« Back to NewsNATIONAL ARTS EDUCATION INITIATIVE COMMEMORATES NASA SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM LEGACY
January 16, 2012“Because It Flew” Supports May 2011 President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) Report Recommendations
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), and USA TODAY Education are pleased to invite students and educators to participate in a free innovative arts integration educational program that introduces students grades 4-12 (ages 9-17) to the impact of the NASA Space Shuttle Program on our planet and people.
“Because It Flew” (BIF) is designed as an engaging and informative project that commemorates the 30-year history of the Space Shuttle program and the lasting value of scientific discoveries and technological advances that emerged because it flew. The goal is to engage students, their families and communities in understanding the historical significance of 30 years of innovation, exploration, education and sacrifice that will define NASA’s Space Shuttle era.
In early May 2011, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) introduced its newly released landmark report, Re-Investing in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools. The report observes that arts integration within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education contributes to increases in test scores, student/teacher morale, and attendance. “Because It Flew” supports educational reform efforts in arts integration advocated in this landmark report.
“Because It Flew” consists of two elements: optional educational activities and the NASA Space Shuttle Art Competition.
The educational activities include four modules that engage and introduce students to the history of NASA Space Shuttle missions. These activities incorporate NASA eClips™, an award winning online K-12 STEM education program that provides short, relevant educational video segments that are designed to inform and inspire students to see real-world connections with STEM education. The activities are aligned with national standards and support efforts to integrate science, technology, engineering, and math with language arts. They can easily be adapted to both formal and informal educational settings. Completion of these activities is not a requirement for submitting an art competition entry, but enhances student understanding.
In the second BIF component, students are invited to use the knowledge gained through this educational initiative to create original graphic artwork that symbolizes the impact of NASA Space Shuttle missions on the world and/or our future. They will then write a 250-word persuasive essay to explain their submission in the national competition. An expert panel of artists will review submissions and the top six entries in two age brackets (9-13 and 14-17) will receive cash prizes, a private mentoring session with accomplished USA TODAY graphic artist, Robert Ahrens, and a certificate of accomplishment.
The submission deadline for the NASA Space Shuttle Art Competition is August 5, 2011. The free activities and competition guidelines for BIF are available at www.usatodayeducate.com/becauseitflew.
This initiative builds upon the successful Sight/Insight and No Boundaries design challenges developed by USA TODAY Education and NASA and the RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design Challenge developed by NASA, NIA, USA TODAY Education and LearniT-TeachiT.
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