Cassia Regional Tech Center Open House

On Thursday afternoon, the Tech Center in Burley is hosting an Open House for parents and students of Mini-Cassia.  From 4-7 PM, the teachers will be on hand to show off all the programs available to Juniors and Seniors in our District. Whether your student wants to learn CADD (like my son is doing right now...and earning 16 college credits as a result) or get training in EMT, CNA, Construction, Electronics, Graphic Design, IT,  Auto Mechanics, or Automated Manufacturing, this is a great resource for our community. 

I attended a field trip with the 8th graders last Friday, and I was reminded how awesome that Center is for our students.  Students have to plan for these classes, since they take the place of 2 classes in a regular school day, but it has been totally worth it for my son.  It is a great way to get more "T" in a STEM education.

The Electronics Class builds VEX Robots

The Automated Manufacturing class designs and builds cool stuff!

EMT Basic students practice on a lucky 8th grader

Updated: White House Science Fair Today

This looked like a great event at the White House this week.  Science Fair Projects give students the opportunity to investigate, work together, and find solutions to real problems.  Here are some links with information.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/10/18/robots-solar-cars-and-rockets-white-house-science-fair

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/07/how-you-can-join-white-house-science-fair-virtually

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/07/white-house-science-fair-recognizing-importance-scientists-engineers-and-inventors

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UPDATED: Cassia Science Fair Links

Science Fair season is here in the Mini-Cassia area.  I will publish a series of posts focused on helping students, parents, and teachers with the projects that are being assigned at a number of elementary schools.

OK...all you need is sciencebuddies.org to get some ideas.  There are places on that site for parents, teachers, and even students to explore.  For older students, you can "Ask an Expert" and get advice from practicing scientists.  Awesome!
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

Another favorite site is coolscience.org, and when you go there, they have another great resource available.  More links!
http://www.rntobsn.net/resources/great-science-links-for-kids/

Another favorite...ZOOM on PBS kids  http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/

There are almost too many places to search for ideas, so my advice is to follow the packet that will be passed out to students, and choose a topic that they love.  Then look for ideas.  Remember the goal is to have fun learning something new by doing an experiment.  Science fair projects are NOT reports, but the more you know about your topic, the better your experiment will be.  Good luck!!

Free Smithsonian Water Webinars

The Snake River is the lifeblood of Southern Idaho, so this Webinar Series will be a great fit for my Environmental Science curriculum, as well as all the presentations I do for the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

FREE webinar series: "Water Matters," the topic of the 2012 Shout environmental education program.

Talk with Smithsonian scientists and experts sharing their scientific, historical and artistic perspectives on this critical natural resource. Webinars will be broadcast from the Smithsonian's Washington, D.C., complex as well as its field research centers. Get lesson plans, hands-on activities and project ideas and help your students earn recognition for their exploration through a digital Smithsonian Badges program. Connect with other teachers and students and take action to preserve our environment.

Participate on your own or with your students. Join the teacher preview sessions to get tips and ideas before the webinars, which run Feb. 7-8, March 26-27, and May 16-17.

Give your students a voice in environmental issues. Sign up to participate today!

Shout is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft Partners in Learning, and TakingITGlobal. More at www.shoutlearning.org.

Stay Connected:
Twitter: twitter.com/shoutlearning
Facebook: facebook.com/shoutlearning

Big Miracle Movie...trip down memory lane...

In the same week, 2 movies have been released that took place in 1988-89, my Senior Year of High School. (See ABC Space Camp Post) This story brings back great memories of the Biology classroom where I LIVED!  My mentor, Sherri Steward-Ganz, would tell us about the whales each day in class (I was her aide by that time).  We were busy building an Ecology Center that year, but I have pictures of these whales in my yearbook...she drew them of course.  Teachers have such influence over their students, and I try each day to share my passion with my students that Sherri shared with me.  Sadly, I have lost track of my friend.  Where are you?  I have so much to tell you!  Until then, my readers can read a little about your adventures...

http://www.everybodyloveswhales.com/

http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/f03/taste.htm

STEM in the News...Girl Scout Power!

I appreciated this segment on ABC news yesterday that highlighted the efforts by the Girl Scouts of America to promote STEM activities.  They are learning to be "smart cookies!"  I loved the lessons I learned as a Brownie and Girl Scout...and of course I still have my uniform!  Thanks for keeping it safe, Mom!

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/girl-scouts-usa-celebrates-100-years-15478651

Birding Lecture at CSI Thursday night

BIRDING WEST OF WALLACE'S LINE

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

7:00 pm

Shields 201, College of Southern Idaho

Join Prairie Falcon Audubon for another fabulous presentation by Chuck Trost, retired professor of ornithology at ISU. Last February Dr. Trost undertook what he describes "as a pilgrimage to chase one of my heros, Alfred Russell Wallace. Wallace was the father of biogeography, and in 1858, while suffering from malaria fever, he penned a letter to Darwin describing natural selection as the mechanism for evolution of new species. It must have blown Charlie's mind, as he got off his rear and published Origin of Species the next year." Dr. Trost is a world-class birder, educator, and adventurer and I guarantee that you will enjoy your evening with him!