Why aren't all science theories taught like this? (video)

If only...



I love this!

And if you liked that, you'll also like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtItBX1l1VY

Franklin Library: Museum of Science - Science Magic

Summer Program: Museum of Science "Science Magic"

Science Magic

Franklin Public Library - 118 Main Street Franklin MA 02038 - 508.520.4940

In the News: science fair, veterans breakfast

Franklin teen wins state science fair

In a project that won first prize at a state science fair earlier this month, local teenager Dylan Martin sought to document the effects controlled doses of "alarm" pheromones have on red harvester ants.

In Franklin, a ritual of remembrance

Veterans Agent Bob Fahey led nearly 100 people in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday at the annual Memorial Day breakfast.

Good Reads: keeping pace, Keller science

KEEPING PACE

Running is like anything else in life: you have to pace yourself. For a runner, this is the most critical skill that one can learn.  Without a proper pace, the initial excitement, adrenaline and crowd surge of a race will give way to heavy limbs, clumsy feet and whole body exhaustion, among other more dangerous things.  And with today being the 117^th anniversary of the Boston Marathon, on no day is this counsel more appropriate.

Keller Elementary School Science Night

A wonderful series of hands-on science nights are held each year at the Keller Elementary School in Franklin, MA.  Sponsored by the Keller Parent Communication Council (PCC) and staffed by volunteer PCC members, the Science Nights show how hard the PCC works to augment the curriculum at Keller Elementary.  The Keller PCC makes a real difference in the lives of Keller students!

The science of NFL Football

The Library at Dean College has started publishing a blog. Their most recent post shares a series of videos produced by NBC on the "Science of NFL Football". Just because the Super Bowl has officially ended the season doesn't mean there is no more football!

Queue the videos!

You can find the series of 10 short (about 3-4 minute) videos here:
http://www.nbclearn.com/nfl

They don't provide a way to embed the video so you will need to follow the link. For school teachers to leverage this for their classes, there is a way to login via Blackboard and download the videos for free.


Links:

The Dean College Library blog:  http://deancultureconnect.wordpress.com/

The Dean College Library post on the football videos
http://deancultureconnect.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/the-science-of-nfl-football/

The Science of NFL Football series
http://www.nbclearn.com/nfl


These videos and more are also available at http://science360.gov/files/ (search for "football"). Note I did not have success in actually viewing the videos on this site. They seemed to take forever 'loading'.

"step out of your comfort zone"

The Nautilus embarked on its expedition in July. With remotely operated vehicles, the scientists on board study the seafloor, collecting geological and biological specimens. High-definition cameras document their work and broadcast it in real time via www.nautiluslive.org. 

Durkin boards the Nautilus as part of the JASON Project, which brings students and teachers together for field research adventures. He said it aims to attract children to science through hands-on experiences in the field. 

"It’s such a different level for kids to see and feel those experiences," he explained. "It really makes science real."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1405828542/A-Franklin-mans-Mediterranean-adventure#ixzz24AfUvwj8

In the News: Jordan Hall, field trip

Franklin teens to perform at Jordan Hall Sunday, May 6

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin students raise funds for field trip

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Would you like to dream?

Spend a few minutes (about 20 actually) to view this video and see the story of three young women and their exploration of science played out.

In 2011, three young women swept the top prizes of the first Google Science Fair. At TEDxWomen Lauren Hodge, Shree Bose and Naomi Shah described their extraordinary projects-- and their route to a passion for science.

They all were driven by passion and determination. They all succeeded despite lots of rejections.

"Tri-County is the only high school in the Northeast to be chosen"

Last summer, Tri-County's engineering program was selected by MIT to participate in the NASA HUNCH program, in which students come up with real-world products to be used on space shuttles. With the help of an MIT faculty member, they hope to put their inventions to the test on a zero gravity aircraft, or space simulator, in April. 

The school had worked with MIT on projects before and had a student co-op at the university, said Bakr. 

"Every year, students indicate an interest in aerospace engineering," said Bakr, who has taught at Tri-County for eight years. 

"Typical schools in the program propose one idea, instead we proposed four. NASA liked three of the ideas," he said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x2075767420/Can-astronauts-cook-scrambled-eggs-in-outer-space#ixzz1eFFg5xDf

FHS and HMMS students visit the US Army Natick Labs

“This is the U.S. Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. I know it’s a long name, but the most important word here is Soldier,” said Bulger, NSRDEC workforce development manager. “Everything we do here is to support the Soldier.” 

That is how Bulger greeted the 65 students assembled May 16 in Hunter Auditorium from Franklin (Mass.) High School and Franklin’s Horace Mann Middle School. About 40 high school students and 25 middle school students, accompanied by nine chaperones, divided into small groups to tour facilities on the installation. 

At each destination, an expert walked them through the lab, explained the basics of his or her job, answered questions, and provided a demonstration. Middle school children visited the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Lab, Sensory Lab, and Prototype Shop while high school students saw the Thermal Test Facility, Doriot Climatic Chambers, and Fiber Facility. 

The middle school kids really enjoyed the science experiments; one seventh grade student in particular was amazed by the MREs: “We had three-year-old cake! But it tasted the same as the other fresh cakes!” A fellow student commented: “The food stuff was really cool. I had never thought of doing this kind of job, but this visit definitely sparked my interest.” 

That’s what STEM visits are designed to do. Students are afforded the opportunity to glimpse what they could do in the future should they choose to pursue degrees in science, mathematics, education or technology. Students became scientists when they experimented here, while at the STEM Lab, students created mini bottle rockets, tested fabrics that repelled water, made silly putty, and performed chromatography tests.

Continue reading the remainder of the article on the US Army website here

Hey Mom, let's make some squishy circuits!

Looking for something to do and entertain the kids? Got play dough?
Stop at Radio Shack for some electrical parts and make some squishy circuits!

What? Watch, it is only a six minute video to get the idea.




For recipes and activities, visit the web site referenced as Anne Marie Thomas finishes her demo: Squishy Circuits

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video.


Franklin, MA

Math standards approved for state college admissions

This announcement adds a new factor to the recent discussion on reducing the math requirement to graduate from Franklin High. An action item for the School Committee meeting on March 29th is scheduled to vote on reducing the requirement to three years of math and science.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Math standards approved for state college admissions

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 3/25/11

The state's Board of Higher Education on Thursday adopted a new standard that students applying to public colleges and universities in the state must complete four years of high school mathematics.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

What kind of society would it be?

"An extraterrestrial being, newly arrived on Earth – scrutinizing what we mainly present to our children in TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, the comics and many books – might easily conclude that we are intent on teaching them murder, rape, cruelty, superstition and consumerism. We keep at it, and through constant repetition many of them finally get it. What kind of society would it be if, instead, we drummed into them science and a sense of hope?"

– Carl Sagan, Describing the World as It Is, Not as It Would Be, written for The Washington Post, January 9, 1994

This random quote came from the Wizard of Ads

Teacher Resources - Lab Out Loud

For science teachers and those interested in science, Lab Out Loud is a wonderful resource.

Why?
It highlights other good resources within the world of science.

For example: The Periodic Table of Videos hosted by the University of Nottingham



Enjoy!

Science Safety Initiative Presentation

Maureen Sabolinski introducing the science safety presentation. This comes out of the salmonella incident that occurred almost 2 years ago. They have done the study and work to make this happen.

Currently focused on science but will expand to other study areas, like art (due to the ipigment materials) over time.

Laboratory Safety Institute provided training (based in Natick).

Looked for "best practices" to ensure safe learning in the classroom environment. Can't learn if students or teachers are at risk. Need to avoid liability.

Web based document, with hotlinks, can be expanded as necessary to get to the details required. Includes links out to the relevant government regulations and guidelines.

Has an elementary section to cover the aspect of the elementary school curriculum as well.

Document organized by curriculum area as well as by the safety procedures.
The live version will be on the web. Each classroom will have a printed copy for reference.

Butterfly certification from gov't for 3 years to obtain, grow and release according to current procedures.

Obtained two mentors from MA-DEP to help provide advice on operations.

Partnership with US-EPA to obtain a free survey on science and laboratory operations.

Issue with fire blankets, regulations and safety advice have changed. No longer stop, drop, roll and cover with a blanket. With the newer material, the blanket may worsen the fire condition and help to adhere the material to the body. So the procedures have been changed.

"We're trying to leverage what we have for what we don't have."

Annie Sullivan: CSI Presentation (audio)

From the Franklin School Committee meeting on 4/29/08, students from the Annie Sullivan Middle School deliver a presentation. They used scientific methods in a CSI type format to solve a "crime" in one of the classrooms.

There is a video presentation that accompanies this but the audio is still sufficient to hear the enthusiasum of the students and their project.

Time: 9 minutes, 38 seconds



MP3 File