Space Across the Curriculum Rocketry Class Concludes with Avion Launch

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jun. 18, 2010) — The last day of the Space Foundation’s Space Across the Curriculum rocketry class began with an outdoor launch of chemical rockets. It was a breezy morning in Colorado Springs, so Friday’s launch included an additional lesson on the effects of wind. With a view overlooking Garden of the Gods, the 13 teachers in the professional development program gathered on the track of Manitou Springs High School to launch the Apogee Avion model rockets they had assembled the day before.

The class is one of several offered this summer at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs. The classes provide educators with space-related STEM education knowledge and content that is instantly transferable to the classroom. Participants can earn continuing education credits, graduate credits, or work toward a master’s degree in multiple related disciplines.

Next week, a new group of teachers will come to the Space Foundation Discovery Institute for the teacher development program, “Biological and Physical Research: Long-Term Space Travel.”  In addition to classroom lessons about the advanced life-support systems developed on the International Space Station to keep astronauts safe, the class will also take a field trip to the top of Pike’s Peak to study the effects of altitude and, by week’s end, will design and model their own space suits.

And for the first time next week, the Space Foundation will also offer a teacher professional development class at Colorado State University – Pueblo, “PreK-2 Early Childhood Space Exploration.”

Focusing on space and science education for young learners, the PreK-2 course provides early childhood educators the necessary tools to inspire very young children through inquiry-based learning. Space Foundation certified aerospace education specialists present teachers with age-appropriate, hands-on activities they can immediately use with their students.

“We at Colorado State University – Pueblo are excited to begin this collaboration,” said Dr. Victoria Marquesen, associate dean of the teacher education program. “The June workshop is a wonderful opportunity for teachers in our area.”

Pictured: The Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum rocketry class launches chemical rockets.