image of indexE-note Index    image of arrow to go backMarch 2007 image of arrow to go forwardMay 2007

S'COOL E-note April, 2007

Greetings from the S'COOL Team! Welcome to Issue #14 of the S'COOL E-note.

This month's E-note includes:

  1. S'COOL website "Feature of the Month"
  2. Cloud Photo of the Month update
  3. S'COOL Ground to Satellite Footprint Comparison
  4. Earth Day Photo Contest for Middle School Students
  5. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007 - LAST CHANCE - Deadline is April 30

  1. S'COOL website "Feature of the Month"

    Have you noticed the Message of the Month at the top of the S'COOL home page? This message changes periodically to bring a particular item to your attention. Right now, the message of the month is "Intensive Observation Period (IOP) April 15-22". So that we can receive more than the usual number of observations, we encourage everyone to observe this week. This week also happens to be National Environmental Education Week which is a weeklong learning event that maximizes the impact of Earth Day (April 22).

  2. Cloud Photo of the Month update

    Due to the popularity of the Cloud Photo of the Month (CPOM) we are updating the rules. Please send only 1 photo for consideration each month. Also, the caption is very important. We want the details!!!

  3. S'COOL Ground to Satellite Footprint Comparison

    As mentioned in the last Enote, many of you will begin to receive a new email with the subject "S'COOL Ground to Satellite Footprint Comparison". Be looking for the emails to start coming sometime in the next week. Due to a problem, not all schools have SSF data associated with their location and will not receive the email. We hope to find a solution to this problem soon.

  4. Earth Day Photo Contest for Middle School Students

    During the week of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. students in grades 5-8 can be part of a unique national effort to capture our changing world. Anytime from Sunday April 22 through Sunday April 29, take a photograph of something that is changing in your local environment. It could be a change occurring in your backyard, outside your school, in a local park, or off in the distance toward the horizon.

    Then, research and write a scientific explanation (400 words or less) that answers the following questions:

    • What is the change taking place in your photograph?
    • What may be causing the change?
    • Was the change expected?
    • How might the change impact surrounding areas, including people?
    • How might this picture look different in the future?


    Entries will be judged by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) staff based on relevance to topic (depiction of change in the environment), uniqueness and overall appearance of the photo, and thoroughness of the written explanation. For submission instructions, entry form, and suggestions for using this activity in the classroom, please visit Earth Day 2007: A Photo Journey.

  5. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007 - LAST CHANCE - Deadline is April 30

    Plans for our third MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop are in full swing! Joyce has received several applications, and many inquiries. You still have a short time to share the information with your colleagues!

    MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007

    NASA Langley Research Center will host a hands-on workshop designed for the Grade 6-12 Educator. The workshop will focus on the implementation and use of Earth System Science data sets developed for the pre-college education community as part of the MY NASA DATA program. A major component of the workshop will be the development of lessons incorporating one or more data sets. The data sets are derived from the archive of remotely sensed data retrieved from NASA's Earth Observing System satellites. Participating teachers will explore topics in Earth system science (especially atmospheric science), educational application of data sets, and hands-on classroom activities. Participants will experience meaningful field trips and benefit from the expertise of nationally recognized atmospheric researchers. Participants will also explore how data sets can be used to enhance their curriculum and how students can utilize these data for inquiry-based learning and research. Participant feedback and curricular contributions will be enlisted as further development of data sets continues. Earth Science educators are particularly encouraged to apply.

    Goals: Participants in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop will:
    • access microsets of Earth system science data
    • access and explore model lessons which utilize microsets of data
    • participate in interactive seminars and tours led by scientists discussing selected methods of data collection and analysis
    • develop, individually or as a group, at least one new lesson incorporating data sets

    Key Outcomes: During the school year following participation in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop, teachers will:
    • use the MY NASA DATA website and Live Access Server to access microsets of Earth system science data
    • implement lessons or other teaching strategies which incorporate microsets of Earth system science data

    Important Dates:
    Application must be postmarked by April 30, 2007
    Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail on or before May 18, 2007
    Workshop dates will be July 29-August 3, 2007

    Contact Information:
    MY NASA DATA Workshop
    Attn: Joyce Fischer
    Mail Stop 927
    NASA Langley Research Center
    Hampton, VA 23681-2199
    Phone (757)827-4848
    E-mail: j.d.fischer@larc.nasa.gov
    Web: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov