There's no better way to celebrate 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, than by curling up with a good book under summer skies. To every civilization, in every age, the skies inspired imagination and scientific inquiry. There's no better place to start your summer reading than under their influence. Here are a few selections identified by…

Describes summer science camps that provide educational opportunities that pique children's interest and expose them to new ideas. Children's feelings about their camp experience obtained through interviews indicate that they came away from camp with increased enthusiasm for and knowledge about science. Discusses ways of creating informal learning…

Describes a summer program called Science in the Summer (SitS). The goal of this 9-year program is to encourage students to engage in science learning. Presents beginner and advanced level activities focusing on chemistry and engineering. Summarizes student evaluations on the program along with a breakdown of the SitS 1999 program. (SAH)

Discusses the characteristics and benefits of the Nebraska Operation Chemistry (NOC) summer workshops. Provides a brief overview of the workshops and the 11 instructional modules. (DDR)

Details the summer workshop experiences of a participant in the EPIcenter (Earth Processes Information Center for Teachers) Project. Describes the impact of the experience on the professional practices of the classroom teacher. (DDR)

Details the summer workshop experiences of a participant in the EPIcenter (Earth Processes Information Center for Teachers). Describes the impact of the experience on the professional practices of the classroom teacher. (DDR)

Focuses on the Science Training to Enhance Leadership and Learning through Accomplishments in Research (STELLAR) program, a six-week, hands-on science training program. Discusses various aspects of the program as well as its benefits. (DDR)

Reports on an expedition to the Galapagos Islands focusing on the flora and fauna of the environment. Examines evidence that supports the theory of evolution and related classroom activities. (DDR)

Describes a two-week summer experience for teachers and students on a dig in Colorado looking for fossil records of the plants and animals in the area. (DDR)

Presents Living in Water, an aquatic science curriculum for grades five through seven that includes 50 activities divided into six sections. Focuses on the nature of content of the related workshops. (DDR)

Describes a summer program for teachers in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in which teachers share in hands-on activities that demonstrate volcanic processes including volcanic hazards, plate tectonics, and earthquakes. (DDR)

Outlines the experiences of a teacher in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Teacher At Sea Program in which teachers are placed on NOAA vessels to work with professional scientists doing critical, real world research. (DDR)

Presents an account of one teacher's summer experiences on a vessel in the Bering Sea and the effects of those experiences on practice. Focuses on the teamwork among the science team, officers, and crew. (DDR)

Describes one teacher's experience taking Space Discovery courses that were sponsored by the United States Space Foundation (USSF). These courses examine the history of space science, theory of orbits and rocketry, the effects of living in outer space on humans, and space weather. (DDR)

Details the use of a grant to enhance science education and the science curriculum through a series of workshops and a resource program. Describes the development of interdisciplinary units. (DDR)