I was a NASA Education Ambassador representing the Fermi and WISE missions. This page will contain downloads from recent workshops and presentations I have conducted.
CCCSEF Science Fair Workshop November 1, 2023
Archive includes several powerpoints and sample posters (104 MB)
Packet for kids. Pages format. Pdf format
Astronomy Teaching Facebook page sample requests
Hubble Package - includes the Hubble Law activity and a spreadsheet to do all the math. Sample data is included and a blank to use with your own classes. Have everyone do one of the 10 pictures in the lab. A short powerpoint showing students what they do is also included. Then type the numbers in the spreadsheet and out pops the age of the universe.
Feb. 2023 MDAS meeting
Here are the links to the presentation and other documents for the meeting.
Jewel Box Cluster documents
December 2022 Introductory Teacher Workshop
Here is where the downloads are for the introductory Teacher workshop.
I put them on a separate page.
February 2022 MDAS meeting
Star Wheels Links will appear here for the February MDAS meeting.
To make some of these you will need glue, scissors, tape, card stock (like file folder cardboard) and the ability to print one transparency (for the Astrolabe only)
The Presentation (Keynote and PDF formats)
The Moon Phase Diagram calculator
Print out one of the files below and cut out “the Tool.”
Printer-friendly moon phase diagram
Uncle Al’s Sky Wheel (Planisphere)
Print out, glue to card stock, and cut where the dotted lines appear.
You might need a stapler or tape.
Uncle Al’s Sky Wheel (credit: Dr. Alan Gould)
The Astrolabe
This one is complicated. Directions are included.
You might need a single transparency and the ability to print on it.
The Astrolabe - download instructions for how to build it.
How to use an Astrolabe - (Credit: Dominic Ford)
February 2020
HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN PLANETARIUM PROJECTOR
Links:
Original cardboard planetarium web page
Stellarium (planetarium software)
Paul Bourke’s convex mirror projector theory page
Projector template
Download the powerpoint from the presentation
January 2018
Pre-Telescopic Astronomy for Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society
Pre-Telescopic Astronomy presentation (pdf)
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July 2016
Presentation for CAPER Astronomy educator’s workshop
Mars Orbit Lab instructions and teacher’s guide
BASIC code used to create solution
References:
• https://archive.org/details/projectphysicsha00fjam
o This is an archive of the Project Physics materials including the original instructions for this site:
• http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?doctype=2&filename=UniversalGravitation_MarsOrbit.xml
o Catharine Colwell created a page on her site that contains instructions adapted from the original Project Physics lab, including the dates of the observation of Mars from the earth. These instructions are adapted from her web site and are used with permission.
• http://www.stellarium.org
o This is the software used to recreate the observations in our planetarium.
Notes from presentation:
• Galileo by Brecht: To perform: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/734/life-of-galileo-the-hare-trans
•Celestia space simulator: http://www.shatters.net/celestia/index.html
• Lawrence Hall of Science Planetarium Activities for Successful
Shows: http://www.planetarium-activities.org
• Cardboard Planetarium site: www.cccoe.net/stars
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