ASTRO-Tucson News

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.

Featured Activity

Spagettification—Gravity Activity

Thmbnail image of an astronaut being stretched

No person has ever been close enough to a black hole to actually fall into one, but if a person ever got close enough, their body would stretch out as they were pulled into the black hole. In this activity you will make a spaghettification flip book that will demonstrate how the strong gravitational pull of a black hole would stretch any astronaut unlucky enough to encounter one in space. Spaghettification is the stretching of objects that fall into a black hole. It is called spaghettification because small objects will grow long and stringy like spaghetti as they are pulled into the black hole.

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Director’s Corner

Project and Family Astro at Work

So many local Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO events happened this Spring. Many thanks to those of you who hosted events on behalf of your students (and their families), Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO. Several of you have shared your fun-filled, astronomical experiences here. A prime example made the local newspaper.

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Teacher’s Corner

Two April events a success!

Sierra Middle School, Tucson, AZ

by Chris Taylor

On April 8, 2005 Sierra held a Star Party with the theme “Exploring the Future.” In order to build up excitement I hid two postcards a day for a week in advance of the Star Party. The student who located the postcard was entered into a drawing. On Friday before the Star Party I went on our in house Ram Vision television program and drew out the winning post card. The winner received a Star Theater Projector from National Geographic.

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