Math and Science in the Daily News

Hibernation

2006-12-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Link: http://whyfiles.org/187hibernate/

This story is cool. I jsut recently gave them my students a journal prompt on this topic. It would have been great if I have this article for that day's exploration. Even without this, it is a great way to compare the aminal lifestyles to that of other animals and to humans.

Brain Functions Quiz

2006-12-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.chatterbean.com/right_brain_thinker/2/?&CCID=20066626203229414&QTR=ZZf2147483647Za20066626Zg0Zw0Zm0Zc203229414Zs3723ZZ&CLK=892061207171835153&&ac=003&ai=61D9F94A0546E954BA75C591A3BF333284F20CB2&ad=611473692&sp=&fb=science%20news&INKLE_AB=2

This quiz is a great way to get to know how your kids think. Not only do you get this information, they learn more about themselves and how they learn. It could be a beginning of they year activity or when the topic arises during your lessons.

Inadequate Drinking Water

2006-12-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/20061127.html

This site offers a problem in the world. To help students become more global and worldly,
this offers a problem and you can have students come up with reasonable solutions as well as compare they life to those less fortunate than themselves. You may even be able to use this kind of topic to motivate a service project.

11-30

2006-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Dark Energy is said to have been around for generations. The Hubble telescope has found that te dark energy found in space makes the universe increase in size at a very rapid rate. Although, I have not ever read anything really on dark energy and am not really sure what it is besides enegy that isn't otherwise seen with the naked eye on a daily basis, that's about it! The article was interesting in that I am intrigued by things from space. I thought it was very interesting and provided good information.

Math, Podcast from the Ozarks

2006-12-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.ams.org/mathmedia/#two

This story is really interesting in that it pulls techology, math, and problem solving together into a real-world situaation. Since the radio broad cast is available in pod cast, a teacher can preview the puzzle and then pplay it for the class and have them see if they can figure it out. Depending on you age and grade you may have to walk the students through the solution.

11-23

2006-12-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Hmmmmm.. "Differrent Ways to Cut a Cake".... well, the title in itself provides many ideas...you could use it as teaching fractions, numerator, denominator.... anyway.... enough on that... the article itself talks about how cutting a cake is often, "you cut i choose the piece". it talks about fairness in portions of foods, and in this case, a cake.

Global Warming is Killing Marine Life?

2006-12-07T15:18:00.001-08:00

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061207084052.htm

This article stated that the ocean's plant life growing at a slower rate they believe because of global warming. Phytoplankton,which feeds most marine life, grow faster in a cool ocean and slower in a warm water and because of global warming our oceans are becoming warmer. However it also clearly stated that tshe uninterrupted nine-year record shows in great detail the ups and downs of marine biological activity or productivity from month to month and year to year. Captured at the start of this data record was a major, rapid rebound in ocean biological activity after a major El Nino event. El Nino and La Nina are major warming or cooling events, respectively, that occur approximately every three to seven years in the eastern Pacific Ocean and are known to change weather patterns around the world.

Using Computers to Create Interest

2006-12-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20060222/Feature1.asp

This article were written to help promote interest in a career field of computer science. According to the article the number of people entering this field has been reduce by 50% and less than 20% are women. Using an interactive computer program called Alice, a student can quickly create an animated movie in which characters move about and interact in an imagined 3D world. Along the way, the student learns how to write a simple computer program. This program will hopefully create interest in the field of computer programming in young students and one day increase the number of young people entering the field.

Putting the Squeeze on Toothpaste

2006-12-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061129/Feature1.asp

This article discussed the physics that go into creating toothpaste as well as the innovative new things scientists are trying to do to make toothpaste even better.

This article definitely made me think about toothpaste a little differently. I never really thought much about it other than something that would help keep my teeth white and clean. I never really thought a whole lot about the structure of the toothpaste and how it could separate into different layers. This is a great article to allow students and adults to look at things differently. Science teachers can use this article to discuss why temperature is an important thing to learn about as well as tools that help scientists. This article described how microscopes are used.
This article can be used for science, but also for math. Students can write down the prices of different toothpastes that are in the stores. They can compare the toothpastes by name brand or by amount of ounces per tube. This would be an excellent way to use proportions and ratios. The students could also see how important it is to use math to shop for the best buy.

NASA plans to put a base on the moon by 2020

2006-12-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2006-12-04-nasa-moon-base_x.htm
"NASA plans to surpass the Apollo missions by establishing a base on the moon that could lead to a permanent human presence on the lunar surface, space agency officials said Monday."

This is an interesting article complete with an interactive model of how scientists plan to build a moon base in the future. Students would benefit from a discussion about the importance of space exploration and the continuing efforts of scientists to learn more about the solar system.

Hearts of Croc's

2006-12-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

I went to this site with my classroom, and I noticed that of all the articles my students decided that this articles was the most interesting. They read that crocodiles have an extra valve in their heart, which allowed them to stay under the water longer, and made them more of a deadly hunter. I love this site, and my students really enjoy reading these articles after we complete different assignments within the computer lab.

Beth

Snowflakes and Avalanches

2006-12-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

Snowflakes and Avalanches

This article talked about scientists and the research they are doing to protect individuals during avalanches. It talks about prevention and strategies to help individuals. I thought the article was interesting because students can see the uses of GPS for survival. Students are able to understand the importance of these devices and how without them our world and life would be much different.

Beth

New type of slow earthquake detected

2006-12-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2006-11-30-new-earthquake_x.htm
Japanese researchers have discovered a new and sluggish kind of seismic activity that helps reveal the inner workings of faults capable of producing massive earthquakes like the one that generated the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Classroom Use: This article could be used as part of a unit on the study of earthquakes, tsunami's, and other natural disasters. Students could examine the article to see how the scientists worked through the scientific process to reveal their learning.

Wayback.....Presidents and their secret history

2006-12-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

http://pbskids.org/wayback/

This is a fun site that allows students to explore tidbits or secrets about past presidents. They might like the fact that it appears they are getting the scoop that no one else knows. It also provides some kid interviews about whether they would be president or not and what makes a good president.

Fatty Foods

2006-12-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/fattyfoods.html

This goes well with a unit on health and diet. Students are shown or find out rather how much fat their food really has. It might open their eyes to what they eat. Maybe.....

Science Biographies

2006-12-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/sci/biography.html

This is not really a site full of articles, but a great tool for teaching about science biographies. I feel sometimes students are not so interested in learning about people when given a book because it is overwhelming (at least for second grade). This site provides quick, fast facts.

Origami and Math

2006-12-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.paperfolding.com/math/

This is a helpful site for teachers to understand that origami is more that just paperfolding it is mathematical. It also provides examples of different things that can be created with origami. This site can also help when teaching a unit on Japan.

National Geographic People and Places

2006-12-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_india.html

Our school has adopted a new curriculum that requires me to teach India. Well, I had nothing for India and really struggled with the content. This site is WONDERFUL! It has real pictures of people and places, a look at their flag, facts, videos, and music. The best part is, you can choose any country and it provides lots of primary sources to help teach.

Earth and Moon Viewer

2006-12-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html

This is a great site when second grade gets to the science unit about the Earth and Sky. The students will love the real pictures and information provided. The images are current and are of the moon or of Earth.

Alaska Volcano Observatory

2006-12-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/

I would use this site to show the very interested second graders updated volcanic activity on a variety of volcanoes. It doesn't really put information into article format, but in quick snippets of information. This makes it helpful when in a time crunch.

High-Tech Ancient Greeks

2006-12-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

LINK: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061129151439.htm

CLASSROOM USE: This would be a good article to use with middle or high school students in discussing the history and development of science. The article discusses an astronomical calculator used by the Ancient Greeks that very accurately depicts the motions of the Earth, moon, and possibly the locations of the planets. First of all, it shows that knowledge of space has not neccessarily moved in a linear direction, from less understood to more. If this finding is accurate, then the Greeks had already moved quite far along in their understanding, only to have later Europeans regress backwards conceptually (placing the Earth in the center with no other planets). It can help students understand that just because an idea is newer does not make it correct and that all new ideas need to be carefully, critically examined. This also helps make clear that not all people from the distant past had the same ideas about the world (ie, that it was flat) and that there is almost always more than one theory about a concept out there.

Putting the Squeeze on Toothpaste

2006-11-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061129/Feature1.asp

Classroom Use: This article would be a great discussion starter on how science affects our everyday life. This could get students to thinking about how and why things work and how science is continually used to improve our lives. From there students may feel more motivated to begin to investigate the how and why in objects that they interact with on an everyday basis.

Math of the World

2006-11-29T18:27:00.002-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061108/Feature1.asp

"If you know where to look, you can find math anywhere you go. "

Classroom Use: This would be a great math lesson starter for students in an elementary classroom. The article discusses how math can be seen all around the world from the setup of an African village, as viewed from an airplane, to the patterns on a Native American piece of pottery. After reading the article to the class, students could then be challenged to find fractals, a pattern that repeats itself on different scales, around their classroom or school campus.

Astronomers discuss opportunities from planned return to moon

2006-11-29T18:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2006-11-29-moon-return_x.htm

Classroom Use: This article could be used as part of a solar system unit. An activity assessing the advantages and disadvantages of placing a telescope on the moon could be the central focus of this article. Students could also take part in the planning and design of the telescope. The could also research the costs of what it would take to send a manned mission to the moon.

Study: 1 in 5 parents say kids online too much, but no effect on grades either way

2006-11-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-11-29-internet-study-kids_x.htm

Classroom Use: This article could be a discussion point for a classroom study on the effects of technology on students' lives. Students could record their own time on the internet each day for a period of time, then the data could be used in a classroom graph and further analysis.
The following excerpts from the article could be used as points in a classroom discussion:

"In a study to be released Wednesday by the University of Southern California, 21% of adult Internet users with children believe the kids are online too long, compared with 11% in 2000. Still, that is less than the 49% who complain their kids watch too much TV.
About 80% of the children say the Internet is important for schoolwork, although three-quarters of the parents say grades have not gone up or down since they got Internet access."

"Americans 66 and over remain the most disconnected, with only 38% online. For all other age groups, at least 74% are online, with penetration hitting 99% for those 18 and under, likely because most U.S. schools now have some form of Internet access."

"The study found nearly a quarter of online users especially newcomers to the Internet Â say they spend less time reading."

Open source Java presents world of opportunities

2006-11-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20061122/tc_infoworld/83996
Classroom Use: This is a great classroom discussion on both business and computer programming classes. The fact that Java is going open source mean that people will have the opportunity to develop programs for the market that use Java and that can interface with persisting java script programs. This will have impacts both in the business world and the software industry.

Inadequate Drinking Water Is a Leading Cause of Death in Children

2006-11-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/20061127.html

Classroom Use: This article could be used as a discussion point for a variety of topics in an elementary classroom. Some ideas may include: the importance of drinking clean water, the significance of sanitation systems, environmental studies and the effect of pollution on the water supply, as well as a lesson on how water becomes safe to consume.

Reading Response week 4 Standards Kathy

2006-11-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

Reading response week 4 This reading is about standards and accountability and what they mean to children. The focus is on availability and funding and how to make changes in the classroom. Although the intent in good I also find the following to also be true. This weeks reading very interesting and in the perfect world these ideas would be great. Unfortunately, we do not teach in the perfect world. I so not have access to a class set of calculators. I have one computer in my classroom for student use and there is no added software (although I do have access to the internet). I am quickly becoming frustrated with the state of education I am witnessing. Lawmakers make the laws and lay out student and teacher goals without any regard to funding. There simply are not the funds to support technology, evenly and fairly in every classroom. Furthermore, low income families simply do not have computers. In my experience if the family does own a computer my fourth grade students are not allowed to use it because they “may break it” then the family would no longer have a computer. Parents are also uneducated at the benefits their students could gain from the use of this valuable tool and do not tap into it as a resources. Holding teachers and students to standards that cannot be obtained is neither far to the students or their teachers. I do not see an integration of core curriculum until the playing field is equal. I dream for the day we have a perfect world with ideal classrooms.

Reading Resopnce Venus Flytrap

2006-11-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

How a Venus Flytrap Snaps Shut http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050129/fob5.asp This article is very interesting it explains how the Venus Flytrap Snaps Shut. it relates how scientist have found a connection between the science of math and math itself. It also points out how engineers may use the plant to design triggering mechanisms in the future. I would like to use this article in conjunction to reading “The Math Curse” I have a flytrap already in place in my classroom and the students have had a lot of fun bringing in bugs to feed it. This article really illustrates how math and science are all around us.

Interactive Weather

2006-11-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

Link: http://whyfiles.org/interactives/

I think this site is really cool. The site allows you to actually see the damage done by a tornado or other natural disaters. This provides students with a more realistic look at the effects, looks and other notions relating to bad wather conditions.

Controlling the Gypsy Moth invasion

2006-11-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

LINK: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061116084149.htm

CLASSROOM USE: This is a good article to use with middle to high school class in the discussion of human impacts on the environment and the science behind trying to fix those effects. The article describes how the gypsy moth first was released into the forests of the Northeast and what scientists are trying to do stop it's spread. It provides a good starting point for they study of what happens when a foreign species is introduced into an ecosystem. Studies could also be launched into other examples, including a discussion of how the foreign species spreads and what people are doing to limit the damage being caused.

Math of the World

2006-11-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

In Science News for Kids.

I like this article because it reflects on the theme of created last year that expands if the theme that math is everywhere.

It gives another example of how to lace your shoes. Talks about the fractal design of African houses in African villages, the mathematical geometry of the cornrow hair style. The Africans use mathematical designs to express spiritual concepts. Math is also present in Native American bead designs. Eglash has created a computer program called “The Virtual Bead Loom Program” Graffiti Grapher, Navajo Rug Weaver, and Alaskan Basket Weaver, all based on the same concept. Among Eglash's other creations is a program called Rhythm Wheels. It challenges kids to figure out when two repeating sets of drumbeats, each going at its own pace, will meet. As they work with this program, kids learn about fractions and finding the least common denominator. In his computer programs Eglash gives explanations of the culture, history, and math involved. Mixing math and culture does more than teach math, it helps people understand each other better.

The article provides a step by step exercise on how to make a fractal snowflake from a design developed by Swedish mathematician Niels Fabian Helge von Koch.

Chillin Out!!

2006-11-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

http://whyfiles.org/187hibernate/

Classroom use: I could use this article to start a discussion on hibernation, which is sometimes called sleep, and what types of animals hibernate. I would not not get to far into the meaning and the biology behind hibernation. I would discuss how certain animals sleep during this period, and how they live off the food they gather and their body fat. By showing some of the pictures of the animals (bears, polar bears, squrriels, etc) and how they act and what they do to stay warm during their time of hibernation is another idea to bring to their attention.

week of 11-16

2006-11-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

Monster Storm On Saturn Spotted By Cassini Space Probe. this is a great article to use to inform children that Earth isn't the only planet that experiences storms. You could use it to teach compare and contrast on expository writing or using it on the 6 Traits. Great article!

blog for 11-9

2006-11-16T16:14:00.000-08:00

The most interesting thing I found on the Science in the News. There was a quiz to see if you are right brained or left brain. I am right brained. I can use this in my classroom as a way to get studets motivated to learn about science and in another case, how the brain works. It is a really neat quiz!!! Try it, see how you learn!

Project Music

2006-11-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20040602/Feature1.asp

This article discussed different ways that music relates to math and the real world. One part of the article talked about the influence that classical music has on the amount of white blood cells in a person’s body. Another part talked about the amount of crashes people have while driving depending on the type of music they are listening to. Another part of the article discussed sounds that violins make. Another student found that learning the violin can make you better at math.

I think that a lot of students could really relate to this article. Many of my junior high students are taking music as one of their electives. These same students will be driving in the next couple of years. The study done on the amount of crashes while driving would be interesting for the students to learn about. It would probably make them think about the kinds of music they listen to as well as the kinds of music their parents listen to while driving.

The part about Mozart’s piece using the golden ratio was interesting. I have known many things where the golden ratio is apparent, but I did not realize that it was also part of one of Mozart’s songs. This was interesting. The article suggested maybe singing the multiplication tables someday. I think that it would be wonderful to incorporate music more into the classroom. In fact, my students completed an open-ended project and several groups chose to create and sing a song to remember how to do something. One group used it for memorizing facts and another group used it for remembering the quadrants of a coordinate grid. I would love to learn more ways to incorporate it into the classroom.

Ants on stilts

2006-11-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20060809/Note3.asp
Scientists are studying how ants can remember how to get back to the nest. Researchers cut off parts of ant legs and glued on pig hair on to some of the legs. Ants that had their legs cut off stopped short of the nest. Ants with hair glued on their legs over shot the nest. This proved that ants use a kind of GPS, they count their steps and remember them as a map. Once you shorten or lengthen their steps it throws off their map. I would use this to show how animals problem solve.

The new basketball

2006-11-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061108/Note3.asp
The NBA has changed the basketballs it uses for its games. More than one player has disagreed with this change. Science says that these new balls are better then the old leather covered ones but players think other wise. I would use this article to have students evaluate if science testing is true. Would Spalding (the new ball maker) ever show science testing that proved the old ball was better? Students need to be able to apply their knowledge to make sure what they are reading is true, not slanted.

India says 16 percent of power to come from wind by 2030

2006-11-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061106/wl_sthasia_afp/indiaenergywindelectricityenvironment
Classroom Use: This would make a GREAT classroom discussion on a variety of topics. The ones that came to my mind include: alternate fuel/power sources, environmental issues, economic issues and how a second world country can do something so innovated and why we can not.

Colossal hurricane-like storm seen on Saturn

2006-11-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/sc_nm/space_saturn_dc
Classroom Use: This is great for a classroom discussion on the weather effect on other planets. I like the idea of using this in a comparison about our planet earth and with that of other planetary bodies.

Warmest year on record

2006-11-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

The year 2005 is recorded as the hottest temperatures on Earth. The overall increase in the last 30 years is 0.6 degrees C throughout the Earth. The top five hottest years were all but one within this century. (2005, 2002, 2003,2004, and 1998) In 1998, El Nino was to blame for the high temperatures, but 2005 doesnot have anything to blame but global warming.

The coldest temperatures are having seeing the most damaging results from global warming. Alaska, Canada and Russia have seen an overall temperature increase of 1.6 degrees C. Global warming is an issue I really worry about, and I believe that as a society we need to have more of an awareness. As educators, I feel we need to educate our students about this issue, so our future generations are not heavily affected by global warming.

Beth

Blood Clots

2006-11-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

I read the article:

Computing Catches Up With Theory: Modeling The Formation Of Blood Clots

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061030183121.htm

This article describes how technology can now simulate the formulation of blood clots. (Leading cause of heart attacks and strokes) It explains that the clot grows faster with increased bloodflow to the area, but after a certain point, it declines. There are several links from this article, one takes you to a site where you can take a genetic test to find your risk of blod clots. I was originally going to be a nurse, so this stuff is interesting to me. I would discuss with students the devastating results of a blod clot (It can be fatal!) and investigate ways to reduce the risks.

Estimation

2006-11-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

I read a very short article titled:

Estimation - Rounding Numbers

http://math.about.com/b/a/257412.htm

It talked about the reason why so many students have difficulty with estimation and rounding. It suggests the problem may be that "children were probably trying to memorize the procedure instead of understanding what the math actually is...it comes down to place value and really understanding the value that each digit represents." I personally have seen seventh graders struggle with rounding- especially with decimals. The article has several links which include worksheets for practice rounding decimals. I think it is a great idea to give students more practice with this skill, and I will print the decimals worksheet for extra credit in my math class.

Salem Math Program

2006-11-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

I read the article:

"Parents Upset Over Salem Math Program: Lawsuit threatened over new standards for taking algebra."

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=ae40fa64-7af5-4a07-8038-dcb042e013d2

In the article, parents are upset because of a new policy regarding placement of students in eighth grade algebra. There are three pre-algebra classes, and only one algebra class. The criteria for students to get into the algebra is very strict, so some capable students are left out. One parent was very upset because they felt their daughter should have been in the algebra class. Now their daughter isn't learning anything new and often ends up helping other students in the class. Students could give their opinion about the placement procedures, and if they feel they are fair. They could also think of alternatives to the current situation in Salem.

2006-11-11T10:46:00.000-08:00

I read the article:

The Science of Love: Why do fools fall in LOVE?

http://whyfiles.org/033love/main1.html

This article describes some mating strategies for different animals, such as a hang fly and a poisonous redback spider. It suggests that humans have something in common with animals namely that we may "communicate with unconscious chemical signals" called pheromones. This is an interesting concept, but I'm not sure if It would be a good idea to discuss with seventh graders. I might have them research the effect of pheromones on different animals, but not humans :)

Commercial Spaceflight

2006-11-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

LINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15654772/

CLASSROOM USE: This would be a good article to use with students fifth grade and up to discuss the problems and reasons for commercial spaceflight. The article describes the progress Virgin Galactic is making in developing a commercial spaceflight vehicle and it's plan for future travelers. Obviously, the first question is why? Virgin's proposed price is in the $200, 000 range, for essentially a flight to no destination. Is the experience worthwhile? If so, shouldn't it be more available? Also to be discussed is safety. Given the recent problems NASA has had, can we be sure a commercial passenger flight could be safe? This would also be a good launching pad to discuss where technology has taken us so far and where it might go in the future. What is possible?

"Evolution of Body Size in the Deep Sea"

2006-11-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

I read the article:

Scientist's Persistence Sheds Light On Marine Science Riddle

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060911104122.htm

The article suggests that there is an "island rule: that small animals isolated on islands evolve to be bigger than their mainland relatives, and large animals evolve to be smaller." Also "when species colonize the deep sea, large bodied species become smaller and small-bodied species become larger." I thought this was very interesting and students could brainstorm explanations for this type of adaptation.

Endangered Species

2006-11-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

I read the Science Daily article titled:

"Fox or Eagle: The Price Of Saving A Species"

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031202071105.htm

The article talks about the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) which is an endangered species. The problem is that it's predator is the golden eagle. The golden eagle is protected by federal law, but is not considered threatened or endangered. So the dilemna is- how can we save the foxes without harming the eagles? This could generate a discussion about ethics. Students may come up with hypothetical solutions to this problem.

Mathematical Imagery

2006-11-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

I read the article:

Mathematical Imagery

http://www.ams.org/mathimagery/

The first line captured my attention, along with some beautiful pictures. It began "The connection between mathematics and art goes back thousands of years." The article describes many artistic masterpieces based on mathematics, such as Gothic cathedrals, origami, mosaics and quilts. That reminds me of my grandmother and the many beautiful quilts she made. Quilt designs can be very intricate. I think children would enjoy seeing all the different ways math is used in the world around us. Sometimes it seems they are scared of math, and this might be a way to get them interested!

Kaleidoscopic Images

2006-11-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

I read the article titled:
Math: Whale Songs-->Kaleidoscopic Images

http://www.ams.org/mathmedia/

This article describes how a former engineer named Mark Fischer from California is using "wavelets- a technique for processing digital signals- to transform the haunting calls of ocean mammals into movies that visually represent the songs" I thought this was so cool! there were several different types of whales you could choose from. You could hear their songs while watching a visual representation of them. I think kids of all ages would be fascinated by this, it would be a great addition to any ocean unit.

Grammar of Genetics May Help Spell the End of Cancer

2006-11-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

Over the years, scientists realized that mutations were not necessarily a death sentence, but a sign of susceptibility. The grammar rules of genetics govern the molecules that attach themselves to the DNA or modify its molecular scaffolding. These rules are called epigenetics.

Epigenetics is thought to be at the center of gene activity and function and also disease. This explains why identical twins do not always pick up the same diseases. Cancer also seems to occur later in life, probably after epigenetic effects have had time to accumulate. Fenstein is a scientist who advances the theory of epigeneticsl

He advances the proposition that perhaps cancer cells can be treated before they have the chance to develop into cancer.

He advances the hypothesis that maybe when we understand the “Grammar of Cancer we can unlock the mysteries of other diseases as well.

Attention Middle School Math and Science Teachers

2006-11-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

Honeywell taking teacher scholarship applications
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1029edspace1029.html

What: Honeywell is accepting scholarship applications from middle school science and math teachers to attend the 2007 Honeywell Educators at Space Academy program June 18-29 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Background: Teachers who win scholarships for the program, which began in 2004, will receive curriculum training focused on space science and exploration. They will also participate in astronaut training such as a high-performance jet simulation and scenario-based space missions. Financial contributions from more than 1,700 Honeywell employees help support the program.

How to apply: Teachers can apply online at www.honeywell.com/hhs for the scholarships, which include program tuition and materials, round-trip airfare, meals and accommodations.

Space Umbrellas to Shield Earth

2006-11-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

LINK: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061108/Note2.asp

CLASSROOM USE: This is a great article to use with middle to high school students for the introduction of a research project. The article explains and debates one proposal to stop global warming by launching tiny spacecraft that will carry umbrella-like shields to help block some of the sun's rays from reaching Earth. As a class, or in groups, students could discuss the merits of this proposal, as well as two others mentioned in the article. This would then lead to students creating their own proposals on stopping global warming, a unit that could be done as a webquest.

Mechanical puzzles

2006-11-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

I read the article "Celebrating Puzzles, in 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 Moves (or so)," by Margaret Wertheim.

http://www.ams.org/mathmedia/mathdigest

A display of 30,000+ mechanical puzzles can be viewed at the Lilly Library of Indiana University. They were donated by Jerry Slocum. For over fifty years, he has been studying and collecting puzzles. I have always loved puzzles, especially ones that seemed impossible. My grandfather always had some crazy puzzle like two horseshoes linked together that you had to try and separate. I think those kinds of mind blowing puzzles would be great for kids to strengthen their problem solving skills. I think it would be a great idea to get some of these puzzles for my math class. I think they sell some at Crackerbarrell. Besides, I'd love to solve them myself!

Quantum Physics

2006-11-05T15:16:00.000-08:00

I read the article "Entanglement Unties A Tough Quantum Computing Problem" from Science Daily.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060929094219.htm

It talked about error correction coding. Claude Shannon was first to prove that messages survived noise up to a certain point "channel capacity". The article says that Quantum computing systems necessitate error codes when processing quantum data ("qubits") which are transferred on single photons. To make error measurement easier, they include entangled qubits in the transmision. "Entangled qubits... are created when (for example) high-energy photons goes through certain materials, which convert them into two lower energy photons. These twin daughters remain linked even when they are separted, so something that happens to one is echoed in the other, instantaneously, no matter how far apart they are... so strange and counter-intuitive that it is sometimes called "spooky physics."" I thought this article was interesting, and could ignite the curiosity of seventh graders. I think it might even spark their interest in physics!

Students produce movie on cell phones.

2006-11-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_en_mo/making_mobilettes

Classroom Use: I don't know about your school, but the school that I teach at does not allow for students to have cell phones on campus. Even if it has been given to them by their parents for specific reasons. I do not have a problem with cell phone being on campus as long the students understand that they are to be used only before or after school on in case of an emergency. After reading this article, I would love to have my students do this. I teach Kindergarten, but I know that most of them know how to work a cell phone for the most part. This would be a great way to have the students take ownership of learning outside of school. It could go one of two ways, for the good or could be interference for students that already have a hard time staying on task.

The Techo Divide Kathy's week 11 post

2006-11-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

The readings this week discuss the mesh between teacher training and student readiness in the area of technologies. It also touches on the ever changing world of technology
In my school the divide between the technology we have and the teacher and student participation may be as wide as the Grand Canyon. On one hand we have our teachers many of which are trained and ready to go with the technology in their classroom. The district however, is not ready to spend the money to allow the teachers to have the resources they desire. On one hand our more affluent schools all have overhead cameras, and smart boards (largely because the parents demand their children have the best). And our lower income schools have little to no smart boards or over head cameras. the cost to supply has meant an impasse. Schools are not willing to put out the big bucks unless parents scream about it. In lower income schools the families are just happy for their kids to be in school. They are unaware of their student’s rights to be fair and equal and many times cannot speak out in fear of being deported or embarrassed. I feel to say schools are equal is wrong even within the same district the divide is GRAND.

Holy Ozone Hole!

2006-11-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

LINK: http://whyfiles.org/shorties/218ozone_hole/

CLASSROOM USE: This is a good article to use with high school students to discuss environmental issues as well as how to read scientific articles. In terms of environmental issues, the article touches on one major current issue, the ozone hole. It gives a good explanation of what ozone is and what it does and then presents the most recent measurements of the hole. Questions to discuss in class would be the human impact on the environment and the value of environmental efforts. In this way, the article also works well to focus on how to read scientific journals. The article explains how the ozone hole has gotten larger very recently due to variations in weather. However, one could very easily assume by reading the headline and first few paragraphs that the ozone hole is actually still growing larger, which would indicate that environmental efforts have not helped. It's important to help students learn how to analyze the entire article and discuss why short term changes don't necessarily reflect a long term pattern.

GPS Helps Measure Air pollution

2006-11-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

Link: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061031-gps-pigeon_2.html

Pigeons are being used to measure air pollution in the city of Los Angels. A small backpack is placed on the a homing pigeon. The backpack contains a GPS, a modified cell phone, and tools to measure the air quality. This information is than sent to a blog which they use to detect which parts of the city create or have the worst air pollution. This is a great article to us in your classroom to show students how this technology is being used.

Scientist Strives to Make Perfect Jack-O'-Lantern Lid

2006-10-31T19:34:00.000-08:00

Monsanto strives to breed better pumpkin

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_on_sc/monsanto_pumpkins

Classroom use: This article could be used to discuss how science can be used to better improve our lives. The article describes how scientists are trying to use intensive plant breeding techniques to make the perfect peduncle, aka stem.

Teens using diet pills

2006-10-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

The article research shows that girls in their teenage years are using diet pills more and that research indicates that the use of these pills by teenage girls has double in the last year. It seems as though the reason is because girls don't feel good about themselves or that they are "pretty or skinny enough". I guess it is up to us to let our young people know that they don't need to change the way the look and to make them feel better abou themselves.

Cola May Cause Bone Density

2006-10-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061028/food.asp

This finding is nothing new really. But now researcher may have found a direct link to drinking cola, whether it is diet or decaf, to the lose of hip density in women. The study found drinking one daily serving of cola lowered a woman's bone density about 4 to 5 percent in women over the age of 50. Men, it seems have no ill effects, but young girls may.

This article would be a great article to read with students about learning good eating habits at an early age. And even though drinking or eating unhealthy foods in moderation can still effect your health. This could also be a good article to take home and have families read together and than discuss ways to change drinking habits now, so that this does not happen to them.

Students produce movies with cell phones

2006-10-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_en_mo/making_mobilettes
Classroom Use: This article talks about how kids these days are not simply taking pictures with there phones but also short videos. This could make for some interesting extra credit or even home work assignments. The ability for kids to use this technology could be a grate asset to the teaching environment…or another hindrance. It would be up to the teacher to make sure that the assignment would be of real use and not just a fun thing to do.

Google battles rivals in race to digitize the world's libraries

2006-10-29T21:01:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061029/tc_afp/afplifestyleusitClassroom Use: This is an interesting look at the future of libraries. This would be a good topic for discussion regarding the future of technology and the use of in to incorporate our history, especially in the realm of books and stories.

Internet Generation

2006-10-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061025/Feature1.asp

Classroom use: Teaching Kindergarten is very interesting at times. You may think that the students are sweet and innocent but now days, they are very wise when it comes to using the computer and sites that are good and bad. When you start using the Internet in your classroom, it is very important to address the do’s and don’t of where to go and not go. This article is good to use when speaking to parents about positive benefits of its use, but also gives good insight on the worries that most parents have when allowing their child to use the Internet. It also gives examples of the types of benefits it has to the educational process and the learning of students. It is a great way to help with critical thinking skills, teamwork, and communication skills. Great article.

Scottsdale Voters Hold Key to High-Tech Classrooms

2006-10-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1029techclassroom1029.html

Classroom: I know this is not an article that has to do with Math or Science, but it is a very interesting article in general to see where the furture of technology is going to lead us. Within this article it describes the “wave of the future”. In a perfect world, or when voters in Scottsdale say so, all classrooms will have speakers in the ceiling so that all students have the same chance to hear what the teacher is teaching; every room will have ceiling-mounted projectors, digital whiteboard (smart boards), extensive teacher training on all technology up grades, document projection camera DVD/VCR, Laptop/table computer, learning software, wireless mobile laptop carts, and much more. All I can say is “sign me up!”

It's a Math World for Animals

2006-10-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20031008/Feature1.asp

Many students enter the classroom afraid of math. This would be a really fun article for the students to read. This article suggests that animals can often do math without ever having to learn about it. A man in the article took his dog to the beach and was surprised to realize that his dog was able to do calculus problems without actually doing calculus. Students would find this article interesting and really be able to visualize the article. The pictures also help to paint a picture for the reader.

This article also suggests that mathematicians can study animals to see how they do math. This could lead to methods to help students learn math in more helpful ways.

Reading this article reminded me about a research article I read a little less than a year ago. The citation is noted below.

Siegler, R. (2003). Implications of cognitive science research for mathematics education.
In Kilpatrick, J., Martin, W.G., & Schifter, D. (Eds.), A research companion to
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. (pp. 289-303). Reston, VA:
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Chronic Wasting

2006-10-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Researchers now know that cronic wasting disease is spread in deer through blood and saliva. Using topics like this you can discuss how new science discoveries can impact local economies. In areas where hunting is popular many local businesses depend on selling supplies to hunters. In states like Michigan bans were placed on baiting deer. This hurt local gas stations that sold deer bait and farms that sold feed. Even with current science research showing a health hazards many people will continue with their traditional practices.

Living in the Desert

2006-10-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061101/Feature1.asp
Living in the Desert describes how several animals have adapted to living in an environment were there is limited water. I would use this article in class to show exactly how an animal like a mouse can be genetically different from other members of its species. Students have a hard time understanding that animals can not be moved from one location to another and survive. They can see animals in local zoos and assume that they can live anywhere. Students do not understand that all animals are adapted to their environment in some way.

Internet Generation

2006-10-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

LINK: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061025/Feature1.asp

CLASSROOM USE: When using the internet in class, it's important to address security and the fears of parents as well as pointing out the positive benefits of its use. This article is a good discussion starter for upper elementary to middle school students on this topic. It's a very good way to introduce just what exactly the internet is (highly complex system of computers) and why it's important to be aware of what could happen. However, it also gives examples of the types of benefits it has to the educational process and the learning of students. If students are to be successful in using the internet, it is vital that they feel confident in their safety and develop the critical thinking skills to recognize unsafe situations on-line. This is a good place to start.

Hangman

2006-10-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.theproblemsite.com/hangman/hangman_over.asp

This site is really interesting. You could have the students play the hangman game three to five times. After each time they play they write the word down. They then look up the words. It is an awesome vocabulary tool.

Math topics in the world

2006-10-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.topix.net/science/mathematics

This site offers students the needed tool to reaserch how math is used in every day life. Students would read the articles and depending on how you structure the assignment, they would be responsible for identifying when and how math is used daily.

Visual Imagery Technique Boosts Voting Study Finds

2006-10-22T18:35:00.001-07:00

Penny Boivin

Registered voters who used a simple visual imagery technique picturing themselves voting were more likely to follow through and vote the following day, a study finds.

If they took the third person viewpoint it 60% voted, while 72% voted when they used imagery using the first person viewpoint. This study involves 148 students all of whom are registered voters. They were then asked a series of questions assessing their perceptions as voters.

In order to boost the number of ASU students voting I have designed a survey based on the research model with questions similar to those asked Ohio residents in 2004:

1, How personally important is it to you to vote on November 7.?

a) very important

b) somewhat important

c) I don’t think it makes a difference.

2. How much would your vote make a difference?

a) It would make a big difference.

b) It would only make a little difference.

c) Other people would just vote the same way

3. How much would you regret it if you did not vote and your candidate lost?

a) Very important

b) Important

c) Neutral

d) Not important

How likely is it that you will vote if there is a 20 minute wait at the polls?

a) I will vote for sure as I have my early ballot!

b) I will vote, because it is important.

c) I will probably vote.

d) I will probably get discouraged.

Take a few minutes and picture yourself going into the polls, filling out your ballot, casting your early or voting machine ballot, and picking up your ‘I Voted’ sticker.

Congratulations! You have just voted!

This could be at tables for people to use or as part of an online survey. Hopefully this study will be replicated at ASU!

Visual Imagery Technique Boosts Voting Study Finds

2006-10-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Penny Boivin

Registered voters who used a simple visual imagery technique picturing themselves voting were more likely to follow through and vote the following day, a study finds.

In order to boost the number of ASU students voting I have designed a survey based on the research model with questions similar to those asked Ohio residents in 2004:

1, How personally important is it to you to vote on November 7.?

a) very important

b) somewhat important

c) I don’t think it makes a difference.

2. How much would your vote make a difference?

a) It would make a big difference.

b) It would only make a little difference.

c) Other people would just vote the same way

3. How much would you regret it if you did not vote and your candidate lost?

a) Very important

b) Important

c) Neutral

d) Not important

How likely is it that you will vote if there is a 20 minute wait at the polls?

a) I will vote for sure as I have my early ballot!

b) I will vote, because it is important.

c) I will probably vote.

d) I will probably get discouraged.

Take a few minutes and picture yourself going into the polls, filling out your ballot, casting your early or voting machine ballot, and picking up your ‘I Voted’ sticker.

Congratulations! You have just voted!

This could be at tables for people to use or as part of an online survey. Hopefully this study will be replicated at ASU!

The Pacific Ocean's- Bald Spot

2006-10-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

A location the size of the Mediterrian Sea lacks sediment. This sediment or plankton is missing from this location. Scientist believe because of lack of nutrients within the Pacific Ocean in this location, no sediment or plankton collects here. The location is thousands of miles east of New Zealand. The area is called the South Pacific Bare Zone,

Scientists are excited about the discovery, because this location will make studying the ocean floor must easier. I think that students forget how difficult it is to study the ocean floor from this article I think that students may have a great idea how vastly large the ocean really is.

Beth

10-19

2006-10-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of the articles for this week, because the ones I had chosen before were not really as meaningful or personable as I would have liked to find how to use it in my classroom. Therefore, for this week, I wanted to talk about how using a Math/Science Blog in my classroom, or as a journal idea would be beneficial. I think by using this idea in my classroom, it would make the students more aware of hte world around them, as well as what is happening around them. I think it is a good idea to get their outlooks on what is happening in the world of Math and Science.

The impact of fishing on fish populations

2006-10-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

LINK: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018150746.htm

CLASSROOM USE: This is a good article to discuss the role of people in the food web with middle or high school students. It describes a study that was done on the impact of fishing on changes in fish populations. Basically what it found is that targeted fishing species have more radical population changes than non-targeted species. In the end, this makes the fished populations more vulnerable to environmental changes. This can lead to a good discussion on the role of human beings in the food web, as well as the impacts we may have. Are we taking too much? What impacts might this have on other species? How could this impact people in the future? Also, if we know we're having an impact, is there something we can do about it?

Energizing Classrooms

2006-10-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Alternative_Energy/2006_April_and_May/Sprouts_and_Snippets_Green_Gazette

This article was based on a high school in Colorado where students are learning about energy policy and alternative sources of power from award-winning teacher Matthew Brown. He was named 2005’s Renewable Energy Teacher of the Year by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Brown thinks this kind of curriculum will affect future consumers, inventors and policymakers. “Education is the easiest way to create change, and we obviously need to change the way we think about our energy future,” he said. This article would be great to use in the high school setting to show the importance of finding news ways of making power. This would be a great topic to use for a science fair project.

Here We Go Again!

2006-10-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20061018-14363900-bc-us-mathscores.xml

This article suggest that we, US, are a nation that has fallen way behind in math scores compared to the rest of the world. This article failed to mention how the US was measured or how we can improve. It did state that the Japanese use real world scenarios, which is also what the US also uses and yet are lacking the skills needed to keep up. Somehow the key concepts are not being learned by our students.

A Sweet Advance in Candy Packing

2006-10-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20040218/Note3.asp

This article would be interesting for students to read. I think that it would open up discussion for 3-D solids. Students could talk about the shapes and the properties of the individual shapes. It would spark students to talk about vocabulary and validate their understanding of 3-D objects. Teachers could also give students the different spheres and squished spheres to do some discovery activities.
This article also brings up the discussion of percentages. Teachers can help students see how these percentages relate to the article.

Eating Troubles

2006-10-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Eating troubles is an article about how more teens are facing eating disorders more than ever before. 10 million teens girls, and 1 million teen aged boys have an eating disorder. The article also described how over eating is a problem for our teenagers today.

More needs to be done, to educate students about healthy eating. They need to understand how much is the right amount. I think that families are busier and busier, and finding time to eat is making people eat the wrong things. I know for myself, that when we are busy I find myself eating things that I should not be eating. As a society we need to find health alternatives, and educate students on the importance of eating healthy.

Beth

Mating Slows Down Prairie Dogs

2006-10-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061018/Note2.asp

Under the laws of natural selection predators usually kill off the slow and the weak. This removes undesirable genes form a population. However, a 10 year study on a group of prairie dogs in Utah is proving otherwise. During the prairie dogs short mating season male prairie dogs are to distracted with the mating process that they are often killed easily by predators. This new discovery shows that sometimes the "strongest" that survive may also be the smartest.

Universal HIV Testing

2006-10-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Many doctors are now pushing for universal HIV testing when routine blood is samples are evaluated. Many in the science community believe that this is the only way to prevent the spread of HIV. 250,000 people are infected with HIV and do not realize it until it is in its final stages. During this time the disease is spread unknowingly. Others, however, believe that universal testing is a violation of rights. I would use articles like these to debate. Students need to be taught how to express their options in a logical way.

And Now, The Weather: Complex Meteorology On Venus

2006-10-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061013202034.htm

Classroom Use:
This article could be used to discuss with elementary students how scientists are continually studying our solar system to gain more information. Discussion could include examining the composition of the atmospheres of various planets in the solar system. Also included in the discussion could be vocabulary from the passage. Words such as meteorology, atmosphere, complex, terrestrial, and more.

Teen questioned for online Bush threats

2006-10-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/myspace_bush_threat;_ylt=ArKlTYbAinixNrKJI7n4nMAjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-
Classroom Use: This article can be used in two different ways. In technology it can be used to demonstrate how people can now communicate there ideas and feeling on there own personal web pages. The next is a civics lesson that now we are even censored on the internet and that our freedoms in speech are coming under attach on the world wide web.

British Library to store 'blog' of lives of Britons: report

2006-10-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061014/tc_afp/britainhistoryinternet;_ylt=AqfZLWHVT1yNyrRHb3xuEEojtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-
Classroom Use: This is a very interesting article regarding a new way to use blogging. The British are using the technology journal writing of blogging to make a time capsule. This could be done in the classroom just as easily.

The Parasite and the Prfume

2006-10-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Parasitic plans are apparently attracted to their host plants by the aroma their host emits. The dodder or cuscuta pentagona attaches itself to its host plant’s stem and extracts its fluids and sugars . It is attracted to asparagus, beet, carrot, eggplant, garlic, onions, pepper, potato, and sweet potato. It looks like a desert cactus in a in a picture in the article. The plant is called salicoma. The smell of certain noxious substances repels it. It grows away from them I would use this article while talking about character How a good character is like a perfume and attracts others, while the affect of a bad character is like breathing polluted air.

I wanted to add to my blog of two weeks ago about ten minutes after I wrote it, At the time the edit sign was still on but it would not take my attempt to add it to my blog. I wanted to impress upon the students that all life is necessary o this planet and how we can not afford to have our ocean nutrition dye out as it provides neceassary minerals for life .

The Black Hole and the Milky Way

2006-10-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060110230324.htm

This article is about the study of Astronomy and Black Holes here in the Milky Way Galaxy. Scientist feel that due to the makeup of this massive black hole, creation of new life should be non-exsistent. However, astronomers say that new young stars are also beginning to develop in the area, which is something that should not happen. Scientists say that the key to this could unlock a large mystery about the universe.

I think that this article would be very relevant to science students, because the world, especially space, is such a fascinating place to explore, and as we have been seeing here recently, with the "removing of planetary status", etc. it is constantly changing and evolving.

Articles like this are what makes Science an interesting thing to study.

Testing Everyone for HIV

2006-10-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/20061003.html

The CDC and a host of other agencies are recommending testing everyone from age 13-64 for the HIV. There are more than 250,000 people that are infected with the HIV virus and they do not find out until it has developed into AIDS. At the present time you must give consent to be tested for the virus, however they are proposing an "oup out" clause if you do not want to be tested for the HIV. As a 6th grade teacher I have to teach human growth and development, this article can help students understand the severity of the problem.

Don't Sniff Those Flowers too close, They Might Bite Back

2006-10-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

http://whyfiles.org/shorties/216plants_smell/

This article discusses plants that sole existence is to feed on other plants. These are known as parasites. These parasitic plants have a unique way of locating their hosts, with a sense of smell. I thought that this was a strange article, especially at this time of the season, and I think that science teachers and students to be interested in learning about the ways that "Predator" plants, hunt and locate their "Prey" similar to animals. There is even a small video clip that shows just how these parasitic plants seek out and make contact with their hosts. Pretty cool

week of 10-12

2006-10-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

This article speaks about the amount of math that is being taught and questioning the methods in which teachers are using to teach it. The article talks about how doctors and lawyers have continued training and how teachers should have it to for a technical subject such as math. I do agree with the article, that hte "downward spiral" of students learning math, or lack there of should be taken care of one way or another. I am sure that there is someway that works and that will solve the problem, but I think that the US is no where near this solution. Students are becoming more leared helpless that I think is a large contribution to the decline in passing grades in schools today.

I am not sure how I could use this in my classroom, but it would be a good topic of dicussion at hte AZ education dept.

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny.....

2006-10-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/little_red_spot.html

This article discusses the new reddish spot on the planet Jupiter. It discusses a brand new, developing storm on the largest planets surface. Scientists have been able to use the new hubble telescope to watch the storm on the planets surface actual develop and grow in strength and dimension. To scientist this is an extreme benefit, because they can use this to study weather patterns on other celestial bodies. I think this would be beneficial to science teachers and students because they can develop a further understanding of what happens in space and on other planets.

Sticky Silky Feet

2006-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

LINK: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061011/Note3.asp

CLASSROOM USE: This is a good article to use with middle to upper elementary students in a study of animals, adaptions, and evolution. The recent discovery that spiders can spin small threads from their feet to assist in walking up and down objects demonstrates the on-going nature of science. It gives itself well to looking at the scientific process that led to the discovery. What was the problem? What was the test? What were the variables? A further discussion on why spiders adapted to be able to spin webs from their abdomen could lead to a number of new questions, putting the students in the role of scientist.

A Change In Climate

2006-10-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20041208/Feature1.asp

Classroom Use: This was a good article to read, but I found that I really could not use this in my class of Kindergarten students. It could be used in a 5th grade class or higher to discuss the effects of global warming due to the rise in temperatures of the past 100 years. Biologists and ecologists are discovering that climate change is forcing some plants and animals into new habitats. As the earth is heating, plant life and animals are relocating to higher areas to find relief in temperatures. The article states that; “many scientists say that human activities, such as burning coal, oil, and other fossil fuels, are largely to blame. These activities release heat-trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. The more these gases accumulate in the atmosphere, the hotter things get on Earth.” This would be a great introduction into a critical thinking activity on how we can help avoid “global warming”.

Plant Thief

2006-10-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061004/Note3.asp

Classroom Use: Until I read this article, I had never heard of a dodder plant. I found this very interesting that a plant grows for the simple reason to feed off of other plants. My class takes an introductory look at how a plant grows and the parts of a plant and this article would be great to share with students to compare and contrast how most plants grow verses how the dodder plant grows. Most seeds grow because they are given water and sunlight, and the reason the dodder plant grows is because it seeks out other plants, based on their scent, latches on to that plant, and feeds off of it and uses its water source. I think my students would enjoy learning about this type of plant. It would certainly make for some interesting conversations.

If only bones could speak

2006-10-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

A set of bones was found in Asia, they were found to be 1.8 million years old. The scientists were proving that these ancestors were able to speak to one another from their bone structure. They were able to prove another theory found in Kenya, where a bone structure 1.6 million years old that was unable to speak. They proved the boy was unable to speak because his spine was undeveloped completely, because of lack of nutrition. He would have been able to speak, if he were healthy.

This article is a great way to prove to students that science is always trying to find new theories. Students can read this article and understand that science is an on going process that is always changing.

Beth Fairbanks

10-5

2006-10-05T20:34:00.001-07:00

Using Chords for Geometry...

I really liked the idea of this article, but I found that if the kids don't read music it would be hard to use. However, after a little tweaking, it would be good to use the paper folding to look at the characteristics of geometric shapes. It would be a good way to give the kids a hands on experience with geometry. it will also provide a way for the kids to be really engaged.

Plants stealing food and water

2006-10-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20061004/Note3.asp

This article explains the life and times of a dodder plant. The cool thing is that the plant grows its vines and leaves in the direction of another plants based on scent. I am going to be starting a unit about plants and their environments. This will be a great addition to our class discussions and projects.

Science Daily: Math News

2006-10-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060926104459.htm

I was inerested in this atricle as a way to faciliate a discussion about how math impacts every day life. Math is everywhere. I was just telling a parent about algebra and told her that math is everywhere but not in the forms we learn in class.

Rising Temperatures and Trout Habitat Loss

2006-10-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

LINK: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061004151301.htm

CLASSROOM USE: This is a good article to discuss the local effects of global warming. The article presents a couple different scenarios based on 3 models of global warming which show that trout in the Southern Appalachians will lose their habitats. One of the first things to look at is that this article only discusses how much the temperature will go up, not if it will. This gets the class started looking at both the effects of global warming as well as possible solutions. Also important to note is that while each year shows a very small increase, those increases add up over time, creating a significant change. While this article focuses on what will happen to the trout population, it provides a great springboard to look at how people and the environment could be affected by the loss of the trout. What economic effects would there be? What damage to the ecosystem?

Math and Science in the Daily News

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Math, Podcast from the Ozarks

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Global Warming is Killing Marine Life?

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Hearts of Croc's

Snowflakes and Avalanches

New type of slow earthquake detected

Wayback.....Presidents and their secret history

Fatty Foods

Science Biographies

Origami and Math

National Geographic People and Places

Earth and Moon Viewer

Alaska Volcano Observatory

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Putting the Squeeze on Toothpaste

Math of the World

Astronomers discuss opportunities from planned return to moon

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Interactive Weather

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Math of the World

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Project Music

Ants on stilts

The new basketball

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Blood Clots

Estimation

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Commercial Spaceflight

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Endangered Species

Mathematical Imagery

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Honeywell taking teacher scholarship applicationshttp://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1029edspace1029.html

Space Umbrellas to Shield Earth

Mechanical puzzles

Quantum Physics

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The Techo Divide Kathy's week 11 post

Holy Ozone Hole!

GPS Helps Measure Air pollution

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Teens using diet pills

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Students produce movies with cell phones

Google battles rivals in race to digitize the world's libraries

Internet Generation

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It's a Math World for Animals

Chronic Wasting

Living in the Desert

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Hangman

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Visual Imagery Technique Boosts Voting Study Finds

Visual Imagery Technique Boosts Voting Study Finds

The Pacific Ocean's- Bald Spot

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The impact of fishing on fish populations

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Honeywell taking teacher scholarship applications
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1029edspace1029.html