Road to the Stars

The Road to the Stars visually maps out the pathway that humans have traveled as they have ventured further and further into the solar system. It shows where we have gotten to, how, what we learned, & names these moments in evocative ways, giving the kernel of the story & inviting further exploration. The map is backed up by a full lesson plan/resources that teachers can use to excite & engage students. We also mocked up an integrated, web-based learning tool to encourage self-directed learning.

This project is solving the Why We Explore challenge.

Description

The concept The Road to the Stars maps out the pathway that humans have traveled as they have ventured further and further into the solar system. It makes visual this amazing journey and shows where we have gotten to, how we got there, and what we learned along the way. And it names each of these moments in space history (and space future) in evocative ways that give the kernel of the story and invite further exploration.

More than just an infographic, the Road to the Stars is geared at teaching, engaging and inspiring learners of all ages. It is accompanied by a lesson plan and teaching resources/materials that teachers can use to get students exploring and interacting with the topic. It will include a website ("Space Explorers") to encourage self-directed learning.

Deliverables:

  1. The "Why We Explore" poster
  2. The "Why We Explore" lesson plan, including course content, activities and a spinoff idea "jam"
  3. The "Space Explorers" website (prototype) for self-directed learning
  4. Teachers' resources for the "Why We Explore" lesson plan

Project Information

License: Creative Commons BY 3.0
Source Code/Project URL: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0AVfyPhFzqnbHRXV282UjRZVDQ/edit?usp=sharing

Resources

The "Why We Explore" poster: The Road to the Stars - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0AVfyPhFzqndVhob3FlaGExU3c/edit
Prototype "Space Explorers" website - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-rjFG7N2WrdemxTQXJrV0hKOWM/edit?usp=sharing
"Why We Explore" teachers' resources - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zGT2uJVsljdHR1b2xaMjRpTnM/edit?usp=drive_web
The "Why We Explore" Lesson Plan - https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#folders/0B-rjFG7N2WrdX0pncGhFM0lOX0k