Dear Curriculum Coordinator:

I am writing this letter to request your help in gathering information about the role of space science in middle school science curriculum in the State of Wisconsin. This information gathering effort is being undertaken by the Wisconsin Initiative for Space Education (WISE), located in the University of Wisconsin’s Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and funded through federal, local and private agencies to develop education and public outreach programs for K - 12 teachers. The WISE programs are coordinated by Dr. Sanjay Limaye and Rosalyn Pertzborn, who in the past year have worked with many Madison area schools and teachers to integrate space science into their curriculum. Some examples of this include: a Mars Exploration Curriculum at the upper elementary level; EarthKam, which involved imaging the earth from the space shuttle using a CCD camera at the middle school level; and working with high school interns which culminated in the submission of a first place entry into the Thinkquest project by one intern.

As a result of new Eisenhower funding, WISE is now looking to expand their services throughout the State. These efforts are in response to the IKE needs assessment report from 1992 - 1995 and will include workshops for the professional development of teachers in the area of space science. Prior to developing workshop specifics, WISE deemed it important to gather updated and more focused information from middle schools that are teaching or would like to teach space science as part of their curriculums. This survey is being conducted in two parts:

In light of this, we are requesting from you, a copy of your middle school science curriculum and a list of the most used texts, trade books, or other resources used in the department. These materials will be analyzed for areas of space science currently suggested in middle schools and areas where space science could serve as an integrated, inquiry based theme. The information you provide will be used for no other purpose than given above and is not an evaluation of you, the science program, or your school district. The written findings will be used in a proposal to gain further support for teacher development from funding agencies and in which no individual or school will be named. On the other hand, response to this request does not affect in any way entry of the school’s teachers into the summer workshops.

Summarized on the next page is the information being requested and mailing instructions, contact individuals in case of inquiries, and information about the teacher survey.

Please send this information in the return paid envelope included with this letter. For the information to be used effectively, we request the information be returned by March 31, 1998.

For information relating to this survey contact:

Helen Meyer by phone at: (608) 833-7835, or by email: hmeyer@students.wisc.edu

For information about WISE programs contact:

Rosalyn Pertzborn by phone at: (608) 265-4160 or by email: rosep@ssec.wisc.edu

Thank you for your help. We look forward to hearing from you so that we may better serve you and your schools.