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Artificial Satellites Extra
11.30.06
What's an "Extra"? Every month NASA compiles a list of educational resources related to a NASA theme. Visit each month to find new educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites.

A satellite with bright blue panels passes over the Earth
The theme for December 2006 is "Artificial Satellites." Thousands of satellites are orbiting the Earth. NASA's Earth science program uses about 20 of these satellites to study how the Earth changes from day to day and to predict how it might change in the future.

Image to right: NASA's CloudSat satellite will provide the first global survey of cloud properties to help scientists better understand clouds' effects on both weather and climate. Credit: NASA

NASA TV Education Schedule
During the week of December 18-24, 2006, NASA TV showcases videos that highlight artificial satellites. Check the schedule for titles and descriptions of the broadcasts.
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NASA Educational Products

The front cover of the Investigating the Climate System Clouds module Investigating the Climate System - Clouds Module
Study cloud formation and characteristics in this module for grades 5-8.
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The front cover of the Investigating the Climate System Energy module Investigating the Climate System - Energy Module
Explore Earth temperatures and what affects them in this module for grades 9-12.
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The front cover of the Investigating the Climate System Precipitation module Investigating the Climate System - Precipitation Module
This 5-8 module explores the study of rainfall.
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The front cover of the Investigating the Climate System Weather module Investigating the Climate System - Weather Module
This is an activity designed to be used at the end of a unit on weather for grades 5-8.
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The front cover of the Investigating the Climate System Winds module Investigating the Climate System - Winds Module
Study the ocean winds in this module for grades 5-8.
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Front cover of the Space Based Astronomy Educator Guide Space Based Astronomy Educator Guide
Teach about the electromagnetic spectrum with activities in this guide.
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NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

Picture of CD, tape, slides and guides
The Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE, is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes are bundled by topic and may include DVDs, CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Search words for CORE materials: artificial satellites

CORE
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Follow the Theme -- Activities, Adventures and Web Sites of Interest

World Book @ NASA Artificial Satellites From World Book @ NASA
An artificial satellite is a man-made object that continuously orbits Earth or some other body in space.
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SeaWiFS false-color image of chlorophyll concentration data for the eastern coast of the United States Goddard Distributed Active Archive Center
Educators can access Earth science images, mission data and education resources from this Web page.
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A satellite image of the New Island and Pumice Raft in the Tongas Earth Observing System
These satellites perform long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere and oceans. Look for education sections on the mission pages.
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An image showing drawings of different satellites The New Millennium Program
This program is testing new technologies. Check out the education section for classroom activities and resources.
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The words Quick and Easy Sightings by City with images of the Earth, a satellite and the space shuttle in the background NASA SkyWatch
This Web-based Java application provides sky watchers around the world with a visual picture of when and where the International Space Station, the space shuttle and other spacecraft can be seen with the unaided eye as they pass overhead.
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Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer Education Resources
These classroom activities about satellites and atmospheric science are for grades 5-12.
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NASA Mission Pages
From satellites monitoring Earth's resources, to orbiting observatories scanning deep space, every NASA mission embodies the spirit of discovery.
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Earth Science Missions
Check here for satellites, missions and schedules.
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Engineering Design Challenges
Like NASA engineers, middle and high school students can design, build and test models. Educator guides and videos can be downloaded from the Web site.
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Spacecraft Overpass Predictions
From your hometown, track the Earth Observing satellite fleet -- Terra, Landsat-7, TRMM, TOPEX/Poseidon, QuikSCAT, SeaWinds, Aqua and SeaWiFS -- and the International Space Station.
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Tethered Satellites Videocassette
The video is part of NASA's Liftoff to Learning Series and can be ordered from CORE. Visit this page for a description of the video, the price and ordering information.
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Videos showcased in the December 2006 Education File Schedule to support "Artificial Satellites" are listed below.
Destination Tomorrow™ Ten (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Eleven (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Twelve (9-Adult)
Liftoff to Learning: Go for EVA (K-8)
Live From the Storm - Program 1: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of Weather (5-10)
Live From the Storm - Program 2: Research to the Rescue! (5-10)
NASA CONNECT™: Data Analysis and Measurement: Having a Solar Blast! (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Virtual Earth (6-8)
Our Home: Earth From Space (9-12)
Starfinder Program 8: Orbital Motion (6-10)
Starfinder Program 12: Tapping the Sun's Power (6-10)
What's In the News: Space Episode 11: Weather Satellites (4-12)
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