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: Spirit's Panoramic Camera captured the rover's Instrument Deployment Device as it moved to get a closer look at an outcrop of rocks named Hillary. Credit: NASA

The topic for July 2007 is "Planetary Geology." The challenge of Earth science is to understand the natural processes that shape not only the planet Earth, but also all objects in the solar system. From a vantage point above the Earth, NASA missions collect data about the movement of the planet's crust, as well as its composition at the surface. NASA has reached beyond the boundaries of Earth by sending probes to other planets. In January 2004, two robotic geologists named Spirit and Opportunity landed on opposite sides of Mars. Since leaving their landing sites, the twin rovers have sent to Earth more than 100,000 spectacular, high-resolution, full-color images of Martian terrain, as well as detailed microscopic images of rocks and soil surfaces.


Planetary Geology 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 Geology
+ View Mars
+ View Planetary Geology


Planetary Geology Teaching Materials
Materials in this section include NASA Education products that support the "Planetary Geology" 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 Geology
+ View Mars
+ View Planetary Geology


Monthly Topics on NASA Educational Television
The NASA Television Education File segment broadcasts NASA-produced programs specifically designed for students and teachers. From the wonders of space to the amazing planet Earth -- inspiration and learning are the mission of the Education File.

Television shows related to this month's topic are scheduled during the week of July 15-21. Titles and audience levels are listed on the July 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: Earth science, geology, Mars

CORE
+ View site


Extra Archives
+ View