Teacher Workshops

STRINGS
Showing Teachers how to Really Inspire the Next Generation in Space

PURPOSE AND MISSION
The  STRINGS  project  is  funded  by  the NCSpaceGrant K-12 Professional Development Program, a program designed to provide funding to initiate and carry out professional development and training.

Under this program, the STRINGS project at ECSU seeks to better equip North Carolina science teachers (grades 5-8) to motivate and inspire students to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through five one-day Saturday Academies held during Spring 2008, twelve teachers from nine counties will engage in lectures, demonstrations and hands-on activities pertaining to astronomy and physics that will directly address North Carolina’s standard course of study and grade level competencies: force and motion; the sun, moon and earth system; night sky observations and navigation; and current and historical challenges of space flight and exploration.

BENEFITS
Participants who complete all five weeks of the workshop will receive:

• A STIPEND
• Three (3) CEU’s, contingent upon University approval
• Resource Materials Suitable for Classroom Instruction:
  • Star charts and a star finder with accessories
  • A Sundial
  • A collection of astronomy based lessons plans
    The Universe at Your Fingertips
  • Videos and resource guides from the NASA Science Files and Lift-off to Learning video series
• Academic enrichment in physics and astronomy through planned activities:covering the following topics:
  • Force and Motion
  • Sun, Moon and Earth System
  • Night Sky and Navigation
  • Work and Energy
  • Space Exploration

Beginning in January 2008, the workshop will take place during designated Saturdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Each participant must attend ALL 5 Saturdays of the workshop to receive the full stipend and CEU’s.  Lunch will be provided to participants at no cost.

A tentative shedule of activities to be carried out during each Saturday is provided below.

Saturday Academies	WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES - TOPICS ADDRESSED
Force and Motion	Introduction to Basic Kinematics
	Kepler’s Laws: Laboratory Experiments and Demonstration
	Newton’s Laws of Motion (Newton in Space) and Laboratory Activity for 2 nd Law of Motion Using an Inclined Plane
	Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Planetarium Demonstration
Sun, Moon and Earth System	Planetarium: The Earth in Space
	Determination of the Acceleration Due to Gravity: Lab Activity
	Building and Using a Sundial: Hands-on Activities & Demonstration
	Phases of the Moon: Hands-on Activities & Demonstration
Night Sky and Navigation	The Changing Night Sky
	The Celestial Sphere: Laboratory Exercises
	Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes of Stars
	Interesting Objects in the Night Sky: Planets, Constellations, the North Star
Work and Energy	Planetarium: Electromagnetic Spectrum and Use in Current Astronomy
	Work, Energy & Different Kinds of Energy: Lecture/Lab Activity/Demonstration
	Velocity of Sound – Laboratory Experiments and Demonstration
	Internet Resources and How to Effectively Use them
Space Exploration	NASA DESIGNED ACTIVITIES ON SPACE EXPLORATION
	Technologies used to explore space; historic timeline;
	NASA missions; The space shuttle and international space station;
	NASA’s future goals.