AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATUS OF AEROSPACE EDUCATION AND TEACHER PREFERENCES FOR AEROSPACE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES IN GRADES K, 1, AND 2 (COMPANION STUDIES, SCIENCE, EARLY CHILDHOOD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of aerospace education as a curriculum component in grades K, 1, and 2. The study also sought to determine the needs and preferences of K, 1, and 2 teachers for aerospace education instructional materials.;Method. Questionnaires were mailed to teachers of grades K, 1, and 2 in 27 selected schools in a seven state region. The seven states were Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The three components of the questionnaire related to demographic information, status of aerospace education in grades K, 1, and 2, and needs and preferences expressed by the teachers for aerospace education instructional materials.;Results. Four research questions were used to determine the status of aerospace education and the needs and preferences of K, 1, and 2 teachers for aerospace education instructional materials. In an analysis of the data, a frequency distribution was determined along with a crosstabulation of selected demographic data by selected status and needs items of the questionnaire. Tables report chi-square analysis for research questions and selected demographic data with results of tests for significance.;Conclusions. On the basis of the information presented, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) Many teachers of grades K, 1, and 2 do not teach aerospace education because of the lack of appropriate materials for these grade levels and lack of personal knowledge. (2) Audiovisuals, pictures, and charts for young children were the materials most needed, while coloring books were listed as least needed. (3) New teaching aids would be most useful in the format of audiovisuals, manipulatives, and activity books. (4) Audiovisuals, filmstrips, art, and pictures were rated as very appropriate in teaching aerospace education units. (5) Fact sheets, slides, creative writing, and textbooks were rated as inappropriate in teaching aerospace education units. (6) Teachers of grades K, 1, and 2 indicated many current textbooks do not offer appropriate aerospace education material.;This aerospace education research in grades K, 1, and 2 was designed as a companion study with that of Earl Gardner of The University of Alabama. His research studied teacher responses at grade levels 3, 4, and 5.