SpaceArc | Voice of A Planet - www.spacearc.com

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT

THE BACK STORY

1992 was a good year: It was the 500 th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to America; it was the International Space Year; it was the time to launch SpaceArc. Coincidence? Synchronisity, more likely. What better way to weave the space, technology, history, and cultural evolution story together?

Thousands and thousands of years ago, the first communication system began: Man left a handprint on a cave wall. This was his way of marking an event, representing a piece of his life, defining who he was, and telling others about it.

In similar fashion, SpaceArc had that deep desire to communicate. Conceptualized in 1972, as founder James M. Ferren’s tenth grade term paper, SpaceArc sought to mark cultural events, represent pieces of world life, define the Planet’s existence, and tell others – now and in the future – about it. SpaceArc’s logo echoes that ancient handprint.

SpaceArc took the idea of a time capsule to a higher level…literally! In its maiden voyage, SpaceArc sent countless records of civilization – letters, essays, drawings, music, personal musings and reflections – into space, housed in a satellite. No other long life archival system of this type existed, thus SpaceArc created The Time Capsule for All Time!

SPACEARC IS OPEN TO EVERYONE

SpaceArc is available to everyone who wants to participate and has access to the Internet. The SpaceArc project is particularly well-suited for classroom applications.

This not-for-profit educational project was developed in partnership with NASA’s Division of Educational Affairs, the World Space Foundation, The US International Space Year Association, Educational Testing Service, Direct TV, Lockheed Martin, Voice of America, Creo, Imagedata, Streamteam.com, Brittanica Software, The Friendly Home, CCRS, and Space Systems Loral. It has been endorsed by national education conferences and state level teacher associations. The program has been successfully tested in classrooms in the United States, the former Soviet Union, and other countries.

SPACEARC’S CONNECTION TO EDUCATION

SpaceArc is a living tribute to humanity’s long-standing love affair with space exploration and travel. The project provides a concrete way to “reach for the stars,” in multiple forms and dimensions. It is also a creative way to connect back to the classroom.

Whether used to introduce an astronomy lesson, reinforce writing skills, or begin a discussion on technology and its applications, the SpaceArc project adapts well into any curriculum or discipline. It is geared stimulate interest in “the book-learning subjects,” while, at the same time, allowing students the freedom to cultivate a personal identity and understanding of their relationship to the broader Universe. It lets students apply their knowledge of the world to a context outside the confines of the education tradition (i.e., tests, classroom discussions, or oral recitations). It lets them be part of a larger global cultural sharing experience.

THIS GUIDE HAS YOUR CREATIVITY IN MIND

This guide was developed by the SpaceArc Education Committee, in conjunction with an advisory panel of elementary and secondary teachers and other school personnel. Although this project is strongly based in education, it is not meant to be a curriculum document. Rather, the ideas in this guidebook are best suited as curricular enhancements or stepping off points or links to any activity in any discipline. The appeal of the SpaceArc project is widespread, and it has been successfully piloted in gifted and talented, mainstream, and special education classes alike.

In addition to the suggestions, guidelines, and Standards’ connections, this guide includes examples that have already been submitted and the Archival Submission Form necessary to participate. Each student has his/her own form to fill out, and forms may be used only once. THERE IS NO COST WHATSOEVER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPACEARC PROJECT. For more details on the complete participation process, please click here. Each teacher whose entire class participates will receive a downloadable (and printable) official SpaceArc Certificate, suitable for framing and classroom display.

SUBJECT BY SUBJECT:

INCORPORATING SPACEARC INTO ANY CLASSROOM

SOCIAL STUDIES

Suggested activities

Create a class or community time capsule. Be sure to include enough items to really represent the culture and a rationalization for each item. Write directions for those who will be opening the time capsule in the future.
Examine a time capsule that has already been opened. Discuss the contents and why that particular society chose those items. Explain the relevance of the items in specific and global terms.
Simulate an archeological dig. Include enough items to depict the diversity of the area being studied. Work in teams to analyze the items found and what they represent to that culture.
Visit a natural history museum or cultural institution. Examine dioramas which depict a particular region or geologic era. Discuss the implications of the findings on that society and the global culture. Discuss why the particular findings were chosen by this institution and why preserving history is important.
Create a timeline for a particular decade. The timeline may be local, national, international, or any combination thereof. Include all relevant events and people. Explain why you chose that particular time period and its importance in the grand scheme of history.
Create a scrapbook for a particular historical event or era. This scrapbook may be local, national, international, or any combination thereof. Through a variety of media and viewpoints and cultural criticisms, include all pertinent information. Explain the importance of your selection in terms of its relevance to the history surrounding it. Note how each type of media informs the content.
Create a map (flat or 3D) that highlights an historical event or era (i.e., a map depicting the areas of the California Gold Rush; a map of the former USSR and its new configuration; a map of the Westward Expansion; a map of the world before the Glacier Age; a map of Native American people and their migrations).
Create a virtual tour of museums and other historical institutions that concentrates on a particular theme. Describe why you chose the theme and how each institution supports it. Be sure to include what exhibits you would see at each place and how the institution represents the theme overall.
Plan a local history tour that highlights the culture of your area. Be sure to detail each stop and explain why that spot is important to your area.
Interview a local leader or politician about a major concern in your area. Be sure to include the background of the problem, what has been done so far, and what this person will do from this point on. Include the historical significance of the problem and what potential impact it will have on future generations.
Write and/or re-enact a dialogue between an American teenager and someone from another country. Include a cultural interchange that exemplifies both differences and similarities.
Write an interpretation of the First Amendment, especially as it applies to you individually and the culture broadly. Cite examples where people have questioned the applicability of the First Amendment, or have used it for purposes other than its original intent. Discuss how life (as you know it) would be affected if there was no First Amendment.
Compare and contrast the government structures of 3-5 countries with that of the United States. Cite the positive and negative aspects of each country. Include a rationale for living in or leaving each country.
Using research sources, trace the history of flight in the United States and the world. Discuss the reason humans were interested in flight and how that influenced the culture.
Compare Leonardo DaVinci’s concept of a flying machine with aircraft of today. Discuss his vision of the future and what it really turned out to be. Explain how his vision influenced society and the future.
Using research sources, trace the history of space exploration in the United States and the world. Explain the Space Race and its impact on history. Discuss the prevailing romance with traveling to Outer Space; cite literature and media sources to support your thesis.
Examine the importance of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. Trace his trips and document his discoveries.
Discuss how society sometimes “rewrites history,” depending on current events and trends. Take a position on this issue and persuade others to your point of view. Include specific references where appropriate.

MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Suggested activities

Research and discuss all the ways satellites are currently used. Include the kind of technology necessary to make satellites viable. Examine the changes in satellites over the past 30 years. Include how satellites are launched into orbit.
Research and discuss current communication methods and technologies. Examine the changes in communications over the last century. Discuss the implications of these methods to the global society and culture.
Research scientists or inventors who had an impact on communications systems. Include a brief history and why they focused on communication. Compare and contrast the methodologies and theories of at least two of these people.
Research scientists or inventors who were also artists or educators. Explain how being proficient in one discipline helped them to cross over to another discipline. Compare and contrast how society viewed the individual in both realms.
Examine the technologies that you use on a daily basis. Compare to the technologies that your parents and your grandparents relied on. Explain why technology is so essential to a culture, and how earlier cultures survived without technological advances.
Speculate about the possible technical advances 150 years in the future. Base your predictions on current technologies and trends.
Debate how technology enhances or decreases scientific explorations and discoveries. Support your opinion with current examples and pertinent research.
Debate how technology enhances or inhibits medical research. Support your opinion with current examples and pertinent research. Be sure to reflect on cultural impact, ethics, and morals.
Compare and contrast the American and Russian space programs from the 1960s to the present. Explain why it was so important to “beat the Russians” in the Space Race. Discuss the impact of space exploration on society and culture. Cite references to space exploration in other parts of the culture.
Discuss the importance of the Apollo space program and the moon landing. Compare and contrast actual news reports with the Ron Howard movie. Describe how the information is presented in each, including any political slants or biases.
Cite examples of the “romance of the moon” or moon travel in other part of culture, including literature, music, movies, and cartoons. Explain why this idea is so appealing to people – now and in the past. Discuss how science can be found in all areas of life, and why interdisciplinary connections are so important.
Compare and contrast the importance of space probes, the Space Shuttle, and space stations. Explain the implications for our culture and society. Include relevant examples and details to support your opinion.
Demonstrate a day in the life of someone living on another planet. Explain how you arrived at your ideas and speculations.
Debate the possibility of UFOs, aliens, and life somewhere else in the Universe. Support your opinion with scientific research, historical anecdotes, and literary/media references. Try to persuade someone else to your way of thinking.
Visit a planetarium (live or on-line). View star shows and other programs related to cosmology.

THE ARTS

Suggested Activities

Write a music score that you think reflects our times. Be sure to describe what kind of music it is, what instruments would play it, what tempo it’s played at, and any other details that would help those in the future.
Write a music score that you think would be played in 150 years. Be sure to describe what kind of music it would be, what instruments or technology would play it, what tempo it would be played at, and any other necessary details.
Scan two or three of your favorite artworks. Explain the significance of each of your choices. Put them in a social context to help those in the future understand.
Draw a symbol that you would like as a tattoo. Explain the personal significance, then put in a social context to help those in the future understand.
Draw a symbol that represents something about the culture that is important to you. Your picture could be an historical event, a cultural icon, a piece of literature, or anything else that matters to you. Include a brief explanation about your picture.
Create a sculpture that reflects something of personal importance. Photograph it, then include photo (or scanned image) on the Participation form. Explain your creation and the basis for its design.
Create a set of dishes or cooking vessels that might be used in the future. Photograph your work, then include photo (or scanned image) on the Participation form. Explain your design in terms of decoration, materials, usefulness, and practicality. Compare with a similar item in today’s culture.
Describe what an art gallery or museum or science center of the future would look like. Compare and contrast to any of those cultural institutions of today.
Create an architectural design that would be applicable in the future. Describe what materials would be needed to build it, to whom it would be best suited, and any other pertinent details.
Select two architectural designs that really represent your view of society. Scan or photograph the images. Explain why they are so meaningful to you and to the whole of society.
Design a space craft of the future. Compare it to a similar vehicle of today’s world. Explain what changes would be necessary, how the changes would be made, and why they are necessary. Give all the pertinent specs.
Select 1-2 artists in various media. Explain why they are considered so important to our culture. Describe a prominent work for each artist. Explain the context in which each work was created, and why the work remains an icon today.
Explain the importance of art in any given culture, and how cultural forces influence art. Where appropriate, include documented research.
Explain the importance of science and technology on the arts. Show how one influences or changes the other.
Explain how art is everywhere in the Universe.

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW:

SOME IDEAS TO PONDER

Below are a few ideas to get your students motivated…and “in the mood” to be creative and reflexive, that is!!

Why is preserving bits of (our) culture so important?
How do we decide what to preserve?
What information would you need to include, in addition to the selected objects, so future cultures would have a clear picture about us? (That is, what directions or details would you include to help them explain what they found?)
How do we use the past to explain the future?
How would future cultures be different if they had no reference points to the past?
What do we want future societies to remember about us, that they won’t find in any media outlet?
Why would these things be so important for those in the future to know about us?
What would an archeologist of the future discover about us?
What kind of clues would s/he find? How would s/he go about interpreting these clues?
If you only could include movies, television shows, and music in your time capsule, which 5 of each would be there? Why? What would these pieces represent about our culture?
What scientific discoveries should future cultures know occurred in our lifetime? Why are the ones you chose so vital to civilization?
Where will space exploration be 150 years in the future? Describe or draw what life on another planet or in another solar system would be like.
What technological advances that we “can’t live without” would those in the future laugh at, or think of as primitive? Why would they view these things so differently than us? What do you think theirs would look like?
Describe “a day in the life” of the average family, 150 years in the future. Compare with a typical day in your family. Technology aside, why would there be such great differences?
Draw a symbol diagram depicting something very important to you. Include an explanation to help clarify your message.
Write a song or poem to give those in the future a closer look at our times.
How do you think future cultures will judge us, as individuals, as a society, as a nation, as a planet? Explain your answers.

A TESTIMONY TO EDUCATION:

SPACEARC’S GOALS

“Real education consists in drawing the best out of yourself. What better book can there be than the book of humanity.”

M. Gandhi

“Communication to the future is an almost irresistible temptation, and it has been attempted in virtually every human culture. In the best cases it is an optimistic and far-seeing act, it expresses great hope about the future, it time-binds the human community, it gives us a perspective on the significance of our own actions at this moment in the long historical journey of our species.”

Carl Sagan, author

“It is very fitting that we observe the voyages of Christopher Columbus…by challenging students to explore new frontiers. SpaceArc provides an exciting and unique way for students to become involved creatively in such an exploration.”

Matilda Cuomo, Chair, NYS Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Commission

“The staff was impressed by the creativity and the possibilities of the project. Teachers will be excited by this means to encourage thoughtful writing and creative thinking in students.”

Sharon P. Robinson, Director, National Center for Innovation, National Education Association

“Through SpaceArc, my (high school astonomy) students have been able to write their own messages for a future generation. They now have a chance to help create the ultimate time capsule and take part in a space program they feel connected to, even after graduation…”

Carol Goldsmith, teacher

“I asked my kindergarteners if they knew what space was, and to my surprise, they did…Each student drew a picture of him/herself on the SpaceArc forms, and we discussed what they would want to tell people from the future about themselves. We combined their art with their words, and SpaceArc expanded into two weeks of science projects the children loved.”

Jean Clinger, teacher

The SpaceArc Project is designed to foster innovative thinking experiences. It provides a broader canvass for students to apply “textbook learning to real world occurrences.” SpaceArc, adaptable to any learning style or preference, may be a valuable tool in achieving educational goals, including but not limited to:

Recognizing and applying state learning standards;
Understanding the connections among all academic disciplines;
Creating interdisciplinary experiences and activities;
Reinforcing curricular concepts through enhancement or extension activities;
Recognizing and analyzing global topics and world culture;
Developing criteria for personal reflection and interpretation and expressing them in variety of creative endeavors;
Encouraging individuality of ideas and tolerance/acceptance of different ideas;
Adapting current technology to traditional archiving systems; and
Using libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions for historical resources and research capabilities.

DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY:

GETTING STARTED

Click on the Participation icon.
Read the sample submission forms.
Download and print copy of the Official Archival Participation Form. You may wish to make enough copies so each student has his/her own form. Each form may be used only once. The final form should be an original, not a copy.
Make sure each form is clear and legible by staying within the outlined area and using blue or black ink or a dark pencil.
Include the signature, city, country, and age in the specified area.
Fill in the data box/boxes that best describe the message’s theme. This will make it easier to retrieve information later.
Do not fold or bend forms.
A photograph may be attached with tape in the space at the top of the form.
Messages may be submitted in color, but they will be scanned in black and white. Photographic materials may not be attached to the message area.
White-out may be used to correct minor errors.
Send completed forms to:

SpaceArc Ltd.
702 McKinley Street
East Rochester, NY 14445
Phone: 585.383.1865

To submit archives online, please click here.

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