ASTRO-Tucson

Newsletter Archive

View previous ASTROgrams (newsletters) and other ASTRO news items.

Project ASTRO Training Workshop 2007

Hosted by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

Developed by the Astronomical Society of The Pacific and coordinated in Tucson by NOAO, this unique educational program offers teachers instruction in conducting hands-on inquiry-based science activities in their classrooms plus an astronomer partner with whom to present the activities. During the two-day ASTRO workshop, a partnership is forged that blends the teacher’s knowledge of methods and classroom discipline with the astronomer’s knowledge of and passion for astronomy. Together the team brings the science of astronomy alive in the classroom when the astronomer makes four school visits during the academic year. Those activities in turn may serve as springboards into other lessons in math, physics, chemistry, and even writing that may be used to meet various standards. In the workshops both partners receive Universe At Your Fingertips, a resource book containing seventy-seven lesson plans organized progressively from the solar system to galaxies. The workshop also includes a trip to Kitt Peak National Observatory for the Nightly Observing Program.

Date: September 14 and 15, 2007

Place: Ventana Room at the U of A Student Union

Time: Friday, 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Cost: Free

Applications to join the Project ASTRO program are available for teachers and for astronomers.

The application deadline is August 24, 2007. Completed applications may be faxed to Connie Walker at 520-318-8451 or mailed to her at 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85719. For any further questions, feel free to contact Connie at cwalker@noao.edu or 520-318-8535.

Project ASTRO Training Workshop 2006

Hosted by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

Developed by the Astronomical Society of The Pacific and coordinated in Tucson by NOAO, this unique educational program offers teachers instruction in conducting hands-on inquiry-based science activities in their classrooms plus an astronomer partner with whom to present the activities. During the two-day ASTRO workshop, a partnership is forged that blends the teacher’s knowledge of methods and classroom discipline with the astronomer’s knowledge of and passion for astronomy. Together the team brings the science of astronomy alive in the classroom when the astronomer makes four school visits during the academic year. Those activities in turn may serve as springboards into other lessons in math, physics, chemistry, and even writing that may be used to meet various standards. In the workshops both partners receive Universe At Your Fingertips, a resource book containing seventy-seven lesson plans organized progressively from the solar system to galaxies. The workshop also includes a trip to Kitt Peak National Observatory for the Nightly Observing Program.

Date: September 29 and 30, 2006

Place: U of A Student Union

Time: Friday, 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Cost: Free

Applications to join the Project ASTRO program are available for teachers and for astronomers.

The application deadline is September 8, 2006. Completed applications may be faxed to Connie Walker at 520-318-8451 or mailed to her at 950 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85719. For any further questions, feel free to contact Connie at cwalker@noao.edu or 520-318-8535.

Spring ‘06 Follow-up Workshop

February 4, 2006

3pm - 9:30pm

Explore The Night Sky With Internationally-Known Comet Hunter David Levy At His Home-based Observatory In Vail

Registration Deadline is January 20, 2006… (space is limited to 30 Family or Project ASTRO Partners)

Download the flyer for more information and to register!

Project ASTRO Tucson Fall Workshop

Celebrating 9 Years of bringing astronomy into the classroom through partnerships formed with teachers and scientists.

October 7, 2005

• Teacher/Astronomer Partnerships
• Hand-on Activities
• Evening Trip to Kitt Peak
• Night-Sky Observing and More

October 8, 2005

• Hands-on Workshop

For more information, download the Project ASTRO Tucson Brochure [2.35 MB pdf].

2005 Followup workshop

Explore the night sky with internationally-known comet hunter David Levy at his home-based observatory in Vail. Registration Deadline is January 28, 2005 (space is limited to 30 Project ASTRO Partners).

Download the registration form [180 KB pdf]

Fall 2004 Workshop a Success

On September 17 and 18, Project ASTRO hosted another successful workshop partnering 37 astronomers with 33 Arizona teachers from grades 2-8. Many thanks to all of the helpful hands and particularly to the 7 astronomer volunteers from NOAO, NSO and GONG.

The event included about a dozen hands-on, minds-on solar system activities most from the Project ASTRO book, a solar system talk by David Levy, a kinesthetic astronomy activity by an affiliate of Space Science Institute in Boulder, a NASA missions talk by a NASA solar system ambassador from LPL, a talk on misconceptions in astronomy by a science education specialist from the UA “CAPER” group and, of course, an inspiring nightly observing program experience on Kitt Peak.