"Are we from adam or we are from monkey? if we are somehow like a monkey why the other ones couldn't be humans? "
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NASA and the Navajo Nation
An Ongoing Collaboration
Initiated in 2005, the NASA and the Navajo Nation project is a collaboration between the NASA Astrobiology Institute, the Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education Office of Culture, Language, and Community Services, ArtReach International, and the broad education communities of both NASA and the Navajo Nation.
The mission of the collaboration is to bring together NASA science and Navajo cultural knowledge into educational materials and programs for the benefit of the teachers and students of the Navajo Nation. To date, the collaboration has yielded one set of K-12 classroom materials which focus on the stars, entitled So’ Baa Hane’ – Story of the Stars, see below. Another booklet focused on the Moon is in development, due for release in early 2011. If you’re interested in field testing the materials, or for more information, please contact Daniella Scalice, 650.604.4024, daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov
So’ Baa Hane’ Teacher Workshop, January 28-29, 2010
Leroy Nelson and Scott Sandford take questions about both science and culture; The inter-cultural team facilitates educators learning the classroom activities.In January, 2010, a large-scale teacher workshop was held in Window Rock, AZ to provide both cultural and scientific background information and train teachers in the use of the So’ Baa Hane’ materials. Over 100 teachers, most of whom teach culture and language, attended from all over the Navajo Nation. The presentations from the workshop, given by a NASA scientist and a Navajo Medicine Man, are available for download:
So’ Baa Hane’ – Story of the Stars Educator Guide
The activities in this booklet were co-developed by NASA and Navajo collaborators, and field tested in four communities on the Navajo Nation in 2006. An update was made to the materials in 2009.
Lithos from Activities 1 and 5:
February 24, 2010
