Science Fusion: where science, culture, and opportunity meet!

Unique to the Science Museum of Minnesota, this four-part series brings scientific and educational professionals to a connecting place with kids, tweens, teens, and adults. Nowhere else can you meet, learn from, and communicate with industry people in a you-based atmosphere full of activities. The Science Museum of Minnesota is committed to the future of science and wants to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) career opportunities to everyone. Come celebrate the diversity, creativity, and science expertise within our Twin Cities community.

Science Fusion is great for kids and adults alike. Activities are included in museum admission. Up to four children get in free with each full price adult.

Weaver Lake Principal Gretchen Peel named 2012 Science and Math Principal of the Year

Gretchen Peel, principal of Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math & Technology School, has been named 2012 Science and Math Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The state-level award recognizes "the vital importance of fostering lifelong science and math literacy and honors the key role principals play in developing a culture that encourages and celebrates student interest in math and science."

A great way to get your family outdoors

Check out the Winter version of www.FamiliesOutdoors.Org. As winter vacation approaches this would be a great way to encourage Families to get outdoors WITH their children and enjoy the many winter activities that are available for them. This service is totally free and involves all counties in the METRO area. http://www.familiesoutdoors.org

Creating Digital Science Stories

Laurie Toll and I presented a workshop on Creating digital science stories at the TIES Conference last Tuesday.
The session inspired educators to create a 21st century learning environment by challenging students to publish science and engineering content for a global audience, motivating students to become better scientists and writers and see themselves as contributors to a larger community. Examples include; podcasts, video, Voicethreads and Google stories.
Send me an email if you would like more information or a copy of our presentation.

cotton ball catapults

5th grade students are studying Levers and learning about catapults. This week we engineered cotton ball catapults using a modified version of this activity from PBS kids: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/cottonballcatapult.html

STEM Career Fair 2/3/2011

The 1st annual Weaver Lake STEM career fair will take place on Friday February 3, 2011. If you can help contact Lisa Koch at: kochl@district279.org

Weaver Lake Insect Fair to take place 11/18/2011

Our sixth grade students will have their insect projects judged by scientists from; Boston Scientific, Freshwater Scientific Services, The University of Minnesota and The Department of Natural Resources this Friday.  This activity helps our sixth grade students get ready for the Insect fair at The University of Minnesota in December. For more information check here: Insect Fair

Digital science stories presented at The Works Children's Engineering conference

Laurie Toll and I presented a workshop on Creating digital science stories at the Works Conference last Monday.
The session inspired educators to create a 21st century learning environment by challenging students to publish science and engineering content for a global audience, motivating students to become better scientists and writers and see themselves as contributors to a larger community. Examples include; podcasts, video, Voicethreads and Google stories.

See us present this topic again at this years TIES conference in Minneapolis MN

Monarch Fair Volunteers needed the week of 11/7-11/10

Monarch Fair Volunteers needed the week of 11/7-11/10/ contact Lori Yerbich or Lisa Koch for more information

Fox 9 is looking for super scientists

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/subindex/community/?=sci

Monarch Lab 8/29/2011

The University of Minnesota Monarch Lab scientists will be visiting Weaver Lake to provide staff training for our teachers.  The lab will also bring over 800 tiny monarch larva (caterpillars) for our students.  Get ready for the Monarchs!

5th grade rocketry unit

Fifth grade students begin their annual rocketry unit by engineering straw rockets.  This activity teaches students engineering and science process skills.

Wow Look at the Success of our Tulip Test Gardens!

The Futures Channel

A great resource for for real world math and science videos for free: http://www.thefutureschannel.com/

Look to the Stars

Third grade students practice their astronomy skills in the district Skylab. Third grade students will spend the spring learning about the Sun, Moon and Stars using FOSS kits and web quests aligned with Minnesota State Science standards.

Live Eagle Nest Cam

Great resource for teachers: The Raptor Resource Project (www.raptorresource.org) brings you the Decorah Eagles from atop their tree at the fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/decorah-eagles

Magnet Schools of Minnesota Merit Award now availalbe

Magnet Schools of Minnesota Merit Award
And
Magnet Schools of Minnesota Excellence in Equity and Achievement Award
2011
Application Guidelines

Application Deadline: July 1st, 2011
¢ Schools will be notified of award status during the week of Sept. 12, 2011.
¢ Awards will be presented at the MSMN conference on Oct. 7, 2011.
For more information contact:
Shane Schmeichel
President, MSMN
Shane.Schmeichel@district196.org

The RERUN Method

Today third grade scientists use the RERUN method to write their crayfish investigation conclusions. we use sentence starters to get them all writing!
¢ Recall what you did

Our class completed a crayfish investigation

¢ Explain why you did this lab and what you were trying to find out.

We wanted to know¦

¢ Results- what happened, here is where you report your data, this is where you share if your data supported a hypothesis you had

Our results showed¦

¢ Uncertainty- Any errors in the investigation that you could not control (for example, if your stop watch did not work) or anything that did not go well- perhaps your crayfish did not move, or you changed crayfish mid investigation for some reason.

One thing we were unsure of¦

¢ New questions or new information you learned

We still want to know¦

LEGO Engineering

Students learn engineering and programming skills while working with the Lego Mindstorms NXT robots and software. [caption id="attachment_144" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Student LEGO Engineers "][/caption]

Earth Science Picture of the Day

A favorite science web site is: Earth Science picture of the day   The photo above seemingly shows a sky calligraphed with clouds above Davos, Switzerland. In actuality, they're remnant contrails from Swiss Air Force F/A-18s jets made some hours before. These jets were engaged in training maneuvers. The spirals near the top of the picture result from a mock "dogfight" and are related to hole punch clouds and fall streaks. Note that the zenith is at the top of the photo and southwest is toward the bottom. The fact that these contrails remained intact since the training exercise ended indicates that both sufficient water vapor was present at the level of the jet maneuvers (perhaps 20,000 ft or 6,000 m) and that wind shear was minimal. Where the jets were guided in a steep trajectory, the contrails are more confined; longer sausage-like contrails appear where the jets followed a more horizontal flight path. Photo taken on February 14, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.

Family Engineering Night a Huge Success

Over 200 people attended our first annual family engineering night.   The event was hosted by our friends at The Works: Children's Engineering Museum. Students made ring gliders, sounds sandwiches, investigated circuits and much, much more! This event was a celebration of National Engineers week 2011.

Weaver Lake Recieves National Award

Weaver Lake Recieved the National Magnet Schoolof Excellence Award! Learn more at the Magnet Schools of America Web Site. http://www.magnet.edu/modules/content/index.php?id=138

Investigating Crayfish

Third grade students are beginning their annual crayfish investigations this week.  each group of students participates in an open or guided inquiry investigation based on their questions about these wonderful creatures.