Adams 14 Unveils Giant Mars Maps at State-of-the-Art Elementary School in Partnership with Aldrin Family Foundation
DENVER – Adams County School District 14 (Adams 14) has partnered with the Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) to bring the excitement of space education to students through the integration of Giant Mars Maps™ as a part of the STEAM Learning Program at the new Alsup Elementary.
Adams 14 officially opened the doors to the new Alsup Elementary building on July 19, 2021, inviting the community to explore the state-of-the-art school that was made possible with grant funding from the Colorado Department of Education’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant program.
On Monday, Aug. 16, Alsup Elementary School hosted an interactive event to kick off its STEAM Learning Program, which included the unveiling of the Aldrin Family Foundation’s Giant Mars Map, where students are able to learn valuable lessons while walking across the planet, exploring its features and topography, and being inspired by human attempts to explore it. Alsup STEAM student ambassadors launched model rockets in front of the school.
“We are thrilled to be able to make this innovative facility a reality for our Alsup students,” said Adams 14 Superintendent Dr. Karla Loría. “The Giant Mars Maps is the perfect addition to our STEAM Learning Program at Alsup, enabling excitement and opportunities for our students in the future of space exploration.”
AFF’s Giant Mars Maps are designed to help inspire students’ imagination and fuel their curiosity in the classroom. Teachers and students will be able to use the Giant Mars Map for fun activities like building model mars exploration vehicles and learning the names of craters and land masses on Mars.
“Alsup students and teachers are elated to have the opportunity to connect the Giant Mars Maps with our current content areas and daily curriculum,” said Alsup Principal Dawn Menard. “This will enhance the innovations and engaging instruction already underway at Alsup!”
“We loved seeing the students interact with our Giant Mars Map and we’re honored to be a part of Adams 14’s STEAM Learning Program,” said Dr. Andy Aldrin, President of the Aldrin Family Foundation. “Seeing how excited the students were highlighted that with the right tools we can inspire the next generation of space leaders, entrepreneurs, and explorers.”
Students at Alsup explored the interactive Giant Mars Maps alongside Jim Christensen, Executive Director of ShareSpace Education. Click here for photos and here for video footage of the exciting day of space exploration!
About Adams 14
Nestled in the historic community of Commerce City, Adams County School District 14 (Adams 14) is proud to serve over 6,000 students from 13 schools across the district. The 900 employees at Adams 14 work each day to provide an inclusive learning environment for all students and are committed to inspiring, educating, and empowering Adams 14 students to succeed.
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.
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