The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-compliant NASA EMS/MWA curriculum unit was written for classroom delivery by teachers participating in the NASA AAA professional development program. Curriculum components are available to a wider audience via this site. Please note that more material may be added to this page periodically, so checking back occasionally is encouraged.
The NASA AAA program currently also offers an Astronomy Academy for teacher professional development with virtual and in-person opportunities. Educators and administrators can register to receive program announcements and participate in professional development opportunities via this form.
This work is supported by Cooperative Agreement NNX16AC51A between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the SETI Institute. Further acknowledgements are contained in the Curriculum Explanatory Guide and Acknowledgements document linked below.
Please note that:
- The curriculum was designed to be used by fully trained AAA teachers. Before teaching the curriculum, AAA teachers receive focused professional development and an all-day in-person curriculum training workshop.
- The curriculum is based on a series of hands-on student activities. Materials and equipment needed for those activities are listed in the learning plans.
- The curriculum materials are not in final form. These materials are still undergoing revision; independent product review has not yet occurred.
- Please consider filling in this brief (optional) information form including your e-mail address to help us better serve you and the science education community: https://forms.gle/nXrZVGd72nA7k1up8
Two ways to download the materials:
- Download all files in a zip format (66.3 mb).
- Download individual files linked below.
Curriculum Explanatory Guide and Acknowledgements
78 kbAll Days - Unit Overview and Misconceptions
634 kbAll Days - Unit Overview and Implementation Slides
13.4 mbAll Days - Material Lists and Suggested Vendors
186 kbDays 1+2 Learning Plans plus Materials List (Filters & Wavelengths)
1.5 mbDay 3 Learning Plan plus Materials List (Beyond the Visible)
2.9 mbDays 4+5 Learning Plans plus Materials List (Detecting Invisible Light)
4.4 mbDay 6 Learning Plans plus Materials List (How Do Astronomers Use Images?)
4.2 mbDays 7+8 Learning Plans plus Materials List (How Do Astronomers Use Spectra?)
3.6 mbDays 9+10 Learning Plans plus Materials List (How Do We Know What We Know?)
2 mbScience Case Studies student reader - English
24.8 mbEstudio de Casos Científicos - Español
8.8 mbInfrared Astronomy - More Than Our Eyes Can See (lithograph) - English
1.8 mbAstronomia Infrarrojo - Más De Lo Que Nuestros Ojos Pueden Ver - Español
1.7 mbSOFIA Mission Overview lithograph - English
1.8 mbSOFIA - Explorando el Universo Infrarrojo - Español
1.6 mbIf you have questions regarding the curriculum materials lists, please contact Pamela Harman: pharman@seti.org