"More Universe at Your Fingertips," a new collection of hands-on astronomy activities and resource guides for teaching astronomy in grades 3 - 12, has just been published by the non-profit Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Edited by veteran astronomy educators Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz, the 356-page loose-leaf format book focuses on inquiry-based, classroom-tested activities that teachers (and those working with them) can put to immediate work in their classrooms. The publication was developed by Project ASTRO, a National-Science-Foundation funded program linking volunteer astronomers with classroom teachers to improve the teaching of science in our schools.
The 27 activities (with detailed instructions) in the book cover such topics as: following the motion of the Moon, determining the reasons for the seasons, tracking and mapping the planets, searching for meteorites, discovering what killed the dinosaurs, measuring the Sun's rotation, finding stars that vary, fingerprinting cosmic light sources, sorting galaxies, and sending a message to possible alien civilizations. They were selected by a panel of mentor educators from among hundreds of astronomy and space-science activities published in the last few years. The resource guides include a topical index to hundreds of astronomy activities on the Web; a listing of books and articles about the exploration of the solar system; a skeptic's guide to astrology, UFO's, and other pseudo-sciences; and a reading list on astronomy and the environment.
Copies of the book (order code BO123) are available for $24.95 (plus $5 for shipping and handling) directly from Astronomical Society of the Pacific mail order catalog or on-line store. Call toll-free at 1-800-335-2624 or order on the Web at: www.aspsky.org. Discounts are available for bulk sales.
An earlier volume, entitled "Universe at Your Fingertips," has become one of the most widely used astronomy education resources in the world. Still available, it features 813 pages of activities and resource guides and has received rave reviews from educators and scientists. There is no duplication between the two books.
Founded in 1889, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific is the country's oldest and largest general-astronomy organization, with members in all 50 states (and over 60 other countries.) One of the Society's key missions is sharing the excitement of astronomical discovery with students and teachers, through the creation and distribution of accurate, accessible educational materials.