Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE)
What is ACE?
Click here to view the ACE program flier.
The Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program is a fun, interactive aerospace and STEM program for CAP Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) who teach grades K-6.
The ACE program introduces young learners to air and space flight and the related reading, art, history, geography, and STEM concepts involved. Students are each given a grade-appropriate educational tool to learn about and apply the principles of aerodynamics through easy-to-teach lessons, which sometimes can be coordinated to be taught by CAP volunteers!
Using the aerospace theme, the ACE program integrates 3 important educational components: academics, character education, and physical fitness. In this cross-curricular program, students can connect content skills with real-life applications and positive adult and teen CAP role models.
Since 2007, ACE has reached over 600,000 students in every state and has seen stellar results! Teachers report a 27% increase in science test scores and that ACE supports required skills, standards, and concepts.
Each ACE teacher receives a free class set of grade-specific aerospace educational items that correlate with ACE lessons. Each ACE student is Provided fun and engaging items to bring the study of flight and space to life!
What kind of programs or schools can participate in ACE?
This program is designed for schools and teachers to implement during the school day, but many programs are implemented in less formal settings, such as structured after-school programs and in other organizations like museums, libraries, Boy and Girl Schouts, 4-H clubs, and other youth groups.
ACE is open to homeschool educators as well! Homeschool groups and co-ops that participate in ACE programs as a class can coordinate with us to have CAP volunteers teach or assist with classroom activities, as availability permits.
What materials do I receive if I participate in ACE?
Educators receive an online curriculum guide with 22 aerospace-themed lessons driven by national academic standards for each grade level. These lessons are divided into three categories: academic, character, and physical fitness for living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
The descriptions of all ACE lessons can be found here, and public-school educators can find these lessons aligned with the TEKS in this chart.
Educators also receive a classroom set of aerospace-themed manipulatives that relate to at least two of the lessons for each grade-level (see these items on page two of the ACE flier).
You will also receive a classroom set of student ACE program completion certificates to be presented at the end of the year. We sincerely hope that you will invite a volunteer from our squadron and/or the local Air & Space Forces Association chapter to help present these certificates and celebrate your students. You will also receive an ACE teacher certificate!
What are the requirements?
You must have a current membership in Civil Air Patrol as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) or an active Senior Member in CAP. Learn more about education members here. Additionally, you must be a teacher in any formal school (public, private, or home school) or youth organization setting (Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H, after-school programs, libraries, and museums).
You will need to submit an online ACE registration form to participate in CAP’s ACE program. After registering, you will need to teach a minimum of 10 of the 22 ACE lessons to your class any time during the school year. At the end of your program, you will need to submit a completion form online.
How long do the ACE lessons take?
The ACE lessons are designed to be about 30-45 minutes long. We encourage teachers to adapt the lessons as necessary for their unique schedules, resources, and level of students. The ACE lessons each come with additional activity ideas to enrich and extend each lesson.
May I invite others to teach some of the lessons in my class?
The ACE lessons are intentionally written in an easy to understand, step-by-step format for teachers and any “guest” instructors. We encourage teachers to invite parents, community leaders, and other school employees to share a lesson with the students. We strongly encourage reaching out to our squadron to coordinate some of our volunteers teaching one or more lessons in your classroom!
