Current Projects
Host a Launch Event in Your Classroom!
Launch may be over, but there are plenty of ways to re-live it in your classroom. Using the current SDO mission as a hook, it's easy to engage your students in authentic science. Check out these ideas: Feel free to get creative! The SDO team will do our best to support you on our end with live communications from the SDO team. One possible scenario includes:
Links:
Questions? Contact me for more info! I want to be like... NSTA investigates how TV portrays scientists Download the article 
 by Jennifer Hammond
Think Scientifically
I've been working on a series of children's science story books along with a colleague from Allentown PA. There will be three, the first called "The Day Joshua Jumped Too Much," that will all address a different solar science topic. The unique thing about these books is the Concept Enhancement Lesson Plan that will accompany each book. They are designed with elementary teachers in mind, and include math, science, language arts and reading connections - even a bulletin board idea! Teachers can use them to make a unit out of the concept or just use the book for story time - its up to them. The books will be distributed through workshops at Goddard and at the National NSTA conference. I'm excited, we've been dreaming these up for quite a while now. Check it out! |
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Lessons, Resources, and Stuff...
Solar Dynamics Observatory for Educators
Science - Class - LOTS of great lessons! NASA Education Site NASA SMD Portal Follow an Astronomer on Twitter! Student Observation Network - Solar Energy 
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A Day at Goddard
Highschool science teachers are invited to visit Goddard Space Flight Center for a personalized, career focused field trip. Students will see the Visitor Center, meet a scientist and engineer, tour the testing facilities, and conduct an inquiry based lab on center. Sound good? Live in the DC metro area? Register! |
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Resume: In Brief
Andy and I working the solar telescope
- My degree is in Secondary Education, Earth and Space Science, Physics Emphasis from Penn State University
- My heart is somewhere in a Middle School science classroom
- I've taught in Florida and Pennsylvania
- I am the Formal Education Coordinator for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory
Think Scientifically Book Series
Ali, Aleya, and Jennifer at Goddard
On June 26th the authors and illustrator of the upcoming Solar Dynamics Observatory children’s book series met at Goddard Space Flight Center to tour the Integration and Test Facility and see SDO in person one last time. For author and 6th grade teacher Ali Houpt, and illustrator Jennifer Hammond, this was their first trip to Goddard Space Flight Center. Author and SDO Formal Education Coordinator Aleya Van Doren hosted the tour, making this the first time the entire group has met in person.
The SDO children’s book series, called Think Scientifically, will feature three books that cover a variety of elementary level solar topics. Each book has a “Concept Enhancement Lesson Plan” for teachers, complete with background information, a lab activity, and math, reading, and language arts connections. The first book, The Day Joshua Jumped Too Much, is a story about a boy who learns what the earth would be like without the sun – earth’s primary source of energy. Book one will be released in the fall of 2009 through teacher workshops held at Goddard Space Flight Center. Individual copies will be able available through contacting Aleya Van Doren.
Aleya Van Doren and Ali Houpt met in Allentown, Pa where they both taught middle school science. Ali has her degree in elementary education with a reading concentration from Kutztown University. Her ultimate goal is to retire from teaching to write children’s books full time. Some of her other works include “I am a Turtle” and “A Monstrous Mess as Mountainside Elementary.” Her role in the Think Scientifically book series is primary author, constructing the characters and stories with the help of Aleya to work in the science concepts. Ali lives with her husband Tim in Allentown, Pa.
Jennifer Hammond is an Alexandria native with a passion for all things creative. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in History from George Washington University, Jennifer decided to delay her history career so that she could pursue her other passion – art. By day Jennifer can be found in Old Town walking dogs – by night she’s hard at work on the latest art project. Jennifer has been creating a wide array of art projects on commission since 2000 – her most recent projects have included everything from illustrations and cartoons to murals and paintings.
Aleya Van Doren is leading the Think Scientifically project at Goddard as the Formal Education Coordinator for SDO. Her role in the project is to design the teacher supplements, and define and check the science content, all while serving as creative muse to Ali. Aleya graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelors Degree in Earth and Space Science.
Science is often a forgotten subject in elementary classrooms, due to the added pressure of standardized testing and teacher’s comfort level with the content. The Think Scientifically books are designed to sneak in science by creating an interdisciplinary module that will make including science easy. The trio is working closely on completing the final stages of the book, which has already received attention from teachers as far away as Hawaii. They excitedly look forward to its launch.
The SDO children’s book series, called Think Scientifically, will feature three books that cover a variety of elementary level solar topics. Each book has a “Concept Enhancement Lesson Plan” for teachers, complete with background information, a lab activity, and math, reading, and language arts connections. The first book, The Day Joshua Jumped Too Much, is a story about a boy who learns what the earth would be like without the sun – earth’s primary source of energy. Book one will be released in the fall of 2009 through teacher workshops held at Goddard Space Flight Center. Individual copies will be able available through contacting Aleya Van Doren.
Aleya Van Doren and Ali Houpt met in Allentown, Pa where they both taught middle school science. Ali has her degree in elementary education with a reading concentration from Kutztown University. Her ultimate goal is to retire from teaching to write children’s books full time. Some of her other works include “I am a Turtle” and “A Monstrous Mess as Mountainside Elementary.” Her role in the Think Scientifically book series is primary author, constructing the characters and stories with the help of Aleya to work in the science concepts. Ali lives with her husband Tim in Allentown, Pa.
Jennifer Hammond is an Alexandria native with a passion for all things creative. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in History from George Washington University, Jennifer decided to delay her history career so that she could pursue her other passion – art. By day Jennifer can be found in Old Town walking dogs – by night she’s hard at work on the latest art project. Jennifer has been creating a wide array of art projects on commission since 2000 – her most recent projects have included everything from illustrations and cartoons to murals and paintings.
Aleya Van Doren is leading the Think Scientifically project at Goddard as the Formal Education Coordinator for SDO. Her role in the project is to design the teacher supplements, and define and check the science content, all while serving as creative muse to Ali. Aleya graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelors Degree in Earth and Space Science.
Science is often a forgotten subject in elementary classrooms, due to the added pressure of standardized testing and teacher’s comfort level with the content. The Think Scientifically books are designed to sneak in science by creating an interdisciplinary module that will make including science easy. The trio is working closely on completing the final stages of the book, which has already received attention from teachers as far away as Hawaii. They excitedly look forward to its launch.
