Dr. John Frassinelli, an instructor at  the Lausanne School in Memphis, will be the clinician for a workshop Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 2010 at the Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium in French Camp, Mississippi. This two-day educator workshop will focus on hands-on activities and areas of current developments in space science. Teachers will receive materials that can be used immediately in the classroom and can receive 1 CEU toward teacher recertification.  (CEU credit costs $20.00)

Scheduled topics of investigation can include the following and many more:

· Spectroscopy : building home-made spectroscopes from cheap materials.

· Solar motion in the sky : how the seasons work, charting the Sun’s position using the month and latitude.

· Time — building sundials and understanding how they work.

· Eclipses — build an eclipse simulator.

· Learn about the constellations and how to find them

· Parallax — how we measure the distance to stars.

· Planetary Exploration Update — James Hill, the NASA/JPL Solar System Educator Fellow for Mississippi will share with us the latest on JPL’s many current and upcoming missions to Mars, comets, Saturn, Mercury, and more.

In addition to classroom activities, there will also be opportunities for participants to observe the Sun through the Observatory's telescopes, and to become acquainted with the evening sky . Teachers can learn how to use the Planetarium’s Spitz A-2 Planetarium.  You will have the opportunity to use research-grade telescopes and related equipment including the largest telescope in Mississippi and the .65m Sangre telescope facility.

Also available to teachers is the Astronomy Education Resource Center, with its collection of classroom activities, books, videos, slides, posters, and models, that may be checked out and used in their classrooms.

Food, lodging, and the workshop will be provided at no charge to the participants who pre-register. A $50 refundable deposit is required which will be refunded to participants and those who cancel in writing at least 3 weeks before the workshop.

Lodging:  Participants who wish to stay overnight will be housed in the lakeside

                  Lodge or Guest House for Friday night in French

                  Camp.  (Housing is available for up to 30 participants.)

Meals:      Friday supper and Saturday breakfast and supper will be provided.

Registration will begin at the Observatory at 4:00 PM, Friday, February 19.  Supper will be at 5:00 PM.  The workshop for CEU credit will begin 6:00 PM Friday and continue 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Saturday.  Saturday supper and observing will be optional.  If you would like to participate but can’t be here for the full time,  you are still welcome to participate.  Each of the workshop topics will be independent.  There is no charge for the workshop, lodging, or meals which are being funded by a grant from the Mississippi NASA Space Grant Consortium.  CEU credit is $20.00.

For more information and online registration, go to www.rainwaterobservatory.org
or call (662) 547-6377. Join us for an enlightening weekend.

Registration

Please fill out the form below to register for the  Workshop. Fields in red are required. Please submit one form per person.

These programs are being offered at no charge and are funded by a grant from the Mississippi NASA Space Grant Consortium.

NOTE: A $50 refundable deposit is required to reserve a place. If you participate or cancel at least 3 weeks in advance, this deposit will be refunded at registration. Make the check payable to Rainwater Observatory and send to Rainwater Observatory, ! Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745. 

1. What is your name?
2. What is your e-mail address?
3. What is the name of your school?
4. What is your postal address?
5. What is your phone number?
6. Which meals will you attend? To select multiple items, hold down the CTRL key and click each item.	None Friday Supper Saturday B-fast. Saturday Lunch
7. Which nights will you need lodging? To select multiple items, hold down the CTRL key and click each item.	None Friday Night Saturday Night
8. A preferred roommate? Any other comments? Special needs?
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