Afterschool Universe
Afterschool Universe is an exciting new out-of-school time program for middle school students. Astronomy concepts are explored through 12 sessions (45-60 minutes each) of engaging hands-on and minds-on activities as participants take a journey through the Universe beyond our Solar System. The goal is to excite students about astronomy and science in general and have a positive effect on the attitudes of both the program leaders and the participants towards science. The program was developed by the Astrophysics Science Division at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Afterschool Universe can be implemented in a variety of settings, including science centers, youth development groups, and summer and after-school programs.
AFTERSCHOOL UNIVERSE LEADERS - PLEASE REPORT YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE PROGRAM!!
Send to: Nancy Schaff, Cornell Dept. of Astronomy, 314 Space Sciences, Ithaca, NY 14853
or fax to: 607-255-9002, c/o Nancy Schaff
PLEASE COLLECT STUDENT DATA - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
Through a grant from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, we partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development to pilot this program in five locations in New York: Buffalo, Ithaca, Elmira/Horseheads, Binghamton, and New York City. We have provided 9 hours of training to program leaders and a kit to the Cooperative Extension office in each of those counties to loan out to trained leaders. In June a workshop was held in Saratoga County for Cooperative Extension Educators, and Nancy travelled to New Hampshire in August to offer a workshop for afterschool program providers with 21st Century programs. Nancy also partnered with the NYS Operation: Military Kids program to offer workshops in Jefferson and Nassau Counties. There are kits in those CCE offices as well. Ontario CCE also has a kit.
If you are interested in learning more about implementing the program or arranging for a training, contact Nancy Schaff
We can offer workshops if a group has a source of funding to cover the trainer's time and travel.
- NATIONAL AFTERSCHOOL UNIVERSE SITE
- Nancy's unofficial guide to creating an Afterschool Universe kit
- Citizen Science projects from Galaxy Zoo
- Galileoscopes
- AFTERSCHOOL UNIVERSE included in U.S. Dept. of Education Consumers' Guide to Afterschool Science Resources and received excellent review! and also adopted by Great Science for Girls!
- You may find this edition of the Universe in the Classroom newsletter from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific helpful for background for Session 2: Cosmic Survey An Ancient Universe: How Astronomers Know the Vast Scale of Cosmic Time No. 56 - Fall 2001
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| galaxy2.jpg | 33.24 KB |
| AU_Student_Pre-Program_Survey.pdf | 148.41 KB |
| AU_Student_Post-Program_Survey.pdf | 62.22 KB |
| AU_Leader_Post-Program_Surveynew.pdf | 36.33 KB |
| UnofficialGuide_AUkit.doc | 8.45 MB |
