Bring AREN into the Classroom
The AREN projects aims to introduce concepts in remote sensing and atmospheric sciences in a way that is hands-on and engaging for learners of all ages. In addition, the projects intends for learners to engage in experiential education in a group setting to enhance social skills and develop the confidence to express opinions and actively listen to those of others. The below activities are organized by science concept and increasing difficulty in each subgroup.
Image Analysis and Remote Sensing
Exploring Light
Build a handheld spectroscope for learning about light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Manual Image Classification
Subdivide aerial image into different land cover types to create classified image and percentage for each type
Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The lesson introduces electromagnetic waves, their behaviors, and how scientists visualize these data with engaging examples of NASA science.
Exploring Agriculture
This lesson uses satellite imagery and tools like Google Earth Pro to learn the roles of remote sensing in the field of agriculture
Exploring Amazonian Deforestation
This lesson seeks to engage students in an examination of how human activities modify the physical environment.
Exploring Disaster Management
This lesson instructs about natural hazards, first by exploring the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens, and then looking at potential for natural hazards in their own community
Exploring Urban Use and Planning
This lesson introduces urban land use and its growth as well as the impacts of urbanization and sustainability efforts to migrate the impacts
Exploring Water Use and Quality
This lesson seeks to engage students in an examination of how human impacts on Earth
Systems by studying the shrinkage of the Aral Sea after the diversion of two major rivers
Exploring Wildlife Biology and Conservation
This lesson seeks to engage students in an examination of how a changing climate effects the migratory behavior of arctic caribou herds
Georeferencing with QGIS
This exercise will take an aerial image and transform it in QGIS by assigning spatial coordinates that correspond to actual coordinates on the ground
Green Leaf Index with QGIS
Use QGIS and Green Leaf Index algorithm to create an index of ‘Green-ness” of an aerial image which is a reasonable proxy for healthy vegetation
Changes in Landcover Over Time
To enable students to analyze land cover change and to help them grasp the extent, significance, and consequences of land cover change
Wind and Weather
Exploring Surface Winds Using Mini-Kites
Assemble a miniature kite and study ground level winds qualitatively by its effect on kites, trees, and other objects.
Boundary Layers Walk
An outdoor activity introducing atmospheric turbulence and stratification to build an awareness of wind’s movement through the local environment
Building a Wind Sock
Construct a wind sock and use it to measure wind speed and direction. Activity is on page 29 of the NASA Educator’s Guide linked below
Building a Barometer
Construct barometric pressure gauges, monitor them throughout the week, and record the changes. Students will also analyze trends in the barometric pressure with
relation to weather patterns.
Investigating Winds at Altitude
Students will assemble and fly a Frustrationless Flyer Sled Kite to sense the effects of winds at altitude, while experiencing the forces involved in the flight.
Construct a Wind Tunnel
Step my step instructions for designing and constructing a classroom wind tunnel for furthering studies in aerodynamics.
Math and Physics
Forces on a Kite
Learn about aerodynamic forces on a kite before designing and assembling miniature kites to test their success in flying
Flying a Paper Kite
Construct a sled kite from paper and study how to change kite altitude and how tails affect flight. Activity is on page 44 of the NASA Educator’s Guide linked below
Lift and Drag
Participants will construct an indoor kite with several options for making their own design choices and testing the impact of those choices
Estimating Biomass Loss from Fire
Students analyze the data from the 2007 Greece fires to determine the scale, area, and percentage of the forest impacted by these fires.
Studying Wildfires from Space
In this activity, students learn how scientists assess wildfires using remote sensing. Students then use some of the same techniques to solve grade-level appropriate math problems.
GLOBE Connection
The GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program is an international science and education program that focuses on promoting scientific literacy and building connections between people passionate about the environment. GLOBE partners with the AEROKATS program and there are several GLOBE bundles that correspond with the science goals of the project.
More information about AEROKATS and GLOBE can be found at the following webpage: https://www.globe.gov/web/aren-project/overview/aeropods