Cosmic Times Workshops

• National Science Teachers Association Area Conference, Nov 12 - 14, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale. On Friday, Nov 13 at 11 AM in the Atlantic Ballroom of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, we'll be presenting a 1-hour introductory workshop on Cosmic Times, "Cosmic Times: Astronomy History and Science for the Classroom".

• National Science Teachers Association Area Conference, Dec 3 - 5, 2009 in Phoenix. On Thursday, Dec 3 at 3:30 PM in Room 223 of the Phoenix Convention Center, our HEASARC Educator Ambassador, Cheryl Niemela, will be presenting our 1-hour introductory workshop on Cosmic Times, "Cosmic Times: Astronomy History and Science for the Classroom".

• NASA/NSTA Web Seminar, Dec 8, 2009, 6:30-8:00 PM EST. We'll be doing our workshop "A Century of Cosmic Surprises", live, on-line for this webinar. This free webinar is open to all teachers, not just NSTA members. For more information and to register, go to the NASA/NSTA Web Seminars page. This presentation is part of the NASA/NSTA series entitled "How Telescopes Have Changed Our View of the Universe."

  Previous Workshop Presentations

  • Cosmic Times: Astronomy History and Science for the Classroom (4 MB)
    (NSTA, Fort Lauderdale, November 2009)
    This presentation uses adaptations from the following lessons:
    • Reading Strategies (doc, pdf)
    • Evidence is Clear (doc, pdf)
    • Things Are Not What They Seem (come-back can and UV beads) (doc, pdf)
    • Century Timeline (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix A: Key Cosmic Times Events (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix B: Science, Cultural, World Events (doc, pdf)
    The presentation uses the following video:
    • Expanding Universe (1.5 MB) (Description)

  • Short Course for Project ASTRO Site Leaders (12.5 MB)
    (A comprehensive look at Cosmic Times for astronomy educators)
    This presentation uses adaptations from the following lessons:
    • Eclipses and Moon Phases (doc, pdf)
    • Unsung Heroes of Science (doc, pdf)
    • Evidence is Clear (doc, pdf)
    • Tornadoes and Galaxies (doc, pdf)
    • Cosmic Microwave Background (doc, pdf)
    • What's the Problem with Isotropy (doc, pdf)
    • Things Are Not What They Seem (come-back can and UV beads) (doc, pdf)
    • Century Timeline (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix A: Key Cosmic Times Events (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix B: Science, Cultural, World Events (doc, pdf)
    The presentation uses the following video:
    • Expanding Universe (1.5 MB) (Description)

  • An Introduction to Cosmic Times: Astronomy History and Science for the Classroom (5.2 MB)
    (NSTA, New Orleans, March 2009)
    This presentation uses the following lessons:
    • Cosmic Microwave Background (doc, pdf)
    • What's the Problem with Isotropy (doc, pdf)
    The presentation uses the following video:
    • Expanding Universe (1.5 MB) (Description)

  • Exploring a Century of Cosmic Surprises (5.3 MB)
    (Celebration of Teaching and Learning, NYC, March 2009)
    This presentation uses the following lessons:
    • Determining the Universe (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix B: Galaxy Images (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix C: Galaxy Fact Cards (doc, pdf)
    • Cosmic Microwave Background (doc, pdf)
    • What's the Problem with Isotropy (doc, pdf)
    The presentation uses the following video:
    • Expanding Universe (1.5 MB) (Description)

  • Cosmic Times: Inquiring into the Nature of the Universe (5.1 MB)
    (Space Foundation Teacher Liaison Workshop, Colorado Springs, April 2008)
    This presentation uses the following lessons:
    • Two Versions of Gravity: Newton and Einstein (doc, pdf)
      • Fact Cards for "Newton - Einstein Information Exchange" Activity
    • Determining the Universe (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix B: Galaxy Images (doc, pdf)
      • Appendix C: Galaxy Fact Cards (doc, pdf)
    • Yardsticks and Metersticks (doc, pdf)
    • Evidence is Clear (doc, pdf)

  • Cosmic Times: Inquiring into the Nature of the Universe (3.6 MB)
    (Teaching and Learning Celebration, NYC , March 2008)
    This presentation uses the following lessons:
    • Yardsticks and Metersticks (doc, pdf)
    • Evidence is Clear (doc, pdf)

  • Cosmic Times: Inquiring into the Nature of the Universe (3.8 MB)
    (NSTA, St. Louis, March 2007)
    Fact Cards for "Newton - Einstein Information Exchange" Activity
    This presentation uses the following videos:
    • Expanding Universe (1.5 MB) (Description)
    • Robert Kirshner on Dark Energy, Part 1 (54 MB) (Description)
    The video clips of Robert Kirshner are excerpted with permission from the DVD Beyond the Solar System: Expanding the Universe in the Classroom, produced for NASA by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. © Smithsonian Institution, http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/seuforum/btss/

  Note: PowerPoint presentations were created on a Mac. Some editing may need to be done when used on a PC.