Standards, Space Shuttles and Stars
* Finding NASA's Standards-Aligned Educational Materials
Do you need NASA standards-aligned curriculum supplements for your classroom? Of course you do!
But how can you find what you need in a clear, organized way? The answer is the NASA Science Education
Standards "Quilts" http://quilt.jpl.nasa.gov.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has developed three quilts (Space Science, Mathematics, and California Science)
to help educators zero in on the NASA materials that support the standards. Each quilt is a matrix that allows you
to select grade span, topic and standards area. At the intersection of those three elements is a list of NASA
activities, a summary of each activity and a link to view or download.
Each quilt opens a a pop-up window (so disable your blockers just for us). Then just select your grade
span and click on the light blue boxes. Some quilt columns extend off to the right so scroll over there too.
Click on the topics and standards for an explanation of what they mean. There are also text and spreadsheet
versions of the quilts.
This isn't a list of all of NASA's educational materials but more and more items are being added to the quilt.
We don't guess about how to fill out the quilts; educators tell us where to place the lessons and activities.
We hope that you will find this to be a useful tool that speeds your navigation through many of the
excellent educational resources that NASA has for you.
Remember, the NASA Educator Resource Center Network has free copies of most NASA educator guides.
Check your local ERC for availability. NASA's Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) has
materials too, at modest cost, and OfficeMax allows you to order NASA materials an pick them up at your
local store. Learn all about your options at NASA's Educational materials website
* Space Shuttle Mission STS-115
Here's something you can do with you new-found knowledge of NASA materials.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis will launch into space (no earlier than August 27, 2006) on the first of three
missions to the International Space Station that will carry sets of large solar array panels. One set is
already providing most of the power to the station. The panel are 240 feet long when completely
unfurled. If you are considering a unit on solar energy, this mission will provide an exciting
context for your students.
Visit the STS-115 mission page
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html) for the details.
Use the quilt to find lessons and activities on solar energy and be sure to have a look at the
NASA Student Observation Network (http://son.nasa.gov/) for "Tracking a Solar Storm."
* Save the Date
JPL will be conducting a weekend educator conference all day Saturday, November 4 and Sunday,
November 5 until noon. The topic will be Stellar Evolution and we will be seeing what we've learned
about the lives and deaths of stars from the Spitzer Space Telescope, Galaxy Explorer mission,
Hubble Space Telescope and others. Registration and conference information will follow soon.
Have a great start to the new school year!
Sincerely,
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Education Office
