NASA Space Grant
- SPACE SCIENCE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
K-8 Teacher Workshops and Curriculum Development Project
Program Overview:The Space Science Across the Curriculum Workshop is an annual K-12 teacher in-service workshop sponsored by the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Each year, Dr. Jeanine Gregoire works closely with Merryn Flavell, Minneapolis Public School teacher, to develop an integrated unit featuring space science in the science, mathematics, language arts, and technology content areas. Each unit is piloted with Ms. Flavell's elementary classroom and then presented to teachers at the Space Science Across the Curriculum Workshop. Listed Below are the integrated space science curricula that have been developed, piloted, and presented.
2001- Traveling Through Time and SpaceThis unit
focuses on all content areas at the 5th grade level. The central organizing theme for this unit
is the history and nature of science through space exploration. Lesson
outcomes focus on meeting Minneapolis/Minnesota Graduation Standards for intermediate
students and include activities in reading, writing, art, drama, science, and
math. Student portfolios are assessed according to a prescribed rubrics
indicating levels of performance.
2000- Rocking in Space
This K-3 unit focuses on properties of earth materials as compared with materials from other planets. A central organizing theme for this unit is to weave "life stories and ancient tales" into the context of the lesson. Lessons follow a 4-MAT lesson design to accommodate the needs of a variety of learners. Biographies of NASA Space Science Researchers highlight career opportunities available in space science research. Each biography speaks of early interests and influences, and schooling and work experiences that led up to their current research. Students compare and contrast geologic conditions on different planets through hands-on experimentation and library and Internet research. A literacy component emphasizing important scientific terms is also included in the unit.
References:McCarthy, Bernice; Morris, Susan; Mendenhall, Carol; Everidge, Fran; Barnett, Lori (1999). 4-MAT Course Book II: A Comprehensive Guide to Study and Presentation of the 4-MAT Instructional Method. Barrington, II: Excel.
McCarthy, Bernice (1996) About Learning. Barrington, II: Excel
Marzano, Robert; Pickering, Debra J.; Dimensions of Learning: Teacher's Manual (2nd edition) (1997). Aurora, CO: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
1999- Mars, the Red PlanetThis K-3 unit focuses
on the conditions necessary to live in outer space while exploring the "life
cycle" of plants and conditions necessary to sustain plants through a two-year
trip to Mars. Lessons are organized round Marzano's "Five Dimensions
of Learning" and include opportunities for students to develop positive
attitudes and perceptions, acquire and integrate declarative and procedural
knowledge through hands-on activities, research and writing exercises and
oral presentations, extend and refine knowledge through plant experiments,
and use acquired knowledge in deciding what they would "pack" for a trip
to Mars.
1998- What is it Like to Live in Outer Space?
This unit focuses on mathematics, science, and literacy content areas at the K-3 grade level. Students learn about how astronauts eat in space, how to pack for a trip to Mars, the different parts of the space shuttle, space suits worn by astronauts, and how much energy it takes to propel weight into space. Students create pop-up portfolios that demonstrate different science education standards.