Mystery Images from Space Educator s Guide

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1 Mystery Images from Space Educator s Guide Summary: Students learn and reinforce core concepts in Earth science and achieve learning goals in other fields as well by exploring photographs taken by astronauts. This web-based program presents the images as mystery stories, with helpful maps, hints and sparking questions. The images are organized into themes such as rivers, weather, glaciers and aurora. Teachers can use individual images as brief lessons or use the themes to cover major topics. Topic: Earth science Grade Levels: Middle and high school Time: 15 minutes per image; 40+ images currently available Web sites: Mystery images: Space Station Explorers: Windows on Earth: Learning goals: Earth system science Earth as a dynamic, global system Interactions among land, ocean, atmosphere, life Weather, clouds and storm systems in unprecedented?? Planetary stewardship from a global perspective Human geography Human presence on Earth Urban development as revealed through nightlight images Agricultural patterns Water use and challenges Scientific thinking Image analysis Pattern recognition Recognizing change over time Space science International Space Station as platform for Earth observation Astronauts as essential to Earth observation 1

2 Astronauts take hundreds of photos every day Astronauts on the International Space Station have taken millions of photos revealing the incredible diversity of Earth, from the vast Sahara to the deep aqua colors of the Bahamas, erupting volcanoes, spectacular Himalayas, gorgeous aurora, and brilliant cities at night. These powerful images can make us think about our planet in new ways. Earth photography, for both work and play, is part of daily life on the International Space Station. Astronauts photograph assigned locations requested by scientists, and they also snap pictures for their own enjoyment as Earth s beauty unfolds beneath them. These images were not collected by automated satellites. Each one has a human story: an astronaut saw an awe-inspiring view, framed the picture and chose the decisive moment to capture it. These images spark creative expression as well as scientific curiosity. They give clues about the interconnected processes that shape Earth s surface and human civilization. They reveal new insights into our changing planet and humans impact on it. From the Space Station s cupola, astronauts can t see any political boundaries on Earth. They recognize that all humans are occupants of this one delicate planet floating in space. Through their photos, the astronauts invite us to join them on a journey of exploration and discovery. Rich Educational Power The archive of astronauts photos of Earth is a continuously evolving resource for everyone. Educators and learners of any age can explore cities, agriculture, glaciers, 2

3 oceans, aurora, floods, volcanoes, weather patterns and even human culture. Instilled with the astronauts unique perspective and human touch, these photos provide a fresh and engaging context for the concepts learned in the classroom. Learners can also find out how these photos are taken, downloaded, reviewed and shared. Students explore these images using two web-based tools: 1. Mystery Images from Space selected images with annotations, maps and questions 2. Windows on Earth the full archive of images, updated daily The Mystery Images tool gives a semi-structured way to explore selected images highlighting key features of Earth systems. The Windows on Earth tool allows for more open-ended exploration with access to the full archive of images. New images are uploaded daily. Mystery Images from Space: A Three-phase Process Mystery Images from Space has a three-phase approach: (1) hook learners with clear and engaging entry points, (2) help students figure out the location through maps and hints, and (3) provide prompting questions to explore further. This combination enables learners to start at the level most appropriate for their knowledge and experience, revisit for more activities, and continue their learning well beyond the base. 0. Select Images The image above on the left shows the home page, highlighting a featured image. Students can simply click on that image to proceed, or they can select an alternative image by scrolling down the page or clicking on one of the nine themes in the sidebar: 3

4 Theme 1. Beauty of the Earth These images illustrate beautiful views of Earth, helping students begin with awe and appreciation for our home planet. Theme 2. Scott Kelly s tweets Theme 3. Cities Theme 4. Rivers Astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted over 1,000 photos these are some of the most popular (by public vote). Beautiful and diverse, they help students connect with the person who took the photo. Though grey by day, cities are revealed at night by their spectacular lights. Students can think about cities scale and diversity, and about why cities are located and grow in the context of the land and features around them as well as the cultures of the people who live there. Rivers sculpt the land, and are an essential part of life on Earth. These photos show the range of rivers, varying by location, shape, color and sculpting process. Theme 5. Land Land is a broad category, and these four images just get students started. Students see volcanoes, mountains, islands, valleys and so many other features! 4

5 Theme 6. Islands Islands form in the ocean through volcanic and tectonics processes, coral reefs, glacial deposits and many other ways. Students develop analysis skills to figure out how each island formed. Theme 7. Agriculture What an incredible diversity of agricultural patterns around the world. Pivot irrigation, small personal farms, large agribusinesses: all factors of land, water, government, finance and so on. Theme 8. Clouds Someone once said Clouds are sky poems. Clouds are the most dynamic feature on Earth changing constantly, revealing atmospheric dynamics, storm systems, and interactions of land, surface water and the atmosphere. Theme 9. Aurora Astronauts love to photograph aurora, and these images show why. Such a beautiful shimmering dance of lights in the sky! Students can learn what causes these glorious lights. 5

6 1. Examine Closely Students start by looking closely at the image. They try to figure out what features it shows (such as rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys and clouds). They should spend a few minutes studying it. They may have an idea of the location, but for now focus on closely examining the image. You could even have students draw it to help. 2. Where is this? To continue, students click on 2 - Where is this? at the top of the page. Now the challenge is location analysis. Determining the location is tricky, because the picture can show almost anywhere in the world! Note that the image may or may not have the familiar orientation of north up, since astronauts can point the camera in any orientation. On the large interactive image, students use the plus and minus signs on the lower right to zoom in and out. Toggling options in the left sidebar can give useful hints. Selecting location on map shows a marker on the world map. Clicking night lights overlays the lights of cities. Clicking image with labels reveals the answer (image on the right above). Clicking Open Google Maps does just that. Identifying the location can lead to a deeper discussion about that region of the world. 6

7 3. Explore More The last step is 3 - Explore More. Questions superimposed on the image, such as How long did it take to fill Lake Powell? can open up new paths of exploration. Some questions can be answered through thoughtful study of the image. Others require a bit more research. The right sidebar shows a discussion, more questions, and helpful links. A successful investigation is a beginning, not an end. New questions may emerge as students examine the image and learn more about the region. For example, in the image above, students might wonder: Why the whole area is colored brown, red and orange? Why was the Powell Dam built in that specific location on the Colorado River? How does this dam impact fish and other life in the river? The educator can keep the questions flowing and make connections across Earth science topics and other subjects. Windows on Earth: Open-Ended Exploration If students are inspired to explore further, these two web sites are treasure troves: with its full archive of images, including daily downloads. has many more ways to explore Earth and the ISS. Earth is an amazing planet, and astronauts have the best way to enjoy and explore it. We are so appreciative that they photograph and share this global perspective with us. It s a great way to see Earth with new eyes! 7