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The following educational resources were produced by the Museum of Science, Boston, to accompany the exhibition. Ongoing support for the use of these products and programs at host venues on the Cosmic Questions tour is provided by the NASA-Smithsonian Education Forum on the Structure and Evolution of the Universe.

Cosmic Questions Educator Guide (downloadable PDF, size: 4.1mb )
This document for teachers of grades 7-12 contains information about the exhibition and standards-aligned classroom activities to support the major themes of Cosmic Questions. The guide includes background information for teachers as well as student worksheets and images, where needed. Additional resources and suggestions for activities to do while touring the exhibit are also included. Museums and science centers hosting Cosmic Questions will receive 200 hard-copy versions of this publication.

The (Real) Time Machine Demonstration Manual (downloadable PDF, size: 112kb )
This manual for museum staff and volunteers contains instructions, background information and outlines for a modular suite of interactive stage demonstrations to accompany the Cosmic Questions exhibition. These demonstrations, which are presented using props from the exhibit’s tour, are designed to engage visitors of all ages. Museums and science centers hosting Cosmic Questions will receive all the artifacts, props, AV materials, and training needed for staff and volunteers to present these activities.

Girl Meets Boy: A Comedy About the Universe (downloadable PDF, size: 616kb)
The Museum of Science and playwright Melinda Lopez created this theatrical production about humanity’s place in the universe. The story, appropriate for audiences of all ages, presents a poet and an astronomer and their journey to understand the nature of love, life and the universe. Museums and science centers hosting Cosmic Questions will receive the props and AV materials needed to present this 2-actor play, and may request technical or production assistance from the Science Theater group at Boston’s Museum of Science (email cosmicquestions@cfa.harvard.edu for more info).

Docent/Interpreter Guidebook (downloadable PDF, size: 644kb)
This manual for museum staff and volunteers contains background information and outlines for a suite of hands-on table-top activities specially designed to accompany the Cosmic Questions exhibition. The interpretations are designed to take advantage of personal interactions between museum staff members and visitors, as opportunities for in-depth exploration of topics presented in the exhibit. These demonstrations, which are presented using props from the exhibit’s tour, are designed to engage visitors of all ages. Museums and science centers hosting Cosmic Questions will receive all the artifacts, props, AV materials, and training needed for staff and volunteers to present these activities.

Idealized Exhibition Floor Plan (downloadable PDF, size: 220 kb)
This floor plan shows the ideal layout for a 5000 square foot gallery. The center theater requires a ceiling height of 14ft. A 12 ft ceiling is sufficient for the rest of the exhibition.

JPEG Previews of Cosmic Questions exhibition
This gallery of photographs shows the exhibition while it was at Boston’s Museum of Science in the fall of 2002. These images are for preview information only. Please do not reproduce.

Cosmic Questions Publicity Images
High resolution versions may be downloaded by authorized users with a username and password (email:cosmicquestions@cfa.harvard.edu to request permission).

These images may be reproduced or published for the following non-commercial purposes:

  1. to provide educational materials related to the Cosmic Questions exhibition.
  2. to promote the Cosmic Questions exhibition.
  3. to provide general information about the Cosmic Questions exhibition.

Recipients agree to use the following photo credit: Kevin Burke/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

Electronic versions of these Cosmic Questions images may be published on a Web site if:

  1. the images are reproduced at low resolution (no more than 512 x 768 pixels).
  2. the photo credit: Kevin Burke/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is clearly evident
  3. use of the images conforms to the non-commercail purposes authorized above.