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available again. We are also cutting costs for our general skills but not a lot of help for becoming
monthly board meetings and trying out an a knowledgeable teacher of science! This is a
electronic newsletter to cut back on printing and great opportunity for mentors to receive mentor
postage costs. training specific to science as well as an
opportunity for new teachers to build a
On the positive side, I am happy to announce a relationship with an experienced science teacher,
new opportunity for MSTA to be involved with and all benefit from being part of a “community
our national organization, NSTA. I submitted a of science teachers.” One of the greatest gifts
proposal to NSTA, through the MMSA, and you can give to our profession is supporting our
listed MSTA as one of our partners, to be one of new teachers. You can get more information
the seven states selected for NSTA’s National about eMSS and fill out an online application by
Science Foundation funded scale up of the e- going to the web site at emss.nsta.org and
MSS Project- Electronic Mentoring for Student clicking on the Maine button.
Success. This innovative online mentoring
project matches middle and high school science As many of you may know, I recently published
teachers (practicing and retired) with new my first book, as part of an MMSA NSF-funded
teachers in their first or second year of teaching project, and am excited to be working with
and also provides online access to research educators around the country who are using this
scientists. I highly encourage MSTA members to new tool. I never fail to mention that this work
apply to be science mentors. There is a 3 week was developed through the input and
online mentoring training given over the experiences of Maine’s extraordinary science
summer, and mentors receive a $1400 stipend. If teachers- I am so proud to be associated with
you are a new teacher or if you know of new you, to learn through your eyes and ears, and to
teachers being hired over the summer- please combine our collective wisdom for the benefit of
pass on the word about this exciting opportunity. teachers and students everywhere. I hope
New teachers receive a $500 stipend for their everyone has a wonderful summer and comes
participation. Many new teachers in Maine are back refreshed to start a new year.
assigned a trained mentor, but these mentors are
often in other content areas and do not know the Until then,
specific content and pedagogy of science. One
high school I know of assigned a business Page
teacher to a physics teacher as a mentor- fine for Page Keeley, President
The MMSA is pleased to announce that Maine is earth, space, life, and physical science and
one of six states chosen to partner with the several modules are designed to explore
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), different aspects of science teaching between
The New Teacher Center at the University of mentors and mentees. The eMSS project has
California Santa Cruz, and Montana State built a very impressive community of online
University as part of an innovative national science mentors and mentees, working together
NSF-funded online mentoring project called to improve teaching and learning.
eMSS- Electronic Mentoring for Student
Success. This program matches new teachers in Maine will be accepting 20-25 mentees into the
Maine (first or second year of teaching middle program for this fall. All mentees are paid a
or high school science) with an experienced $500 stipend for participating online throughout
Maine science teacher mentor. Together, the the school year. There are also 2 optional
mentoring takes place online and is focused on opportunities to meet your mentor at a statewide
content and pedagogy. Scientists from the event. The specific details regarding the program
University of California and Montana State are on the web site at http://emss.nsta.org .
University also participate to provide content
support when needed or share their research If accepted into the Maine eMSS program, you
activities. Discussion areas are provided for will be matched with someone who is not from
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your own school who teaches the same subject and ready at http://emss.nsta.org . Please share
area as you and is interested in being your this information with any other new teachers you
mentor. If you love science and are seeking know. Mentees can apply on a rolling basis as
support, want to learn how to be a successful they get hired and as long as we have enough
science teacher, enjoy sharing great classroom mentors. The earlier you apply, the better your
ideas, want to meet other teachers around the chances of us finding a mentor for you.
state, and are comfortable interacting online
(through threaded discussions, not chats), then Hope you will take advantage of this great
consider applying to be part of the eMSS opportunity to be part of an exciting science
project. The Maine application for mentees is up network of teachers in Maine!
I remember seeing a T-shirt at an NSTA uncooked, unprotected egg on the front of it.
convention when I first started teaching in the The vehicle was powered by the fall of a 2-kg
80’s. It read “Science is a Verb” and, like most mass, and it had to stop before hitting a wall
teachers, although I can’t remember the author I which might be placed anywhere from 8 to 12
have remembered and used the motto throughout meters from the start. Jamie was persistent. I
my career. Real science occurs in my classroom simply had to see if Maine had a state meet and
when my students think beyond the facts of the we had to build a scrambler. I was directed to
lesson or procedure of the lab and make their Earl Coombs, a colleague from Winslow, and
own connections. Better yet, science is really was invited to a planning meeting of the coaches
happening when they dare to go off on their who were going to compete in a spring meet at
own, change this factor or that, and make their MCI, organized by Donna Young. Maine had
own discovery. This happens sometimes in my held meets for the past few years, almost since
classroom, when I don’t feel the pressure of the beginning of the organization, and I signed
finishing the curriculum, getting the students Waterville up to compete.
ready for an early May AP exam, or reaching all
of my students with their myriad of interests and We read the rules, built everything required with
abilities. It happens all the time when my some care, studied a little, and looked forward to
Science Olympiad team gathers and prepares for April with little understanding of what it was all
the next competition. about. The exception was Scrambler. Jamie
excitedly took on the project, consulted various
I had been teaching for four years before coming experts from other Waterville departments, and
to Waterville in 1987. In the fall of 1989 I built a very competitive vehicle. He designed an
showed an episode of “Discover, the World of adjustable braking mechanism with Ed Roy, a
Science” to my physics class. (As a new teacher vocational teacher. This was the key to success
I taught a little of everything back then.) One of in this event throughout the years, and we never
my students, Jamie Lewis, was fascinated with a changed the braking mechanism in all the years
15-minute segment about the Science Olympiad, that Scrambler was part of the event list.
a national organization just a few years old
which sponsored one-day meets where schools At the April meet we took first place in
competed in around 20 events covering all Scrambler, a hint of the success that is possible
aspects of science. At least six of these were when one becomes totally involved in a Science
engineering events, and this television segment Olympiad event. We had a reasonable showing
featured one of them, the ‘Scrambler” in a few other events and came in tenth out of 18
competition. teams. But that first competition was enough to
launch us into a partnership with the Science
In this competit ion, students had to design and Olympiad which has enriched the lives of over
build a vehicle which would transport an 200 Waterville High School students over the
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past 15 years, and has profoundly changed my We now have our own space in the back of a
teaching career. The emotional tie that I have former vocational workshop; the same room in
shared with these students has been phenomenal, which Ed Roy first helped Jamie design his
and I have formed many friendships that will braking mechanism for Scrambler. The room is
last a lifetime. filled with lots of textbooks and files of notes
taken by countless members over the years.
My Waterville team improved each year, Like we did with the braking mechanism for
winning an increasing number of medals and Scrambler, we build each year from what we
getting our first trophy for second place in 1993. learned before. We use the knowledge gained
In 1996, at Mt. Ararat in Topsham, we beat a by others before us as we design, cut, assemble,
dominate Oxford Hills team to win the state test and tear apart our projects.
championship and we have never looked back.
This year at Windham High School on March How long can our reign last? I have always said
18th , we won our tenth consecutive state that we win because we put in the time it takes
championship. to be excellent in all the events. This can be
hundreds of hours from September to March,
It is hard to put into words what all this has preparing for our one state meet. We have
meant for the school community and for me followed Jamie’s lead that first year. But now
personally. We have competed in the national we do it for every event. We will eventually
meet each May, traveling to nearly every area of lose to a team that does the same thing a little
the country. The community has donated over better than we do.
$100,000 in these ten years, and this has been
done in a matter of only six weeks each time. Yet that will not be losing. The afternoon before
We have always been able to attend the National the state meet this year, a few of the parents
Meet due to the continued generosity of (many of them educators at Colby and other area
corporations, small businesses, and friends and schools) were standing around as the students
relatives in this community. Donations are now worked. The catapult was hurling an object as a
coming in from former students who were on the student checked a graph, the robot was being
team. Many of these students have pursued tested yet another time for speed and accuracy,
highly successful science careers. and the names of fossils, trees, and chemical
compounds were being tossed back and forth.
This year, the national meet is at the University One parent said “The energy in this room is
of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. We compete with incredible. This is what education is all about.”
the best, and we have improved every year. It is certainly what science is all about. When
State winners are usually from enormous you are a member of the Science Olympiad
schools or private science magnet schools. team, doing science is what you do every time
Maine has been the sixth smallest school, the team meets. For this science teacher, that
determined by the number of students makes these students winners before the state
throughout the state who compete in the Science meet even begins.
Olympiad, competing out of around 60 schools
in the last few years. Still we have improved. If you want to learn more about the Science
Last year for the first time we were in the top Olympiad, please visit the national site at:
half of the finishers, placing 27th out of 54 http://www.soinc.org/ If you would like
teams. We beat one of the California teams, information about the Science Olympiad in
both of the North Carolina teams (a science-rich Maine, please direct your questions to the state
state including the famous Research Triangle director at this address:
area around Duke) and many other much larger mcobb@fc.wtvl.k12.me.us
schools. We actually beat the national winner in
several engineering events. We have won 3
national medals in 10 years, but improving each
year is the way that we measure our success.
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Maine’s Challenger Center Chosen for Exciting Biomedical Research Project
In order to support the human component of this understanding of the disciplinary science of
"vision," biomedical scientists from many human physiology and be able to teach the
disciplines must answer dozens of "critical path" subject better, using unique space-related
questions before firm commitments can be examples. Students will gain a better
made. As part of this initiative, the Challenger appreciation of the basic principles of human
Learning Center of Maine has recently been anatomy and physiology and how those
selected to participate in a special space principles are applied to the human exploration
biomedicine program for K-12 students. The of space. By making this addition to the
program has been designed by the National Challenger Center curriculum, the simulation
Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) in experience for students at the Center becomes
partnership with the Colorado Consortium for that much closer to reality
Earth and Space Science Education (CCESSE)
to promote the understanding that space With the guidance
biomedicine is one of the most critical, and supervision of the
challenging, and exciting areas associated with Challenger Learning
human space exploration. Center Flight Director
on board the
The ten organizations selected for the first round "spacecraft,"
of this grant are: Challenger Learning
Informal Education Organizations: Center students will
Space Science Institute (Boulder CO, actually experience
with national audience) some of the (angular
Denver Museum of Nature and Science acceleration)
(Denver CO) sensations and
Fernbank Science Center (Atlanta, GA) vestibular illusions
astronauts experience
Challenger Learning Centers of: in space. Students
Colorado will be learning about
Alaska nervous system
San Antonio, Texas adaptations and conducting neurovestibular
Northwest Indiana, c/o Purdue experiments like those conducted in space using
University Calumet a rotating Barany chair. The student Mission
Tallahassee, Florida Control crew will work with the student Space
Maine Station/spacecraft Medical Mission Specialist
New Jersey (Buhler) crew to conduct rotating chair experiments
similar to those administered on the STS-40
With this program, students and teachers will be Spacelab Life Science Laboratory-1 and STS-90
able to experience space biomedical research for Neurolab missions. The Barany chair will be
themselves at Maine’s Challenger Learning installed in the space station of the Challenger
Center. Classroom teachers will know more Center this August and ready for students at the
about the challenges of human space exploration start of the new school year.
and the critical role space biomedicine plays in a
decision to go back to the Moon and on to Mars.
In addition, teachers will gain a broader
5
“We feel that incorporating a unit on working model semicircular canal, phase
spaceflight-induced changes to the human shifting eyeglasses, and receive sufficient hands-
nervous system (which includes information on on instruction to ensure their proper utilization
vestibular illusions, sleep, circadian rhythms, in the classroom. A CD will be produced and
spatial orientation, and visuo-motor distributed to each teacher trained to use the
performance) into the Challe nger Learning curriculum. It will contain a slide presentation
Center curriculum will greatly enhance the for their use, as well as video clips and still
Learning Center's in-service, classroom, and photos of astronauts using a Barany chair on-
mission activities,” said Robin Kennedy, Lead orbit and a complete video performed by
Flight Director at the CLC of Maine. She Brigadier General (retired) Orwyn Sampson,
continued, “The teacher professional NASA consultant and previously the Head of the
development workshops we’ll be offering will Department of Biology at the USAF Academy.
provide teachers with a broad overview of
human physiological adaptations to space flight The first teacher workshop will be held on
with special emphasis on the nervous system and Thursday, August 18, 2005. Cost of the
neurovestibular adaptations. It’s often hard to workshop will be $20. Interested teachers
find good material on the nervous system that should contact the Center to reserve their space.
really grabs students’ attentions. This material Once the remaining workshop dates are set, they
is both exciting to them and real!” will be posted on the calendar on the Challenger
Center’s website at www.CLCofME.org. For
In the workshops to be offered this fall and the more information, call the Challenger Center at
following spring, teachers will construct a 990-2900.
Opinion-Editorial
Science and Technology and the Local Assessment System – Tom Keller
This article contains my opinions and is not the The basics of the local assessment system are
position of the Maine Department of Education. that assessments must that truly measure the
It is based on my experiences contributing to the content and skills (also known as ‘valid’), are
construction of the Local Assessment System numerous enough to adequately represent the
(LAS) and working with science curriculums discipline (also known as ‘sufficiency’), and
across the State. The article was written on my must report consistent, credible information
own time. (also known as reliability).
Since the passage of Learning Results legislation In science, the system currently requires that at
in 1998, the Department of Education, in least twenty performance indicators over thirteen
collaboration with Maine educators and content standards must be selected and assessed.
technical experts, has worked to design and That is twenty indicators across each four year
define a Local Assessment System to inform grade span K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Local
instruction, monitor programs, and certify educational agency select the performance
achievement. This has all been accomplished indicators (although a state prepared Balance of
while aligning curriculums to standards, Representation can be used to provide guidance)
vertically aligning curriculums, creating and the assessments are selected, adapted, or
instruction aligned with standards, learning created locally as well. The system must include
about individualized instruction, incorporating a variety of assessments types since the
reading across the curriculum and the myriad of indicators include a range of cognitive demands
other initiatives that have already consumed and a range of skills and knowledge. (The
existing time and money. In the last several current “gold standard” for assessment is
weeks, announcements from the Governor and “multiple, up to date measures including those
Commissioner of Education suggest that that measure higher order thinking skills”.)
significant changes to the LAS are imminent.
6
The twenty selected indicators at each grade span course of day to day classroom assessment.
can be addressed through twenty separate
assessments, or through as few as the 8-12 as The current LAS requirements dictate that there be
specified in the local assessment system guide at at least one assessment per content standard and at
the whole grade span. The “47 per grade level” or least five per cluster at each grade span. This
“135 per grade span” planned by some local distribution contributes to sufficiency. When one
educational agencies far exceed expectations and crunches the numbers, however, it emerges that all
would seem to exceed common sense. Frankly, I a student needs to do to meet standards in science
can’t imagine that any school administers this and technology is to meet assessment requirements
number of standards -based assessments and (a ‘3’) on only 4 of the 13 content standards, as
wonder if these numbers refer to the total number shown in the example below.
of tests, quizzes, and other assessments given in
Life science cluster Physical science Earth and space Nature and Implications of
cluster science cluster science cluster
Standard B C E H I D F G J K L M
A
3,3,3 2 2 3,3 2,2 2 3,3,3 2 2 3,3 2 2 2
Cluster score meets as Cluster partially Cluster score meets Cluster score meets as
65% meets as 55% as 65% 60%
Student meets by achieving 62.5% for all possible points for the content area
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REGISTER NOW to be your school’s
SCIENCE CONTACT PERSON
The MMSA Science Team is interested in an effective and efficient way to get information
developing a database of school contacts for out to all teachers of science. If you would be
MMSA information. We are interested in willing to be an MMSA Science contact for your
identifying one person from every school in school, please complete the following and send
Maine who would be willing to distribute to Brianne Van den Bossche at
information on MMSA science opportunities to bvdbossche@mmsa.org
colleagues in their school. Rather than mail
announcements, conference flyers and Thank you so much for your willingness to be a
registrations, etc. just to administrators from contact person. We hope this network will
each school, we are looking for an effective way facilitate getting information out to teachers in a
to get information out to individual teachers timely and effective way.
without having to send an individual mailing to
every teacher. A science leader from each The MMSA Science Team
school who would be willing to receive a packet
of information to distribute to their colleagues is
Name: ____________________________________
Name of School: _______________________________
Union, SAD, CSD, or School District: ____________________________
County your school is located in: ________________________________
School Mailing Address with zip code
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Your Email address: __________________________________
Please complete the following that apply (to your SCHOOL, not district):
# of K-2 teachers in your school that teach science: _____________
# of 3-5 teachers in your school that teach science: _____________
# of 6-8 teachers in your school that teach science: _____________
Total # of high school teachers of science: ______________
High School Science breakdown (count the same person more than once if he/she
teachers more than one subject area):
______ Earth Science ____ Physics ____ Integrated Science
______ Biology ____ Physical Science ____ Other: (specify)
______ Chemistry ____ Astronomy _________________
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National Debut of Curriculum Topic Eastern Regional NSTA Convention
Study (CTS) “Connections for Student Achievement”
Hartford, Connecticut
October 20-22, 2005
Curriculum Topic
Study: Bridging the
Gap Between
Standards and
Practice by Page
Keeley made its
national debut at the
NSTA Convention in
Dallas, Texas in
March. Keeley’s
book, co-published
by Corwin Press and
NSTA, has been described as “the missing link”
between science standards, teacher practice and Make plans early to attend the National Science
improved student achievement. The book Teachers’ Association Eastern Regional
details the CTS process, its versatility, and Convention being held this fall in Hartford, CT
includes 147 CTS guides listing relevant October 20-22, 2005. Dr. Henry C. Lee, one of
readings from a core set of professional science the most interesting and knowledgeable
education resources. international experts in contemporary crime
scene investigations will be a keynote speaker at
During the convention, Keeley was the featured this year’s convention. Featured conference
at two “meet the author” events - one held at the strands are Managing Transitions: Effective
NSTA convention bookstore and the other at the Teaching Strategies and Assessment, Coasta l
Corwin Press booth. These sessions allowed and Wetland Environments, Next-Generation
convention attendees to meet Page, learn about Technology: Will We Be Prepared?, and Science
the CTS process, tools, and strategies, and get + Technology = Achievement. Check the NSTA
their own copies of the CTS book signed. website http://www.nsta.org and the MSTA fall
NSTA also organized a national symposium to newsletter for more details and information
introduce people to the book. Congratulations about special functions at the convention for
Page! Maine teachers!
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NSTA District II Report
By Dave White
It’s hard to believe that the 04-05 school year is administration of the NAEP Science Assessment
almost over. On the other hand, the fall scheduled for 2009.
conference in Gardiner seems like a very long
time ago. I want to thank MSTA for the The 2005 NSTA/CAGS National Congress on
opportunity to provide you with this brief NSTA Science Education will be held on August 3rd
District II update. through August 6th at the Millennium Hotel in
Minneapolis, MN. For more information go to
On April 14th , many of your colleagues from the http://www.nsta.org/ncse2005
New England states came together at Middlesex Finally, hold the dates of October 20th through
Community College in MA to review and give October 22nd for the NSTA Regional Convention
feedback on a draft of the new Science in Hartford, CT.
Framework for the National Assessment of http://www.nsta.org/conventiondetail&Meeting_
Educational Progress (NAEP). With the Code=2005HAR
National Science Education Standards and the
AAAS Benchmarks as primary resources, the Over the next several months, the affiliate
new NAEP Framework will represent an chapters from our three District II states will
interface of the two national standards explore opportunities to bring teachers from
documents for the purpose of nation wide northern New England together for
assessment. District II (Maine, New Hampshire, collaboration, networking, and fun in Hartford.
Vermont) were well represented at this Have a wonderful and well deserved summer
important meeting. The new framework will be break!
completed by the fall, 2005 with the next
The White House recently rolled out the red Maine’s 2004 Outstanding K-6 Science Teacher
carpet to honor the recipients of the 2004 is Bob Chaplin of the Conners Emerson School
Presidential Awards for Excellence in in Bar Harbor. Knowing kids thrive in an out-
Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). door environment, Chaplin and his community
Considered the nation’s highest honor for built an outdoor laboratory. "My kids love the
science and math educators, this year’s awards outdoor lab and being able to work outside. Each
went to 95 elementary teachers. Awardees of my students has a plot of open land behind
received a $10,000 gift from the National our building. I assign them each a couple of
Science Foundation and an all expense-paid trip things to monitor in their plot, such as seasonal
to Washington D.C. for a week-long celebration changes, length of a shadow cast, and the tilt of
of events and professional development the earth," he said. "They must use the scientific
activities. method to do touch, sight, smell, sound, and
once a month they record the data, put it into a
“This award recognizes the contributions that spreadsheet, graph it, make predictions and draw
teachers make to America’s legacy of progress conclusions." Having them able to connect their
by encouraging young people to study and thoughts together with something in their hands,
understand math and science,” wrote President Chaplin says, makes it a lot easier for them to
George W. Bush in a letter to all awardees. take a problem and solve it.
“With a strong foundation in these critical
subjects, today’s students will be able to better
compete and succeed in the 21st century
workforce.”
10
The Outstanding K-6 mathematics teacher in
Maine for 2004 is Mrs. Elva Lovejoy of the
Mary Hurd School in North Berwick. Mrs.
Lovejoy likes to incorporate hands-on activities
into every lesson. "I like to do activities with the
kids where they have a lot of interaction," she
said. "When students can explain something to
another peer, it not only helps the struggling
student but also helps to solidify their
understanding. This interaction gives students
another way to look at something. Sharing
strategies is crucial."
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Asian Tsunami Seen from Space
by Patrick L. Barry
When JPL research scientist Michael Garay first "Because the Indian Ocean doesn't have a
heard the news that a tsunami had struck tsunami warning system, hardly any scientific
southern Asia, he felt the same shock and measurements of the tsunami's propagation
sadness over the tremendous loss of human life exist, making it hard for Dr. Titov to check his
that most people certainly felt. Later, though, he simulations against reality," Garay explains.
began to wonder: were these waves big enough "Our images provide some important data points
to see from space? to help make his simulations more accurate. By
predicting where a tsunami will hit hardest,
So he decided to check. At JPL, Garay analyzes those simulations may someday help authorities
data from MISR-the Multi-angle Imaging issue more effective warnings next time a
SpectroRadiometer instrument aboard NASA's tsunami strikes."
Terra satellite. He scoured MISR images from
the day of the tsunami, looking for signs of the Find out more about MISR and see the latest
waves near the coasts of India, Sri Lanka, images at www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/. Kids can
Indonesia, and Thailand. read their own version of the MISR tsunami
story at
Looking at an image of the southern tip of Sri spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/misr_tsunami .
Lanka taken by one of MISR's angled cameras;
he spotted the distinct shape of waves made This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion
visible by the glint of reflected sunlight. They Laboratory, California Institute of Technology,
look a bit like normal waves, except for their under a contract with the National Aeronautics
scale: These waves were more than a kilometer and Space Administration.
wide!
12
Seeing in the Dark with Spitzer
by Patrick Barry and Tony Phillips
Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the Scientists had seen planetary systems forming
night, walked to the bathroom and, in the around brown dwarfs before, but never around
darkness, tripped over your dog? A tip from the one so small and planet-like.
world of high-tech espionage: next time use
night-vision goggles. Spitzer promises to continue making
extraordinary discoveries like this one. Think of
Night vision goggles detect heat in the form of it as being like a Hubble Space Telescope for
infrared radiation-a "color" normally invisible to looking at invisible, infrared light. Like Hubble,
the human eye. Wearing a pair you can see Spitzer offers a view of the cosmos that's leaps
sleeping dogs, or anything that's warm, in and bounds beyond anything that came before.
complete darkness. Spitzer was designed to operate for at least two
and a half years, but probably will last for five
This same trick works in the darkness of space. years or more.
Much of the exciting action in the cosmos is too
dark for ordinary telescopes to see. For example, For more about Spitzer and to see the latest
stars are born in the heart of dark interstellar images, go to
clouds. While the stars themselves are bright, http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/spitzer. Kids and
their birth-clouds are dense, practically grown-ups will enjoy browsing common sights
impenetrable. The workings of star birth are in infrared and visible light at the interactive
thus hidden. infrared photo album on The Space Place,
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/sirtf1/sirtf_act
That's why NASA launched the Spitzer Space ion.shtml.
Telescope into orbit in 2003. Like a giant set of
infrared goggles, Spitzer allows scientists to peer This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion
into the darkness of space and see, for example, Laboratory, California Institute of Technology,
stars and planets being born. Dogs or dog stars: under a contract with the National Aeronautics
infrared radiation reveals both. and Space Administration.
13
NASA Rocketry Workshop for Pre -service and High School Teachers
The Maine Space Grant Consortium is pleased Application deadline: June 1, 2005 - send to
to announce an opportunity for Pre-service Jana Hall at the Maine Space Grant Consortium
teachers and high school teachers in Maine, to
participate in a High Power Rocketry Workshop For more information on the workshop and to
conducted at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in download an application form, please go to our
Florida! website at
http://www.msgc.org/education_educ.asp or
Date: August 8-14, 2005 contact Jana Hall (below) for more information
Where: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Eligibility: Pre-service teachers who expect to Jana Hall, Controller and
teach at the 7th grade level and above and high Coordinator of Education Activities
school teachers from Maine Maine Space Grant Consortium
87 Winthrop St., Suite 200
Participants Costs included if selected for award Augusta, ME 04330
(at no cost to participants): Airfare, hotel, 207-622-4688 - voice
transportation between the hotel and Kennedy 207-622-4548 - fax
Space Center, and workshop materials jhall@msgc.org
www.msgc.org
The laws and regulations that control what can Your help is needed. We are looking for a
and cannot be done in Maine science classrooms small group of people who are willing to put in
are not in one easy place. The Maine Science some time to organize this information during
Teachers Association (MSTA) along with Tom the summer. The workload will depend on how
Keller at he Department of Education is working many people are willing to volunteer some time.
to find and organize the information in a useful We would probably work in the Augusta area
format for the science teachers in Maine. with the date(s) and times to depend on who is
doing the work. The goal is to have it completed
Currently, Tom is making contact with the by August 1st .
various departments at the state level to acquire
the current regulations. This summer the If you are interested in helping with this project
information will be translated and organized into this summer, please contact Mary Whitten at
a user friendly format. The information will be mwhitten@sad11.k12.me.us or at 778-4983
available on the MSTA website as a teacher (home). Make sure to provide me with your
reference and possibly in print form. name and contact information.
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Challenger Learning Center of Maine Spring and Summer Programs.
Editor’s Note: This article was submitted at the As NASA prepares for the Return To Flight of
end of April. Because we were delayed in space shuttle on May 15th , the Challenger Center
publishing the Newsletter, some of the activities offers Missions as well. The following dates are
noted have already taken place. We decided to open to families to experience working on a
print the article as submitted so that you will be crew to “Rendezvous with a Comet”, May 14th
aware of the many sessions and activities offered at 1:00 pm, June 30 at 6:00 pm, July 28 at 6:00
by the Center. pm and August 11 at 6:00 pm. Call the Center
for pricing.
The Challenger Center is looking for a few
teachers who would like to be on the Education A special Teacher Mission is being offered by
Committee. The work involves helping make MSTA on July 27th from 2:00 pm –5:00 pm and
sure the CLC curriculum fits best into the Maine a dinner to follow. (More information later.)
Learning Results. We would especially like
some input from teachers in Southern Maine. If you are going to the Middle Level Institute,
We meet once a month and it can be done by you will have another opportunity to fly a
conference phone. Call Robin Kennedy at 990- mission. Look for sign up information at
2900. registration.
May 5th is national Space Day. It is jointly
sponsored by NASA and Lockheed Martin Come see our display and have your class
Corporation. The Challenger Center Flight participate in activities at the Southern Maine
Directors are off to Bailyville for a fun day of Children’s Water Festival on May 20th . Contact
space activities. The Center will have missions Lynne Richard Environmental Education
going on and all the students will have the Coordinator – 774-5961 ext 3324 for more
opportunity to send their names into space with information.
the Student Signatures in Space. Program. The
space shuttle will carry them up to space on the The summer is a great time to visit the NASA
next mission. More information about Space Educational Resources Center, here at the
Day can be found online at www.spaceday.org Challenger Learning Center on 30 Venture Way,
or call Robin Kennedy at 207-990-2900. Bangor, Maine. Check out our website for more
details www.clcofme.org We have terrific free
May 12th the center will join the girls at the materials. So bring your blank video tapes and
Expanding Your Horizons Conference in Orono cd’s to make copies. Just call before you come.
at the University of Maine. They will learn all
about how astronaut use and reuse water in We have monthly Mission Training sessions for
space. teachers. So “Book your mission early. “
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Auburn Land Lab Dine & Discuss
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Concept Cartoons In A K-8 Pre-Service Classroom
Andrea B. Freed, Ph.D.
University of Maine at Farmington
Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
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Based on conclusions, which character do you students. I will continue to use Concept
think was right? Students were also asked to Cartoons with my pre-service teachers and hope
consider the independent and dependent that they will then utilize them as a unique
variables, control, multiple variables, approach to teaching, learning and assessment in
investigative question, hypothesis, and how science.
many trials they would do. Each group of 4
students designed their own experiment and
tried to determine which of the possible answers Keogh, B. & Naylor, S. (2000). Concept
best fit with their outcomes. The results of our Cartoons in Science Education. Cheshire, UK:
own classroom experience were varied. These Millgate House Publishers.
results informed me of students’ understanding
and provided a starting point for our subsequent Naylor, S. & Keogh, B. (2002) Starting Points
study of magnetism. For Science. Cheshire, UK: Millgate House
Publishers.
Keogh and Naylor have also written Starting
Points for Science (1997), which focuses on Website: http://www.conceptcartoons.com
primary grade levels. The two books, Starting The site offers examples of Concept Cartoons in
Points for Science and Concept Cartoons in science as well as ideas for helping students
Science Education, offer opportunities for evaluate existing cartoons and generate their
primary through adult learners as they support own.
scientific thinking and discussion among
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