NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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

Image to right: Plants will play an extraordinarily important role in allowing humans to explore destinations such as the moon and Mars. Credit: NASA

The topic for September 2007 is "Biology." Space exploration provides humans with a unique laboratory that allows scientific studies never before possible in the history of civilization. The exploratory voyages of the next few decades have the potential to answer age-old questions about how life begins, whether life exists elsewhere, and how the inevitable discoveries along the way will help better lives here on Earth.

NASA introduces two new challenges about plant growth and physical fitness for the 2007-08 school year. They can enhance biology studies in K-12 classrooms.

Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future. Check the link below to find out how your students can design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers -- while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences.

NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber
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Students can learn about the physical fitness requirements of living and working in space. Participants will use standards-based classroom science activities related to the STS-118 shuttle mission and future extended exploration missions. Students will perform physical activities, including Base Station Walk-Back, Do a Spacewalk, Jump for the Moon, Crew Strength Training, and Mission: Control.

NASA Fit Explorer Challenge
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Biology Online Resources
Browse NASA Web pages for information that educators might find useful for instructional purposes. Educational content may include scientific information, interactive features, games, classroom challenges, competitions, virtual tours and images.
+ View Biology
+ View Biology: Animals
+ View Biology: Humans
+ View Biology: Plants
+ View Living and Working in Space


Biology Teaching Materials
Materials in this section include NASA Education products that support the "Biology" theme. NASA educator guides, lithographs, posters, classroom activities, models and other products may be downloaded and printed for use in the classroom. The products are sorted by grade level, type of material and categories.
+ View Biology
+ View Biology: Animals
+ View Biology: Humans
+ View Biology: Plants
+ View Living and Working in Space


Monthly Topics on NASA Educational Television
The NASA Television Education File segment broadcasts NASA-produced programs specifically designed for students and teachers. This month, NASA TV will explore the importance of biology. Tune in as researchers and scientists investigate biology, habitats, and water on Earth and in space!

Television shows related to this month's topic are scheduled during the week of Sept. 10-16, 2007. Titles and audience levels are listed on the September Educational TV Schedule. Descriptions of the shows are available by clicking on the show titles.
+ View schedule


NASA Educational Multimedia Materials
The Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE, is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Programs related to each month's topic listed on the NASA Educational TV schedule are available for purchase.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

CORE offers Education Modules that 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.

Search words for CORE materials: Biology, Living and Working in Space

CORE
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Extra Archives
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