Educational wall sheet with comparative planetology lessons and Titan/Earth comparison Images  /  .20 personnel time, doc review for 508, science writer to write and review, printing costs.   http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/overview/

Development and adaptation of existing materials for Out-of-School time settings, including Hasta La Vesta. This includes the adaptation of existing classroom materials for K-12 settings and FY12 continued development of Explorer Guides as stand-alone materials for students. It also includes the collaboration with Discovery to develop a new activity piloted in Small Bodies, Big Concepts using art to deepen visual analysis of images from solar system bodies. The materials were received…

The Dawn Mission E/C is planning to commemorate the arrival of the spacecraft at dwarf planet Ceres with a festival called i C Ceres. We plan to hold a flagship event in collaboration with NASA JPL on the Caltech Campus with both family-oriented activities and special speakers for a variety of audiences May 9, 2015.  Events throughout that weekend will be encouraged all over the country and the world, utilizing materials, special online presentations and resources highlighted on the…

Dawn will be represented at several conferences and on facebook, twitter, and Google + Hangout.

The Dawn bookmark combines the same data used on Solar System Night Boards and will introduce the Dawn web site in preparation for encounter with Vesta in fall 2011. In 2011 Dawn will look to designing a new product based on arrival at Vesta, the Vesta Fiesta refrigerator magnet. In 2012, we plan to update the Dawn mission events calendar to include new images from Vesta.

Material development for FY 2012 will include Solar System Origins module and accompanying interactives including the stand alone activity "Active Accretion" and "Active Phase Changes." For FY 2012, this will include formatting, posting, internal and product review and subsequent revisions of the Solar Systems Origins module and the initial development of the Data Analysis module. Content module on Dawn instruments: Framing Cameras, Visible and Infrared Spectrometer, Gamma Ray and…

Webinars and Google + Hangouts in support of Hasta La Vesta and other outreach efforts.

The Dawn website includes up-to-date resources and information of thematic asteroid content and mission specific multimedia and educational materials. Secondary pages include details of mission, science, technology, multimedia, education, community and get involved pages. The homepage includes features, timelines and links to where is the spacecraft is now, mission status reports, media releases and scientist/engineer interviews. http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov. During FY 2011, the website…

Asteroid Mapper is an online Web interface for participants to count and analyze craters on the surface of Vesta. Vesta Zoo provides images of the surface of Vesta through a web page to "citizen scientists" for them to identify and mark surface features. The data produced by this activity is available to the science team for analysis.

he Dawn Journal, written by Chief Engineer, Marc Rayman, has been a monthly contribution to Dawn EPO on its website sonce 2007. In 2013, we expanded that to the Dawn Science Blog, inviting other team members to share information, data analysis, education, and stories about the mission. In 2014, the Dawn Journal and Dawn Science Blog were incorporated elements under one format.

Dawn  education team members presented new science findings and activities as well as background information to a variety of student audiences in informal education settings. Here, a set of workshops about the Dawn Mission were presented at GESTEM, Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, events in Denver, Colorado, April 20, 2012 and May 9, 2014 sponsored by the Colorado Women in Engineering Society. Aproximately 150 middle school girls were reached during…

Dr. Horton Newsom and a graduate student update information on "meteorights" and "meteorwrongs" providing expert advise and walk-in opportunities for the general public. This effort provides linkage to existing meteorite knowledge and the Dawn Mission.

In FY 2012, Dawn science, engineering and education team members presented new science findings and activities as well as background information to a variety of student audiences in formal education settings. Here, students participated in a pilot of new materials connected to Dawn's Instrumentation.

Exhibit on meteorites featuring Vestoids for 300 visitors over the weekend at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

For FY 2011: Includes 1) Day-long teacher workshop in Denver CO.  2) Day long workshop for Florida Science Supervisors.  3) Five simultaneous workshops in February 2011 based on results of EPOXI and in anticipation of Stardust NExT and Dawn.  For FY 2012, the Dawn mission will provide educator workshops about some of the findings at Vesta and a review of Stardust NExT and EPOXI educational materials. Venues to include the Colorado Science Conference and the School Science and…

In FY 2011, Stardust NExT organized a district wide NASA event in Cheyenne Wyoming modeled after similar activities conducted by NASA's Discovery Program office. A team of scientists and educators visited students in grades 6-12. An evening star party and the local observatory opened the event to students, parents and families.

"Exo's Discovery" is an online interactive learning game. Learners of all ages have an opportunity to explore and learn about our solar system with an alien named Exo who needs help.  Users travel through the solar system in a visually engaging way searching for H20, CO2, and olivine, learning about the planets and small bodies, and the missions that have explored them.

Small Worlds is a section that was added to the Discovery Program website to convey a wealth of information about the many Discovery missions focused on asteroids and comets, why we explore, how we explore, what we have learned, and the importance of this knowledge.  The information is conveyed through text, images, jingles, and an audio feature called Image Impact. 

"Art and the Cosmic Connection" is a curriculum that uses beautiful and compelling NASA images of planets, moons, and small bodies to help students understand and analyze what they see using the elements of art – shape, line, color, value, texture. After viewing images, students choose one image to draw with pastels, honing observation skills as they learn to look and look to learn. The activity is demonstrated in educator workshops and done with students during classroom visits.

Space Thrills! is a wall sheet intended for educators of students in grades K-4.  It is designed to be visually interesting to arouse curiosity about exploring our solar system and to teach about our solar system using language arts.  It is distributed to classrooms through the ERCs, at conferences, and upon request through the web site. Funds cover time spent to respond to requests through the web site. 

"Unlocking Mysteries of the Solar System" is a video overview of the Discovery Program and missions with an accompanying educator guide.  The video describes the science objectives and results of the missions, and the educator guide leads students through a series of activities to learn about the mission and then design their own space mission.  Portions of the video are shown at workshops and the activity is demonstrated to teachers who work in groups to design a…

"Vision of Discovery" Professional Development is a 5 hour workshop for teachers held in four locations simultaneously.  Using a thematic design, this workshop connects the Discovery and New Frontiers missions’ science and technology with the curriculum needs of classroom teachers. The workshop offers prominent mission scientists giving presentations and hands-on experience with classroom activities. The speaker presentations can be viewed via the Internet in real-time and in the…

Classroom visits by NASA scientists and educators bring a sense of excitement and interest in STEM. In FY 2012, Stardust-NExT, Dawn and EPOXI participated in three-day event in Rainsville, Alabama, coordinated by NASA's Discovery Program with 8 NASA scientists and educators visiting 1,200 students in grades 4-12 at Plainview School, which had been severely damaged from a massive tornado the previous spring. The presentations, hands-on activities and discussions help students see a place…

Conduct visits to schools with presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities.

Thematic training for college student-mentors preparing to lead a Discovery Program focused NASA Space Science Day event. The NSSD events are sponsored by an EPOESS grant to Charlie Galindo-ARES-JSC. The workshop offers mission content, hands-on experience with classroom activities, and strategies for implementing.

NASA Space Science Days (NSSD) is a science education outreach collaboration that includes NASA-JSC, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate (ARES), the Discovery and New Frontiers Education Program, and The University of Texas at Brownsville, and Texas Southmost College.  The purpose is to encourage future generations to strive for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Teams of presenters share 10-15 hands-on science activities throughout…

The annual National Afterschool Association convention attracts a wide range of out-of-school time educators. NASA's participation allows scientists and educator specialists to bring engaging science content to build informal educator skills. NASA participants offer workshops and staff an exhibit booth where they interact with informal educators and recommend teaching materials for use in their programs. 

DNF has produced an online quarterly newsletter since 1999.  The newsletter features significant mission events, interviews with mission personnel, current status and E/PO highlights for all the missions.  http://discoverynewfrontiers.nasa.gov/news/newsletters/index.html

Public events take place in a variety of venues that attract adults and students and provide an opportunity to bring information about NASA, space exploration, and the missions to raise awareness, heighten curiosity, inform and inspire. In FY2012, D/NF funded and coordinated a NASA booth at the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering, aimed at engaging students in STEM activities and helping them see themselves as scientists and engineers. Attendance was 26,000. The event included…

Space School Musical is a play that introduces the solar system to students while integrating science with performing arts, physical education, music, social themes and leadership opportunities. Aimed at upper elementary and middle school students, the play teaches solar system science in a fun and engaging way.  Designed for easy and successful replication, the package includes a DVD of the play performed by high school students, a CD with the songs, and a CD-ROM with teacher tips, an…

DNF provides funds to support for the SSA/SSEP networks of volunteers and educators who bring mission science to their communities and students.  DNF funds cover mission participation in the program and distribution of handout materials to participants.  DNF funds help support a part-time student who works for the two programs. 

DNF thematic educator workshops are a series of workshops in a variety of venues for teachers in grades 4-12.  The workshops bring standards-aligned, engaging, hands-on activities based on mission science goals and results to educators. DNF program and project scientists and education specialists train teachers at local, regional, and national conferences and events.

DNF thematic workshops for informal educators are a series of workshops designed specially for informal educators.  The workshops bring engaging, hands-on science activities adapted specifically for use in out-of-school time venues such as museums, science centers, afterschool programs.  DNF partners with education specialists to train informal educators at local, regional, and national conferences and events.

Unlocking the Mysteries Professional Development is a 3 hour workshop for in-service and pre-service teachers.  Using a thematic design, this workshop connects the Discovery and New Frontiers missions’ science and technology with the curriculum needs of the classroom teachers. The workshop offers mission content and hands-on experience with classroom activities.

D/NF has two websites that provide current and historical information about the programs and the missions. The websites serve as the primary outreach tool to provide a wide array of information to the public, teachers, students, and mission personnel. The web sites are kept up to date with current news and ongoing updates.  The New Frontiers site was redesigned and updated with new content in FY'12.

1) In Nov. 2011 (FY 2012), McREL supported a NASA educator workshop in Rainsville, AL. 2) McREL coordinated and facilitated Vision of Discovery (FY 2012), a Discovery Program/New Frontiers Year of the Solar System (YSS)  event. The 4-6 hour workshop was held in four locations across the country: JPL, APL, JSC, and Oregon. It involved collaboration with the E/PO staff of many D/NF Program missions (Dawn, MESSENGER, New Horizons), the Discovery and New Frontiers Programs, the NASA Digital…

2012 marks the 14th annual MD Day, an annual open house for the University of Maryland (College Park). Colleges and departments are encouraged to "show-off" their research and educational programs via informal hands-on activities. EPOXI team members will be participating again demonstrating the mechanics of transiting exoplanets and building dry ice comets. http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/

EPOXI Mission website includes up-to-date resources and information of thematic comet content and mission specific multimedia and educational materials. Secondary pages include details about the mission, science & technology; multimedia gallery; formal and informal education content. The homepage includes features, mission status, media releases, and team bios. Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter) were added in mid FY10. Site included a blog for encounter (FY11).  http://epoxi.umd.edu/

The Amateur Observers' Program (AOP) is a web resource that provides information and resources for beginner, intermediate, and advanced amateur astronomers. The site provides guidance for the public to locate and share images of small solar system bodies (comets and asteroids). Amateurs from around the world use the site as a resource connected to mission events.  Funds are for site maintenance and public events at amateur venues (clubs, star parties).  http://aop.astro.umd.edu

The DIY Sun Science app (for iPhones and iPads) allows families and educators to investigate and learn about the Sun at home, at school, or anywhere they go.

Led by Multiverse at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, Five Stars Pathway: Engaging Girls in Science through Multigenerational Mentors project is developing heliophysics curriculum targeting middle school girls to be implemented in Girls Inc. afterschool programs nationwide. 

Led by Multiverse at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, Five Stars Pathway: Engaging Girls in Science through Multigenerational Mentors project is developing heliophysics curriculum targeting middle school girls to be implemented in Girls Inc. afterschool programs nationwide. 

Led by Multiverse at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, Five Stars Pathway: Engaging Girls in Science through Multigenerational Mentors project is developing heliophysics curriculum targeting middle school girls to be implemented in Girls Inc. afterschool programs nationwide. 

The THEMIS Education and Public Outreach team established ground-based magnetometer stations in the proximity of rural schools in traditionally under-served, underrepresented communities. Teachers at these schools were trained in how to use the magentometer data with their students. The network of these teachers, students, and magnetometers together with other students who participate using the web is called the Geomagnetic Event Observation Network by Students (GEONS).

GRAIL MoonKAM is a student experience project for 5th-8th grade students nationwide. Middle school students use the MoonKAM website to target and request images of the moon taken by the GRAIL MoonKAM cameras. The objective of GRAIL MoonKAM is to engage students in STEM subjects.

E/PO GRAIL MoonKAM. Information about GRAIL will be provided to the public via the GRAIL MoonKAM website, www.GRAILMoonKAM.com, conferences and JPL events. The E/PO team will work closely with JPL to coordinate media surrounding the launch of GRAIL.

GRAIL MoonKAM is a student experience project for 5th-8th grade students nationwide. Middle school students use the MoonKAM website to target and request images of the moon taken by the GRAIL MoonKAM cameras. The objective of GRAIL MoonKAM is to engage students in STEM subjects.

GRAIL MoonKAM is a student experience project for 5th-8th grade students nationwide. Middle school students attend Sally Ride Science festivals and learn about how to take picture of the moon using the GRAIL MoonKAM cameras. The objective of GRAIL MoonKAM is to engage students in STEM subjects.

E/PO GRAIL MoonKAM. An essential part of the E/PO MoonKAM program is student collaboration.  The E/PO MoonKAM Mission Control Center (MOC) will coexist with and utilize the NASA EarthKAM MOC facility already in place and functional at UCSD. From FY09 through FY2013 UCSD undergraduate students will work with SRS supervisors and GRAIL scientists to design and implement the MoonKAM Mission Operations.www.GRAILMoonKAM.com

The Heliophysics Community of Practice for Formal Educators is a multi-mission effort led by THEMIS-ARTEMIS E/PO and supported by the Van Allen Probes E/PO, IBEX E/PO and the Heliophysics Forum. The Community of Practice provides professional development opportunities for middle and high school teachers across the country to learn more about current heliophysics research and incorporate it into their classroom. 

This document outlines three sets of concepts to form a “Mini-Atlas of Heliophysics Literacy” in order to: 1) provide a way for Heliophysics Education and Public Outreach professionals to understand how their formal education (including higher education) and informal education products tie to general overarching Heliophysics concepts, and 2) provide a way for educators or curriculum designers to tie Heliophysics concepts together with related science concepts. The AAAS Atlas of Science…

The Heliophysics Educator Ambassador (HEA) program is a collaborative, multi-mission effort that provides professional development and resources to middle and high school science teachers who then train other teachers at local, regional and/or national workshops, conference and meetings. The NASA Heliophysics missions collaborating on the HEA program are: THEMIS-ARTEMIS, IBEX, Van Allen Probes, SDO, MMS, Voyager, RHESSI, STEREO, TIMED and AIM.

The physical processes of our natural world are on constant display. They shape our surroundings on scales large and small. Across the Universe, Nature does the same.

This series helps us better understand cosmic phenomena by looking and studying what we see close to home. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS HERE, HAPPENS THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

This project involves presenting IBEX mission resources and materials via electronic means.  The purpose of this project is to bring the excitement of the IBEX mission and IBEX science results to a broad online audience and to make IBEX education and public outreach materials available online. The electronic venues for this project include:

• the IBEX mission website: http://www.ibex.swri.edu
• Twitter: @IBEX_NASA
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBEXNASA
• and email: ibexepo…

This project creates resources about the IBEX mission to support the IBEX planetarium show in the form of kits, printed materials, and downloadable files. These materials are distributed by request (and as available) through U.S. educational venues that are presenting the IBEX planetarium show as well as other informal venues.

This project makes the IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System planetarium show available to museums, science centers, nature centers, and planetariums in the U.S.  The purpose of this project is to make IBEX science discoveries available to a large number of informal education venues.  The planetarium show is distributed through the IBEX E/PO program and distributers.

As part of a Chicago Public Schools systemic initiative, the IBEX Space Explorers After School Program (IBEX SEC) trains teachers to use the IBEX-funded GEMS SSS Curriculum with under-represented students.  The purpose of this program is to increase student exposure to space science that they do not receive during the school day and to increase their enjoyment in science activities.  This program provides professional development and classroom support for these science clubs through…

The IBEX Education and Public Outreach program funded the development of seven strategy guides for middle school teachers. The first six guides utilize student text from Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) Space Science Sequence for Grades 6-8: Teaching How Scientists Use Models with What Makes Up Most of the Solar System?, Teaching Roundtable Discussions with Seasons on Mars, Teaching Text Structure with Understanding the Scale of the Universe, Teaching Vocabulary Awareness…

This project created resources about the IBEX mission and heliophysics in the form of tactile materials for people with visual impairments and online games and activities for people with visual impairments.  The purpose of this project was to make IBEX and heliophysics materials available to people who might not otherwise have access to similar resources.  The tactile materials were all distributed in 2011 at no cost through the Adler Planetarium to interested educators.

InSight's formal-education program features comparative planetology initiatives with our E/PO partners IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology), SCEC (Southern California Earthquake Center) and NASA's SpaceMath for standards based math resources. This year begins development of Preassessment, Standards-focused curriculum, near-real-time data classroom delivery methods, earthquake analysis tools and professional development.

InSight's public website and visualization development once mission selected. Begin development of comparative seismometry application for mobile devices, and developing scientist talks which will be used for Educate 1-2-3 InSight speaker program and E/PO on the road materials for traveling technical and science staff. Mission social media outreach sites being populated with content.

IRIS scientists at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory are developing a Challenger Learning Center (CLC) module parallel to the materials they created for a similar SDO program. The target audience is students in grades 5-8 who visit the Challenger Centers.

The NASA/Ames IRIS Education and Public Outreach team has developed a training presentation which has been given to members of the NASA Museum Alliance, the JPL Solar System Ambassadors program, and similar Informal Educator groups.

This project is a yearly nationwide undergraduate student team competition to design and build spectrographs. It is targeted at under-represented students.

The IRIS Education and Public Outreach team will create various public outreach materials to highlight the IRIS mission.

The extremely popular and highly successful program of Quest Challenges presents middle-school students and their teachers with an authentic design task associated with a mission. Student groups are introduced to the Challenge via an initial webcast, and subsequently develop a preliminary design, obtain feedback from IRIS team members through a web chat, refine their designs, and then submit them for review and presentation as part of a culminating live webcast. The challenge is…

The goal of the IRIS social media program is to increase public awareness of the IRIS mission and IRIS-related science.  We will use web-based social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Flickr, etc. 

The IRIS EPO team will develop a collection of web-based and physical resources that support and complement the teaching of spectroscopy in classrooms.  This includes distribution of punch-out spectrographs, videos, PowerPoints, and activities. 

The IRIS E/PO team will conduct a series of workshops instructing middle and high school teachers how to incorporate spectroscopy into their classes.

Stanford, Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL), and NASA/Ames jointly host students in summer research opportunities by leveraging on Stanford’s highly-successful Summer Research College (SRC), a ten-week program currently available to undergraduate Stanford physics majors. The IRIS team extends this program to incorporate promising non-Stanford undergraduates recruited from 2- and 4-year colleges, especially those at institutions where students would not otherwise…

Professional and amateur astronomers plus interested members of the public invited to join the Jupiter Observation Campaign. A section of the mission website is dedicated to mission resources and educational material. Planetary observing tips are available as well.

Conduct three or more observing programs or observing events each year, including partnering with local libraries, astronomy clubs or science centers. Members are required to report events on the mission web site. Members…

The first podcast was in April 2007, and it has nearly 4 million downloads since its debut. Podcasts are available on NASA, NASA IYA, JPL, Solar System, and mission websites. They can also be downloaded automatically via iTunes (the most popular format). The focus is always determined by what is A) going on in the night sky and B) mission events we can tie in. Since Jupiter shows up in September, that is when we would highlight Juno.

Most of the products of Kepler E/PO and the resources we use in our presentations and teacher workshops are freely available on the Kepler website (http://kepler.nasa.gov).  These include:

Activities:
http://kepler.nasa.gov/education/activities/

Models:
http://kepler.nasa.gov/education/ModelsandSimulations/

Computer Interactives:
http://kepler.nasa.gov/education/ModelsandSimulations/interactives/

Planetarium shows:

The AEE LADEE activity is a collaboration between the Ames Exploration Encounter and the LADEE mission to produce an interactive multimedia activity for students visiting the AEE. Students participating in the activity assume the role of a researcher receiving and interpreting data from LADEE during its mission. LADEE EPO is providing scientific and multimedia content to the AEE as they implement new activities as part of a center-funded update/renovation of the AEE.

The Challenger Center LADEE activity is a collaboration between the Challenger Learning Centers and LADEE to include LADEE content in the Challenger Center's updated Mission Moon program. Students participating in the lunar mission will be introduced to the fundamentals of the lunar atmosphere and how it is studied. LADEE EPO is providing scientific and multimedia content adapted from the AEE LADEE activity as the Challenger center implements its new Mission Moon program.

While LADEE supports a number of workshops hosted (and reported in the data call) by other missions/programs (see notes), these represent workshops not reported elsewhere. Educators attending these workshops are introduced to how our understanding of the Moon is changing dramatically based on results from a new generation of robotic explorers, how LADEE will further advance our understanding of the Moon, and how they and there students can directly participate in NASA lunar science and…

The Navajo Tech Model Building activity is a collaboration between LADEE and the Computer Aided Design and Modeling Program at Navajo Technical College. Students in the program learn to produce solid 3-D models of the LADEE spacecraft for use by the LADEE mission and its EPO programs. The faculty of Navajo Tech provides students with instruction on equipment, materials, software, and techniques for model building while LADEE provides spacecraft CAD files, a lunar science overview, and…

The LADEE Observation Campaign encourages citizen science and participatory exploration involvement in LADEE mission science. Participants make and record telescopic observations of meteoroid impacts on the lunar surface, or visual/video counts of terrestrial meteors to provide data that can be correlated with LADEE science instrument observations. The cache and publicity of a NASA lunar mission is used to increase public awareness of and interest in existing observation programs run by…

While LADEE supports a number of public outreach events hosted (and reported in the data call) by other missions/programs (see notes), these represent public outreach events not reported elsewhere. Members of the public attending these outreach events are introduced to how our understanding of the Moon is changing dramatically based on results from a new generation of robotic explorers, how LADEE will further advance our understanding of the Moon, and how they  can directly participate…

The LRO museum exhibit will be located at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH.  It will describe the motivation for and goals of the mission and its scientific discoveries.  The exhibit will be open to the public.

The comparative planetology module for SOS is a formal education module on comparative planetology for grades 6-8 that will be developed during FY10. Institutions with SOS installations will be given professional development on how to use the module with students that visit their institutions. 

The LRO Docent Package is comprised of science background and hands-on activities that educators can use in their institutions. The LRO Docent Package will be available for electronic download on the LRO website: http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov

This activity is for the production of a kit of resources drawn from all LRO E/PO. The educator kit contains strands for investigation of lunar concepts and data using lessons developed by the LRO EPO Team. 

The International Observe the Moon Night is a public "Moon party" event that was held at 627 locations around the world on October 8 2011. Amateur astronomers and the general public are invited to participate in events that provide scientific context about the Moon, tweet up events, and telescope observations of the Moon. The International Observe the Moon Night is a collaborative project between LRO EPO, NASA Lunar Science Institute, Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA ARC, GSFC and…

The Lunar Student Imaging Project (LSIP) is an inquiry-based program that enables K-12 students to learn about lunar science and develop proposals to acquire and analyze data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) instrument.  

This activity is a workshop for educators of grades 6-12 to learn about lunar science and exploration and how to incorporate LRO data into their classrooms. Participants in the workshop attend a week-long workshop at Goddard Space Flight Center in July 2010 and are given follow-up professional development using distance learning technologies.

This activity is leveraging the Mini-RF data for both informal and formal education using the Global Imagination Magic Planet. This learning platform will provide a unique experience for students, teachers and the general public to learn about the Mini-RF instrument.  Currently, the programming includes Minim-RF data, and can be easily expanded to include other LRO instrument data as well.

LRO Middle School Educator Professional Development (MSEPD) provides sustained, long-duration professional development for middle school teachers in the regions directly surrounding our E/PO partners. Educator professional development includes short and long-duration professional development experiences on lunar and planetary content using materials developed in previous LRO E/PO funding cycles. The objective of LRO E/PO middle school educator professional development is for middle…

Mini-RF has developed a beta Lunar Simulation on the instrument and its findings at the Moon. The goal is to provide middle and high school students with a mission specific gaming-like experience that will be used to augment existing math and science curriculums. It also folds in the existing educational products developed for the Mini-RF instrument and the LRO mission. This is based on the ARENA (Augmented Reality Environment at APL), a 3-D modeling and simulation facility at APL that…

The Miniature Moon Wall is a portable system that utilizes data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera and Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter to enable the use to "fly" over the surface of the Moon. The Mini Moon Wall is developed for loaning to small informal science institutions on a temporary basis.

The Moon Wall is a museum exhibit at Adler Planetarium that utilizes data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera and Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter to enable the use to "fly" over the surface of the Moon.

The LRO Museum Alliance Training is monthly telecon presentations to the NASA Museum Alliance.  Recent science updates from the LRO mission will be delivered to the Museum Alliance along with relevant educational materials.

LRO Professional Development for Afterschool Providers (PDAP) provides sustained professional development for those whom conduct afterschool programs. The program includes professional development for afterschool club leaders and afterschool programs like the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative. The objective of PDAP is that afterschool providers identify LRO data of suitable use in their programs.

These programs give middle school students a close-up look at NASA’s  LRO mission and specifically the Mini-RF instrument. They are designed to engage, inspire, and influence attitudes about space science and STEM careers. Space Academy includes a student press conference with mission experts as panelists and students as “reporters.” The panelists represent varying backgrounds, careers, and roles on the mission. 

The Student Planetary Investigators (PI) program engages high school students with data from the Mini-RF instrument which is focusing on mapping the lunar poles, searching for water ice and demonstrating new communications technologies.  The program provides students with authentic research experiences in the classroom, is conducted via distance learning technologies, and is designed to provide maximum flexibility for student teams.

The Student Planetary Investigators (PI) program engages high school students with data from the Mini-RF instrument which is focusing on mapping the lunar poles, searching for water ice and demonstrating new communications technologies.  The program provides students with authentic research experiences in the classroom, is conducted via distance learning technologies, and is designed to provide maximum flexibility for student teams.

The lunar and meteorite disk loan program provides samples embedded in acrylic for use by trained educators in classroom and event settings.

This area supports the NASA Strategic Plan "Outreach to Stakeholders," and typically focuses per that document on public information and outreach related to NASA's Mars and Mars mission efforts, as well as cross-themed messages within SMD and between it and other Divisions (e.g., human exploration of Mars efforts by ESMD).  Included are pass-through events such as exhibits and public talks (including support for scientist/engineer involvement); web support, including content and…

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), in close collaboration with the ChemCam science team, including colleagues at the Centre d’Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements in France, is: 1) implementing a week-long educator workshop; 2) implementing a two-day informal educator workshop targeting children's librarians; and 3) maintaining a new media portal. Through these activities, formal and informal educators and the general public will interact with Mars content that will inform them about…

Informal educator workshops, trainings, and personal connections support access to current Mars-related science, engineering, and educational content, as well as interactions with scientists and engineers.  The purpose is to "train the trainers" for leaders of youth programs and networks (including Mars support for Solar System Ambassadors) and to provide museum and out-of-school staff with professional development opportunities.  Training can occur both on-site with partners or through…

This activity covers reproduction and distribution of previously NASA-approved materials (e.g., Earth/Mars comparison poster).  All else in online and downloadable. The purpose is to support dissemination of classroom materials to K-12 educators.  mars.jpl.nasa.gov/education

This project provides educators around the country with professional development opportunities. Since research shows that an initial face-to-face training, followed up by a few distance learning opportunities, is more effective than single, stand-alone workshops, Mars Public Engagement has begun to take that approach, partnering with NSTA for educator professional development.  Face-to-face regional workshops continue to occur around the country, with recruitment for distance learning…

This alliance brings real-time, high-definition  imagery and other content to museums, science centers, and planetaria  and to  the wider audiences they serve (created by Mars, it was elevated to an agency level as the NASA Museum Alliance and expanded to include other missions and activities).   The intent is to create increasingly experiential programming that allows the public to participate in discovery as it happens and to come to know Mars as a familiar place, utilizing the…

Connected closely with Mars engineering efforts, Mars Robotics is one of three content "threads" for formal education listed in the Mars Exploration Program Public Engagement Plane, and supports national programs in robotics such as FIRST (9-12) and FIRST/LEGO League (6-8).   The purpose of this effort is to provide mentorship and role models in order to inspire students to acquire technical skills, as well as to assist in the implementation of regional and national competitions.  This…

Connected closely with Mars scientific efforts, Mars Student Imaging and Analysis is one of three content "threads" for formal education listed in the Mars Exploration Program Public Engagement Plan, and is geared for K-12 students.  Activities include Mars Student Imaging Project (5-12), Mars Exploration Student Data Teams (9-12), and Mars High-School Student Interns(11-12).  These activities provide progressively deeper and more sophisticated opportunities for students, supporting a…

Connected closely to both human and robotic exploration, Mars Science through the Arts, Letters, and Humanities is one of three content "threads" for formal education listed in the Mars Exploration Program Public Engagement Plan. This thread is meant to represent the earliest entry point into the pipeline, focused on elementary level, interdisciplinary activities that introduce Mars science and engineering.   This thread is also appropriate for pre-service teachers and students without…

The Mars Exploration Student Data Team (PI) program engages high school and undergraduate students with data from the CRISM instrument which is seeking traces of past and present water on the Martian surface. MESDT students have the opportunity to join the science team in the analysis of data from the CRISM instrument. The program provides students with authentic research experiences in the classroom, is conducted via distance learning technologies, and is designed to provide maximum…

Sample Analysis at Mars(SAM) Educator Professional Development Workshops: The SAM E/PO team hosts workshops for middle and high school educators who visit GSFC.  The workshops include an overview of the MSL mission and science goals, an overview of SAM, a presentation by a SAM scientist, and an introduction to Mars and MSL educational activities and resources.

Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Professional Development for National Park Service Interpreters: The SAM E/PO team reaches out to NPS interpreters who are part of the Earth to Sky network via Webinars to educate them about SAM and MSL, to help them draw linkages between Gale Crater and their own Park, and to share activities and resources that could be adapted for use in most Parks.

Sample Analysis at Mars E/PO Website: The SAM E/PO team, in collaboration with the SAM science team, maintains a website to provide information on SAM and MSL, access to current news, SAM science results, and E/PO resources such as the Curiosity landing site activity developed by the SAM team and SAM-related multimedia products.

Sample Analysis at Mars outreach events: SAM scientists, engineers, and E/PO team members regularly participate in large public outreach events that reach hundreds to thousands of people.

Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Curiosity Landing Site Selection Activity: This activity teaches middle school students about the process used to select a landing site for the Curiosity rover.  In so doing, the students learn basics about Mars geology and mission teamwork.

This project aims to incorporate up-to-date SMD education resources and science and mission data relating to NASA’s explorations of Mars into the Mars Rover Celebration (MRC), an existing low-cost curriculum enhancement program for grades 3-8. The MRC prototype focuses on the adventure of learning and discovery, asking participating teams to propose their own scientific mission to Mars, design a rover to carry it out, and present a mock-up at an open house. The overarching goal of this…

MAVEN mission formal E/PO is a comprehensive program targeting K-12 teachers and students. The program involves product development and professional development workshops, including MAVEN Educator Ambassador Project, Space Science Teachers Summit, and Red Planet, and management and evaluation for the aforementioned activities. The objective of the MAVEN mission EPO program is to engage multiple audiences in the quest to understand Mars’ long-term atmospheric losses, giving insight into…

MAVEN mission formal E/PO is a comprehensive program targeting K-12 teachers and students. The program involves product development and professional development workshops, including MAVEN Educator Ambassador Project, Space Science Teachers Summit, and Red Planet, and management and evaluation for the aforementioned activities. The objective of the MAVEN mission EPO program is to engage multiple audiences in the quest to understand Mars’ long-term atmospheric losses, giving insight into…

MAVEN Evaluation – MAVEN’s plan for evaluation involves a comprehensive, multi-method approach spanning the project’s six-year duration (FY11-FY16). Cornerstone Evaluation Associates LLC is the external research firm charged with carrying out the evaluation activities necessary to determine the effectiveness and impact of MAVEN’s Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) effort and its success in achieving its overall goal to “engage multiple audiences in the quest to understand Mars’…

Girls go to Mars – a Girl Scouts project to develop engaging activities using MAVEN science and engineering content, culminating in a patch for girl scouts. Estimated dissemination is ~20 troops per state with ~10 girls per troop, or approximately 2,000 troop leaders and 10,000 Girl Scouts nationwide

Girls go to Mars Training – a Girl Scouts project to develop engaging activities using MAVEN science and engineering content.  Trainings for Girl Scout troop leaders are included in the final years of the project. 

Imagine Mars through Native Eyes – a professional development project for informal out-of-school time educators of native young teenagers, which adapts the process-driven MEPPE Imagine Mars project. The MAVEN E/PO team expects to train 30 out-of-school time educators, with a total reach of 900 youth.

MAVEN mission informal E/PO is a comprehensive program targeting informal and public outreach audiences. The program involves product development and professional development workshops, including Invisible Mars Science on a Sphere, Girls go to Mars! badge kits, Imagine Mars through Native Eyes, and New Media Practitioners Professional Development Workshops, and management and evaluation for the aforementioned activities. The objective of the MAVEN mission E/PO program is to engage…

MAVEN Invisible Mars Product – a project that builds on a previous NASA Mars Space Weather E/PO project, “Seeing the Invisible,” for Science on a Sphere. The MAVEN E/PO team adapts this script for public audiences.

MAVEN Management –  management of the E/PO projects; working with the MAVEN PI and science and engineering team members; coordinating with MEPPE; and overseeing the E/PO evaluation partner, CEA.   This includes direction of all E/PO activities and  ensuring all products meet NASA SMD requirements and NRC NSES,

New Media practitioner professional development workshops – two 2-day workshops for bloggers, journalists, and people actively involved in accurate science tweets on MAVEN-related science, technology and engineering concepts. The MAVEN E/PO team expects to engage approximately 24 media practitioners with national reach.

MAVEN mission formal E/PO is a comprehensive program targeting K-12 teachers and students. The program involves product development and professional development workshops, including MAVEN Educator Ambassador Project, Space Science Teachers Summit, and Red Planet, and management and evaluation for the aforementioned activities. The objective of the MAVEN mission EPO program is to engage multiple audiences in the quest to understand Mars’ long-term atmospheric losses, giving insight into…

Red Planet: Read, Write, Explore! – a professional development project for elementary teachers across the United States and focused on Latino, Spanish-speaking communities. The professional development will incorporate science in elementary school literacy projects using the topic of Mars exploration.

MAVEN mission formal E/PO is a comprehensive program targeting K-12 teachers and students. The program involves product development and professional development workshops, including MAVEN Educator Ambassador Project, Space Science Teachers Summit, and Red Planet, and management and evaluation for the aforementioned activities. The objective of the MAVEN mission EPO program is to engage multiple audiences in the quest to understand Mars’ long-term atmospheric losses, giving insight into…

Web and social media – the MAVEN E/PO website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and events related to these new media will inspire the public to understand the MAVEN journey and discoveries. The MAVEN E/PO team expects to reach a potential audience of tens of millions; the total reach is viral (currently on Facebook: 10,250 fans; Twitter: 25,350 followers).

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

This project provides a curriculum for teachers, Pre K-12, on a range of topics associated with the questions and challenges of the MESSENGER Mission. This project ensures that the high-quality materials developed to improve understanding of NASA missions is readily available to teachers and students, both nationally and internationally. Trained instructors (MESSENGER Fellows) conduct workshops for teachers and instructors in the use of the curriculum which is also freely available on…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER Informal education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts provide content-based materials for use in non-classroom settings. High-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes are developed and disseminated through print, audiovisual, and web-based media. The objective of MESSENGER Informal Education is to provide educators and students, both within the USA and internationally, with access to high-quality, content-rich materials featuring NASA themes that both…

The internship program provides undergrad & grad students focusing on STEM careers  an opportunity to work on summer projects related to the MESSENGER mission to Mercury, and make contributions to the mission.

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER Informal education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts provide content-based materials for use in non-classroom settings. High-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes are developed and disseminated through print, audiovisual, and web-based media. The objective of MESSENGER Informal Education is to provide educators and students, both within the USA and internationally, with access to high-quality, content-rich materials featuring NASA themes that both…

The MESSENGER Informal education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts provide content-based materials for use in non-classroom settings. High-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes are developed and disseminated through print, audiovisual, and web-based media. The objective of MESSENGER Informal Education is to provide educators and students, both within the USA and internationally, with access to high-quality, content-rich materials featuring NASA themes that both…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

The MESSENGER K-12 education and public outreach (E/PO) efforts encompass teacher professional development and web-available content-based curriculum for K-12 students and educators. The Educator Fellowship program trains educators who commit to conducting teacher professional development using high-quality educational materials featuring mission-related themes. The objective of the MESSENGER E/PO program is to prepare classroom teachers across the nation to incorporate high-quality,…

This project is a multi-day workshop for approximately 30 MESSENGER Educator Fellows held every 2 years. The purpose is to: ensure that the Fellows have up-to-date training on the MESSENGER education modules (MEMS); provide a venue for the Fellows to train each other as appropriate; and provide a venue for Fellows to share recipes for success. Trained MESSENGER Fellows commit to conducting workshops for at least 100 educators per year in their communities, and at local, regional, and…

In this program, approximately 30 MESSENGER Fellows conduct at least 100 workshops per year for educators in their communities, and at local, regional, and national conferences. The purpose is to ensure widespread dissemination of high quality NASA education products to classrooms across the nation. MESSENGER Fellows arrange and conduct their own workshops with support, oversight, management and evaluation provided by  the MESSENGER E/PO team. 

The Cyber Café is an online collaborative space where a new way of social and experiential learning can take place. Working with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and their existing network of professionals, the resources in the MMS and Space Weather Action Center (SWAC) programs are used to engage educators from around the world in monthly topics that are relevant to the classroom, school and/or professional arenas. Café participants tackle key curricular and…

The E/PO section of the MMS website is specifically designed for number of MMS E/PO audiences and hosts a growing collection of lesson plans, activities, games, Interactives, podcasts, video clips and social media links, while highlighting the contributions, accomplishments and career paths of mission personnel. The MMS social media team works closely with the GSFC Office of Communications and NASA’s existing social media networks to reach the target audiences.

The online ‘Educators Launch Kit’ will include Launch Party ideas, activities, and links to mission content, videos and social media pages. When available the page will also contain information on how to connect to the live launch. From these pages, users will be invited to join the MMS Magnetic Space Café. This collaborative website used by NASA's Science Education and Public Outreach Forum will provide an online space where educators and the general public come to chat, receive E/PO…

MMS will work closely with Heliophysics E/PO lead, Alex Young, to develop a Media and Eduaitonal Techlology Incubation (METI) lab. This lab will be operate as a ‘think-tank’ space to assist internal personnel from Heliopysics and Planetary in the development of mission outreach ideas and opportunities related to cutting edge technologies including 2D/3D printing, model building, chroma key use and mobile media. The evaluation will include surveys at the end of workshops to show the…

Students can use these models to make and even stronger connection between engineering and mathematics while highlighting the importance of the MMS mission. On the models page, students can see a video of the LEGO model, make their own, make a paper model, or work on MMS card models. The MMS bookmark can be folded into a 3D model. It also has web resources and QR codes.

NASA EDGE is an unscripted, non-traditional video podcast or vodcast designed to highlight all things NASA in a unique and fun way. Built in the framework of sports talk radio (i.e. Mike and Mike in the Morning – ESPN Radio), NASA EDGE has generated a positive buzz for NASA in a way in which young teens and adults can relate. Produced vodcast segments will focus on a particular components of the MMS mission. For example, one segment might focus on the science instruments and another on…

MMS worked with Stephanie Smith (NASA Second Life Designer) to install models of the MMS spacecraft on NASA's eEducation Island. Second Life has become less of a draw for users lately but continues to be a place for MMS materials and activities. Given the capabilities of Second Life, it represents an environment that is very well suited for exploring the imagery of MMS.

The MMS social media program is intended to communicate the science of MMS, as well as Heliospheric and STEM-related information to the general public and education professionals in an educational, fun and engaging way.

This guide uses examples from the MMS Mission to introduce mathematics in a real-world context to fifth through eighth graders. It is meant to help students learn about math utilizing the NASA MMS mission and be able to produce artifacts that can be shared with their peers and with their families. The main area of mathematics covered in this guide is geometry. The guide focuses on two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry to assist students in developing spatial skills. There are…

This program encourages students to design, assemble and use an 'easy to make' learning center called a Space Weather Action Centers (SWAC) .These centers provide a focused environment where students can monitor and report the progress of a solar storm or focus on data input from individual missions like MMS . As part of the SWAC setup, each center includes one computer with internet access to current and archived NASA data. Student flip charts offer 'Step by Step' instructions needed…

STEAM Camp – Dublin ISD piloted the MMS Challenge during the summer STEAM camp of 2012 and hosted a NASA national student summit in April of 2012 to help generate excitement about NASA’s MMS mission. Student experiences included hosting a digital art, physics, and robotics exhibition. Although Dublin ISD is a small and rural school, the impact of DISD STEAM camp led to an after school robotics program during the fall of 2012. The NASA MMS Challenge was piloted in Dublin ISD during the…

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will partnet with the MMS mission to develop 3 resources related to the MMS Mission and student learning around the magnetosphere, space weather, and data manipulation.

The first resource will repurpose the previously created iBook for teachers, a companion to the student MMS Transmedia book (TBook), into other e-formats such as mobi and epub so they are accessible across the spectrum of e-readers in Kindle, Nook, and…

The Student Transmedia Book (T-Book) is a digital age storybook designed to help students learn about the NASA’s MMS mission through a variety of inquiry and engineering based experiences. A T-book, is a standard print book that serves as a nexus for all of the physical objects and digital resources necessary for its telling. A T-book exists in both a physical and digital space, which facilitates the seamless transition between the two states. It includes experiment instructions, data…

This is a challenge-based activity set designed to have students explore and research the Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission (MMS). Students will explore the purpose and relevance of the mission as well as the scientific methodologies. Activities include application of the scientific method, problem solving strategies, research, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. Links to resources and appropriate web 2.0 tools are provided through a shared livebinder at http://

The “Educators’ iBook Companion” is a mobile resource for the iPad embedded with self-paced professional development tools, information, and resources for educators. The iBook authors created rich learning content embedded with text, audio, and video that is well suited for complex concepts or demonstrations. This digital age teacher’s guide embeds: dynamic, interactive MMS content from NASA’s Space Weather Action network website (pending permission from NASA); lesson and experiment…

Teacher professional development is designed to familiarize teachers with the MMS mission, the science and technoloygy, and the education resources. A special workshop on NASA and earth and space weather was designed and offered during FY14.Teacher training efforts were identified specifically for the impact and reach of the MMS mission. In 2014, a total of 13 teacher training related activities were identified reaching over 1100 teachers, educators, administrators, and university faculty.

The Telling Your Story program aims to form collaborations between research scientists and K-12 teachers that will result in ongoing classroom visits by scientists, and lab visits by teachers and their students. The program brings together scientists and K-12 educators in a workshop that lets each group learn about, and from, the other. Scientists are taught effective communication skills appropriate for K-12 audiences, and work with teachers to develop ideas and formats for classroom visits.

This project provides support for an ongoing public radio show.  Its purpose is to explore questions of humanity's place in the universe, especially as it relates to topics in astrobiology and SETI research.  The radio show airs on 30+ radio stations nationwide, most of them are NPR affiliates, and a podcast of the show is downloaded by over a million unique listeners every year.

This project exposes the public in non-traditional settings to astrobiology research and information.  It's purpose is to raise awareness about astrobiology with members of the general public who wouldn't normally seek out science content.  An "Astrobiology in Your Backyard" booth was set up a three different music festivals in the Madison, Wisconsin area in Summer, 2011 in which tardigrades, micro-meteorites, lichens, and stromatolite fossils served as launching-off points to engage…

This project engages citizen scientists in a study of microbial diversity in distributed domestic water heaters.  It's purpose is to look at the genetic differences from isolates of similar microbes from across the globe to understand the degree to which populations of microbes are isolated and whether this isolation suggests an allopatric speciation model for prokaryotes. Two-three interested households per state in the US will complete a questionnaire and submit samples back to labs…

This project develops and distributes video resources for the general public.  Via partnership with Montana State's Science and Natural History Filmmaking Program, a one-hour documentary film is being produced that takes a personal look at scientists around the U.S. working with the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) to understand the origin of life. Once the film is completed in late 2011, the program will be distributed via a national outlet such as National Geographic, the Discovery…

This program supports in-service teachers in their work towards a Masters of Science degree in Science Education at Montana State University.  Two courses were supported in the program this year, Life in Extreme Environments and Thermal Biology in Yellowstone National Park. The courses provide science content information and authentic research experiences for practicing science instructors at the middle, secondary, and college levels.

This project provides professional development in astrobiology for teachers in Hawai'i and from the mainland US.  Its purpose is to increase awareness of astrobiology science and use of astrobiology classroom materials.  Teachers participate in a week-long workshop including lecture, lab, and field studies.

This project provides training for informal education volunteers working on behalf of NASA.  The purpose is to train the Solar System Ambassadors, SS Educators, and members of other NASA  Nationwide Consortium organizations in the use of astrobiology materials so they may use them in their outreach events.  Telecons and workshops are held to expose the volunteers to astrobiology science and educational materials. In 2011, Solar System Ambassadors held 269 Astrobiology events reaching a…

This project creates a new, small-dome planetarium show for Houston-area school districts.  It's purpose is to engage students in astrobiology science, especially extreme life.  Via a partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, the show is being developed and will be deployed locally to hundreds of schools via their fleet of traveling planetarium domes.

This project hosts summer undergraduate interns at the NAI's Penn State University team.  It's purpose is to provide an in-depth research experience for undergraduates with astrobiology researchers at PSU. The program occurs at Penn State University for 10 weeks during the summer session. The students participate in independent research under the guidance of one or more astrobiologists, a field trip to NASA and astrobiology-related sites around Washington, D.C., weekly seminars,…

This project hosts summer undergraduate interns at the NAI's Penn State University team.  It's purpose is to provide an in-depth research experience for undergraduates with astrobiology researchers at PSU. The program occurs at Penn State University for 10 weeks during the summer session. The students participate in independent research under the guidance of one or more astrobiologists, a field trip to NASA and astrobiology-related sites around Washington, D.C., weekly seminars,…

This is a week-long, in-depth, summer learning experience for high school science teachers in New York State.  Its purpose is to increase content knowledge for teachers and support them to develop unique lesson plans in astrobiology for their classroom.  This is a multi-year interaction which incorporates teacher mentors from prior years into each summer's workshop, and provides sustained contact for teachers with the scientist faculty and each other throughout the academic year.

This project provides professional development in astrobiology for teachers from across the US at Penn State University.  Two workshops were supported in Summer, 2011: Earth's History: Uncovering Clues of the Past‚ and Astrobiology: The Interdisciplinary Search for Life in the Cosmos.  The purpose is to expose teachers to the latest in astrobiology research, NASA missions, and classroom materials.

This project is an art exhibit displayed in science centers and/or art museums nationwide.  Its purpose is to display and interpret original works by a science illustrator who, in collaboration with a scientist, has visited and documented hydrothermal vent ecosystems via travel in the deep-sea submersible Alvin.  The traveling exhibit was featured at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for most of 2011, and significant leveraging of the exhibit into workshops and a girl's career day…

This project delivers astrobiology information to the general public.  Its purpose is to excite and engage the public in an interactive debate experience featuring scientists in an informal education setting.  Future presentations in this series will be podcast and made publically available.

This project delivers astrobiology information to the general public.  Its purpose is to excite and engage the public in an interactive debate experience featuring scientists in an informal education setting.  Future presentations in this series will be podcast and made publically available.

The Crow Education Project provides science enrichment activities for 10 4th grade classrooms and professional development for their teachers in three schools located on and adjacent to the Crow Reservation in Southwestern Montana.  It's purpose is to engage 4th graders on Native American reservations to astrobiology science and expose them to science as a career.  A district wide program, this hybrid education model incorporates monthly hands-on science activities, field experiences,…

This is a free-standing kiosk resource for informal education settings, and an accompanying poster.  The purpose is to provide information on astrobiology research on hydrothermal vents to a broad audience.  Museums and science centers coordinate with NAI to exhibit the interactive kiosk in their venue.  The kiosk was displayed at Penn State and the Maryland Science Center in 2011.

This event is a one-day, hands-on, interactive STEM science fair hosted in collaboration with the PA Space Grant Consortium and other Penn State partners. The purpose of the event is to provide information about NASA research to a diverse and wide audience. The event includes more than 50 exhibits with more than 250 volunteers, and had more than 2000 in attendance in 2011. NASA materials, especially those related to astrobiology, are given out.

In celebration of NASA's Year of the Solar System, this project makes a curated collection of images related to astrobiology and solar system exploration available to educational organizations worldwide.  It's purpose is to raise awareness of NASA's planetary and astrobiologcial exploration via the viewing of beautiful, artistic imagery mostly from spacecraft.  In a free-choice public outreach manner, organizations download the high-res images from a website and create their own…

This program provides hands-on research experiences for students and their teachers in Hawai'i.  Its purpose is to develop astronomy research skills in students in grades 7-11 so they can conduct Science Fair quality projects and pursue STEM majors in college.  After a week-long workshop in the summer, scientist mentors travel to student locations throughout the school year to provide help with the research, and students are supported to participate in science fairs.

This project will produce a new set of informal education materials.  The purpose is to share information about the icy moons of the outer solar system and their relevance to the search for life beyond Earth.  The product will be in the form of a set of trading cards, and will be available in 2012.

This is an online short course for elementary teachers with modules addressing astrobiology subject material including the challenges of defining life, sorting life, and discovering life.  It allows participants to contemplate and investigate the potential for finding life beyond Earth. The course is self-paced with interactive components as well as links to NASA resources. 

This project is a year-long, rural high school student internship program.  Its purpose is to bring local, rural students into Lassen Volcanic National Park to collect environmental data at astrobiologically relevant field sites.  Scientists visit the students and their teacher to prepare them for the upcoming year of sampling, then students visit the Park several times per year to collect data on the hydrothermal features.  An expansion includes the installation of videoconferencing…

This project is a non-residential summer enrichment experience for high school students in the greater Atlanta area.  Its purpose is to provide an in-depth exposure to astrobiology science and research techniques.  In a simultaneous professional development effort, the camp's curriculum is developed and implemented by local high school teachers paired with Georgia Tech undergrads.

This project hosts three science days during the school year at three elementary schools in the St. Labre school system (nearly 100% Native American from the nearby Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations) in eastern Montana.  Its purpose is to expose elementary students underrepresented in STEM to astrobiology science and careers. Teachers and students conducted three pre-lessons, the science day, and a post-lesson to evaluate  the value of the interaction.  

This project provides online access to video and poster content from the Deep Sea Vents kiosk. This project ensures that the high-quality materials developed for the kiosk to improve understanding of Astrobiology is readily available to members of the general public, both nationally and internationally. A link to this material will be available from the NAI education web site at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/education-and-outreach 

This project is a training program for high school students in Washington, DC.  Students are guided by scientists as they perform authentic research projects in a school setting.  Participants are selected annually to attend a 10 day summer institute then return to their schools to complete projects with teacher and scientist supervision.

This project hosts summer undergraduate interns at the NAI's Icy Worlds Team at JPL.  It's purpose is to provide an in-depth research experience for undergraduates with astrobiology researchers at JPL.  Ten interns were hosted by four faculty in the Summer of 2011.

This project supports undergrads from across the US to participate in the 2011 LPSC Undergraduate Conference.  Its purpose is to expose undergrads to the scientific conference environment and mentor them to pursue careers in science.  This NAI funding supports the larger project funded by EPOESS.

This project is the development of a "live" digital planetarium show.  Its purpose is to create a modular, flexible, exportable show that other high resolution, full-dome theatres which employ the Uniview system can use.  Visuals and narration blend with live music for an exciting experience which attracts an audience beyond the normal planetarium-going public.  The show has been prototyped and piloted, and a final, exportable package is planned for 2012.

This project develops web-based, multimedia, interactive experiences for various kinds of learners.  Called Virtual Field Trips (VFTs), their purpose is to create an online environment which simulates a remote field research locale.  Several NAI teams are collaborating to create a suite of VFTs dealing with different areas of astrobiology research.  They will be field tested in various learning environments and the evaluation will be coordinated.

NASA All-Stars is a summer STEM research experience for teams of students, teachers, and librarians from Chicago-area public, private, and parochial schools.  Assisted by program staff, four experienced teacher-mentors, and scientists from the Astronomy & Astrophysics Center, teams undertake authentic research projects using astronomical data as they discover astronomy across the electromagnetic spectrum.  The program makes use of our Multiwavelength Astronomy website, which presents…

Family Science Night (FSN) is a curriculum in which middle- school-aged children and their families explore the importance of STEM in our daily lives by engaging in activities that make these concepts more practical and approachable. It covers a broad range of topics, from basic scientific processes to specific concepts such as the electromagnetic spectrum, the life cycles of stars, the reasons for Earth’s seasons, exploration of the Moon, and the ways in which we detect and study…

NASA Nationwide (NNW) is the title given to this project that provides mission-created, professional development products and training for SSA and SSEP volunteers, along with 11 other NASA education and public outreach networks, AESP and the NASA and JPL Speakers Bureau members.  These materials and information may be used by NNW volunteers in their events, workshops and speaking engagements.  Coordinated by the SSA/SSEP project manager, the trainings feature both informal and formal…

The Educator Cadre program – working in partnership with the NASA Solar System Educator Program (SSEP) – develops middle and high school teachers who represent New Horizons and serve as an important resource for solar system exploration programs across the country. Through New Horizons Teacher Training Workshops, we developed a cadre of skilled master teachers who now represent the mission; these workshops comply with National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and American Association…

The Maryland Science Center’s SpaceLink is a New Horizons E/PO partner that falls into both formal and informal outreach arenas. New Horizons scientists and engineers regularly support SpaceLink’s flexible programming, seminars for educators, a menu of classroom programs on request, distance learning teacher presentations, and special live events to highlight mission milestones and space-related anniversaries. This allows the guest scientists and engineers to interact directly with the…

Few programs combine fun and learning like the Space Academy series, where we bring students behind the scenes of current space missions and introduce them to scientists and engineers working on these projects. These events – sponsored by APL, Comcast Cable, and the Discovery Channel Networks – give middle school students a close-up look at NASA missions. They include student press conferences with mission panelists moderated by an APL public affairs representative. Students have an…

In addition to the students who created the instrument, the SDC’s own education and outreach team maintain a Web site that features the inside story of the instrument’s development and video interviews with team members. The SDC project is blazing a trail for future student-built instruments.  (http://lasp.colorado.edu/sdc/)

The Student Dust Counter (SDC) is a 20-year homework assignment, but you won’t hear any complaints from the students handed the task. Designed by students at the University of Colorado at Boulder, SDC is detecting dust grains produced by collisions among asteroids, comets, and Kuiper Belt objects during New Horizons’ journey. It is the first science instrument on a NASA planetary mission to be designed, built, and “flown” by students.  With faculty supervision, the students also are…

In an effort to educate U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) museum guests about New Horizons, a model of the solar system has been set up on the Center grounds with placards providing information about each planet. A New Horizons display is set up near Pluto to educate guests about the objectives of the mission.
This is to maintain the exhibit. http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/

Dynamic Response of the Environment at the Moon participation at public events: In FY11, Dynamic Response of the Environment at the Moon (DREAM) participation at public events included Maryland Day at UMD and Explore@NASA Goddard (Goddard's Open House).  In FY12, DREAM plans to also participate in Maryland Day along with International Observe the Moon Night.  At each event, the public will participate in an experiment that simulates tribocharging of astronauts and dust adherence on the…

This is a collaborative effort between various NASA Missions. NLSI plans to spend an estimate budget of $35K. However, this estimated figure might change.

The LPI/JSC NLSI team is creating a series of library exhibits to share NLSI and NASA lunar science and exploration with the general public through a nation-wide network of librarians, as well as SMD and NASA networks.

This project is a collaboration with the Moon Zoo effort, a citizen science project where the general public analyzes features on the surface on the Moon.  This enables people to contribute to lunar science and educates and inspires them, using resources on the website.  Anyone can participate by going to moonzoo.org and creating an account, and then analyzing data.

The project is a collaboration with Astrosphere and part of the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcasts. It will be composed of a Monthly "10 minutes" podcast for a full year.

3 separate workshops, for teachers of grades 1-5, 6-8, and high school. Teachers received and practiced age-appropriate astronomy activities with a focus on lunar science. They built inexpensive "galileoscope" telescopes. Cooperation with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, which was meeting in Boulder, CO in 2010, increased teacher attendance. Nearly all teachers who applied were accepted. Scholarships were supported by NASA and ASP. Teacher assessment forms quite positive.

Working with Erin Wood (LASP) we hosted a teacher workshop for Elem & Middle School teachers.  This workshop was in association with the ASP.  The theme was the Scientific Method and we focused on the Moon to convey many aspects of the scientific method.  20 teachers registered.  Main activities:-  Pre-evaluation with clickers, moon phases (predicting, then "kinesthetic astronomy to explain), remote sensing (shoebox activity), talk by LUNAR PI Jack Burns, post…

A series of lectures to various different audiences (from middle school students to adults) about NASA's lunar science and exploration programs as well as EPO resources. These talks would be visually augmented by NASA lunar imagery such as high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface, the latest lunar science visualizations, as well as by animations of current and future lunar missions. 

Explore the Moon! is a library program in which a team of NLSI SwRI and LPI education specialists and scientists are creating hands-on inquiry based, standards-aligned modules of activities to be used in informal learning environment programs. The activities explore the lunar environment and relate to NLSI science and exploration. The module currently is in development with a completion target of summer 2010.  

DREAM's Lunar Extreme Program: The Lunar Extreme Program works with high school teachers and students via Webinar over the course of a semester to prepare them for participation in a week-long Lunar Extreme Workshop in June.  The Workshop will bring together high school teachers and students with members of the DREAM team to investigate extreme events, such as a lunar impact, and their effects on lunar dust, plasma, and the exosphere. 

Create an adult planetarium show highlighting science that can be done from the moon.

Public events associated with the Lunar and Solar eclipses that were visible to North America.  For the handful of Lunar eclipses between 2009-2012 we had nearly 1000 people in attendance for each event.  Then for the Solar Eclipse of 2012 we had nearly 10,000 people in the Football Stadium at the University of Colorado to view it.  Our event was broadcast on NBC national news.

Developed a Spanish version of "Max Goes to the Moon" A  children's planetarium program which will explain basic science about the moon. "Max Goes to the Moon" planetarium show for 1st-5th grade students completed.  Video of NASA Astronaut Alvin Drew reading "Max" from the International Space Station starts the program.  Extensive formative evaluation with scientists and elementary children led to about 30% of the program being revised and improved.  Test audiences now really like it,…

Explore the Moon! is a library program in which a team of NLSI SwRI and LPI education specialists and scientists are training children's librarians in CO, WY, MT, ID, ND, and SD to engage their communities in NLSI science and exploration. The training encompasses content discussions, exploration of how to engage children in science,  the use of hands-on inquiry based resources, and network planning.  

High School Lunar Research Projects pairs NASA scientists with students in a mentoring relationship.  High-school students undertake authentic data-rich lunar projects, related to NLSI science, to learn about the process of science and science careers. LPI and JSC NLSI members work with science teachers and high school counselors to mentor student teams. Funds support the development of projects, E/PO specialist support of high school teams and teachers, and travel for high school team…

Set up telescopes on the Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall in Boulder, CO.  Handed out flyers describing NASA Lunar Science and let people look through telescopes.  Night was pretty cloudy but still got "peeks" at the moon and people liked looking through telescopes.

Journey through the Universe is a national science education initiative that engages entire communities – students, teachers, families, and the public – using education programs in the Earth and space sciences and space exploration to inspire and educate. The initiative engages communities in sustained science, math, and technology education, and is a celebration of exploration and the joys of learning.  The initiative includes local programming for thousands of students and families,…

NLSI supported the NASA Ames Academy through support of a student in addition to support of their summer project of lunar dust and biological systems interactions.  The undergraduate or graduate students spends 10 weeks at NASA Ames working alongside an ARC scientist. They are exposed to research at three other NASA centers (KSC, DFRC, JPL) and a wide variety of other research and commercial institutions (e.g. Desert Research Institute, Space Systems Loral, SpaceX).  The summer…

Create children's planetarium program which will explain basic science about the moon. "Max Goes to the Moon" planetarium show for 1st-5th grade students completed.  Video of NASA Astronaut Alvin Drew reading "Max" from the International Space Station starts the program.  Extensive formative evaluation with scientists and elementary children led to about 30% of the program being revised and improved.  Test audiences now really like it, and it contains more science than most commercial…

Students design a public web page for Southwest Research Institute.  NLSI project. High-school students build their understanding of lunar science – and lunar science careers – and translate the information for the public using traditional and new media. SwRI and LPI NLSI scientists and education specialists work with North High School high-school students to present accurate, interesting, and engaging lunar science and exploration content. Current efforts focus on inclusion of content…

SSP is a program in which high-achieving high school students participate in a six week summer experience and work with space scientists to track asteroids. The program is designed to keep these students in the pipeline for careers in the science disciplines.  SwRI's NLSI team is collaborating with SSP to a) develop two-day lunar research projects that involve computer modeling and b) to implement these projects with the students during the summer.  Funds support involvement of students…

The NLSI Summer Student Intern is a grade 10-14 student support program. The program provides a 10 weeks summer research experience for grade 10-14 students. The purpose of the program is to increase the U.S. talent pool of lunar scientists by providing high school and two year college students an opportunity to spend a summer working on lunar science research with lunar scientist from the NLSI and attracting them to pursue graduate level studies in lunar science.

The course, Geology of the Moon (ERTH 580-50), offers MSU graduate credits in earth science for middle school teachers. The online course runs Sept. 28 through Nov. 29 and is taught by Cass Runyan, who teaches at both MSU and the College of Charleston, and Noah Petro, a lunar geologist from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Pamela Whiffen, a high school science teacher, will also be part of the instructional team, helping participating teachers better incorporate the science concepts…

Fly me to an Asteroid! (working title), run jointly with The Planetary Society, solicits names of individuals for etching onto a chip to fly on the spacecraft. The purpose of this project is to collect names from the public, etch the names onto a chip, place the chip in the sample return capsule for a trip to and from the asteroid, engage the public in the mission and increase interest in asteroids and science. TPS will collect names from entrants, Lockheed Martin will lead efforts to…

Materials for use in classroom for pre-visit: The OSIRIS-REx education and public outreach (E/PO) program includes field trip experiences for K-8 students. Low-income students can access the Great Balls of Fire! exhibit at a local science center through support provided by the OSIRIS-REx mission. The objective of the OSIRIS-REx K-12 E/PO effort is to motivate students to pursue the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through attendance at science center with…

Visit to the Exhibit: OSIRIS-REx hosts the OSIRIS-REx Presents Great Balls of Fire! exhibit at the University of Arizona, include additional exhibit materials related to the mission, and run the OSIRIS-REx Presents Asteroid Academy! school field trips to the exhibit. The exhibit and field trips will take place during the fall months of 2012 with OSIRIS-REx Ambassadors facilitating school field trips (grades 5-8) for underserved audiences. Evaluation of the exhibit, audience feedback,…

Target Asteroids! Is a citizen science project which engages amateur astronomers in observations of potential asteroid spacecraft targets. The purpose is to collect data (e.g., astrometry and photometry) on asteroid targets to better characterize them as well as engage amateurs in the mission and encourage interest in STEM education and careers. OSIRIS-REx team members work with amateur astronomy groups to provide guidance, monitoring and collection of data.

This project develops a mission website. The purpose is to provide a portal for the public to engage with the mission and is a coordinated effort with other internet outlets such as the Facebook page and Twitter. E/PO staff and other team members work together to create content for OSIRIS-REx internet presence.

Name that Asteroid!, run jointly with The Planetary Society, solicits names for the OSIRIS-REx mission target asteroid, (101955) 1999 RQ36. The purpose of the project is to name 1999 RQ36, engage the public in the mission and increase interest in asteroids and science. TPS will collect names from entrants, a committee will select a name and recommend the name to the Minor Planet Center, which makes final determination.

Our Solar System – Through the Eyes of Scientists (TES) is a solar system thematic science and language arts based curriculum for students and teachers in grades 1-6.  Students read biographies of current NASA scientists and view scientists’ notebook pages, while learning about planetary features such as canyons, volcanoes, and ice.  Curriculum is distributed on CD-ROM and made available on the Solar System Exploration website.  Teacher professional development is included.  Major costs…

Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS).  PSSS prepares the next generation of engineers and scientists to participate in future solar system exploration missions. Participants are highly qualified science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students with a strong interest in planetary exploration.  Through preparatory webinars and a one-week experience at JPL with Team X mentors, students develop a mission concept and present it to a "review board" of JPL scientists and…

The ROSETTA education and public outreach (E/PO) program supports NASA Sun-Earth-Day events tied to phenomenon through actual scientific experience.  The objective of the ROSETTA E/PO is to educate students about; Activities to increase public engagement in improving science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education in the United States.

The Rosetta project worked with The Space Place to develop a free ITunes game that represents the science of the Rosetta Mission.

One Friday each month the Rosetta Project Manager presents a hands-on activity in Space Science, Planetary Science or NASA Technology to the LaCanada Elementary school student body. This SMD project provides elementary and secondary education students with the opportunity to work directly with NASA science and technology data. Family involvement is encouraged. The purpose of the project is to stimulate interest in STEM disciplines and careers through engagement with SMD science and…

The ROSETTA education and public outreach (E/PO) informal efforts include work with Native American Reservation Educators and Administrators to bring space and planetary science to Native American communities. The ROSETTA team is working with Reservation Educators and Administrators to bring together Tribal Elders and First Speakers to better understand the community needs and concerns in planetary and space science through language preservation. Rosetta Project Scientist and Education…

The Rosetta Project is working on an educational experience through the web page that brings students from different cultures and areas of the world together to learn about comets and asteroids as a group via the internet.  Rosetta is an international mission between ESA and NASA.

Teachers, invite a Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador into your classroom!

Class visits include an introduction to the SDO mission and a hands-on activity aligned with national and local science standards. Presentations typically last from 45 to 75 minutes depending on the lesson and class length. An SDO Ambassador would also be happy to visit your school on Career Day or at other school events!

Teachers can choose from a variety of lesson topics including kinesthetic…

Since the discovery that SDO can see certain classes of comets in EUV, the SDO EPO team has created a specific website and social media program around SDO Comet sightings. This activity provides the public with information and up to date videos on the latest SDO comet sightings.  When a new comet is seen in space and looks like it will be large enough to be seen by SDO, the team updates the website to include all of the new information and develops a small social media plan to get the…

Exploration Station is a program of activities organized by the various American Geophysical Union (AGU) sections and focus groups. Many AGU section and focus group members work for organizations with well-developed education and public outreach programs. Exploration Station is an opportunity for these organizations to bring their exhibits and hands-on activities to the AGU Fall Meeting and interact with the public in San Francisco.

This event is four hours long, free, and open to…

You are invited to bring your classes to spend the day at Goddard Space Flight Center! Activities include a facilities tour, a career-oriented meet and greet with scientists and engineers, and a hands-on lab activity. The purpose of this trip is to increase your students' interest in STEM subjects, expose them to STEM-related careers, and increase their awareness of the research that NASA conducts.

This trip is free; lunch and transportation are not provided.

This program currently…

The NASA Family Science Night program invites middle school children and their families to come discover the wide variety of science and engineering being performed at NASA and in our every day life. You will work with volunteers to explore various themes on the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Universe* through fun, hands-on activities. You will even get to take stuff with you when you leave to perform your own experiments at home!

This program trains graduate students, with help of a Physics Education Research specialist, to present NASA-developed classroom activities to K-12 teachers, and to coach the teachers how to use those activities in their classrooms.  Program facilitators adopt and/or adapt activities from the existing, extensive catalogue of NASA-developed & -approved activities.  At the request of the teachers, program facilitators deliver the training/coaching sessions at their schools, with no cost…

The SDO Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/NASASDO. The SDO Twitte feeds are @NASA_SDO and @NASA_SDO_EDU.

What is the Solar Science Fair?
The Solar Science Fair is a semester-long project for students ages 13-18 as well as classrooms and the general public. Participants are expected to create original projects using solar data. There will be many opportunities to ask solar scientists questions about your project or about what they do at NASA.

How will the projects be judged?
All projects will be judged based on the use of the scientific method, use of solar data, creativity and the…

The Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT) provides FREE presentations about current NASA missions to Montana schools, youth programs, and community groups. The office at Montana State University in Bozeman sends presenters to schools and communities across the state.

The interactive SPOT presentations utilize slides, videos, animations and an inquisitive approach to relay the excitement of new discoveries in space science. NASA research and careers here in Montana are highlighted in each…

This project is specfically aimed at classrooms and students. It gives the public the ability to interact with the latest SDO data in a meaningful way to learn about the activity on the sun that causes space weather and what NASA and other agencies do to predict space weather.

Join us at the sunday experiment and learn about all the cool science and engineering going on right now at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Take part in hands on activities, meet scientists, engineers, and super cool people like us! You can even load up on free stuff, and more.

Think Scientifically is a three-book series for elementary school teachers that integrates math, science and reading instruction. Each storybook focuses on a key science theme and includes a hands-on science lesson, math and language arts activities, and other educational resources that can be easily utilized in the classroom. The books are based on national standards and were written by teachers. The books include a hands-on lab activity, a data collection/graphing activity, a language…

The goal of the Transit of Venus social media events was to build the excitement around this worldwide event and connect the public to Transit of Venus-related resources in their area.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory public website is available at http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov.

The EVE Solar Science kit builds on high quality existing space science education resources and presents lessons and background information about the extreme ultraviolet light science of the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) detector on the Solar Dynamics Observatory. The kit of lessons is supplemented by a DVD that includes a virtual tour of Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder, an overview of the EVE project, and…

This program involves development and facilitation of a laboratory activity for community college physics and astronomy students to give them an opportunity to analyze data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory mission. Professors and teachers at a local community college are involved in an SDO partnership to develop the lab exercise. The students at the community college are first year non-science majors coming from a diverse urban environment.

The goal of this project is to develop resources and events that improve informal education opportunities in solar and Solar Dynamics Observatory-related science.

This project involves active engagement, involvement and support of public communications opportunities such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Flickr, etc., for SDO. Staff makes SDO and Heliophysics visible and "likeable" to the general public by posting current sun and solar information, developing materials to post, educate the public about the sun and solar events, including space weather, making videos and images, etc.

This program involves a series of full-day and half-day events in schools that introduce students to the Sun, solar science, and space weather. The programs also encourage students to consider STEM careers.

This project involves development and distribution of solar science resources, learning guides, curricula, etc. designed to complement SDO and IRIS educator workshops and also serve as stand-alone materials (or with web-based instructional materials).

The SDO EPO team presents a series of workshops to provide materials and techniques as to how educators can incorporate solar studies and space weather topics into science classrooms.

Solar System Ambassadors (SSA) is the overarching title given to this project that works with outside volunteers to aid in accomplishing NASA's education and public outreach goals.  There are more than 500 SSAs from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the District of Columbia along with Americans living abroad in Canada and the Netherlands, who share the inspiring story of NASA's space exploration efforts with members of their local communities by conducting a variety of local…

Solar System Educators (SSEP) are master teacher volunteers who train educators in their states in the use of NASA's STEM educational materials.  Results of these educator workshops are reported to the NASA OEPM system annually.  Currently, there are 94 SSEPs in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.  Training for SSEPs on NASA/JPL educational products is accomplished in two ways:  1) In-person institutes and 2) telecons with downloadable web-based materials.  Institutes are held when…

NASA's Space Forensics project takes students in formal and informal education settings through astronomy problem-solving narratives that parallel crime scene forensics. Each standards-aligned Space Forensics case fuses STEM and literacy, using mystery narratives and hands-on activities to take students through the process of scientific problem-solving. This approach tells the story of "doing science" and meets educators' needs for resources that encourage reading, writing, and speaking…

The Space Place program includes web site for elementary school children as well as a museum display program and partnerships with amateur astronomy clubs and newspapers.  The Space Place web site makes SMD content accessible to a variety of audiences including elementary school age kids, Spanish speakers, amateur astronomers, and teachers.  The Space Place web site is available in both English and Spanish, in upper elementary language; the Space place museum display is in over 350…

The Space Place program includes a web site for elementary school children as well as a museum display program and partnerships with amateur astronomy clubs and newspapers.  The Space Place web site makes SMD content accessible to a variety of audiences including elementary school age kids, Spanish speakers, amateur astronomers, and teachers.  The Space Place web site is available in both English and Spanish, in upper elementary language; the Space place museum display is in over 350…

Imagine being able to monitor the progress of an entire solar storm from the time it erupts from our sun until it sweeps past our small planet effecting enormous changes in our magnetic field. Now imagine being able to do all of this from your classroom-based Space Weather Action Center (S.W.A.C.)! By following the basic steps in the Instructional Guide your class will soon be on its way to accessing, analyzing and recording NASA satellite and observatory data. You will also want to…

The Stardust-NExT website includes up-to-date resources and information of thematic comet content and mission specific multimedia and educational materials. Secondary pages include details of mission, science, technology, multimedia, education, community and "get involved" pages. The homepage includes features, timelines and links to where is the spacecraft is now, mission status reports, media releases and scientist/engineer interviews.

Stardust-NExT, EPOXI, and Rosetta mission will combine resources at the annual JPL Open House event. Exhibit will feature a "Comet Cratering" activity, models of asteroids, meteorite collection, spacecraft models and science data. Personnel from all missions will be on-hand to talk with public.

Dawn, Stardust-NExT and EPOXI E/PO leveraged mission materials to offer OST science teachers professional development and curricular support to help them integrate space science involving small bodies into their programs through the DoDEA Space Science Extravaganza in May, 2012.Teachers will engage their students in high-interest, hands-on activities that highlight mission science and enhance learning about comets, asteroids, and the origins of the solar system. In FY13, we will be…

In February, 2011 Stardust spacecraft will encounter comet Tempel 1. In support of this event a number of outreach events are planned at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as well as New York/Cornell and several other sites around the country, TBD.

Podcast did not occur and was cancelled due to mission conflict in FY10 plan. Current no plans to reschedule in FY11.

Reprint: Combines the same data used on Solar System Night Boards and will introduce the Stardust-NExT and EPOXI websites in preparation for encounter in Nov. 2010 and February 2011.

Developed by NASA's Space Place for the Stardust-NExT, EPOXI, and Rosetta Missions. Introduces elementary level facts about comets and NASA missions exploring them. Funds were used for development and print costs.

Working closely with the NASA/JPL Ambassadors Program, Solar System Educator network, Museum Alliance Network and Space Place Networks Encounter events will be organized around the country at informal science centers and museums. Stardust-NExT will connect informal educators with related resources for each event including scientists, speakers, animation, educators. Events will be as detailed as having mission personal on-site or virtually, Twitter postings, and/or Skype teleconferences…

Comet Characteristics Mystery Boxes is designed to engage students in a tactile experience that can enhance or assess the students’ knowledge using tactile experiences to model comet characteristics.

Scientists, engineers, administrators, educators and students working with NASA tell their personal stories of inspiration on the challenges in their careers, education requirements, and exciting highlights of working with/for NASA. By showing "real life" people in real life experiences we hope to engage the public and students into considering a future career or involvement in aerospace, science and technology.

1) In Crater Capture students model the problem NASA engineers encounter as they mathematically predict the position of the comet in its trajectory and the location of the crater in the rotation of a comet nucleus, and then photograph or video the crater as the comet nucleus rolls by the observer. 2) In Comparing Cosmic Cameras, students compare cameras from different spacecraft capturing the cool images illuminating comet science. 3) In Comet Mysteries, stories of comets in history are…

"Eyes on the Solar System" is a 3-D environment full of real NASA mission data. Explore the cosmos from your computer. Hop on an asteroid. Fly with NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft. See the entire solar system moving in real time. It's up to you. You control space and time.

Comet Interactive was designed to introduce all levels of user to comets. Information includes overview of comets in a 3:41 second video documentary provided to the mission by Space.com; Comet Life Cycle section where user can view the changes which occur as a comet as it travels on its orbit; Comet Anatomy section which demonstrates the various components of a comet; and a Comet Specifications section highlighting Comets Borrelly, Wild 2, Tempel 1, 67P, and Hartley. This section shows…

STEP is a train-the-trainers professional development project for middle school science education specialists and lead teachers.   STEP will increase the Earth and Space Science (ESS)  knowledge and pedagogy, and skills and confidence in providing professional development of middle school science specialists and lead teachers in the Houston region.  STEP provides in-depth long-term professional development for educators already supporting other middle school teachers in Earth and space…

Story mining and Sharing in Informal Education Settings
This is an ARES education activity to mine and share the stories of past and recent solar system exploration missions and the Antarctic meteorite research program. These stories will be used to connect informal audiences to the excitement of scientific discovery experienced by the people in space science research. It includes finding the stories, developing concise, well-told stories using the raw data, and sharing the stories…

Sun-Earth Days (SED) was developed in response to a need for a highly leveraged education framework to help the heliophysics missions tell their integrated and cross discipline stories to the general public, informal and formal education communities.Sun-Earth Days is an innovative, multi-mission, exemplary, and award-winning NASA Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) program that to date has touched over one billion people in 42 countries. Sun-Earth Day provides an established and now…

This description appears in the public listing of project profiles

The Van Allen Probes education and public outreach (E/PO) programs provide training for formal and informal educators. Middle and high school teachers and informal educators receive content understanding and experience with hands-on activities and interact with scientists through face-to-face workshop opportunities. A unique aspect of the workshop was participation by mission scientists and instrument leads who designed and presented classroom activities.The objective of the Van Allen…