July 2002
Space ExplorationSpace exploration has the greatest impact when its findings can be shared with the general public, increasing society's appreciation not only for the practical benefits of space research but also our unique place in this marvelously vast universe. Because of the need for this vital communication, space exploration and education have always been inextricably linked. Building on that tradition, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced last April that teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, who once trained with Christa McAuliffe, will be assigned to a space flight in 2004. "The time has come for NASA to complete the mission—to send an educator to space to inspire and teach our young people," O'Keefe said. (To learn more about Morgan's upcoming flight, read a NASA press release at http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/NASA.htm.) Morgan's flight is intended to be the first in a series of missions for a new category of space explorer—the Educator Mission Specialist, who will be responsible for bringing an educator's perspective to space flights. NASA could begin active recruitment of teachers for such missions as early as this year. (For more information on what NASA will be looking for in candidates, read a story by NSTA Reports! at http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/education_story.php?news_story_ID=47043.) As significant as these upcoming flights will be, they comprise
just one part of the broader effort to inspire the next generation
of space explorers. Equally important is the work that Earth-bound
science teachers do in classrooms across the world. In light of
this responsibility, this issue of Science Class has been designed
to help you instill in your students a sense of excitement and wonder
about the universe—from galaxies billions of light years away
to our solar system to the planet we call home. Space Exploration in the NewsArticle summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Service. If you're a fan of space news, two great sites to bookmark are: 1) SPACE.com (http://space.com), an online space news service; and 2) NASA Spacelink (http://spacelink.nasa.gov), a NASA-sponsored website for educators that provides space-related resources and news (for the latest news briefs, make sure to click on "Hot Topics"). For this issue of Science Class, we've highlighted three recent news articles that examine the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life—both here in our solar system and throughout the universe. Read the latest news stories: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/news_stories.htm Space Exploration on the NetSciLinks is an interactive, Web-based service from NSTA that connects your lesson and/or course materials (books and journal articles) with online content chosen just for your selected topics. Members can search by keyword or phrase and receive a list of teacher-approved Internet resources. Elementary: What Causes Earth's Seasons? http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=3374191055 Intermediate: How Have People Explored Space? http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=5574191133 High School: Hubble Space Telescope http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=67476335111088 Space Exploration-Related NSTA Journal ArticlesThe following journal articles are sorted by grade level to provide you with ideas for classroom lessons and activities related to space exploration. Elementary: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/elementary.htm Intermediate: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/intermediate.htm High School: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/high_school.htm Books on Space ExplorationCheck out these titles from NSTA Press: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/books.htm Professional Development"Being able to hold high expectations for students is a function of one's belief system. It's easy to say you hold high expectations for students; it's not easy to act as if you do. Facing one's own belief system and reshaping it is not an easy task nor can it be done in a risk-bound environment." —Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (2002) Click here to read more: http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06/pd.htm HighlightsNSTA Highlights are provided by the NSTA WebNews Service. For additional NSTA Highlights, as well as the latest science and education news, visit http://www.nsta.org/mainnews. For space exploration news specifically, visit http://www.nsta.org/sciencenews/&category_ID=201NSTA Seeks Candidates for Field Editors of Elementary and Middle Level Journals http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/nsta_story.php?news_story_ID=47104 Astronomy With a Stick Carolyn Randolph Begins Term as 2002–2003 NSTA President http://www.nsta.org/pressroom&news_story_ID=47085 New SciLinks® Feature Makes Web Searches Easy for NSTA Members http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/nsta_story.php?news_story_ID=47061 NSTA Member Poll Next Month's Theme: Science and Other DisciplinesIf your colleagues would like to subscribe to Science Class, please direct them to: http://www.nsta.org/. For another dynamic source of classroom science information, subscribe to Science Monthly, an e-mail newsletter produced by the Learning Network, Inc. in partnership with NSTA. To subscribe, visit http://www.teachervision.com/tv/lounge/newsletter/science-signup.html. If you have a text-only browser or are having any difficulties with our links, please visit http://ecommerce.nsta.org/enewsletter/2002-06\member.htm THE FINE PRINTThis e-newsletter is brought
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