The Science Teacher back issues from February 2009:
The safety legal paper trail.(criminal negligence and safety measures in science class experiments)
Feb 01, 2009; ... A science teacher conducts a demonstration using a large chunk of sodium metal in a pond by his school. Students stand on the water's edge with no personal protective equipment (PPE). Suddenly, an explosion causes a barrage of lighted sodium projectiles to rain down on them. Several ...
Nanotech clothes.(carbon nanotubes used in textiles in health monitoring)
Feb 01, 2009 ... A carbon nanotube--coated "smart yarn" that conducts electricity could be woven into soft fabrics that detect blood and monitor health, engineers at the University of Michigan (U-M) have demonstrated. "Currently, smart textiles are made primarily of metallic or optical fibers," ...
Big changes for ski areas.(effects of climate change)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Rocky Mountain ski areas face dramatic changes this century as the climate warms, including best-case scenarios of shortened ski seasons and higher snowlines and worst-case scenarios of bare base areas and winter rains, says a new Colorado study. The study indicates ...
Is obesity in your head?(Headline Science)
Feb 01, 2009 ... New research suggests genes that predispose people to obesity act in the brain--meaning some people may simply be hardwired to overeat. An international research team co-led by the University of Michigan (U-M) found six new genes that help explain body mass index (BMI) and obesity, and all ...
Good versus bad cells.(cell death and metabolism of cancer cells and neurons)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Cancer cells and nervous system neurons may not look or act alike, but both use strikingly similar ways to survive, according to new research from the University of North Carolina (UNC)--Chapel Hill School of Medicine. The study published in Nature Cell Biology is the first to describe how ...
Letter weights.(science experiments on weight and scales)
Feb 01, 2009 ... ... adapted from WEIGHING #05 by TOPS Learning Systems 1. Label two envelopes like this: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. Fill them with just enough paper to equal each weight limit. Seal them closed. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3. Given only ...
"Superpiles" may have shaped continents.(mantle convection an dplate movements)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Two giant plumes of hot rock deep within Earth are linked to the plate motions that shape the continents, researchers have found. The two superplumes, one beneath Hawaii and the other beneath Africa, have likely existed for at least 200 million years, explains Wendy Panero, assistant ...
Thinking, teaching, and learning science outside the boxes: reconsidering interdisciplinarity in science instruction.(Essay)
Feb 01, 2009; ... If Englishman Thomas Young (1773-1829) is known today, he is probably recognized only by students of physics or those with a passion for trivia, for Young is frequently called "the last person to know everything." In spite of competition from other polymaths, such as Aristotle, Erasmus, da ...
The interdisciplinary study of biofuels: understanding questions and finding solutions through biology, chemistry, and physics.(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... From media news coverage to fluctuating gas prices, the hot topic of energy is hard to ignore. However, little connection often exists between energy use in our daily lives and the presentation of energy-related concepts in the science classroom. The concepts of energy production and ...
Rev your engines! Linking physical science and math with car labs.(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cheering and laughter filled the school hallway as a line of cardboard cars sped, collided, and even rolled backward during the first annual Rubber Band Car Drag Race. What sounded like an indoor sporting event was actually Day 2 of the weeklong "Car Lab ...
What's so big about being small? The interdisciplinary opportunities of nanoscience.(science education)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The term interdisciplinary implies a blending of two perspectives while continuing to recognize each as unique and distinct. It should not be confused with the term integration, which denotes the blending of two or more ideas into one. This is an important distinction. According to ...
The potential da Vinci in all of us: integrated learning in the arts and the sciences.(arts and science education)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Work in both the arts and sciences is rooted in tenacious curiosity and intellectual creativity. Whether in the art studio or the science laboratory, practitioners use materials to envision and shape aspects of the world around them. In both science and art, this practice is meant not just ...
Instant integration: just add water: using worldwide data in interdisciplinary projects.(Report)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Would a unit that offers instant motivation and interest to students appeal to you as a science teacher? What about one that links several branches of science and offers opportunities to connect with language arts, mathematics, and social studies? Or one in which the first "E" of the 5E ...
Pharmacist.(Career of the Month: Science in the Workplace: Based on Interviews)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Medications prescribed by your doctor are designed to support your health. But if incorrectly prescribed, misused, or abused, these prescriptions can become dangerous and sometimes fatal. A pharmacist's job is to ensure that your medications and dosages are correct. By considering all ...
Q: With the increasing popularity of energy drinks, I wonder-are these drinks safe? How do they affect teens?(Health Wise: Helping Students Make Healthy Choices)
Feb 01, 2009; ... A The word energy means different things to different people. The dictionary defines it as "a dynamic quality," "the capacity of acting or being active," or a "vigorous exertion of power" (Merriam-Webster 2003). A physicist may tell you that energy is the ability to effect change, while a ...
Radio astronomy for schools.(Taking Note: Educational Resources and Professional Opportunities)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Did you know that you can listen to Jupiter and the Sun? Their magnetic fields produce radio waves that sound like breakers on a beach, popcorn popping, or pebbles thrown on a tin roof. The Radio JOVE project from NASA enables students to hear and learn to distinguish among the different ...
Journey North.(outdoor education on wildlife migration and seasonal changes)(Author abstract)(Report)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to join in the annual Journal North study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Participants monitor migration patterns of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and whooping cranes; the budding and blossoming ...
Wikis for educators.(classroom use of advertisement-free web pages)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Wetpaint now offers advertisement-free wikis (web pages) to educators for use in classrooms of students ages 13 and up. They can be used for group projects and assignments as part of a class ...
Classroom Earth.(National Environmental Education Foundation program website)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Classroom Earth program from the National Environmental Education Foundation assists teachers and high schools in weaving cutting-edge environmental curricula into core high school classes, from art to science. On the program's website, teachers ...
Microdocs.(Short Attention Span Science Theater website)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Short Attention Span Science Theater website features brief video segments (2-4 minutes long) that focus on ecological sustainability, illustrated with examples from coral reef ...
Online weather resource.(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's interactive weather resource)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Students of all ages will appreciate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) interactive weather resource. It provides colorful radar images and other current weather information. ...
World Wise Schools.(online cross-cultural resource)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Peace Corps' World Wise Schools program offers educators cross-cultural resources online, including podcasts, videos, and slide shows. A monthly e-newsletter, World Wise Window, presents stories accompanied by lesson plans from around the ...
Free STEM resources.(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics online resources by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... USA TODAY Education and NASA have developed science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resources and educational career exploration tools on two ...
WhaleNet.(websites for marine biology)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Visitors to the WhaleNet website will find a variety of educational resources focusing on marine concepts. With access to WhaleNet's real-time and archived satellite tracking data for seals, whales, ...
Free summer program.(Physics of Atomic Nuclei residential summer program for science teachers and high school students)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) free residential summer program for science teachers and high school students is now accepting applications for summer 2009. PAN participants will learn about scientific research in nuclear astrophysics at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory ...
SchoolTube.(websites for educators, students, and teachers)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... On the SchoolTube website, educators can share videos that they or their students have made, access lesson plans and classroom tips from other teachers, and help students to compete in moderated competitions, encouraging creativity in ...
Garden Awards.(National Gardening Association's Mantis Awards for Community and Youth Gardens )(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Mantis Awards for Community and Youth Gardens supports charitable and educational garden programs that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. The National Gardening Association will select 25 gardens to receive a Mantis tiller or ...
Science explorations and adventures.(Paul Doherty's website on classroom science experiments and activities)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Exploratorium's Paul Doherty, a recipient of NSTA's Faraday Science Communicator Award, presents a searchable collection of favorite classroom experiments and ...
Rock cycle website.(Geological Society of London's web-based teaching resource)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Geological Society of London offers this web-based teaching resource. The materials include animation of the rock cycle with detailed text and photographs explaining related subtopics. A teacher's guide, ...
PBS lesson.(math and science lessons from www. pbs.org)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... With The Capacity of the Planets lesson from the PBS feature Mathline, students in grades 8-12 can explore the connections between math and science as they practice scientific ...
Materials science exhibit.(Taking Note: Educational Resources and Professional Opportunities)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... Strange Matter investigates four areas of materials science: structure, properties, processing, and performance. This exhibit is traveling to science centers and museums across North America. The website offers access guides to the exhibit for teachers ...
Life on Earth: The Diversity of Species.(Brief article)(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Life on Earth: The Diversity of Species By Michael Bright $32.86. 56 pp. Heinemann Library, Chicago, IL. 2009. ISBN: 143291653X. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each of the five books in the Timeline series is impressive. In just ...
Jane Goodall: a Biography.(Brief article)(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Jane Goodall: A Biography By Meg Greene $16.95. 146 pp. Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY. 2008. ISBN: 1591026113. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jane Goodall's life and historic discoveries make this biography an ...
Chemistry in the National Science Education Standards, Second Edition: Models for Meaningful Learning in the High School Chemistry Classroom.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Chemistry in the National Science Education Standards, Second Edition: Models for Meaningful Learning in the High School Chemistry Classroom By Stacey Lowery Bretz $24.95. 157 pp. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. 2008. ...
Battleground: Science and Technology.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Battleground: Science and Technology By Sal Restivo and Peter H. Denton $175. 305 pp. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT. 2008. ISBN: 9780313341649. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This collection of essays by various authors, wide ranging in their ...
Sickle Cell Disease.(Brief article)(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Sickle Cell Disease By Phill Jones $35. 143 pp. Chelsea House Publishers, New York. 2008. ISBN: 0791095878. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There is no better illustration of the interaction among ...
Assessing Science Learning: Perspectives from Research and Practice.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Assessing Science Learning: Perspectives From Research and Practice By Janet Coffey, Rowena Douglas, and Carole Stearns $34.95. 488 pp. NSTA Press, Arlington, VA. 2008. ISBN: 9781933531403. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For both ...
From the Flight Deck: Plane Talk and Sky Science.(Brief article)(Book review)
Feb 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From the Flight Deck: Plane Talk and Sky Science By Doug Morris $15.95. 162 pp. Independent Publishers Group, Chicago, IL. 2007. ISBN: 9781550227659. This little book is jam packed with a multitude ...
Renaissance thinking.(scientists' thinking and interdisciplinary approach in science education)(Editorial)
Feb 01, 2009; ... "If I had to live my life again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week" (Charles Darwin, On the Origins of Species [1859, p. 443]). Albert Einstein played the violin. Friedrich August Kekule was trained as an architect ....