Space Across the Curriculum Schedule Set

 The Space Foundation has set the schedule of the 2012 summer session of Space Across the Curriculum courses for preK-12 teachers.

The courses, some of which will be held at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute (SFDI) in Colorado Springs, Colo., and some which will be held at Colorado State University - Pueblo (CSU-P), are week-long intensive graduate-level classes that provide PreK-12 educators with space-related STEM education knowledge and content that is instantly transferable to the classroom.

2012 Schedule:

June 11-15 at SFDI
Biological and Physical Research: Long-Term Space Travel
Learn how to teach life science concepts by investigating the effects of microgravity on the human body and exploring the dangers of space exploration. Experience astronaut disorientation in a Barany chair, participate in an underwater pool simulation and compare a trip to the top of Pikes Peak to a long-duration space mission.

June 11-15 at SFDI
Earth Systems Science: Our Earth Revealed
Discover the Earth's complex geological history as we study weathering, erosion, natural disasters and global climate change through field trips in the Garden of the Gods and surrounding areas.

June 18-22 at SFDI
Meteorology and Space Weather
Examine the different areas of meteorology and how to incorporate them into the classroom. Hands-on lessons will be used to teach meteorology along with a trip to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

June 25-29 at CSU-P
Rocketry
Build and launch a variety of rockets including "Pop" rockets, water rockets and chemical rockets. Also, learn how to incorporate rocketry into the classroom to teach a multitude of standards across various subjects.

July 9-13 at SFDI
Lunar/Mars Exploration and Base Construction
Explore what it will take to establish and maintain a human presence on the moon or Mars in this project-based class. Topics will include everything from growing food on Mars to creating oxygen. Build a model of a Lunar or Mars base as the culminating project.

July 16-20 at SFDI
Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Kinesthetic Astronomy
Learn exciting ways to bring the universe into your classroom. Focus on Kinesthetic Astronomy, a hands-on approach to teaching astronomical concepts to students through kinesthetic movement.

Participants can earn continuing education credits, graduate credits or work toward master's degrees in multiple related disciplines at Colorado State University-Pueblo, Regis University or the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.Limited number of scholarships are available. For more information and to apply, click here. To see how to order a brochure on the courses, click here.

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