In This Issue:
- Educator Open House
- Fall School Visit Overnight Program
- STS-128 Mission
- New NASA Resources for Educators
- SEEC Proposals due
- Eye on the sky astronomical events
News You Need to Know:
- Space Center Houston Education now on Twitter.
Follow us! Click below!
- STS-128 is scheduled for launch this month! This is Discovery's 37th mission to space and the 30th mission of a space shuttle dedicated to the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station. Nicole Stott will remain on the station as an Expedition 20 flight engineer replacing Timothy Kopra. Kopra will return home aboard Discovery as a mission specialist.
- Presenter Proposals for Space Exploration Educator's Conference (SEEC) are due September 7, 2009.
For more information on the conference and how to apply to present visit our website.
Fall Special Days :
- October 30, 2009 Boo Bash — Come in costume and win a prize for most creative costume. Compete with classmates in our Starship Gallery Scavenger Hunt, and find treats along the way.
- November 18, 2009 Solar System Day — Go on a ‘Voyage’ through the solar system in our interactive exhibit. Engage in hands-on activities and see a Planetarium Show.
- December 9, 2009 Rockets Galore Day — Build and launch model rockets, explore the science of rocket fuel, and see an actual Saturn V rocket.
Eye on the Sky:
- Aug 10 - Sept 4
Saturn without Rings—Rings will be tilted edge-on to Earth. This phenomenon occurs once every 14-15 years.
- August 12, 13
Perseids Meteor Shower—Produces up to 60 meteors/hour. Look towards the NE after midnight.
- August 14
Jupiter at Opposition—Jupiter will be at its closest approach to Earth
www.seasky.org |
Educator Open House
September 26, 2009
Earn CPE Credit Free
Space Center Houston invites Educators and their families to attend our Educator Open House. This event is free for Educators. Mingle with other educators while gaining valuable classroom resources.
 Discover what Space Center Houston has to offer students and educators- Attend NASA’s Educator Resource Presentations
- Explore Outer Space Academy classes
- Experience Space Center Houston attractions at no cost
- Launch to Rocket Park on our School Bus Tram Tour
- See science in a new way at our Ultimate Science Lab Demonstrations
- Register to win door prizes
- Special Educator activities are from 10:00 am —1:00 pm
- Light hors d’oeuvres served for Educators only in a VIP area
- Enjoy exploring Space Center Houston until the center closes at 6:00 pm
- Families receive discounted admission of $9.95
- Proof of Teacher ID required
- Pre-service teachers welcome with Student ID
*Reservations are required
1. Download registration form OR
2. Call (281) 244-2164 OR
3. Email edprograms@spacecenter.org
Register for School Visit Overnight
Standards-Based Hands-on Activities
An After Hours, Out of This World Adventure
 K-5 students will apply scientific inquiry to build and launch model rockets, explore the Solar System in our Planetarium, build Galileo telescopes, and participate in a Scavenger Hunt in our Starship Gallery to discover the history of spaceflight.- 6-8 students will develop and test new space vehicle designs, construct robotic arms that incorporate simple machines, and apply rocket science to determine the distance travelled and speed of their balloon rockets.
- 9-12 students will design and build a robotic rover that can pick up rocks for study on Mars, and work within a budget to design and build a Mars Lander that can safely land a rover on Mars.
Our School Visit Overnight includes dinner on the night of the activities and a full day admission for the following day. For more information click here.
NASA
Educator Resource Center Corner
Highlighted NASA Resources:
New Interactive Constellation website
This new website provides some great videos and information on the Constellation program! Visit the website at: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/CxEMM_SITE/index.html
Read (or Write) Any Good Blogs Lately?
Did you know that not only can you read featured articles at the www.nasa.gov home page, but you can also respond? Any time you see "Read and Comment" after a feature title, you are invited to read others comments or to add your own!
You can also sample some 20+ blogs offered by NASA folks sharing information and personal observations about their missions, projects, and adventures at http://blogs.nasa.gov. Shuttle Ferry Flight is Dan Kanigan's chronicle of his opportunity to accompany Atlantis on its piggyback flight from Edwards AFB to Kennedy on June 2. Heather Smith will be sharing her first reduced gravity flight experience on the "Vomit Comet" from June 3-9.
Summer Homework for Students and Parents: "GO OBSERVE!"
Why not challenge your students to observe the International Space Station above their neighborhood? The only requirements for success are a clear night sky and date/time/direction data from NASA! We even offer suggestions for throwing a Star Party.
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html
This is the International Year of Astronomy; so, there are continuous world-wide events through January of next year. You or your students can join the Night Sky Network this summer (http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov) or attend a sidewalk astronomy event. Or, in case of cloudy skies, try the robotic telescope at http://microobservatory.org.
Finally, remember that while you are enjoying your vacation, the ERC is open throughout the summer. Just call ahead to set an appointment or to make sure the office is available when you plan to visit: JSC Educator Resource Center at erc@spacecenter.org or call Elaine Lapka 281.244.2129 (M-F 10-4) |
