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S'COOL E-note January, 2008

Greetings from the S'COOL Team! Welcome to Issue #22 of the S'COOL E-note.

This month's E-note includes:

  1. Congratulations on making a 4000th observation!
  2. Featured lesson for this month
  3. Website feature of the month: "Why do we observe clouds?"
  4. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2008
  5. Professional development opportunity from NCAR
  6. Science@NASA article "Improving Drought Forecasts"
  7. International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) Photography Contest
  8. American Meteorological Society (AMS) presentation
  9. "Earth Science by Design" professional development opportunity
  1. Congratulations on making a 4000th observation!

    Gary Popiolkowski's students in Houston, PA, have submitted their 4,000th observation! Congratulations to Gary and his students for achieving this milestone!

    Altogether, our enthusiastic S'COOL observers around the world have submitted a total of over 66,000 observations. Keep up the great work!

  2. Featured Lesson Plan for this month: Weather Bingo

    For an engaging strategy for reviewing weather terms, try Weather Bingo. Patterned after the familiar Bingo game, the cards, worksheets, word-list, and teacher's list of definitions may all be found in this lesson.

  3. Website feature of the month: "Why do we observe clouds?"

    Have you made your New Year's resolution? Perhaps you resolved to send in more S'COOL observations, but wondered why it is so important to observe clouds. For a great reminder, please take a look at this month's featured section from the S'COOL website, Why do we observe clouds?.

  4. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2008

    Initial planning for the MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2008, for teachers of grades 6-12, is underway! For those of you not familiar with the MY NASA DATA project, it is the "sister" educational outreach program of S'COOL, sponsored by NASA's Science Directorate.

    The workshop will be held at NASA LaRC in Hampton, VA, June 22-27. The workshop is designed to assist teachers with the study and implementation of Earth science data sets for classroom use. Applications must be postmarked by April 9. To read the full announcement and application, please visit the MY NASA DATA website and click on the link, Workshop Information and Application. If you have questions, please contact Susan Moore.

  5. Professional development opportunity from NCAR

    "Are you seeking a K-12 professional development opportunity that will enhance your qualifications, competency, and self-confidence in integrating Earth system science, climate, and global change in your science classroom? The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), offers a suite of distance learning courses that build upon our face-to-face professional development workshops."

    Please visit the NCAR website for additional information.

  6. Science@NASA article "Improving Drought Forecasts?"

    From the deserts of the American southwest to the pine forests of the Deep South, drought-weary residents have one thing on their minds: "I wish it would rain!" Technically, what they should be wishing for is "more streamflow." Find out why in NASA Science News for November 30, 2007.

  7. International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) Photography Contest

    IYPE Photo Contest
    Entries Due Jan. 31
    ****************************

    Earth Science Week participants from ages 15 to 20 are invited to enter the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) Photography Contest. The contest's theme - "The Changing Face of the Earth" - aims to raise awareness of the state of the planet, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2008.

    Shutterbugs worldwide will compete for 40 prizes. Each winning contestant will receive a copy of two UNESCO books: "Explaining the Earth"and "The Changing Face of the Earth." Learn more about the photo contest.

    Spanning from February 2007 to December 2009, IYPE explores new and exciting ways Earth science can help future generations meet global challenges. IYPE is a joint initiative by UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences.

  8. American Meteorological Society (AMS) presentation

    Dr. Lin Chambers will present S'COOL and MY NASA DATA at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) conference, January 20-22, 2008 in New Orleans, LA. Below are locations and times for her presentations. If you are attending the conference, or will be nearby, stop by to see Lin!
    S'COOL poster session from 5:30-7:00 pm, Sunday, January 20, Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B.
    MY NASA DATA presentation at 1:30 pm, Tuesday, January 22, Convention Center, Room 209.

  9. "Earth Science by Design" professional development opportunity

    Earth Science by Design Leadership Workshop
    June 23-25, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts

    This workshop will prepare school leaders, college faculty, and staff developers to use the Earth Science by Design professional development materials and web site with teachers they work with.

    • Learn how the "Earth Science by Design" professional development program brings "Understanding by Design" to Earth Science.
    • See how ESBD helps teachers enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge and how to facilitate this experience with teachers.
    • Analyze examples of ESBD science units which teachers have created and hear how the ESBD approach has affected teachers.
    • Work with staff developers who have conducted the ESBD program with teachers.
    • Receive all materials needed to offer the program and access to the ESBD Web Site.

    For more information and to register, visit the website.

    Earth Science by Design(ESBD) is a year-long program of professional development which may be offered by a school, district, or other organization to middle and high school Earth science teachers. Developed by TERC and the American Geological Institute and funded by the National Science Foundation, ESBD is a field-tested, effective way to develop the pedagogical and content abilities of teachers.