General Information Project Overview Curriculum Connections Learning Outcomes Resource Connections Evaluation

  General Information

  Project Overview

Students will use the Stellar School Project to Enrich a theme on Space Exploration and Research from the Grade 6 Social Studies, Science and Language program. Using the theme as a starting point, students will use the project to collect information on the environment in space, space research and travel, space scientists and astronauts.

1. Students will research:
    space as a component in our global community.
    the need to protect and conserve the space environment.
    space exploration and astronomy.
    the spacecraft and rockets being used to explore space.
    knowledge being obtained from research in space.
    Canada's role in space research and exploration.
    biographical informatin on astronauts and space scientists.

2. Students will establish contact with:
    Internet space sites and governtment departments such as the Canada Space Agency,
      NASA and the European Space Agency.
    astronauts and space scientists, if possible, through Internet site list managers or email
      address.
    other students rearching or interested in space sciences.

3. Students will establish a web home page on Stellar School projects to:
    provide hot links to space-related sites.
    provide Internet access to student research and writing.
   

  Curriculum Connections

Social Studies

A unit on the use of technology in industry and research in Canada is developed. Students will use geographic representations, tools and technologies to acquire, process and report information.

Language Arts

One theme in the Networks program is space exploration and research. Students prepare research projects on space. They will develop skills in reading/interpreting, information literacy skills, writing reports and online communications.

Science

Technology, conservation and environmental awareness are concepts developed in the science program. Students will learn about the space environment, problems that are incountered in the space industry, and the technology used to explore and exploit space. They will aquire an appreciation for the importance of space in our lives and the future of our society.

Global Education

Students become more aware of the interdependence of humans and space.

The Technology Education learning outcomes are at the elementary level. Students will:

1. use communication tools to access, evaluate and select appropriate information, and to create, modify and disseminate information.
2. collaborate with distant students, teachers and resource personnel.
3. appreciate how space scientists use technology to explore space.
4. explore careers and occupations in space technology.
5. focus on the tools, techniques and strategies for development of solutions to communications problems.
6. understand the role of technology to enhance the learning process, will use technology as learning tools, and will develop active learning strategies to employ technology for lifelong learning.

  Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Learn about space and its role in our past, present and future.
2. Investigate the space environment.
3. Analysethe changing patterns in space.
4. Develop an appreciation of the role humans play in the present and future development of space.
5. Learn research skills in collecting, organising, presenting and evaluating information.
6. Develop their ability to choose a project for research.
7. Learn to write jot notes.
8. Use word processing on computers throughout the writing process from note-taking through drafts to the final report.
9. Prepare maps, charts, graphs and tables.
10. Become a more responsible global citizen.

  Resource Connections

The Stellar Schools Internet connection is essential to the success of our project and will enhance this project by permitting several students to go online concurrently.

Now, there is only one computer connected to the Internet making it very time consuming for each student to surf the web collecting information.

Resources include a networked computer labratory with 26 computers, one printer, one scanner and one modem. Other resources include resources located in the classroom and resource centre including books, magazines and videos.

  Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on the Learning Outcomes listed above, anecdotal records and observation by the teachers participating in the project. Students will collect, organise, present and evaluate information on their topic individually and in groups. They will be evaluated on their ability to organise and stay on task during the project. Their awareness as global citizens and their published report will be a major component in the evaluation.

We believe that this project will add to the students' awareness of the importance of technology in communications, exploring space and our daily lives, the role of space in our future and the value of becoming global citizens.