Online Guide: Why Solar System Explorer?
Solar System Explorer (SSE)
SSE is designed to provide multiple paths and multiple levels of learning depending on age, level of education, and the individual educators desires. And, product updates keep information current.
SSE uses:
As classroom lessons and/or activities
To create your own lessons and/or activities
As team/group research and activity inside or outside the classroom
As a reference resource and Create-Your-OwnTM tool
Create-Your-OwnTM permits use with any subject requiring vocabulary or knowledge building
SSE can be used in any of the following conditions:
Single computer access in classroom
Computer projection equipment access in classroom or learning laboratory
Multiple computer access in learning laboratory, computer lab or school library
With or Without Internet access
Outside the classroom as an educator reference for class preparation
SSE Benefits:
Learn Comprehensive interactive exhibits and databases with multi-level information
Resources section includes bibliography, web links, and glossary of terms
Instruct Program can be divided into 10-15 minute blocks
Multi-level so you choose the depth of information
Reinforce Build on initial lessons with more detailed information
Use games and activities to add to the experience
Test Use supplied Q&A, games and activities
Create-Your-Own puzzles within the software
Create Create-Your-Own word puzzles
Have students create puzzles
Display Suitable for display on one or many computers
Suitable for projection using a computer projection device
Discuss Product sections lend themselves to class discussion
Or group/team projects
Plan About the Museum, Maps, and web links make field trip planning a snap
Online guides for classroom use or homework use
Internet Web links make going beyond the product quick and easy
Web-Interactive-Software-Enabled means on-line updates are just a click away
Online Guide: Visiting the National Air and Space Museum
Solar System Explorer Menu Items:
Visitors Center, About NASM, About CEPS, Museum Store, Virtual Tour, Virtual Exhibits, and Games
ACTIIVITY:
Field Trip planning
Use Visitors Center map of the mall to plan your trip to the National Air and Space Museum and other Smithsonian museums (location, metro, contact information, and facilities)
Use About NASM, About CEPS, and Museum Store to plan your visit and contact the museum
Use link to Smithsonian online visitor planning guides
Both visitors center and Smithsonian online guides are helpful in expanding your visit to other Smithsonian museums
ACTIIVITY:
Virtual Tour
Use products Virtual Tour to prepare students for their visit
ACTIIVITY:
Prepare student question sheets using gallery tour and linked information screens or use the games section TRIVIA to create questions for the students to find the answers to in the museum. Have students go on their own adventure in discovering the answers to your questions as individuals or teams.
Online Guide: Lesson 1 – Meet the Planets
Solar System Explorer Menu Items:
Virtual Tour, Meet the Planets, Virtual Exhibits, Exploration Missions, and Games
ACTIIVITY:
Select “Meet the Planets” section and go through each planet with students 15 min
ACTIIVITY:
Select “Games and Activities” section then select “Word Matching” and ask
students to match the planets with their names – then review each planet. 15 min
ACTIIVITY:
Create nine planets crossword and/or word search puzzle and use as next day quiz.
Or
Have students Create their own puzzle as homework and use them to quiz each other 15 min
ACTIIVITY:
If time permits use “Virtual Exhibits” and select “Planets” for more in-depth review 15 + min
of the planets.
ACTIIVITY:
The Family of the Sun song that helps students learn about the planets 10-15 min
Sing-Along using music in Virtual Tour – Planets Gallery and/or words on insert card
ACTIIVITY:
Planet Concentration Game Match satellite pictures to reveal planets and planet 10-15 min
Information
ACTIIVITY: (single computer access or library computer access)
Have student/student teams review the Meet the Planets section and the corresponding planets Virtual exhibits and write a paper on one or more planets (Reference section can also be used)
Have students/student teams make a classroom presentation on one or more of the planets
ACTIIVITY:
With Internet connection
Go to Resources section and review websites for use at teachers discretion
Suggestions: The Nine Planets and/or Solarviews
Create your own lessons using the products resources (Internet Websites, Booklist, and Glossary)
Online Guide: Lesson 2 – Earth Science
Solar System Explorer Menu Items:
Exploring Earth, Earth Observation System, and Exhibits section – Planet Earth
Phenomena (Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Water Temperature, Ozone, Land Effects, and Auroras)
Earth Today (Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere, …
ACTIIVITY:
Select “Exploring Earth” then “Earth Today” or “Phenomena” 15 minutes
(Six Earth categories and six phenomena each approximately 15 minutes)
ACTIIVITY:
Select “Games and Activities” section then select Word Search or Crossword. Create
Earth Science crossword and/or word search puzzle and use as next day quiz.
Or
Have students Create their own puzzle as homework and use them to quiz each other 15 minutes
ACTIIVITY:
If time permits explore the “Earth Observation System” with the students and learn
More about NASA programs for observing Earth and Earth imaging systems 15-30 min
ACTIIVITY: (single computer access or library computer access)
Have students/teams review the Exploring Earth, Exhibits – Planet Earth, and/or
Earth Observation System sections and the corresponding planets Virtual exhibits
Have students expand their research using the reference section provided
Have students/teams write a report for classroom presentation
Create your own lessons using the products resources (Internet Websites, Booklist, and Glossary)
ACTIIVITY:
With Internet connection
Go to Resources section and review websites for use at teachers discretion
Suggestions: Embedded links in Earth Today section and Solarviews
Online Guide: Lesson 3 – Space Exploration
(FUTURE)
Lesson 3: Learning About Space Exploration - Exploration Missions (Earth and/or Solar System)
Solar System Explorer Menu Items:
Exploration Missions (Earth and Planets)
Exploring Earth
The Earth Observation System (EOS)
Virtual Exhibits
Virtual Tours
Reference
Visitors Guide
Manned Exploration
US (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, Space Station)
Russian (…)
Unmanned Exploration
Entomopter
Online Guide: Lesson 4 – Vocabulary and knowledge building
(FUTURE)
Create-Your-Own possibilities: Any class where knowledge testing and/or vocabulary needs to be learned (vocabulary is still part of college entrance exams).
Online Guide: Lesson 5 – The Earth Observation System (EOS)
(FUTURE)
Online Guide: Games and Activities
Relationship to Education
| Game |
Learning Objective |
Age Groups |
Remarks |
| Word Search |
Vocabulary, dexterity, knowledge |
6 - Adult |
Create-Your-Own Printable |
| Crossword |
Vocabulary and knowledge |
6 - Adult |
Create-Your-Own Printable |
| Word Matching |
Name-Image correlation, Planet and Planetary body information, including relative size and location |
6 - Adult |
|
| Image Matching |
Image recognition and information on images recognized |
6 - Adult |
|
| Concentration |
Information on planets and vehicles uncovered |
6 - Adult |
|
| Sliding Image |
Puzzle solving |
10 - Adult |
|
| Trivia Quizzes |
Knowledge testing |
6 - Adult |
|
| Space Maze |
Hand-eye coordination, puzzle solving |
6 - Adult |
|
| Falling Object |
Hand-Eye coordination/FUN |
6 - Adult |
|
| Martian Lander |
Hand-Eye coordination/FUN |
10 - Adult |