NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: Courageous people and dreams of exploration - that's NASA's history and its vision. Credit: NASA

In 2005, NASA will continue to bring the Vision for Space Exploration to reality. This month, as we look to the future we will be looking at connections to the past. Over the years, many technologies and tools have been developed and missions accomplished to enable NASA to take those next steps in its journey to further explore the Earth, the moon, Mars and beyond. Join NASA TV during the week of March 21-27, 2005, as NASA showcases some of its award-winning videos that highlight "Connections: A Glimpse of the Past, a Vision for the Future."

NASA TV Education Schedule
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This 'Extra' feature highlights educational products, multimedia and assorted other materials and Web sites related to "Connections: A Glimpse of the Past, a Vision for the Future."


NASA Educational Products

Image above: NASA Educational Products are available online. Credit: NASA

3.2.1... Liftoff Educator Guide (Grades Pre-K-2)
The activities in this guide are about the International Space Station and the role rockets play in its construction.
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Exploring the Extreme Educator Guide (Grades K-8)
This guide presents the basic science of aeronautics by emphasizing hands-on involvement, prediction, data collections and interpretation, teamwork, and problem solving.
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Rockets Educator Guide (K-12)
This guide is a good place to begin the study of rockets. Learn about the history, scientific principles and mathematics of Rockets through exciting problem-solving and cooperative learning activities.
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Aeronautics Educator Guide (Grades 2-4)
Try these activities with students in grades 2-4. The three chapters are (1)Air, (2)Flight, and (3)We Can Fly, You and I. They are designed to be fun and simple and have been tested in countless homes, classrooms and teacher workshops.
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X-1 Paper Glider Kit (Grades 5-12)
This NASA educational activity, featuring the X-1, investigates the basics of flight with a paper model of the first supersonic aircraft.
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Space Shuttle Glider (Grades 5-12)
This hands-on activity for building a model of the Space Shuttle requires simple tools such as scissors and glue.
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Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers' Adventure Educator Guide (Grades 6-9)
This NASA guide has extensive background information about Wilbur and Orville Wright. The guide contains student activity pages and templates for building the 1900, 1901, and 1902 Gliders and the 1903 Flyer.
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NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

Image above: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Visit the Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) which serves as the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. CORE offers 'Education Modules' which are bundled by topic and may include CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

CORE has the Social Studies Module and the History of Flight Module related to this theme.

For materials related to "Connections: A Glimpse of the Past, a Vision for the Future", click on 'Search Catalog' and enter the keywords "history" or "exploration."
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Online Educational Activities

Build a Model (All Grades) Learn about aircraft and spacecraft by constructing a model. Choose a design from this page, download the template or instructions and follow the directions. Have fun! + View site

How Does a Wind Tunnel Work? (Grades K-5) NASA's Kids Science News Network produced these short videos just for younger students to learn about science, math and technology. Start with these technology newsbreaks! + View site

Space Food (Grades 2-8) How has the food that astronauts eat in space changed over the years? No more hard-to-squeeze tubes or tasteless entrees. A lot of it is the same that we eat every day here on Earth. + View site

Extreme Exploration Extreme Education (Grades K-12) Bring the real science behind the headlines into your classroom. This search is a fast track to teacher-approved activities related to current NASA missions making news from across the solar system. + View site

Tutorials

Timeline of Rocket History
This collection of more than 50 images traces rocketry from ancient times to the present day. It includes photographs, paintings, and drawings and is intended to serve as a tool for education and a resource for persons who enjoy learning about the history of rocketry.
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Timeline of Lunar and Planetary Exploration
This link provides a chronological listing of lunar and planetary missions, their respective backgrounds, goals and accomplishments.
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Cool Sites & Hot Activities

Sun-Earth Day Join the Sun-Earth Day team for a fascinating journey through time and explore centuries of sun watching by a variety of cultures. Choose from lots of events and resources. + View site

Moon, Mars and Beyond Flip through this online storybook to learn about the Vision for Space Exploration. + View site

Missions to Mars Wow! What a list! Read about all the missions to Mars since the 1960s. + View site

Life on Earth NASA has a mission to help us all better understand and protect our planet. Learn how we are contributing to make our home a better place for all of us. + View site

Future Flight Design This is a web-based interactive, problem-based learning environment where students in grades 5-8 learn about forces of flight and design air transportation and aircraft systems of the future. + View site

Virtual Astronaut (Grades 5-8 ) Try this interactive, 3-D suite of instructional materials that demonstrate the activities of astronauts on board the International Space Station, including NASA's scientific research. + View site

Interact with NASA!

Images / Videos / Webcasts / Interactive

Sun Watchers Through Time
Start with 3000 BC and move through the centuries to learn about times and places where people have studied the sun.
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Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge
Join NASA CONNECT on March 17 for this new broadcast. With the use of technology (ancient, modern, and future), NASA scientists and astronomers will investigate how ancient civilizations worked to unlock the secrets of the Sun. Through the power of geometry, learn how light was used to provide a means of investigating the universe.
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History of Robotic Exploration
This moving timeline gives a snapshot of major events in NASA's robotic exploration of our solar system.
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History of Flight
This presentation explores the early pioneers of flight research from Leonardo da Vinci to the Wright brothers.
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Videos showcased in the March 2005 Education File Schedule to support "Connections: A Glimpse of the Past, a Vision for the Future" are: Venus Transit and the Search for New Worlds, Having a Solar Blast, Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge, The Case of the Galactic Vacation, The Future Flight Equation, Rocket to the Stars, The Case of the Great Space Exploration, The Wright Math, Venus Transit, The Case of the Wright Invention, Destination Tomorrow: Programs 11, 12, 14 and 16 and The Case of the Radical Ride.
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Additional Resources

Classroom Subjects History Page
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Timelines from the NASA History Office Web site
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Centennial of Flight
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Human Spaceflight History
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Worldbook @ NASA
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Next Month's Theme: NASA Careers... Live the Dream!

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