NASA and Pearson Scott Foresman (PSF), the leading pre-K-6 educational publisher, formally announced an agreement at Overbrook Elementary School in Philadelphia.
The goal of the partnership is to create a multi-faceted project to spark student imagination, encourage interest in space exploration, and enhance elementary science curricula.
Under the terms of the special relationship, PSF (a business of Pearson Education) editors and authors will draw upon NASA’s rich archival material and extensive research in biological, physical, earth and space sciences to create the Scott Foresman Science series for elementary levels. NASA experts will review the content, and PSF will ensure the curricula reflects the National Science Education Standards, Project 2061 Benchmarks, and specific, targeted state standards.
“One of NASA’s most important goals is to continue to motivate students to pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology,” said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, NASA Associate Administrator, Office of Education. “Our work with Pearson Scott Foresman will allow us to reach students at a young age, and inspire them by connecting science content in the classroom with compelling real-world experiences,” she said.
Before the new PSF series is published, specific lessons will be developed for students and teachers that follow the steps that Barbara Morgan, NASA’s first Educator Astronaut and a second and third grade teacher, will take in preparation for flight into space.
“We want students and teachers to see learning in a whole new light,” said Paul McFall, president, PSF. “Our goal with NASA is to produce a highly engaging, standards-based science curriculum that encourages students to want to learn more about science, exploration, and the possibilities of human endeavor,” he said.
Educating more than 100 million people worldwide, Pearson Education is the global leader in educational publishing. With brands such as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Longman, Pearson Education Technologies, and many others, Pearson Education provides quality professional development, content, assessment tools and educational services in all available media to a worldwide marketplace, spanning the learning continuum from birth through college and beyond.
Pearson Education is part of Pearson, the international media company, whose primary operations also include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
For more information about NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program, on the Internet visit: