooms in a UW residence hall),=20
food during the workshop, materials and instruction. Clock hours (35)=20
or college credits (4) are available. For more information and an=20
online application form, go to

http://serch.cofc.edu/serch/special/enws/enwsfour.htm

Questions? Contact Darlette Powell at 206-543-0214, or e-mail

s2n2 at u.washington.edu

GENESIS SPACECRAFT RETURNS TO EARTH (K-12)

The Genesis spacecraft will make a dramatic return to earth this fall.=20=

On Sept. 8, NASA plans to make an astonishing mid-air capture of the=20
Genesis Sample Return Capsule (SRC). Professional stunt pilots flying=20
helicopters with special retrieval equipment swoop in and swipe the=20
solar wind samples Genesis has collected during its 2=BD -year solar=20
bath.

In planning the mission, Genesis scientists and engineers faced an=20
enormous challenge: how to recover these solar specks safely? And, what=20=

is the likelihood that the minuscule contents=97which amount in mass to =
a=20
few grains of sand=97 return undamaged? Genesis learning materials, =
kids'=20
activities and more mission information are available at

http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/

FREE NASA GEOLOGY AND BIOLOGY GUIDES (5-8)

Astro-Venture has release two new educator guides to help middle school=20=

teachers meet national education standards in geology and biology. The=20=

geology guide addresses standards on the affects of heat and pressure=20
on states of matter, density, convection, plate tectonics, volcanoes,=20
the carbon cycle, the Earth's magnetic field, and radiation. The=20
biology guide addresses standards for ecosystems, producers and=20
consumers, energy, and the cycle of matter.

Astro-Venture is an interactive, multimedia Web site in which students=20=

role-play NASA careers, as they search for and design a planet=20
habitable for humans. To access the new guides, visit

http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/teachers/teach.html

FEEDBACK

Ideas, comments and Web sites of interest to other teachers should be=20
sent to Irene Svete, newsletter editor, at

isvete at ess.washington.edu

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