|
|
Information for Educators
- Imagine the Universe! DVD-ROM (13th Edition) -
The 13th edition of our collection of web sites is now available.
As with previous editions, it contains a capture of the Imagine the
Universe! and StarChild sites (from Jan 1, 2009). It also includes
Astronomy Picture of the Day for all of 2008, with selected
pages from previous years APODs. We've also included the Cosmic Times
web site, complete with all the lessons, posters, and teacher guide
material from our newest curriculum support material. This is a
single DVD-ROM, which will work in any computer with a DVD drive.
To order your copy, go to our order form.
- Return of "Got Calcium?" Lithograph -
After a long hiatus, "Got Calcium?" is back! We have just received
our shipment of our revised "Got Calcium?" lithograph. A perfect
illustration on the production of the chemical elements in stars and
supernovae, this revised lithograph features a new image of the
Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. It also includes the first-ever
bovine-astronomy classroom activity. Your 4-H students will love it,
and city-slickers will get a new appreciation of dairy production!
Check out the on-line Got Calcium? page, and order your
hardcopy via our order form.
- Space Forensics: Death of a Star -
We've developed a new workshop on how scientists collect and analyze
the evidence from a cosmic crime scene and solve the mysteries of a
supernova. This presentation includes background, activities, and a
narrative exploration of scientific problem solving. This
presentation is available in our Teachers' Corner.
- Updated version of "What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements?" Poster and
Information Booklet -
We have updated our poster and information/activity booklet on the
cosmic origins of the chemical elements. We've included new
information on the role of small stars in the production of heavy
elements. Astronomy topics still include the big
bang, life cycles of stars, supernovae, cosmic rays, and the chemical
compoisition of the universe. Physics topics include fusion and
physical principles important in stellar evolution. Chemistry
teachers will find information connecting the elements with their
cosmic origins. The booklet is complete with 8 classroom activities
which use a variety of techniques to re-inforce the material.
Check out the Cosmic Elements
page for online versions of the poster and booklet, the power point
presentation of our workshop, and a link to our
order form.
- New Lesson Plan: How Far ... How Powerful -
We're proud to introduce a new lesson plan on gamma
ray bursts, in which students use data from the Keck-II
telescope. Students are led through a series of experiments
in which they learn about the 1/r2 fall-off of light,
Hubble's Law, the Doppler shift, and spectral lines. Students
determine the distance to the optical counterpart of a gamma
ray burst, and compute the total power of the burst. They
then compare this power with energetic events closer to home.
Check out
How Far ... How Powerful in our collection of
lesson plans.
Where You Can See Us in the Near Future
We travel to many national and local regional teachers
conferences. Here's where we are currently scheduled to be in early 2009:
- Teaching and Learning Celebration, March 6 - 7, 2009 at
the Hilton New York in Manhatten. We'll be in the exhibit hall
distributing the new 13th Edition of the Imagine CD, along with our
other education materials. We'll also be giving a Cosmic Times
workshop entitled "Exploring a Century of Cosmic Surprises."
- National Science Teachers Association National Convention,
March 19 - 22, 2009 in New Orleans
On Saturday March 21 at 8:00 AM in the Napolon C3 room of the Sheraton
New Orleans, we'll be presenting a 1-hour introductory workshop on
Cosmic Times. In addition, our HEASARC Educator Ambassador, Cheryl
Niemela, will be presenting our "Cosmic Connection to the Elements"
workshop on Thursday March 19 at 3:30 in the Bayside C of the Sheraton.
- National Educational Computing Conference , June 28 - July 1,
2009 in Washington, DC. We'll be presenting "Bring IYA into Your
Classroom with NASA Data", a workshop about our Student Hera software
at 8:30 AM on July 1 (location TBD).
|
|