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Newton Network Newsletter – March 2007 [General Edition: Includes Regional Information for Northern Nevada Educators] Newton Network News:
Happy March!
For some of us, it is coming in like a lion, so maybe things will settle down as the month goes along.
On the other hand, we are all hitting our stride for the Spring semester, and getting ready for all the activities and changes that portend the end of this school year, so hopefully everyone is in “cruise” mode. Thank You – Thank You – Thank You:
I haven’t mentioned it for a little while, but I wish to reiterate our great thanks to all you teachers who are getting the Newton Network word(s) out to your fellow teachers.
Whether you forward your E-mail, post it on the teacher lounge bulletin board, announce it during Faculty meetings, or whatever, you are really helping us get the word out, and helping your fellow teachers learn about activities that can help them update their learning, find out about new adventures, and bring new things into their classes.
THANKS! In This Issue:
Space is Big – more activities, more access to classroom support Cool Engineering, Pt 1 – Wow! That’s Engineering Cool Engineering, Pt 2 – PBS is getting into the act Hot Physics – teachers, have some fun and learn about physics Summer Adventures – reduced tuition for some great in-the-field learning Gotta Question? – Newton Network can work two ways
Space is Big – The Newton Network office continues to receive great information about space activities for students in the classroom.
Solar Week is going on right now, and you can learn more about it at (http://www.solarweek.org/).
Also, there is a lunar eclipse on Saturday, March 3, and out here in the West, we will get a pretty good view of it when the moon first rises; check out the map at (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/...Fig1.GIF).
Next, you can check out a thing called the “Iridium Flare” which is a fancy term for seeing the sun reflect off orbiting spacecraft.
See what you can see at (http://www.heavens-above.com).
You will need to know your longitude and latitude to find out what is available, so have your students look that up if you haven’t already taught them about it.
Finally (almost), remember that Space Day 2007 is May 4; you can learn more at (http://www.spaceday.org/index.html).
Then finally (really), you can still challenge your students with math and writing problems from (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/...). Cool Engineering, Pt 1 – Wow! That’s Engineering! – Northern Nevada’s professional Society of Women Engineers (SWE) are developing 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 (nlittle@fs.fed.us) or Seena Drapala at (seena1.drapala@ge.com) for further information. Cool Engineering, Pt 2 – One of our own Newton Network teachers sent me some information on a new PBS program called Design Squad (Thanks!).
This is another opportunity for students to see and interact with the cool things related to Engineering.
There is quite a bit of information on the web site (http://pbskids.org/designsquad/), and from there you can find out when it will be aired on your local PBS station.
Check it out! Hot Physics – The Nevada Terawatt Facility (NTF) conducts high-energy physics using powerful lasers and high voltage.
Recently, they conducted a scavenger hunt with about 50 high school juniors and seniors, and there was some feedback that the teachers might enjoy the process.
Here is a chance to spend a little fun time during the week, interact with your fellow teachers, and learn a little physics (for yourself AND your students).
You don’t have to be a Physics teacher to have fun with this; the students reported having a great time, so I am betting you would, too.
Dr. Nathalie LeGallodec would like to put on a scavenger hunt just for you, and would like to hear from you as to when you could come.
She can conduct the activity during most week nights, so if you can let her know what day and what time (e.g., right after school, later in the evening, etc), she will set a date and invite you over.
Contact Nathalie at (nathalie@unr.edu) with any questions, and let her know when you can come. Summer Adventures –The Earth as a Classroom (TEAC) and Nevada Educators Really Doing Science (NERDS) are both well established summer learning adventures, and provide teachers with amazing field experiences as well as advancement credit and professional development.
They are also a great way to share your learning with fellow teachers from all around the state.
The TEAC program takes you to several important seismic locations to study our region’s interesting tectonic activity; and in the NERDS program, you will have the option to study ecological systems in one of two different locales.
Both programs have one or two pre- and post-session Saturday activities, and your travel costs are covered from anywhere in the state for all the activities.
The web sites for each program can be accessed from (http://www.unr.edu/raggiocenter/), and it only takes a few minutes to read about the programs and get registered.
But hurry; both these programs will be starting in April.
Special Notes: 1) The TEAC program counts as a science course for Special Education teachers who are seeking highly qualified status; 2) Update on tuition reimbursement (just received):
you will be reimbursed for at least half your tuition in these programs, and in some cases, you may receive as much as 100% tuition reimbursement! 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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