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Newton Network Newsletter – April 2007 [General Edition: Includes Regional Information for Northern Nevada Educators] Newton Network News:
Hopefully everyone is hitting her or his stride now, and your second semester is going well.
Things (besides the weather) are heating up all over the state as we prepare for summertime projects, professional development experiences, and maybe (if we can sneak it in somewhere) a little fun.
Hang in there; it won’t be long now.
Once again, please pass your Newton Network Newsletter along by forwarding your E-mail, posting it on the teacher lounge bulletin board, announcing it during Faculty meetings, or in whatever way you can.
We appreciate it, and your colleagues will, too! In This Issue:
Summer Adventures – last call for some exciting summertime learning Cool Engineering – Wow! That’s Engineering happens this month Teacher Support – Free lesson plans, activities, materials, etc for teachers Gotta Question? – Newton Network can work two ways
Summer Adventures – The deadlines have come but not necessarily gone for The Earth as a Classroom (TEAC) and Nevada Educators Really Doing Science (NERDS) summer activities - there may still be some room if you act right away.
These activities support nearly all your expenses during your travels, and pay half or more of your tuition for the graduate credit you can earn.
All you need to do is show up and learn (really cool) stuff.
Since the deadline is passed, contact me directly (michael@edtech-teched.com) and I will see if we can still get you in.
It will be worth it! Cool Engineering – Wow! That’s Engineering! – Northern Nevada’s professional Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has developed an outreach experience for middle and high school students (male and female) in northern Nevada based on the national SWE activity (www.developdesigndiscover.org).
This is a great way to interest your students in engineering-related activities (which include math and science of course) and great careers.
The activity will be on April 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center in Reno, and will include robotics, astrobiology, and some other NASA activities and presentations.
And it’s free!
Go to (http://swe-goldenwest.org/nevada/index.htm) to find more information and download the flyer, or contact Natalie Little at (HYPERLINKnlittle@fs.fed.us) or Seena Drapala at (seena1.drapala@ge.com) for further information. Teacher Support – Since we are winding down a little with news and information, I did a little surfing on the Internet.
I have had several teachers ask me about materials and free stuff, and it is very impressive what is out there.
This was not an exhaustive search because I spent some time at each site I found.
Note that I have had some problems sending out web links before.
I think I have them solved, but if you have any problem at all, E-mail me (just reply to this E-mail) and I will help you find the resource.
Check these out: Nortel LearnIT is a corporate outreach program that provides tools for teaching and evaluating student technology projects and activities in the classroom.
All the materials are free of charge and are developed through work with teachers, students, and other professionals. Website:
(http://www.nortellearnit.org/resources/) The Science Teachers' Resource Center is a site that provides labs, projects, and other ideas for teachers.
It appears to support high school activities such as AP Bio and AP Chem, but it also has a Life Science section that might be used for lower level students.
Website:
(http://chem.lapeer.org/Index.php) Science-Teachers.com has quite a few resources for "upper elementary and middle school science teachers".
I saw some geology, astronomy, insects, and animal taxonomy exercises, and a number of crossword puzzles for the various disciplines.
The copyright their materials, but offer them free-of-charge to teachers.
Website:
(http://www.science-teachers.com/) The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has a huge reference area for looking up resources.
Some of the resources do cost money, but there are several that are free.
This is a good website to start at if you are looking for new materials (for free or to purchase).
Website: (http://www2.nsta.org/sciencesites/) The Math for America provides quite a bit of support for teachers, and links to other sites as well.
These folks also list conferences and workshops you can attend.
Website: (http://www.mathforamerica.org/htdocs/template.php?section=math&content=resources) The Annenberg Media folks have a large number of video resources for teachers and students.
These videos can be viewed in the classroom, but you can also have your students view them at home.
The good news is that viewing the videos is free (you just have to register); the (possible) bad news is that since it is streaming video, you and/or your students will need a high-speed Internet connection.
I looked at a video on Guessing/Estimating (math) for young children, and from what I saw, these are pretty well produced.
Website:
Gotta Question?
As we continue to grow our database and contacts, we want everyone to know that you can ask a question at any time.
We will find the answer, or we will find someone who has it.
What do you use to teach basic chemical reactions if you don’t have a lab?
How do you manage critters in your classroom?
How can you teach quantum physics with jump ropes?
No question goes unanswered.
Try out the system. Want more information about the Newton Network? Check us out at www.unr.edu/newton, or contact Michael Leverington at michael@edtech-teched.com.
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