Alaska Science Educator's Sources for Lesson Plans & Ideas:
Science education related websites are listed below. If you have
a favorite link to lesson plans, please send your link(s) with a brief
explanation to the web manager at "webguy at asta.org"
Great source of "Alaskan" lessons are available from the Alaska Science Consortium! Check them out!
ATEP Project lessons can be found at http://scienceteachereducationprogram.com
STEP Project lesson plans can be found at http://aktsunmai.org
2010 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE SERIES: FREE INTERACTIVE
WEBCASTS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Feb. 26-April 30, 2010
Join NASA's Langley Research Center and the National Alliance of Black School Educators for a series of free, interactive programs that allow you and your students to learn more about our home planet and the universe beyond through webcasts.
The Earth System – Feb. 26, 2010, 1 p.m. – 2:00
p.m. EDT
The components of the Earth system, the lithosphere (the solid planet),
the hydrosphere (the water), the atmosphere (the air) and the
biosphere (life), will be discussed. The interactions between
the components of the Earth system will be also discussed.
Earth and Mars: A Tale of Two Planets – March 26, 2010, 1 p.m. – 2:00
p.m. EDT
What caused the very divergent evolutionary paths of Earth and Mars?
Global Warming: Causes and Consequences – April 30, 2010, 1 p.m. – 2:00
p.m. EDT
The causes and consequences of global warming will be discussed.
Seminars on Science
Registration for Spring closes March 1st, so sign up now!
We’re offering six courses in our session beginning March 15th,
as well as our full roster of eleven courses this summer. All
of these courses are available for graduate credit from a number of
universities around the country.
For those of you looking for credits this Spring or Summer, registration
is open for Seminars on Science from the American Museum of Natural
History. These fully online courses can be taken for up to 4
graduate credits each. Courses run March 15 – April 25
as well as two six-week summer sessions.
Spring courses include: Evolution; Earth: Inside and Out; The Solar
System, Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; and The Diversity of Fishes,
as well as our newest course, Water: Environmental Science. Since
the courses are web-based, there is no need to come to the museum at
any time and all courses are led by both an experienced classroom teacher
and a PhD research scientist.
WWF Launches Earth Hour 2010!
World Wildlife Fund is proud to announce Earth Hour 2010 will take
place
Saturday, March 27, at 8:30 pm. National Monuments including Mount
Rushmore, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas Strip, and the Golden
Gate Bridge have already pledged to participate but what we really
need is
for you to participate.
Standing nearly one billion people strong, we made last year’s
Earth Hour
the single largest mass action in human history. This year we need
you to
grow it.
We have worked tirelessly to bring the international community,
governments around the world and corporate leaders to the brink of
breakthrough action on climate change in 2010. That's why it's so
important we make our voice heard again.
Please join millions of people around the world in turning off the
lights
for Earth Hour to raise awareness and demand action to fight climate
change. Share this message with your friends and family.
Working together,
we can overcome one of the greatest challenges facing our planet.
Visit our new site at http://EarthHour.org to access videos and toolkits
to help grow the movement as well as fantastic ideas on how to make
Earth Hour a special event in your home, community or business.
Gr 8-12: Biotechnology
Magazine Available
The Biotechnology Institute publishes "Your World: Biotechnology & You," a
biotechnology magazine for grades 7 to 12. "Your World" is
issued twice a year and combines balanced, in-depth information on
a single topic with an online teacher's guide that contains links to
national education standards, tips on how to use the magazine, and
additional exercises.
GLOBE ANNOUNCES GLOBAL STUDENT EFFORT TO COLLECT WATER/HYDROLOGY DATA
The GLOBE Program has announced a global student
effort to collect water quality and hydrology data from around
the world during the week of March 22-26, as part of World Water
Day (March 22). Teachers and students are encouraged to use this
data as a foundation for research and inquiry about the state
of the world’s water. The results of these GLOBE
efforts will be showcased at Live Earth events around the world in
April 2010 (See 'GLOBE Partners with Live Earth’ under ‘Previously
Broadcast’).
For more information on GLOBE and Live Earth, visit: http://www.globe.gov/content/event/LIVE_EARTH
CLIMATE KIDS: NASA GIVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THEIR OWN GUIDE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
A blinking red-eyed tree frog and flitting butterfly greet visitors
to the new NASA Climate Kids Web site. Targeting grades 4 – 6,
this kid-friendly guide de-mystifies one of the most important science
issues of our time. The site answers the “big questions” about
global climate change using simple illustrations, humor, interactivity,
and age-appropriate language. For example, one interactive feature,
the Climate Time Machine, reveals how global changes have affected
or will affect our planet over time. “Climate Tales” has
animal cartoon characters coping— more or less good-humouredly—with
the effects humans are having on their habitats. A collection of Earth
science-related games offers such experiences as “Wild Weather
Adventure” and “Missions to Planet Earth.” A Green
Careers section profiles real people doing jobs that help slow climate
change.
DLESE Teaching Boxes
Teaching boxes from the Digital Library of Earth System Education are
classroom-ready instructional units created by collaboration between
teachers, scientists, and designers.
The Teaching Boxes contain materials that model scientific inquiry,
allowing teachers to build classroom experiences around data collection
and analysis from multiple lines of evidence, while engaging students
in the process of science, focusing on gathering and analyzing scientific
evidence. Boxes include Global Ups and Downs: Changing Sea Level, Living
in Earthquake Country, and more.
Let‚s
Fly Away Airplane Dodecahedron -- Grades K-4
A regular dodecahedron is made of 12 pentagons. Students learn about
NASA aircraft as they build a geometric form to hang from the ceiling
or place on a shelf
Navigating by Good Gyrations Activity -- Grades 7-12
Gyroscopes are simple devices that seem to defy gravity. They are important
to NASA because they help spacecraft such as the International Space
Station and the Hubble Space Telescope stay on course. Teachers can
use a spinning bicycle wheel to demonstrate how a gyroscope works.
This demonstration contains four gyro "tricks" with explanations
of why the gyro behaves as it does. The demonstration has definitions
for inertia, momentum, angular momentum, centripetal force and linear
momentum. After demonstrating how gyros work, teachers can give examples
of how gyros are used in spacecraft. The activity also includes discussion
questions.
Magnetic Math -- Grades 6-12
This collection of mathematics-related problems pertaining to magnetism
is the next logical step beyond what students explore in their middle
school Earth science textbooks. The lab exercises prepare students
to work the mathematics problems with a better understanding of magnetism.
The variety of problems includes analyzing graphs, scientific notation,
geometry and trigonometry. The problems call for students to apply
mathematics and science concepts to understand the magnetic fields
and magnetism.
Our Solar System Lithograph Set -- All Grades
This lithograph set features images of the planets, the sun, asteroids,
comets, meteors and meteorites, the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, and
moons of the solar system. General information, significant dates,
interesting facts and brief descriptions of the images are included.
Draw on Imagination
Hear specialists in art history, art conservation and the sciences
discuss the connections between art, science and technology in video
clips. You’ll also find lesson plans and student projects on
this site created by The Art Institute of Chicago. The overarching
goal of the site is to show science teachers that an art museum may
be used as a visual library to augment and enrich established high
school science curricula in chemistry, earth science or physics. With
primary emphasis on the theme of light and color, the site reveals
how the scientific method is applied to the making, conserving and
exhibiting of art.
Top Stars: Educators Invited to Submit Examples of Inspiring Uses of
Hubble in Education
2010 is the 20th anniversary of the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope,
and to celebrate, the NASA Top Stars contest has extended its next
deadline to February 28, 2010.
U.S. formal (K–12, college) and informal educators are
invited to submit their best examples of using NASA’s Hubble
Space Telescope for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
education. Those selected as "Top Stars" will receive national
recognition and awards.
Annual DNA Day Essay Contest-The submission site is now live!
Click on, 5th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest, for the submission link,
rules, and more information. Please be reminded that the deadline
is March 15, 2010.
The 2010 DNA Day Essay questions are:
Option 1: Scientists can now determine the complete DNA sequences of
organisms, including humans. Now that this milestone has been
reached, is there a reason to continue learning about Mendel,
alleles, and inheritance patterns? Explain your answer.
Option 2: Genetic testing allows geneticists to determine an individual’s
DNA sequence, and research has identified a number of genes, such as
HMGA2 and GDF5, that are associated with height. Will such associations
allow scientists and physicians to predict a person’s final adult
height from infancy? Explain your answer.
If you have questions, please email Angie Wong (awong@ashg.org).
K-12: New
FREE Materials on Biomedical Topics from NIH
#1 A new edition of The Chemistry of Health that includes chemistry
basics, short "Meet a Chemist" profiles, a companion poster,
and an extensive online resource [ChemHealthWeb] with downloadable
chapters, chemistry A-Z glossary, molecule gallery and chemistry-related
puzzles and games.
#2 Get two full-color classroom posters
http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/chemhealthwebposter.html
http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/findingsposter.html
#3 Get the latest issue of Findings magazine
This issue features Marc Zimmer, a biochemist who studies glow-in-the-dark
proteins, and Lola Eniola-Adefeso, a chemical engineer who studies
methods to improve heart disease drugs.
Like all of our offerings, these printed and online resources focus on medically relevant life sciences and are free of charge. Printed materials are available individually or in classroom sets. They are also downloadable.
These materials, and more, are produced by the National Institute of
General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of
Health. They are not copyrighted and you are free to excerpt content
from them to use in the classroom or on a class Web site.
Journey North
Jouirney North is inviting students and teachers along the coast of
Alaska
to participate in the Gray Whale study.
If you have Gray Whales that are in your area and you would like to
participate, please email: Jane Duden Journey North jduden@inet-serv.com
JASON Project - http://www.jason.org/public/feature/FeatureDetail.aspx?fid=201
Learn about an exciting opportunity for students and teachers. You
can become an Argonaut!
Design Squad Teacher’s Guide
PBS’ Design Squad goes to school with a new Teacher’s Guide.
Developed for middle school science and technology teachers, the guide
blends hands-on engineering challenges with 3 core science topics,
force, electricity, and sound. The challenges use low cost, readily
available materials and are linked to national science and technology
standards. Order your free copyof the Design SquadTeacher’s Guide
at: http://pbskids.org/designsquad/engineers/newsletter.html
If you have questions please contact:
Natalie Hebshie
Outreach Coordinator, DESIGN SQUAD
WGBH Educational Foundation
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
natalie_hebshie@wgbh.org
The web page has been recently updated with a series of six video modules to help student experimenter design teams with development of their experiments. Hosted by NASA Educator Nathan Lang and NASA Astronaut and former International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke, these brief video modules discuss the ISS and microgravity, considerations for designing a microgravity experiment, the scientific method, and a recap of the Kids In Micro-g! Design Challenge. Bonus videos of microgravity demonstrations onboard the ISS from Fincke and fellow station astronauts Greg Chamitoff and Nicole Stott during their past missions are also included. A matrix of frequently asked questions has also been added as a reference. The FAQ list will be updated weekly as new questions arrive and are answered.
NASA will be accepting experiment proposals through Feb. 19, 2010.
Nature Rocks
Parents should go online to visit Nature Rocks, the family fun nature
planner. This site will help parents find all sorts of nature activities,
plus tools to help guide and plan their adventures. Parents will also
find useful tips and information to help them get into nature without
getting over their head. It's fast and easy so they can shut their
computers down quickly, open up that door and be on their way in as
little as 5 minutes. Nature is closer than you think!
K-12: Ecological
Footprint Education
The Ecological Footprint is a powerful tool for introducing the concept
of sustainability to students. Redefining Progress has applied the
Footprint to a number of resources for educators to help students understand
environmental impacts of their lifestyles.
You will find the Bobbie Bigfoot quiz, lesson plans, training manual,
online course and resources for sustainability education.
Gr 4-6: SAE and
a World in Motion kits
If you know or can find an engineer to partner with you (and SAE will
help you find
one), then you can get some really good curriculum materials and supplies
for your students for FREE.
There are currently three kits for intermediate grades (click on the
Curriculum link):
--Skimmer
Students construct paper sailboats and test the effect of different
sail shapes, sizes, and construction methods to meet specific performance
criteria. Friction, forces, the effect of surface area and design are
some of the physical phenomena students encounter in this challenge.
--JetToy
Students make balloon-powered toy cars that meet specific performance
criteria like; travels far, carries weight, or goes fast. Jet
propulsion, friction, air resistance and design are the core scientific
concepts students explore in this challenge.
-- Electricity & Electronics
Elementary activities provide teachers with activities that focus on
principles of electronics by providing teachers with hands-on
experiments involving static electricity, batteries and capacitors.
Learn the Science Behind Winter Olympic Athletes Movements
How does angular momentum help figure skater Rachael Flatt achieve
the perfect triple toe loop? How does elastic collision allow
three-time Olympic hockey player Julie Chu convert a game-winning
slapshot? How do Newton’s Three Laws of Motion propel short-track
speed skater J.R. Celski to the finish line? These are just a
few of the scientific principles explored in a special 16-part
video series entitled “The Science of the Olympic Winter
Games,” presented by NBC Learn, NBC Olympics and the National
Science Foundation. In each piece in the series, an NSF-supported
scientist ! explains the selected scientific principle, while
Olympic athletes describe how these principles apply to their
respective sports. The science is broken down by capturing the
athletes’ movements with a state-of-the-art, high-speed
camera called the Phantom Cam, which can capture movement at rates
of up to 1,500frames per second. This allows frame-by-frame illustrations
of Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, the Law of Conservation
of Angular Momentum, friction, drag, speed, velocity and other
scientific concepts. View the free videos at: http://www.nbclearn.com/olympics
DIGITAL LEARNING NETWORK TO HOST SOLAR EVENT FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
Join NASA's Digital Learning Network for exploration of an upcoming
mission to understand more about the sun and its impacts on Earth.
How intense will the next solar cycle be? Can scientists predict when
a violent solar storm will blast Earth with energetic particles? How
does this peculiarly low activity of the sun in 2007-2010 counteract
global warming trends? These are a few of the questions that scientists
anticipate the new Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, will help to
answer.
SDO is scheduled to launch in February 2010. To energize students and
teachers about this mission, NASA DLN will host a one-hour interactive
event with scientists and engineers of SDO. Geared for students in
grades 9-12, the event will take place on Jan. 26, 2010, at 1:00 p.m.
EST.
Slots are limited, and schools will be selected upon evidence of need and how the event will match the school’s curricular activities. All schools interested in connecting to this videoconference must send a contact name, school name and address, grade level, number of students to participate, and a short description of how this event will benefit the curriculum to Dr. Marci Delaney, marci.delaney@nasa.gov
Gr 6-8: Participate in a Space Academy
The Honeywell Educators at Space Academy program funds five-day scholarships
for middle school math and science teachers at the U.S. Space & Rocket
Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Recipients have 40 hours of intensive
classroom, laboratory and training time, focusing on space science
and space exploration, including participation in astronaut-style
training and simulations and activities designed to promote lifelong
learning in a classroom setting. The deadline is December
31, 2009.
NASA AND MICROSOFT ALLOW EARTHLINGS TO BECOME MARTIANS
NASA and Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., created a Web site where
Internet users can have fun while advancing their knowledge of
Mars. Drawing on observations from NASA's Mars missions, the "Be
a Martian" Web site will enable the public to participate
as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, take part in research
tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red
Planet. The Mars Exploration Program is managed by JPL for NASA's
Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Enroll as a virtual
Martian citizen and start exploring!
4th - 6th Grade Teachers - Disney Planet Challenge
K-12: Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter
If you have never downloaded the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter,
you are really missing something. This is the most complete newsletter
to help students learn more about the brain and the nervous system.
Montana State University Offers Free Lesson Plans and Alternative Energy
Interactives
Science teachers can access free lesson plans and download alternative
energy interactives through Montana State University's National Teachers
Enhancement Network (NTEN). Lesson plans cover all grade levels with
topics in Earth science, physical science, life science and space science,
including multicultural science lessons developed by Native American
teachers, and lessons on rocketry and physics written by a science
teacher working with NSF-EPSCoR faculty at MSU.
The "Hydrogen and the Environment" website explains the connection
between Yellowstone National Park and the quest for alternative fuels,
including videos, student profiles and images, along with free downloads:
an interactive map of Yellowstone microbes and an animation of how
hydrogen is produced. Visit eu.montana.edu/nten and
click on Professional Resources.
Painted Lady Butterflies in Space!
Painted Lady butterflies will spend several months in space as part
of an exciting experiment to observe their life cycles and behaviors
in microgravity. The butterflies will live in a special habitat,
which provides a safe environment, food and water. Photos and
video will be transmitted back to Earth and made available on
the BioEd Online and K8 Science Web sites. Students can view the
data and join in the investigation in real time.
Teachers are also encouraged to engage their students in concurrent
activities with their own butterflies. Everything needed to get started
is available on BioEd Online or K8 Science. A free teacher's guide
is also available for downloading.
COSEE-Coastal Trends
COSEE-Coastal Trends offers education modules based on scientific research.
The Learn, Explore the Trends, and Investigate Current Research sections
provide general information on each topic. The classroom
resources page is designed for teachers and educators and contains
a lesson plan developed by a teacher with the help of his/her scientist-educator
team. The education modules feature movies, video interviews, photographs,
diagrams, and 5-E lesson plans for use in the science
classroom.
Gr 4-8: Investigate a Science Mystery
The Sue Files is a Web-based curriculum designed by The Field Museum
to put students in the shoes of a paleontologist studying Sue, the
largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex. Although
the scenario presented on this site is fictitious and designed to be
an engaging story, all the scientific information regarding Sue the
T. rex and the science of paleontology is completely accurate. In addition,
the questions that student’s answer, as they investigate this
mystery, are the same sorts of questions paleontologists struggle with
on a regular basis.
Making Waves
A multimedia outreach project designed to help bring science and math
to life in your middle school classroom by unlocking the mysteries
of the oceans. Partners for the website include the College of
Marine Science at the University of South Florida, USGS, and InterActive
Teacher Magazine. Resource topics include Sea Level Rise, Red Tides,
Oceans from Space, Real Time Data, and much more.
Zula
Zula USA, LLC is a leading provider of educational products designed
to provide and promote science and math education as well as reading
literacy for children in PreK through 3rd grade – a group
for whom early exposure and intervention has proven most effective. Zula's
comprehensive program addresses the national call for science,
math and reading literacy education among PreK and early elementary
students, provides a critical foundation in understanding core
concepts and content and promotes the development of critical
thinking skills. The Zula Patrol television series, Zula.com website,
classroom curriculum and other supporting materials provi! de
science, math and reading literacy education and character-building
lessons in an entertaining format that encourages whole family
participation while also offering a diverse approach to learning
styles. During the summer of 2009, the company launched: http://www.ZulaWorld.com a
virtual world of fun, science and discovery. In this virtual
world, kids play educational games and go on science exploration
missions. Each child also has an online “Journal” for
recording observations with notes and drawings. Teachers
have access to each child’s Journal, which can be downloaded
and used as an assessment tool. Teachers can also make assignment
to students through their Journals. Parents get regular email
updates on their child’s activities and learning experiences
in ZulaWorld.com. The expert team of educators, writers,
scientists, and media specialists works to ensure that Zula delivers
a dynamic, focused, fun learning experience for children to learn
about the world around them.
SPACE
MATH WEB SITE – NEW
MATH PROBLEMS ONLINE
New math problems (276 – 285) are now online in order to capture
some of the excitement of the recent Ares 1-X launch, and discoveries
by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope and Deep
Impact. The Ares 1X problems take students through the simple ballistic
problem that describes the path of the payload after apogee, along
with some problems about kinetic and potential energy, and exactly
how a solid rocket booster 'burns' to create its thrust .The last one
will certainly dispel a few misconceptions!
National Environmental Education Week is April 12-18: Be Water Wise! - http://www.EEWeek.org
National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the nation's largest organized environmental education event. Held each April, EE Week promotes understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging K-12th grade students and educators of all subjects in an inspired week of environmental learning and service before Earth Day. Join the thousands of schools, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums nationwide who have made a commitment to engage students in environmental learning through participation in EE Week!
This year's EE Week theme is Be Water Wise! Registered partners will have access to a wide variety of FREE environmental education resources, including:
* Standards-based environmental
education lessons and activities, including water conservation,
watershed, and water quality curricula,
* Access to EE Week's school water audit tool in which
students "find the leaks" in water usage at school,
* Opportunities for online communication and knowledge-sharing
with educators from across the country, including participation in the EE
Week Photo Blog contest,
* Participation in EE Week's Ask an Expert feature,
in which your students' questions about water are answered by a panel of
researchers and water professionals,
* Monthly electronic newsletters highlighting the
latest EE curricula, professional development, and funding opportunities,
* Certificates of participation for themselves and their
students, and
* A coupon for $10 off your purchase at Acorn Naturalists,
offering over 8,000 science and nature resources for the trail and classroom.
You can join a national network of educators dedicated to increasing environmental literacy, promote environmental learning, and gain national exposure for your school or organization by registering today at the URL above.
Questions? Contact Jessica Culverhouse at eeweek@neefusa.org or call 202-261-6484.
K-12: Science in Action: NPR program on Suspension Bridgeshttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100947959
As Suspension Bridges Age, A Search For Failures: How do you know when a suspension-bridge cable is about to fail? That's the question engineers at Columbia University in New York are trying to address in a new experiment.
Visit the web site to hear Joe Palca’s
report, to see videos, and to get more information.
K-12: Win an iPod for your feedback - http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging.station/
The Microscope Imaging Station is looking for educators to evaluate this Web site that has still images, videos, articles, classroom activities, and other educational resources based on research-grade light microscope images. Review the Web site and take the online survey to win a chance for an iPod.
Gr K-5: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears - http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org/
Integrate science, literacy, and the polar regions in your teaching through the NSF-funded Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears magazine!
Designed for elementary educators, each month's issue includes science and literacy content knowledge, high quality lesson plans, misconceptions and tools for formative assessment, researcher profiles, a podcast, and even informational text written specifically for students! In the March 2009 issue, Polar Plants, learn about the plants of the Arctic and Antarctica and their adaptations. Of course, there's much more to discover - so check out Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears today!
Understanding Science One Website at a Time - http://undsci.berkeley.edu/
A new website funded by the National Science Foundation offers
a window to a better understanding about how dynamic and creative the
scientific process really is. Understanding Science is a “fun,
accessible, and free resource that accurately communicates what science
is and how it really works.” The site, intended for both the
general public and K-16 teachers, draws students into real-life examples
and looks at the social side of science, science and society, and asks, “What
has science done for you lately?” It also provides users with
a comprehensive science toolkit. Teacher resources are targeted to
specific grade bands.
Flinn’s eLearning Video Series—Only
$9.95! -- Online “Teacher Training” Videos for Middle
School Science Teachers
Flinn Scientific has just released a new, low-cost online eLearning
Video Series to help science teachers build their content knowledge and
teaching strategies—making it easier for their students to learn
specific topics. Middle school teachers will find videos targeting
the following three topics particularly valuable in building physical
science teaching skills:
The Flinn eLearning Video Series features
20 award-winning high school chemistry teachers demonstrating
their best activities and sharing enormous amounts of content
knowledge, teaching tips and instructional techniques. Each video
is approximately 40 minutes in length containing multiple episodes
and support materials printable as PDFs and can be viewed multiple
times. Teachers can watch and learn, from home or school, as master
teachers model their styles and discuss strategies that have proven
to be successful.
To view free samples go to: http://www.flinnsci.com
K-12: Science360 News Service: Brought to You by NSF - http://news.science360.gov/
Science360, published by the National Science Foundation (NSF),
aims to deliver the full-spectrum of what’s new in global science
to everyone who has ever wondered what’s going on in scientific
research and discovery. The news service gathers news from wherever
science is happening–scientists, college and university press
offices, popular and peer-reviewed journals, dozens of National Science
Foundation science and engineering centers, and funding sources that
include government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and private
industry–and makes it widely available on the Web, via email
and RSS.
K-12: News of a different kind! April, 2009 is
Math Awareness Month - http://www.mathgoodies.com/mam/
Math Awareness Month is held each year in April, and is sponsored by the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics. This year's theme is Mathematics and Climate. Scientists use mathematics to better understand oceans, the atmosphere, and polar ice caps. You are invited to go on a WebQuest to answer these questions:
* How long will summer Arctic
sea ice survive?
* Are hurricanes getting more intense?
* How much will sea level rise as ice sheets melt?
* How do humans impact on climate change?
* How is global climate monitored?
Mathematics and Climate are very relevant to our world today, so join the group and explore these important issues!
Gr K-8: Do you need a Dynamic, Online Destination to Advance STEM Education? - http://www.FuelOurFutureNow.com
Igniting imaginations and fueling student curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math topics, the United States Department of Energy, the X PRIZE Foundation and Discovery Education have created, a new dynamic, online knowledge center inspired by the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.
Introduced to educators during an interactive workshop presented at the National Science Teachers Association’s National Conference in New Orleans, La., http:///www.FuelOurFutureNow.com is an empowering resource that engages students in the science of alternative fuels and energy-efficient engineering. Featuring targeted curriculum and lesson plans for all grade levels, as well as high-quality video, dynamic interactives and additional resources from the United States Department of Energy, teachers can use the online knowledge center to achieve their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) goals.
The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Together, parents and students can explore a variety of grade appropriate STEM topics through a number of exciting activities.
K-2 students will be challenged to find out what makes cars go, while students in grades 3-5 will focus on building the skills needed to learn about force and motion and efficient energy transfer within a vehicle.
Students in grades 6-8 will investigate fuel efficiency and develop a futuristic, energy efficient vehicle, and high school students will be tasked with analyzing patterns in mass transit issues.
For more information about Discovery Education, visit http://www.discoveryeducation.com or call 800-323-9084.
Gr 5-9: WGBH Teachers' Domain News on Adolescent Literacy - http://tinyurl.com/teachersdomain
Teachers' Domain is pleased to announce a new adolescent literacy special collection funded by the Leon Lowenstein Foundation. These self-paced classroom activities use history and science topics to enhance the literacy skills of struggling readers in grades 5-8. Each activity engages students in a topic such as "slavery and emancipation," or "behavioral adaptations," through videos and interactives, then encourages them to build on what they learn by completing a reading and writing assignment. An online glossary helps build vocabulary, and an online note-taking area encourages writing and active thinking.
All fifteen activities address a range of
literacy skills:
* synthesizing
* constructing and asking questions
* developing vocabulary
* connecting prior knowledge to new learning
* developing a topic in writing
Science topics include:
* Exploring the Everglades Environment
* Newton's Third Law: Action-Reaction
* Reproductive Strategies
* Snake Jaws: A Lesson in Evolution
* Behavioral Adaptations
* Continental Drift: Idea to Theory
* Transitional Fossils
EARTH SCIENCE Webcast Series for teachers (Grades 3-8)
NASA Langley Research Center - in co-operation with NOAA and the Virginia
Department of Education Region 2 Math/Science Coalition - will
offer a series of professional development programs for teachers
of grades 3-8 . Each of the five monthly webcasts will address
a different Earth system science topic. The webcasts may be accessed
on the NASA Digital Learning Network at http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/
Upcoming Webcasts:
--Feb. 19: The Water Cycle: Earth vs. Mars (4:00-5:30pm EST)
--Mar. 19: Solar Radiation and the Atmosphere (4:00-5:30pm EST)
--Apr. 16: Tides (4:00-5:30pm EST)
--June 18: The Story of Ocean Heat Storage (4:00-5:30pm EST)
All About Frozen Ground
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has released a new educational
website on frozen ground: All About Frozen Ground. For more information,
visit the site at: http://nsidc.org/frozenground/.
All About Frozen Ground provides comprehensive information about the
importance of frozen ground. Frozen ground and permafrost, or ground
that stays frozen for at least two years, is key to understanding climate,
frozen ground ecosystems, and the interaction between land and atmosphere.
Explore All About Frozen Ground to learn about the science behind frozen
ground and why frozen ground matters to people, plants, and animals
all over the world. Read an interview with permafrost expert and NSIDC
Senior Scientist Tingjun Zhang, and browse a list of reading and classroom
activities for K-12 learners. While at the site, submit your comments
on the feedback form
K-12: National Engineers Week Foundation
http://www.eweek.org/Home.aspx
It features over 50 ways you can get your students involved in engineering!
New Space Mathematics
The Space Math Web site has 25 new math problems for the winter quarter
on a broad range of space science topics (e.g., Angular Size and
Velocity; The Big Bang - Cosmic Expansion; Modeling a Planetary
Nebula; and Stellar Temperature, Size and Power). To support the
International Year of Astronomy, an 'International' math page
has also been added to the Web site and math problems have been
translated into Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, Finnish and
Swedish.
http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/
National Environmental Education Week April 12-18, 2009
- Be Water Wise!
National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the nation's largest
organized environmental education event. Held each April, EE Week promotes
understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging
K-12th grade students and educators of all subjects in an inspired
week of environmental learning and service before Earth Day. Join the
thousands of schools, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums
nationwide who have made a commitment to engage students in environmental
learning through participation in EE Week!
This year's EE Week theme is Be Water Wise! Registered partners will have access to a wide variety of FREE environmental education resources, including:
* Standards-based environmental education lessons and activities, including
water conservation, watershed, and water quality curricula,
* Access to EE Week's school water audit tool in which students "find
the leaks" in water usage at school,
* Opportunities for online communication and knowledge-sharing
with educators from across the country, including participation in
the EE Week Photo Blog contest,
* Monthly electronic newsletters highlighting the latest EE curricula,
professional development, and funding opportunities,
* Certificates of participation for themselves and their students,
and
* A free issue of National Geographic Explorer magazine for those
registering before January 30, 2009!
You can join a national network of educators dedicated to increasing environmental literacy, promote environmental learning, and gain national exposure for your school or organization by registering today!
Questions? Contact Jessica Culverhouse at culverhouse@neefusa.org or call 202-261-6484. http://www.EEWeek.org
Digital Planetariums
With help from a $488,000 NASA grant, the University of Alaska Museum
of the North and scientists at the UAF Geophysical Institute are
joining forces to bring the state's only digital portable planetarium
to communities in rural Alaska. For more information:
http://www.uaf.edu/news/headlines/20081114155829.html
PBS Article-How One Preschool Science Program is Developing
Young Scientists
This article provides suggestions on how to incorporate science into
your early childhood classroom by creating opportunities for children
to explore science objects. A list of additional resources in included.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/articles/science.html
GLOBE Student Research Campaign on Climate Change
Planning for the GLOBE Student Research Campaign on Climate Change
will occur over a 2-year period, beginning in January 2009, and
will enlist the support of internationally renowned climate change
scientists, science educators and educational outreach experts,
as well as businesses, foundations and policy makers. Student
research activities will commence in 2011, with final results
of the campaign to be presented at an international student conference
in 2013.
The Campaign goals are to: (a) involve over 1,000,000 students in climate
change research; (b) enhance environmental and climate literacy for
millions of people around the world; (c) empower students, teachers,
and community members to take action on climate-related environmental
issues; and (d) create a compelling model for 21st century environmental
science education based on grade-level appropriate research and learning
experiences.
The project is currently developing strategic collaborations to make
this campaign a success. For more information, go to: http://globe.gov/r/html/climatechange or email: ClimateChangeCampaign@globe.gov.
Name in Space is an activity in association with the 2009
International Year of Astronomy (http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov),
as well as in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Kepler's publication
of his first two laws of planetary motion.
FREE Global Climate Change COURSE FOR INFORMAL EDUCATORS
“Global Climate Change and Informal Earth System Science” is
an online, 10-week graduate course designed to provide professional development
for the informal Earth system science education community. The first module, “Global
Climate Change”, defines the topic and discusses recent scientific
study on global climate change. The second module, “Earth System Science
in Your Backyard” provides the tools for creating in-house, inquiry-based
Earth science education products focusing on the participants’ local
geology and existing collections/exhibits/programming. This course will
be asynchronous and conducted entirely online.
As a final project, participants will design or update programming,
an exhibit, or other resources at their organization that reflects
the course content. Participants’ employing venue will receive
a mini-grant for $500 for each staff person (max. of two per institution)
who successfully completes the course, to be used toward implementation
of his/her project.
To enroll, please complete an application for status as a non-degree
graduate student and submit a transcript (see http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/conted/NDG.htm).
Participants will also need to register for the course via the Registrar's
Web site at https://webservices.oneonta.edu/.
Please contact Carlyn Buckler for further information at: csb36@cornell.edu .
This course is part of the NASA and NSF-funded Earth System Science
Education Alliance (http://esseacourses.strategies.org).
EPO’S CHRONICLES – NEW WEEKLY WEB
COMIC
In conjunction with the GLAST launch, Sonoma State University has premiered
a new educational Web comic, entitled "Epo's Chronicles." The
guiding concept behind the project is developing an engaging storyline
with fictional characters that teaches real science both to students
and science enthusiasts of all ages. This weekly Web comic follows
the adventures of Epo, a sentient spaceship/observatory, in the distant
future. Alkina, a humanoid alien, joins Epo as they quest to regain
their memories and learn science along the way. The first series of
'eposodes' focuses on galaxies and is available in English, French
and Spanish. New eposodes appear each Monday, read the most recent
eposode at: http://epo.sonoma.edu/EposChronicles/.
Additionally, there is a special GLAST launch ‘eposode’ available
at: http://epo.sonoma.edu/EposChronicles/?cat=16?=en .
NASA ASTRONAUT READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
FROM SPACE
Flying 220 miles above the Earth aboard the International Space Station,
NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff is ready to take your questions. Chamitoff
is a flight engineer for the Expedition 17 mission. He flew to the
station aboard the space shuttle Discovery in June and will return
to Earth aboard shuttle Endeavour in November.
The public can now submit inquiries to Chamitoff and get answers direct
from space on NASA's Web site. Mission Control will transmit the questions
to Chamitoff weekly. He will answer as many as his schedule will allow.
To submit a question, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ask.
Check back periodically for the transcript and audio clips of the astronaut's
answers.
Monthly NASA Hot Topics and Featured Objects for
IYA 2009
The vision of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is to help the
citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through
the daytime and nighttime sky, and thereby engage a personal sense
of wonder and discovery. During each month of the IYA, NASA will highlight
some of its key space science missions, space science discoveries,
and night-sky wonders that you can discover with your own observations
and explorations, and we'll connect you to related NASA resources and
events. Monthly topics and celestial objects are summarized at http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov/news.htm.
NEW EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
AVAILABLE AT NASA.GOV
The Educational Materials section of NASA's Web site offers classroom
activities, educator guides, posters and other types of resources that
are available for use in the classroom. The materials are listed by
type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available
for downloading.
Getting Dirty on Mars – Grades 5-12
Students will measure the soil moisture content, compare soil colors,
look for biomarkers and measure pH to make their comparisons. They
will then present a “Soil Properties Report.”
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Getting_Dirty_on_Mars.html.
Wall-E Learns About Proportion Video – Grades
K-8
Students calculate the diameter of the moon with the help of Wall-E
the mischievous robot.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Wall-E_Learns_About_Proportion.html.
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Technical
Knockout DVD – Grades K-8
In today's world of high-tech devices, the Tree House Detectives discover
that technology has its flaws when everything electronic stops working.
Eager to solve the problem of this electronic blackout, the detectives
follow the wind to the nearest star…the sun.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Navigational_Uses_for_Global.html.
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Phenomenal
Weather DVD – Grades K-8
Follow the Tree House Detectives as they plan a trip to the Caribbean
and encounter problems trying to predict the weather. In this case,
the Tree House Detectives will learn about violent storms such as hurricanes
and tornadoes, weather fronts, global wind patterns, and climates.
While solving the case, they will discover that predicting the weather
is not predictable at all!
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Learning_About_Clouds.html.
NEW WEB RESOURCE GUIDE ON WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY
An updated, expanded resource guide to the role women have played and
are playing in the development of astronomy is now available through
the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The guide includes both printed
and Web-based materials, and has general references on the topic plus
specific references to the work and lives of 32 women astronomers of
the past and present. All the materials are at the non-technical level
and thus appropriate for student papers, curriculum development, or
personal enrichment. The guide makes reference to 178 different Web
resources, as well as books and articles that are either in print or
found in many larger libraries.
This resource guide is part of a series that can be found on the Society's
Web site, on such topics as the astronomy of many cultures, debunking
astronomical pseudo-science, and resources for astronomy education. http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/womenast_bib.html
Sally Ride Science (http://www.sallyridescience.com/schools)
To help teachers educate the next generation on the science and solutions
for global climate change, Sally Ride Science announces the launch
of the Climate Change Classroom Set.
Developed for upper elementary and middle school students, the Climate Change Classroom Set brings the impacts of climate change to their world. The four books in the set ˜ Ecosystems, The Atmosphere, The Oceans, and The Poles ˜ blend the latest science and environmental concerns with current ideas and solutions for facing our climate challenge and creating a healthier planet. http://www.sallyridescience.com/for_educators/conferences/climate/resources
JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH
Today's news headlines tell of a world facing increased hunger, water shortages, massive floods, and species extinction because of climate change and sea level rise.
In response, educational institutions are introducing courses dealing with the most pressing of these environmental issues. And to help educators explain to students the science behind these new environmental challenges, over 1,500 universities, colleges, and schools in North America have added to their media libraries the environmental video series JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH.
Funded by the National Science Foundation for PBS, JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH is the only video series that helps educators explain to students the science behind the headlines. Find out why publications like The School Library Journal, Booklist, The Journal of Academic Librarianship and the California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse hail the JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH series as the best and most comprehensive environmental series ever produced! The series comes in a 56-minute version and a 25-minute version re-edited specifically for grades 6-12.
To receive a 30-day free preview of the entire 10-episode
series or individual episodes simply reply to this e-mail -- screenscope@screenscope.com
-- with your name, institutional mailing address and phone number.
Or visit our website for more information about the series:
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth
Here's a quick description of each episode:
STATE OF THE OCEAN’S ANIMALS takes a hard look at why nearly half the world's marine animals may face extinction over the next twenty-five years. Locations: Pacific Northwest (whales, salmon and sea otters), Florida (sea level rise and its effect on loggerhead turtles), the Antarctic (threats to Emperor Penguins), and Africa (coastal fisheries). Narrated by Matt Damon.
STATE OF THE PLANET’S WILDLIFE -- Explores what scientists are calling the “sixth great extinction” of our world’s plants and animals. Locations: the Arctic, Montana, China, Kenya, Brazil, Singapore, and the Everglades. Narrated by Matt Damon.
STATE OF THE PLANET -- Looks at how population, climate change, and economic pressures affect the world’s resources such as food and water. Locations: Kenya, India, Israel, Bangladesh, the Amazon, Mexico, China, and the United States. Narrated by Matt Damon.
FUTURE CONDITIONAL -- Looks at the spread of air pollution from disparate locations such as the Arctic, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and California, and how contamination in one area can affect people thousands of miles away. Narrated by Matt Damon.
ON THE BRINK -- Investigates a growing national security threat throughout the world: how environmental pressures can lead to terrorism and regional conflict. Locations: Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, Peru and along the United States/Mexico border. Narrated by Matt Damon.
SEAS OF GRASS -- Examines the devastating environmental, political and economic effects of the degradation of the world's grasslands, which make up 30 percent of Earth's land surface. Locations: Argentina, Inner Mongolia, Kenya, South Africa, and North America. Narrated by Matt Damon.
HOT ZONES -- Explores how recent trends in globalization and the altering of ecosystems have led to dramatic increases in the spread of infectious diseases. Locations: Kenya, Peru, Bangladesh, New York City, and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. Narrated by Matt Damon.
RIVERS OF DESTINY -- Investigates problems associated with the tampering of the natural environment of rivers. Locations: Mississippi, Amazon, Jordan, and Mekong Rivers. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
THE URBAN EXPLOSION -- Explores ways to sustain burgeoning urban populations without destroying the environment. Locations: Mexico City, Istanbul, Shanghai, and New York City. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
LAND OF PLENTY, LAND OF WANT -- Examines how farmers can feed Earth’s growing population without impoverishing the land. Locations: Zimbabwe, France, China, and the United States. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
Series Price: $1099 (set of ten) $599 (any five) or $149 per episode. Includes Teachers Guide. Each one-hour episode is also available in a re-edited 25-minute version.
Kimberly Klinger
Educational Outreach Manager
Journey To Planet Earth
Screenscope, Inc.
4330 Yuma Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
Tel: (202) 364-0055
Fax: (202) 364-0058
E-Mail: kklinger@screenscope.com
NASA announces a new Web-based educational project
offered free to every student and educator in the country, from
kindergarten level through lifelong learners
Capitalizing on today's technology, NASA eClips are short, five- to
10-minute video segments available on-demand via the Internet for the
2008-2009 school year. Over 220 video segments are projected to be
available. This project highlights NASA's commitment to providing important
science, math and engineering educational materials in a useful video
format that can be used in the classroom, at home, and by informal
education institutions such as museums, Boys and Girls Clubs, and scouts.
With a goal of increasing science literacy, NASA eClips are designed
to inspire students to learn more about science, technology, engineering
and mathematics and to understand the application of these subjects
in the real world -- all in an accessible, on-demand way.
Additionally, the K-12 (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) NASA eClips project is separated
into grade-appropriate topics that tie into standards-based instruction.
Each level is designed as a resource for classroom teachers; downloadable
video segments and teacher guides illustrating effective instruction
in the 21st-century classroom provide valuable enhancements to teacher
lesson plans.
Students, teachers and the public can look forward to new video and
educational content highlighting current research and innovations throughout
the school year. The video clips are available for streaming on the
NASA Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclips.
The NASA Web site permits educators and the public to download and
save the video clips as well as stream them. In addition, the NASA
Web provides lesson plans and instructions for educators on how to
use these videotapes in the classroom.
Annual DNA Day Essay Contest!
It is only open to 9th – 12th grade students this year. DEADLINE
MARCH 16, 2009 at 5:00 PM EST
Please visit http://www.ashg.org/education/ for
the rules and more information.
2009 Essay questions:
1. Some traits come in two varieties (for example, Mendel’s
round and wrinkled peas with the green and yellow colors). Do all traits
for all species come in only two varieties? Justify your answer by
explaining the relationship between genes and traits.
2. What is (are) the cause(s) of human health and disease? Explain
your answer using one or more specific examples.
A 1st, 2nd, 3rd place will be chosen for each question.
Winning students will receive:
1st Place Winners: $400.00 + Teacher receive a $2,000 grant for laboratory
genetics equipment
2nd Place Winners: $250.00
3rd Place Winners: $150.00
Angie Wong, MHS
Education Programs Assistant
The American Society of Human Genetics
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301.634.7326 | Fax: 301.634.7079
awong@ashg.org
Are you looking for a way to engage kids in science? Start a TOYchallenge team today!
TOYchallenge is an exciting way to bring imaginative kids together to create a new toy or game. TOYchallenge can be used in schools, after-school programs, home school families, or as part of any youth-based organization. A team consists of 3 to 6 members, at least half of whom must be girls. One adult is the team coach.
Sign up today at http://www.toychallenge.com or
call 1-800-561-5161. Registion is $60 .
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) announces
the 2009 Thacher Scholars Award, to be given to secondary school students
(grades 9-12) demonstrating the best use of geospatial technologies
or data to study the Earth.
Three cash awards will be given: 1st place -- $2,000; 2nd place --
$1,000; and 3rd place -- $500. Entries can be submitted by individuals
or teams. In the case of team entries, the cash award will be split
equally among the winning team members.
In addition to prizes for the winning students, the teachers of the
first, second- and third-place students or teams will receive a $200
amazon.com gift card. If participation is part of an after-school club
or other activity independent of school, the student or team can identify
an adult "coach" who would be eligible for this award (e.g.,
a parent, club leader, etc.).
Entries must be postmarked April 6, 2009. IGES plans to announce the
winning entries by May 12, 2009. Entries will be judged by IGES staff.
Eligible geospatial tools and data include satellite remote sensing,
aerial photography, geographic information systems (GIS), and Global
Positioning System (GPS). The main focus of the project must be on
the application of the geospatial tool(s) or data to study a problem
related to Earth's environment.
Geospatial technologies and data have numerous uses in science research,
ranging from climate prediction to archaeology. They can be used to
improve our understanding of the Earth system, including interactions
among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. They can
also be used to improve the quality of our lives by supporting weather
prediction, natural hazards monitoring, agriculture, land-use planning,
coastal management, transportation, public health emergency response
and other fields.
The Thacher Scholars Award was founded in honor of former IGES board
member Peter Thacher, who died in 1999. Peter Thacher was former deputy
executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, NASA
advisor and, at the time of his death, president of the Earth Council
Foundation/U.S. He was a leader in promoting the use of satellite remote
sensing.
For more information on the Thacher Scholars Award, please visit http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars.
Phone: (703) 312-0825
FAX: (703) 312-8657
E-mail: theresa_schwerin@strategies.org
Track Spring Journey North: Migrations, Mystery
Schools, Climate, More
Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to participate
this spring in Journey North‚s 16th annual global study of wildlife
migration and seasonal change. A free Internet-based „citizen
science‰ project, Journey North enables students in 11,000 schools
to watch the wave of spring as it unfolds. Students monitor migration
patterns of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, whooping cranes, and
other animals; the blooming of plants; and changing sunlight, temperatures,
and other signs of spring. They share their local observations with
classmates across North America and beyond, and look for patterns on
real-time maps. As they put local observations into a global context
- and connect with field scientists - participants are better prepared
to explore how climate and other factors affect living things.
Each Journey North study features many entry points and
resources that address learning standards: Journey North for Kids reading
booklets and lessons, stunning photos and video clips, weekly migration
updates, interactive maps, instructional units, and compelling migration
stories.
Thanks to Annenberg Media, Journey North Web site access and participation
is free. Take a glimpse at the spring projects here: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/season/spring2009 .
(Home page: http://www.learner.org/jnorth.)
Plan now; these begin on February 1st!
Eve Pranis, Journey North - evep@gmavt.net
K-12: From the National Institutes of Health: a monthly journal
available online
http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2073
Environmental Health Perspectives is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. Learn about dengue, modifiers of health effects of air pollution, World Trade Center rescue worker mental health morbidity, iron metabolism genes as predictors of children's blood lead, satellite snapshots of global pollution, China's growing organic market, estimating community drug abuse by wastewater analysis, and more.
K-12: NSF and the Birth of the Internet
http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2074
This is a multimedia story of the creation of the Internet. Learn about
the individuals who began connecting computers in the 1960s. Listen
to Vint Cerf, often referred to as "the father of the Internet," describe
their work. Find out about TCP/IP, packet switching, CSNET, and other
technologies and initiatives. Trace developments back to the first
Internet message (Oct 29, 1969) and the first web page (Aug 6, 1991).
See predictions about what's next.
Earthwatch Institute is now accepting applications for all
of our student and educator fellowships for 2008-2009!
More Information, deadlines, and applications are on the
web http://www.earthwatch.org/education !
Earthwatch fellowships allow teachers and students to get out of the
classroom and head into the field. Fellows learn about cutting edge
research and conservation efforts, develop professional skills, and
make a difference for our shared environment. Earthwatch fellowships
bring the world alive like never before!
If you haven’t yet applied for a fellowship, or joined an Earthwatch
expedition I hope you are excited to apply this year. If you have already
received a fellowship or currently have an application on file, please
share this information with your friends and colleagues, and make sure
to nominate
an outstanding teacher or student !
Kevin McAndrew
Outreach Coordinator
Earthwatch Institute
1.800.776.0188 (ext. 268)
kmcandrew@earthwatch.org
GLOBE Partner Expedition to Antarctica
October 2008 marks the start of a three-month International Polar Year
expedition, called the Offshore New Harbor, to image sediments located
below the sea floor. This project is part of the ANDRILL Program (ANtarctic
DRILLing), a multinational initiative to recover stratigraphic core
records for interpreting Antarctic’s climatic, glacial, and tectonic
history.
The expedition team will include scientists, students, and a schoolteacher
who will live on the sea ice while collecting data that will seismically
image the sediments that lie beneath the sea floor in the New Harbor
area. The objective of this expedition will be to locate the optimal
site to drill these sediments in the near future.
Educational activities are planned while on the ice, including the
collection of meteorological data to be entered into the GLOBE Web
site for use in student research. There will also be links posted to
expedition audio and video blogs. Once the expedition gets under way,
there will be a link to these materials through the main GLOBE Web
site: http://www.globe.gov.
Until then, read more about the mission at: http://www.globe.gov/fsl/STARS/ART/Display.opl?lang=en&star=Antarctic_Ex.
For more information about the educational efforts of the Offshore
New Harbor Expedition, visit: http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/offshore_new_harbor/offshore.htm.
NASA Launches New Hubble Web Site for Educators
NASA has launched a new Web site with resources for educators on the
Hubble Space Telescope. The site celebrates Hubble as a unique tool
of exploration and as a catalyst of inspiration to wonder -- to ponder
new questions and to seek expressive responses to the magnificent visual
imagery it enables people to "see." This site will continue
to follow the Hubble journey into 2010, Hubble's 20th anniversary year.
The Hubble educational resource site offers activities and resources
for three primary themes: Hubble Careers, From Galileo to the Great
Observatories, and the Hubble Walk: Spacesuits and Spacewalks. Revisit
this Web site often throughout the next year for updates and added
activities, resources, links to complementary sites, and notices of
special events. http://www.nasa.gov/education/hubble.
NASA E-CLIPS: A NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING
NASA eClips are short (5-10 minute) video segments available on-demand
via the Internet. The video clips are designed to inspire students
to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) and to understand the application of these subjects in the real
world. The project is a NASA partnership with National Institute of
Aerospace, Caption Max, Internet Archive, and YouTube.
Students, teachers, and the general public can look forward to new
video and educational content highlighting current research and innovations
each week throughout the school year. The video clips are available
for streaming on NASA’s Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclipsand
on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nasaeclips. The NASA Web site
permits users to download and save the video clips as well as stream
them. The NASA Web site also provides lesson plans and instructions
for educators on how to use the videos in the classroom.
The Northwest Regional BioGENEius Challenge is now recruiting students for the 2009 Challenge!
Entries for the State competition must be post marked
by January 23, 2009. If selected as a Regional Winner, students will
have the opportunity to enter the International BioGENEius Challenge,
a chance to win cash prizes, and an opportunity to meet high-level
scientists.
Under the Biotechnology Institute's direction, the sanofi-aventis International
BioGENEius Challenge is an annual competition for high school students
that recognizes outstanding research in biotechnology.
View a video http://biotechinstitute.org/programs/biogenius2008384K_Stream.wmv about
the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge!
Please visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/biogeneius_challenge.html
for more information on how to enter.
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SPACE MATH PROBLEMS OF
THE WEEK
Problem 119 GALEX - A Star Sheds a Comet Tail! (Grade
level: 8-10)
The GALEX satellite captured a spectacular image of the star Mira shedding
a tail of gas and dust nearly 13 light years long. Students use the
GALEX image to determine the speed of the star, and to translate the
tail structures into a timeline extending to 30,000 years ago.
[Skills: Image scaling; Unit conversion; Calculating speed from distance
and time]
Problem 120 Benford's Law (Grade level: 8-10)
Students explore a relationship called Benford's Law, which describes
the frequency of the integers 1-9 in various data. This law is used
by the IRS to catch fraudulent tax returns, but also applies to astronomical
data and other surprising situations.
[Skills: Calculating frequency tables; Histogramming; Statistics]
Problem 121 MESSENGER - Ice on Mercury? (Grade level: 8-10)
Since the 1990's, radio astronomers have mapped Mercury. An outstanding
curiosity is that in the polar regions, some craters appear to have
'anomalous reflectivity' in the shadowed areas of these craters. One
interpretation is that this is caused by sub-surface ice. The MESSENGER
spacecraft hopes to explore this issue in the next few years. In this
activity, students will measure the surface areas of these potential
ice deposits and calculate the volume of water that they imply.
[Skills: Area of a circle; volume, density, unit conversion]
Teachers' Domain as reviewed by Education-World
CONTENT:
Teachers' Domain,
produced by WGBH Educational Foundation, provides a free multimedia
digital library of k-12 resources for science teachers and students.
It includes a collection of classroom ready resources, multimedia
lesson plans, and professional development resources.
REVIEW:
Teachers' Domain supports
science-learning experiences with media rich resources that are
high impact, engaging and interactive. Life science is the focus
of the site and topics include ecology, evolution, genetics, the
cell and more. Each of the resources is geared to a specific grade
level and correlated to state and national standards. Teachers
will find classroom ready video clips, interviews, web-based interactive
activities, photographs, animations, images, and text transcriptions
from original sources, along with contextual information and lesson
plans for effective use in the classroom. Registered users can
create sets of resources on a specific topic and save them to
share with their students. Students could also use this feature
to create a multimedia report on a given topic. Additionally,
there are videos of best practice teaching available for professional
development purposes. This is a rich resource that science teachers
will not want to miss!
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