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Frequently Asked Questions

Life in the Universe Curriculum

Contents:
What is the Life in the Universe Curriculum?
Who developed them?
Who are the target students?
How many teaching packages are there?
What is the subject of each package, and the appropriate grade levels?
What is included in each package?
Have these been tested?
Have they been reviewed?
Can I preview them?
How much do they cost?
How do I order the packages?


What is the Life in the Universe Curriculum?

The Life in the Universe curriculum is a set of resources designed to bring the excitement of searching for life beyond Earth into elementary and middle school classrooms.  It explores the many facets of how scientists are trying to answer these questions: Where did life come from? What is its future? Are we alone?

Who developed them?

The SETI Institute, with funding from the National Science Foundation, joined with a team of educators, curriculum developers, and scientists to create these award-winning classroom materials.  SETI Institute scientists researching the varied disciplines of astrobiology share their expertise and experiences. 

Who are the target students?

The curriculum is targeted to a range of students from elementary through middle school, depending on the teaching package.

How many teaching packages are there?

Six

What is the subject of each package, and the appropriate grade levels?

What is included in each package?

Each package contains a supplemental teacher's science guide with sequential, interdiscipinary, hands-on science activities, a videotape, and a poster to complement the guides.

Have these been tested?

The guides have been nationally tested in a variety of schools representing a broad range of students.

Have they been reviewed?

Yes, by such sources as Science Books and Film, Space Frontier News, and THINK.  Click here to see the reviews.

The Life in the Universe curriculum Guides Planet Project volumes 2 and 3 were designated "Best Children's Science Book" by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Can I preview them?

Yes.  You may download sample lessons from each guide in PDF format (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view).

How much do they cost?

The price varies depending on the package; contact the SETI Institute or Learning Technologies, Inc. for more information.

How do I order the packages?

The curriculum may be ordered from the SETI Institute by calling 650-961-6633, or from Learning Technologies, Inc.  For more information about ordering, click here.