UMSL Fifth Grade UMSL Fifth Grade Astronomy Astronomy

Outreach ProgramOutreach Program

Presented by:Presented by:David Peaslee David Peaslee

Michelle BrockschmidtMichelle Brockschmidt

Program Advisor:Program Advisor:Dr. Bruce WilkingDr. Bruce Wilking

Program BackgroundProgram Background

• The program has been offered in the The program has been offered in the spring to fifth grade classes in the St. spring to fifth grade classes in the St. Louis area since 1992.Louis area since 1992.

• The program is designed to enhance the The program is designed to enhance the curriculum requirements of the Missouri curriculum requirements of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.Secondary Education.

• Thanks to the Missouri Space Grant, Thanks to the Missouri Space Grant, there is no charge to the participating there is no charge to the participating elementary schools for the Program.elementary schools for the Program.

Program DesignProgram Design

The Program is The Program is designed for three designed for three sizes of groups:sizes of groups:

1.1. For groups of less For groups of less than 40 students than 40 students the whole Program the whole Program takes place in the takes place in the planetarium (about planetarium (about two hours). There two hours). There is no need for an is no need for an assistant.assistant.

Program DesignProgram Design

2.2. For groups between For groups between 40 and 80 students 40 and 80 students the Program is the Program is divided into two divided into two sections. One group sections. One group spends an hour in spends an hour in the planetarium the planetarium while the other while the other learns from learns from activities provided activities provided by the assistant.by the assistant.

Program DesignProgram Design

3.3. For the largest For the largest groups (over 80 groups (over 80 students) a third students) a third room is provided room is provided to the teachers to the teachers for an activity of for an activity of their choosing. their choosing. The length for The length for this size group is this size group is three hours.three hours.

ActivitiesActivitiesPlanetarium:Planetarium:• The planetarium seats 36 students and The planetarium seats 36 students and

features a Spitz A4 Star Projector which features a Spitz A4 Star Projector which projects the motion of 1,354 individual projects the motion of 1,354 individual stars, the five visible planets, the moon stars, the five visible planets, the moon (with its phases), and the sun.(with its phases), and the sun.

• The slide show presents information on The slide show presents information on the planets, constellations, nebulae, solar the planets, constellations, nebulae, solar flares, a globular cluster, the Hubble, and flares, a globular cluster, the Hubble, and 3-D pictures from the Mars Pathfinder 3-D pictures from the Mars Pathfinder Mission.Mission.

ActivitiesActivities

Classroom Classroom Activities:Activities:

• The demonstrations The demonstrations include the making of a include the making of a realistic replica of a realistic replica of a comet Nucleus. comet Nucleus. Experiments using dry ice Experiments using dry ice (CO(CO22) and liquid nitrogen ) and liquid nitrogen demonstrate to the demonstrate to the students properties of students properties of gasses, liquids and solids gasses, liquids and solids in the solar system as well in the solar system as well as on the earth’s surface.as on the earth’s surface.

ActivitiesActivities

• The third group plays solar System The third group plays solar System Bingo or performs an activity Bingo or performs an activity provided by the fifth grade teachers. provided by the fifth grade teachers. Some past activities include science Some past activities include science videos, and construction of paper videos, and construction of paper airplanes.airplanes.

Program EvaluationProgram EvaluationThe program is evaluated using feedback from The program is evaluated using feedback from the teachers in the form of a mail in survey.the teachers in the form of a mail in survey.

Sample questionsSample questions::

The Program was understandable to the The Program was understandable to the students:students:

├├──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┤──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┤0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Generally not understandable Understandable to all Generally not understandable Understandable to all studentsstudents

The style of presentation was suitable for the The style of presentation was suitable for the class:class:

├├──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┤──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┤0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Style too formal Style appropriate Style too Style too formal Style appropriate Style too informalinformal

Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation

• The survey consists of 13 questions The survey consists of 13 questions valued from 0 to 10.valued from 0 to 10.

• The questions measured aspects of The questions measured aspects of the Program such as content, the Program such as content, subjects, methods, style, and subjects, methods, style, and interest. interest.

• The survey collects demographic The survey collects demographic information on the students and the information on the students and the teachers.teachers.

Program EvaluationProgram EvaluationDemographics (as of May 15th 2006):Demographics (as of May 15th 2006):

AllAllAfricAfricanAmanAm

er.er.

Cauc-Cauc-asianasian

His-His-panicpanic

NativNative e

AmerAmer..

PacifiPacific Is.c Is. OtherOther

No. of No. of

studenstudentsts

TotalTotal 294294 7171 185185 99 00 77 2525

MaleMale 159159 3737 100100 66 00 33 1515

FemFemaleale 135135 3434 8585 33 00 44 1010

No. of No. of

TeachTeachersers

TotalTotal 1919 00 1919 00 00 00 00

MaleMale 33 00 33 00 00 00 00

FemFemaleale 1616 00 1616 00 00 00 00

Program CoordinationProgram Coordination

• The invitations are sent during the The invitations are sent during the Fall semester.Fall semester.

• Invitations are sent to past attendees Invitations are sent to past attendees first.first.

• Scheduling takes place throughout Scheduling takes place throughout the year but the majority happens in the year but the majority happens in the early winter.the early winter.

• The material that is covered in the The material that is covered in the Program can be school specific.Program can be school specific.

SummarySummary

• The Program is offered free of charge to The Program is offered free of charge to participating schools, thanks to the NASA participating schools, thanks to the NASA – MO Space Grant.– MO Space Grant.

• Over the span of its implementation at Over the span of its implementation at least 5,000 fifth grade students have least 5,000 fifth grade students have attended the UMSL Planetarium Program.attended the UMSL Planetarium Program.

• The Program is designed to present a The Program is designed to present a broad range of information, and to broad range of information, and to encourage interest for aerospace sciences encourage interest for aerospace sciences and engineering at a young age.and engineering at a young age.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

We thank the Missouri Space Grant Consortium We thank the Missouri Space Grant Consortium for supporting this program through the 2005 for supporting this program through the 2005 Affiliate’s Award Competition.Affiliate’s Award Competition.

Dr. Bruce WilkingDr. Bruce Wilking

Richard SchulerRichard Schuler

Alice CanavanAlice Canavan

Wayne GarverWayne Garver