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!

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!

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!

Technical illustration

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

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!

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.

'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

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.

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

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.

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

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/.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.