HR: 1340h
AN: ED13D-0738 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Comparing the Earth and its Neighbors: Examples from Earth and Space Science Education Projects
AU: * Stockman, S
EM: stockman@core2.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: Science Sytems and Applications, Inc, code 921, Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AB: There are a number of education and outreach projects that utilize planetary comparisons and solar system exploration to engage and educate formal and informal education audiences. For example, NASA's Solar System Exploration Education Forum has promoted an "Extreme Exploration" theme to tie current events in Solar System exploration to reviewed, standards-based classroom materials. Often, the "wow" factor of an event such as rovers on Mars, Venus transiting the sun, or a volcanic eruption on Earth serves a hook to motivate learners to invest the time to explore a topic. Students are then provided the opportunity to study concepts such as earth systems science, geologic processes, and climate change. This paper will highlight the efforts of earth and space science education and public outreach projects that use the theme of Earth and it's celestial neighbors to teach a variety of concepts. It will review a number of examples including: 1) an education module that utilizes prototype 3-D representations of Olympus Mons and the Hawaiian Islands as a tool to teach middle school students topographic concepts and geologic processes; 2) a unit on impact craters that also introduces earth-based remote sensing platforms; 3) an earth systems science museum exhibit that engages visitors to explore earth's atmosphere through comparison with Venus, Mercury and Mars; 4) a thematic unit on ice in the Solar System that delves into the properties of ice and water; and 5) a series of bridging activities designed to connect NASA earth and space science research for informal educators.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting