Project ASTRO NOVA is part of a national network of Project ASTRO sites created by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific with support from the National Science Foundation and the 3M Corporation. In New Jersey Project ASTRO NOVA is offered at Raritan Valley Community College with the support from local astronomy departments, astronomy clubs and planetariums. Our goal is to facilitate ongoing partnerships between amateur or professional astronomers and teachers or youth leaders.

Each school year we pair third to ninth grade teachers and youth leaders with volunteer astronomers. In the current school year we have 27 astronomers with 37 enthusiastic and committed teachers.

The teacher-astronomer partnerships are established at a two-day workshop proceeding the school year, during which the partners meet each other and are introduced to effective, classroom tested hands on activities appropriate for their grade level. Many of these activities have been compiled into an extensive manual called THE UNIVERSE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. The emphasis is put on activities as opposed to lectures. The workshop not only models these activities for the partners, but provides supplies and resources as well as planning time and advice to astronomers and teachers on how to help their partnerships succeed.

Class visits usually start in the fall and continue through the school year. Participating astronomers commit to making at least four one hour visits to the partners’ classrooms. During these visits they answer students questions and assist the teacher with inquiry based astronomy activities that enforce the State’s Science Education Standards. Phases of the moon are demonstrated with a light bulb and a Styrofoam ball. The scale of the Solar System is demonstrated as well as the motion of comets around the sun. Students learn how to make a comet from everyday materials and observe how it changes as it warms up. Other visits may include going on field trips, creating an astronomy club or helping with science fair projects. Many participants organize evening star parties during the school year, which are excellent opportunities to involve the entire school. Most of our 27 astronomers are finding the experience so rewarding and enjoyable that they make several additional visits.

Astronomers who are interested in participating in Project ASTRO NOVA should request and fill out an amateur volunteer form. On this form, astronomers will be asked for areas of astronomy that are of special interest to them and which grade/ages with which they prefer to work. Each partnership will receive a wide variety of materials and resources for use in their visits including, The Universe at Your Fingertips resource book, articles about recent astronomical developments, resource lists, access to audio-visual materials, tips on working with school groups/ children, tips on addressing and working with preconceptions and learning styles and more.

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