EVENTS CALENDAROctober 1 Full Harvest Moon and Chinese Moon Festival October 2 The Moon and Mars Pair Up October 6 Mars Closest To The Earth October 7-10 Draconid Meteor Showers After Dark October 12-15 Moon and Venus Together before Sunrise October 16 New Moon Supermoon October 20-22 Orionid Meteor Shower (best at late night or before dawn) October 21-23 Moon Near Jupiter and Saturn October 31 Blue Moon and Red Mars on Halloween THE NIGHT SKYOctober is a FABULOUS month for sky watching. It begins (October 1st) with the full harvest moon that many people living in China celebrate with delicious mooncakes. The next night (October 2nd) the moon pairs up with Mars during a time when Mars is especially bright because it is the closest it will be to the Earth for 15 years (October 6th). The moon also gives us amazing views as it meets up with Venus in the morning (October 12th - 16th) and then later in the month with Jupiter and Saturn in the evening (October 21st - 23rd). The month ends on Halloween (October 31st) with a Blue Moon - it is not really the color blue. It is called a blue moon whenever there are two full moons in a month. That is what gives us the expression "every once in a blue moon." In addition to a full moon on Halloween it is again pairing with red Mars. So enjoy this special Halloween sky. In addition to the exciting view of the moon pairing with different planets, October offers two meteor showers. The first the Draconids originate from the direction of the constellation Draco (October 7th - 10th). It is a good one to watch for because you don't have to stay up so late. The meteors are visible after dark. The Orionid Meteor Shower originates from the direction of the constellation Orion (October 20th - 22nd). It will be harder to see as it is usually most active after midnight, but sometimes if you are an early riser you can catch a view of some meteors before sun-up. SCIENCE AT CHARTERSome schools have decided that teaching science online is too hard, so they aren't teaching science right now. Luckily your teachers and school have decided science is too important to skip. All students are receiving science kits to do at home. In addition there are online lessons to go with the kits. Be sure to thank Karen for helping assemble these kits. She and I have put together nearly a thousand kits so far. In addition, Karen and I lead science chats for grades 4-6. If you don't know Karen she was a geologist for many years and a math aid at Charter for the last few years. The science chats are an opportunity for students to meet in small groups to share ideas. Students can get the most out of the science chats by completing the activity in the kit and the online lesson assigned the week before their scheduled science chat. During science chats students share their discoveries and plan for future experiments together.
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A newsletter for SBCS kids and families Why Can't I Go To School?I wrote this story to help kids understand why we are doing remote learning and how we can help defeat the coronavirus. Setting Up Your WorkspaceThis video explains how to set up an ERGONOMIC work area, how to plan for science and how to set up a routine for doing science activities each week. NOTE TO PARENTS: Though the materials I send home are generally safe if you accept the kit you will be responsible for the safe use of the materials. For example if I send home a marble and there are younger children around you will need to keep it away from them. Events CalendarAugust 27- 29 Moon, Jupiter and Saturn together in evening sky September 1-2 Full Corn Moon September 4-6 Moon and Mars together in evening sky September 13-15 Crescent Moon and Venus in the predawn sky September 22 Autumnal (Fall) Equinox September 23-26 Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn together again in the evening sky The Night SkySTUCK AT HOME? TIRED OF SCREEN TIME? (Ok I know some of you will say no to that). Well something new is always happening in the sky. Clouds, Birds, the Moon, Sun, and Stars. Some things to look out for in the night sky for the next month include a big fat gibbous moon near Jupiter and Saturn on some evenings, the full moon on September 2, and a crescent moon near Venus before the sun comes up. Did you know that after a full moon you can see a big moon in the daytime in the morning? So September 3-6 look for the moon in the morning. The fall Equinox is on September 22. Try going outside on the Equinox. How short is your shadow? What direction is it pointing? Did you know this is how ancient people tracked seasons and time? This video shows the shadows on Chichen Itza during the Equinox. Have fun watching the sky. More Science ResourcesDo you LOVE science and want EVEN MORE science learning? There are some wonderful resources available. You can find a link to them here. You may want to bookmark this page.
https://charterscience.weebly.com/online-science-resources.html EVENTS CALENDARMay 7 Last Full Moon Supermoon in 2020 May 11- 14 Moon near Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in the Predawn May 22 New Moon - Dark Skies for Star Watching May 23-25 Crescent Moon Near Venus and Mercury at Sunset June 3 Venus Transitions to Morning Sky So Enjoy It in the Evening During May TRY THIS AT HOME1. Observe animals in your home, yard or neighborhood. I made the video below, The Mystery of the Missing Marbles, based on some animals I observed in my yard. National Geographic has a great article on going on an Indoor Safari. iNaturalist has an app called SEEK which can help you identify animals. 2. Submit a photo or video to Charter TV. Charter TV has videos from charter community members for charter community members. There are art lessons from Mary, Laura and Marianne, dance lessons from Wendy, instructions to build a worm composter from Megan, student pictures, videos and more. You can watch these here: chartertv.weebly.com PASSWORD: charter We would love to see your pictures and videos. Submission instructions are here: http://chartertv.weebly.com/submissions.html 3. Explore science online. There are some amazing free online science resources that I have curated for you. You can find them here: charterscience.weebly.com/online-science-resources.html 4. Watch Generation Genius Videos Generation Genius has short fun videos on the topics in the Next Generation Science Standards. A school wide account has been paid for through August 31st. Though you can sign up for a short trial account I would save that for when our paid account expires. To access our school links to Generation Genius videos click here: charterscience.weebly.com/generation-genius.html THE NIGHT SKY THIS MONTH Enjoy Venus in the evening sky after sunset this month. By June it will have moved to the morning sky. If you have a telescope you will be able to see Venus appearing larger each night as it is in the part of its orbit bringing it closer to the Earth. It also will be in its waning phase - moving towards a "Crescent Venus." In fact, in 1610 watching Venus change phases through his telescope gave the famous astronomer Galileo evidence that the Earth orbits the sun instead of the sun orbiting the Earth as was widely believed.
EVENTS CALENDARApril Wildflowers in Bloom and GLOBAL CITIZEN SCIENCE MONTH April 7 Year's Biggest Supermoon - Full Pink/Grass/ Egg Moon April 9 Daytime Moon Visible after Sunrise April 14-16 Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars together in predawn sky April 22 Earth Day (official date) - celebration postponed until July 10 April 24-26 Crescent Moon and Venus together after Sunset April 28 Venus at its brightest in late April TRY THIS AT HOMETRY ONE OF THESE ONLINE SCIENCE RESOURCES I have compiled a list of online science resources to help you experience science while at home. This list can be viewed here: charterscience.weebly.com/at-home-science.html PLEASE BOOKMARK IT. The list includes podcasts, science news for kids, science videos, at home science activities and more. Let me know if you have any resources to add. SIGN UP FOR A CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT Since April is Global Citizen Science Month I would like to highlight some sites that have citizen science opportunities. scistarter.org and www.zooniverse.org/projects are two great sites. I would particularly like to highlight - Flu Near You: Now Studying COVID-19 "While this crowdsourcing project is focused on tracking the spread of influenza, or flu virus, the developers added COVID-19 related survey questions, to help track that infection as well. The team analyzes and maps thousands of reports of symptoms from people just like you, giving public health officials and researchers real-time information for tracking disease outbreaks." I signed up for this myself and it is very easy. It checks in with you from time to time and you say if you are feeling sick or healthy. Data really matters and this is something you can do while stuck at home to help give scientists information. (Students make sure to get your parent's permission first). SIGN UP NOW. Here is a Science Friday podcast about using citizen science to learn more about COVID-19 : www.sciencefriday.com/segments/citizen-science-covid-19/ GO FOR A NATURE WALK Getting exercise and sunshine boost your immune system. This article tells you how to stay safe while getting outside: www.afar.com/magazine/you-can-still-go-outside-while-social-distancing Spring flowers are blooming. The app SEEK by iNaturalist can help you identify those flowers or this database of Santa Barbara wildflowers can help. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has posted some online field guides to help you identify birds and animals that you may see on your nature walk. THE NIGHT SKY THIS MONTHBoth Venus and the Moon will be at their brightest this month. On April 7th the year's biggest Supermoon will shine bright because the moon will be full at the same time that its orbit is closest to the earth (perigee). The April full moon has been called a pink, grass or egg moon in North America. Which name do you like best?
You can also see a big bright moon in the mornings starting a few days after the full moon. You can use a moonrise/moonset calendar to find out what time you can see the moon. If you see a great daytime moon send me a picture ([email protected]) and I will publish it next month. Venus will also be at its brightest of the year on April 28. Although you can't see them without a telescope Venus goes through phases just like the moon. "It might be hard to believe, but Venus shines at its brightest in our sky when she’s displaying a crescent phase (approximately 25 percent illuminated)." Venus is closest to Earth when it in its new phase (in other words we can't see it). So it is brightest as a crescent just before and just after the new phase because that is when it is close to us but still lit up. We can never see a full Venus because it is on the other side of the sun at that time. EVENTS CALENDARMarch 5 Santa Barbara Charter School Science Festival 6:00-7:30 PM March 6 CHARTER FAMILY LOW TIDE EXPLORATION 1:30 PM Campus Point March 9 Super Worm Moon - 1st of three super moons March 14 Star Party SBMNH 7:30-10:00 PM FREE March 15 Last quarter moon and 4 planets seen at dawn Free Admission Day SBMNH March 20 Spring Equinox and Mars and Jupiter in Conjunction March 25 - 27 Crescent Moon near Venus after sunset CHARTER FAMILY TIDE POOL EXPLORATION: Charter families are invited to join me for a low tide exploration on Friday March 6 at 1:30 PM at Campus Point/UCSB. I will have buckets and field guides for identifying tide pool creatures. I recommend wearing rain boots and a jacket. I will be there rain or shine. If you text or email me your plans to attend, I can be on the lookout for you. ([email protected] or 619-993-4339) This is not an official school sponsored event. You are responsible for keeping an eye on any children you bring - No part of their bodies should touch water unless you are watching them. Always face the incoming waves when observing tide pool creatures. Also please prepare them before you come for being gentle with all sea creatures. DIRECTIONS: Exit Highway 101 northbound at Highway 217. Follow it to the end where it enters the UCSB gate. Go around the big circle and turn on Lagoon Rd. At the end of Lagoon Rd (before the signs that don't allow you to drive further) there is a large parking lot on your left. Read the sign by the pay machine- a few of the stalls are for beach access from 7:30am-5pm on weekdays. THE NIGHT SKYThis month begins the first of three super moons. A supermoon is what we call a moon when its orbit is slightly closer than average. According to EarthSky "We give the distances (as measured between the centers of the moon and Earth) for the three upcoming full moon supermoons: Full moon on March 9, 2020: 222,081 miles or 357,404 km Full moon on April 8, 2020: 221,851 miles or 357,034 km Full moon on May 7, 2020: 224,429 miles or 361,184 km In contrast, the smallest and most distant full moon of the year will fall on October 31, 2020, at a distance of 252,380 miles or 406,166 km. Other exciting astronomical appearances this month include the quarter moon lining up with four planets on March 15 and the conjunction of Mars and Jupiter on the equinox - March 20th. THE EQUINOXThe spring or vernal equinox is when our day and night are about equal. Take a look at these charts of sunrise and sunset in Santa Barbara during the spring equinox (March 20), summer solstice (June 20), fall (autumnal) equinox (Sept 22), and the winter solstice (December 21). This video and article from EarthSky can help you understand the cause of the seasons. earthsky.org/?p=68679
EVENTS CALENDARFebruary 6 Charter Family Tide Pool Exploration 3:30 Campus Point February 8 Star Party SBMNH 7-10 FREE Full Snow Moon February 8 and 9 King Tides share photos for the California King Tides Project February 23 Free Admission Day SBMNH February 14-17 Great Backyard Bird Count February 18 Predawn - Watch the moon pass in front of Mars February 24-27 Dusk - The Crescent moon nears the planet Venus March 5 Charter Science Festival 6-8 PM March 6 1:30 Charter Family Tide Pool Exploration CHARTER FAMILY TIDE POOL EXPLORATIONS: Charter families are invited to join me for a low tide exploration on Thursday February 6 at 3:30 pm (there will also be one on Friday March 6 at 1:30) at Campus Point/UCSB. I will have buckets and field guides for identifying tide pool creatures. I recommend wearing rain boots and a jacket. I will be there rain or shine. If you text or email me your plans to attend, I can be on the lookout for you. ([email protected] or 619-993-4339) This is not an official school sponsored event. You are responsible for keeping an eye on any children you bring - No part of their bodies should touch water unless you are watching them. Always face the incoming waves when observing tide pool creatures. Also please prepare them before you come for being gentle with all sea creatures. DIRECTIONS: Exit Highway 101 northbound at Highway 217. Follow it to the end where it enters the UCSB gate. Go around the big circle and turn on Lagoon Rd. At the end of Lagoon Rd (before the signs that don't allow you to drive further) there is a large parking lot on your left. Read the sign by the pay machine- a few of the stalls are for beach access from 7:30am-5pm on weekdays. CITIZEN SCIENCEThere are two opportunities for your children to participate in citizen science this month. If they enjoy the beach and taking pictures they can participate in the California King Tides Project by snapping pictures at the beach on Saturday February 8 at 8:18 AM or Sunday February 9 at 9:02 AM for a king (extreme high) tide of 6.5 ft. If your child enjoys observing and identifying birds they can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 14-17. "For at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 14-17, 2020, simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish!" Don't worry if you don't know your birds. There is an online identification guide. "Scientists use information from the Great Backyard Bird Count, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations." THE NIGHT SKY THIS MONTHThe full moon on February 8 will cause extreme high (see king tide project above) and low tides (for several days before and after). The winter tends to have more extreme low tides because the earth is closer to the sun. Some good times for tide pooling include Thur Feb 06 at 2:18 PM -1.0 ft Fri Feb 07 2:54 PM PST −1.4 ft Sat Feb 08 3:31 PM PST −1.6 ft Sun Feb 09 4:08 PM PST −1.5 ft Mon Feb 10 4:46 PM PST −1.3 ft Tue Feb 11 5:23 PM PST −0.9 ft This month the moon makes some exciting pairings with the planets Mars and Venus. On February 18 if you don't mind getting up REALLY early you will get to see Mars disappear behind the moon at 3:37:08 AM and Reappear at 4:27:23 AM. Jupiter and Saturn will be lined up with Mars and will be visible that morning as well. But if early morning is not for you then enjoy the crescent moon paired up with the planet Venus at dusk on February 24-27. SCIENCE FESTIVALThe Santa Barbara Charter School Science Festival is Thursday March 5 from 6-8 PM. This fun family event gives students a chance to research an area of interest and then share their knowledge with others. You can find some great projects here: www.exploratorium.edu/snacks Below is a sample format for students' display boards. Please try to re-use display boards from year to year. My children have used the same display board for five years by storing it flat in the back of the closet and using painters tape or re-usable and re-positional sticky dots. It is also helpful to use a clip to hold the folds shut while transporting the board.
EVENTS CALENDARJanuary All month - The Constellation Orion Is Easy to Find January 4-5 Earth Closest to the Sun January 9-13 Afternoon Low Tides 2020/01/09 Thu 3:15 PM -1.18 L 2020/01/10 Fri 3:53 PM -1.40 L 2020/01/11 Sat 4:34 PM -1.47 L 2020/01/12 Sun 5:15 PM -1.36 L 2020/01/13 Mon 5:57 PM -1.08 L January 10 Full Wolf Moon January 22-24 Afternoon Low Tides 2020/01/22 Wed 2:46 PM -1.16 L 2020/01/23 Thu 3:24 PM -1.20 L 2020/01/24 Fri 3:59 PM -1.11 L January 24 New Moon January 25 Audubon Winter Bird Count for Kids 9:00-12:00 Los Carneros Park January 26 - 29 Crescent Moon Near Venus
THE NIGHT SKY THIS MONTHThe winter months are a great time for kids to learn about the constellation Orion because it is visible during prime viewing time (before bed). Here are a few good articles for kids about Orion. www.universetoday.com/54997/astronomy-for-kids-orion-the-star-hunter/ https://www.ouruniverseforkids.com/orion-the-hunter/ kids.kiddle.co/Orion_(constellation) or here is a good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lOxdDyJANA TRY THIS AT HOMEMake a constellation viewer. All you need is a flashlight, toilet paper roll, tape, cardboard and the free printable constellation cards found here: https://playgroundparkbench.com/printable-constellation-cards/ SCIENCE IN THE NEWSSaturn has 82 Moons!!!!
www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/saturn-now-reigns-solar-systems-moon-king EVENTS CALENDARDecember 10 Venus and Saturn Pairing December 11 Full "Cold" Moon December 13-14 Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks December 14 Star Party SBMNH 8:00-10:00 PM FREE ADMISSION December 15 FREE ADMISSION DAY SBMNH December 21 Winter Solstice aka Longest Night December 23- 28 Afternoon Low Tides December 26 New Moon December 27 Crescent Moon Pairs with Venus AFTERNOON LOW TIDES DURING WINTER VACATION - this is a great time for your family to visit the tide pools. 2019/12/23 Mon 2:09 PM -0.80 ft 2019/12/24 Tues 2:52 PM -1.13 ft 2019/12/25 Wed 3:33 PM -1.25 ft 2019/12/26 Thurs 4:14 PM -1.20 ft 2019/12/27 Fri 4:53 PM -1.02 ft 2019/12/28 Sat 5:33 PM -0.74 ft THE NIGHT SKY THIS MONTHThis month is the winter solstice and perihelion (the earth's closest orbit to the sun) is about two weeks later. This means that the earth is getting CLOSER to the sun but the days are SHORTER and cooler because the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. Notice we also have some very low tides during the days around the new moon. This is because the sun and moon are lined up together AND tides are more extreme in the winter because we are CLOSER to the sun thus increasing the gravitational pull. Some other fun observations to be made this month include the Geminid meteor shower which you may see despite the full moon because the showers are bright and active with as many as 50 per hour. Unfortunately, the best viewing is at 2 AM, but you may be able to see some meteors just after dark. For those of you with infants or insomnia enjoy your late night waking by viewing the showers. Super-bright Venus makes a lovely view when paired with Saturn early in the month and with the crescent moon towards the end of the month. TRY THIS AT HOMECLOUD IN A BOTTLE Finally the rain has come. Help your child understand the cloudy weather by making a cloud in a bottle. All you need is an Empty Liter Soda Bottle, Water, and Matches. This video explains how. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G70y90BVes4 MEDIA OF THE MONTHSpeaking of clouds check out this amazing video of weather on both sides of a mountain taken by mountain climbers. SCIENCE IN THE NEWSCause of Seasons by National Geographic www.youtube.com/watch?v=btcTfor-j-c EVENTS CALENDARNovember 1 Crescent Moon near Saturn and Jupiter near dusk November 2 Taurid Meteor Fireballs Peak First Week of November November 9 Supak'a: Sharing Chumash Culture SBMNH FREE ADMISSION Star Party SBMNH 8-10 PM FREE ADMISSION November 12 Full Beaver Moon November 18 Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks in the Predawn Hours November 24 Venus and Jupiter conjunction at sunset November 26 -28 New Moon and Afternoon Low Tides November 27 Crescent Moon near Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn at Sunset THE NIGHT SKYThis month's highlights include the crescent moon partnering with some planets at the beginning and end of the month, some meteor showers including fireballs, a star party at the SBMNH, and some afternoon low tides during Thanksgiving break. Take the family to the beach to view the intertidal creatures exposed by the low tide on any of the following days: Mon 25 2:54 PM PST −0.8 ft, Tue 26 3:39 PM PST −1.1 ft, Wed 27 4:24 PM PST −1.1 ft1, Thu 28 5:11 PM PST −0.9 ft TRY THIS AT HOMEMake Glow-In-The Dark Jello You will need tonic water, jello, and a black light (you can usually find black lights at the hardware store because they are also good for finding scorpions hiding in the wood pile - or your house). Simply make the Jell-O as directed, but substitute tonic water for the cold water. (Kids can help with this entire process—it’s just a bit of pouring and stirring.) Then divide the Jell-O between the glass jars and chill until firm. When you’re ready, gather everyone in a dimly lit room and turn on the black light to experience the spooky glow. Then dig in—the best part about this experiment is that it doubles as dessert. (Instructions here from mylittlesous.com) SCIENCE IN THE NEWSHumpback Whales Blow Bubble Nets to Trap Prey www.dogonews.com/2019/10/24/watch-stunning-video-of-humpback-whales-blowing-bubble-nets-to-snare-prey EVENTS CALENDAROctober 3 Crescent Moon near Jupiter at Sunset October 5 Moon near Saturn this evening October 8 Draconid Meteor Showers- best view in early evening October 12 Star Party SBMNH October 13 Full Hunter's Moon October 20-23 Free Admission Day SBMNH Orionid Meteor Shower - Look for Shooting Stars in the early morning October 27 Free Dia De Los Muertes Craft Activites from SBTHP October 30 Moon Near Jupiter on Halloween THE NIGHT SKYThis month begins with bright Jupiter near a waxing crescent moon and ends with a waning crescent moon near Jupiter on Halloween evening. In between two meteor showers can be viewed. The first, the Draconid meteor shower, is a minor shower but may be worth viewing as it is visible in the early evening when children may still be awake. The second, the Orionid Meteor Shower is visible in the early morning for those of you who are early birds. The name of the meteor shower corresponds to the constellation in which direction it appears. (Draco Constellation for Draconid and Orion Constellation for Orionid). TRY THIS AT HOMEThis month's activity was recommended by Eliza's dad, Brian Emery. Try this interactive map that allows users to enter their address to see how that location has changed over the past 750 million years: dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#0 You can read about the interactive map here: www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/map-lets-you-plug-your-address-see-how-neighborhood-has-changed-over-past-750-million-years-180971507/ SCIENCE IN THE NEWSEliza Emery's dad also recommended this fascinating article and video about temporary rafts of pumice created by volcanic eruption. These pumice rafts contribute to the dispersal of marine organisms. The article: eos.org/articles/volcanic-eruption-creates-temporary-islands-of-pumice The video: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=PEsHLSFFQhQ SBCS Community Contributions to Newsletter WelcomeIf you have suggestions for the science newsletter please email them to [email protected] Suggestions from students and parents enhance the newsletter. If you or your child come across articles, videos, activities, local events, apps, or podcasts of interest please share them.
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Leise Thomason-BA Biology Brown University Categories |