Thursday, April 11, 2013
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
MARS!!
On August 6th, 2012 the NASA launched Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars!!
Here are some questions you may be asking ...
Q: What is the mission of Curiosity?
A: According to NASA: "The overarching science goal of the mission is to assess whether the landing area has ever had or still has environmental conditions favorable to microbial life, both in its habitability and its preservation." ... In other words: Were the conditions ever suitable for life on Mars?
Q: How long did it take for Curiosity to reach Mars?
A: The journey took a little over 8 months, it was launched on November 26, 2011
Q: Is Curiosity the first Mars rover?
A: No. Spirit and Opportunity were launched in 2004; they are both still active on Mars.
Q: How is Curiosity different from Spirit and Opportunity?
A: Curiosity is larger and has greater research capability for scientist. (There are not any scientists on or in the rover, in case that was your next question!)
Q: I want to know MORE!
A: NASA can help!
Here are some questions you may be asking ...
Q: What is the mission of Curiosity?
A: According to NASA: "The overarching science goal of the mission is to assess whether the landing area has ever had or still has environmental conditions favorable to microbial life, both in its habitability and its preservation." ... In other words: Were the conditions ever suitable for life on Mars?
Q: How long did it take for Curiosity to reach Mars?
A: The journey took a little over 8 months, it was launched on November 26, 2011
Q: Is Curiosity the first Mars rover?
A: No. Spirit and Opportunity were launched in 2004; they are both still active on Mars.
Q: How is Curiosity different from Spirit and Opportunity?
A: Curiosity is larger and has greater research capability for scientist. (There are not any scientists on or in the rover, in case that was your next question!)
Q: I want to know MORE!
A: NASA can help!
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| One of the first images from Curiosity Source: NASA |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Summer Six Flags Fun!
When I think of summer, I think of Six Flags! For years growing up, I would get a season pass and spend many days riding all of my favorite rides. (Although my favorite ride, Toms Twister is no longer at the park!).
There is SO much science happening at Six Flags - or any theme park for that matter - that I can't possibly tell you all about it here! Newton's Laws of Motion, gravity, inertia and potential/kinetic energy are just some of the "science stuff you hear about in school" that you can experience at theme parks!
So, next time you're blazing down the first hill on the Screaming Eagle - think about all the forces that are in play that keep you in the car - keep the car moving and cause you to feel like you're stomach dropped!
Visit here for more roller coaster fun!
There is SO much science happening at Six Flags - or any theme park for that matter - that I can't possibly tell you all about it here! Newton's Laws of Motion, gravity, inertia and potential/kinetic energy are just some of the "science stuff you hear about in school" that you can experience at theme parks!
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| Screaming Eagle, Six Flags St. Louis |
Visit here for more roller coaster fun!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon is an amazing bird! It can dive at speeds up to 261 miles per hour! Its current conservation status is endangered and the falcon is being reintroduced to the state of Missouri, through conservation work and reintroduction efforts.
You can watch a live feed of a nesting peregrine falcon and see the interaction between adult male and female! The eggs are expected to hatch around April 12th, so be sure to check back often!
You can watch a live feed of a nesting peregrine falcon and see the interaction between adult male and female! The eggs are expected to hatch around April 12th, so be sure to check back often!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
What time did you say it was?
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| Resurrection Bay, Seward - Alaska
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The above photo was taken at 10 p.m., as we were ready to depart for our "Midnight Kayak" trip!
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| Outside Denali National Park, about 2 a.m.
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| Diagram of the Earth's seasons as seen from the north. Far left: summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. Front right: summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. (From Wikipedia) |
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What is a year?
Sounds like a simple question, right? I thought so, too. Most all of my students knew that a year is "365 days and a few hours. We add up those extra hours every four years for a leap day". We calculate a year based on the amount of time it takes the Earth to make a full revolution around the Sun. Since this year is a leap year, we spent some time in class talking about the extra day we get this year. (I also had to assure them that despite the extra day to the calendar, they were not attending school an extra day - they were worried!)
Anyways, after watching the BrainPop video on Leap Year, we learned A LOT about the history of the calendar. We knew that Leap Years happen every four years, but we didn't know there was an exception: leap years do not occur in years ending in "00", unless they are divisible by 400. (Ex: 2000 was a leap year, but 2100 will not be a leap year). If you're interested in learning more about the history of our modern day calendar, go here. (You can find out why the year 1582 was cut short by 13 days - September 2nd was followed by September 14th!?)
Some people may say that a year seems like a long time ... or maybe it goes by fast. Looking back on the past year, I feel that it did go by quickly. It seems like yesterday I was planning for my little girl to make her debut into the world. Just this weekend, we celebrated her 1st Birthday.
Anyways, after watching the BrainPop video on Leap Year, we learned A LOT about the history of the calendar. We knew that Leap Years happen every four years, but we didn't know there was an exception: leap years do not occur in years ending in "00", unless they are divisible by 400. (Ex: 2000 was a leap year, but 2100 will not be a leap year). If you're interested in learning more about the history of our modern day calendar, go here. (You can find out why the year 1582 was cut short by 13 days - September 2nd was followed by September 14th!?)
Some people may say that a year seems like a long time ... or maybe it goes by fast. Looking back on the past year, I feel that it did go by quickly. It seems like yesterday I was planning for my little girl to make her debut into the world. Just this weekend, we celebrated her 1st Birthday.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Power of Plants
How are plants a part of our life? What do we use them for? Why are they important?
These are just some of the questions my students explored in the Power of Plants contest, sponsored by Missouri Botanical Gardens.
Students had the choice of creating a physical or digital entry. Below are links to the digital entries from my students. (Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the physical entries before taking them to the Gardens - but they were all really great!)
Cacoa Tree
Madagascar Palm Tree
Oleander
These are just some of the questions my students explored in the Power of Plants contest, sponsored by Missouri Botanical Gardens.
Students had the choice of creating a physical or digital entry. Below are links to the digital entries from my students. (Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the physical entries before taking them to the Gardens - but they were all really great!)
Cacoa Tree
Madagascar Palm Tree
Oleander
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| Japanese Garden, Missouri Botanical Gardens |
Welcome Students!
Dear Students of Room 606,
I am excited to share my blog with you! Please take time to look around and add a comment or question to a post.
When you have a moment when you experience "Science In Our World", pop on over to our class wiki site and add your experince! https://science-in-our-world.wikispaces.com/
I am excited to share my blog with you! Please take time to look around and add a comment or question to a post.
When you have a moment when you experience "Science In Our World", pop on over to our class wiki site and add your experince! https://science-in-our-world.wikispaces.com/
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Super Bowl 2012
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Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Brandon Spikes (right) and middle linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) tackle New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw (44) during the first half of Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
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Hmmm ... so maybe you're thinking - what does the Super Bowl have to do with science? A lot, actually.
The first thing that comes to my mind is the actual physics behind throwing the ball and running/tacking - Newton's Laws of Motion, understanding force, momentum, gravity, air resistance ...
I wish I could explain everything as well as Dr. Tim Gay from University of Nebraska! He has three seasons of minute lesson clips at the following link. Check them out!
In what other ways can you connect science to football?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Science Apps & Technology
I finally gave into the SmartPhone craze a few months ago. I am amazed at the technology and everything that my phone can do - and now like many others, I have the thought "how did I ever get by without this phone?".
I think about how much technology has advanced since I was in school and what has changed since I started teaching. I made the comment today about when I was in school I had to clap chalk out of erasers and I had all my students looking at me like I was speaking a foreign language. My comment was prompted by being sent this picture of my son (age 2) using a SMARTboard in preschool. As a teacher, I'm so excited about the technology avaliable to him and what impact it will have on his learning. As a mom, I got a little sad seeing how grown up he looks in this picture!
I saw this video on Sesame Street over the summer with my son. I love the humor because all of the apps CAN get very overwhelming!
On a serious note, I have found some great science education apps. I have shared some of them with my students, but would like to keep a list of apps that support science education. If you have one to add to the list, please comment and I will add it! *I have only listed FREE apps!*
SkyView Free
NASA
Language Central - Life
Language Central - Physical
Language Central - Earth
(The three Language Central Apps are from Pearson, they have vocabulary games that follow the middle school science textbooks)
I think about how much technology has advanced since I was in school and what has changed since I started teaching. I made the comment today about when I was in school I had to clap chalk out of erasers and I had all my students looking at me like I was speaking a foreign language. My comment was prompted by being sent this picture of my son (age 2) using a SMARTboard in preschool. As a teacher, I'm so excited about the technology avaliable to him and what impact it will have on his learning. As a mom, I got a little sad seeing how grown up he looks in this picture!
I saw this video on Sesame Street over the summer with my son. I love the humor because all of the apps CAN get very overwhelming!
On a serious note, I have found some great science education apps. I have shared some of them with my students, but would like to keep a list of apps that support science education. If you have one to add to the list, please comment and I will add it! *I have only listed FREE apps!*
SkyView Free
NASA
Language Central - Life
Language Central - Physical
Language Central - Earth
(The three Language Central Apps are from Pearson, they have vocabulary games that follow the middle school science textbooks)
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