"Think Scientifically" Elementary School Science Literacy Program

Because of the pressure to focus on math and reading at the elementary level, it's easy for science to be put in the back seat. The Think Scientifically book series will provide ways for science to easily integrate with the math and reading curriculum! This story-based science literature integrates a classic storybook format with solid science to make an educational product that meets state literacy standards. Each story will be accompanied by hands-on labs and activities that teachers can easily conduct in their classrooms with minimal training and materials, as well as math and language arts extensions and assessment questions. These books will be distributed through teacher workshops and conferences.

If you are interested in piloting these books in your classroom contact: Aleya Van Doren, EPO Formal Education Coordinator.

Think Scientifically Book gets an Illustrator

On June 26th the authors and illustrator of the upcoming Solar Dynamics Observatory children's book series met at Goddard Space Flight Center to tour the Integration and Test Facility and see SDO in person one last time. For author and 6th grade teacher Ali Houpt, and illustrator Jennifer Hammond, this was their first trip to Goddard Space Flight Center. Author and SDO Formal Education Coordinator Aleya Van Doren hosted the tour, making this the first time the entire group has met in person.

The SDO children's book series, called Think Scientifically, will feature three books that cover a variety of elementary level solar topics. Each book has a "Concept Enhancement Lesson Plan" for teachers, complete with background information, a lab activity, and math, reading, and language arts connections. The first book, The Day Joshua Jumped Too Much, is a story about a boy who learns what the earth would be like without the sun - earth's primary source of energy. Book one will be released in the fall of 2009 through teacher workshops held at Goddard Space Flight Center. Individual copies will be able available through contacting Aleya Van Doren.

Aleya Van Doren and Ali Houpt met in Allentown, Pa where they both taught middle school science. Ali has her degree in elementary education with a reading concentration from Kutztown University. Her ultimate goal is to retire from teaching to write children's books full time. Some of her other works include "I am a Turtle" and "A Monstrous Mess as Mountainside Elementary." Her role in the Think Scientifically book series is primary author, constructing the characters and stories with the help of Aleya to work in the science concepts. Ali lives with her husband Tim in Allentown, Pa.

Jennifer Hammond is an Alexandria native with a passion for all things creative. After graduating with a Master's Degree in History from George Washington University, Jennifer decided to delay her history career so that she could pursue her other passion - art. By day Jennifer can be found in Old Town walking dogs - by night she's hard at work on the latest art project. Jennifer has been creating a wide array of art projects on commission since 2000 - her most recent projects have included everything from illustrations and cartoons to murals and paintings.

Aleya Van Doren is leading the Think Scientifically project at Goddard as the Formal Education Coordinator for SDO. Her role in the project is to design the teacher supplements, and define and check the science content, all while serving as creative muse to Ali. Aleya graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelors Degree in Earth and Space Science.

Science is often a forgotten subject in elementary classrooms, due to the added pressure of standardized testing and teacher's comfort level with the content. The Think Scientifically books are designed to sneak in science by creating an interdisciplinary module that will make including science easy. The trio is working closely on completing the final stages of the book, which has already received attention from teachers as far away as Hawaii. They excitedly look forward to its launch.