NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

What's an Extra? Each month a list of resources is gathered for educators to support a theme related to NASA's unique content. Educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites are listed for browsing and collecting. Visit each month for new items.

Image to right: Space exploration stimulates the imagination of students of all ages. Credit: NASA

This 'Extra' feature highlights educational products, activities, multimedia and Web sites related to this month's theme "Space: Adventures in Exploration."

Space exploration stimulates the imagination of students of all ages. This month's theme focuses on guiding future space travelers in understanding the science of exploration. Bring the world of exploration into your classroom with NASA's educational multimedia products and teaching resources that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A special section this month includes education materials developed through a unique collaboration that ties NASA space-related topics touched upon in the movie and book "Zathura".

Image to left: This poster is just one of the "Zathura"-based educational materials available online. Credit: NASA, Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. and Houghton-Mifflin Company.

Educators can access and download exciting NASA-related posters, which include NASA standards-based lessons and activities. Two posters are available, one for grades 3-5 and one for grades 6-8. Along with the posters, two grade-level activities are available. These activities also relate to the space science theme in "Zathura".

        + Space Science: Adventure Is Waiting Poster 3-5
        + Space Science: Adventure Is Waiting Poster 6-8
        + Space Science: Adventure Is Waiting Activity 3-5
        + Space Science: Adventure Is Waiting Activity 6-8
 
And don't forget to join NASA TV during the week of November 14-20, 2005, as it highlights award-winning videos that show science's role in space exploration.

NASA TV Education Schedule
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NASA Educational Products

	EarthKAM Bookmark (All Grades) View this NASA educational bookmark for information about EarthKAM. The back of the bookmark contains pictures of Earth taken from space. + View bookmark
	Space Based Astronomy Educator Guide (Grades 5-8) This guide tells the story of why it is important to observe celestial objects from outer space and how to study the entire electromagnetic spectrum. + View guide
	Our Solar System (Grades K-12) This colorful illustration is an artist's representation of the planets' sizes and distances. Build a scale model of the solar system by using the information in the activity on the back. + View lithograph
	Planetary Geology (Grades 5-College) This educator's guide features exercises grouped into five units: 1) introduction to geologic processes, 2) impact cratering activities, 3) planetary atmosphere, 4) planetary surfaces and 5) geologic mapping. + View guide

NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

The Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes 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.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Module Spotlight:

Living in Space
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Science\General
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Space Science\Planetary\Mars
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Space Science\Astronomy
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Search words for CORE Materials: space exploration

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

	Monitoring the Earth from Space with SeaWiFS NASA's global ocean color monitoring mission is called SeaWiFS. Find out more about this unique program. + View site			Revolutionary Vehicle Concepts and Systems Student Competition Explore the future of flight! Students throughout the country are invited to compete in NASA's exciting challenges for high schools and university students. + View site
	Future Flight Design In this program, students will become NASA researchers and design the air transportation system of the future! + View site			Where in the World? Identify these well-known locales from satellite images. Get a clue, if you need one. + View site
..	Planet Quest Interactive Gallery Games, simulations, animations and videos. + View site			The Space Science Explorers Series This monthly series introduces NASA's Space Science Explorers, young and old, with a variety of backgrounds and interests. + View site
	The Case of the Great Space Exploration Join the tree house detectives on NASA TV on November 16th or 20th as they head to Space Camp and NASA to find out if they truly have the "right stuff." From this Web site choose Episodes from the top of the page and locate the title from the 2005-2006 Season list. + View site			A Spectacular Test Flight After a two-and-a-half-year wait, everything finally came together on July 26, 2005. Liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery marked the beginning of America's new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond. + View site

NASA Learning Technologies Project (LTP)
LTP funds activities and collaborates with efforts that incorporate NASA content with new technologies to enhance education in the areas of math and science.
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The Space Place: Projects
Don't wait for a rainy day to explore these projects!
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Destination Tomorrow
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to take about seven months to reach Mars, and an additional 21 months to take its measurements, but researchers believe that it will continue to be a valuable communications platform for many years to come.
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NASA CONNECT™
In Festival of Flight Special: Opening Space for Next Generation Explorers, students will learn about the dynamic skills and processes needed to design the next generation of launch vehicles.
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From a Distance
This Web site introduces Remote Sensing with classroom activities for all ages. The lesson plans use the applications of remote sensing, geographic information systems and the global positioning system.
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Solar System Simulator
Create a color image of any planet or satellite as seen from any point in the solar system.
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Extreme Exploration/Extreme Education
Bring the real science behind the headlines into your classroom. These teacher-approved activities are related to current NASA missions making news from across the solar system.
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Get in the Driver's Seat
If you think you need a Ph.D. in engineering to drive the Mars Exploration Rovers, think again.
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Join the Earth Crew!
Students can interact with NASA projects and missions. Earth Crew members discover how space exploration affects lives here on Earth. Browse astronaut biographies and visit "Astronaut School" to experience how they train! Fun for All!
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Videos showcased in the November 2005 Education File Schedule to support "Space: Adventures in Exploration" are: The “A” Train Express, Ancient Observatories, Auroras -- Living With a Star, Better Health From Space to Earth, Venus Transit and the Search for New Worlds, Destination Tomorrow Program 20, The Case of the Phenomenal Weather, Case of the Great Space Exploration, Case of the Galactic Vacation, Live From a Black Hole, Bouncing to Mars and New Views.
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Additional Resources

The Vision for Space Exploration
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Astronaut Photography - Observing Earth's Systems from Space
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What is Nanotechnology?
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Is There Water on Mars?
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New Horizons -- NASA's Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission
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Deep Impact
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NASA's Return to Flight
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Next Month's Theme: Our Space ... Keep it Clean!

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