Tag: Math

[ECP] Educational CyberPlayGround K-12 Newsletters Science

K12 NASA Education Opportunities

Free Education Webinar Series from the Aerospace Education Services Project
The Aerospace Education Services Project is presenting a series of free webinars throughout February 2013. All webinars can be accessed online. Join aerospace education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources to bring NASA into your classroom.
Rocket Scientists Write? (Grades 1-6)
Feb. 4, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist John Weis will demonstrate language arts activities using NASA materials and lessons found within NASA educator guides. Materials discussed will cover reading comprehension and composition for grades K-12. Lesson plans and strategies will be shared.
What Is the Effect of Clouds on Earth’s Climate? (Grades 4-8)
Feb. 11, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Brandon Hargis will present the CERES S’COOL Project. S’COOL involves students in real science, making and reporting ground observations of clouds to assist in the validation of NASA’s CERES satellite instruments. Participants will practice a simulated cloud-observations and review sample student activities and lesson plans.
Engineering Design Challenge: Spaghetti Tower (Grades 5-8)
Feb. 12, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Angelo Casaburri will compare the scientific method and the engineering design process. Participants will use the design process to identify the problem and brainstorm, design, build, test, redesign and share solutions about constructing the tallest skyscraper using uncooked spaghetti noodles.
NASA Envisions “Clean Energy” From Algae Grown in Waste Water (Grades K-12)
Feb. 13, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Tony Leavitt will discuss the process proposed by NASA scientists to produce “clean energy” biofuels. The process cleans waste water, removes carbon dioxide from the air, retains important nutrients and does not compete with agriculture for land or freshwater. This webinar is part of the Department of Education Green Strides webinar series.
I Want to Hold Your Hand (Grades 2-5)
Feb. 19, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Beth White will lead participants in an activity to construct a simple robotic-like hand using low-cost materials. Participants will demonstrate how data is collected when using robotic technology.
Climate Time Machine (Grades K-12)
Feb. 20, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Sandy Kaszynski will help participants get to know NASA’s climate website. Learn how to find resources for teaching or learning about what we know and how we know about what’s happening to Earth. This webinar is part of the Department of Education Green Strides webinar series
Quantifying Changes Over Time (Grades 4-10)
Feb. 25, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Rick Varner will discuss the Landsat missions, one of the longest running Earth observation missions. Participants will compare remote sensing images of Earth taken across periods of time to reflect changes to the observed areas that are both natural and influenced by humans.
Blue Marble Matches: Comparing Earth’s Features to the Other Planets (Grades 4-12)
Feb. 26, 2013, at 4 – 5 p.m. EST and 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Aerospace education specialist Susan Kohler will present an activity designed to introduce students to the geologic processes on Earth. In the activity, students take on the roles of geologists and planetary scientists as they observe and interpret satellite photography and use data to explain the features on distant planets.
For more information about these webinars, and to see a full list of webinars taking place through March 2013, visit http://neon.psu.edu/webinars/.
Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Chris Gamrat at ga****@*su.edu.
The U.S. Department of Education has Green Strides webinars scheduled throughout 2013. To see a full list of Green Strides webinars, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/webinar.html.

[ECP] Educational CyberPlayGround K12 Newsletters / NetHappenings News and Grants

1) mathematics teachers in grades 9-–12 – 2) full-time teacher, librarian, or administrator literacy-based projects

NCTM: Connecting Mathematics to Other Subject Areas Grants for Grades 9–12 Teachers
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Connecting Mathematics to Other Subject Areas Grants help create senior high classroom materials or lessons connecting mathematics to other fields. Materials may be in the form of books, visual displays, computer programs or displays, slide shows, videotapes, or other appropriate media. The focus of these materials should be on showing the connectivity of mathematics to other fields or to the world around us. Any acquisition of equipment or payment of personal stipends must be critical to the grant proposal and may not be a major portion of the proposed budget. Any published sources must be documented. Proposals must address the following: the plan for developing and evaluating materials, the connectivity to other fields or disciplines, and anticipated impact on students’ learning.
Maximum award: $4,000.
Eligibility: current (as of October 15, 2012) Full Individual or E-Members of NCTM who currently teach mathematics in grades 9-–12 at least 50 percent of the school day.
Deadline: November 9, 2012.
http://www.nctm.org/
 
City National Bank: Reading is the Way Up
City National Bank is now accepting applications for grants to support literacy-based projects at public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in California, Nevada, and New York. Recipients can create, augment, or expand literacy projects that are judged to be creative and engaging, and that may help improve student achievement. Awards can be used for books, videos, CDs, DVDs, computer software or hardware, or in other ways as long as the recipient shows that the project for which funds are sought will support literacy.
Maximum award: $500.
Eligibility: any full-time teacher, librarian, or administrator at schools in counties where City National has offices. Deadline: November 30, 2012.
http://www.readingisthewayup.org/
National Geographic: International Photography Contest for Kids
The National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids invites children to enter their photographs in four categories: animals, people, scenery, and humor. Maximum award: 16.1-megapixel digital camera; an 8GB memory card; a copy of the books National Geographic Kids Almanac 2013, Weird But True 4, Everything Dogs, and Ultimate Weird But True.
Eligibility: legal residents of the United States between the ages of 6 and 14 on October 31, 2012.
Deadline: October 31, 2012.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Why Teach Math? What's the Point? There are 3 Reasons.

1. Technical Jobs
2. Everyday Living
3. Logical Thinking – Mind Training – Habits of Mind
Learn Coding
“… I think understanding procedures and processes is important. But there’s a fantastic way to do that in the modern world. It’s called programming.”
— Conrad Wolfram
Conrad Wolfram: Teaching kids real math with computers
From rockets to stock markets, many of humanity’s most thrilling creations are powered by math. So why do kids lose interest in it? Conrad Wolfram says the part of math we teach — calculation by hand — isn’t just tedious, it’s mostly irrelevant to real mathematics and the real world. He presents his radical idea: teaching kids math through computer programming.