MUSEUM HOLDS NASA STEM DAY THIS SATURDAY
Friday, January 27, 2012 - 11:11am
Warner Robins, GA – The sun, moon and stars will all be shining brightly at the Museum of Aviation this Saturday, January 28, during the 2nd Annual Georgia NASA STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Day. Approximately 125 K-12 teachers from 19 Georgia counties* will attend a day full of workshops facilitated by NASA education specialists from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, instructors from Georgia Tech in Atlanta and teachers from Houston County primary and elementary schools. Attendees will take part in workshops that involve hands-on activities, demonstrations, and “out of this world” presentations throughout the day. Workshops will feature grade-level specific topics ranging from Astronomy and Earth Science to Space Math and Space Exploration.
The general public will also get a chance to gaze at the sun and other solar mysteries through solar telescopes set up by Stephen Ramsden, a certified NASA Solar System Ambassador, who runs the Charlie Gates Solar Astronomy Project. The Project does approximately 70 events per year and shows the sun to over 50,000 people annually. The telescopes will be set up on the Museum outdoor Amphitheater from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at no charge to the public.
“This is an intensive gathering of instructors and teachers aimed at how to engage students and increase their enthusiasm for STEM disciplines using the adventure of space travel, astronomy and the wonders of our solar system,” said Clare Swinford, Director of the NASA Educator Resource Center at the Museum of Aviation. Four more NASA ERC workshops on different subjects will be held at the Museum on February 25, March 24, April 21 and May 19.
Major General Bob McMahon, Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base will welcome the attendees at 9:00 a.m. in the Century of Flight Hangar. The workshop sessions will go from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
David Mazza from the NASA Glenn Research Center in Ohio will make a presentation from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm on how teachers can use the NASA Distance Learning Network and Skype connection in their classrooms. Teachers will also learn how to become certified to handle a moon rock sample.
The event is being sponsored by the Regional Educator Resource Center at the Museum of Aviation, The Museum of Aviation Foundation, Kennedy Space Center Office of Education, ORBIT Education Inc., the Georgia Space Grant Consortium, the Boeing Foundation and the GE Foundation.
For more information contact Clare Swinford, NASA ERC, at (478) 222-7547 or cswinford@museumofaviation.org.
PHOTO: Solar Telescopes will allow viewers to look at the sun during the NASA STEM Day Workshop at the Museum of Aviation January 28.
* Counties are Baldwin, Berrien, Bibb, Chatham, Cherokee, Cobb, Colquitt, DeKalb, Dooly, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Houston , Jackson, Jones, Laurens, Sumter and Troup
Instructors from Houston County schools are:
Dawn Hardy - 2nd grade Perdue Primary Houston Co
Dora Waite - 3rd grade Russell Elementary Houston Co
Cheryl Long - 5th grade Perdue Elementary Houston Co
Leslie Scarbrough – 5th grade Bonaire Elementary Houston Co
Joe Molyson - 9-12 grades Houston Co High School Houston Co
Contact: Bob Dubiel
Ph: (478) 926-6870
Release # 2011-9
January 26, 2011
Museum
