Do you have what it takes to lead in a journey through the stars? If so, then the Adler Planetarium encourages you to start a Space Explorers Club at your local school.
The Space Explorers After School Science Club is a science program designed to engage middle school students in studies of space exploration in an after school environment. Teachers in each participating school will lead the club through eight weeks of inquiry based lessons and activities.
Participating educators receive:
• 6 hours of professional development at the Adler, including CPDUs
• Ongoing support, including coaching visits for conducting your club
• All materials and curriculum needed for your club
• $600 stipend upon completion of stipend requirements
• Free museum event for students and their families
Clubs at participating schools receive support in the following ways:
• GEMS Space Science Sequence 6-8 curriculum guides and materials
• $600 stipend upon completion of stipend requirements
• Support from Adler Educators, including three site visits focused on supporting the use of inquiry-based strategies in teaching.
• Saturday culminating event hosted by the Adler Planetarium for participating students and their families
Participating schools commit to supporting their club in the following ways:
• Collecting photos release forms and permission slips for all students participating in the club.
• Providing transportation to and from the Adler Planetarium for the culminating event
• Club leaders commit to supporting their club in the following ways:
• Club leader attendance at PD sessions held on evenings and weekends.
• Recruitment of at least 15 students, 6th – 8th grade, to join the club.
• Convening eight weeks of club meetings (two hours per week) and identifying the day(s) and time(s) of the club meetings at the professional development session
• Timely submission of student pre-assessments and post-assessments
• Club leader participation in two mid-session videoconference
• Club participation in the culminating event hosted at the Adler Planetarium
• Club leader attendance at a post-session summative meeting held at the Adler
• Participation in program evaluation including submission of an end-of-program written report
For more information, submit an interest form for an upcoming professional development for teachers sessions on January 26 and 27 from 9 am to 4 pm, or visit http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/space-explorers-club/.
