HR: 1330h
AN: ED13D-08    [Abstracts]
TI: Astro-Venture: An Integrated Earth and Space Science Curriculum Supplement Focused on Astrobiology
AU: * O'Guinn, C M
EM: christina.m.oguinn@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, Education, MS 226-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AU: Wilmoth, K L
EM: Krisstina.L.Wilmoth@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Astrobiology Institute, NASA Ames Research Center MS 240-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AU: Coe, L K
EM: Lizabeth.K.Coe@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, Education, MS 226-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AB: Astro-Venture is an example of a NASA educational product that successfully integrates Earth and space science by engaging students in grades 5-8 in the search for and design of a planet with the necessary characteristics for human habitation. Students study the Earth to understand how it meets human needs for survival in the areas of astronomy, geology, biology and atmospheric sciences. They then extend these ideas in simulated searches and analyses of stellar and planetary data sets to determine whether other planets or moons might be habitable. Astro-Venture uses online multimedia activities and off-line inquiry explorations to engage students in guided inquiry aligned with the 5 E inquiry model. For each core science area, students engage in an online training module in which they isolate variables and observe the affects on Earth. They then draw conclusions about which characteristics allow Earth to remain habitable. Following this experience, students engage in classroom, hands-on activities that teach them core standards-based concepts and focus on why the identified characteristics are vital to human habitability. These concepts include: states of matter, flow of energy, chemical properties, planetary geology, plate tectonics, human health and systems theory. With an understanding of the "whats" and the "whys" students then engage in a mission module in which they simulate the methods scientists would use to go about finding a planet with these characteristics. This helps them to understand the "hows". By meeting education standards, teachers can easily integrate this product into their classroom curriculum. Students apply all that they've learned to design a planet that meets the requirements for human habitability in all areas. Through this process, they learn about the Earth within the context of the solar system and how all parts work as a system in meeting our needs.
UR: http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly