[AANC Contacts] Volunteer to do Astronomy in a Local School

[Andrew Fraknoi]

May we ask you to circulate this to
astronomers, graduate students,
advanced undergrads, and amateur
astronomers with an interest in education:


GIVE A CHILD THE UNIVERSE:
SHARE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR ASTRONOMY WITH A
CLASSROOM NEAR YOU

Project ASTRO is looking for amateur and professional astronomers to work
with teachers and students in 3rd ­ 9th grade classrooms. This is a great
opportunity to share your love of astronomy with an enthusiastic audience
and help kids learn about science.

Project ASTRO pairs you with a Bay Area teacher at a school convenient for
you. Together, you and your teacher partner first attend a 2-day summer
workshop to learn hands-on, inquiry-based astronomy activities designed to
involve students in the excitement of scientific discovery.

Project ASTRO partners receive “The Universe at Your Fingertips,” a rich
curriculum resource book, as well as access to books, videos, and
telescopes from our lending library. Throughout the year, partners are
invited to attend follow-up workshops.

Project ASTRO emphasizes ongoing partnerships that foster a nurturing
environment for students to learn. To accomplish this, astronomers make at
least four visits to their adopted classroom at mutually convenient times.

Project ASTRO has been operating since 1993 in the Bay Area. Previous
participants often report that it is one of the most satisfying volunteer
endeavors they have undertaken.

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students majoring in
astronomy are also encouraged to apply.

Astronomer applications are now being accepted for the 2009 ­ 2010 school
year. The deadline is Friday, May 29th and space is limited.  All
participants are required to attend a 2-day workshop to be held August 7 &
8, 2009, at the San Mateo County Office of Education in Redwood City.

APPLY ONLINE by MAY 29th:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/bayarea/volunteer.html

CONTACT:
Allyson Clark, Project ASTRO Coordinator
Email: bayareaastro at astrosociety.org

MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.astrosociety.org/baprojectastro.html

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Project ASTRO, a program of the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the
Pacific, began with support from the National Science Foundation and the
NASA Office of Space Science. Currently, over 500 active
educator-astronomer partnerships bring the excitement of scientific
discovery through astronomy to over 20,000 students annually.