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What could be more thrilling than seeing the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory (Rover Curiosity) on Aug. 6, 2012 (EST)!  Having been at the launch and an educators' conference where the scientists and engineers shared with us the long journey to get the launch and landing just right, it was a joy to see those same scientists and engineers celebrating the successful landing on Mars and the transmission of the first pictures from the planet.  NASA coverage PBS coverage

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During my Fellowship I was able to attend a major launch - the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory and the Curiosity rover in November, 2011 <see my Nov. blog entry> Now we are anxiously awaiting the August 5th landing of the Curiosity Rover on Mars.  The last minutes of the mission are crucial as shown in the documentary, "Seven Minutes of Terror".  Learn more at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory website - including a countdown to Curiosity's landing!

NEW NASA GAME LETS PLAYERS BUILD AND LAUNCH A VIRTUAL ROCKET With NASA's Rocket Science 101, a new game designed for computers and iPad users, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to launch a spacecraft.

Memorial Day 2012 Memorial Day History- a picture slide show

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On April 17, 2012, Space Shuttle Discovery flew atop a modified 747 over DC on way to Dulles airport and installation at the Air and Space Museum Annex in Virginia. <fly-over video>

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On Monday April 9, 2012, the First Family hosted the 134th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This year's theme is “Let's Go, Let's Play, Let's Move” and more than 35,000 people will be assembling on the South Lawn for games, stories, and, of course, the traditional egg roll on the Lawn.  Learn more and see pictures!

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2012 is the centennial of the 1912 gift from Japan of 3,000 cherry blossom trees!  Each year the city hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival - an even bigger event this year due to the centennial.  View a slideshow of my cherry blossom pictures!

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Why do human beings explore?  Watch this video, "We are the Explorers",  to see how space exploration is a part of our history as explorers!

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NASA recently featured my Fellowship on their website.  For a limited tme you can view the link from the main Educators' page (in the revolving pictures).  After that just follow this link to my profile and also view other NASA Einstein Fellows' profiles!

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NASA has so many opportunities for students and teachers.  Many of these have deadlines.  Be sure to check the sites below often! Opportunities for Educators Opportunities for Students

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Have you heard about Robonaut 2?  NASA and GM teamed up to develop the next generation of robots for the space and automotive industry.  Short Video Intro  R2 Humanoid Robot R2 Joins Space Station Crew

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This Year@NASA, 2011 was produced by NASA Television. "It features the agency’s highlights for 2011 -- a year marked by scientific discovery, technological innovation, new destinations for exploration, and the beginning of a new era for human exploration of our solar system."

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Space Math @ NASA - a terrific project that develops K-12 math problems based on NASA mission data and press releases.  Learn more in my Nov. 10, 2011 entry...

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One of the Einstein Fellows, Jean Pennycook, is the educational liaison for the Penguin Science Project.  She is currently in Antarctica and has many activities for teachers and students to use to learn more about Adelie penguins and the effects of climate change and industrial fishing.

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The Mars Science Laboratory with the rover Curiosity is scheduled to lauch on November 25, 2011.  Watch an animation of the projected journey of Curiosity to Mars!

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Dr. Jeff Goldstein has a great message for educators and parents in this video. We've Got to be That LIght! Symphony of Science - We are all Connected

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Got a minute??  You may want to consider the Space Technology Grand Challenges!  (In fact, getting the answers will definitely take more than a minute as the questions are current ones facing NASA and others trying to explore and live in space beyond our current Earth orbit endeavors)

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The NASA website is full of great information and things to do, learn, and explore.  Be sure to check it out!!!

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CHECK OUT FUN WEBSITES Click on Resources for Students in the menu at the top of this page!

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Ms. Gleason-Tada has been selected with 27 other educators from across the country to be a participant in the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship.  She will serve her 11-month Fellowship at the NASA Headquarters' Office of Education in Washington, D.C.  The Fellowship's motto is "“Where Classroom Experience Informs Policy Decisions”. 

Ms. Tada looks forward to sharing her experiences while working with NASA and will pass along opportunities she uncovers about grants, activities, and programs related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education.