Project Title: A One-Week Workshop in Astronomy for Teachers Grades 4-8

Project Description:

Space science is inherently interesting to students, less threatening to teachers than some other sciences, and interdisciplinary in nature. These features make it the ideal vehicle for teaching basic scientific concepts to children in a concrete and captivating manner. One goal is to teach teachers the way we would have them teach their students.

During the summer of 1995, we will he holding a one week workshop for about 15 teachers in grades 4 through 8. We will walk the teachers through five hands-on activities which are all based on current projects in astronomy and space science at Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Lab. We will discuss ways of integrating the lessons into the teachers' own curriculum; the teaching of basic physical principals will be emphasized. The teachers will also learn of the resources NASA makes available to them, and they will have the opportunity to tour JPL's facilities and to talk to "real" scientists about their work.

A SURF opportunity exists to be involved with the development of this workshop. Depending on the interests of the SURF student, developmental activities will include suggesting, designing, and testing workshops, compiling and writing up the lesson plans, and planning if he or she desired (the week of August 1st is the target date).

Requirements:

The sponsor requires that interested students meet the following requirements: Good organizational skills and an interest in working with teachers who usually have nontechnical backgrounds is required.

This opportunity is for:

Caltech students only

Research Sponsor

Sponsor: Bonnie J. Buratti
Division: JPL
Mail Code: 183-501
Phone: 354-7427
E-mail: buratti@jplpds.jpl.nasa.gov