Cassini K-4 Literacy Program
Cassini Education Outreach, its partners, and participating elementary educators has released the Cassini K-4 Literacy Program for anyone to download.

Scientific discovery is the impetus for the K-4 Education program, "Reading, Writing, and Rings." But uniquely, the focus is to engage elementary students in reading and writing to strengthen these basic academic skills through scientific content. As science has been increasingly overtaken by the language arts in elementary classrooms, the Cassini Education Program has taken advantage of a new cross-disciplinary approach to use language arts as a vehicle for increasing scientific content in the classroom. By utilizing the planet Saturn and the Cassini-Huygens mission as a model in both primary reading and writing students in these grade levels, young students can explore science material while at the same time learning these basic academic skills.

The materials developed for "Reading, Writing, and Rings," are divided into 2 grade level units. One unit is designed for students in grades 1 and 2 while the other unit focuses on students in grades 3 and 4 unit includes a series of lessons that take students on a path of exploration of Saturn using reading and writing prompts.

A drawing of Saturn from SSE Forum's Art Gallery

Educators are invited to choose the grade level appropriate for them.

In order that the Cassini formal education plan be a robust program and achieve the project's goals of design, implementation and dissemination, the Cassini Education Program has partnered with a series of professional organizations geared toward broadening the K-4 experience in awareness of reading and writing through science. These organizations provide the expertise necessary for the Cassini Education Program to achieve its ambitious goals.

The following organizations have partnered with the Cassini K-4 Education Program:

"Eye on the Sky" Lessons for the Elementary Classroom

Bay Area Writing Project/California Writing Project For over 25 years, BAWP has been a vital resource for teachers and schools in the Bay Area, not only in the teaching of writing but also as a model of professional development, teacher leadership and reform.

Foundations In Reading Through Science & Technology
(FIRST) Language Program
Project FIRST has focused its efforts on the collaborative development and on-line publication of integrated science/literacy teaching materials.

Caltech Precollege Science Initiative (CAPSI)
The Caltech Precollege Science Initiative is such a collaborative effort, linking scientist and engineering professionals with educators, teachers, and school administrators.