Middle School (~ages 11-13) and High School(~ages 14-18)Teachers

Educators, grades 6-12 Register NOW for the
SPRING 2010 "PlantingScience" session!!

Click here for more information.
Source: botany.org. Accessed 12-24-09

Kepler

I am fascinated with how Kepler's mind worked. I am interested in how he thought because I wonder if I can think that way. I think about the math he knew and how he figured things out.

One part of science literacy and science education is figuring out how we, ourselves, think. Understanding math and formulas can help us with science and understanding science.

Learn about Kepler, then, reflect on how you learn. Do you think you have similarities to Kepler? Differences? What do you like that you have learned about Kepler. When you finish your Kepler study, pick another scientist and see how she or he thinks. Have fun learning about your own learning and thinking styles.

Now, here's the first movie:







On Kepler--- in Spanish:




Russian...


Chinese:


Even though these videos are in different languages, the science speaks to us, I believe. What do you think?

I would like to encourage more international discussion and comments. Please e-mail me in your own language and if possible include an English translation.

Here is a related blog in Italian: http://www.keplero.org/ from Amedeo Balbi, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1, 00133 Roma (I). Tel: (+39) 06 7259 4717, Fax: (+39) 06 2023 507 amedeo.balbi@roma2.infn.it


Here is a biography of Kepler:
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Kepler.html
with a Spanish translation:
http://ciencia.astroseti.org/matematicas/articulo.php?num=3532

Urgent Call for Action in the USA on HR 875 and S 425, posted by a reader

Sent: Sun, Dec 20, 2009 12:07 pm
RE: Save Organic Farming

(Save My Backyard Garden!)

Here's a post submitted by Betsy Bragg at Optimum Health Solution and her colleague, Elizabeth. (highlights added)
Subject: Fwd: Save Organic Farming (Save My Backyard Garden!)

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth
To: You the reader
Sent: Sat, Dec 19, 2009 8:46 pm ...

I am sending this to folks I know who love to garden and care about our food supply. Please check this out it is just unbelievable. I sent emails to both my senators asking them to vote against this bill. Check it out and perhaps do the same. Send it on to everyone you know!

Thanks!

Protect your food supply: ACT NOW.

Subject: Save Organic Farming (Save My Backyard Garden!)

Against the Organic Farming Ban
Please tell everyone who wants organic foods.....
US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to
vote on bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING (bill HR 875).
There is an enormous rush to get this into law within the
next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.

Main backer and lobbyist is Monsanto – chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation (and Cargill, ADM, and about 35 other related agri-giants).
This bill will require
organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the
newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger [read between the lines...think critically] to
the public food supply". This will include backyard
> gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales.
>
If this passes then NO more heirloom clean seeds but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans.
>
> There is a video on the subject.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXNJNjYBvw&feature=related

> And another one:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeWVkTU1s1E

> The name on this outrageous food plan is:

• Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (bill HR 875).

• THIS IS REAL, FOLKS! PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED ON YOUR MAILING LISTS & CALL YOUR SENATE REPRESENTATIVES TODAY!
  

• Get on that phone and burn up the wires.
  
• Get anyone else you can to do the same thing.
  

• The House and Senate WILL pass this if they are not massively threatened with loss of their position.... They only fear your voice and your vote.

• The best thing to do is go to www.house.gov/writerep

> all you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you
> your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When
> you call their office someone will answer the phone, just
> tell them (politely) that you are calling to express your
> views on HR 875.
> Tell them your views, they'll take your name and
> address and pass your comments along to the congressperson.
>
> The following link is a list of the U.S. senators and their
> contact info:
> http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm (read less)
Privacy type:
Open: All content is public.

Edit...One concerned individual has included these links for you:

Follow up on HR875 and S425. Thanks to Amy31415 and Vortexvibration - passed on info that the sponsor of the bill is Rosa Delauro who is married to Stan Greenburg a political strategist who works for Monsanto. Please see links to vids on Monsanto
for more in depth info please see
From StarrJaded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXNJN...
Jdouglasfisher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQvGBl...
I fyou are having trouble with the links please search youtube under their names
http://www.govtrack.us/
track the bill:
www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h lll-875
want to work on an organic farm?
http://www.wwoof.org/

Facts and Critical Thinking in Science/Scientific Literacy

Maienschein, Ingrid Burger, Reza Enshaie, Marie Glitz, Kate Kevern, Brent Maddin , Mark Rivera, Diana Rutkowsky, have written on two ideas on science literacy and scientific literacy.

Physics Lecture

Paul Dirac:
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES

Strange Genius: The Life and Times of Paul Dirac http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=175358&s=1&k=B5E9996007CF8D6A4D5CDB3D2DBC8D71

Page under development...meanwhile, you can listen to the lecture.

Compare and contrast the following sources on Paul Dirac. How can you organize your thoughts on these different information sources? Would a table help? How about an idea map for each one? What is the best way for you to organize the information so you can compare and contrast iy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1933/dirac-bio.html

http://www.gap-system.org/~history/Mathematicians/Dirac.html

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/1705

L ead science literacy and science education group in your area

Interested in leading science literacy and science education for your school, your community, local area, region, country, or continent? Please contact Dr. J at shipmanjs(at)gmail.com

What's involved?

1. Let others know about www.read-about-it.blogspot.com
2. Submit posts and/or encourage others to submit posts at this site (E-mail to Dr.J to post). Also, create and post a sub-group here: http://www.oneclimate.net/group/wwwread-about-itblogspotcom-international-science-literacy-and-science-education
3. If you would like to, you can arrange for a workshop on higher order thinking skills in science education, or other workshops for your own local group (for a fee). Contact Dr. J for details. Specify workshop/ subject area of interest. Example: click here.
   
4. Benefactors are needed so that these workshops can reach schools that otherwise could not afford them...air fare forpeople leading the workshop, scholarships for attendees, training materials for teachers, workbooks and supplies. If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Dr. J or your local or community school.
   
5. This local or regional or national or continental science literacy and science education leader is a volunteer position unless we can come up with sponsors.
   

A View of Copenhagen from the Center for Biological Diversity...

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/350_or_bust/copenhagen/index.html

Voice from Malawi:



Voice from Kenya:


Voice from Cameroon:


Voice from Canada: