Astronomy is This Week's Space Across the Curriculum Subject

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jul. 11, 2011) -- The Space Foundation's Space Across the Curriculum professional development courses for teachers continue this week in Colorado Springs, Colo., with "Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Exploring Our Universe and the Search for Life." The course examines astronomy as it relates to astrobiology and the development of life on Earth. Participants are investigating extremophile organisms by conducting fieldwork at the Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs, Colo. The class will also explore the possibility of life on other planets and will spend an evening stargazing and learning to use a planisphere to view worlds that may harbor life.

The 21 teachers attending this week's class represent schools in five states. Space Across the Curriculum courses focus on national standards and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) principles. The full-day, week-long classes are held at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs and offer continuing education credits and/or coursework applicable to masters degrees in curriculum and instruction with a space studies emphasis. The courses provide lessons that are experiential, hands-on, adaptable for various grade levels and immediately transferable to the classroom.

See more photos from the class here. Learn more about Space Foundation education programs at www.spacefoundation.org/education.

Pictured: Teachers work on a group project in the Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum course, "Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Exploring Our Universe and the Search for Life."