ACE - Aerospace Connections in Education (an elementary K-6 program)

Already an ACE teacher?  Go to the ACE teachers' page .
Go to ACE Roll Call  to see the 2012-2013 participants, accolades, and 2013 National ACE Award Winners! 

                                                                                                                                                       Col Brad Lynn, CAP AL Wing Commander, works with Boaz, AL students during 2012-2013 ACE Lift-off

What is the ACE (Aerospace Connections in Education) Program?

The ACE Program is an aerospace education program for elementary teachers (K-6) who are aerospace education members (AEMs) or senior members Civil Air Patrol (CAP).  This program is designed for schools/teachers to implement during the school day.  ACE provides engaging and meaningful cross-curricular aerospace lessons that support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives and enrich the school curricula.  Additionally, many lessons promote good character and physical fitness.  We believe this program will help foster good-natured and healthy citizens who will develop an interest in and appreciation for aerospace as we seek to inspire the aerospace workforce of the next generation.

What FREE materials do I receive if I participate in the ACE Program?

• A curriculum guide of 21 aerospace-themed, national academic standards-driven lessons for your grade level (Lessons are divided into 9 academic lessons, 6 character lessons, and 6 physical fitness lessons.  Click the "ACE Lesson Descriptions" link to the right for descriptions of all ACE lessons.)
• A classroom set of aerospace manipulative items that relate to one of the lessons for your grade level
• A classroom set of ACE t-shirts while supplies last
• A classroom set of student ACE Program completion certificates
• An ACE teacher plaque noting successful ACE Program completion

What are the requirements if I participate in this program?

• Have current membership in the Civil Air Patrol as an AEM or Senior Member. 
  In the event all of the teachers at your elementary school wish to participate, please
  send an email to ace@capnhq.gov to receive further information.
• Be a teacher in an elementary school setting (homeschools included).
• Submit an online ACE registration form to participate in CAP's ACE Program.  (Registration details are explained below.)
• Teach a minimum of 12 of the 21 ACE lessons to your class.
• Submit an online completion form (includes evaluation of the program).

How long does it take to teach each lesson?

The lessons are designed to be 30-60 minutes in length.  We encourage teachers to adapt the lessons as necessary for their unique schedules, resources, and students.  There are additional activity ideas provided for each lesson to enrich and extend each lesson.

How do I evaluate my students?

Many lessons include student worksheets.  Lesson evaluation methods are listed in each lesson.  A comprehensive pre- and post-test is included.

May I invite others to teach some of the lessons in my class?

The lessons are written in an easy to understand, step-by-step format.  We encourage teachers to invite parents, community leaders, as well as other employees of the school such as the counselor, PE teacher, secretary, custodian, etc. to share a lesson with students.  Consider inviting Civil Air Patrol and/or Air Force Association (AFA) representatives to teach a lesson in your classroom.  What a great way to involve parents and other community members in the educational system!

What is the cost of this program?

Although the program is free to CAP members who are K-6 educators, teachers do supply their own lesson materials.  The ACE lessons, however, are designed to use inexpensive, easy to acquire materials, such as construction paper, glue, balloons, straws, etc.   Costs, therefore, are minimal.

How do I register to participate in this program for the 2012-2013 school year?

1. First, make sure you qualify to participate and that you agree to the requirements.  The program is designed for elementary educators in grades K - 6 who will ensure at least 12 of the 21 ACE lessons are taught to their students during the school year.  (For details on program implementation, click the "Teacher Implementation Guidelines" link located in the yellow "Related Documents" column at the top of this page.) 
   
   
2. Next, you must be a member of CAP in order to register to participate in the ACE Program.  (If you are not currently a member, click here for CAP AEM membership information and to join online.  Please note that as a new aerospace education member of CAP, you will receive a box with over 25 aerospace education materials, but these are NOT the ACE Program materials.  CAP's ACE Program materials are typically mailed in October to CAP members who submitted an ACE registration form in September.) 
   
   In the event your school wishes to become an ACE School (wherein all of the elementary teachers at your school wish to participate), please send an email as soon as possible to ace@capnhq.gov for further information.
   
   
3. Finally, teachers who wish to participate in the 2012-2013 ACE Program should plan to register in September using the online registration link in eServices.  (If you are a member of CAP and have never set up your eServices account, go to https://www.capnhq.gov and click the "first time user" link.)  Open registration for CAP's ACE program is from September 4 - September 27.  Late registration is from September 28 - November 1.  ACE supplies are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  In the event participation exceeds our shirts and grade-level aerospace items, we will still supply hard copies of curriculum guides (to new ACE educators), along with student ACE certificates and a teacher plaque upon successful completion of the program.If you have questions, please send an email to ace@capnhq.gov.   

What happens after I register?

• You should receive an ACE registration confirmation email.  (If you did not, please email ace@capnhq.gov immediately.  If you do not have an ACE confirmation email, we do not have you listed as a registered participant.

• As a member of CAP, you have access to the online ACE curriculum guides located in eServices at https://www.capnhq.gov.  You may immediately go online to review or start using the curriculum.  (Click "AE Downloads and Resources" after logging into eServices.) 

• ACE materials (hard copy of the curriculum guide and other items) are typically mailed in October for CAP members who submitted an ACE registration form in September.  (If you submit your registration form in September and do not receive your materials by the end of October, please notify us at ace@capnhq.gov.) 
  NOTE: If you recently became a member of CAP, you will soon receive or have received a box of over 25 aerospace education items, such as the Journey of Flight book, thematic units, etc.  This box does NOT contain ACE Program materials.)

• Follow the implementation guidelines provided in the ACE curriculum guide (located in eServices until you receive your hard copy, as well as in the "Related Resources" list on the right side of this page).

• Please consider sending pictures of students engaged in ACE actitivies that we may share in newsletters, newsbriefs, or other CAP AE publications.  Usable pictures with a brief explanation should be emailed to ace@capnhq.gov.  

What happens after I complete the program?

• The ACE program completion link will be available in eServices from February to June of the current school year.  It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete the online completion form.  Details are available on CAP's ACE teachers' page.  You should receive student ACE certificates and a teacher plaque no later than 3 weeks from the date you submit your completion form.

• Make sure you submit your completion form at least 3 weeks prior to needing student ACE certificates to distribute to your class (or no later than June 15 of the current school year).

• Please email ace@capnhq.gov if you have success stories you wish to share, such as improvments in test scores, or a story about how the ACE Program impacted a student, your class, or even you as a teacher. 

What happens if I do not complete the program?
Only educators who truly want to participate and are committed to completing the program should register to participate.

• Due to the extensive amount of time, effort, and money that is invested to provide this program to educators, there is a penalty for not completing the program.  Educators who do not complete the program will be ineligible to register to officially participate in the program in the future.  Anyone who does not complete the program is encouraged to maintain his/her membership to CAP and continue to use CAP AE products as desired.  He/she may also consider registering to participate in CAP's AEX program, that has no penalty for program incompletion.

• In the event you have an unexpected, adverse situation that prevents you from completing CAP's ACE program, please send an email as soon as possible to ace@capnhq.gov.  Depending on the nature of your situation and the date CAP is notified, we may be able to assist in such a way that does not preclude you from future participation.  

ACE Program Testimonials:

• Fantastic program that engaged my students in active learning, and a wonderful way to involve parents and the community in the school.  (6th grade teacher in Jacksonville, FL)
• My 5th grade ACE students mentor a kindergarten ACE class.  (5th grade teacher in Yuma, AZ)
• My students had the highest state science test scores in our county.  This validates how aerospace can and does cover state standards. (5th grade teacher Van Buren, OH)
• The program is very well organized, easy to follow, and age appropriate. (2nd grade teacher in Thousand Oaks, CA)
• The kids loved the lessons.  The program has been a great addition to our STEM curricululm.  (3rd grade teacher in Anthem, AZ)
• It brought our school together with a common theme.  (principal in Fort Walton Beach, FL)

ACE Program Accolades:

• The program continues to grow, reaching almost 700 educators and 18,000 students in the 2011-2012 school year; thanks to additional sponsors such as the Air Force Association (AFA); FLIR Systems, Inc.; and Lightspeed Aviation Foundation.
• Guest presenters (such as parents, CAP & AFA members, community leaders, aerospace industry workers, etc.) provide students with positive role models and create excellent parent and community involvement opportunities.
• The ACE curriculum has been adopted for use by other organizations working with youth, such as the AFA, aerospace museums, and AFROTC, to develop an interest in and appreciation form STEM subjects and careers, thus inspiring the future aerospace workforce and future aviation enthusiasts.
• Several participants have reported a positive impact on standardized science test scores, such as a 27% increase in 5th grade scientific thinking scores.
• About 90% of educators who register to participate in CAP's ACE Program complete the program.
• Of educators who complete CAP's ACE Program, about 90% intend to participate again.
• Program evaluation reveals that almost 90% of ACE educators agree that the ACE lessons fit well, overall, with the standards, concepts, and skills they are required to teach.

CAP greatly appreciates organizations and companies who help sponsor the ACE Program:  the Air Force Association (AFA); FLIR Systems, Inc.; and Lightspeed Aviation Foundation. 

Please send an email inquiry to ace@capnhq.gov if you have any questions.