E is for Earth

by Carma Chan

This book features 26 spectacular images courtesy of NASA. The target audience is K-5 elementary students. Early readers and preschoolers may also find it enjoyable if they have a keen interest in space exploration, robots, rovers and rockets. The reason these topics fall under E is for Earth is because NASA programs have netted breakthroughs that improve the quality of life on Earth. In the process of solving problems encountered during their missions, discoveries and innovations resulted in benefits for us here and now. We would not have the image of Earth that is featured on the cover were it not for the Apollo programPrior to the Mars Rover landing, dinosaurs were the number one interest for kids. Since that incredible little robot started sending images and information about Mars to us, the interest in this program and other space missions has increased young students' desire to do well in STEM studies. This book is meant to be that sort of tool, to motivate girls and boys to do better in math and science classes. Programs and missions touched Apollo, BARREL, Curiosity, Discovery, Earth, Future, Galaxy, Hubble, IBEX, Juno, Kepler, Landsat, Mystic Mountain, NEAR, Orion, Pioneer, QueSST, Ranger, SOFIA, TRACE, Ulysses, Voyager, WISE, eXtreme, YEARS, Zarya.Carma Gagne Chan became interested in these subjects when NASA provided a scholarship for her to participate in a workshop for educators. At that time, she was homeschooling her son who had required a special environment and methods for learning due to sensory integration issues. What she learned in one week ignited her passion for using NASA's free curricula to get kids more interested in learning math and science. She launched a campaign in her community and founded a chapter of the Young Astronauts Council, sponsored by local small businesses and community resources. Her science club was called YEARS in the Rockies, which stood for Young Engineers, Astronauts and Rocket Scientists. It was a blast!This book contains 26 spectacular images courtesy of NASA. The target audience is K-5 elementary students. Early readers and preschoolers may also find it enjoyable if they have a keen interest in space exploration, robotics, rovers and rocketry. NASA missions have netted breakthroughs in healthcare technology and environmental solutions, and have promoted international peaceful collaboration.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2019

About the author

Most often, readers ask, "Who influenced you?"

I share Dr. King's dream.

Additionally, you can see my bookshelves here where I review and rate every book I remember reading.

Besides the Saardu series, which is my way of explaining death and the circle of life, I write of personal pain and overcoming. For example, "10 Most Annoying Things People Say to NICU Parents (...when they're only trying to help!)" Grief is universal, but each of us enters and exits it in our own ways.

My greatest literary influences are Professor Richard Walter, who teaches Advanced Screenwriting for MFA students at the UCLA film school. He taught me everything I needed to know about the ancient art of storytelling. The American poet, E.E. Cummings (don't lecture me about upper/lowercase--he preferred E.E., do some research and you'll find that out), is dear to me and I carry him as my spiritual grandfather in my heart. Poetry was my first love, especially freestyle. Kurt Vonnegut, when asked why he wrote fiction novels, answered that he did so to reach the minds of young people before they become Senators and Generals, to "infect them with humanity."

That is my passion. I aim to give my descendants a more harmonious world. I also love to have fun and make fun, and encourage playfulness and spontaneity!

I hope you find my work as transformative as my husband does.