Celebrate World Space Week and the

Centennial of Flight

Take Flight Into Scientific Investigation October 4, 2003

Application

Students Ages 8-17 Come Fly Free! on October 4, 2003 at the Sumner County Regional Airport: Become a Young Eagle.

Grant Writing Workshop

Sponsored by the Tennessee Arts & Sciences Consortium

Hosted by Tennessee State University

Summer 2003 June Workshops at TSU

Our Solar Neighborhood

(completed)

New Schedule for TSU June Workshops
A Series of workshops as part of "Our Solar Neighborhood"
3 one-day workshops-you can sign up for one or all three
$50 stipend each day
" June 9 Dyer Observatory-The Sun/Earth Connection
1:00 PM-9:00 PM Daytime and night time Astronomy in
"Our Solar Neighborhood"
Instructors: Dr. Rick Chappell, Dr. Todd Gary, Rocky Alvey,
and Judy Butler

" June 12 TSU--Let the Earth Move Under Your Feet:
Fieldtrip looking for rocks and fossils with classroom activities
Instructors: Nancy Sateen and Judy Butler

" June 13 TSU--A Different Way of Viewing Our Solar Neighborhood
An introduction to ArcView and other imaging software
Instructor: Dr. Bob Kolvoord

To register see notes at the end of the workshop descriptions.

A Different Way of Viewing Our Solar Neighborhood
Friday June 13 8:00-3:30
One-Day Workshop For Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Stipend: $50 for the Day
Part of "Our Solar Neighborhood" series of workshops on Earth and Space Science
Time: 8:00-3:30
Location: Tennessee State University Computer Lab
Instructor: Dr. Bob Kolvoord

Dr. Bob Kolvoord, Associate Professor at James Madison University, will introduce participants to ArcView and the NIH Imaging software. The objective will be to use technology to explore Earth and Space science concepts in new and exciting ways. The participants will explore the nature and use of the electromagnetic spectrum and investigate how NASA images are used to explore Earth science concepts.

One of the activities will be: applying scale and measurement to analyze volcanic plumes. Teachers will learn to use imaging techniques to compare the eruption plumes from Mt. St. Helen and the Eruption Plumes of Io. Io, one of Jupiter's moons, is famous for its active volcanoes. This lesson reinforces the idea that the laws of motion and gravitation are, indeed, universal. Participants will work with digital images radioed to Earth by the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft to enhance and measure Io's fountain-like plumes. Using their measurements, they can determine the ejection velocity of the plume material. Participants can also look for changes in the plumes' activity over time.

Introduction to "Our Solar Neighborhood"
Monday June 9, 2003
Location Dyer Observatory of Vanderbilt University
1:00PM-9:00PM
One-Day Workshop For Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Stipend: $50 for the Day
Part of "Our Solar Neighborhood" series of workshops on Earth and Space Science
The workshop will begin at 1:00 in the afternoon and go until 9:00PM in the evening so we can observe the Sun during the day and the stars and planets in the evening.

The activities on astronomy, Earth, and space research at Dyer Observatory will provide teachers with content and instructional strategies to introduce students to the exciting features of our "Solar Neighborhood". Discuss the ways that we learn about the features of planets and solar bodies in our solar system. NASA's curriculum "Living With a Star" will provide an overview of the following concepts: How the Earth's radiation environment affects microelectronic circuitry; composition of the Earth's radiation belts; the magnetosphere interactions with the ionosphere, how the particles and fields in the upper atmosphere change during an aurora and the search for origins of the universe thought the study of solar wind and fusion chemistry. Presenters will include: Dr. Rick Chappell, Rocky Alvey, Todd Gary, and Judy Butler.

Let the Earth Move Under Your Feet!
Thursday June 12, 2003
One Day Workshop For Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Stipend: $50 for the Day
Part of "Our Solar Neighborhood" series of workshops on Earth and Space Science
Place: Tennessee State University
Time: 8:00-3:30

Visit the site of a 400,000 year-old volcano near downtown Nashville. Learn about:
" Evidence of volcanoes and earthquakes in Tennessee
" What earthquakes teach us about life on our planet and in our solar system
" Why different fossils are found in different areas of Tennessee and what that tells us about the environment in the ancient past
" Evidence of how tectonics plate collisions changed the environment
Instructor: Nancy Batten, see her website www.nashvillefossils.com
Activities:
Morning Fieldtrip to Lebanon Pike site in Nashville to collect Bentonite, fossils, and observe geologic formations. Comparisons of Stones River Group and the Nashville Group geologic formations
Afternoon Classroom activities setting up scientific investigations looking a comparison of rock formations and fossils in different layers of sediment to study the history of life on earth. Discussion and lesson planning for making comparisons of volcanic activity on Earth and looking for life in the universe.

To register for any of these workshops send the following information to
Judy Butler judy@DragonflyEnterprises.org
School Name:
School Address and Phone:
County school is in:
Home address:
Home phone;
Social Security number so we can pay your stipend (you may want to call me with that information)

1. Please select the category that best describes your school:
___Low poverty (poverty level below 35%)
___Medium poverty (poverty level between 35-50%)
___High poverty (poverty level between 50-75%)
___Very high poverty (poverty level above 75%)

Check here if you are a Title I school

2. Please select the category that best describes your school:
___Under 35% underrepresented groups
___Between 35-50% underrepresented groups
___Between 50-75% underrepresented groups
___Above 75% underrepresented groups

Note: Information in questions 2 and 3 are needed for the funding agencies.

Dyer Observatory and Tennessee State University are teaming up to offer students opportunities for being involved in authentic research.

The theme will be "the Earth-Sun Connection" looking at the system created by the Earth and sun connection and daytime astronomy. Introducing secondary students to the independent research possibilities available using the solar and meteorite data currently being collected at Dyer. Tuesday October 9, 2002 from 9:00-2:00 tentative schedule: presentations by local space scientists from TSU and Vanderbilt, observations of the sun through the telescope, hands on activities, and lunch on the lawn.

The content will focus on the system created by the Earth and sun connection and daytime astronomy. Activities will introduce secondary students to Sun observation and research possibilities using solar images collected at Dyer. The staff will also discuss the Dyer meteorite collection and how these objects fit with solar system formation theory. Rocky Alvey will act as the tour guide and Dr. Rick Chappell as the instructor to introduce students to Dyer Observatory. Dr. Geoffrey Burks and Dr. Greg Henry from Tennessee State University will present research opportunities for the students.

Wednesday October 9, 2002 from 9:00-2:00 tentative schedule
Presentations by local space scientists from TSU and Vanderbilt, observations of the sun through the telescope, hands on activities, and lunch on the lawn.

Students will have the opportunity to select independent research projects to work on using data collected at Dyer Observatory and Tennessee State Universities. Each student who commits to analyze data would have opportunities to work with scientists in the area.

See Dyer Observatory's web site. To Register e-mail Judy Butler (Judy@DragonflyEnterprises.org)

A Teacher Evening At Dyer Observatory of Vanderbilt University

Dyer Observatory and Tennessee State University are teaming up to offer a free astrobiology teacher workshop.

A teacher evening-October 8 will be a workshop for teachers with Rocky Alvey as the instructor. Discussing concepts related to the Tennessee State Science standards for space education. We will explore the telescopes at Dyer and view stars if it is a cloudless evening. See the Dyer Observatory Web Site. To register contact Judy Butler (Judy@DragonflyEnterprises.org).

Astrobiology Teacher Workshop:

From Tang to Television

A teacher workshop sponsored by Tennessee State University and the Cumberland Science Museum was held September 7, 2002. The workshop entitled "From Tang to Television" introduced teachers to the theme of World Space Week which is "Space and Daily Life". The activities focused on the importance of inventions that resulted from space travel. Inquiry and problem solving strategies were shared. (Click for resources for the workshop) See the Cumberland Science Museum's web site.

Map The Surface of Mars

NASA and Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program is offering students nationwide the opportunity to be involved in authentic Mars research by participating in the Mars Student Imaging Project (MSIP). Teams of students in the 5th through 12th grade will have the opportunity to work with scientists, mission planners and educators on the THEMIS team at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility, to image a site on Mars using the THEMIS visible wavelength camera onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft which is currently orbiting Mars every 2 hours.

Keith Watt, Assistant Director of Education, Mars Education Program presented at the TSU and Cumberland Science Museum's Workshop on September 7, 2002.

Understanding Extreme Organisms that Live in Yellowstone National Park

NASA and the Lunar Planetary Institute sponsored a workshop for teachers at Montana State University in July to introduce them to the area of astrobiology.

Aquarius Project

Tennessee State University's Institute for Understanding Biological Systems will sponsor workshops and programs that promote the study of biological systems in aquatic environments including rivers, wetlands, and ponds. As part of that mission the Institute staff will work closely with watershed groups in the area. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is sponsoring a series of watershed meetings. The Harpeth River watershed public meeting is August 27 at 7:00 PM. The public is invited. Please come and learn about the issues and the science involved in keeping our water quality healthy for the public.

Inventions and Inventors

The theme for the Cumberland Science Museum for September and October is "Inventions and Creativity." A teacher workshop, "From Tang to Television" sponsored by Tennessee State University and the Cumberland Science Museum highlighted the creativity and inventions from the space program. Other Resources about inventions and inventors can be found in this part of the web site.

Action Research

This section contains resources with an overview of Action Research for graduate students in the education research class at TSU.