Mission Geography Linking to the Curriculum

What is Mission Geography? How can Mission Geography help anchor ISSEarthKAM to the curriculum? What are the connections to the curriculum in your state?

NASA’s Education Program & Evaluation Framework

Cooperative venture between …

Mission Geography Subject matter focus: –Seeing the World in Spatial Terms –Physical Systems –Environment and Society

Mission Geography Module Fundamentals –Must teach interesting and meaningful geography; –Must model geographic thinking and problem solving; –Must engage students in real world contexts and problems.

Module Components Module Overview –Linked to Math, Science, Technology Standards

Module Components Module Overview –Linked to Math, Science, Technology Standards Investigations –Linked in detail to Geography Standards Teacher’s Guide –Suggested strategies, background, answers

Module Components Module Overview –Linked to Math, Science, Technology Standards Investigations –Linked in detail to Geography Standards Teacher’s Guide –Suggested strategies, background, answers Student Logs and Supporting Materials –Everything needed for the investigation

Natural Hazards Volcanoes: Local hazard, global issue? –NASA: Detecting change in Earth systems through monitoring signals. –What role does volcanism play in the Earth system? Images Data Aerosols (atmosphere) Hazard zones (lithosphere/biosphere)

Mission Geography Module Phase 1: Skill building and subject matter mastery. Case study of effects of volcanic eruption on Earth system, by sphere Investigation to clarify effects of volcanic eruption on different subsystems Image analysis to compare effects before/after Develop concepts related to areal extent of damage: buffer zone analysis

Mission Geography Module More skill building and subject matter mastery Case study of effects of volcanic aerosols on Earth system through three signal sensors: photographs from Space Shuttle, TOMS, & AVHRR –Profile & correlate temperature and aerosol index to determine relationship

Mission Geography Module Phase 3: Problem solving task. Problem: Where is it safe to fly? Monitoring regions with aerosol hazards – Collect TOMS data. –Map it. –Develop a systematic categorization of world regions in which there is a potential hazard from volcanic ash and other aerosols.