VANISHED: Smithsonian's online mystery starts April 4

Students can spend 8 weeks solving an online mystery

http://vanished.mit.edu/

A mystery is brewing at the Smithsonian Institution, and the scientists there want the help of the nation’s middle schoolers to solve it. Children and teens aged 11–14 can get involved in uncovering the mystery in Vanished, an online science-fiction interactive mystery event that starts April 4.

Students can sign up for the event, conducted by the Smithsonian and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at The Education Arcade. The mystery, which is unveiled during the course of the eight-week event, involves a fictitious environmental disaster. Each week, participants will get clues online that will allow them to come up with hypotheses about the cause that can be tested, debated and refined.

As part of the event, players get an assist from real-world Smithsonian scientists in areas such as forensic anthropology, paleobiology, and entomology. Scientists will have videoconferences online, and participants can send them questions that will be answered in real time. Students will be asked to collect real data, such as documenting a species in their neighborhood. They can upload pictures to the Web site and compare their finds with field guides. Some players near 20 or so Smithsonian-affiliated museums can find clues inside.

Clues can also be gathered from several games that will be available on the site. As players participate, they will gain achievement points, just as in video games.

2010 Faraday Lecture: Dec.10, 2010, Rutgers

ToadHaven homeschool blog reminded me how many have loved past Faraday lectures.

Thsi year's dates are out: December 10, 11, & 12, 2010, 7pm: Physics Lecture Hall, Rutgers

Busch Campus
136 Frelinghuysen Rd
Piscataway , NJ

Rutgers Physics Dept. presents this year's Farady lecture on December 10th, 11th & 12th.
>http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~croft/FARADAY.HTML

In 1826, physicist Michael Faraday founded the Children's Christmas Lectures at London's Royal Institution. His goal was to communicate to children the excitement of scientific discovery. In keeping with the spirit of those lectures, Mark Croft, a professor of physics at Rutgers, and physics support specialist Dave Maiullo present a physics demonstration and lecture show for children of all ages each Dec. and on special occasions, like Rutgers Day . This event is held in the Physics Lecture Hall at 136 Frelinghuysen Road, on the Busch campus in Piscataway. Driving Directions The event is free of charge and open to the public. The demonstrations presented are based on those used in our physics courses. They were designed not just to inform but with an eye toward humor and exciting the imagination. The object of the show is to emphasize the fun in science. Demonstrations will include an exploding hydrogen balloon, a man lying on a bed of nails and the use of a fire extinguisher to shoot a person on roller skates across the room

Scientists Make Dinosaur Find at NJ Construction Site

Scientists Make Dinosaur Find at NJ Construction Site By MICHAEL HOROWICZ   Here’s one that will get kids and scientists all over the world very excited. A well preserved fossil of a dinosaur footprint was just found at a construction site in Clifton, New Jersey.  Three big toes of a dinosaur from the Jurassic era can be seen on the rock that's about the size of a small car.  The foot fossil will be removed from the site of the new Four Seasons at Great Notch residential complex, currently under construction in the Woodland park section of Clifton, later today by volunteers and taken to the Museum of the State of New Jersey. It will be examined by scientists at a museum facility in Trenton.  Doug Fenichel of developer K. Hovnanian Homes, tells NBC New York that his firm is working with the museum “to strike a delicate balance between preserving our history and the progress of a new community.”  Both groups plan to hold a news conference to show off the fossil before it is taken to Trenton.  Dinosaur footprint is discovered at Clifton construction site 

Liberty Science Center classes

November 17, 2010 Homeschool Residency Programs
Locomotion Commotion
All aboard for an exciting adventure on trains and motion! In this exciting workshop, young scientists will engage in activities that help them understand the physics behind trains. How do they move? Why do trains need to ride on tracks? Join for this moving workshop and discover the answers to those questions and more.

Program Times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Lunch from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm
Age Requirement: 3 - 8 years old and caregivers

Program Price: $24.00 per pair


Astronomy
Take a journey through our galaxy and learn about the stars and solar system. Participants will enter our digital planetarium to learn about celestial navigation and the mythology of constellations. Students will also explore the concept of scale relative to our universe and help identify a "mystery star."

Program Times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Lunch from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Age Requirement: 8 - 10 years old

Program Price: $24.00 child


Everyday Chemistry
Matter and Reactions! Learn basic concepts in chemistry that deals with everyday "stuff". Students will take part in activities that explain why chemistry is all about changes and participate in "messy" hands-on activities that explain concepts such as polymers, acids and bases, mixture and compounds, and many other themes.

Program Times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm; Lunch from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Age Requirement: 11 - 13 years old

Program Price: $24.00 child


Outbreak: Infection and Disease
What causes people to get sick? Explore the tiny worlds of disease-causing microbes in this program. Participants will perform some tests to identify bacteria, look at the causes and symptoms of some major diseases, and learn about the ways in which we can prevent infections.

Program Times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm; Lunch from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Age Requirement: 14 - 16 years old

Program Price: $24.00 child

To register, please contact our Reservations Department at 201.253.1310. Please sign up quickly. Space is limited!

Fall Annual offerings

Hay rides & corn mazes too!

1. early October Poetry. http://www.dodgepoetry.org/ (13th annual was October 7-10, 2010) part of NJPAC and Newark's Downtown Arts District to Host the Festival
   
   
2. Gingerbread Wonderland - (Registration mid-November, only 250 entries were accepted in 2007 so register early.) Gingerbread creations crafted by families, individuals, school classes and scout groups exhibited for about 2 weeks after Thanksgiving. This event has become a holiday tradition in Morris County. Time: 10 am to 5 pm daily, 8 pm Fridays. Admission: Free. Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Township. For more information: 973.326.7601 www.arboretumfriends.org
   
   
3. Virtual Field Trip - Use your computer to attend the HHMI Holiday lectures webcast, 4 lectures (2 a day) in the first week in December, starting at 10 a.m. Often 1st weekend in December. On demand viewing available within a week in you missed it. In 2010, "Viral Outbreak : The Science of Emerging Disease," watch two leading virus reasearchers explain how they use both simple and sophisticated technologies to detect and fight infectious agents. Infectious diseases are a serious threat to world health. In 2008. Making Your Mind: Molecules, Motion & Memory. In 2007 you'd have heard about the Evolution of an Epidemic. You can order (free) DVDs of past lectures on their website.
   
   
4. Rutgers Faraday Children's Lecture. (3 identical shows ~1 hr. 15 min. length), Usually first weekend in December, Friday, Sat., & Sunday, at 7:00 PM. (double check the location though, may be: The Physics Lecture Hall: 136 Frelinghuysen Road Busch Campus in Piscataway.)
   
   
5. and of course, registering students for the SAT if that is what they need.
   

National Fossil Day: October 13

To help you prepare for the first annual National Fossil Day (October 13), the National Park Service recently launched a new website full of educational resources and information designed specifically for students and teachers.

National Fossil Day is now part of Earth Science Week!

Earth Science Week 2010: Exploring Energy

AGI invites you to take part in Earth Science Week 2010! Being held October 10-16, Earth Science Week 2010 will encourage people everywhere to explore the natural world and learn about the geosciences.

“Exploring Energy,” the theme of Earth Science Week 2010, will engage young people and the public in learning about Earth's energy resources.

Measure The Earth

The "measure the earth like the ancients" Noon Day Project is done twice a year. (Fall registrations close around 9/14. They do it again in March.) You may enjoy reading the "Measuring With the Mind chapter of Joy Hakim's The Story of Science first.

Fall Time Frame: September 7th – October 11th
Target Measurement week(s): September 17-28

Purpose: To recreate the remarkable measurement of the circumference of the earth that was done over 2000 years ago. Using only simple tools such as rulers, protractors, and meter sticks, students will measure shadows cast by a meter stick at different locations on the earth.

Liberty Science Homeschool Days

The Liberty Science Center will be Hosting a more Home School Days.

September 28, 2010,
February 8, 2011

Give your child in-depth science knowledge through Liberty Science Center's hands-on experiences. For more information, please contact Ruben Rosario at 201.253.1533 or rrosario@lsc.org.

In the past special pricing has been arranged for the Home School groups attending that day. Group Rate Cost: $10.50 per Child/ $5.00 for accompanying adult

Your students can travel to fascinating lands, through amazing ecosystems and even back in time with eye-popping films shown on the nation's largest IMAX Dome screen. You'll all feel a part of the action! You can also choose a 3-D experience in the Joseph D. Williams 3-D theater. Check the website for movies and times http://www.lsc.org

FREE: Your class will enjoy Free Live Science Demonstrations and Labs they can participate in throughout the day. See the website for the variety we offer, and check at the Welcome Desk for the schedule that day.

Lunch : we have space for you to bring your own, and a full service café to
select on the spot.

They look forward to seeing you soon!

for more information, visit their website or contact: Mary McDonald
Director, Group Sales & Telemarketing
Liberty Science Center
(T) 201-253-1214
(F) 201-434-6100
(mailto:mmcdonald@lsc.org)

Two and under are free for the exhibits only. We have a wonderful area on our second floor that was created with the younger children in mind. I Explore is a restricted area for children under 5 years of age and it is wonderful! They will touch, play and learn all on their level…. A Great Area! The IMAX Theater is one area that we do not recommend until a child is about 5. However it is up to the parent discretion.

More from Horrible Ray

For books from these British children's educational series: Horrible Books, Del Sol Books, Galore Park Books, or the new Horrible Science magazines, Horrible Ray (a homeschooling dad who works for a bookseller) does at least quarterly orders.

• now through August 8, 2010 for mid-September delivery
  
• September 26, 2010 for Late-October delivery
• November 14, 2010 for Mid-December delivery
• January 9, 2011 for Early-February delivery
• February 27, 2011 for Late-March delivery
  
  
• and books in stock too - so you might not have to wait!

He'll be accepting orders until midnight those days. You can see all of the gory details at : www.horriblebooks.com

We have not tried any Galore Park books (as far as I know) but Horrible Histories, Horrible Science and Murderous Maths books and magazines(!) have been gobbled up with joy in our house.

More Dates (as of 6/10, subject to change):
April 17, 2011 for Mid-May delivery
June 12, 2011 for Mid-July delivery
August 7, 2011 for Early-September delivery
September 25, 2011 for Late-October delivery
November 13, 2011 for Mid-December delivery
January 8, 2012 for Early-February delivery
Dates subject to change Horribly.

My only relationship with Ray is as a happy customer.

HS Terrapin Watch

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center Friday to Sunday, June 11-­13, 2010

This 3­ day program is for homeschoolers interested in New Jersey's breeding terrapin population. In addition to collecting real­-world data on arriving terrapin, participants will learn about wetland ecology, wildlife biology (both game and non­-game species), coastal geomorphology, human impact on fragile salt marshes, and the history of New Jersey's barrier islands. There will also be great opportunities for kayaking, seining, and learning about breeding oyster­ catchers & the Re­claim the Bay programs.

During the three­ day/two­ night workshop you will stay in the Sedge House, a renovated duck-hunting lodge, which is equipped with a common room, 7 bunk-rooms (you will have to share a room), a full kitchen and dining room. As part of the experience, you will live a conservation ethic. Fresh water is limited (we transport bottled water from the mainland) as is electricity­ a solar generator provides power. Grey water from sinks and showers is treated in a special grey­water system and sewage is composted in a Clivus Multrum composting toilet.

This program is open to home school students ages 10­-16 years old. Parents may attend, but must participate in the program. The cost of this three­-day program is $70 per adult, $55 per student. SPACE IS LIMITED, with a maximum of 14 participants. A non­refundable deposit of $50 is required to secure your space. The cost includes transportation to and from the island, instruction, equipment and facility use. Participants must provide their own meals and bedding.

REGISTRATION IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

Each family will be responsible for the food and preparation of one meal for the group during your the stay. On site, there is a gas range stove, refrigerator, a gas grill and a quick steamer for preparing the day's harvest, as well as all the cooking utensils you may need.

Registration deadline and $50 deposit is June 1, 2010. For more information or to register, contact Liz Jackson at (908) 637­4125 or send an email to ejackson@dep.state.nj.us. You can also visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/sedge.htm

Liz Jackson, Senior Public Information Assistant NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife Pequest Trout Hatchery 605 Pequest Road Oxford, NJ 07863 Phone: (908) 637­4125 Fax: (908) 637­-6735

cSPLASH: April 17th

Have a student who can do high school math &/or science?

Courant Splash is a one-day festival of classes in the mathematical and computer sciences, designed and taught by enthusiastic graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and others associated with the Courant Institute. cSplash is an opportunity to get your feet wet in subjects completely new to you. During the program, you can attend as many talks as you want on topics in pure math, applied math, computer science, and related fields. The program is free and is open to all students in grades 9-12 (or with equivalent mathematical background) with an interest in mathematical and computer sciences. Spaces are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis so please register early to guarantee a spot.

cSplash at New York University in New York, NY: April 17, 2010
http://www.cims.nyu.edu/~csplash/index.php

More NASA resources

HUBBLE 3D

BRING THE UNIVERSE TO YOUR STUDENTS’ FINGERTIPS!

Treat your students to the ultimate field trip! Through the power of IMAX® 3­D, your class can journey through distant galaxies to explore the mysteries of our celestial surroundings, accompany space­walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult tasks in NASA history, and experience never­ before­ seen 3­D flights through Hubble imagery.

Visit www.imax.com/hubble to download classroom activities inspired by the film to further extend the learning experience into the classroom. Curriculum tie­ ins include science and technology, communication, critical thinking, and more!

Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, Hubble 3D reunites the Space Station 3D filmmaking team, led by producer/director Toni Myers. James Neihouse, director of photography, also doubles as the astronaut crew trainer. Judy Carroll is associate producer. Graeme Ferguson, co­founder of IMAX and pioneer producer of many IMAX space films, is executive producer. Hubble 3D is an IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures production, in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Exclusive IMAX engagements of Hubble 3D are taking place in March/April 2010. The film will have a wider release in August 2010.

For more Hubble­related educational resources, visit the sites listed below.

Hubble Education Resource site
www.nasa.gov/education/hubble

One stop shop for 125 Hubble Education resources and activity products, plus links to 11 related sites.
* Introduction to Hubble (15 products + links to 4 related sites)
* Hubble Careers (82 products/profiles + links to 2 related sites)
* From Galileo to Great Observatories (13 products + links to 3 related sites)
* Hubble Spacewalks and Technologies (15 products + links to 2 related sites)

Hubble Career Multimedia ­­ Special Editions
>http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010400/a010473/index.html
* Astronaut Kathryn Thornton and NASA engineer Russ Werneth look back at the challenges and triumphs of the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions.
* The video clip includes footage from Servicing Mission 1 and Servicing Mission 4.

Hubble Career Profiles
* These two video profiles begin to explore what systems engineering is as seen through the roles of Benjamin Reed and Jackie Townsend on the Hubble Space Telescope. Through their personal backgrounds and current work, Reed and Townsend show that great engineers share patience, tenacity, and a passion for problem solving.
* Reed is a materials assurance engineer who has a background in chemistry and has most recently worked on improving Hubble's outer blanket layer.
* Townsend came to Goddard with a background in physics and has served as the instrument manager of Hubble's newest imager, Wide Field Camera 3.

Hubble Top Star Activities
>http://topstars.strategies.org/showcase.php

formal (K­12 and 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.

* Top Stars Educators receive national recognition and awards and their Hubble activities are showcased on this site.

Amazing Space Features Hubble SM4
http://amazing­space.stsci.edu/sm4/

Science webinar Jan. 26

FETCH joins PBS Teachers for a free webinar! http://www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar/

a.. Who: Formal and informal educators
b.. Where: Your computer!
c.. When: Tuesday, January 26th; 8-9PM EST

Join them to hear from FETCH, Design Squad, and DragonflyTV about incorporating STEM into your work with upper elementary and middle school age kids. Learn about print and online resources, and strategies for introducing STEM concepts. Hear from educators who are using these resources in their classrooms and beyond.

STEM - science, technology, engineering, math

Selene: A Lunar Construction Game

Would young people learn science better if it were packaged in a videogame?

That's the question at the heart of the Selene project. Named after the Greek lunar goddess, Selene challenges players to learn the major geologic processes scientists believe formed the modern moon. Players create their own moon and then pepper it with impact craters and flood it with lava. The game offers a great opportunity for students to learn about lunar geology while helping researchers study some key videogame design principles.

The game is designed for students between the ages of 13-18 and takes about an hour to complete. But more time can be spent checking out Selene's various resources about the moon. To play, participants must be enrolled by an adult recruiter to ensure parent or guardian consent for participation. Mary Ann is a recruiter, so email her if you want to participate. If your 9-12yo child is working above grade level, email me and we can work out a way for them to participate as well.

Selene: A Lunar Construction GaME was created through NASA by the Center for Educational Technologies® at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W. Va., and its learning research continues through a National Science Foundation grant.

To learn more about the game and how you can play, visit
http://selene.cet.edu . If you have questions about
this project, please e-mail maryann.orourke@gmail.com

Global Cloud Observation Day

Take Part in Global Cloud Observation Day on Jan. 13, 2009!

Join NASA for Global Cloud Observation Day on Jan. 13, 2009, to mark the 12th anniversary of the first student cloud observation report for the Students' Cloud Observations On-Line, or S'COOL, Project.

Everyone is invited to make and report cloud observations on this day at the time that the CERES satellite instruments pass over the participants’ location.

Visit the S'COOL Rover Web site to find out when and what to observe.

Use the Report Form to record your observations and send the information to NASA.

About a week later, return to the Web site and explore the database to compare what the satellite reported to what you and others saw.

S'COOL Rover Web site: http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/SCOOL/Rover/

Please e-mail any questions about this opportunity to scool@lists.nasa.gov.

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.

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.

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!