Events CalendarSeptember 5-6 Full Harvest Moon September 9 Astrovaganza at SBMNH September 16 California Coastal Beach Cleanup Explore Ecology September 20 New Moon September 22 Equinox Science at CharterNGSS ADOPTION You may have heard that the NGSS, Next Generation Science Standards, have been adopted by the State of California. The State's time table for these standards indicates that full implementation should occur during the next school year (2018-2019) and that fifth grade students will take the official test that spring. Last spring fifth grade students took the pilot test and this spring they will take the field test. Students do not receive scores for the pilot or field test. Next school year 2018-2019 fifth grade students will receive scores. Fortunately the teachers at Santa Barbara Charter School have been eagerly working on transitioning to the new standards for several years. Last school year several SBCS staff attended many days of training during several conferences through the BaySci area training run by the Lawrence Hall of Science. They will continue to attend several Bay Sci conferences this year. In addition science professional development was provided during teacher inservice last school year and is continuing this school year as well. In addition, teachers are working on science convergence as their collegial coaching goal this year. HOW DOES NGSS DIFFER FROM PREVIOUS STANDARDS? Rather than focusing on mere memorization and comprehension the NGSS asks students to act as scientists and engineers to ask questions, analyze data, and solve problems. In the past a unit on space systems would have focused on having students memorize the names of the phases of the moon and be able to place the phase of the moon correctly in relation to the sun in a diagram of the earth, moon, and sun. With the NGSS, students would use real world observations and models to investigate the causes of the phases of the moon and what impact these phases have on us. They would be able to recognize that the earth, moon, and sun have predictable patterns and to use that knowledge to plan for future events (such as a high tide or bringing extra light for a moonless Halloween). The National Science Teacher's Association hosts an excellent website including facts, graphics, and videos that can answer your questions about the NGSS. http://ngss.nsta.org/About.aspx The Night Sky This MonthIf you didn't get to see the eclipse last month check out these cool reports and videos here: https://www.dogonews.com/2017/8/22/video-of-the-week-historic-total-solar-eclipse-captivates-millions-across-america What to do with your eclipse glasses? Keep them to observe the sun and look for sunspots. For this and other suggestions read here: https://www.livescience.com/60237-do-solar-eclipse-glasses-expire.html This month begins with asteroid Florence passing by Earth. You won't be able to see it without a telescope but it is fun to think about this massive space rock hurtling by. https://www.dogonews.com/2017/8/28/get-ready-for-a-close-encounter-with-a-massive-asteroid If you are up before dawn in September you will see Orion's Belt pointing to the bright star Sirius. The Full Harvest Moon will rise as the sun sets on September 5th (it is technically at its fullest point at 3 AM on the 6th). For the next few days you can view the waning moon in the morning. Towards the middle of the month you can see the moon near Venus in the pre-dawn sky. The moon will be visible later and later in the morning and appear as a smaller and smaller sliver until it is no longer visible. The new moon takes place September 20. Children may notice that it is getting dark much earlier than it was in the summer. September 22nd is the Equinox - the point at which is night and day are almost equal. It is also the day when the sun rises due east and sets due west. To understand more about the Equinox try this article by earthsky.org: http://earthsky.org/tonight/sun-rises-due-east-and-sets-due-west-on-day-of-equinox Or watch this video of shadows marking a petroglyph on the equinox. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYdSlU1KgM8 Try This at Home In honor of Johnny Appleseed's birthday on September 26th make some two ingredient applesauce oobleck. http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/apple-oobleck-science-experiment-made-apple-sauce/ In The News
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Events Calendar August 1-2 Moon near Saturn and Antares August 7 Full Sturgeon Moon (and partial lunar eclipse that is not visible in our part of the world) August 10-13 Perseid Meteor Showers August 17-18 Moon near Venus August 21 SOLAR ECLIPSE!!!!!!!!! August 24 11:50 a.m. Vandenberg Space Launch of Falcon 9 Rocket Science at Charter Thank you to Charter parent, Brian Emery, for sharing the link to this video. It shows an interesting blend of art and science. An artist and scientist collaborate to make homemade lava flows. Brian writes "My kids claimed to not enjoy it but while it was on they were riveted." https://eos.org/articles/homemade-lava-flows-fuse-science-with-art-on-video If you have anything science related to share please email me at [email protected] The Night Sky This Month This month has some amazing astronomical events including the Perseid Meteor Showers on the weekend of August 12 and 13 (see tips for viewing the Perseids here) and THE GREAT AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE ON MONDAY AUGUST 21!!!! This is the first total solar eclipse visible in the United States since 1979. If you are lucky enough to travel to the places in the United States that are in the path of totality you will be able to see the sky get dark and the stars become visible!!! Unfortunately we in Santa Barbara will not be in the path of the total solar eclipse but we will be able to see about 62% of the sun covered by the moon. This will cause enough darkening to affect the electricity produced by solar panels (Loss of 5,611 megawatts expected during eclipse). It is also fabulous to view with solar glasses or a pinhole viewer. The eclipse will start around 9:06 a.m. reach maximum eclipse by 10:21 a.m. and ends at 11:45 a.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has a list of talks and events about the eclipse here: SB Natural History Museum Resources and Presentations on the Eclipse and will broadcast the eclipse live online at https://www.facebook.com/sbmnh/ on August 21 from 10:00AM- 10:30AM. Don't miss it. The next total solar eclipse viewable in the United States won't be until 2024. If you would like to learn more about the solar eclipse you can view the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) special report on eclipses at http://static.nsta.org/extras/solarscience/SolarScienceInsert.pdf Or Earthsky.org has plenty of information about the eclipse. http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-eclipse-of-sun-august-21-2017 Please remind your child never to look directly at the sun even during an eclipse. Either use official solar viewing glasses or you can make a pinhole viewer as described here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/build-a-solar-eclipse-viewer/ Or for a cheap and easy way to view the eclipse requiring no equipment - overlap your fingers to make a grid and view the shadow created by your hands as described here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSHxInLDVDw Try This at Home In preparation for this month's Great American Solar Eclipse try some experiments that relate to the energy we get from the sun. Younger kids can try finding out what melts in the sun. frugalfun4boys.com/2015/06/11/simple-science-experiment-for-kids-what-melts-in-the-sun/ Older kids could build a solar oven from a pizza box. www.homesciencetools.com/a/build-a-solar-oven-project In The News
Flatworm returns from space with two heads!! NASA scientists sent some cut up flatworms into space and some of them came back with two heads - one on each side of its body. Though flatworms have long been known to regenerate despite being cut into pieces - this type of rare regeneration was unexpected. If flatworms (Planaria) fascinate your child you can order them here and raise them. This could make for an interesting science fair experiment. Events Calendar July 3 Earth furthest from the sun (aphelion) July 5,6 Moon near Saturn and Antares July 8 Full Buck Moon July 10 Daytime moon easy to see this week July 23 New Moon July 28 Moon near Jupiter and Spica July 29, 30 Delta Aquaria Meteor Shower - Best views in early morning before dawn Science at Charter Have you been noticing the many butterflies and moths that are active this time of year? In my yard the Swallowtails love the wild fennel. It was covered with Caterpillars a few weeks ago and now they have formed Chrysalis. Do you have a nature photo to share? Email [email protected] to include it in the next newsletter. The Night Sky This Month On July 3 the Earth is at its furthest from the Sun for this year at a distance of 94,505,901 miles (152,092,505 km). The earth is said to be at its aphelion. Perihelion is when it is closest to the sun. Many students and adults alike falsely believe that the seasons are caused by the Earth moving closer or further from the sun due to its elliptical orbit. You can help your child avoid this misunderstanding by pointing out that it is summer now even though we are much further from the sun then we are in January. The seasons are caused by the Earth's tilt - not its distance from the sun. During summer in the northern hemisphere the north pole is tilted towards the sun and in winter is tilted away. The moon pairs with Saturn early in the month and later meets up with Jupiter. The full moon this month is called the full Buck's moon because that is when bucks grow fuzz on their antlers. Try This at Home Cooking with your kids is a fun way to teach them math and science. I have been enjoying using "Eat Your Math Homework" by Ann McCallum. My family just made fruit "fibonacci sticks" as described in the book. The fibonacci sequence is a pattern observed often in nature. It begins 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21.... The Kids Cook Mondays organization has many good suggestions for cooking with kids. When kids cook they learn about measurement and they observe many chemical reactions. You can point out the reason different fats/oils are used for baking based on their melting or smoking points. You can explain that baking soda is used to make baked goods rise because it undergoes a chemical reaction in which gas is produced. Yeast is a living organism that makes bread rise because it breathes. The last time we made yeast bread we took an extra packet and poured it in bottles with water at different temperatures and also one with no sugar. In The News See Through "Glass" Frog Discovered. Its heart can be observed beating due to its transparent skin.
Events CalendarJune 3 World Ocean's Day Festival Sea Center (SBMNH) 10-4 FREE June 7 UCSB Design and Engineering Showcase 2-5 pm June 9 Full Strawberry Micro-Moon June 15 Saturn at Opposition June 21 Summer Solstice June 24 Solstice Parade and New Moon June 29-30 Moon near Jupiter Science at CharterDo you have any science related information, experiences, amazing nature pictures, or news to share? Please email me at [email protected] so that I can include it in the science newsletter. In response to last months discussion of science related tv shows, Charter parent Ashley Richter said: "Another really great show on Hulu is "DIY SCI." The host does all kinds of science experiments, many which you can replicate at home. The content is really engaging, especially the "magic" tricks he performs, followed by the science behind them." Around Town![]() June 3 World Ocean's Day Festival Sea Center (SBMNH) 10-4 FREE The ocean defines our blue planet and supports all life on Earth. Celebrate and support this global day for healthy world oceans by meeting with local marine scientists. Enjoy a fun filled day with activities, music, learning and much more! Fun for all ages! ![]() June 7 UCSB Design and Engineering Showcase at Corwin Pavilion main event 4-5pm, posters 3-4pm. Every year, the Capstone Design Project program offers senior undergraduates throughout the College of Engineering the opportunity to work in teams to solve real-world problems over the course of their senior year at UCSB. Many of these projects are developed in collaboration with industry partners or UCSB research labs. At our Design Fair & Showcase, the student teams all present and demo their final products and showcase their creativity and hard work. June 23, 24 &25 Solstice Parade and Activities 2017 Festival: June 23, 24 & 25, Alameda Park | Parade: Noon, Saturday June 24th, State St. EarthSky.org has information about what causes the summer solstice and what to notice. Maker Mondays and STEAM Sundays (Curiosity Lab) at Central Library. My son and I finally made to a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Sunday at the library. We went on a Star Wars theme day. There were arts and crafts, construction, math (measuring light sabers) a lesson on static electricity (the force) as well as many people in costume. This was a very fun FREE one hour event. Based on my experience I recommend STEAM Sundays as a fun science related activity for elementary students and their families. I haven't yet tried Maker Mondays but look forward to doing so this summer. Has anyone else tried either of these activities? Helping Your Child with MathMany parents and children struggle with math anxiety. In fact parent attitude about math can affect student attitude as well. It turns out there is no such thing as a math person. Everyone can get better at math. The following New York Times article describes the situation. Stanford professor of mathematics education, Jo Boaler, has a website with resources for parents to support their children in math. This includes a FREE online course for parents and students to help develop a growth mindset about math. Bedtime math is an app recommended in the New York Times article. It gives age appropriate math puzzles to do with your child before bed. Fending off math anxiety New York Times https://www.youcubed.org/parents/ http://bedtimemath.org How to learn math free online course The Night Sky This MonthThe days will continue to stay light later as we approach the summer solstice on June 21st. That does make it harder to sky watch with the kids. There are some fun things to watch out for however. This month's full moon on June 9 is known as the strawberry moon as this is often when strawberries are ripe. This year's strawberry moon is also a micro-moon because it is the day this year that the moon is furthest from the earth so it appears a bit smaller than usual. This month also presents some fun planet watching. On June 15 Saturn will be at its closest and brightest position of the year. Towards the end of the month Jupiter will appear near the crescent moon. Try This at HomeFew things are more popular with kids right now than slime. Make some slime then listen to the podcast below to learn more about it! Slime Recipe: In one bowl mix 1 oz. glue (about ¼ of the glue bottle) and ¼ cup water. If you want colored slime, add food coloring to the glue and water mixture. Lift some of the solution out of the container with the stir stick and note what happens. Add ¼ cup of Sodium Tetraborate (Borax) Solution to the glue and water mixture and stir slowly. The slime will begin to form immediately. Lift some of the solution with the stir stick and observe how the consistency has changed from Step 1. Stir as much as you can, then dig in and knead it with your hands until it gets less sticky. This is a messy experience but is necessary because it allows the two compounds to bond completely. Don't worry about any leftover water in the bowl; just pour it out. When not in use, store the slime in a plastic bag in the fridge to keep it from growing mold. - See more at: https://www.homesciencetools.com/learning-center/how-to-make-slime#sthash.OwuT9qjw.dpuf The Science of Slime: What is it and why are we so obsessed with it: Brains On Podcast. In The NewsStunning new dinosaur fossil discovered: National Geographic Article.
Events Calendar Add these events to your google calendar at: http://charterscience.weebly.com/ May 6, 7, 8 Moon near Jupiter and Spica May 10 Full Flower Moon May 11- 13 Moon near Saturn and Antares May 21 Moon near Venus in pre-dawn sky May 25 New Moon Supermoon closest of year Science at Charter Our Charter Family Nature Exploration was quite fun. Thank you to Sharon Tollefson for leading our exploration - especially the epic game of coyote and fawn. I am missing a few field guides. If you might have ended up with one of my field guides by accident please leave it in Jil's room when you get a chance. Thank you. Since families have been enjoying our nature events I intend to plan another for the fall. The Night (and Day) Sky this Month As we move closer to summer, the sun rises earlier and sets later, making watching the night sky with children more difficult. If you do happen to be up while it is dark look for the planet Jupiter, which is the brightest object in the night sky this month, and the planet Venus, which is the brightest object in the predawn sky. There is much to learn from observing the daytime sky. This article describes what to look for in the daytime sky including the sun, moon, meteors, and some planets. http://earthsky.org/space/10-surprising-things-to-see-in-the-daytime-sky I enjoy using my free skyview app to observe the daytime sky so that I can "see" where the planets and stars are positioned in the sky even though it is too bright to actually see them (mostly). I have found that viewing their position several times throughout the day helps me understand the motion of the earth and its place amongst the celestial bodies. Many children and adults alike may not realize that the moon is visible during the daytime for much of the month. This month begins with a waxing crescent moon visible all day long (though it will be easiest to see as the sky gets dark and the moon sets in the western sky). The moon will appear later each day until around May 10th when the full moon rises around sunset. A few days later begin looking for the moon in the morning sky. Finally around May 26th the moon won't be visible during the day or night as it is a new moon, meaning that the dark side is facing us during the daytime. This month's new moon is also the closest the moon will be to the earth all year. This makes it a "supermoon" but since it is a new moon we won't be able to see it (you may remember this winter when the supermoon was during the full moon and made it appear larger than usual). This article by earthsky.org focuses on four ideas to help master the phases of the moon. http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/understandingmoonphases This five minute animated video also helps understand the phases of the moon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-pt_P8_7gM The phases of the moon are very predictable. The chart below lets you know approximately what time to look for the moon. Try this at home SCIENCE TELEVISION SHOWS Nothing beats getting out in nature. However, even the most motivated of us have days when having a little screen time can be relaxing. My son, Atticus (second grade), enjoys such classics as Bill Nye the Science Guy on Netflix but also has recently discovered new shows such as Odd Squad and SciGirls on PBS. Odd Squad features kid "agents" using math to investigate weird phenomena. It is a bit whacky, but fun and educational. SciGirls is an educational show that features real kids (not actors) exploring science. There are some episodes that feature the girls participating in citizen science. This would be a great model for those of you already thinking ahead to next year's science fair. PODCASTS You can also listen to some podcasts on the school commute. Here are some of the best podcasts about science for kids: BrainsOn podcasthttp://www.brainson.org/podcast/ Tumble podcast http://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/ ScienceFriday podcasts and lessons for use by parents and teachers https://www.sciencefriday.com/educate/ SCIENCE EXPERIENCES Spring is a great time for observing nature. Consider entering your observations in "Nature's Notebook" a citizen science project for people of all ages. https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook In the News Noticing Mistakes Boosts Learning.
A newly published study shows that children who pay close attention to their mistakes learn more quickly. Those who have a growth mindset (believe they can do better through hard work) learn more than those with a fixed mindset (believe that they have a fixed amount of intelligence). https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/noticing-mistakes-boosts-learning Events Calendar Add these events to your google calendar at: http://charterscience.weebly.com/ April 1 See Mercury and Mars after sunset this month April 6 Moon meets up with Star Regulus April 7 Jupiter in opposition April 10 Full Pink/Egg/Easter Moon near Jupiter and Spica April 14 Moon near Saturn in the predawn sky April 19 Charter Family Nature Exploration at Lake Los Carneros April 21 Lyrid Meteor Showers best viewing before dawn April 22 Moon Near Venus in the morning sky April 22+23 Earth Day Festival and Green Car Display April 26 New Moon/Supermoon April 29 Venus its brightest in morning sky April 30 BranchOut SBMNH preregistration required Science at Charter SCIENCE NIGHT Science Night was exciting and well attended. Thank you to all students and their families for their support. If you have any leftover materials from your projects that you do not want to keep please consider donating it to the school. We will be making kits for students to use during our after school science fair preparation workshops next year. Please bring leftover science materials to your child's teacher. Charter Family Nature Exploration at Lake Los Carneros Wednesday April 19 at 3:30 PM Lead by Sharon Tollefson and Leise Thomason At the last tide pool exploration many parents requested a nature walk. I have noticed how much my son enjoys the magical nature walks that Sharon Tollefson leads for Jil's class so I asked for her help. She has graciously agreed to help lead a nature play and exploration afternoon at Lake Los Carneros. We will observe birds and nature. We will have some magnifying glasses and field guides to share. We will explore the tule and look for tracks. We will play nature games such as coyote and fawn. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and dirty. A water bottle, hats, long sleeves and/or sunscreen, and insect repellent will be helpful. Directions: We will meet at the main entrance on La Patera (where the paved path begins). It is between Shamrock Ave. and Monmouth Ave. You can email me [email protected] or text me at 619-993-4339 to let me know you are coming or if you have questions. Around Town Earth Day and Green Car Expo April 22 and April 23 Alameda Park, Santa Barbara Spring Wildflowers - with all the rain we have had now is a great time to view spring wildflowers. If you enjoy observing nature with your kids you can download this app to participate in Citizen Science with iNaturalist. iNaturalist Uses your smart phone as a field tool for science! From hikers to birders to beachcombers, the world is filled with naturalists. By taking photos and uploading them to iNaturalist, citizen scientists of all ages and abilities can record a wealth of information about nature. The SB Botanical Gardens participates in and occasionally has trainings for iNaturalist. Santa Barbara's new interactive science museum MOXI is now open. Maker Mondays and STEAM Sundays (Curiosity Lab) at Central Library. ![]() BranchOut: Nature Escape Room Event at SBMNH Sunday, April 30, 2017. Pre-register NOW to attend for FREE at www.sbnature.org/tickets. BranchOut designs activities that give kids an experience in nature they will never forget. Modeled off the popular "escape room" movement, games are brought to life where kids are the heroes on a quest to solve an environmental mission before time runs out. Participants must work together to solve puzzles and challenges, exploring nature and the great outdoors for clues. Guardians are encouraged to participate with their child in this family event; all participating guardians/adults must also reserve a spot when signing up. The Night Sky this Month As we move closer to summer the days get longer so staying up to observe the sky with children becomes more difficult. (see Sunrise/Sunset table for times). So be sure to watch this month if you can. Earthsky.org/tonight describes what you can see in the sky each night in more detail than provided here. This month provides good viewing of the Lyrid meteor showers, the stars Regulus and Spica, and the planets Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Mercury Spotting Challenge: As the planet closest to the sun Mercury is often lost in the sun's glare. The first week of April after sunset it will be visible very low on the eastern horizon after sunset for about 90 minutes and Mars will be above it. Mars is easy to spot because of its orangish glow but Mercury will require an unobstructed view of the western skyline. Are you up for the challenge of finding this elusive planet? Jupiter Jupiter will be the brightest object in the night sky as the Earth will be passing between Jupiter and the sun on April 7th. Since Jupiter will be directly opposite the sun it will rise at sunset and set at sunrise. It will also be at its closest approach to the Earth on April 8, coming to within 414 million miles (666 million kilometers) of Earth. You will have a beautiful view of the moon, Jupiter, and Spica on April 11. The full moon falls the night before on April 10 and is the first full moon of spring known as the pink, egg, or easter moon. New Moon Supermoon Later in the month the new moon on April 26 is also a supermoon. So it is closer to earth than usual and would appear slightly larger if we could see it (the new moon is the time of the month we can't see the moon because it is between the earth and the sun). The tides will be higher and lower than usual around then as well. Unfortunately the low tides will be during the dark hours of the early morning so won't be good viewing. Saturn and Venus With daylight savings time sunrise is still relatively late (starting the month at 6:45 am and ending the month at 6:09 am) and there are many exciting observations to make this month in the predawn sky this month. View Saturn near the moon in the predawn sky on April 14 and Venus near the moon in the predawn sky of April 22. During this time of year when Venus is seen in the morning (instead of at night as it has been) it is often called the morning star (even though it is a planet). Because of the angle between the Earth, Venus, and the sun we never see Venus fully illuminated. Venus has phases like the phases of the moon but we never see the "Full" Venus. On April 29th Venus is as fully illuminated as we ever see it and so will be at its brightest and because Venus is the second planet from the sun it is quite bright. You will even be able to see it a bit after dawn. Lyrid Meteor Shower It will be especially worth getting the kids up early on the morning of April 21st to see the Lyrid Meteor shower which produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour and sometimes even produces fireballs. It is called the Lyrid Meteor shower because it is visible in the constellation Lyra. You can use the free SkyView app to help you find Lyra. Try this at home Many cultures around the world incorporate eggs in their spring festivals. If you have leftover eggshells you can use them as fun planters. http://www.mainlyhomemade.com/crafts/eggshell-planter-grow-egghead-hair/ Fill with damp potting soil or laundry lint and sprinkle chia or wheat seeds on top. Keep them moist with a spray bottle. When the plants are large enough gently crush the eggs and plants in the ground. You can also dye eggs using natural dye. http://www.marthastewart.com/267850/dyeing-eggs-naturally If you have dyed eggs using commercial dye you can put celery sticks in the leftover dye to see how plants absorb water. http://www.kiwicrate.com/projects/Celery-and-Food-Coloring-Experiment/571 In the News New Solar System Found to Have 7 Earth Size Planets by Science News for Students https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/new-solar-system-found-have-7-earth-size-planets The picture below is speculation. You can't actually see the planets through a telescope. Astronomers discovered their presence and size by the change in brightness of the star as the planets pass in front of it. ![]() Events Calendar Wednesday, March 1st Mars, Venus, and Uranus near the Moon after dark. Saturday, March 4th Moon occults Aldebaran Sunday, March 12 Full Moon (Worm Moon, Crow Moon or Sap Moon. Last full moon of winter.) March 13 and 14 Moon near Jupiter at Sunset Thursday. March 16 SB CHARTER SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR Sunday, March 19 Free Family Nature Day SB Museum of Natural History Monday, March 20 Spring Equinox Tuesday, March 28 New Moon Around TownSanta Barbara's new interactive science museum MOXI is now open. Maker Mondays and STEAM Sundays (Curiosity Lab) at Central Library. Free Family Nature Day SBMuseum of Natural History Sunday, March 19 Science Fair Santa Barbara Charter School hosts its All School Science Fair on the evening of Thursday March 16. You can find many resources to help your child with their project at our website charterscience.weebly.com under parent resources. If your child is interested in participating in citizen science (where the public can help scientists with a study) for their science fair project many opportunities exist. For example students can track noise pollution through NoiseTube, or light pollution through Cities at Night. They can study clouds through NASA GLOBE , seasonal change through Nature's Notebook or pollinators through Nectar Connectors. Nature WalksOur three tide pool explorations have been very fun. Last month we found a sweet potato sea cucumber, a larval lobster, and brittle sea stars. Each time we have visited the tide pools we have found different organisms. We have had so much fun that people have asked for more nature experiences. In particular parents are requesting nature walks. I am planning one for April. If you have ideas for this or would like to lead a walk please let me know. [email protected] The Night Sky this MonthThis month's night sky begins with the glittering gems of Venus, Mars, and Uranus near the moon as darkness falls on March 1st. (Uranus may require binoculars to see. As a distant planet it never appears bright like Venus). On March 4th the bright star Aldebaran will not only be very close the the moon it will actually pass behind it. If you watch it will begin to disappear behind the moon at 8:10 pm and begin to reappear at 8:31 pm. This is a great opportunity for students to observe the motion of the moon relative to the heavens. Earthsky.org explains this phenomenon and has graphs to help visualize what happens. On the evenings of March 13 and 14 after sunset Jupiter will be visible near the moon. Spring EquinoxMonday March 20th is the SPRING EQUINOX! EarthSky.org explains the cause of the vernal (spring) equinox and includes the video below. The travelchannel.com has beautiful pictures of spring celebrations around the world. Try this at home Sprout seeds in an eggshell. You can use grass, wheat, chia or other seeds. http://www.funinthemaking.net/2008/05/14/egg-heads-with-grass-hair/ With all the rain we have been having finding earthworms is easy. Build an earthworm tower from a soda bottle and observe them work. earthworm tower instructions. In the NewsLED Lights may be used to Save Sea Turtles. In this article by the World Wildlife Fund a researcher is exploring using LED lights in fishing nets to prevent sea turtles from getting stuck in them.
Events CalendarFebruary 8 - 11 Low Tide in the late afternoon Thursday. February 9 LAST CHARTER LOW TIDE EXPLORATION (until December) Friday February 10 Full Moon and Penumbral Lunar ECLIPSE also National Umbrella Day Sunday February 26 New Moon Science FairSanta Barbara Charter School hosts its All School Science Fair on the evening of Thursday March 16. You can find many resources to help your child with their project at our website charterscience.weebly.com under parent resources. (If you know of any other resources I should include please email me [email protected]) I encourage you to invest in a sturdy display board, reusable adhesive dots, and some large clips. The reusable adhesive dots will allow you to re-use the display board without ripping the backing. My daughter used the same display board 8 times while at Charter and now that she is in junior high, my son (a second grader) will be using it for his first science fair project. Clipping the wings of the tri-fold down help keep them from ripping during transport. Storing it flat in the back of a closet keeps it safe until needed. If you want to be even more economical/environmentally friendly you can find instructions for making a display board from recycled card board here: http://craftingagreenworld.com/2013/10/21/back-school-ideas-project-display-board-upcycled-cardboard/ Low TideFebruary is your last chance to enjoy significant low tides at a convenient time until December. Low tides for this month: Wednesday February 8 at 2:22 PM PST / -1.1 ft. Thursday February 9 at 3:02 PM PST / -1.2 ft. Friday February 10 at 3:39 PM PST / -1.1 ft. Saturday February 11 4:16 PM PST / -0.8 ft CHARTER FAMILY TIDE POOL EXPLORATION: Charter families are invited to join me for a low tide exploration on Thursday, February 9 at 3:15 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. 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 Sky this Month This month we will be able to see part of the lunar eclipse from 5:42 pm - 6:53 on Friday February 10. You will have to pay close attention though because it is only a penumbral (the faint outer shadow of the earth) eclipse so it is hard to tell the difference from a regular full moon. It is still worth looking out for because if you watch carefully it gives you a sense of the motion of the earth and the moon. You can see a simulation of what it will look like here. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/santa-barbara. An eclipse occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are aligned. Most of the time the moon is about 5 degrees off of the plane of the earth and the sun which is enough that eclipses do not occur all the time. (This video explains why we have eclipses and why they don't happen every month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgbK2FZFFd ) Because of this lineup in February, there is also a partial solar eclipse on February 26. However it will not be visible in North America. We WILL be able to see the total solar eclipse on August 21. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible in the United States since 1979. I will let you know more about that as we get closer to that date. Science and Technology at the Central LibraryMAKER SPACE MONDAYS: Learn 3D design, print your creations on our 3D printer, and tinker with technology every Monday from 4-7pm at Central Library. Open to all ages! STEAM SUNDAYS: Central Library has a new program on Sundays at 2 pm for elementary school students that celebrates all things STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math)! Come experiment with science, build with Legos, tinker with technology, and have tons of fun with us! This program is for children 7 years and older. |
Leise Thomason-BA Biology Brown University Categories |