Visit the Educators’ Guide to NatureShift for more information about the NatureShift program’s:
	Exploration Model,
	Strategies for teaching and learning, and
	Educator Tools & Tutorials

You will find here:

Standards-based instruction linked to:
	National Science Standards from NSTA
	State Science Standards North Dakota c.2001
	Other Science Standards Texas essential knowledge and skills

Inquiry-based Activities
Dakota Skies offers student-led, hands-on, inquiry-driven learning using authentic resources for personal applications of knowledge in astronomy and meteorology. Students are encouraged to apply higher-order thinking skills to derive personal meaning about what they are learning and experiencing.

Authentic, Original Resources
Several sources of authentic material have been researched and provided for use in Dakota Skies.

Technolgy-Integrated Curriculum
Dakota Skies uses cameras, binoculars, rocketry, probes, and other technologies to engage students in inquiry.

Permission Form (PDF)
Are you submitting a project to NS? You will need to complete and send us this permission form if you are using images in your work.

Dakota Skies is an instructional module for 4th-8th grades offering authentic, original resources, hands-on/real world activities, and standards-based learning materials within the discipline areas of: Astronomy Space Science Rocketry Meteorology You will also find here resources and activities appropriate for grades 9th-12th. Resources are located in the Wheel of Wonders and have been written at a general language level of 6th grade. Content is appropriate for 4th-12th grades. The learning Exploration, Moon Challenge and its activities have been written for a 4th-8th grade level application at home or in the classroom.
Dakota Skies Blueprint - Content, Exploration Tour, and Applications (uses in the classroom), all covered here!

How to Use Dakota Skies
	For Classroom Teaching
	In Community Education
How to Navigate Dakota Skies' immersive learning world
How Dakota Skies is structured:
	Content and Design Dakota Skies puts the learner at the center of scientific inquiry into the phenomena of the skies through accessible resources in the Wheel of Wonders and through a guided learning experience in the Moon Challenge.
	Resources Available From the front windows of Dakota Skies, investigate astronomy, space science, and meteorology content in the Wheel of Wonders. Go web searching and sky watching in the Moon Challenge, or find out about the astronomer’s Skywatcher Tools. Explore a series of beautiful archival photographs in the Natureshift iMatrix.
	Activities, Experiences, & Projects Both virtual and real world based hands-on learning experiences are embedded in the Moon Challenge Exploration and indexed in Sky Activities, both windows off the front of Dakota Skies.
	The Learning Exploration Dakota Skies offers learners a Moon Challenge where students are challenged to explain to the moon where they live on Earth, using only the language of astronomy. Students are challenged to learn enough to provide clear evidence of where on the planet they live.
Other Materials Available
	In addition to the Moon Challenge and the Wheel of Wonders, Dakota Skies visitors can read and create stories about the skies, really learn "rocket science," and keep their own Sky Journal and a lot more.
The Natureshift Exploration Model for teaching and learning
	Every module in NatureShift provides a guided Learning Experience that follows the NatureShift Exploration Model, with prepared activities, hands-on authentic activities, web links for rich extensions of student learning, and access to a large amount of resources. The Explorations include pre- and post-assessment surveys of basic student knowledge, in-line knowledge check assessments with student feedback, and a method for tracking student progress. Here you will find a description of the NS Model and how it is developed in the Dakota Skies "Moon Challenge" Exploration.
The Creators and Expertise behind Dakota Skies
Digital Dozen Award
	The NatureShift site has been chosen to be included in November 2003's Digital Dozen, a list of exemplary Web sites for educators selected by the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC). This list is published each month at ENC Online (you may view current and archived Digital Dozen selections at enc.org). ENC is funded by the United States Department of Education and administered by The Ohio State University. ENC collects both physical and virtual resources useful to math and science educators.  The sites selected for Digital Dozen must have current and accurate math and/or science content.  They must support school improvement efforts and have useful multimedia features or helpful navigation.