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Newton Network Newsletter – December 2008 Newton Network News:
The year is quickly coming to a close and most of us are looking forward to the holiday break. This month we are sharing an exploration of aeronautics and the resources we found interesting. We have also tracked down the science fairs scheduled for next year so you can begin making your plans now. If you are looking for activities for your students over the break, you may wish to check out our Newsletter from last December.
We will not be sending out a newsletter in January but will continue to update our website as new teaching resources are located. We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday and will see you again in February.
Once again, please pass your newsletter on to your colleagues, and let them know that they can sign up for their own newsletter as easily as going to our website (www.unr.edu/newton).
In This Issue: Regional/Statewide: Science Fairs – Regional and International Science Fairs Science Bowl – Annual Nevada Regional Science Bowl SNRPDP – Southern Nevada RPDP updated MS TIPS Aeronautics – Taking to the Skies We need feedback – Do you use the Newton Website?
Science Fairs – The Western Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair (WNRSEF) is scheduled for March 26-28, 2009, at Lawlor Event Center on the UNR campus. Deadline for submission of projects is March 7. Full information is available on their website at http://www.nevadasciencefair.net.
And don't forget the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Science and Engineering Fair scheduled for March 12-14, 2009. The fair has been completely reorganized so get the latest information at their website (http://sciences.unlv.edu/engineeringfair/2009)
And just a short reminder that the International Science and Engineering Fair will be held in Reno on May 10-16, 2009. Information for this event can be found at (http://www.gatheringgenius.com)
Science Bowl – The Annual Nevada Regional Science Bowl competition will be held February 6-7, 2009, at the Atomic Testing Museum on the UNLV Campus. Winners from this competition will advance to the National Science Bowl in April and May, 2009. More information for the regional competition is available at (http://www.nv.doe.gov/kidszone/sciencebowl/default.htm)
SNRPDP – Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program has announced the completion of the Middle School Targeted Interventions for Proficiency in Science (MS TIPS) website. You can enter the TIPS site from the RPDP home page at, www.rpdp.net. Once there, click the green "Science TIPS" tab to enter the new Science TIPS home page. Or, for direct access to the site follow, http://rpdp.net/sciencetips_v3/. The RDPD Tips Team would greatly appreciate feedback. Contact the SN RPDP (http://www.rpdp.net) if you have any questions.
Aeronautics -- Do you have a student with a serious interest in soaring over the clouds? This month we selected aeronautics as our research topic and discovered many excellent resources for both developing lessons as well as providing information for self-discovery.
The first resource we found is the K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook at (http://wings.avkids.com). The site includes lesson plans, student activities, virtual tours of NASA sites and a section on the aerodynamics of tennis. The site is well maintained and sponsored by NASA and Cishunar Aerospace.
Virtual Skies is an online, interactive website developed by NASA Ames Education Division as a learning opportunity for grades 9-12 to explore aeronautics, communications, navigation, air traffic management, airport design, and weather. Visit the Teachers page for teacher’s guides and student activity handouts. Definitely designed to spark interest and keep the students engaged. (http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/vsnenu/vsmenu.html)
Put your students’ math skills to use with the ultimate science fair project: Flying Disk Aerodynamics. Designed for grades 6-12, this experiment examines all the forces acting on the flight of a Frisbee. This and many other challenging projects are at (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/aero_p010.shtml)
Do you have a student who wants to be a Rocket Scientist? Rocket Science 101 might be the starting point. This interactive website demonstrates the construction of a rocket from the list of rockets used by NASA. (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/RocketScience101/RocketScience101.html)
Do you use the Newton Web Site? -- We have spent quite a bit of time and effort improving our website and including more of the information you have requested in the past. We need to know if what we have accomplished is fitting your needs and what we can do to improve our services.
To accomplish this, we are asking that you let us know if you access the Newton News Web Site (http://www.unr.edu/newton) and which sections you find most useful. We would also appreciate your suggestions on improvements or additions that you would like for us to consider. We have made letting us know very simple: Either 1) if you are using MS Outlook for your E-mail, just click I use Newton Web Site; or 2) if you use a different mail reader, then just send an email to rnewbury@unr.edu with “I use Newton Web” in the subject line.
Your feedback will help us continue and support this newsletter and our web site.
Thanks.
Newton Website -- The search for quality websites has unearthed more resources for lesson plans and professional development. New links on our website (http://www.unr.edu/newton) are:
Want more information about the Newton Network? The Newton Network Newsletter works both ways – we send information to you, but you can send questions to us; if we don’t have the answer right here, we will find it for you.
Check us out at www.unr.edu/newton, contact Robert Newbury at rnewbury@unr.edu or Michael Leverington at michael@edtech-teched.com.
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