Robonaut 2, a dexterous humanoid robot explorer, is set to leave Earth in February to join the crew of the International Space Station.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/31jan_r2/
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Technical Drawing for Water Bottle Rocket
EDITOR'S NOTE: Coach Batchelor has created a pamphlet about Technical Drawing for SECME Submissions. Check it out to see how to make your own.
Technical Drawing for Mousetrap Vehicle
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a change, the comments are being left ON. I welcome and would appreciate your thoughts -- this technical drawing has not been scored yet, so it will be interesting for your feedback to compare & contrast with the judges. Just keep it (pardon the pun) constructive! :D
Friday, January 28, 2011
Students & Families Invited To Scripps "Cell"ebration
Students To Show And Interact At Science Cellebration
To Mark The Two-Year Anniversary Of Scripps Florida’s
Permanent Research Facility In Jupiter
Scripps Florida is hosting a “Science Cellebration” day at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday, February 5 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Meet Scripps Florida scientists and enjoy fun interactive exhibits and prizes. There will be hands-on science activity booths and displays from School District Choice Programs and Science & Engineering Fair winners. The event offers an exciting glimpse into the latest biomedical research taking place at Scripps Florida.
“As the state of Florida becomes a hub for the biotech industry, it is vital that our students and their families understand the impact of biotechnology on maintaining and improving quality of life,” said School District K-12 Science Manager Wendy Spielman. “The Scripps Florida Science Cellebration at The Gardens Mall will make the science of biotechnology accessible to our students and the community in a fun, interactive way. It may also open students’ eyes to a variety of careers paths and fields of study that they may have never considered before. It will be an outstanding event.”
The family-friendly event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information please contact Ms. Spielman at 561-357-1152 or spielw@palmbeach.k12.fl.us .
To Mark The Two-Year Anniversary Of Scripps Florida’s
Permanent Research Facility In Jupiter
Scripps Florida is hosting a “Science Cellebration” day at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday, February 5 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Meet Scripps Florida scientists and enjoy fun interactive exhibits and prizes. There will be hands-on science activity booths and displays from School District Choice Programs and Science & Engineering Fair winners. The event offers an exciting glimpse into the latest biomedical research taking place at Scripps Florida.
“As the state of Florida becomes a hub for the biotech industry, it is vital that our students and their families understand the impact of biotechnology on maintaining and improving quality of life,” said School District K-12 Science Manager Wendy Spielman. “The Scripps Florida Science Cellebration at The Gardens Mall will make the science of biotechnology accessible to our students and the community in a fun, interactive way. It may also open students’ eyes to a variety of careers paths and fields of study that they may have never considered before. It will be an outstanding event.”
The family-friendly event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information please contact Ms. Spielman at 561-357-1152 or spielw@palmbeach.k12.fl.us .
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair.
President Obama made his commitment to science, technology, and education very clear in his remarks on the State of the Union on January 25, 2011: "No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We’re the home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth. What’s more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea -– the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That’s why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It’s why our students don’t just memorize equations, but answer questions like “What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?” The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can’t just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.”
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011
In the Winter 2011 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter
- SECME Olympiad on February 26th
- US DOE National Science Bowl on February 19th
- FAU hosts Engineers Week event on February 22nd
- President Obama hosts White House Science Fair
- XKCD.COMic
- Figure This! Tournament Brackets math challenge
- SECME Spotlight on Tavo Lemos
- Childrens Science Explorium exhibits Eyes on Earth
- "Mayhem in Miami" as Seminole Ridge SECME finishes 2nd in VEX robotics competitions
Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011 issue.
PAGE 1
In the Winter 2011 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter
- SECME Olympiad on February 26th
- US DOE National Science Bowl on February 19th
- FAU hosts Engineers Week event on February 22nd
- President Obama hosts White House Science Fair
- XKCD.COMic
- Figure This! Tournament Brackets math challenge
- SECME Spotlight on Tavo Lemos
- Childrens Science Explorium exhibits Eyes on Earth
- "Mayhem in Miami" as Seminole Ridge SECME finishes 2nd in VEX robotics competitions
Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011 issue.
PAGE 1
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Mayhem in Miami” as Seminole Ridge SECME finishes 2nd in VEX
“Mayhem in Miami” as Seminole Ridge SECME finishes second in VEX Robotics Competition
Congratulations to freshman Conner Piegaro who again lead Seminole Ridge SECME to finish in the finals of a VEX Robotics Competition. His latest success was during the “Mayhem in Miami V” VEX Round Up tournament hosted at Ransom Everglades Middle School in Coconut Grove on Saturday, January 15, 2011. An alliance of students from Seminole Ridge and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart quashed the competition in the quarterfinals and smashed the opposition in the semifinals. The Blue Alliance however ultimately lost the best two of the three matches in the finals to the Red Alliance from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, the afterschool Miami MAST Academy, and another team from Carrolton (final score 31-14).
Seminole Ridge Community High School and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
Friday, January 14, 2011
WBR Mission Patch
Thank you to senior Brianne Codner, artist extraordinaire, who created the fantastic mission patch for this year's water bottle rocket team.
You can see the patch in greater detail in the website banner. Here are the details on the details:
Water Bottle Rocket: In the middle of the patch is a model rocket, launched by compressed air and water. The rocket is painted in our school’s colors of red and silver. On the body of the rocket is written “SRCHS HAWKS” for Seminole Ridge Community High School and our school’s mascot, the hawk, and it include a silhouette of a hawk’s head.
Brain: In the lower right corner is a human brain, with the brain stem merging with an entwined plant stem around the border. The brain depicts the mind of the SECME student. The brain is the seat of reason, responsible for learning, thinking, remembering, imagining and creating; all needed for success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But the mind is also responsible for emotions like friendship and positive attitude, which are needed for success in SECME and in life. Emerging from the brain is a SECME-style water bottle rocket.
SECME cyclone: In the upper right corner is the symbol of SECME, Inc. The mission of SECME is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. SECME does this with hands-on project-based learning to build and test balsawood bridges, mousetrap spring powered race cars, and model rockets.
Aquila: In the center left of the patch is the constellation of Aquila. Its name is Latin for “eagle.”Aquila represents the Seminole Ridge High mascot, the hawk. Altair is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and one of the closest stars visible to the naked eye. Altair is located 16.8 light years away. This means for a 16 year old high school student in SECME, that the light from Altair that a student today actually left the star around when the student was born, and has taken the student’s entire lifetime to reach Earth and stimulate our eyes.
Patch Border: Around the golden border of the patch is written this year’s theme of “SECME: STEMulating MINDS.” The border also features the silhouette of a hawk head, as the hawk is the mascot for our school.
Plant Stem on Patch Border: Entwined around the golden board is a green plant leafy stem, on which is carved “Seminole Ridge CHS.” Plant stems have four main functions which are:
- to transport water up against gravity between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem, an example of SCIENCE.
- to produce new living tissue, just as in TECHNOLOGY manufacturing is a key consideration.
- to keep the leaves in the light and provide a place for the plant to keep its flowers and fruits, an example of biological ENGINEERING.
- to store nutrients, just as in MATHEMATICS numbers and symbols store arithmetic information.
You can see the patch in greater detail in the website banner. Here are the details on the details:
Water Bottle Rocket: In the middle of the patch is a model rocket, launched by compressed air and water. The rocket is painted in our school’s colors of red and silver. On the body of the rocket is written “SRCHS HAWKS” for Seminole Ridge Community High School and our school’s mascot, the hawk, and it include a silhouette of a hawk’s head.
Brain: In the lower right corner is a human brain, with the brain stem merging with an entwined plant stem around the border. The brain depicts the mind of the SECME student. The brain is the seat of reason, responsible for learning, thinking, remembering, imagining and creating; all needed for success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But the mind is also responsible for emotions like friendship and positive attitude, which are needed for success in SECME and in life. Emerging from the brain is a SECME-style water bottle rocket.
SECME cyclone: In the upper right corner is the symbol of SECME, Inc. The mission of SECME is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. SECME does this with hands-on project-based learning to build and test balsawood bridges, mousetrap spring powered race cars, and model rockets.
Aquila: In the center left of the patch is the constellation of Aquila. Its name is Latin for “eagle.”Aquila represents the Seminole Ridge High mascot, the hawk. Altair is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and one of the closest stars visible to the naked eye. Altair is located 16.8 light years away. This means for a 16 year old high school student in SECME, that the light from Altair that a student today actually left the star around when the student was born, and has taken the student’s entire lifetime to reach Earth and stimulate our eyes.
Patch Border: Around the golden border of the patch is written this year’s theme of “SECME: STEMulating MINDS.” The border also features the silhouette of a hawk head, as the hawk is the mascot for our school.
Plant Stem on Patch Border: Entwined around the golden board is a green plant leafy stem, on which is carved “Seminole Ridge CHS.” Plant stems have four main functions which are:
- to transport water up against gravity between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem, an example of SCIENCE.
- to produce new living tissue, just as in TECHNOLOGY manufacturing is a key consideration.
- to keep the leaves in the light and provide a place for the plant to keep its flowers and fruits, an example of biological ENGINEERING.
- to store nutrients, just as in MATHEMATICS numbers and symbols store arithmetic information.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Science is an adventure in which should participate
EarthSky – a clear voice for science – today announced the selection of E.O. Wilson as the 2010 EarthSky Science Communicator of the Year. EarthSky interviewed Dr. Wilson in Boston. Dr. Wilson told that science is an adventure, and that everyone can participate. Here’s is an excerpt:.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Rap Guide to Evolution
The Rap Guide to Evolution is a hip-hop exploration of modern Evolutionary Biology.
http://bababrinkman.bandcamp.com/album/the-rap-guide-to-evolution
http://bababrinkman.bandcamp.com/album/the-rap-guide-to-evolution
Thursday, January 6, 2011
NASA Genesis EPO - Dynamic Design: Launch and Propulsion
http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/educate/scimodule/Launch_Propulsion.html
In Dynamic Design: Launch and Propulsion, students become familiar with how rockets are launched. Students will also learn how and why specific rockets are chosen for varying payloads. In this middle school module (grades 5-9), students learn about the history of rocketry and work with variables that might affect the performance of a launch vehicle.
Students work in teams to investigate one variable, in detail, by performing tests. By completing these tests they will learn the various aspects of launching a rocket. In the assessment, students engage in a competition whereby they apply what they have learned about rockets to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible.
Students will work in teams to learn about various aspects of launching a water rocket. Students work in expert groups to learn more about variables related to propulsion, the shape, size, number and placement of fins and the nosecone shape. Students then take the information learned in the expert groups back to their design group to design and build a water rocket that will fly as high as possible.
In Dynamic Design: Launch and Propulsion, students become familiar with how rockets are launched. Students will also learn how and why specific rockets are chosen for varying payloads. In this middle school module (grades 5-9), students learn about the history of rocketry and work with variables that might affect the performance of a launch vehicle.
Students work in teams to investigate one variable, in detail, by performing tests. By completing these tests they will learn the various aspects of launching a rocket. In the assessment, students engage in a competition whereby they apply what they have learned about rockets to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible.
Students will work in teams to learn about various aspects of launching a water rocket. Students work in expert groups to learn more about variables related to propulsion, the shape, size, number and placement of fins and the nosecone shape. Students then take the information learned in the expert groups back to their design group to design and build a water rocket that will fly as high as possible.
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/flteqs.htmlCiteFast: Citations for Technical Reports
CiteFast automatically will format references for your technical reports. In seconds generate bibliographies and title pages in MLA, APA and Chicago.
http://www.citefast.com
http://www.citefast.com
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Didja Guess It?
I learned this at a SECME teacher training. "Didja" is pronounced slurred to sound like "digit." It's a variation on Master Mind, and a great way fill a few minutes before the bell rings.
The object of the game is to guess the secret four digit number. There are no repeated digits (0 – 9) in the number. Once you have guessed, a code will be shown that indicates how successful your guess was. An x mark (x) indicates you have a wrong digit. A dash (-) indicates that you have a correct digit but in the wrong place. A checkmark (√) indicates that you have a correct digit in the correct place. Through a process of elimination, you should deduce the secret number.
For example:
Round 1
4 3 2 1
- x - x
Round 2 (we know the number must have 2 and 4; 4 is not in the first position; 2 is not the third position)
5 6 4 2
x - - -
Round 3 (we know it must have 2, 4, and 6; 4 is not in the first or third position; 2 is not in the third or fourth position; 6 is not in second position)
7 2 4 6
x - - -
Round 4
2 4 6 8
√ √ √ √
Didja guess it?
The object of the game is to guess the secret four digit number. There are no repeated digits (0 – 9) in the number. Once you have guessed, a code will be shown that indicates how successful your guess was. An x mark (x) indicates you have a wrong digit. A dash (-) indicates that you have a correct digit but in the wrong place. A checkmark (√) indicates that you have a correct digit in the correct place. Through a process of elimination, you should deduce the secret number.
For example:
Round 1
4 3 2 1
- x - x
Round 2 (we know the number must have 2 and 4; 4 is not in the first position; 2 is not the third position)
5 6 4 2
x - - -
Round 3 (we know it must have 2, 4, and 6; 4 is not in the first or third position; 2 is not in the third or fourth position; 6 is not in second position)
7 2 4 6
x - - -
Round 4
2 4 6 8
√ √ √ √
Didja guess it?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
BrainPOP
BrainPOP resources for balsawood bridge building
Building Basics
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/scienceandindustry/buildingbasics/
Bridges
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/scienceandindustry/bridges/
Scale Drawing
http://www.brainpop.com/math/ratioproportionandpercent/scaledrawing/
BrainPOP is a group of educational websites with hundreds of short (5 minutes or shorter) Flash-based movies for students in grades K-12 (ages 6 to 17) covering the subjects of science, mathematics, engineering and technology, arts and music, health, social studies, and English. BrainPOP movies may be used to introduce a new lesson or topic, for illustrating complex subject matter or to review before a test. Content is aligned to USA state education standards and is searchable. In addition to movies, the site displays quizzes, games, experiments and other related content that students can use interactively to reinforce the lessons in the movies. BrainPOP products are compatible with PCs, Macs, projectors and interactive whiteboards. No downloading, installation or special hardware is required.
Building Basics
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/scienceandindustry/buildingbasics/
Bridges
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/scienceandindustry/bridges/
Scale Drawing
http://www.brainpop.com/math/ratioproportionandpercent/scaledrawing/
BrainPOP is a group of educational websites with hundreds of short (5 minutes or shorter) Flash-based movies for students in grades K-12 (ages 6 to 17) covering the subjects of science, mathematics, engineering and technology, arts and music, health, social studies, and English. BrainPOP movies may be used to introduce a new lesson or topic, for illustrating complex subject matter or to review before a test. Content is aligned to USA state education standards and is searchable. In addition to movies, the site displays quizzes, games, experiments and other related content that students can use interactively to reinforce the lessons in the movies. BrainPOP products are compatible with PCs, Macs, projectors and interactive whiteboards. No downloading, installation or special hardware is required.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
What's Up for January 2011? Quadrantids!
Shooting star fireworks ring in the new year!
The January Quadrantids peak early next week - in the morning hours of Tuesday January 4th. It's a good night with no moon, but the sharp shower peak favors observers in Europe. Regardless, if it's clear and you are awake, look between and below the big and little dippers and you might see some belated but beautiful fireworks.
My JPL podcast this month features the Quadrantids, the morning planets and a preview of next month's spacecraft flyby of comet Tempel 1.
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane[dot]h[dot]jones[at]jpl[dot]nasa[dot]gov
The January Quadrantids peak early next week - in the morning hours of Tuesday January 4th. It's a good night with no moon, but the sharp shower peak favors observers in Europe. Regardless, if it's clear and you are awake, look between and below the big and little dippers and you might see some belated but beautiful fireworks.
My JPL podcast this month features the Quadrantids, the morning planets and a preview of next month's spacecraft flyby of comet Tempel 1.
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane[dot]h[dot]jones[at]jpl[dot]nasa[dot]gov
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