Afterschool Universe You are viewing a resource description from the Consumers Guide to Afterschool Science Resources.

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Resource Details for: Afterschool Universe Science Content Expert Review by: Judith Abel Afterschool Program Expert Review by: Peter Guttmacher

Afterschool Universe Resource Description: Reviewers agree that "Afterschool Universe" takes a serious and cosmically complex field of science and explores it in a way that both flows and engages, making the seemingly remote area of science interesting to learners. The 12 sessions (which could easily stretch to last much longer) encourage middle school students to DO astronomy and the experience produces tangible understanding of BIG, mind-expanding concepts (like how our own bodies are connected to the elements of infinite space or how black holes really operate) as well as cool science specifics (like how astronomers are able to determine the composition of stars from millions of light years away and how to detect the ‘invisible’ portions of the EM spectrum). It includes outstanding content and engages students in cooperative interaction around advanced scientific topics so that they learn to construct their own learning. This is the result of the outstanding teacher's manual that provides background, step-by-step instructions and very good supplementary websites with more background information and extension activities in a surprisingly easy to use format with fantastic visuals. It provides the kind of support that will allow those who may not have a formal science background, but who are interested in science and experimentation, to feel comfortable exploring and discussing the greatest of science mysteries – the universe around us. These resources are outstanding, but it is critical to note that they do require an instructor interested in the topic and more than the usual amount of time, both for preparing for the activities and for assembling and preparing the materials. Instructors using the materials are required to attend a training session that can be arranged though contact with the Afterschool Universe team. These trainings enable folks who are unfamiliar with the content to become comfortable leading the sessions. The two-day intensive training sessions are held periodically at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD but once certified, Afterschool Universe trainers may offer training workshops at various locations across the country, so programs seeking to use this material should check to see if a local option exists. Details about training are available on the website at http://universe.nasa.gov/au/training.html. Cost Category: More than $100 Duration: variable based on how instructors use activities Format: Instructors Guide, Programs Delivered in Cumulative Sessions Grades: grades 6 to 8 Suitable for Multiple Uses?: can be re-used, but require refills or replacement parts which can be purchased from a supplier or at local stores Content Domain(s): astronomy Part of Series?: No URL: http://universe.nasa.gov/au/ Reviews Detailed Review by Judith Abel (reviewer bio): Short Synopsis: Afterschool Universe is astronomy program targeted at middle school students. It explores astronomy concepts through hands-on activities and addresses the Universe beyond our solar system. It consists of 12 sessions which would require 45-60 minutes to implement. Although sessions could build on the previous one, each session is intended to be free-standing and not all students need to attend every session. A comprehensive manual provides background information and detailed descriptions of how to conduct each activity. In addition to astronomy concepts, chemistry and the physics of light are also included. Students have the opportunity to engage in scientific inquiry skills in the cooperative learning model. Detailed Review by Peter Guttmacher (reviewer bio): Short Synopsis: NASA’s Afterschool Universe is a 12 session set of astronomy curriculum, activities and resources designed for middle school students. Unlike other astronomy afterschool programs which primarily focus on rudimentary concepts around planets, stars, orbits, constellations, and distance, Afterschool Universe actually introduces young people to concepts in astrophysics. While the subject itself is fairly abstract, the curriculum offers an impressive variety of hands-on activities which will appeal to kinesthetic learners as well as great images and posters to inspire visual learners. It also includes ample opportunity for discussion, individual, small and large group work, as well as the chance to build and use telescopes and spectroscopes. For instructors, NASA's comprehensive teaching manual is surprisingly easy to use, unsurprisingly scientifically solid, step-by-step in its approach, and full of fantastic visuals. It provides the kind of support that will allow those who may not have a formal science background, but who are interested in science and experimentation, to feel comfortable exploring and discussing the greatest of science mysteries – the universe around us.