NASA -- A Source for Excellent Free Material
By Ria Mastromatteo, Educational Technology Consultant
The education program provided by NASA is one of the most comprehensive available and most of the material is offered free of charge to teachers. NASA has four areas of research and development: Aerospace Technology (http://aerospace.nasa.gov), Earth Science (http://earth.nasa.gov), Human Exploration and Development of Space (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/heds) and Space Science Enterprises (http://spacescience.nasa.gov). The general site from which you can get to all educational programs is http://education.nasa.gov.
Specific sites provided by NASA
Spacelink (http://spacelink.nasa.gov) is an electronic library to NASA's educational and scientific resources. There is a search function as well as links to "Hot Topics" and "Cool Picks." Another part of the site at http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products gives information about ALL of the educational resources available. Copies of lesson plans, posters, etc. are all available online. Use the catalog numbers when you contact NASA so that you can have them send you the posters or the plans of your choice.
NASA Explores (http://www.nasaexplores.com) offers lesson plans that are e-mailed to you.
Classroom of the Future (http://education.nasa.gov/COTF)
offers five multimedia or problem-based activities. For example, BioBlast offers a simulation of a moon trip. Information about the simulation of the Space Trip from Walsh Jesuit University is also available at this site.
NASA Television (http://spacelink.nasa.gov/education.file/) is a resource designed to provide real-time coverage of NASA activities and missions. You can also share with your students examples of how mathematics and science are used every day by NASA aeronautical engineers and scientists through NASA Connect, an instructional television series carried on PBS 45 & 49 for students grades 4-5. Each program includes a lesson, a classroom experiment and a Web-based interactive component. Look for these broadcasts:
Nov. 29 Geometry & Algebra: The Future Flight Equation
Dec. 20 Geometry & Algebra: Glow With the Flow
Jan. 31 Data Analysis & Measurement: Ahead, Above the Clouds
Feb. 28 Patterns, Functions & Algebra: Wired for Space
Mar. 28 Data Analysis & Measurement: Having a Solar Blast
Contact the center in our area (open 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Friday):
NASA Glenn Research Center
NASA Educator Resource Center
21000 Brookpark Road, MS 8-1
Cleveland, OH 44135
Phone:
Fax:
Web: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/PAO/html/edteachr.htm
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