Education and Public Outreach

The Lunar and Planetary Institute and
NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Sciences Team
Proudly Present:

HCDE Earth and Space Science Workshops 2006-2007

EXPLORE WITH US!

One-Day Educator Workshops Offered
at the Harris County Department of Education

9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Credits: CPE hours – 6

Fee: $75 (includes materials, refreshments, and lunch)
These workshops address TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models)
and Elementary School TAKS Objective 4 and Middle School TAKS Objective 5 – Earth and Space Sciences.

Register

Please contact Liliana Maldonado at (713) 696-1306 for registration information.
For more workshop details, contact Becky Nelson

 

September 8, 2006 The Fire Within, Part I: Plate Tectonics & Volcanos
Learn about the different types of volcanos and igneous rocks as we investigate plate tectonics. Once we build an understanding of Earth’s volcanos, we will take a tour of volcanos across the solar system. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for Grades 5 through 8 regarding minerals, igneous rocks, volcanic activity, the rock cycle, sea-floor spreading, continental drift, and characteristics of other components of our solar system. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on CD, reference materials, and hands-on activities for the classroom. Part II strongly recommended.
Audience:     5–8 Teachers
October 6, 2006 The Fire Within, Part II: Making Metamorphic and Sedimentary Rocks
Learn to identify different metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, explore how they form, and relate their formation to plate tectonics and the rock cycle. The day will close by examining evidence of these types of rocks on other planets. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 –Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for Grades 5 through 8 regarding deposition and erosion, dissolving, weathering, mountain building, and the rock cycle. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on CD, reference materials, and lesson plans for hands-on classroom activities. Part I strongly recommended.
Audience:     Grade 5–8 Teachers
November 3, 2006 Extreme Solar System
NASA’s current solar system missions — Genesis, Mars Rovers, Cassini, Deep Impact, StarDust, and many others — offer extraordinary, teachable moments for Earth and space science. This one-day workshop will build your confidence in teaching space and earth science as we investigate why humans explore, how we explore, and the current knowledge of the size, scale, and characteristics of our solar system. The workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models), and elementary School TAKS Objective 4 and Middle School TAKS Objective 5 – Earth and Space Sciences (solar system, its components and characteristics). Participants will receive extensive curriculum materials, CDs, websites, and posters.
Audience:     Upper Elementary and Middle School Science Teachers
December 1, 2006 Earth and Moon Comparisons: Properties, Phases, Eclipses, & Seasons
Learn about formation and history of the Moon, and compare and contrast the features and environments of the Moon and Earth. We will also explore lunar phases, solar and lunar eclipses, and the reason for seasons. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for Grades 5 through 8 regarding the lunar and seasonal cycles, the characteristics of the Earth and Moon, the forces shaping features of the Earth, plate tectonics, volcanism, igneous rocks, landforms that result from constructive and destructive processes, catastrophic events, and the components of our solar system. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on CD, reference materials, and hands-on activities for the classroom.
Audience:     Grade 5–8 Teachers
January 12, 2007 Mars!!
Exploring Mars is exciting and in the news. Currently multiple science missions are exploring the Red Planet. This one-day workshop uses up-to-date mission information and images to teach Earth and space science. Through a balance of content and activities, we will investigate the formation of the Red Planet and how it has changed through time, how volcanism, tectonic, impacts, and erosion have affected Mars, and the evidence of water — past and present. The workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 –Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models), and elementary School TAKS Objective 4 and Middle School TAKS Objective 5 – Earth and Space Sciences (characteristics of planets in our solar system, water cycle, soil characteristics, forces of change — wind and water erosion, catastrophic events, landform development). In addition, Elementary and Middle School TAKS Objective 2 – Life Sciences (needs of organisms) is explored. Participants will receive presentation materials, activity packets, posters, and fact sheets.
Audience:     Upper Elementary and Middle School Science Teachers
February 9, 2007 Solar System Survey: The Origin and Characteristics of the Sun, Planets, Moons, and Debris in our Neighborhood
Learn about the characteristics and formation of the Sun, Earth, and planets. We will also explore moons, comets, asteroids, and other space debris. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 –Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for Grades 5 through 7 regarding the characteristics of the Earth, Moon, and other components of our solar system, forces of change such as wind and water erosion and catastrophic events, and the concept of gravity. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on cd, reference materials, and hands-on activities for the classroom.
Audience:     Grade 5–7 Teachers
March 2, 2007 Sun – Moon – Stars: Characteristics and Cycles of Change
Explore the characteristics of our Sun, Moon, and the stars of the night sky. We will investigate the changes in the sky and the appearance of our Moon, and share related activities appropriate for elementary students. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for Grades 2 through 5 regarding the cyclical changes in the sky, the lunar cycle and phases and seasons, the position of the planets in our solar system, the characteristics of the Sun and Moon, and the Sun’s effects on the Earth. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on CD, reference materials, and hands-on activities for the classroom.
Audience:     Grade 2–5 Teachers
March 30, 2007 Great Balls of Fire: Stars, Galaxies, and the Origin of the Universe
Discover the secrets of the Universe! We will compare and contrast the different types of stars and trace how they change through time, identify the different types of galaxies, and explore the evidence for the Big Bang. This workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, and use of models.) It also addresses the science concepts TEKS for 8th Grade regarding the characteristics of the universe, light years, and the scientific theories of the origin of the universe. Participants will receive extensive presentation materials on CD, reference materials, and hands-on activities for the classroom.
Audience:     Grade 8 Teachers
May 4, 2007 Space Rocks
This one-day workshop investigates rocks from space - what meteorites and lunar samples tell us about the formation of our solar system and the composition and history of the planets and asteroids from which the rocks originated. Find out where planetary scientists look for meteorites, the “impact” asteroids make on us, and what recent and future missions to comets and asteroids are telling us. The workshop addresses TAKS Objective 1 – Nature of Science (scientific process, critical thinking skills, problem solving, use of models) and Elementary School TAKS Objective 4 and Middle School TAKS Objective 5 – Earth and Space Sciences (characteristics of planets in our solar system, lunar characteristics, rock cycle, catastrophic events). Participants will receive presentation materials and hands-on activities for the classroom.
Audience:     Upper Elementary and Middle School Science Teachers

Each workshop — other than the Fire Within Parts I and II — is designed to be stand alone, but can build on the experience of previous workshops.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the content, designed specifically for classroom teachers, as well as integrated hands-on, inquiry based, standards-based, tried-and-true classroom activities. Participants also will receive NASA resources and PowerPoint presentations that can be modified to meet student needs.