…for Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum teacher professional development courses. These intensive week-long graduate-level courses for pre-k – 12 educators provide space-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content that is instantly transferable to the classroom. All courses are hands-on and focus on national standards and STEM principles. Although the underlying concentration is on STEM, the courses are structured to adapt lessons to all grade levels and all curriculum areas. Participants do not need to be science or math teachers, and public, private and homeschool teachers from around the globe are welcome.
This year’s Space Across the Curriculum courses are being held in four different locations—some open to any teacher and some offered to specific school systems. Courses held in Colorado, at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute and at the Space Foundation world headquarters in Colorado Springs, and at Colorado State University – Pueblo, are open to all teachers and cover topics including meteorology, Earth science, astronomy and living and working in space. The 2012 Space Across the Curriculum Courses include…
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June 11-15
- Biological and Physical Research: Long-Term Space Travel Learn how to teach life science concepts by investigating the effects of microgravity on the human body and exploring the dangers of space exploration. Participants can experience astronaut disorientation in a Barany chair and in an underwater pool simulation.
- Earth Systems Science: Our Earth Revealed For the first time, this course will be held at the new Space Foundation world headquarters, taking advantage of its close proximity to Garden of the Gods park for the field work portion of the class. Discover the Earth’s complex geological history in this study of weathering, erosion, natural disasters and global climate change through field trips in the Garden of the Gods and surrounding areas.
- Meteorology and Space Weather—New this year! Examine the different areas of meteorology and how to incorporate them into the classroom. Hands-on lessons will be used to teach meteorology and the class will take a trip to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colorado.
- Rocketry: The Future of Human Space Flight Build and launch a variety of rockets including Pop! Rockets, water rockets and chemical rockets. Also, learn how to incorporate rocketry into the classroom to teach a multitude of standards across various subjects. This course is free to Pueblo D60 teachers; others pay a $175 materials fee. Advance registration is required. For details contact, Space Foundation Education Programs Administrator Chrys Rheinbolt at [email protected]
- Lunar/Mars Exploration and Base Construction—Explore what it will take to establish and maintain a human presence on the Moon or Mars in this project-based class. Topics include discussion of growing food on Mars and creating oxygen. Build a model of a Lunar or Mars base as the culminating project.
- Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Kinesthetic Astronomy—Learn exciting ways to bring the universe into your classroom. Focus on Kinesthetic Astronomy, a hands-on approach to teaching astronomical concepts to students through kinesthetic movement
Space Foundation Discovery Institute, 105 Coleridge Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado
June 11-15
Space Foundation World Headquarters, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado
June 18-22
Space Foundation Discovery Institute
June 25-29
Colorado State University – Pueblo, Colorado
July 9-13
Space Foundation Discovery Institute
July 16-20
Space Foundation Discovery Institute
