Call for entries for the 2008 Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge

Discovery Education and 3M are proud to partner with NASA for the 2008 Young Scientist Challenge. Currently in its 10th year, the YSC encourages the exploration of science among America’s youth and promotes the importance of science communication at a critical age when interest in science begins to decline.

The challenge sponsors are looking for a few great students and teachers who can inspire others with their enthusiasm for science and their ability to communicate. What does it take to be America's Top Young Scientist or America's Top Science Teacher? Students in grades 5-8 and teachers of grades K-12 are being asked to create a short (1-2 minute) video about one of this year's scientific topics, which all relate to this year's theme, “The Science of Space.” Participants should enter their videos online and will become eligible to win a trip to Washington, D.C., in the fall to compete in the YSC finals at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Science teachers who are interested in participating must be members of the Discovery Educator Network. Becoming a member is easy and registration is free. To become a member, visit http://community.discoveryeducation.com/about/become_discovery_educator.

Video topics and registration information can be found online at http://youngscientist.discoveryeducation.com/

Videos will be accepted through June 15, 2008. Finalists will be announced this summer, and the competition finals will take place Oct. 4-7, 2008.

For more information, log-on to http://youngscientist.discoveryeducation.com/ Questions about the competition may be sent to YSC@discovery.com.

CONCURSO DE FOTOGRAFÍA

El "Institute for Global Environmental Strategies" está auspiciando un concurso titulado "Earth Day Photo Contest" para estudiantes de escuelas intermedias. Se les pide a los estudiantes interesados que tomen una fotografía de algo que está cambiando su ambiente local. Deben de tomar esta fotografía entre el Martes, 22 de abril y el Martes 29 de abril. El cambio puede estar ocurriendo en el patio de la casa del estudiante, afuera de la escuela, en un parque de su comunidad o en algún sitio lejano.

Los participantes deben de investigar y escribir una explicación del cambio que se ha documentado en la fotografía. La explicación debe contestar las siguientes interrogantes:

a. ¿Cuál es el cambio que se ve en la fotografía?
b. ¿Qué pudiera estar ocasionando este cambio?
c. ¿Se esperaba este cambio?
d. ¿Cómo podría afectar el cambio las áreas alrededor al mismo, a la gente?
e. ¿Cómo crees que se vería el área si se fotografiara en el futuro?

El concurso está abierto a todos los estudiantes de escuelas en los Estados Unidos que estén cursando en grados del qinto al octavo.

Las fotos y la explicación de lo documentado deben ser recibidos o tener el mata-sellos del correo en o antes del 9 de mayo del 2008.

Si algún estudiante que esté interesado en competir necesitara ayuda escribiendo su informe en el idioma inglés, puede contactarme escribiendo un correo electronico a puschwarz@aol.com....

POR FAVOR, NO DEJE DE COMPETIR SI SÓLO EL IDIOMA ES SU OBSTÁCULO


For more information about the contest and how teachers can use it in the classroom, visit http://www.strategies.org/EarthDayPhoto. If you have questions about the contest, please e-mail your inquiries to info@strategies.org.

Applications Available for Lunar and Planetary Institute 2008 Field-Based Workshop

"Floods and Flows: Exploring Mars Geology on Earth ," a NASA-sponsored workshop for educators, will be held July 13-19, 2008. Spend the week with planetary scientists visiting the site of ancient Glacial Lake Missoula and tracing its flood waters through Montana, Idaho and into Washington. From these field experiences and accompanying classroom activities, participants will build an understanding of surface processes on Earth, including water flow, volcanism, glaciation and sedimentation. Attendees will extend their understanding to interpret what the features on the surface of Mars suggest about the past environments and history of the Red Planet.

The experience will be divided between the field and lab, where participants work with classroom-tested, hands-on inquiry-based activities and resources that can be used to enhance Earth and space science teaching in the classroom. Participants receive lesson plans, supporting resources and presentations.

Applications are due April 7, 2008.

For more information about the workshop and to submit an application online, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fieldtrips/2008/floods20081st.shtml Questions about the workshop may be sent to bnelson@lpi.usra.edu.

Campamento de Verano para Maestros: Julio 14-20, 2008

Adjunto carta de invitación del Dr. Carlos Rios, Co-Director del Centro Hemisférico de Cooperación en Investigación y Educación en Ingeniería y Ciencia Aplicada para su campamento de verano 2008 para maestros del nivel 7-12:

El Centro Hemisférico de Cooperación en Investigación y Educación en Ingeniería y Ciencia Aplicada (CoHemis)del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez de la Universidad de Puerto Rico estará llevando a cabo el Campamento de Verano 2008 del 14 al 20 de julio de 2008 con el tema Aprendiendo Biotecnología en Equipo y a través de Investigación y Centros Interdisciplinarios.

El campamento tendrá un componente residencial, viajes a laboratorios de investigación, conferencias, talleres y un día de logros, donde los maestros y estudiantes compartirán sus experiencias presentando lo que han aprendido sobre Biotecnología. El campamento involucrará la participación de equipos educativos compuestos de estudiantes de escuela superior, estudiantes universitarios del Programa de Preparación de Maestros y graduados extranjeros, maestros locales e internacionales. El mismo es libre de costo y se proveerá alimentos
durante las actividades.

Como requisito para elegibilidad, los maestros deben tener (preferiblemente) una preparación en ciencias y ser maestros activos entre los grados 7‐12. Los interesados deberán llenar una solicitud de participación y enviar junto con la misma un sumario biográfico (SB), un resumen de no más de 250 palabras describiendo el impacto e interés de participación en el campamento y dos cartas de recomendación.

La solicitud está disponible pinchando en este enlace. La fecha límite para enviar los documentos será el lunes, 31 de marzo de 2008. Solicitudes incompletas y fuera de fecha no serán procesadas. De necesitar más información, favor de comunicarse a nuestra oficina al 787‐265‐6380 ó 787‐832‐4040 x‐2207,3755.

Fecha Límite: martes, 31 de marzo de 2008

Atención Maestros de todo nivel: Instituto Intensivo de Verano

The National Writing Project just celebrated 30 years of success and the Maya West Writing Project is starting in 2008. Based on the simple yet profound idea of teachers are the best teachers of teachers, the philosophy and instruction of the Writing Project has changed the way teachers instruct writing.

The MayaWest Writing Project will be hosting its first summer institute and is looking for a group of excellent expert teachers to begin the program. They will become the founding group for western Puerto Rico.

The MayaWest Writing Project's primary focus is on literacy, but we will work accross the disciplines to connect writing to learning with purposeful and engaged reading in all subject areas.

For more information or to apply or nominate someone you know, visit our website at http://mayawest.homestead.com/index.html

Oportunidad para Estudiantes de K-12

Exploravision Awards!

Designed for K–12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels, ExploraVision encourages kids to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. That's what ExploraVision is all about.

Since 1992, more than 220,000 students from across the United States and Canada have competed in ExploraVision. But this is much more than a contest. ExploraVision can be the beginning of a lifelong adventure in science, as students develop higher-order thinking skills and learn to think about their role in the future.

To learn how to enter this competition visit http://www.exploravision.org/how-to-enter/

For more information about Exploravision, visit http://www.exploravision.org/

CONCURSO DE ARTE: Estudiantes de 2-4 grado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2007

IGES 12th Annual Art Contest for Children in Grades 2-4
€ Theme: ''The Ocean: From Top to Bottom!''
€ Entries Due: Oct. 26, 2007
Arlington, Va.--What do you see when you picture the ocean? Waves crashing onto a sandy beach? Dolphins leaping out of and into the water? A sailboat or large ship floating in the distance?

These are probably the kinds of images that come to mind. Yet, there¹s more to the ocean than what¹s going on at the surface. There¹s a whole world of water, plants and animals below.

An art contest for grades 2-4 challenges students to explore the ocean from top to bottom and then draw a picture showing what they learned. This is the 12th annual art contest held by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, Va. The contest supports national science education standards for grades K-4.

The winning artist will receive a $250 savings bond, and his or her artworkz1 will be printed as the 2007 IGES greeting card. Second- and third-place winners receive a $100 and $50 savings bond, respectively. Everyone who sends in an entry will receive a certificate of participation. Artwork will be judged by a panel including artists, scientists and IGES staff members.

Entries are due Oct. 26, 2007.

New for 2007 Contest! -- Lockheed Martin Corporation is generously funding the development and printing of a 2008 calendar featuring the top 12 entries in this art contest. The students whose artwork is featured in this calendar will each receive copies of the calendar; their teachers will also receive calendars.

For more information, including contest rules and entry form, interesting ocean facts, lesson plans and activities, and a listing of recommended books and Web sites, please visit: http://www.strategies.org/ArtContest

Located in Arlington, Va., IGES was established in 1994 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by public and private entities. IGES is a trusted leader in Earth and space science education, communication and outreach, and in fostering national and international cooperation in observing the Earth.

CONTACT Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
(703) 312-7138 (Phone)
(703) 312-8657 (FAX)
Email: dan_stillman@strategies.org