This teacher guide provides instructions for using the video - Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite: Astro-E2 - in the classroom. The video describes NASA-s development of the X-ray Telescopes and X-ray Spectrometer for the Asro-E2 mission. The telescopes utilize grazing optics to focus X-rays, and the spectrometer determines the energy of an X-ray by measuring the temperature rise in a wafer due ... Full description.

This activity guide illustrates how teachers can use planetary comparisons between Earth and Mars to teach basic geologic activities - i.e. volcanoes, impact cratering, layering, river processes, and crosscutting relationships to help the students understand a planet's history. This lesson is using current science results, as it contains actual orbital data from the Mars Global Surveyor mission. The ... Full description.

This educators guide blends space exploration with reading and writing. The materials are divided into two units. One unit is designed for students in grades 1 and 2 while the other unit focuses on students in grades 3 and 4. Each includes a series of lessons that take students on a path of exploration of Saturn using reading and writing prompts. Full description.

The Supernova Educator?s Guide was developed by the XMM-Newton and GLAST E/PO programs. It features three curriculum enhancement activities and one scientific literacy activity, extensive background information, assessment rubrics, student worksheets, extension and transfer activities, and detailed information about the physical science and mathematics content standards. An electronic version of one ... Full description.

This program uses actual weather data from recent forecasts as part of the students' learning experience. The Users' Guide covers three areas: how to get started (equipment and internet requirements, navigating the homepage), available weather products (maps, datasets, remote imagery), and a listing of miscellaneous materials (map symbols, update schedules for weather products, listings of weather ... Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to observe the type and cover of clouds including contrails. Students observe which of ten types of clouds and how many of three types of contrails are visible and how much of the sky is covered by clouds (other than contrails) and how much is covered by contrails. Intended outcomes are that students learn how to make estimates from observations and how to categorize ... Full description.

In this unit, participants are engaged in learning content while also developing skills that are key to conducting scientific investigations. These activities were adapted for use in after school programs for children ages 5-12. It consists of nine sequential activities; most activities can be completed in about one hour. Full description.

The science of astrobiology is concerned with the question of whether or not life exists on other planets. These activities were adapted for use in afterschool programs with ages 5-12. Astrobiology consists of eight activities, each of which may be completed in about one hour. Astrobiology: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool was produced by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) as ... Full description.

The activities in this guide engage students in learning about the Sun and the process of scientific investigation. These activities were adapted for use in afterschool programs with ages 5-12. The Sun as a Star consists of eight activities, each of which may be completed in about one hour. Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to measure air pressure. Students record atmospheric pressure using a barometer or altimeter. Intended outcomes are that students gain an understanding that barometric or altimeter pressure varies and its increase or decrease indicates an upcoming change in the weather. Students also learn that the air has weight. Supporting background materials for both student and ... Full description.