9th Annual AIA Archaeology Fair

The 9th Annual AIA Archaeology Fair!

When: Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
Admission: FREE!

Experience the excitement of archaeological discovery with your family!

Write in ancient languages, make a Roman mosaic or an Inca khipu, and be a medieval knight! Archaeologists, museum educators, and historical societies will lead hands-on activities and present exciting demonstrations of ancient technologies. Talk to experts about archaeology, history, and cultural heritage. The Archaeology Fair is fun for all generations, and is very kid-friendly!

Teachers and home-schoolers: this is a great opportunity to collect ideas for classroom projects.

Presenters include:

Bucks County Community College
Dickinson College
Dig and Calliope Magazines
Franklin Pierce University
Milwaukee Public Museum
Museum of Science, Boston
Penn Museum
Penn State University
Pennsylvania Archaeological Council
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology
St. Louis Community College
Yale University
Archaeological Institute of America…and many others!

The Archaeology Fair is part of the 110th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America—the oldest and largest archaeological organization in North America.

Museum Exhibits

New Jersey

1. Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (METC), Madison, NJ
   
   
2. Boonton Museum, Boonton, NJ
   
   
3. Acorn Hall, Morristown,
   
   
4. Newark Museum, Newark, NJ. Exhibits include: Saturn: Exploring a Celestial Wonder; Dynamic Earth; Court Ladies and Courtesans: Private Worlds in Old Japan; Smart Bugs: Insect Societies;
   
   
5. Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ; Exhibits include: Communications; Infection Connection; Eat and be Eaten; I Explore; Our Hudson Home; ; Breakthroughs: Vote Science 2008; Wildlife Challenge and Skyscraper! Achievement and Impact.
   
   
6. Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ.
   
   

New York

• Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan
  

Pennsylvania

1. Franklin Institute, Philadelphia permanent exhibits include: The Giant Heart, Sir Isaac's Loft, Franklin: He's electric and Space Command;
   
   
2. Da vinci Center, Allentown PA, Exhibits include: What Hurts?, What's Alive?, Watts Up?, What's on Earth? What Works? and almost daily Space Odyssey programs.
   
   
3. Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA.

Art "lessons"

SPATTER:
cool make your own online splatter
http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

COLLAGE:
Cubism COllage (grades 4-6)
http://www.kinderart.com/sculpture/cubismcreation.shtml

Painting/Collage grade 7:
http://www.princetononline.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/connie-Romare.htm

Women in Classical Greece

New exhibit at the Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan through May 9, 2009: Worshipping Women: Ritual and Reality in Classical Athens. Who's up for a January or February field trip?

Onassis Cultural Center
645 Fifth Avenue, Suite 304
New York, NY 10022

Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Complimentary guided tours every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m., open to the public.
For more information, please call 212-486-4448, fax us at 212-486-4744, or email info@onassisusa.org.

Worshipping Women: Ritual and Reality in Classical Athens.
Partial description from their website: "... 155 rare and extraordinary archaeological objects in order to re-examine preconceptions about the exclusion of women from public life in ancient Athens. The story told by these objects, and experienced in the galleries, presents a more nuanced picture than is often seen, showing how women’s participation in cults and festivals contributed not only to personal fulfillment in Classical Greece but also to civic identity. ..."

Worshiping Women tells this story in three main chapters.

1. “Goddesses and Heroines” introduces the principal female deities of Athens and Attica, in whose cults and festivals women were most actively engaged: Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Demeter and her daughter Persephone. This first section also investigates the role of heroines, a special group of women believed to have lived in the distant past, who like Iphigenia became important figures of cult worship after their deaths.
   
   
2. “Women and Ritual,” explores the practice of ritual acts such as dances, libations, sacrifices, processions and festivals in which women were active in classical antiquity. Here the critical role of the priestess comes to light, specifically in her function as key-bearer for the temples of the gods.
   
   
3. “Women and the Cycle of Life,” the exhibition explores how religious rituals defined moments of transition. Because the most important transition in a girl’s life was understood to be marriage, the wedding took on great significance, with its rituals depicted on a variety of vases associated with nuptial rites and wedding banquets. Death was another occasion on which Athenian women took on major responsibilities, such as preparing the deceased for burial and tending the graves of family members.

By presenting this story in the only way it can be properly told—through artworks and the material culture of the time—this important exhibition corrects the common, bleak picture of the lives of Athenian women."

For more, see also review in 12/19/2008, New York Times, The Glory That Was Greece From a Female Perspectiveory. Weekend Arts section.

HSers welcome, Christian-run

1. WINTER WONDERLAND - FAIRVIEW LAKE YMCA CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER, Sunday, February 8th, 2009 1:00pm-4:00pm
   
   Bundle up and come join the fun at the Sixth Annual Winter Wonderland at Fairview Lake Camp and Conference Center in Stillwater. Activities include nature walks, toasting marshmallows over an open fire, crafts, archery, indoor climbing wall, ice fishing and much more. Warm up with baked goods and hot chocolate in the Dining Hall. Cost: $10 per family, non-members welcome. For directions to Fairview Lake, Newton NJ visit www.fairviewlake.org/ or call (973) 383-9282
   
   
2. Spruce Lake Retreat Homeschool Days - Winter 2009 *Classes for children 10 yrs. and up, except Orienteering for children 12 yrs & up. No matter their athletic ability, you’ll find exciting activities your child/children will enjoy while meeting homeschool requirements in a Christian environment. Canadensis, PA
   
   Archery
   Session 1 - Jan 5 & 12
   Session 2 - Jan 26 & Feb 2
   
   Cross Country Skiing
   Session 1 - Jan 6 & 13
   Session 2 - Jan 27 & Feb 3
   
   Climbing Wall Clinic
   Session 1 - Jan 7 & 14
   Session 2 - Jan 28 & Feb 4
   
   Orienteering
   Session 1 - Jan 8 & 15
   Session 2 - Jan 29 & Feb 5
   
   Homeschool Days Flyer Registration: Call Lisa at 1-800-822-7505 or print and mail Registration Form to ATTN: Lisa Ferrer, RR 1 Box 605, Canadensis, PA 18325

Organizing "CSI Live": 3/16/2009

Mad Science: CSI Live, Monday, March 16, 10 a.m.
Mayo (Community) Theatre, 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ, $8/seat.
Plan to be there by 9:45 a.m. Be sure to leave enough time for parking.

Program Length: 60 minutes.
Recommended for Students in Grades: 4 - 9.

Take an exciting, interactive journey through the fascinating world of crime scene investigations as an audience of recruits is enlisted to help CSI investigators solve a crime by analyzing mysterious gases, launching experimental projectiles, firing lasers across the scene of the crime, and using superior logic and forensic know-how to uncover hidden details!

Study Guide available.

The show is recommended for 4 - 9th graders. I assume that you know your child best and can determine whether or not they would be interested and whether they can behave in a way that is appropriate for at least a 4th grader.


Money due to me: January 14, 2009
RSVP to lady@wubison for my address. You will be confirmed when I have your check.
You will also get my cell phone number in case it is needed on the day of the event. What is the best way for me to contact you in the case of a late cancellation? Money will only be refunded if the show is canceled and the money is refunded.

Winter Curriculum - Greece

At least two groups in the area are working on Ancient Green with professional archaeologist turned educator, "Big Dog" Geof Purcell. Both will have their Dig weeks in the spring.

Premier season of his winter curriculum is 3 days for $60/child and $100/family. Payment due November 7th.

email the site host so we'll have names, but please mail your checks straight to The Archaeological Perspective.

Tewksbury group: Tuesdays.
Craft day: Jan. 6, 2:30 - 4:30
Game day: March 31st, time tbd
Museum field trip (the MET): December 2nd, 2008

Bushkill group: Classes on Thursdays -- perhaps at the Stroudsburg Library or in Bushkill.
Craft day: Jan. 8th, ~12 - 2 pm (talk to the hostess for times)
Game day: March 26th, ~12 - 2 pm (talk to the hostess for times)
Museum field trip (the MET): December 4th, 2008

Those who wish to participate should send the appropriate amount in a cheque (made payable to "TAP") to: G. Purcell, The Archaeological Perspective, PO Box 38161, Albany, NY 12203-8161. This payment should arrive by November 7, 2008.

Please call or write if you have any questions about the curriculum, framework, content or the Spring digs. Deposits go straight to Geof at The Archaeological Perspective -- but please let the site host know when you do.

Tewksbury site coordinator/host: Mary Ann < maryann.orourke@gmail.com >

Bushkill site coordinator/host: Heather < runnin43@ptd.net >

Curriculum link Possibilities (thanks Heather)

These may help you in teaching Ancient Greece:
http://ancienthistory.mrdonn.org/AncientGreece.html
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/History/Ancient_Civilizations/Greece/index.htm

Ancient Greek Cities
Ancient Greek Civilizations
Mr. Dowling's Cradel of Western Civilization
Greek Alphabet
Greek Mythology
Greek Pottery
Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology
Map of Ancient Greece
GreekCulture: Greek Mythology
Mythology of the Constellations
Warhorse Simulations: Historical Commentary on the Peloponnesian War
Ancient GREECE: SPARTA
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Colossus of Rhodes
Ancient Greesk: storyforkids.org/learn/greeks/

Suggested for 8th grade & up (but adaptable):

Archaeological institute of American Lesson Plans include:
Lesson Plans: Ancient Cultures includes Greek Vase Painting Project, Costume, Feast & Cargo:
Greek Vase Painting Project
A Greco-Roman Feast: Dining and Reclining
Cargoes from Three Continents: Ancient Mediterranean Trade in Modern Archaeology

Links Recommended for Students:
SocialStudiesforkids.com's Ancient Greece
Activityvillage.co.uk: Ancient Greece for kids
PBS on The Greeks
http://www.historyforkids.org/

Homework Links: Ancient/Greece

For Older Students:
http://library.thinkquest.org/10805/greece.html

Exhibit Schedule for Eric Carle Museum

Yes. the one in Amherst, MA. See directions or you can take the virtual tour.

In The East Gallery
Over Rainbows and Down Rabbit Holes: The Art of Children's Books
November 11, 2008 - March 8, 2009
Co-organized with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

In The West Gallery
Selections from The Art of Eric Carle
September 16, 2008 - January 25, 2009

80/40: Celebrating the Birthdays of Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar
February 10 - August 30, 2009

In The Central Gallery
Petra Mathers: Lottie's New Friend
December 19, 2008 - April 26, 2009

Future:

In The East Gallery
Those Telling Lines: The Art of Virginia Lee Burton
March 24 - June 21, 2009

In The West Gallery
80/40: Celebrating the Birthdays of Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar
February 10 - August 30, 2009

In The Central Gallery
Drawings from the Heart: Tomie dePaola Turns 75
July 3 - November 1, 2009

Science and LEGO

Coming LEGO educational PRODUCTS & CURRICULUM/Lesson Plan List.

Please add suggestions if you have found good lesson plans or ideas for using LEGO.

You can probably do lessons on simple machines with what you have, but many of us would need to buy or borrow special kits to do gears.

Coming in January 2009: LEGO has announced a low-end, tethered robotics system called "WeDO" designed to be used in classrooms of elementary-aged children. It won't replace Mindstorms, but instead serve as an intermediate step between the more fully featured robotics platform and regular, non-robotic LEGO. The WeDo system will be available at the first of the year. Prices have not yet been announced.

Holidays etc.

November
11 - Veteran's Day
13 - Sadie Hawkins Day
20 - Universal Children's Day
Thanksgiving
11/28/09 - Eid-Ul-Adha
11/29 - Red Planet Day

December
12/2 - National Pie Day (also 1/23!)
12/7 - International Civil Aviation Day
12/8/2007 - Eid-Ul-Adha
12/10 - Human Rights Day
12/18 - Bake Cookies Day
12/20/07 - Eid-Ul-Adha
12/25 - Christmas

January
National Blood Donor Month, National Braille Literacy Month, National Hobby Month, Hot Tea Month, National Oatmeal Month, National Soup Month
1/1 - New Year
1/3 - J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday
1/9 - National Static Electricity Day
1/15 - M.L. King, Jr. Birthday
1/18 - Thesaurus Day
1/23 National Pie Day (also 12/2!)
January 21 to 25, 2008 - No Name-Calling Week
1/26/2009 - Chinese New Year
February2/2 - Ground Hog Day
2/2 - Candlemas
2/7/2008 - Chinese New Year
2/14/2010 - Chinese New Year

March - Foot Health Month, Frozen Food Month, Women's History Month
3/14 - Pi Day
3/17 - St. Patrick's Day

April - Jazz Appreciation Month,
1 - April Fool's Day
2 - Hans Christian Anderson's birthday
10 - Encourage a Young Writer Day
13 - Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
18 - International Juggler's Day
19 - Garlic Day
22 - Earth Day
22 - Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day
26 - National Pretzel Day
27 - Tell-A Story day
28 - Greta Poetry Reading Day

May - National Photo Month, National Bike month, Asparagus Month
5 - National Hoagie Day, Cinco de Mayo
10 - Clean Up Your Room Day
Mother's Day - 2nd Sunday in May
12 - Kite Day
18 - International Museum Day
19 - Circus Day
25 - National Tap Dance Day
29 - End of the Middle Ages Day
Memorial Day - last Monday in May

June
8 - Frank Lloyd Wright's birthday
14 - Flag Day
20 - Ice Cream Soda Day
21 - Cuckoo Warning Day,BEWARE! It will be a wet summer if the sound of the cuckoo is heard today.
25 - Eric Carle's Birthday
30 - Meteor Day

July
National Anti-Boredom Month
Read an Almanac Month
7/1 – International Joke Day
7/4 – Independence Day
7/11 – National Make Your Bed Day
7/13 – Puzzle Day
7/16 – 7/22 – National Independent Retailers’ Week
7/20 – First Man on the Moon Day
7/23 – National Mosquito Day
7/27 – National Take a Plant for a Walk Day
7/29 – NASA’s Anniversary
7/31 - Parents' Day

August
American Artist Appreciation Month
Back to School
National Inventor’s Month
8/6 – American Family Day
8/6 – International Friendship Day
8/6 – National Kids Day
8/10 – National S’mores Day
Perseids arrive mid-month
8/18 – National Watermelon Day
8/19 – National Aviation Day
8/20 - National Radio Day
8/26 – Women’s Equality Day (Susan B. Anthony Day)
8/31 – National Trail Mix Day

September - Children’s Good Manners Month, Hispanic Heritage Month,
National School Success Month, Women of Achievement Month
9/4 – Labor Day
9/6 – National Marooned without a Compass Day
9/7 – International Day of Peace
9/8 – International Literacy Day
9/11 – Patriot Day
(9/14/2008) -Chinese Autumn Moon Festival
9/15 – National Make a Hat Day
9/17 – Citizenship Day / Constitution Day
9/19 - Talk like Pirate day
9/23 – 9/30 Banned Books Week
9/21/2007 – Yom Kippur
9/23 - Autumn Begins
9/25/2007 -Chinese Autumn Moon Festival
Ramadan - 2007 dates: September 12 - October 11

OctoberAdopt-a-Shelter-Animal Month, International Drum Month, National Apple Month, National Clock Month,National Roller Skating Month, National Diabetes Month, Polish American History Month, Lupus Awareness Month. National Stamp Collecting Month.
5 - Do Something Nice Day
24 - United Nations' Day
- Juliette Low's Birthday
31 - Halloween

Make a Difference Day- fourth Saturday of the month, an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors.

Morris Museum

Morris Museum (Morristown) . See the new wing they've finished. Click for directions.

2008 - 09 "On School Time" shows include: Usually at 11 am & 1:30, For $10.00 for non-members, $8.00 for groups of 20 or more. (They also have discussions with Holocaust survivors every spring - different sessions for middle and high schoolers.)

• Dr. Doolittle : Signstage On Tour, Monday, February 16, 2009, Ages 5-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. The classic doctor who talks to the animals told in a unique way. The stage is filled with the movement of hands and bodies yet every word is spoken to make sure all audience members, both deaf and hearing, don't miss a thing.
  
  
• A Dancing Storybook Adventure : Dance Innovations, Saturday, March 21, 2009, Perfect for the Entire Family!, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm, probably $10
  This magical dance journey revisits three beloved children's stories, THE LION KING, HAPPY FEET, and THE WIZARD OF Oz as they "Ease On Down The Road" through jungles and ice. Artistry, numerous dance styles (from Tap to Ballet to Modern) and performers of all ages make this show Perfect for the Entire Family!
  
  
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : Marionette Players, $7/seat, Pre-K - 4th grade. Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Wednesday, April 1, 2009,10 & 12:30; Thursday, April 2, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Friday, April 3, 2009, 10 am only.
  Also (for $10/seat) Friday, April 3, 2009 4:00pm, Saturday, April 4, 2009, Ages 4-10
  Live actors and marionettes perform this endearing and exciting C. S. Lewis classic. Three children discover an old wardrobe in an ancient house that transports them to the bewitched land of Narnia. Only the children can break the spell with some help from Mr. & Mrs. Beaver and Aslan the Lion.
  

• DANCIN’ WITH THE HONEY BEES,Clifford Wright-Sunflower, $7/seat,
  Thursday, May 21, 2009, 10 am & 12:30, Grades: 1-6. Clifford Wright-Sunflower is a master beekeeper and environmentalist. Aided by an eager volunteer from the audience dressed in beekeeping equipment, Clifford demonstrates the precision of a beekeeper working a beehive. He transforms the entire audience into a working hive. With bodies busily buzzing about in the functional dance of the beehive, children learn first-hand about the delicate and complex balance of the bee colony. After the honeybee dance, children are divided into smaller groups to visit with an observation hive of bees, to make a beeswax candle and, most importantly, to share bee fears, experiences and questions.

Summer 2008 Shows were mostly in July, and mostly for the under 12 year old crowd. They sell out fast.

Other 2008 - 2009 shows were:

• The Kazoobie Kazoo Show : Rick Hubbard Producers, Inc., Friday, November 7, 2008, Ages 3-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Exceptional fun with music, laughter, and of course…kazoos. The finale features the entire audience as members of the grand kazoo band!! Everyone leaves the show humming with their own personal kazoo.
  
  
• Einstein Alive! (Marc Spiegel) : Tuesday, December 2, 2008, $7/seat, 10 am & 12:30 pm, Grades: K - 5. Marc Spiegel brings Albert Einstein to life! Professor Einstein talks about his life, his difficulties in school, and the "adventures" within his mind. He speaks about his fame and what it means to be a theoretical physicist. Professor Einstein uses song and audience participation to show what "strange" motion is and what the terms "relative" and "frame of reference" mean.
  
  
• Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble : by Unity Community Center, Saturday, December 27, 2008, Ages 4-adult, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Unique drum beats and traditional African costumes and acrobatics celebrate the beginning of Kwanzaa, the annual festival of family, community, culture, and peace.

2007-2008 On school time SHOWS included
these which may be annual:

1. PSA - A Discussion with Holocaust Survivors(Morris Museum, Morristown), Middle School discussion - April 1,2,16 & May 7. High School Discussion April 15.
   
   
2. Organizing -Dancin' with the Honey Bees, Clifford Wright-Sunflower, Grades: 1-6, Morris Museum (Morristown), Tuesday, May 13, $6 per seat (museum tickets not included), 10 a.m show (or go to the 12:30 show on your own.)
   

Food from Mali

Especially for those preparing to attend a Mali themed potluck, this may be just enough to get you started. Most of the references are about current eating habits in Mali, and not historical information.

As I hope you would do at any potluck, please bring the list of ingredients and label a dish if it has known allergens or ingredients one might not expect.

From oxfam, "The main foods eaten by a moderately well-off family living in Mali’s capital, Bamako, are rice, millet, sorghum, and beans, cooked as a sort of porridge, served with a meat or fish sauce. A common meal in southern Mali is called tô, a pudding made from pounded millet, served with a sauce of meat or vegetables. In the North, the Songhay and Touareg make thick doughy pancakes served with wild leaves. Tô is also popular in Burkina Faso."

Africa Guide says "The food in Mali is similar to that found in Senegal and other areas of West Africa.

Along the Niger river, fish dishes are popular and include Nile perch (or capitaine) which is either fried or grilled, stewed or baked."

iexplore seems to be more of tourist/traveler information. They say Mali National specialties include La Capitaine Sangha (a kind of Nile perch served with hot chilli sauce, whole fried bananas and rice).

National drinks:
• Malian tamarind and guava juices are delicious.
• A traditional drink is Malian tea which should be drunk in three stages; the first is very strong (‘as bitter as death’); the second is slightly sweetened (‘just like life’); the third is well sugared (‘as sweet as love’). Visitors to Mali may be invited to partake in this tea ritual."

Some Recipes
Sesame Seed & honey sticks

Recommended one a site about Mali: Poulet Yassa (Senegalese chicken with onions)

Recipe Hound has a whole list of recipes, including:

• Sweet Millet Fritters (Maasa),
• Chicken and Peanut Stew (Maafe),
• West African Kebabs (steak or liver suggested in the recipe),
• Couscous De Timbuktu (Stew with Dates and Couscous),
• Fried Bean Balls (Akara),
• Malian Fish Stew, and
• Jollof Rice.

There are some Mali and many more West African recipes at Celtnet.org.

Our (West African, mostly Mali) potluck menu:

• beverages: papaya juice, ginger juice & water
• Fried Bean Balls (Akara),
• Pumpkin soup (where is the line between authentic & what our children will eat? the line between easy to make after a long day (step 1: open a can of pumpkin puree) and more authentic (step 1: peel & cook sweet potatoes)?),
• Millet & lentil pilaf,
• Jollof Rice,
• Crunchy cabbage salad,
  
• Poulet Yassa,
• Sesame Seed & honey sticks,
• Couscous de Timbuktu, and
  
• dessert: lime cake, coconut pie, bananas.

NASA Educational Materials - update

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. Materials are listed by type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available for downloading.

1. Adventures in Rocket Science Educator Guide -- Informal Education
   This guide contains 25 activities designed for 4-H Clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, after-school programs, and other informal education venues. Participants learn about the history and principles of rocketry and NASA's newest rockets -- Ares I and Ares V. While doing these hands-on activities, participants also learn about Hero Engines, parachutes and surface area, altitude tracking, and Newton's Laws Of Motion. Learners can also build four types of rockets and two types of egg drops.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Adventures_in_Rocket_Science.html
   
   
2. Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Water Filtration Challenge Educator Guide -- Grades 5-8
   Earth provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and other conditions that support life. Earth is a natural life support system. On the International Space Station, the Environmental Control and Life Support System provides these needs. The functions of an ECLSS include atmosphere revitalization; atmosphere control and supply; temperature and humidity control; water recovery and management; waste management; and fire detection and suppression. The activities in this guide focus on water recovery and management.
   
   The challenge is to design and build a water filtration device using commonly available materials. To meet this challenge, students build, test and measure the performance of the filtration device, analyze the data collected, and use this information to work towards an improved filtration design.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Water_Filtration_Challenge.html
   
   
3. Space Math I -- Grades 7-9
   
   These activities comprise a series of 20 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2004-2005 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate space weather phenomena and math applications such as solar flares, satellite orbit decay, magnetism, the Pythagorean Theorem, order of operations and probability. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   
   Note: This guide was formerly published as the Extra-Credit Problems in Space Science Educator Guide
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_I.html
   
   
4. Space Math II -- Grades 7-9
   
   These activities comprise a series of 24 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2005-2006 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate science and math concepts such as solar energy, stars, scientific notation, and distance, rate and time. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_II.html
   
   
5. Space Math III -- Grades 9-12
   
   These activities comprise a series of 36 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2005-2006 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate science and mathematics concepts such as radiation effects on humans and technology, solar science, algebra, trigonometry and calculus. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_III.html

NASA Robotics Grants

NASA is pleased to announce the availability sponsorship for teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Two types of grants are available: Up to 70 Regional Challenge Grants and approximately 100 Program Growth Grants.

These sponsorships are not tied to any particular competition event. The grants will provide $6,000 funding to cover the registration costs for a team to attend one Regional Competition event and part of the cost of constructing the robot for the competition.

Applications for this grant opportunity are due Oct. 20, 2008.

To learn more about the NASA FIRST Robotics Regional Challenge Grants and Program Growth Grants, visit https://frc-grants.arc.nasa.gov/directions.php. Questions about this sponsorship should be directed to frc-grants@mail.arc.nasa.gov.

Thanks for the notice Lorna!

HS Forms

Yes, I know, in NJ, forms are not really an issue, but I found some neat free printables from Donna Young for planners, to track attendance and for individual subjects.

But you may want some comic strip forms already set up for you.

However, if you want to keep track of attendance, consider: Donna Young's Attendance forms starting in July or August.

Sheep Hill Observatory

The Sheep Hill Observatory is in Boonton NJ at the end of Ross Drive. It features a 16-foot dome housing a 16-inch Newtonian equatorially mounted telescope. Public observing 3rd Friday of every month. Beginning at dusk, weather permitting.

Observatory off Ross Drive
Observatory phone 9793 335 5990
Public Nights 3rd Friday every month. Club Nights Saturday closest to the new moon.
Meetings 1st Sunday every month at Boonton Town Hall Community Room. New website under construction?

Last year's Astronomy Day in Boonton.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Solar observing at Wal-Mart parking lot during the day.
Astronomical Observing at the observatory in the evening weather permitting.

This is the best information I had at the time of posting.

Classes for Educators

Who offers seminars for educators? (Their primary audience is teachers with no childcare issues so seminars might start at 9 a.m. on a weekday, be patient with them!) At least:

• Morris County Parks (Register for 2008-09 workshops),
• Montclair Art Museum Educator Resources
  
• Morris Museum (Morristown),
• Mayo Community Theatre (Morristown),
• Liberty Science Center,
• New Jersey Astronomy Center at Raritan Community College,
• Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum (Brunswick, listing, For more info. call 732.932.7237, ext. 615. Brunswick)

all offer seminars for educators. Also check out Project WET Education for Teacher NJ Training Schedule. It includes a Project WET training date at the Morris Museum (Morristown, March 2008).

* Montclair Art Museum Educator Resources, including Teacher Programs & Workshops FREE For High School & College Educators, Call (973) 746-5555 ext. 213 to RSVP; or email tours@montclairartmuseum.org Earn 2 hours of Professional Development credit for each session. Join us for a special evening for teachers of grades Pre-K through college. Come view the exhibitions, enjoy light refreshments and learn how the Museum can be a valuable resource for your class.

* Morris Museum offers courses from $30 to $85 (for a 2-day training) as well as $10 "open house tours" They also have School Loan and Outreach Education, including items and collections that can be borrowed by educators.

* Mayo Community Theatre has $30 professional development seminars on topics, including theatre in the classroom, bringing history alive, and on Shakespeare - or get one free if you book "class trips" to their "on school time shows" (not those by Arts Power).

* Liberty Science Center offers periodic Teacher Impact Workshops (usually $8 each for 10 am - 2 pm) and monthly Teacher Connections (Saturdays, 9 am - noon; $139.00 for yearlong membership; $60.00 per session). Teacher Impact Workshops for 2007 included topics like: Nervous Systems and Behavior, Weather or Not, and The Science of Sound. Teacher Connections topics have included:

• Our Hudson Home, June 7, 2008: Learn about estuary wildlife, the relationships between nature and humanity, and how human choices and actions affect the ecological health of the Hudson River. ...

* New Jersey Astronomy Center at Raritan Community College Courses for teachers – NJACE offers workshops to help teachers increase their students’ understanding of difficult astronomical concepts. "At our workshops teachers DO the activities while presenters MODEL true inquiry based learning. We don’t lecture to teachers. Teachers will walk away with lots of resources, an increased understanding of astronomy, increased confidence to teach it, and a binder full of hands-on inquiry-based activities they can do tomorrow in their classroom. All workshops are limited to the first 20 registered participants!

For more information and registration forms for NJAC courses, click on the workshop name or contact Theresa Moody at 908-526-1200 x 8942 or email tmoody@raritanval.edu or visit their site to see all their workshop dates! They also offer summer institutes.

Learning Resource Center

subtitle: The best $2/year I spend on education.

One of my favorite support centers remains NJ Dept. of Ed's Learning Resource Center. My children (*) and I have logged hours and hours at the LRC. I have used many of their machines, their work area and their professional library. I have borrowed board games, books, manipulatives and curriculum resources, and cut hundreds of pieces on their Eillison Dies. I know no less expensive place to laminate things.

There are 4 LRC offices: North (East Orange), north satellite (Morris Plains), central (Dayton) and south (Sewell). Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5 pm.

New evening hours starting 9/2/08: Morris Plains, Tuesday until 6 pm; Dayton Wednesday until 6pm; East Orange, Thursday until 6 pm. (They follow the state schedule and do close for snow storms. I am not liable for any schedule changes. Late August to early September and spring break the centers are often packed with teachers, but many other times there is more work space than you could need. If you arrive on the day of a conference, the parking lot may be packed -- but there may still be work space; it will depend on the conference they are running.)

* - it is not a children's center at all. If you do not have children who can sit and self-entertain and handle time without food or drinks perhaps you can coop, or trade time with another parent so that you can go on your own.

"Kids" these days: 2012 graduates

Beloit College has posted their annual list about the "average" incoming freshman for Fall 2008. Most of them were born in 1990; Jim Henson, Sammie Davis, Jr. and Stevie Ray Vaughan have always been dead; and Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.

For the complete list, visit:
http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012.php

Enjoy!

Went to a Garden Party...

Sunday, August 24
Exhibit Opening "Who's Minding the Store?" & Member's Garden Party
1-4 PM
At Acorn Hall
The opening of “Who’s Minding the Store?” will take place at the Society’s annual Garden Party and feature a “Pie Contest” and “Home-grown Tomato Competition.” A raffle will include a gift certificate to a local food business and food-related merchandise. "Who's Minding the Store?" is a traveling exhibit from the Jewish Historical Society of Metrowest. A reconstructed store from Morris County’s earlier days, the exhibit will demonstrate how people once shopped for food and other essentials. The exhibit will be augmented with agricultural, dining, and food merchandising artifacts from the collection of the Morris County Historical Society.

Homemade Dessert Pies Contest & Jersey Tomatoes Contest
Entry forms are now available on-line and at Acorn Hall on the day of the event.

Entrants for the various contests should bring their pies and tomatoes, with competed application forms, to Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Pies should be accompanied by their recipe.

Judging begins at 2:00 p.m., beginning with any cream pies. No refrigeration is available.

Pies will not be returned.

MCHS members are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn of Acorn Hall. Tea and dessert will be served.

Follow this link for contest rules and entry form.

No Child Left Inside

“No Child Left Inside,” the theme of Earth Science Week 2008 (October 12 - 18) will encourage young people to learn about the geosciences by getting away from the television, off the computer, and out of doors.

Objectives

• To engage students in discovering the Earth sciences.
• To remind people that Earth science is all around us.
• To encourage Earth stewardship through understanding.
• To motivate geoscientists to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the Earth."[1]

Earth Science Week 2008 will encourage young people to learn about the geosciences by getting away from the television, off the computer, and out of doors.

Click for their Resource list.

I have not looked at their educators guide to "Journey to the Center of the Earth" ... yet.

AGI hosts Earth Science Week in cooperation with sponsors as a service to the public and the geoscience community. Each year, local groups, educators, and interested individuals organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. The program is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, the National Park Service, the AAPG Foundation, and other geoscience groups.

http://www.earthsciweek.org/

[1] Copied straight from their site.

State Theatre, New Brunswick, 2009

State Theatre of NJ in New Brunswick has school-time performances for students from pre-K through high school with "keynote" study guides expected for many, if not all performances.

Trips organized. I can't get seats next to ours, but maybe you'll come on the same days?

• Iliad, Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 10:30am, 10:30 curtain. $12/seat. Plan to be at the lobby by 10:10.
• Mayhem Poets, Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 10:00am, $8/seat. Plan to be in the lobby at 9:40.
• Drumline Live, Friday, February 20, 2009 at 10:30. $22/seat. Plan to be at the lobby by 10:10.

Their 2009 performances for School schedule also includes more than :

• Sleeping Beauty -- On Ice;
• Mayhem Poets (one of the shows is already sold out!)
  
• Nutcracker;
• STREB Extreme Action, $9/seat;
• Shakespeare's King Henry V, April 23, 2009, grades 7 - 12, $12;
• Bing, Bang, Boom - percussion for Grades K - 5, $8/seat, and
• shows for the youngest crowd, like "Goodnight Moon" & "Bob The Builder".

Click here to download the Programs for Schools order form.

If you want to organize something and need a place to list it, let me know. Some of these shows show end up in the Field Trip List too.

Math contest for middle and high school student

Round 1 problems of Year 20 (2008-09) of the USA Mathematical Talent Search are now available at www.usamts.org. The postmark deadline for solutions is October 14, 2008.

Please read carefully the following important information:

If you have participated in the USAMTS in the past, you will notice a number of changes this year. In particular, solutions may be submitted by web upload or by mail; emailed or faxed solutions will no longer be accepted. Please carefully read all of the Year 20 changes on www.usamts.org.

If you have not already registered online for Year 20, please do so at www.usamts.org. If you participated in a previous year, all you will have to do to register for Year 20 is log in to www.usamts.org (using the same username/password as you did in the past)--the first time you log in this year, you will be asked to verify that your information (address, email, grade, etc.) is still current, and make any necessary changes.

All USAMTS participants must fill out and sign an Entry/Permission form, available on www.usamts.org. (You must do this even if you participated in a previous year.) This can be submitted by mail along with your first set of solutions, or separately by mail or fax anytime before the Round 1 entry deadline of October 14.

We hope you enjoy the problems, and we look forward to your participation on the USAMTS this year.

Best regards,

--Dave Patrick
Director, USA Mathematical Talent Search
usamts@usamts.org

America By Food

Key Ingredients: America By Food is a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that stirs the senses and has something for the whole family. Trace how immigration and technology have changed eating habits throughout 500 years of American history. Explore the culinary and agricultural traditions of New Jersey. From the Pinelands bogs where Elizabeth White cultivated the commercial blueberry to the Newark factory where M&Ms were invented to the nonalcoholic grape juice created in Vineland by Thomas Bramwell Welch, New Jersey has a rich and vibrant heritage of food innovation, tradition, and production. For more information about the exhibit and the programs that will be running in New Jersey, visit the official NJ Key Ingredients page at http://www.njch.org/keyingredients!

The Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, Key Ingredients: America By Food, shows how regional traditions and international influences have shaped American cooking. The six host sites in New Jersey will hold Jersey-specific events and show Jersey photos, including a Good Humor truck in Morristown; picking blueberries in Woodbine; and duck hunters displaying their bounty in Tuckerton.

January 31, 2009-3/15/2009: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ (Thanks Mary!)

last updated: Jan. 30, 2009.

Organized "ILIAD", 11/18/08

Payment was due in August. If you come the same day, maybe we'll see you?

Iliad, Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 10:30am, at the State Theatre, New Brunswick,
$12/seat.
10:30 curtain. Plan to be at the lobby by 10:10.
Admission: Lobby doors open one hour prior to the announced time of each performance. Theater doors open at least 15 minutes prior to curtain. Latecomers are seated at the discretion of the management.

Iliad, presented by Aquila Theatre Company.
Program Length: 90 minutes.
Recommended For Students in Grades: 6-12,

Described by The New York Times as “a performance of staggering power,” Aquila Theatre Company’s staging of Homer’s Iliad creates a “stunning, stirring, and memorable” theatrical experience. The action-packed production tells the essential parts of Homer’s Trojan War epic through superb acting, dynamic movement, and original music. Inspired by Stanley Lombardo’s acclaimed English translation, the production transposes the visual setting to World War II to emphasize the timeless relevance of “the greatest story ever told.”

If there is a study guide, it is not expected until 1 month before the performance.
Those who paid will have seats confirmed. I have not worked with the State Theatre before & I have no idea whether they will let me "add on" later.

Going "green"?

A Girl Scout working on her Silver Award collected multiple useful websites, all aiming to help people live "greener" lives. You can see them from her website: cleangreenworld.info.

Berrie Center, Ramapo College 2008 Schooltime Performances

2008 - 2009 Schedule
Berrie Center, Ramapo College, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Call 201-684-7202 to reserve seats. Last year they also took reservations/payment for lunch for "on show time shows"!

Study guides are provided two weeks prior to performances.
I assume there are more, but they are not easy to find on their website. No liability is accepted for any typos. Price not yet known.

• October 14, Tuesday, American Place Theatre Literature to Life series, The Things They Carried, 2 p.m.
• October 17, Friday, Schooltime Performance: World of Robots, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• December 3, Wednesday, Schooltime Performance: Mathemagic, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Box Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 12-8 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Did the Dig - West Africa, October 2008

Up to 24 lucky students will be digging in Tewksbury, NJ with Archaeological Perspectives October 14 - 17, 2008 and learning about Western African Culture (along the Niger River in Mali). They will "do adult stuff in a kid way" with professional archaeologist turned educator "Big Dog" Purcell starting at 10 a.m. each day. 6 & 7 year olds stop at 1 p.m., but older campers stay until ~4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Everyone should plan to stay for a potluck(?) lunch on Friday when we all see their museum exhibits and go home around 2/2:30?.

Visit his website to read more about Camp Activities. Note: The homeschool camps are Tuesday to Friday, with digging on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and an exhibit and themed pot-luck on Friday. For my comments on a previous experience with him, see Do the Dig: Middle Kingdom China.

Registration is ~$170 for full day and $120 for half day. Non-refundable deposits of $25 deposits per child are being accepted for Tweksbury. For that dig signup form and more details, see the TALENT website (Tewksbury Area League for Encouraging and Nurturing Talent).

Expect a post to appear about Mali food & potluck ideas - closer to the dates.

Dodge Poetry Festival

Historic Waterloo Village in Stanhope, New Jersey will be re-opened especially for the audiences of up to 20,000 expected for the 12th biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, which will run from Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, September 28, 2008.

An essential component of each Festival is a series of special programs for high school students and for teachers at all levels, elementary through college. More than 4,500 students and 2,000 teachers from throughout the country participate in conversations and readings designed specifically for them during the first two days of the Festival.

Construction Toys

LEGO & LEGO Bionicles & LEGO Technic

K'nex - (love their kits for "simple machines", and "bridges" and ...) of for infinite storage space & the $$ to fill it.
K'nex Rube Goldberg machine video

Zome - for geometry & moecules & ... they have lesson plans and books like Zome Geometry book by George Hart

and what can fit them all together? Uberstix
The best prices in July 2008 seemed to be uberstix.com and fatbrain.com. There are some neat videos on Uberstix on UTube.
1: Think Outside the box
utube 2: Danes dream on NY
utube 3: Amazing sailboat
utube 4: How to build a uberstix rocket
utube 5: landshark (scavenger set)
utube 6: uberstix v. LEGO
with K'nex

My only relationsip with any of these companies/producuts is a consumer.

SAT dates 2008 - 2009

The PSAT can only be taken at a high school & not a test center. It needs to be taken in the "junior year" to qualify for PSAT/National Merit scholarships.


SAT test dates...

2008-09 Test Dates	Test	U.S. Registration Deadlines*		International Registration Deadlines**
		Regular	Late (a fee applies)	Early (International only)	Regular
October 4, 2008	SAT & Subject Tests	September 9, 2008	September 16, 2008	August 26, 2008	September 9, 2008
November 1, 2008	SAT & Subject Tests	September 26, 2008	October 10, 2008	September 10, 2008	September 26, 2008
December 6, 2008	SAT & Subject Tests	November 5, 2008	November 18, 2008	October 15, 2008	November 5, 2008

FREE Physics Quest

Have a child or "class" that can do middle school level work? Consider Physics Quest but register soon - kits are only free to the first ~7,5000 classrooms to register (and I request that you only sign up if you are willing to do it, I'd love to homeschoolers to have a great name with other organizations, especially those giving out free stuff.) The last 2 years' instructions were posted online even if you don't register in time to get an official kit.

PhysicsQuest 2008: Nikola Tesla and the White City

Born in 1856 in Smiljan Croatia, Nikola Tesla was a true genius. A close friend of Mark Twain and bitter rival of Thomas Edison, he invented such things as the remote control and the AC generator. In 1893 he was charged with lighting the Chicago Worlds Fair, the first electric fair in the world, nicknamed The White City.

Come help Tesla light the great White City this fall by participating in PhysicsQuest 2008. Your middle school classes will learn about light, magnetism, and electricity in a quest to help Tesla light Chicago’s fair.

Sign up for this project and receive a FREE kit with all the materials you need as well as instructions on how to use your answers to light the fair. Each class that successfully completes the challenge will be eligible for fantastic prizes!

2007: Marie Curie's Floating Classroom was 4 physical science challenges centering on heat, temperature, and energy.


There is also a Web Quest on Physics called Physics Quest - but that's something different. I have not yet checked that out.

Do Hard Things

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations (Hardcover) by Alex and Brett Harris sounds like a book I should read -- or have some in my house read.

or at least if yesterday's Washington Times article by Michael Smith is at all true.
HOME-SCHOOLING: Teens challenged to do hard things. Although it sounds like it is about (American) teens and not just HS teens.

F.I.L.M. curricula

I just heard about youth film project ("FILM"), a curricula for youth that uses movies to promote literacy, learning and service. I have notused any (yet?) myself, but I trust the folks who mentioned them to me! Their latest is "Journey to the Center of the Earth" but they also have free downloadable curricula for "Kitt Kitridge: An American Girl", "Prince Caspian", "Happy Feet", "Because of Winn Dixie", "Charlotte's Web", and others - for ages from 6 - 18! I do like that they say to read the book and see the movie -- and recommend Project Gutenberg as a way to read books.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Based on the classic novel by Jules Verne!

In this family adventure, Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem star as three explorers that plunge deep into a strange new realm beneath the earth's surface where they embark on an amazing voyage and find awe-inspiring sites amidst grave danger.

With spectacular photo-real environments and revolutionary new filmmaking techniques, this movie is an epic adventure that takes audiences directly into the heart of our heroes’ voyage, bringing them along for a wild, visceral ride.

Explore science, taking your own journeys, conquering fears and so much more in this fun new curriculum. Download it today!

http://www.youthfilmproject.org/documents/journey_guide_FINAL.pdf

Knoebels Amusement Resort

An amusement park where you can still pay per ride and they pride themselves on short lines. There is a water park next door (or within 3 miles), at least 2 wooden roller coasters, and they have a campsite too.

Their schedule and rates (you can pay by the day).

Quiet Valley

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is a non-profit, educational corporation dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage. 150 years ago, located just outside Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, less than two hours from the New York City Metropolitan area, Open to the general public from June 20 to Labor Day from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm Sundays. Closed Mondays. They conduct school and special tours in the fall, winter and spring. Period-dressed "family" members reenact the life of the original Pennsylvania German family who lived on the farm from the 1760s to 1913. The farm also hosts a number of special events throughout the year.

Programs periodically offered include these. You can also schedule these for a group of your own. (Prices are Spring 2008 prices.) For their complete calendar including special events and workshops, visit their website: http://www.quietvalley.org/.

• Farm Tours (Grades 3 and up): 1/2 - 2 hours. $5/student.
  
  
• Farm Hand Adventure (Grades 3 and up): This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $10.
  
  
• 1893 One Room School House (Grades 3 and up). This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $6.50/person.
  
  
• Molly/One Room School House (Grades 1 and 2). This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $5/person. $100 minimum.
  
  
• School House Program: Learn more about what a typical day of school was like in 1893 and why it was such a big part of the community. 10am to 2pm, (with about a ½ hour for lunch). Cost: $5.00 each person per session, with a maximum cost of $30.00 per family. Maximum group size: 12.
  

All materials will be provided. Please bring your own lunch. Dress in appropriate attire and be ready to have fun.

For more information or to register please call the Farm at 570-992-6161 or E-mail farm@quietvalley.org

Homeschool Program

In the spring, from April through mid June, Quiet Valley’s Homeschool Program is an educationally meaningful and enjoyable program for children ages 10 and up. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Pennsylvania German history by experiencing it first hand through a variety of seminars, demonstrations, and projects. In addition, they will become an integral part of our spring School Tour Program by working closely with our staff members in a variety of activities. The homeschool participants will bring the farm to life by coming one day per week (for either 5 weeks, or the full 10 weeks) in authentic costume for a period of 4 to 6 hours. Each day will begin with an educational seminar on a variety of topics related to life as it would have been during the 19th century. These may include: large and small animals, social customs, gardening, wool dying, and much more.

Children will then assist our guides on the actual tour, helping with animals, weaving on the loom, cooking on an open hearth, assisting in a one room school “lesson” or helping during the barn/smokehouse portion of the tour. Students may even be given the opportunity to conduct a portion of the tour under supervision.

??? Questions or Information ???
Please contact the Office: by phone at (570) 992-6161 or e-mail farm@quietvalley.org The Office is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4 (or leave a message and they'll will get back to you)

Organized "Mayhem Poets", 12/09/08

Payment was due in August for my trip. If you come the same day, maybe we'll see you?

Mayhem Poets, Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 10:00am, at the State Theatre, New Brunswick,
$8/seat.
10:00 curtain. Plan to be at the lobby by 9:40 a.m.
Admission: Lobby doors open one hour prior to the announced time of each performance. Theater doors open at least 15 minutes prior to curtain. Latecomers are seated at the discretion of the management.

Mayhem Poets, Program Length: 1 hour.
Recommended For Students in Grades: 7-12.
With words, humor, and extreme hip-hop energy, the Mayhem Poets raise poetry to a playful and powerful new level. Witty and wise, they boldly engage the audience with the issues that rock our world—from Dr. Seuss to school to fast food. Their clever, eclectic riffs are as much Mad Magazine and the Simpsons as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Home-grown in New Jersey but rapidly gaining international recognition, these beat-boxing bards keep the rapid-fire rhythms flying in a clever concert of words that will inspire students with the power of poetic/theatrical expression.

Study Guide available.

Those who paid will be confirmed when I hear from the theatre. They will not confirm seats or hold reservations without payment. I have not worked with the State Theatre before & I have no idea whether they will let me "add on" later.

Planetariums/Observatories

• Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory, Rutgers has public open nights on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. The times vary depending on the time of the year (later in the summer and earlier in the winter). Go to: http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/group-ast.html to get details on times and what celestrial objects are expected to be viewed.
  
  
• Remodeling in July 2009: CCM Planetarium, Randolph usually offers monthly shows & is available for special events (clubs & birthday parties, etc.) Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for CCM students/faculty/staff and seniors, $3 for kids 12 and under. Pre-registration suggested - especially for any "Jazz Under the Stars" programs.
  
  
• Sheep Hill Observatory, Boonton, NJ. Public observing 3rd Friday of every month. Beginning at dusk, weather permitting.
  
  
• Every Friday night (weather permitting) in the Spring and Summer, the Amateur Astronomy Association of Princeton has an open house at their observatory at Washington Crossing Park. The observatory houses two decent telescopes (a computer controlled 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain and a 6" refractor) that visitors can look through. Also, members often bring their own scopes and will share the views with onlookers. Details can be found at: http://www.princetonastronomy.org

• United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey operates an observatory in Jenny Jump State Forest off Far View Road in Independence Township. Public programs are offered every Saturday evening from April through October. These programs begin at 8 PM with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic and include observing with the 16” Greenwood telescope if the weather cooperates. Lectures are held rain or shine.

  The next public programs are:

• August 15 – “Solar and Lunar Eclipses” presented by George Bottarini
• August 22 – “SOHO and STEREO” presented by Laura Venner of the Meadowlands Center
• August 29 – “The Big Bang” presented by George Bottarini
  For more information, see www.uacnj.org or contact Diane at jefferfamily@gmail.com.
  

Partial list of NJ Astronomical Societies:

• New Jersey Astronomical Group(NJAG) at Montclair State.
  Website – www.njastro.org
  Meetings- 2nd Wednesdays of the month. Telescope nights Thursdays Fall and Spring. At Richardson Hall, room 202 and outside. Observations at Riker Hill Park.
  
  
• Morris Museum Astronomical Society (MMAS) Morristown, NJ
  Website - http://members.tripod.com/nmastrosociety/
  Meetings at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. 2nd Thursday each month 7:30PM at the museum. phones 973 971 3700 and 973 386 1848. I have heard good reviews of their Annual Astronomy Day.
  
  
• Astronomy Day - annually - around March 10 - 4 pm & ~7 p.m.
  With the Morris Museum Astronomical Society. Night Sky Observing (weather permitting) Activities usually include things like:
  
  • Family friendly lectures Planetarium shows ($2 per person)
    
  • Children's Starry Night Scratchboard workshop,
    
  • And more!
    
  For more information call 973.971.3720.

---

Planetarium Show: The Grand Tour
November 4, 6:30 pm — Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, American Museum of Natural History, entrance on 77th St., New York City. The Hayden Planetarium has assembled the world's largest cosmic atlas, extending from Earth to the greatest distances yet charted by astronomers. Join us on the first Tuesday of each month for a fully interactive tour of the universe that surrounds us—the longest trip you can take while staying in New York. Tickets cost $15 for the general public; $13.50 for members, seniors, and students. Advance registration encouraged. Register online or by calling 212-769-5200.