The deadline for applications for PLT’s second round of funding for this year is October 31, 2008. Visit http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/21_22_18.html for grant guidelines, and an application.

Schools, youth organizations, and other groups may apply online for a grant to implement a “learning-by-doing” environmental project that:

• partners PLT educators and their students with local businesses or community organizations
• combines academics with community service
• engages elementary through college-age students in active learning about the environment
• provides opportunities for student leadership.

.

Sample projects include, but are not limited to, outdoor classrooms and gardens, habitat restoration, watershed improvement, energy conservation. To view a list of the GreenWorks! projects previously funded, visit www.plt.org

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/starcount

This Windows to the Universe program is an international citizen-science event that encourages everyone, astronomers and non-astronomers alike, to measure their local light pollution and report their observations online. The Great World Wide Star Count, part of the Dark Skies Awareness cornerstone project for the upcoming International Year of astronomy, is designed to raise awareness about light pollution as well as encourage learning in astronomy. No prior experience is necessary–all information needed to participate is on the Star Count Web site, along with a downloadable activity guide available in eight languages. All observations will be available online via Google Earth and as downloadable datasets.

In 2007, people from 64 countries contributed more than 6,600 observations to the inaugural Star Count. In order to build momentum in for IYA in 2009, we are hoping to double our participation this year and need your help!

Please help us spread the word to your members, families, friends, and especially any teachers that you may know. Our downloads page also contains a half-page flyer that may be freely printed and distributed.

If you or your parent organization are interested or would like more information, please contact us at starcount_info@ucar.edu <mailto:starcount_info@ucar.edu>

Space Science Workshop for Teachers

Celebrate NASA¹s Kepler Mission and the International Year of Astronomy

Saturday, November 15, 2008

8:15 am 5:00 pm @ LASP

Join us for an exciting day of science and hands-on activities for middle school and high school science teachers. Dr. Jeff VanCleve will discuss the science behind NASA¹s Kepler Mission, which launches in March 2009.

Standards-based, classroom ready activities include: Human Orrery, Detecting Extrasolar Planets, Transit Tracks, and building a computer-interfaced transit model. Dr. Bill Possel will lead a tour of the NASA Mission Operations Facility at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).

Location: LASP Conference Room, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO

Each workshop participant will receive a complete transit model, which includes a LEGO orrery, Vernier light sensor, interface and graphing software, and lamp and light bulb, a $150 value. Lunch will be provided.

A letter verifying 8 hours of professional development can be provided.

Learn about NASA¹s Kepler Mission: http://Kepler.NASA.gov

This workshop is free! To register, visit:

http://lasp.colorado.edu/education/Kepler_workshop.html and click on ³Registration Form². You will receive an email confirmation. Note: Online registration will be available next week. Follow instructions on the webpage for early registration.

Questions?? Contact Erin Wood at Erin.Wood@lasp.colorado.edu or call (303)735-0962.

Jointly hosted by NASA¹s Kepler Education and Public Outreach Program at NASA Ames Research Center, SETI Institute, and UC Berkeley¹s Lawrence Hall of Science in collaboration with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation.

kepler_wksp

Exxon/Mobil Teachers’ Academy Mickelson

http://www.sendmyteacher.com/teachers_and_grown_ups.htm

ExxonMobil: Teachers Academy

 The 2009 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy offers a five-day program of camps in New Jersey, Texas, and Louisiana that is intended to provide selected elementary school teachers with information and skills needed to motivate students to pursue careers in science and math. Maximum award: an all-expense-paid five-day program in July 2009. Eligibility: third-through fifth-grade teachers in the United States. Deadline: Oct. 31, 2008.

If you are not able to access the link provided above, please go to:

http://www.sendmyteacher.com/ 

Please see notice of this upcoming climate change workshop.  We seek secondary science teachers and environmental educators. 

 Teaching Climate Change:  Impacts in Colorado

 October 17 – 19^th, 2008

Friday evening through Sunday noon

University of Colorado Mountain Research Station

 Who should attend:

Secondary science teachers and environmental educators who would like to learn more about the impacts of climate change in Colorado, and who want to know more about best practices in climate change education.

 What you’ll learn:

Participants will learn about the impact of climate change in Colorado from researchers in the field, tour research sites at the Mountain Research Station (MRS), learn how to identify common climate change misconceptions, and practice research-based climate change communications strategies.  Teachers will learn about exemplary curriculum resources and become aware of how climate science is aligned with Colorado Model Content Standards. 

 Registration and Logistics:

Participants will receive a $100 stipend upon completion of assignments.  Lodging at the Mountain Research Station, food and materials will be provided free of charge.  Credit from the University of Colorado, Boulder will be available at cost. Participation is limited to the first twenty registrants on a first come first served basis.  To register please call Lornay Hansen at 303-492-5670 or email Lornay.hansen@colorado.edu.

 This workshop is supported by National Science Foundation EAR Grant # 0321918.  The workshop is offered through the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) Education and Outreach program.  For more about CIRES outreach see http://cires.colorado.edu/education/k12/ .

 *For course syllabus and registration information call 303 492 5670 or

email Lornay.hansen@colorado.edu .

*Please note that spaces are limited and acceptance will be on a first

come basis.

We are asking school groups to register in order to manage bus arrival and departure, but otherwise the event is free and open to the public.

Here is a brief summary of what we have so far:

· We have over 1200 students registered to attend, almost evenly distributed between the K-3, 5-8, and 9-12 grades with the middle school grades carrying the slightly largest percentage.

· We have sold 91 booths so far, including 15 Informal Science Education providers, multiple booths to 13 institutions of higher education, and 10 to for-profits industries such as Kendall-Hunt and Lockheed Martin. Activities in the booths will include: live animals from the Denver Zoo, Wild Wings, and the Butterfly Pavilion; interactive virtual simulations from Gizmos and PhET; a tornado generator from UNC and a wind tunnel from CCD; Earth Science manipulatives from Earth Treasures; and much more.

- A large video screen will be running STEM-related videos throughout the event. Submissions include Everest 911 from McClain Arts, video biographies of all the scientists working at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and an inquiry showcase video called “Upward and Outward: Scientific Inquiry on the Tibetan Plateau” from CU Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

· We also have space in the back of the exhibit hall reserved for large scale activities including:

o Ten 80 FastTrack Racing – design and race cars

o Red Rocks Community College Process Tech Trailer

o Skylab Planetarium

o WWI Airplane and full-scale sailboat built by students at North High School

o Space Foundation Rocketry – design, build, and launch rockets

o National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s RnE²EW propane-powered alternative energy vehicle and a STEM-focused scavenger hunt complete with prizeso Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Energy at Play “design and build” class

o UCD Chemistry Department hosting student demonstrations

o DSST’s First Robotics team – a student-centered, competitive robotics engineering program

o One World Learning

· Confirmed luncheon keynote will be Dr. Tom Cech (Nobel Laureate) with an introduction from Governor Bill Ritter

· MESA has confirmed eight schools for the demo area in the main exhibit space and a high school that will do demonstrations for the reception.

· Thursday evening reception at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for all exhibitors and local area leaders such as the State Board of Education, industry decision makers, and State Legislators. Speakers for the reception will include George Sparks and a Lockheed executive.

· Friday morning and afternoon discussion groups centered on the activities of the WIRED grant participants and their survey outcomes.

· An introductory letter, parent letter template, and two posters went out to every middle and high school in Colorado in August; we will be advertising on school buses in Metro Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo; and we are working on a public service announcement by the Governor.

We also still need research posters (from faculty and students) as well as volunteers. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via phone or email.

Thanks for your help,

Sharon

Sharon D. Unkart

Managing Director

Center for Applied Science and Mathematics for Innovation and Competitiveness (CASMIC)

University of Colorado Denver, Downtown Campus

Campus Box 153

PO Box 173364

Denver, CO 80217-3364

303.556.6543 O

303.556.5993 F

http://www.stemapalooza.org/