Virtual Conference for Educators

Ever wanted to have all of the materials you experienced at an educators conference? So completely that you could run one yourself? We have just the package for you!

On February 5, 2011 the Comets & Asteroids Educator Conference was held at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.The focus was on comets, asteroids and protoplanets: their place in our solar system and why we have robotic missions out to explore them. Leftover building blocks of planets, these objects are believed to have contributed water and organic material to ancient Earth. By observing these small bodies up close, scientists can better understand the formation and evolution of our solar system and how life came to exist here on Earth.

A series of presentations from mission scientists, as well as hands-on activities that deepen understanding of the exciting content offered us a rich day. Mainly targeted for grades 5-8 the activities can be adapted for both grades 3-12. Instructional materials and resources are included.

Take a look! Find the materials you need to help your students engage in a dynamic story of the solar system!


Speakers

	Dr. Paul Chodas, Near Earth Objects Program Presentation: Small Bodies 101: Asteroids, Comets, Meteorites, and Protoplanets
	Mr. Robert Mase, Dawn Project Manager Presentation: Exploring Our Solar System’s Smaller Bodies + See Bio
	Dr. Claudia Alexander, Rosetta Project Scientist Presentation: Instruments, Chemistry, Minerals, and the Periodic Table + See Bio

Activity Resources	Additional Resources
ELEMENTARY + Comet Mystery Box + Comet on a Stick + Modeling Asteroid Vesta + Vesta Flip Book MIDDLE + Extreme Navigation + Seeing in 3-D + Cooking Up a Kitchen Comet + The Hunt for the Missing Planet: In Search of... + Active Accretion + Where Are You? Scale Modeling of Vesta and Ceres HIGH SCHOOL + Comet Lingo Bingo + Comparing Comets + Interactions of Energy and Matter: CSI	+ Ion Propulsion + Find a Meteorite + Asteroid and Comet Encounter Timeline + Solar System Bead Activity Mission Factsheets + Rosetta + Dawn + EPOXI + Stardust-NExT + Discovery Mission Websites + Rosetta + Dawn + EPOXI + Stardust-NExT + Discovery