Hilltown Families 
Western MA Planetariums and Online Resources for Space Studies
Resources for Supporting the Study of Space Science
If, after diving head-first into all things astronomical, your student is completely enamored with space studies, consider entering Astronomy magazine’s essay contest! The grand prize is a trip to the 2013 Northeast Astronomy Forum in Suffern, NY, where the winner will be able to meet important people in the field of astronomy, learn about space programs and discoveries, and more! The topic for the contest is, “What I love most about astronomy,” and essays should be 300-500 words. Hurry, though – submissions are due by February 15th! More info at www.astronomy.com.
Studies of outer space can be mysterious and intriguing to young minds and there are many resources to support a students interest in the study of space, both online and in Western MA.
ONLINE RESOURCES
The website StarChild offers a wealth of information and basic internet-based activities that help students build their understanding of outer space. Beginning with our solar system and moving outward, the information is grouped into two levels based on degrees of difficulty and background information needed in order to understand concepts. Students can guide themselves through each lesson, learning astronomical vocabulary and facts about the universe. At the end of each section, there are a variety of activities to do, such as identifying planets while in orbit, matching facts to their corresponding stars and planets, and pairing planets with their many moons.
Another resource online is NASA’s Afterschool Universe, “an out-of-school-time astronomy program for middle school students that explores basic astronomy concepts through engaging hands-on activities and then takes participants on a journey through the Universe beyond the Solar System.”
If you are interested in the Afterschool Universe program, visit their website at universe.nasa.gov/afterschool and their Afterschool Universe YouTube channel for more demonstration videos.
WESTERN MA RESOURCES
To experience astronomical phenomena in real life, visit a local observatory or planetarium in Western MA! The Milham Planetarium at Williams College in Berkshire County, the Seymour Planetarium at the Springfield Museums in Hampden County, and the Bassett Planetarium at Amherst College in Hampshire County all offer planetarium shows and other learning experiences to visitors. For other events, resources, and community learning opportunities, the Five College Astronomy Program, Springfield Stars Club, Arunah Hill Natural Science Center in Cummington, and the Amherst Area Amateur Astronomer’s Association hold events, workshops, and other astronomy-related events for the community year-round.
[Photo credit: (ccl) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]
A Library’s Teacher blog post, Understanding the Cosmos: A New Science-Related Teacher Resource from the Library of Congress, announces the launch of the Librarys newest primary source set, Understanding the Cosmos: Changing Models of the Solar System and the Universe.
Teachers and students can explore these models and the astronomers who created them. More than a dozen drawings, illustrations, and heavenly atlases from across the centuries invite students to zoom in on and examine details. Historical background and teaching ideas support teachers as they guide students in speculating about these documents creators, the ideas they developed, and methods and principles that even today are common to scientists across disciplines.
Contact Rich Cairn, Director, Collaborative for Educational Services
Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program if you are
interested in setting up free professional development on this
resource: rcairn@collaborative.org