Teaching Science? Where does your school stand?

Here's a video done by children for adults:

So, what can you do about it?
Teachers, please note, you can teach science and math at the same time, or, science and literature at the same time., or, science and history at the same time. You can teach science on the playground or when you go for a walk.

There are grants you can get to get equipment for your school.

Parents, please note, you can have an after school homework club where a group of kids are supervised by one or two different parents every day. You can check your child's homework. You can volunteer at school. You can take your children to museums, botanic gardens, zoological gardens and observatories. You can go for a walk at a national park. You can volunteer at school. You can talk with your chil and his or her teacher(s).

Youth, you can study. You can find something you are interested in and study science standards through that subject area.

You can all write to your polititions.

You can use resources in the left hand column of this blog.

Diamonds and science?

The Diamond Necklace is a story that brings to mind an important action we can take: Understanding invasive species.

While speaking of the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted, one of the founders (Together with his partner, Vaux) of landscape architecture designed an emerald necklace.

Read the story and find out about these jewels.

Sailing, sailing...Darwin Sets Sail on HMS Beagle (1831)

Have you seen the Beagle?
Click this link and find a photo of a painting of the HMS Beagle, by Owen Stanley.

Can you imagine sailing on a ship like the HMS Beagle in 1831? You would know the waves! It is hard for me to imagine what it must have been like, however, I like to think about it from time to time. Jotting down ideas helps stretch my thinking.

You might try that mental stretch, too. Write a few lines about what you think it would have been like to sail on a ship like the HMS Beagle in 1831. Can ypou hear the sound of the waves? What do you see?

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Edited on 12-27=2009:
I came across this link and thought some readers might like to have access to it. It cites several sources on Darwin and his voyages.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Charles+Darwin

You are What You Eat

Here's a great link (Your taxes paid for it!) to help you understand nutrients found in foods.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=9673

Another link you might find interesting shows how to prevent many birth defects.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/folicacid.html

Technology and Education

Podcasts-of-lectures is available technology in education, today. Here are some samples for grown-ups.

Leadership in Sustainability of the Earth:
This lecture, geared to grown-ups, uses facts to support an opinion. Have you developed your own opinion on sustainability?
http://www1.cuny.edu/portal_ur/news/radio/podcast/lecture_72.mp3

More examples:
http://www1.cuny.edu/forums/podcasts/?cat=8

Winter Quiz Bowl

http://www.caquizbowl.com/

Winter Quiz Bowl

http://www.caquizbowl.com/

Words are added each day, but, they change on archived posts.

Word of the Day: Words are added to this blog each day, but, they change on archived posts. Today's word is a science word, so I've added it here, in the posts, so that we can look at it again in the archived versions and still see what the word is. I've also added questions for a discussion and writing exercise about the word. You might like to keep a notebook or a spreadsheet or data base file about your words. I do this for new vocabulary I want to remember and for words I like to use. I then use the file in many way to enhance my own vocabulary development.

Today's word is, "ecesis."

It is said, "Eh-see-ses" and rhymes with , "yes," and the "c" sounds like and "s." "Ecesis," means, "The successful establishment of a plant or animal species in a habitat." A synonym is, "establishment. "A sample sentence is: "The ecologists were especially interested in ensuring the ecesis of the endangered species in the wildlife refuge."

1. 
   

2. 
   

3. Did you know this word, "ecesis," before?
   

4. Will you remember it now?

5. How does building your vocabulary help you learn more science?

12-17-07 petrous, stonelike

Biotechnology and Nobel Prizes

The Eye of the Donkey game teaches PCR Method. I was surprized at how much the students loved this game. They also said they answered questions on the state final exam correctly because of the game. You might want to read more before you play the game, to improve your chances of winning!!!

Find teacher resources by clicking this link.

For more educational games based 0n Nobel Prize-winning ideas, click here.

Went through 80 loaves of bread brands...

To find bread without high fructose corn syrup. Please read the following article, submitted by a reader. Thanks for the post.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/341888_fructose01web.html

Cool: You go to MIT!

Build up your math, science and engineering skills!!!

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

What's a trade show?

A "trade show," is an exhibit hall full of exhibits on various products. Here is a presentation given at a booth at a trade show.
Watch the U-tube video and evaluate it.

Would you like to work at a trade show? Why or why not? Who is sponsoring the information given? Is it biased or is it balanced? What topics were presented? How could you find out more information on the ideas presented? Can you find something related that is presented from another viewpoint? Write an essay about your findings.

Stocks and Options and Science?

You know, banks would have us believe that stocks and options are dangerous. To some extent they are. Like driving a car, you need to know what you are doing. Stocks and options share with science that they have their own vocabulary. The jargon of the finance world, like that of the science world, is worth learning. The rewards are many.

I am not recommending that you go out and get into stocks and options any more than I would recommend driving a car without knowing what you are doing. Even when you know, you must stay ever vigilant. Yet, if you "safely" keep your money in the bank at 1 or 1.5, or even 3%, the inflation monster will eat you (and your money) alive. And while you are safely at 1.5%, the bank is using stocks and options to make 12-35% with your money and then keeps the difference between that percentage and what they give you. With a portion of your money, you could risk, lose half, and come out ahead of where you'd be if you stay safely at the bank. You need to learn the jargon (http://tradeoptioned.blogspot.com/2007/08/some-new-changes.html), understand math and charts, and, know what you are doing. Do not risk borrowed money, or your house, or college fund, insurance,nor retirement. These are other aspects of your financial house that you need in order.

So, where does science fit in? The analytical skills and chart reading skills are critical in science. Practice reading financial charts and graphs can synergistically improve your interpretation of data in science, strengthening your science abilities. Enjoy the overlap in these seemingly different fields and grow in both.

Dr. J

(c)2007 J S Shipman

Chemistry anyone?

http://www.chemistryteaching.com/chemsim.htm

Politics...Not as usual

Please read up on signing statements and line item vetoes. Then, try drafting letters on your opinions about them to your elected officials. Thanks.

Prosper grows

Integrity is an important part of any education. P2P lending counts on integrity. Prosper is a key place for P2P, People-to-people lending. Remember that your name is important, Honesty and integrity are part of that name. Prosper is a place that lends a helping hand when many banks won't. But, if people fail to keep their word, P2P will not succeed. I believe it will succeed because we strengthen our selves and our nation with values like honesty and integrity.

Twenty Minutes Twice a Week

Summer is a good time to review what you've learned over the last year. Twenty minutes twice a week, or even three times, is all you need for a good review. Since we learn as we progress through life, this applies to everyone, not just to, "students." (But if you are a high school student, let me suggest high school ace as a great review site.It is even good if you are in grade school or out of school completely, in my opinion. :-) ) Reflecting on what we've learned over the last year helps us make the learning more permanent. Having structured time to do that, helps us integrate that knowledge into our brains. Have fun doing it. Don't let it be a chore but rather a pleasure. Learning and reviewing are fun.

(c) 2007 J S Shipman

Update your Computer Skills: RSS and Atom

http://www.ovelha.org/pasteler0/2007/07/08/rss-feeds-for-those-who-dont-know-rss-feeds/
is a great link for understanding RSS and Atom. I recommend you read it to understand how your children (and you) can benefit.

(c)j S Shipman 2007

Sign Language Help

I came across this on Prosper but it looks like a good source of Sign Language Info...



(C)2007 J. S. Shipman

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