Signs of Spring and Journey North

This morning on a short walk (nearby, with just my dogs), I noticed tulips and daffodils starting to bloom.   Their bright colors reminded me of one of my all-time favorite sites for Citizen Science.  Journey North is a wonderful resource that focuses on migratory behaviors of animals large and small (literally gray whales to hummingbirds), and plant life cycles as well.  It has a fabulous collection of maps, reporting prompts, and activities for families, classes, and communities.  You can report when you see tulips emerging and blooming, butterflies migrating through your neighborhood, or birds of prey returning to nesting sites.   It teaches geography, global climate and planting zones, and all kinds of lessons in migration.   There is a section for educators and that is all of us!

https://journeynorth.org/
https://maps.journeynorth.org/map/?map=tulips-spring&year=2020

This picture was taken a few years ago...it's a beautiful day today!!

STEM Kits that are Out of this World!

I don't have any stock in this company, but it's been one of my go-to gifts for family members for years.  KiwiCo makes monthly STEM kits for all ages, and each box comes with a building activity or all the simple tools to do science, engineering, and math. 

https://www.kiwico.com/

Today I received a few examples from my niece who uses these kits to support her curious children.  The materials are copyrighted, of course, so I will just include a few snapshots of some of the experiments that families can do together. 

KiwiCo has added a new section for all the parent-teachers and supporters leading the charge at home.  I love that they have included free resources for families about health, resilience, and learning. 

https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home

I grew up on Ranger Rick and Highlights magazines, and there was something so exciting about receiving the new issues in the mail.  Many years have passed, but it's still an awesome time to have an invitation to discover arrive in your mailbox every month!

Exploring City of Rocks and Castle Rocks State Park virtually with the Junior Ranger Program

Last month, I visited Castle Rocks State Park near my home and went for a snowshoeing adventure.  I met Kate, a new Ranger in charge of Visitor services, including educational programs.  She has invited kids K-6 to watch a series of YouTube videos that will help them participate in the Junior Ranger program.  For years, we did that program with our kids during our regular visits to Yellowstone National Park, and I am excited to support our local National Reserve and State Park again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhQKe_AhXL4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2pRnLxEKN-hOLAMWh8p_BOFaUQ_tvCymOUja8_jhFTJXx15izkBu0wb34

"Junior Rangers! Join City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park Rangers over the next few weeks as we virtually explore the natural and historic resources of the parks. Each week we will be exploring different subjects and doing activities that you can follow along with at home.

Like us and subscribe on YouTube to make sure you don't miss any of our videos. Questions, comments, and suggestions for future videos can be posted to Facebook or YouTube."

Kool Aid Play Dough and Squishy Circuits

When my kids were little, I was taught by amazing friends how to make cool things in the kitchen.  Frankly, that has continued for 20 years.  But one of my favorite recipes was Kool Aid playdough.  We would make huge batches in a variety of colors/flavors, then play an adapted game of Pictionary using the clay to make the words.   You can find recipes online, so I am including my original recipe card because it brings me joy!

Now I make different clay recipes for science/circuitry activities because of Squishy Circuits.  I have posted about that resource before, and the tools and products are way more extensive now, but the fundamental ideas are the same.  Kids can learn about currents and energy using homemade playdough.   Check out their website!   This science activity is a hit with all ages!

"Good energy is contagious"

https://squishycircuits.com/

STEM @ Home with Idaho STEM Action Center

You may not be aware of how much good the Idaho STEM Action Center does for teachers and students in our state.  They offer grants, training, and partnerships in all things STEM.  They took over iSTEM workshops, and each summer hundreds of teachers receive amazing training with experts at 6 different college sites.

They have added the STEM @ Home section to their resources page.  Check out free activities that are meant for home-based exploration.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

Rachel Carson

https://resources.stem.idaho.gov/

Another great visit with Migrant Summer School students

Friday was a fun day with the young kids at Cassia's migrant summer program.  Since the students were younger, and their English language skills are still developing, we focused on the basics of the scientific process.  Their questions were great, and then we did some activities to strengthen their observation skills.   During their micro scavenger hunt, we searched outside for different colors, textures, and items that they brought in to classify.  Finally, we used the animal cards to talk about living and nonliving things, and food chains and webs.

The teachers are so great with these kids, and I am grateful that we have dedicated professionals willing to spend time with students throughout the summer months.

Pomerelle Star Party and Christ's Indian Paintbrush

We decided to make this date night and we weren't disappointed!   Chris Anderson from the CSI Herrett Center gave a great presentation on astronomy and celestial events!   While the sun was setting,  we could see clear shots of the crescent moon and Venus.  Then Don and I decided to drive up to the summit of Mt. Harrison and see the wildflowers in bloom.  Christ's Indian Paintbrush (rhymes with mist) is only found on 200 acres on this mountain.   It is beautiful!   Now back to Pommy to gaze at more stars!  So glad we came!

Saturn really has rings,  a dragon's tail is found between the Big and Little Dippers, the Garnet star is the most red star we can see with our naked eyes, and light years are mind blowing!

21st Century Grant Teaching Day

The summer science fun continues as I spent some time with teachers and students in Twin Falls.  They have partnered with CSI to coordinate a summer school program full of STEM activities!    My topic for the day was FOOD so we focused on food chains, webs, energy transfers in an ecosystem, and my favorite...dissecting owl pellets!  The students were amazed to find so many bones in each pellet, and they better understood the role that predators play in the environment.  Thanks to a great team of CSI faculty that provided 2 weeks worth of science for these great kids!  Partnerships with K12 schools benefit kids of all ages and I am grateful to be involved. 

Summer is a time for SCIENCE unplugged!!

I have been involved with some great activities with local kids this past week.  CSI Science Camp teachers hosted the Food, Fit, and Fun in the Park program for 130 kids and their parents in Burley.  The theme for the summer reading program is Fizz, Boom, Read, and we focused on Science and the Arts.  Our stations included da Vinci and his flying machine, colors, and the water cycle.  I appreciate the teachers and other sponsors like the 4H clubs and library volunteers.  It was a great day!

 

We made paper helicopters under a maple tree.  The samaras were great examples of perfectly adapted flyers in nature!  And they make great mustaches!

 

Harmony Boxes for Idaho Science

I saw a version of these boxes a few years ago when I traveled to UI for a FIRST robotics competition.  We took the kids from Declo to Ed's lab and it was a great opportunity to be at ground zero for future projects.  I know my friend Angela from BHS is using this tool to teach ecology.  We have such cool connections in Idaho!

  http://www.uiargonaut.com/2013/11/18/education-through-harmony/

In Honor of Darwin Day

This looks like an AMAZING lecture available at ISU this Thursday night.  It fits right in with what we are covering in Biology class right now...unfortunately, I will be teaching that night!  Should I cancel class??

On Thursday February 7th at 7:00 pm, in the College of Education Auditorium, Education Building Room 243

The Idaho Museum of Natural History and the ISU Chapter of Sigma Xi present:

"Recent Rapid Human Evolution: Some Implications for the Humanities and the Sciences"
by Dr. Henry Harpendig.

Silver Creek Preserve Float Trip

Days like these need to be documented and shared!  Not that it matters on this blog, but I do have a NEW full-time job with CSI!  I am thrilled!  So today I was fortunate enough to travel to the Hailey Campus in the Sun Valley area for a department meeting.  After lunch, we headed to the Silver Creek Preserve, a Nature Conservancy property, and I got to kayak  and canoe with some wonderful people.  Great Day after a crazy week with iSTEM and training.  Can't wait to bring my family here.  A certain husband was jealous because this preserve is world famous for fly-fishing!  The fish were huge!  Enjoy your weekend!  Get out there!!

iSTEM at CSI in the news!

State Pushes for Better Science, Math Education

It has been a great week with our teachers.  Our strand was called the Chemistry of Green Energy.  We taught the processes of Science using the black box, then we did lots of chromatography experiments.  We hit a tour of the Environmental Technology Program with the brand new trailer, we did fermentation, distillation, and extracted biodiesel.  We had fun in a very nerdy kind of way.  Megan, Ross, and I love iSTEM and we think the teachers do too!  Register next year by March 1!!

Idaho 8th Grade Science Scores

I will take all the good news I can find about Science trends in Idaho.  My concern is that even though Idaho students did better than almost every other state in the NAEP in 2011, there was no improvement in their scores compared to 2009.  So there is still so much work to do.

http://educationidaho.blogspot.com/2012/05/idaho-students-continue-to-outpace.html

Moments with Dr. Jane Goodall

I had three separate opportunities to meet one of my heroes...Dr. Goodall.  At 14, my mom drove me to one of her speeches in Dallas and we went to a private reception so that I could meet her.  I never could have imagined that I would see her again just 3 years later when she came to dedicate our Ecology Center at GHS.  My teacher and mentor, Sherri Steward, was very influenced by Dr. Goodall and we were beyond thrilled when her travel plans allowed a visit to our school.  That began a partnership that allowed Sherri to travel to Africa to see the Jane Goodall Institute in action in Tanzania, and our school adopted a school there that led to the next visit by Dr. Goodall.  I traveled to TX for a special fundraiser and speech in 1992.  So the moral of this memory for me is that heroes are meant to be met, and when that happens, it is an honor to share their story and their purpose wherever our lives lead us.  Idaho is pretty far away from Africa and England and even Texas, but Dr. Goodall's message to mankind is as relevant here as anywhere else in the world.