Challenger Center for Space Science Education
awarded
NASA Climate Education Grant
Challenger Learning Center at Kirby Smith Middle School is one of 16 Challenger Learning Centers Nationally that will be a Partner in the Project -
Jacksonville, FL - Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, VA has received a three-year $564,000 climate education grant from NASA to enhance learning through the use of NASA's Earth Science resources. The Challenger Learning Center at Kirby Smith Middle School is a partner in this project, along with 15 other Challenger Learning Centers nationally who will receive Earth science professional development courses for their staff, help create new Earth science activities using NASA resources and offer a local workshop for teachers in Earth science. Challenger Learning Centers who are partners in the grant submitted support letters for the grant. Sixteen Challenger Learning Centers were selected based on personnel and resources.
The NASA agreement is expected to leverage NASA's unique contributions in climate and Earth system science. The grant supports NASA's goal of engaging students in the critical disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and inspiring the next generation of explorers. The Challenger Learning Center at Kirby Smith Middle School in Jacksonville, FL engages hundreds of teachers and thousands of students each year through workshops and simulated spaceflights. This grant will help to expand the center’s offerings in Earth science by training staff, helping to develop new workshops and inquiry-based activities for students using near real time data and imagery from NASA satellites.
The program will support partnerships with NASA’s My NASA Data and Earth Observatory, two NASA websites that provide real data from Earth orbiting spacecraft to help students conduct science investigations. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and the American Museum of Natural History will provide online Earth science courses for Challenger Learning Center educators at 16 participating centers.
Winning proposals were selected through a merit-based, peer-reviewed competition. The winning proposals illustrate innovative approaches to using NASA content to support elementary, secondary and undergraduate teaching and learning, and through lifelong learning. There is a particular emphasis on engaging students using NASA Earth observation data and Earth system models.
The Challenger Learning Center at Kirby Smith Middle School was established in Sept. 1996 and has impacted the lives of 110,000 students, teachers, parents, and business professionals in Duval County through simulated space flight missions, teacher workshops, summer camps, outreaches, public speaking, standards based curriculum, and membership in aerospace industry organizations and academic organizations.
Duval County Public Schools, the nation's 20th largest school district, operates 166 schools and serves approximately 123,000 students. The school district is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
More DCPS News
