STEM Activities for Early Childhood Educators

In June, teachers in the Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum class “PreK-2 Early Childhood Space Exploration,” learned age-appropriate, hands-on STEM activities for very young children. The course focuses on national standards and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) principles that can be immediately transferred to the classroom. Activities are designed to provide Early Childhood educators the necessary tools to inspire eager young minds.

Limited enrollment is still available for other Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum courses being offered this summer:

July 11-15 “Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Exploring our Universe and the Search for Life,” which examines the many fascinating aspects of astronomy as it relates to astrobiology and the development of life on Earth, as well as the possible existence of life elsewhere in the universe. Participants investigate extremophile organisms by conducting fieldwork at the Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs, Colo., as well as looking at current NASA missions to explore the possibility of life on other worlds and spending an evening stargazing and learning to use a planisphere to view worlds that may harbor life.

July 18-22 “Space Technologies in the Classroom: Nanotechnology and Space Spin-Offs,” which examines the numerous ways space technologies in our society benefit of humankind. The class covers the practical applications of orbital mechanics and, through field trips and hands-on demonstrations, provides an introduction to space transportation and design, robotics, communications, space power and space structures. Participants explore a variety of space technologies, including constructing their own programmable robots.

Classes are held at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute, 105 Coleridge Ave., in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Pictured: Teachers practice picking up marshmallows with simple robotic “fingers” they constructed in the Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum course “PreK-2 Early Childhood Space Exploration.”

 

This article is part of Space Watch: July 2011 (Volume: 10, Issue: 7).