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DOCUMENT RESUME SE 058 358 ED 394 846 AUTHOR Richter, Jessica; Fraknoi, Andrew Project ASTRO: How-To Manual for Teachers and TITLE Astronomers. Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, INSTITUTION CA. SPONS AGENCY National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C.; National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA. Directorate for Education and Human Resources. ISBN-1-886733-99-6 REPORT NO PUB DATE 96 ESI-9253156 CONTRACT NOTE 49p. Project ASTRO, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AVAILABLE FROM 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112. PUB TYPE Non-Classroom Use (055) Guides EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Astronomy; *Cooperation; Elementary Secondary Education; *Partnerships in Education; Science Programs ABSTRACT Project ASTRO is an innovative program to support science education by linking teachers and students in grades 4-9 with amateur and professional astronomers with the overall goal being to increase students' interest in astronomy and science in general. This manual was designed for teachers, amateur and professional astronomers, youth group leaders, and others who teach astronomy to students. It contains tips and suggestions about: what makes a successful partnership, finding a partner teacher or astronomer, partnership strategies and possibilities, expectations and planning, integrating the astronomer into the classroom, getting started and the first visit, roles and responsibilities for teachers and astronomers, involving the school and the community, getting support and publicity, star parties and astronomy clubs, and other good ideas. (JRH) *********************************************************************** * * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** I I il A MI 1 JIL. "T"." T 1111. ASTRONOMERS PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL N GRA TED BY B n. A -- TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC u 'EP IA tOW 4....... U $ DEPARTMENT OF SoucAnow nth. or Educanonor Roforecn ono Inimormmint DUCA TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION mato CENTER ,,,,, documtmt hos 13 motor...-. sit ecelx1 lion, dm prton or 0,roteln OnsOrtating it Milt toNto t to lonr,. C Mnot t 'OptOduCt.C QuIt.ty Pants of vow at or:unroof Rated In's 00Cu mom do flat CIllray r5040551 offtcrid OERI positron or ooircy PROJECT ASTRO P roject ASTRO Astronomical Society of the Pacific Ashton Avenue .i(A) San Francisco. CA (4112 415-337-11On FAX 415-337-S20S Written by ootdittakir lessica Richter. With additional text by l'roject l)irectot Andrew Fraknc i. Design and Production loan Venticque Photography Amy Snyder Catherhtel.ombard ASTRO pilot from whose We thank the teachers and astronomers ot the Project I hanks also to Dennis esperiences many ot the ideas in this manual art' drawn. St hati and ( dry Sneider tor ideas and inspiranont. 1-titio733-qt)-() was Astronomers Project ASTRO, How-To Manual for Teachers and Intormal Scient prepared with the support ot the National Science Foundation, the National Iducati(o grant No. I 5I-92531So, and with additional support ot Aeronautics and Spate Administrathm. it the l'acitik \sit; itiotnital )iletv lioth hs thy (4)\ tight BEST COPY AVAILABLE Project ASTRO How-To Manual for Teachers and Astronomers Project ASTRO and You in a situ it ii r community organization, working with -Your- astronomer is a way to bring new experiences and expertise to your Wkome to Project As FRO: Astronomers students. If You are an astronomer, volunteer- and leachers as Partners in the classroom: ing to visit a school can be as valuable to you Manual is tor teachers, amateur I his f as to the studentsputting you in touch with and professional astronomers, youth gnnip youngsters and doing something meaningful leaders, and others who teach astronomy to tor your community. You'll find that most students. It contains tips and suggestions students have a about starting and carrying out a Project natural fascination Amo teacher/astronomer partnership. As a with space that can Project ASTRO partner, a protessional or ama- be sparked through teur astronomer agrees to make ongoing a 41, hands-on activities school isits, and to work with a partner and your own teacher and a group ot students over time to --441109 enthusiasm. And assist them in learning more about astromi you'll see that vou my in and out ot the classroom. can readily inte- It you're reading this manual, you arc grate other sciences probably either a teacher who wants an and subjects, from astronomer to visit your classroom, or an biology, to art, to astnniotner ts ho wants to spend some tune history into your sharing Your love tit the stars with teachers astronomy lessons. and young people. You may be seeking a partner astronomer or teacher, or you may How to Use alread have a partner and be planning viflir Ph Ott IA I .itiletine I ortilLird This Manual tirst classroom visit together. Fins manual is intended to give you some 'Ideas about tuns. to get started, and luiw to develop a sm(ess- The purpose in this manual is rti give you tul partnership over the coining months and guidanie to help your partnership be as sue- years. iesstul as possible. We know that %mil manu- \ ark' ak nit to embark on a [(warding als have less meaning it You've never visited a and sometimes ihallenging partnership to t. lassrot on ( 4' worked wit h a visiting sLientist improve si rime education. It vou'ic a teat her I loore. I \i'il MI, we encourage vim to read 4 this manual at least on«. betore you begin your partnership, and then return to it atter you've started. 'We suggest that you also read the seitions intended tor your partner whether teacher or astroimmerto help you understand vcitir partner's luitential concerns. See the table ot ;Ontents tor specitic sections that meet your needs. We wekt nine your «minions and suggestions..As vou read and use this manual. we hope your will make your own notes and share them with us. Please send your teed- back to Project ASTRO, Astronomkal Society ot the Pacitic. 490 Ashton Avenue, San I rancisto, ( A (4112. III Jesska Richter k Andrew I raknoi In this manual we'll give tips on: What makes a successful partnership Finding a partner teacher or astronomer Partnership strategies and possibilities Expectations and planning Integrating the astronomer into the classroom Getting started and the first visit Roles and responsibilities for teachers and astronomers Involving the school and community Getting support and publicity Star parties, astronomy clubs, and other good ideas II Contents 7. Guidelines for Teachers 23 1:( ties and Responsibilities ips tor teachers Protessional vs. amateur astronomers 8. Guidelines for Astronomers 27 Roles and Responsibilitks Reaching teachers tips tor Astronomers leaching I ips tor \stronomers .... I. Introduction: What is Project A5FRO?. I low to he (Items e in the ilassroom . . Project \STR( I Materials \bout the Astronomical St x ietv ot the Pat nit 9. Involving Families, Community and the School. . 32 (letting the School Involved 2. Kids and Science: The Project ASTRO Philosophy. l.inking with Outside Resources Being a Project . \S FR) Partner: Suggested Appri tat hes Involving Families and the Communttv in Projet. t AS I Ro 3. key Ideas About Partnerships 6 10. Ideas for Support and Publicity 36 fen Steps to a Successful Partnership (letting Administrator or Employer Support More About (:onimunication (letting Publicity More About I itne ( :ornmit ment 38 11. Special Events and Good Ideas 4. Finding a Partner 10 Star Parties itt .Astrorunms: I inding a Partner leacher Forming a School Astronomy Club flow to approach seht nil personnel t 'sing telecommunications and Astronomy Software tor leachers: Finding a Partner Astronomer About amateur astronomers 47 How to Order The Universe at Your Fingertips 5. Partnership Strategies 13 Integrating the Astronomer into the St h nil Program Iwo main approaches Possibilities Partnering in the ( lassrtutm hree si enanos: what tv/ mid you do! 6. Starting your Partnership 17 Planning ( tuidelinus Planning ( hecklist I he first Visit Ideas and it ebreakers meaningful AM Itle shile tho are there), while at the same time, pros Kling profession- n al do elopment opportunities tor teachers Projett \SIR() helps teat hers and astronomers form partnerships, otters them training and support, and pros ides a range of materials tor classroom use I he focus ot Projett \SIR() is on grades 4-9, hetause it is in these. grades that students' long-term atti- P tudes about science are first formed ject 1STRO is an innoyatne program to ro \her bong trained, astrimomers agree to support science education In linking teachers make at least tour land otten mans morel and students in grades 4-9 with amateur and school visits, assisting with hands-on activi- professional astronomers. The overall goal of ties, giving talks on astronomical discoveries, Project ASTRO is to increase students' interest helpins; with science projects, organizing in astronomy and science in general. Funded "star parties" for students and families, lend- by the National Science Foundation and by ing a hand with curriculum development, two branches of NASA, Project ASTRO was and serving as role models. Whenever possi- developed by the Astronomical Society of the ble. teachers and astronomers together estab- Pacific, a century-old, nonprofit scientific and lish links with local astronomy institutions educational membership society tor amateur and science centers. and professional astronomers, teachers, and the public. Project ASTRO began in 1993 as a pilot program involving 4S sclusols throughout Because of its attractiveness tor students, California. Ibis Holt astronomy is an ideal entree to teach about Nianwl draws on the experiences of teachers and astromnners who the process of science. Many teachers recog- participated in the pilot phase. 'Iwo replica- nize their students' interest in astronomy and ) are underway in want to teach more ot it. but lack adequate tions ot Project Acd Stockton and Santa Barbara. o aiitornia, initi- background and training in the subject. At ated bv entliusiastie pilot project teachers the same time, protessional and amateur astronomers, concerned about the crisis in and astront inters. Working wit It scienee cen- science education in the l'.5., have wanted u) ters. research institutn ins, and universities, do more to help teachers. hut have ()hen been Project .\STRO is mu is eSpaillling to several other nwtropolitan areas thniughout the I. '.S. unsure how to make a meaningful contribo- tii m. On their own, many astrimomers make Please lontiict us to mid ;nit it there i1/4 a Pn nect AS I RO espansn in site near you. a one-tinie visit to a knal classmom, Ina sin!) I lie national l'n get t quick interactii ins have of sly a limited impae i IZO Mice pr, ides ill,: ioll,nving sewn. vs to support (in students. teat her. ast rononier partnerships and astron- Prole( t ASTI4 ) was developed to address omy eduk anon: these needs in astninome and scieme educa. non by preparing astronom(rs to make mu/li- 'Iraining teachers and astronomers iii Me visits to the same elassnuun iand to do doing age-appropriate. hands-i in ast !oil( inn activities I both at expansion saes and astro- order The Universe at thur FitoTtips is provid- nomical meetings). ed at the end of this manual.) Future materials will include a Alining Providing 1,,ruidance, advice, and Manual for Project AMO expansion site training to organizations and individuals coordinators, and a Project ASTR0 informa- interested in starting their invn Project .WIR0 tional video. program or partnership. About the Astronomical Creating and dis.seminating materials ti I supptirt teacherlastrommwr partnerships, Society of the Pacific includnig selections of the best activities tor the classroom, and a wide range ot resources he Astronomical about astronomy and astrownny teaching. Society of the Pacific Conducting ongoing evaluation ot (ASP) is an international nonprofit scientific and Project ASTRO partnerships and materials to THE UNIVERSE AT educational organization, continue to learn what works best. YOURYINGERTIPS founded in 1889, whose Producing a newsletter and providing mission is to advance the AN ASTRONOMY ACTIVITY AND RESOURCE NOTEBOOK electronic networking tor Project ASTRO science ot astronomy and expansion sites. help disseminate the r?sults of astronomical research to students, Project ASTRO Materials teachers, and the public. Begun on the Pacific Another Project ASTRO publication is Coast of "w U.S. thence available to help !..ou with .our partnership. its name), the Society The Unii.erse at }bur FhNertips: An Astronomy today has members in Achrity and Resource Notebook contains more every state and more than on hands-on astronomy activities tor than on other countries, grades 4-9. 'Mese activities were selected trom and is one of the largest PROJECT ASTRO a variety ot exemplary sources by a team ot astronomical organiza- ASTOONOMICAL SOCIETY Of THE PACITIC teachers and astronomers, and pilot tested tions in the world. with Project ASTRO participants. Designed tor Among its many activi- teachers, astronomers, and others who want ties, the ASP has ottered to improve or increase the astronomy they summer workshops on teaching astronomy teach, the loose-leat notehnik also contains a in grades 3-12 since 1980. Several thousand host ot resource lists on a wide range ot astm- teachers have taken these workslmps and nomical topics, articles aluitit teat hing and returned to their schools with new resouncs, learning, and astronomy background materi- activities, and enthusiasm. Many ot the mate- al. It is the essential wmpanion u i this How- rials and tm hniques in Project ASTRO grew l I Vatillta tor anyone interested in teaching out ot these summer workshops. more astronomy. (information about how io 6 protess ot science and logical reasoning his means we want students to behase like -short scientists" bs making obsers a- non., gathering and classits mg data. drawing I (tint lusions, and asking new questums \Xt. %sant students to consider multiple explana- tions tor a phenomenon, and use their data to reach the best conclusion XXe want students to wnsider that sometimes there isn't Children are born with a cunosits about one Correct answer. or that people may dis- the natural world I Ike suentists thes agree on the answer, or that we don't alts as s explore, obserse experiment and classits ut knots ts hat the answer is. but that we can you've ever taken sand out ot a curious tod- devise ways to find out. dler's mouth, you know what 'toward these ends, the focus ot Project we mean i. Sadly, tor many ASTRO is on helping kids learn by doing. By children as they go through using hands-on, concrete activities where students make discoveries tor themselves, stu- school, science begins to lose its fasonationotten becaust dents think more like scientists and are more it is taught as a series of dis- likely to really learn about astronomy. It You are serious about involving students in parate tacts. Students don't always learn about the con- astronomy in an active way, we encourage nection between these tacts You to get Project ASTRO's, The Universe at and the natural world. They lour Finsertips: Astrononn ActiOty and may no longer experience the Rootirt e Notebook, or other curriculum guides that contain specific astrominie activities tor link between their own curk is- itv and the science they learn grades 4-Q. in school. 1 hey only know it Being a Project ASTRO seems boring Itir not relevant to their lives, oi "I tell my students, do too abstratt to understand a and when some- Partner: Suggested scientists know every- thing is boring, not relevant, or ton abstrat t Approaches thing? No they don't, 0 it's tough tor kids ni put then minds tu wink. but they are always 1 lw (iverall purpose I it Prowl, t 1 \ 1.14 ), is ti . ne ot Protect :1 willing to find out and vs main agendas is St 14 help students see that sc lent e tan be interest- to help teachers improve their astrontnny correct their mistakes, ing and tun while still getting them to think and science teat hing lit working t lowly with and try and try again. ak nit the prot Ins and results tit discovers. someone with special km its ledge about That's what I want you is II, 4 lo make all 1 he goal , 4 Pr, qt.,. t \ 1/4,1 m. i to do." astrom imv, leachers are tailed upon tt) teat li kids into protessit mai. tir es cil ainateur. (Inttit hAttiler -I many sublet ts. Mans. teachers. particularly astn ill( inters (although st Init. students Inas elementary teachers, may rim it lie t inntortable eventually tollow these paths'. Rather, we teat lung science and may N. eager to want til llst the wonder and List illation I li improve their understanding tit st lent e ti in- tl I engaey all ,alldellts Itl tilt' &all illorlls tent and int itesses. i \ en tt at hers who are Promote hands-on student discovery experiences Kids learn by doing! Hands-on activities in which students discover things for themselves are the highest quality learning experiences. Students forget most of the things their teachers tell them. But when adults lead kids in experiences where they wrestle with an interesting per- sonal observation and then figure it out "by themselves"those things are remembered for- ever. Seek to be more of a guide to discovery than a conveyor of information and a provider of answers. From Preparing and Presenting Effective K-I2 Science and Math Education Activities, Sandia National Laboratories. Students may ask their teacher familiar with science may not know enough over astronomy to teach it effectively. For teach- and over, "When is our astronomer coming? ers, having a visiting astronomer in their When is our astronomer corning?" classroom can be a valuable resource to A usually reserved eighth grade class improve and increase the astronomy they may create an elaborate astronomy display, teach. "Our amateur astrono- complete with the astronomer's picture, a parnwrships We use the term to describe my club has worked box for students' astronomy questions, and Project ASTRO because the astronomers and with schools for a model planets. teachers work together as equal partners to while, but we usually develop their own program. lögether, they brought in slides or a A reluctant principal may attend an decide what specific projects and activities to telescope for day view- evening "star party," and become so do, based on each partner's interests and the ing, or invited children enthralled by the sight of Saturn's rings students' needs. In this way, teachers learn to a star party. Project through a telescope that eager students have more about astronomy, and astronomers ASTRO has given us a to push him out of the way to see for them- become more familiar with students and whole new perspective selves. schools. Tc.achers who are inspired by learn- and a set of activities ing and doing more astronomy can go on to that have improved our A teacher may finally persuade her share their new knowledge with colleagues efforts tremendously" school to provide a phone line connection to and use new skills with other classes. As -Project ASTRO Amateur her classroom so that she and her students astronomers learn more about what teachers, Astronwner can communicate with their astronomer kids, and schools need, they become more through the Internet. effective agents for improving science education in general and creating meaningful and A busy parent may stop to look at the lasting links between schools and the outside sky with his child, helping to chart the conmmnity. moon's phases over the course of a week. By making the commitnwnt to work together in this way, some of the tollowing university astronomer mav t hange A things may start to happen: 4