Across the K-12 spectrum, schools have been turning their focus towards the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math realms. U.S. students continue to lag in these fields when compared to other leading nations (read the recent New York Times article that discusses this national concern). Commonly referred to as the STEM fields, students at all levels […]
No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin that inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal. ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau Aquariums entertain and educate us with beautiful exhibits of fish, […]
According to the World Bank, 50.6% of the United States population is female (for data up to 2012). For most nations around the world, the statistic ranges between 49% and 50%. Therefore it is safe to say that one half of the world’s population is indeed comprised of women and girls. Every March, we review […]
Traveling at an estimated 33,000 mph, faster than the speed of sound, a 10-ton meteor broke into pieces above Earth on February 15, 2013. One meteorite hurtled onward toward Earth, streaking brilliantly across the sky above Chelyabinsk, Russia. Its shockwaves shattered more than 4,000 windows and engaged car alarms. Approximately 1,000 people sustained injuries. Scientists […]
Florida has a problem. Not with politicians, too many sun-seeking tourists, part-time senior citizens residents, or vacationing college students. No, Florida has a problem with snakes. Burmese pythons to be exact. Florida, home of Walt Disney World, is accustomed to welcoming visitors from around the world. But, some visitors are more problematic. Burmese pythons, it […]
Energy is not a new invention. It dates all the way back to the Stone Age when it was used to provide light and heat. Today, energy is the driving force at the center of almost everything. Students arrive home each day and flip switches to satisfy whatever need or desire they hold dear at […]
Measurement always brings an opportunity for practical, real-world math for students at all grade levels. When the time comes that dimensions of the universe or microscopic bacteria are the focus, students learn about a way to discuss measurements using a mathematical conversion formula called scientific notation. In order to read and compute numbers that are […]
The town of Concord, Massachusetts, this week banned…can you guess? Not handguns, oxycontin, or texting while driving. They banned the sale of water in plastic bottles one liter (34 ounces) or less. The law states:Â “It shall be unlawful to sell non-sparkling, unflavored drinking water in single-serving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles of 1 liter (34 ounces) […]
Many adults can recall as a child a strong sense of wonder as Project Gemini and soon after Project Apollo sent Americans to the moon. It was not only a triumph for America in the Cold War, but it was a triumph for all Americans. As Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon, […]
Massive drought. Hurricanes hundreds of miles inland. Drowned polar bears. It does not take a scientist to notice that our environment needs rescuing, but it does take a teacher to empower kids to provide that help. We will look at how to introduce two big environmental topics – water conservation and energy use – in […]