MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) has donated 50 Giant Mars Map and Giant Moon Map™ packages to schools and education centers globally. Twenty-five Giant Mars Maps™ were awarded to schools in 18 states and one foreign country, while 25 Giant Moon Maps™ went to schools in 15 states and two foreign countries.
The Giant Moon and Mars Maps™ are interactive educational tools created and utilized by AFF’s K-12 arm, ShareSpace Education. These tools are designed to help children develop an understanding of real-world, STEAM-based concepts utilizing the Red Planet and the Moon as the foundation. To date, AFF has donated more than 400 maps worldwide.
Last month, more than 300 educators submitted applications for the opportunity to secure one of these revolutionary teaching tools. Listed below are the schools and educational centers that received maps by location:
Giant Mars Map™ Recipients
- Alaska (Goldenview Middle School in Anchorage)
- Arizona (Innovation Academy in Oro Valley; Bogle Jr. High in Chandler; Kino Junior High School in Mesa)
- Arkansas (Seventh Street Elementary in North Little Rock)
- Colorado (Palmer Elementary School in Denver; Alexander Dawson School in Lafayette)
- Florida (Museum of Science & History in Jacksonville)
- Georgia (Daniell Middle School in Marietta)
- Iowa (Manson Northwest Webster Jr./Sr. High in Manson)
- Maryland (North County High School in Ferndale)
- Missouri (Woodridge Middle School in High Ridge)
- Nevada (Sky Ranch Middle School in Sparks)
- New Hampshire (McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord)
- New York (Challenger Learning Center of the Twin Tier Region in Allegany; Fort Plain Junior Senior High School in Fort Plain)
- Oklahoma (Jenks West Elementary in Jenks; Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance in Tulsa)
- Pennsylvania (Harrison Middle School in Pittsburgh)
- Tennessee (Houston Middle School in Memphis)
- Texas (Bruce Junior High in Gilmer; Blackland Prairie Elementary in Round Rock)
- Virginia (I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth)
- Washington (iSTEM Academy in Vancouver)
- India (STEM & Space in New Delhi)
Giant Moon Map™ Recipients
- Alabama (Arab Junior High School in Arab)
- Alaska (Takotna Community School in Takotna)
- Arizona (H.L. Suverkrup Elementary School in Yuma)
- Connecticut (Ashford School in Ashford; Columbus Magnet School in Norwalk; Stamford High School in Stamford)
- Florida (Brevard Public Schools in Melbourne; Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School in Sanford; Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando; Winter Springs Elementary in Winter Springs)
- Massachusetts (William S. Greene Elementary in Fall River)
- Minnesota (Partnership Academy in Richfield)
- Missouri (Woodridge Middle School in High Ridge)
- Ohio (Valley View Junior High in Farmersville)
- Tennessee (Montgomery Central Elementary in Cunningham)
- Texas (Northwest Early College in El Paso; Vivify STEM in Graham; WP McLean Middle School in Fort Worth)
- Virginia (Hillsboro Charter Academy in Purcellville)
- Washington (Haller Middle School in Arlington; iSTEM Academy in Vancouver)
- West Virginia (Hamilton Middle School in Parkersburg)
- Wisconsin (Eagle River Elementary School in Eagle River)
- Italy (Vicenza Elementary and Middle School/Department of Defense Education Activity)
- Norway (Tæruddalen School in Skedsmokorset)
“The Foundation is continually working to create new ways of inspiring the future generation of explorers in the classroom,” said Dr. Andrew Aldrin, president of AFF. “We have seen consistent growth within this program and couldn’t be more excited to continue developing students and educators’ interest for engaging STEAM education materials in the coming years.”
Each ShareSpace Education Giant Moon and Mars Map™ program package includes a 25’ x 25’ or 15’ x 15’ vinyl map, 15 Welcome to the Moon or Welcome to Mars books, and the Map educational activities package. The educational activities feature authentic, interactive lessons and activities designed specifically for students ages 10 to 14.
Applications from individual schools, school districts and informal education organizations were accepted. All applications were reviewed by an independent team of judges with the aim of distributing the packages to educational institutions where they will make the most impact, such as to underserved communities.
For more information, please visit https://aldrinfoundation.org/sharespace/
About the Aldrin Family Foundation
The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) strives to cultivate the next generation of space leaders, entrepreneurs and explorers who will extend human habitation beyond the Earth to the Moon and Mars. AFF’s STEAM-based educational tools, educational activities and programs span from a child’s first classroom experience through graduate school and professional programs. This vertical pathway unites explorers at all levels to learn from each other’s vision for space, ultimately creating the first generation of Martians.
About ShareSpace Education
ShareSpace Education, one of the key organizations within the Aldrin Family Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating children’s passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) by providing innovative, interactive educational tools to schools, teachers and information educations throughout the United States and abroad. Founded in 2016 by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, ShareSpace has reached more than 300,000 children and continues to grow its impact each year.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Angelica DeLuccia Morrissey
Griffin Communications Group
(321) 506-2183 (cell)
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