JASON VI: Island Earth
Curriculum Overview
JASON VI will focus on five major topic areas.
The following is a brief summary of
each JASON VI topic area with links to an outline of the curriculum
for each unit:
Unit One: Where are We Going and Why ?
Exercises in Unit One focus on the meaning of the metaphor
"Island Earth" by exploring concepts relating space distance,
space travel, and organization of our solar system. Various
concepts relating to island ecology are discussed with specific
reference to the Hawaiian islands. The members of the JASON
VI scientific team are also introduced, focusing on their fields of
research which include volcanism, behavioral ecology and
adaptation as exemplified through spiders, Hawaiian mythology and culture, communications technology and successional
ecology such as by plant communities on the Big Island of
Hawaii.
Unit Two: Technology
Unit Two takes an in-depth look at a wide variety of topics
relating to technology. Various types of planetary probes,
robots, satellites, and space vehicles are considered along with
various types of launch mechanisms. Other types of tools used
to explore space including telescopes are studied. Forms of
communication and data gathering instrumentation including
remote sensing, aerial photography communication satellites,
fiber optics, and computer communication as exemplified
through the Internet are important features of Unit Two.
Unit Three: Geosciences
Exercises in Unit Three explore the nature and origins of volcanoes and seismic activity. Concepts focusing on plate tectonics,
terrestrial volcanic activity and planetary volcanism are
demonstrated via hands-on activities. Tools such as seismographs, tiltmeters, and spectroscopes scientists use to study/
gather data relating to these phenomena are built and experimented with by students.
Unit Four: Life Sciences
Unit Four deals with living organisms, the environment in
which they live, and the means by which living things adapt to
their environment. The basic nature of life and means by
which scientists test for life on other planets are explored with
a series of hands-on exercises. Animal migration, island
biogeography and adaptation on the Hawaiian Islands and the
Galapagos Archipelago are central concepts covered in the unit.
Several exercises focusing on global change illustrate major
issues from the fields of paleoclimatology global warming, and
sea level rise. The climate, atmospheric chemistry ocean
currents, and the ecological role these factors play in influencing life on Hawaii are studied.
Unit Five: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science
Unit Five focuses on the history culture and people of Hawaii
in two eras: before Captain Cook's arrival to the islands, and
after Captain Cook's arrival. Issues relating to early Hawaiian
social structure and habitation by the Polynesians are discussed. The Hawaiian language is of central import to the unit,
as is the meaning of Hawaiian mythology
JASON VI Home Page
JASON Project homepage
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Teachers' Guide
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Students' Corner
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Gene Carl
Feldman
(gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov)
(301) 286-9428
Todd Carlo Viola,
JASON Foundation for Education
(todd@jason.org)