Friday, December 17, 2010

See the Moon as red as Rudolph's nose!

Credit: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/17dec_solsticeeclipse/
On Monday after midnight, the full Moon passes right through the chimney of Earth's shadow. For 72 minutes of totality, the Moon will glow as bright and red as Rudolph the reindeer’s nose.
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST. At that time, Earth's shadow will appear as a “bite” at the edge of the lunar disk, like Santa nibbling on a sugar cookie. It takes about an hour for the "bite" to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST and lasts for 72 minutes.

If you're planning to spring from your bed, flying like a flash, tearing open the shutter, and throwing up the sash for a look out the window - choose 03:17 am EST. That's when the Moon will be in deepest shadow, displaying the most fantastic shades of red, orange, and yellow. Surrounded by blue and white twinkling stars in the constellations of Orion the Hunter and Taurus the Bull, it’s like a holiday light show!

Why red?

A quick trip to the Moon provides the answer: Imagine yourself standing on a dusty lunar plain looking up at the sky. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside down, completely hiding the sun behind it. The eclipse is underway. You might expect Earth seen in this way to be utterly dark, but it's not. The rim of the planet is on fire! As you scan your eye around Earth's circumference, you're seeing every sunrise and every sunset in the world, all of them, all at once. This incredible light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the Moon into a great red orb.


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

True Colors

True Colors isn't just about the SECME banner. True Colors is a model of personality identification.

Students bring a lot more than books and pencils into the classroom. They carry personal baggage as well. Students’ background, home life, and all of the constructive and disruptive forces in their lives affect their ability to learn. True Colors is a way to understand what makes each student tick, and how to help her or him to succeed. True Colors is based on Myers-Briggs and the Keirsey Temperament Theory and is congruent with other teaching/learning modalities used by the teaching profession. By using four colors: Gold, Blue, Green and Orange, with cards that depict the activities of the personality type, a word sort and online personality assessments, students of all ages and adults can determine who they are without having to remember complicated identity indicators.
In the True Colors spectrum, Gold indicates the more structured, disciplined, organized personality type. Many teachers and administrators are predominately Gold and the schools are organized around a “Gold standard”. Students of the Gold group usually do well in school and follow the rules appropriately. Gold students are comfortable within a highly structured environment.
The color Blue indicates the type of person who often thinks of relationships first and values relationships above all else. This group is primarily people-oriented. Blue students usually adapt well in the “normal” school environment, as long as they have the opportunity to relate to other people. For the Blue personality, relationship is the foundation through which academics filter into their personal space. In the general population 35% are Gold and 15% are Blue.
Green represents the more fact-oriented person – the student or adult who is usually asking “Why?” Greens question rules, regulations, and although they normally love to learn new information (they are often interested in science and math), they are not usually people or structure-oriented. Greens value teachers, structure and institutions as information repositories and thrives when encouraged in their perpetual pursuit of discovery.
The Orange people love action and have a very difficult time sitting still for long periods of time. They don’t like rules and much prefer initiating spontaneous activities in the moment without a lot of planning. Orange people can be quick to learn and are often very intelligent, but they are usually not very well adapted to the standard school environment. They prefer hands on discovery and learn through action and movement. They may have excellent mechanical skills and are often great at sports, drama, music, art, and other active, creative, competitive pursuits.
When each individual, whether they be a student, faculty, administrator, parent, business person, professional, politician, etc., understands their True Colors and has a grasp of the colors (personalities) of others, a more harmonious, productive and effective environment can be created. Teachers are able to present information that can be received by each personality type. Students better understand their teachers, their friends and family. They learn about their strengths and how to communicate with others. And by recognizing and embracing differences, they learn to work together effectively.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Scholarship Bulletin for December 2010

Good afternoon,

Attached you will find the most current Scholarship Bulletin. Please be sure to post even if your classes are not senior classes as many of these scholarships occur yearly. Students may also find this information on Edline and in hardcopy in the guidance lobby.

Thank you.

Heather Woeber

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Seminole Ridge 2011 Pathfinder Nominees

Seminole Ridge High School is pleased to announce the 2011 Pathfinder Scholarship nominees. Students are nominated in 18 academic, vocational, and athletic categories who have demonstrated outstanding achievement. The following Pathfinder nominees have also participated in Seminole SECME (or if not in SECME, have been science students of the Seminole Ridge SECME school coordinator Mr. Landstrom).

Congratulations to our Seminole Ridge Seniors who have been nominated for this prestigious award. We wish them luck and encouragement as they continue through the nomination process.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Seminole Ridge SECME finishes second in So. Fla. Championship Robotics Tournament

Seminole Ridge SECME’s VEX robotics team dominated during their qualifying matches at the South Florida Championship on Sunday, December 5, with 7 wins, no ties and no losses.


Congratulations to freshmen Conner Piegaro, Jimmie Yunck, Tavo Lemos Caicedo, and their robots who continued our school’s winning streak into the quarter and semifinals during the VEX Round Up tournament hosted Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami.

right to left: Seminole SECME students Conner Piegaro, Tavo Caicedo, and Jimmie Yunk with the B team bot during the South Florida Championship VEX Round Up tournament on December 5, 2010 at Gulliver Preparatory School in Kendall, FL.

After the qualifying matches, teams were ranked based on their performance on Win Points (WPs) and Strength of Schedule Points (SPs). Heading into the playoffs, Seminole SECME stood first out of 32 teams on the leader board with a score of 14 WPs and 83 SPs. Win Points are the first basis of ranking teams, and are awarded for winning (two points) and tying (one point) during a Qualifying Match. Strength of Schedule Points are the second basis of ranking teams, and are awarded in the amount of the score of the losing alliance in a Qualifying Match.

The top teams will then participate in the elimination matches to determine the tournament champions. During elimination match alliances of three faceoff in a best two of three series, with two teams playing in each match. The first alliance to win two matches will proceed to the next round.
Seminole SECME’s robot “BB the BombBot” scoring tubes on the goalpost at the South Florida Championship VEX Round Up tournament on December 5, 2010 at Gulliver Preparatory School in Kendall, FL.)
As the Red Alliance Captain, Conner put together a trio of teams, made from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, and Seminole SECME from Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee. The Red Alliance advanced all the way the finals, and won one against the Blue Alliance made of RAMTECH from Miami Coral Park High School, AlphaBots from Christopher Columbus High School, and GPS Robotics from Gulliver Preparatory School, all in Miami. And although the Reds lost to the Blues in the best two out of three (the final game score was 36 to 7), it is the repeated success of Seminole SECME that is remarkable.

Erich Landstrom, Seminole SECME school coordinator, points out that Seminole SECME won the Miami VEX Round Up Qualifier in October, so this tournament’s trip to the playoffs shows that our robots are clearly to be reckoned with, a Cinderella story of circuits and steel at bot ball. Landstrom is very proud of the Hawks hard work. “Giving SECME students the opportunity to work with the VEX robots promotes education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and teaches critical life skills such as teamwork, project management and problem solving.”

(right: Seminole SECME student Conner Piegaro during the South Florida Championship VEX Round Up tournament on December 5, 2010 at Gulliver Preparatory School in Kendall, FL.)

VEX Round Up is played on a 12’x12’ square field and two alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams. Each alliance competes in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period, where the robot follows preprogrammed commands from its onboard microprocessor. This is followed by two minutes of driver directed play via radio controller. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by placing tubes upon goalposts, owning goalposts, and by low hanging or high hanging from the ladder.

The 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship is the final event in the 2010-2011 VEX Competition season. Winning teams from local and state VEX Robotics Competitions will have the opportunity to meet in Florida and compete against other top-ranked teams from around the world, playing the game VEX Round Up. The World Championship will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida on April 14-16, 2011. Coinciding with National Robotics Week, the three-day tournament unites top middle school, high school and college robotics teams from around the world to celebrate their accomplishments and further inspire students to pursue careers in robotics and other STEM related fields.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Gulliver Vex South Florida Championship

Click here for directions to Gulliver Prep School



Dear Gulliver Competition participants,

I hope that you all are just as excited as I am about the upcoming competition this Sunday. We have 30 robots from 10 schools competing in our qualifier with 6 robots making it to Nationals. There is a list of the robots registered below.

Friday, December 3, 2010

NOVA | Making Stuff (Coming to PBS January, 2011) | Preview #1 -- Robots...



Invisibility cloaks. Spider silk that is stronger than steel. Plastics made of sugar that dissolve in landfills. Self-healing military vehicles. Smart pills and micro-robots that zap diseases. Clothes that monitor your mood. What will the future bring, and what will it be made of? In NOVA's fascinating new four-hour series, "Making Stuff," popular New York Times technology reporter David Pogue takes viewers on a thrilling tour of the material world we live in, and the one that may lie ahead—offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at scientific innovations that are ushering in a new generation of materials that are stronger, smaller, smarter, and cleaner than anything we've ever seen. Wednesdays starting January 19, 2011 only on NOVA.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

What's Up for December 2010: a lunar eclipse and a trio of planets

A lunar eclipse and a planetary trio grace the morning sky in December 2010.

Discovery of "Arsenic-bug" Expands Definition of Life

NASA Science News for Dec. 2, 2010
Astrobiologists have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism, which lives in California's Mono Lake, substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in the backbone of its DNA.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/02dec_monolake/

Monday, November 29, 2010

SCADs of Good News!

Brie Codner

congratulations to senior Brianne Codner. She received early acceptance to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) plus a $5,000.00 per year scholarship from them!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Obama orders Mythbusters to create death ray!



Watch MythBusters Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 9 PM ET/PT

In this extra-special episode of MYTHBUSTERS, Adam and Jamie tackle a request from the President of the United States, Barack Obama. President Obama tells Adam and Jamie that he'd like them to re-test the myth of the Archimedes Solar Ray -- this time with more manpower. The myth, which says that Greek scientist Archimedes set fire to an invading fleet using only mirrors and the sun, has been tested by MYTHBUSTERS twice before (and busted). After developing a unique mirror aiming system, Adam and Jamie use the President's STEM connections and enlist 500 student volunteers ready to light a fire for science!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Symphony of Science - A Wave of Reason

The Symphony of Science is a musical project by John Boswell designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.

"A Wave of Reason" is intended to promote scientific reasoning and skepticism in the face of growing amounts of pseudoscientific pursuits, such as Astrology and Homeopathy, and also to promote the scientific worldview as equally enlightening as religion. Enjoy!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Technical illustration

Technical illustration community, resources, tutorials, portfolios and interviews.
http://technicalillustrators.org/

Friday, November 19, 2010

STEMinar 2010 at Seminole Ridge


Attention SECME students, proud parents, cool coordinators, and business partners backers!

The Seminole Ridge STEMinar on Saturday, November 20, 2010 from 9 AM to 1 PM. We provide the people, the place, and the parts to work on SECME submissions. Focus your collective best resources to build and break bridges; rev up your mousetrap powered race car; blast off bottle rockets; blueprint your banners; and battle in the brain bowl!

Directions to Seminole Ridge High: Travel west on Southern Blvd. (SR 80, or Route 441), or Okeechobee Blvd. to Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Turn north. School on west, across from Callery Judge Grove, before old Winn-Dixie plaza. For more detailed directions, click on http://tinyurl.com/SeminoleRidgeHighto Mapquest from Seminole Ridge High

BALSA WOOD BRIDGES
Practice making mini- bridge/ trusses that simulate SECME requirements. Coordinators are responsible for bringing all necessary supplies to the STEMinar:
 ¼ by ¼ Balsawood (several pieces)
 Insta-Cure glue or Wood glue
 wet wipes or paper towels
 Wood cutter or hobby hand saw
 Miter Box (optional)
 square level (optional)
 Balsa cutters
 Sand paper
 pencils
 Rulers and meter stick
 Wax paper
MOUSETRAP VEHICLES
Coordinators are responsible for bringing necessary materials and supplies to the STEMinar for each person attending:
 1 Victor mousetrap
 1 strip of 1/2” X ¼” Balsa wood
 3-4 wheels or CDs
 scissors
 Balsa wood cutters
 pliers
 brass tubing (optional)
 spacers (optional)
 washers (optional)
 string (optional)
 bandaids (optional)

Engineering Family Fun Day 2010

Come on out to Dreher Park in West Palm Beach on November 20th, 2010. The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is co-hosting an event with National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) called Engineering Family Fun Day! Build Bottle Rockets, Robo hands, lemon batteries and gum drop domes. Ask Engineers in the community questions and enjoy the day outside with your family. Email ef2devent@gmail.com if you have any questions. See you there!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Business Bash & Academy Open House 2010

Seminole SECME table at the Business Bash 2010
Academy Open House for the Class of 2022
Seminole Ridge High School hosted its annual Business Bash on Thursday, November 18 at the school campus. Business owners and community organizations will have the opportunity to learn how the school can support their business, and in turn, how businesses can support the school.
Senior Cindy Dosch explain how SECME is STEMulating Minds



The United States is struggling with a serious shortage of technology-based professionals, including engineers, scientists and mathematicians. SECME has proven to be highly successful in helping educationally disadvantaged students excel in math and science so they can become the technology-based professionals that America needs. Industry knows it can count on SECME for a well-trained STEM workforce.

Prospective students for the Class of 2015 could operate the VEX robot during the Academy Open House

The event began at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium with a tour of academy, academic, fine arts and athletic displays from the classes, clubs and sports. This was followed by an academy program presentation at 6:45 p.m. in the auditorium.

Coach Landstrom says: Join SECME! Get Smart! Have Fun! Win Prizes!

For more event information, contact academy coordinator John Walker at (561) 422-2600 or walkerjo[at]palmbeach[dot]k12[dot]fl[dot]us.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

'Hawks' Have a Fizzix Funday

Hawks Have ‘Fizzix Funday’ - physics students showcase their science skills

Seminole Ridge HS physics students showcased their skills Wednesday, November 17, 2010 testing their “Fizzix Funday” research projects. Students chose to either ‘Drop It,’ ‘Launch It,’ or ‘Thrill It’ creating the ideal container to protect an egg from a seven-story drop, blasting off the ultimate water bottle rocket, or building the best roller coaster model. President Obama remarked in 2009 speech at the National Academy of Sciences, "I want us all to think about new and creative ways to engage young people in science and engineering, whether it's science festivals, robotics competitions, fairs that encourage young people to create and build and invent -- to be makers of things, not just consumers of things." Physics teacher Erich Landstrom listened to the President, and challenges his students to design, construct, and compete.
Drop It
Launch It Thrill It

The Fizzix Funday began with ‘Drop It.’ The Palm Beach County Fire Department assisted in testing for the most efficient package to protect a raw large chicken egg from cracking after a seventy foot free fall from the ladder of the fire truck.

Congratulations to Arnold Banner, whose container creation weight was just 13 grams! Arnold Banner

At 11 AM, the students began ‘Launch It,’ aiming for a projectile put together around an ordinary 2 liter plastic soda bottle and fired using compressed air at 60 psi and 12 ounces of water with the greatest air aloft “hang time” launched by compressed air and water.
Congratulations to Yiro Shimabukuro and Moegamat Peck, whose “This Side Up” was airborne for 8.0 seconds! Yiro and Mo

After lunch, the students finished big with ‘Build It,’ creating a coaster with the longest ride time to go from the Start position to the Finish (with bonus points for loops and attraction). Thrill Coasters
Congratulations to Mark Blanar and Joseph Pavicic, whose “Collision Course” kept rolling along for an average of twenty two seconds! Mark Blanar and Joseph Pavicic

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

EngineerGirl! Essay Contest 2011 - Relief from a Disaster

The National Academy of Engineering sponsors an annual essay contest for precollege students dealing with the importance of engineering and its impact on our world. Boys and girls ages 8-18 compete for prizes up to $500, as well as an opportunity to publish their entries on the EngineerGirl! Website.

This year, the theme is "Engineering & Human Service – Relief from a Disaster." Flood, famine, earthquake, tsunami, oil spill, blackout, building collapse, mining accident, wildfire, hurricane, tornado, terrorist attack—all have been headline news in recent years. Disasters, both natural and man-made, can take many forms. Every disaster presents unique challenges and requires fast and decisive action to save lives and limit damages. Engineers are involved in designing many products specifically for use in disaster zones such as portable medical equipment, oil skimmers, or basic shelters. Identify an item designed specifically for use in disaster relief, and then do some research on it to write your essay.

Contestants must in 1500 words or fewer, describe an item that is used for disaster relief. Explain how it works. Point out key elements of the design and why it was designed that way. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the final design of this product. Discuss the constraints designers faced in the creation of this product and potential changes/improvements needed if it were used in a different disaster relief scenario. Be sure to include your references.

You can find the announcement, guidelines, and related information about the contest on the EngineerGirl! website:
http://www.engineergirl.org/CMS/Contest.aspx

Entries must be received by 6:00 PM on March 1, 2011. Essays will be judged on the basis of creativity, feasibility, and usefulness of the design as well as the author’s ability to communicate ideas. All entries are read by a panel of judges, whose selections are final.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Robot Arm Calculator

Support Seminole Ridge SECME, and help extend our reach into the world of high tech robotics with our awesome robotic arm.

The Robot Arm Calculator is designed to help you determine the lifting capability of your robot arm. For example, can a robot arm of X length, with your motor, lift Y weight?

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_arm_calculator.shtml

Friday, November 12, 2010

Science of Everyday Life

3M and Discovery Education Launch Interactive Web Portal for Families and Teachers Celebrating the Science of Everyday Life
-- New Online Resource Encourages Science Learning in all of Life’s Laboratories: Home, Classroom and Community --

November 4, 2010
(Silver Spring, Md.) Innovation Company 3M and Discovery Education today announce a new enhancement to partnership efforts focused on opening young minds to the wonders of science with a unique online resource center, Science of Everyday Life.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

End Effectors for Robotic Arms

End Effector


Humans and Robots Educational Brief
Have your students build an end effector similar to the one on the Orbiter’s robotic arm with simple, everyday materials.

Objectives:
• Students will learn how the end effectors for the robotic arms used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station work.
• Students will design and construct a grapple fixture that will enable the end effector to pick up an object.
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/test/speakersnotes/ITP/78/examples_tech.html

Will it work, Norman?

Will it work, Ronit?

Will it work, Tavo?

Will it work, Sean, Eric and Alex?

Will it work, Yiro and AJ?

Yes! Yes it will!

Activity:
End Effector instructions
1. Nest the two coffee cups together. Using the plastic picnic knife, saw through the sides of both cups to make two rings (See illustration 1). Try to make the cut level through both cups (Based on the age of the student, teachers may want to do this part). Smooth away any rough edges left from the cuts.
2. Cut three pieces of string 12 cm long. Tape each string around the outside of cup 1 (See illustration 2). Leave a little bit of string hanging out from the tape. You will need to adjust the strings later by pulling on the ends.
3. Tape the long end of each string to the inside of cup 2. This will form three loops going from the outside of cup 1 to the inside of cup 2 (See illustration 3).
4. Begin the adjustment procedure by rotating cup 1 only 120 degrees (1/3) of the way around cup 2. This will realign the two tape points of each string across the opening of the cups. Gently pull on the ends of each string so that the strings stretch straight across the opening (See illustration 4). Your end effector is ready for service.
5. To see how the end effector works, rotate cup 1 back to its original position. The strings will loosen up. Have a partner hold out an index finger (grapple fixture). Slide the end effector over the finger past the first knuckle. While holding cup 2 still, rotate cup 1. The snare strings will wrap tightly around the finger. You have capture. You can tug on your partner but be careful. Your end effector is only made from tape, string, and Styrofoam cups!

Success!
Success!
Success!
Success!

Brain Bowl practice

Water bottle rocket construction

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation


Discovery Channel’s MythBusters Join Global Online Town Hall on Student Attitudes Toward Math and Science

Former Vice President Al Gore to moderate live interactive discussion connecting students from the US with those in countries that outperform them

Release Date:11/08/2010

(New York, NY) – Hosts of the Discovery Channel’s MythBusters, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, will join former Vice President Al Gore, astronaut Sally Ride and inventor Dean Kamen during Time Warner Cable’s Global Online Town Hall called “Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation” on November 17, 2010 at 12pm ET.

This unique, first-of-its-kind town hall event will connect young people from the US with students from around the world, including Australia, China and Finland, and with internationally known science and technology leaders, for a discussion that will focus on attitudes among American youth toward math and science, and how to inspire and motivate them so they will be successful in a competitive global marketplace.

“There is never, at any time, any issue more important to this country than the education of its youth. We are thrilled and humbled to be involved in some way with this crucial initiative, and it has our full support," said Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of MythBusters.

Members of the public can join the discussion at connectamillionminds.com, where – using a new online broadcasting platform from Vokle - they can submit live video questions and comments from anywhere in the world in real time. A facilitator’s guide is available for those teachers and principals who would like to bring the conversation into the classroom by hosting a town hall viewing of their own. To access the guide, and for more information about Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds program or the global online town hall event, please visit http://www.connectamillionminds.com/.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Scholarship Bulletin for November 2010

Good afternoon,

Attached you will find the most current Scholarship Bulletin. Please be sure to post even if your classes are not senior classes as many of these scholarships occur yearly. In addition, students can be directed to the Guidance Edline page for their viewing pleasures. Students may pick up additional copies in the guidance lobby.

As always, thank you for your continued support! If you have Chrissy Dearth in class then please give her a “shout out” for taking on a large part of this cumbersome process!

Heather Woeber

Monday, November 8, 2010

Give Blood, It's Not Rocket Science on Nov. 16


GIVE BLOOD—IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!
Each pint improves ‘STEM’ education

Seminole Ridge High National Honor Society and SECME students will host a blood drive at school on Tuesday, November 16 from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Our theme is “GIVE BLOOD—IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.” It’s a fun and unique way to teach people that donating blood is easier than the science, engineering, and math (STEM) that it takes to blast off a water rocket.

For each pint of blood donated, SECME students celebrate with a rocket launch. The water bottle rockets are fired off with 70 PSI compressed air and a pint of water symbolical dyed red with food coloring. It takes the physics of projectile motion, the polynomial equations for parabolic paths, and the practice of precision engineering to successfully launch. To donate blood at Seminole Ridge, all a student needs is to be alive, in good health, be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, have turned in a signed parental consent form, and present a photo ID.

And Florida’s Blood Centers will donate approximately $20 per unit of blood collected to the Scholarship Assistance Foundation to support students with tuition assistance for attending colleges, universities, institutions, and technical centers by furthering their education in STEM subjects!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Figure This! The Statue of Liberty math challenge


Figure this! The right arm of the Statue of Liberty is 42 feet long. How long is her nose? The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

NASA and Lego Join Forces

NASA AND THE LEGO GROUP PARTNER TO INSPIRE CHILDREN TO BUILD AND EXPLORE THE FUTURE

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A LEGO space shuttle headed to orbit helps mark the Tuesday signing of a Space Act Agreement between NASA and The LEGO Group to spark children's interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

To commemorate the beginning of this partnership, the small LEGO shuttle will launch with the crew of the space shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission, targeted to launch Wednesday, Nov. 3, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Friday, November 5, 2010

2011 REC Foundation Online Challenges Now Available!

The details for 2011 Robotics and Education Foundation (RECF) Online Challenges have now available at RobotEvents.com at http://forum.robotevents.com/design/.

Mixing successful ideas from the past two years with new challenges and interesting twists, we are proud to release this year’s events. We are also pleased to announce that EMC Corporation is joining last year’s sponsors, Autodesk, the FUTURE Foundation, and VEX Robotics. EMC Corporation is sponsoring the robotics team Website Design Challenge. The complete list of this year’s challenges:

· Autodesk® Inventor® 2011 Digital Prototyping Challenge
· EMC Corporation Robotics Team/Club Website Challenge
· FUTURE Foundation Design Challenge
· VEX® Robotics Design a Game Animation Challenge
· VRC Promote Award
· RECF Team Educational Video Challenge
· VEX® Robotics Essay Challenge

Admissions are open now, so start working!

All the specific details and information can be found at http://forum.robotevents.com/design.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Fantastic Foxes


Seminole SECME mentored the Foxes from Acreage Pines Elementary School for the Olympiad on Wednesday, November 3rd. David, Edwin, Justin, and Cody worked with the boys Blue team on mousetrap powered races. Criquet, Caitlyn, Kaity, and Ronit worked with the girls Green team. Mr. Landstrom, and Mrs. Summerlin are all very proud of their SECME students.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010

In the Fall 2010 issue of the Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter
- "Hawk"-tober at the Ridge: brainstorming bridges, banners, and bottle rockets
- Aviation engineering aces from Kimley-Horn and Associates speak at Seminole Ridge.
- Highlights from President Obama's 2nd annual back to school speech
- Figure This! math challenge on the long arm of Lady Liberty
- SECME Spotlight on Brian Bartels
- Be the Dinosaur at the Children's Science Explorium in Boca Raton
- Hawks win Miami VEX Round Up robotics tournament; qualify for 2011 World Championship
- Hawking Talk: Thank you to our sponsors Publix Super Market Charities

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010 issue.

PAGE 1

Monday, November 1, 2010

Thank you Publix Super Market Charities


Thank you Publix Super Market Charities! The success of our educational efforts can depend on the generous contributions from our corporate sponsors. We offer our appreciation and gratitude to Publix Super Market Charities for their $250 donation.