Monday, May 4, 2009

Grades 1-5: Great Trees...Great Stories... Great Kid!



Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge andBotanical Research Institute of Texas will host this exciting FREE videoconference
Great Trees…Great Stories…Great Kids! Grades 1st-5th
Friday May 15th, 2009 10:45 - 11:30 AM CST
Click here to register now!

Registration deadline: May 12th
During this FREE "view only" program you will meet this year’s winners of the second annual Great Tree Story Essay Contest for third grade students of the Fort Worth ISD. This year’s grand and first prize winning authors will read their winning essays during a videoconference delivered from the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge.
Guest of honor , Deborah Ferguson a journalist with the Dallas/Fort Worth NBC affiliate, Channel 5 News, will participate in the broadcast by reading Alan Zweibel’s heart-rending book, Our Tree Named Steve .


The Great Tree Story Essay Contest is a part of The Great Tree Project. Go to http://www.brit.org/education/great-trees/ to learn more about the contest, the Tree Ring, or to share your own story about a “great” tree.


Laurie Hogle lhogle@esc11.net or Lori Hamm lhamm@esc11.net . Connect2Texas is a service offered by Education Service Center Region XI3001 North FreewayFort Worth, TX 76106(817) 740-3625

Grades 5-12: Are There Other Earth-Like Planets?


Are There Other Earth-Like Planets? You are invited to hear a NASA scientist talk about the search for other planets outside of our solar system. Each Wednesday in May as part of the NASA Careers Videoconference Series, a researcher will talk about several current and future missions to discover other planets.See the DLiNFocus web page for details about each week: http://erc.arc.nasa.gov/dln
May 6 – Dr. Jon Jenkins will talk about the current Kepler mission and some of the first images received this month
May 13 – Dr. Kerri Cahoy will talk about her work planning a future mission, PECO, to photograph earth-like planets
May 20 – Tracy Drain will talk about the engineering challenges of missions to Mars and the Kepler Mission
Other topics:
May 27 – Mike Madson will talk about air traffic control and designing future airports
June 3 - A researcher to be announced will talk about robotics from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Details:
When: Every Wednesday at 10:00 PDT (1:00 EDT)Who: Any middle school or high school class
Duration: 45 minutes
Each presentation will consist of a 30 min presentation on the researcher’s career and their work, then participating schools will have a chance to ask questions for 15 min.

Grades 7-8: Abe Lincoln - Our Greatest Commander in Chief




May 15 - Armed Forces Day
Abraham Lincoln
Our Greatest Commander in Chief



9:15 - 10:00
10:30 - 11:15
12:30 - 1:15
Subject area: American History

Grade levels: 7 - 8

Celebrate Armed Forces Day with SOITA on Friday, May 15th as we honor the accomplishments of our greatest Commander in Chief, Abraham Lincoln. Honest Abe is 200 years old this year and is regarded by most historians as our greatest president and leader of the U.S. Armed Forces. Former history teacher Dave Gibson joins with Lincoln impersonator James Crabtree to provide an excellent program that will focus on Lincoln's role in the Union victory that led to the survival of the United States of America in the face of civil war. This will be a great opportunity for 8th grade students to review important concepts of the Civil War they learned about this school year. In addition, 7th graders will find this program an effective way to become acquainted with the subject matter they will be studying next year. Time will be allocated for student questions of our presenters.Please note: there is a limit on the number of sites per session. Registrations are on a first-come basis.
Click here for the registration form.

For more information and listing of Ohio Academic Content Standards, click here.



1. Questions? Contact Bob Stricker at bob@soita.org or 937-746-6333.

2. Cost: each session is $50

3. Want to place a test call to SOITA? Dial 216.48.137.41

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Grades 6-8 or 9-12: The Barnett Shale





FREE
Videoconference
Ask the Expert: The Barnett Shale

presented by
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Friday, May 8th
10:45 - 11:15 CST
Click here to register for Grades 6-8
or

11:30 - 12:00 CST
Click here to register for Grades 9-12

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is looking for a few middle and high school classes to participate in a very special science distance learning opportunity about the Barnett Shale, an important topic in the North Texas region.
This opportunity will consist of a free 30-minute distance learning program, free classroom materials and a short survey to be filled out by your students prior to the program that will be needed for this program as well as other programs around energy at the Museum. (We promise that the survey will take no more than 10 minutes).
We’ve all heard about the Barnett Shale-now learn more about what is really going on right underneath our feet. We invite you to join AndrĂ©e Griffin, Manager of Geology for XTO Energy, and other classrooms and learn more about the geology of our region and why Barnett Shale is so important. We’ll need your students’ feedback to make this program a success. Look for an email from our staff right after you register for the program with more details.
Please register as quickly as possible to ensure your spot!


________________________________________
To register go to www.Connect2Texas.net .

To be removed from this list e-mail either
Laurie Hogle lhogle@esc11.net or Lori Hamm lhamm@esc11.net .
Connect2Texas is a service offered by
Education Service Center Region XI
3001 North Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76106
(817) 740-3625

Upcoming Programs from MAGPI


Shine the Spotlight on Music LiteracyGrades K-3May 18, 2009 * 10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. EDTOpen and MAGPI Members with H.323 Videoconference CapabilitiesMore Information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/musicliteracy.html
Join Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassoon Daniel Matsukawa, storyteller Michael Boudewyns, and teaching artist Mary Javian for an exciting program that will highlight the children’s book, A Chance to Shine. Designed to spark the imaginations of an elementary-age audience, this interactive performance emphasizes the importance of teamwork and encourages children (and adults!) to show respect through their actions and appreciate that every voice makes a difference. Through books and music, we will celebrate our individuality, diversity, and the fact that we’re each special in our own way.
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Hip Hop and Conflict ResolutionGrades 6-12May 19, 2009 * Multiple SessionsOpen and MAGPI Members with H.323 Videoconference CapabilitiesMore Information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/hiphop.html
How can hip hop movement and break dancing contribute to conflict resolution? Join us for this engaging demonstration and virtual student workshop aimed at exploring the use of dance toward conflict resolution. The videoconference agenda will include a brief history of hip hop and ADHK artists will demonstrate locking, popping, up-rock & b-boy styles of break dancing. Participants will practice step-by-step breakdowns of the movements. Make sure you have plenty of space for students to move around! This project is brought to you by ArcheDream.
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Origins: Hour 2 – How Life Began. Part of the Science in the Cinema Project May 7 , 2009 * 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ETTarget Grade Levels: Grades 9-12Open to National Participation and MAGPI Members with H.323 Videoconference CapabilitiesMore information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/sciencecinema.html
Join Dr. Dr. Chi-hua Chiu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University for a discussion about the origins of life. NOVA’s Origins: How Life Began provides the basis for the discussion. How did things go from non-living to living? How did it go from something that could not reproduce to something that could? Do we really know? Is there a recipe for life? Students should be familiar with the video and/or its content, and should prepare questions ahead of time for Dr. Chiu.
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CHARACTER EDUCATION: Understanding Girls’ Friendships and ConflictMay 6, 2009; 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. EDTGrades K-6 EducatorsOpen to National Participation and MAGPI Members with H.323 Videoconference CapabilitiesMore Information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/girlsfriendships.html

Educators are increasingly aware of and concerned about the impact of cliques and girls' unique ways of dealing with friendships, conflict and aggression on classroom dynamics, social interactions, and girls' social and emotional development. This presentation looks at psychological research, popular media portrayals, and teachers' experiences in examining gender differences in girls' and boys' friendships, schoolwork and play patterns. The implications for conflict resolution are explored as well as the developmental differences in expressions of anger and the roles girls assume. Character education strategies will be presented for educators to use in helping girls develop healthy relationships and prevent relational aggression. Expect to have small group discussions and report back to the videoconference audience of educators; appoint a note taker who will bring paper and pen to the videoconference. This event is a partnership between MAGPI and the National Liberty Museum.

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VRDL: Virtual Reality in YOUR Classroom Project (Grades 4-12 Educators; Higher Education Faculty)
Open to MAGPI Member InstitutionsFee: $375/pp (on site training)May 21st or 22nd, 2009
More Information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/vrdl.htmlRegistration closes on May 8, 2009

Imagine exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu, or climbing down the strata of the Grand Canyon, or even exploring the vast reaches of space, without ever leaving your seat! Virtual reality allows kids of all ages to explore places - both real and imaginary - that they might not able to see in real life, and that they could certainly never see in the classroom. The Virtual Reality Development Lab (VRDL) represents the next step in bringing education and technology together. With the VRDL, students can not only explore the world of virtual reality, they can create their own "virtual worlds" while learning to use the cutting edge tools that they'll need in an increasingly techno-savvy society. MAGPI invites you to learn how to use the exciting new technology in your classroom or institution!


Heather Weisse Walsh
MAGPI Applications Coordinator
3401 Walnut Street, Suite 233A
Philadelphia, PA 19104
e: hweisse@magpi.net
p: 215-573-6417
aim: magpik20

Grades 2-3: Learning to Draw Conclusions



Wednesday, May 6
Learning to Draw Conclusions

Offered two times.

Space is limited.

11:00-11:45 and 1:00-1:45

Subject area: English Language Arts
Grade levels: 2 - 3

Drawing conclusions can be like trying to solve a mystery. Making conclusions about what is likely to happen in a story is a skill that will help students become more analytical. It can also heighten the students' interest in stories as they become eager to find out if their predictions are correct. Join us as we become detectives trying to figure out what might happen next!

Please note: there is a limit on the number of sites per session. Registrations are on a first-come basis.

1. Questions? Contact Bob Stricker at bob@soita.org or 937-746-6333.

2. Cost: each session is $50

3. Click here for the Registration Form.

4. For more information and listing of Ohio Academic Content Standards, click here.

5. Want to place a test call to SOITA? Dial 216.48.137.41

Grades 5-12: KURDISTAN in Northern IRAQ


What do your students know about the country of KURDISTAN, in northern IRAQ and the Kurdish people???

Nashville, Tennessee (home for the Vanderbilt Virtual School) became a “city of refuge” in the United States for the Kurds in 1990, and Nashville now has the largest Kurdish community in the United States, numbering approximately 12,000 people.

Come and find out more about KURDISTAN on WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2009 as our Windows on the World series spotlights the country of KURDISTAN, in northern IRAQ.

KURDISTAN Lesson Plan: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/programs/windowsontheworld/kurdistan.htm


REGISTER for VIDEOCONFERENCE: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/registration.htm

Come join this videoconference as we take a virtual tour and learn about KURDISTAN and meet
some Kurds living in Nashville.

KURDISTAN as a country on a map was erased from the world's maps after World War I when the Allied Powers carved up the Middle East and denied the Kurds a nation-state. More than twenty million Kurds live in parts of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Throughout the 20th century their struggles for political and cultural autonomy were opposed by the region's countries, and the Kurds were often used as pawns in regional politics.

A largely Sunni Muslim people with their own language and culture, most Kurds live in the generally contiguous areas of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Syria – a mountainous region of southwest Asia generally known as Kurdistan ("Land of the Kurds"). The Kurds have been subjugated by neighboring peoples for most of their history. In modern times, Kurds have tried to set up independent states in Iran, Iraq and Turkey, but their efforts have been crushed every time. After centuries of invaders, the Kurdish people remain unconquered and unassimilated. The geopolitics of the oil and water rich region inhabited by Kurds keeps the fractionalized countries constantly in ethnic conflict. Kurdistan, "the land of Kurds", is an extensive plateau and mountainous area in the Middle East, inhabited mainly by Kurds and encompasses the Zagros and the eastern Taurus mountain ranges.


Time: 9:00 and 10:00 AM (CENTRAL time zone)
Targeted Audience: students in grades 5-12
Format: 45-minutes formatted into 30-minute presentation, and then 15-20 minute Q & A
Cost: $75 per site
Questions: Chandra Allison, at (615) 322-6511 or email chandra.allison@vanderbilt.edu

____________________________________________

YOU MAY ALSO REGISTER FOR ARCHIVED STREAMING OF ANY VIDEOCONFERENCE SESSIONS at:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/registrationstreaming.htm

Archived Streaming is “on demand” any day and any time of the day!