- Ages:Gradeschooler, Teen
Looking for a Fun interdisciplinary virtual workshop combining art and the science of Astronomy, well this one’s Out of this World! With our AstroArt Workshop, children ages 7-12 can be inspired to think big, dream big, and to foster curiosity about an enormous universe in which the boundaries appear unlimited. The spark of interest often ignites in young minds where the ABC’s of the universe are brought to light.
Exciting week-long sessions for children grades 2-6 begin in January, with lots of fun STEM hands-on activities as they are guided into the mysteries of the universe. Here we will combine art and the beautiful universe using NASA’s MicroObservatory as we gaze upon a cosmic ocean, and compare objects in space to things we see in the earth’s oceans. You’ll be working with an astronomer, Kevin Manning, who was a Consultant for NASA, worked with space telescopes, and won an international award for astrocreativity. Kevin will guide you through requesting images from robotic telescopes and process those images like professional astronomers do. Cosmic Images Across the Spectrum will require using a search engine, locate and download images of the selected object taken by detectors sensitive to various frequencies in radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, and assemble with the processed visible image. Then, information for each selected object, such as type of object, when discovered and by who, constellation found in with its celestial coordinates, apparent and true size, brightness, etc. will be compiled onto a page or “block” and submitted to be added to a “Cosmic Quilt.” Color poster-sized printouts of all blocks submitted can be assembled for a physical Cosmic Quilt and put on display as an exhibit for all to see. This is just the beginning of the week-long multidisciplinary project that will have extraordinary tangible results. You’ve never seen anything like this before!
Topics include:
• Capture the Colorful Cosmos with NASA’s MicroObservatory
• Jewels of the Night Sky
• Modeling your Favorite Planet in the Solar System & Beyond
• Gazing Upon a Cosmic Ocean
• Exploring the Beauty of Earth as the Astronauts Viewed and Celestial Objects in Deep-Space
• Visitors from the Cosmic Neighborhood: Comets, Meteors & Asteroids
• Celestial Phenomena and the Splendor of the Northern Lights
• Cosmic Images Across the Spectrum
Many fun and educational STEM hands-on activities are done throughout the week, ending with an awesome cosmic quilt.
Upon completion of the workshop, the student will be able to:
A. Define basic terminology used in astronomy and space art.
1. Planets & moons
2. Stars & constellations
3. Star clusters, nebulae & galaxies
4. Celestial Sphere & Coordinates (Using Star Charts)
5. Lunar Mystique
6. Painting, Modeling and Quilts
B. Compare the Earth’s Oceans with the Cosmos.
1. Perspective & Depth
2. Optical Illusions
C. Apply principles to scientific calculations.
1. Physical characteristics of celestial objects
D. Interpret charts and graphs in evaluating star colors, brightness and size.
1. Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
E. Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder.
1. Aurorae and other Colorful Celestial Phenomena
2. Rainbows and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Location
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Provider Kevin Manning
I teach exciting astronomy classes about different aspects of the universe using incredible photos, awesome video clips, and fun STEM hands-on activities. I am an astronomer and science educator with lots of experience who has been a consultant for NASA and worked with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (space telescope) with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. I was both a Wright Fellow at Tufts University and an Einstein Fellow working with NASA Headquarters, the US House of Representatives, and the US Dept of Energy Office of Science on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and did some work with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Besides the numerous workshops I've presented over the years, some noteworthy ones include those made at Tufts University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, the National Science Teachers Association's National Convention, American Association for the Advancement of Science Breakfast with Scientists, and the National Parks Service. I'm an author and written some books on astronomy including 4 of them for children as a content specialist for Scholastic. Teaching is an art and requires patience and a thorough understanding of the subject to be able to help someone learn using various approaches and learning styles. I feel it's important to be yourself and add a little humor because that has been shown through research to help an individual relax and learn better. I love working with wood and have used it to build telescopes including one that is over ten-feet long.
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