Emails+from+the+NSTA+Lists

This is a compilation of the emails either sent to me or posted on the list as of 12/11/2009 at 12:39. I posted the emails under the names of the people who posted in chronological order. I know that the whole thing started with Margie's original posts, my suggestion to working together and Debbie's volunteering to write the "menu", and, of course, this amazing list of volunteers to write or locate curriculum that fits our needs. At this point, I think we should post our ideas and/or lessons as we have time to work on them. I posted a few things on the discussion page. I am not quite sure because I've never done a wiki before. I think this project will force me to learn. I thought that this might be the place to look if you are interested in working with someone or were trying to divide "jobs". We need a volunteer for that.

1. Nora McDevitt Nora.McDevitt@Youngstown.k12.oh.us Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:28 PM [NSTA Earth Science] At this point we have several volunteers to develop a geology unit for sharing. (There are many other suggestions but I think we should start with this one and see how it goes.) Debbie is going to make the menu and those who are interested can work on the parts. If two or more want the same part, we can have both write plans to offer choices to the people on the list. If two want to collaborate, they can email each other and then present what they have done to the group. Do we need a timeline? (I propose waiting for Debbie before setting deadlines. After all, it is our holiday season.) Cheers, Nora 2. jennifersgarden2@aol.com [jennifersgarden2@aol.com] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 5:23 PM Hello All! I teach elementary and middle school science and therefore teach all of the principles and content areas of earth science that you all mentioned. I would love the opportunity to collaborate on a group effort to devise curriculum. Jennifer Reaves, Science and Computer Teacher, Grace and St. Peter's School, Baltimore City, MD, Jennifersgarden2@aol.com 3. Ronald Fabich [rfabick@zoominternet.net Wednesday, December 09, 2009 5:11 PM Sounds like we've got something going here on the topic. I'll help too. So is this going to be a "Science e'Cafe" ? Ron Pres.- Ohio Earth Science Teachers Association, Regional Director, East-Central Section - National Earth Science Teachers Assoc. Member - Ohio's Science Standards and Graduation Test Committees 4. kennede2874@comcast.net [kennede2874@comcast.net] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:58 PM  I would be happy to be involved and use Google Docs quite a bit with my students. I teach most aspects of earth/environmental science.....or have taught it at some point. Best, Erin Fox Chapel Area HS Pgh PA 5.  Beth Marchant [bmarchant@comcast.net] Thursday, December 10, 2009 11:14 AM We can always make a page on the wiki for states and collaborations. Beth Tuesday, December 08, 2009 10:12 PM I would also be interested in helping with this. I taught high school earth science 10 years or so ago. One suggestion would be to use Google Documents, where many people can share ideas in a shared folder using text, spreadsheet and presentation software that is all part of the package. Or, you can use your own software and put something into the folder that way. I have set one up here that you can look at to decide if you want to use it. I have created a text, spreadsheet, presentation and form documents to be looked at as examples only. (I am not trying to drive the project, just offering some tools to make it easier to work together.) Check out the google doc folder at (make sure you get the whole line): [] I have set it up so that anyone who signs up by clicking on the above link can view and edit all materials. If there is someone who seems to be destructive in the process, I believe that I can limit that person's access. Please distribute the link to all who might be interested. I am most curious to see how we can do as a random group of science teachers in developing a curriculum module (or whatever you want to call it). Peace, Beth Beth Marchant Marchant Educational Consulting 25756 Little Fox Trail South Bend, IN 46628 574-360-1864 bmarchant@comcast.net Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:56 PM I would suggest that we drop my Google docs idea as a repository and use the wiki. Many people have e-mailed me saying they can't get to the content, and I don't have any answers why it is not working as expected. Is it appropriate to crosslist to the earth science listserv and to this one so that all people get the same info? Also, on differentiation, I would suggest that we put all of the activities under the same heading. This gives me the advantage as a teacher of choosing the appropriate activities for my classes and another teacher can choose those for his or her classes. An advanced middle school can certainly choose to do something suggested as a high school activity in the same way that a lagging high school student may choose to do an activity that was originally listed as middle school. Beth 6. Dina Wingfield [dwingfie@gips.org] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:15 PM I teach 8th grade Physical Science and I, too, love the idea and the possibilities of what we could do! Count me in! Dina Wingfield Barr Middle School 8th Grade Physical Science Grand Island Public Schools Grand Island, NE 7. Hunt, Sara [sara.hunt@minnetonka.k12.mn.us] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 3:56 PM I would be interested in participating. I teach earth science to 8th graders and am looking for many options for different units for differentiation purposes. Sara Hunt 8th Grade Earth Science Minnetonka Middle School West 8. Tanya Baumgardner [tanyab@rsf.k12.ca.us] Thursday, December 10, 2009 4:42 PM I love it! I am going to play around with it over the break and try to make one. Have you checked out this page: http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/ and better still.....the visual Bloom's http://visualblooms.wikispaces.com/ Oh it's like a can of worms! Thursday, December 10, 2009 10:19 AM Actually, I love Carol's idea for a number of reasons, among which is we could even do some student partnerships for anyone who is interested! Thursday, December 10, 2009 10:20 AM I just downloaded the manual and it's my intent to teach myself over the break. Do you have an example you can share? Is it user friendly for 6th graders? Cool! Tanya Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:32 AM Please count me in! The past year I have been working as part of a grant with 6th grade teachers bringing technology and specifically web 2.0 tools into our instruction. I can easily contribute pieces of what we've been using. I'm excited to see so much engagement here! Tanya Baumgardner Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:45 PM Somehow I missed the original message regarding this topic. Is there any background info about what a "Science Cafe" is? Where is Debbie getting all these great ideas to print? I would love to be a part of this! I teach 6th grade earth science and we cover almost everything mentioned here (plates/quakes/volcanoes, weathering/erosion, natural resources, the atmosphere, and ecosystems). I just love Listserv! Thanks! Tanya Baumgardner Rancho Santa Fe Middle School RSF, CA

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 2:03 PM Nora, I just wanted to thank you for all that you share with us! You are a wealth of lessons and ideas! How long have you been teaching? I'm going to delve into the science cafe next...happy Holidays, Tanya Baumgardner 9. Vinogradov, Phil [VinoPh@CentennialSD.org] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 8:53 AM I'd love to collaborate on the wiki! What an excellent idea! Philip Vinogradov 10. Kathleen O'Brien kobrien@usd260.com] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 8:13 AM I too would be interested I teach high school earth science and cover all of Debbie's topics plus the hydrosphere and gelogic time scale. Kathleen O'Brien, Science Teacher, Derby High School 11. susanna livingston [susanna127@att.net] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 10:53 PM Here is another great site with more tiered lessons.. I haven't reviewed them but I am just passing along a resource- I hope you find it useful! http://www.help4teachers.com/samples2.htm Tuesday, December 08, 2009 10:46 PM I went to Google and did an advanced search for tiered lessons... well I came upon an awesome website that I would like to share... it is the state of Indianas education page and the lessons are tiered by interest, readiness, and learning styles... and they have links for grade levels k-12 for MATH, SCIENCE, and LANGUAGE ARTS... Here is the link.. I will add it to the wiki when I have time... I am also up to my eyeballs in writing research papers...http://www.doe.in.gov/exceptional/gt/tiered_curriculum/welcome.html 12. Mark Heilbrunn [mrheilbrunn@gmail.com] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 9:49 PM I love the idea behind wikis. I have wikis for my classes, and I have a testbank for AP Environmental Science. I just started the latter in September, and it is just starting to take off. There are 157 members, and some people are contributing. Wikispaces has a special offer for k-12 educational wikis. All you have to do is sign your wiki page up for it and commit it for k-12. The wiki will become under the plus plan and will be free from advertising. Mark Heilbrunn Prep Academy for Writers 13. Robin Alves [photoguru2000@mac.com] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 9:19 PM I would like to be part of this two please. I teach all of what has been mentioned as well. Robin Alves 6th grade 14. Kara Victorsen [kara.victorsen@gmail.com] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:01 PM I am interested as well. I teach a high School earth science course, but often just adjust middle level ideas. I would gladly help I would be more interested in plate tectonics, geology, astronomy, or global warming. Tuesday, December 08, 2009 7:55 PM Can I have a description of what is looked for in these units so i can productivly participate? Kara 15. Mohan, Kelli [kelli.mohan@brookfield.k12.ct.us] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 6:22 PM I have been lurking and loving the cafe units. I teach 9th grade (integrated physical science/technology/chemistry) and 10th grade biology. I am open to help out on almost any topic mentioned. (Earth science is not my forte). Kelli Mohan BHS Science Teacher kelli.mohan@brookfield.k12.ct.us 16. Strahler, Carol [cstrahler@chelsea.k12.mi.us] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:49 PM Whatever you send to Tanya please send to me also. I also teach 6th grade, similar topics and somehow missed the original message as to what a Science Cafe is. Although I did download the recent lesson plans posted. Any background would be appreciated. Thanks 17. Gina Oldendorf [chemteacher55@gmail.com] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:24 PM I would be interested in helping as well. I teach an 8th-9th grade physical science class so chemistry, physics, or earth science topics are useful to me. Gina Oldendorf, St. Charles High School, Honors Physical Science, Physics, and Honors Physics, Louisiana Beta State Sponsor-Elect, Louisiana State Sponsor-Elect 18. Rita Crocker [RCrocker@sherwood.k12.mo.us] Tuesday, December 08, 2009 5:13 PM I do plate tectonics (volcanoes/earthquakes,etc), rock cycle (weathering, erosion and soils), chemistry, genetics, human organ systems and diseases. I would love to work with others to develop a unit(s). Rita Crocker, Science 8, H.S. Earth Science, NJHS Sponsor, Science Olympiad Coach, Sherwood Middle School, Creighton, Missouri 660-499-2239 x 226 19. Gifford [giffordm@k12tn.net] Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:55 AM  no I have not - but I would like to know more!! please share! Margie Gifford On Dec 10, 2009, at 8:47 AM, //Collins, Laura wrote:Speaking of adding technology. How about including activities where kids can make a "prezi".// Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:55 PM [NSTA Earth Science] sorry guys, I forgot that the files where in 2 different dropboxes heres is the link to the other one http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1483419/sciencecafepplifesciencemenuandrubrics.zip they seem to have disappeared from the wiki site momentarily- Debbie is probably trying to upload them correctly - I have asked her to try and organize them better - I think I may have made a bit of a mess of the upload in my first foray into the world of wikis! Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:08 PM [NSTA Earth Science] for everyone who has been emailing for more info on the science cafes -here is where the project stands at this point: Debbie Johnson has set up a wiki site for us to collaborate on this project at http://sciencecafe.wikispaces.com/ - I know nothing about wiki sites so if you have any ideas, input, or problems with using/uploading to the site - whatever - please contact Debbie at djscience@tasd.net if you want to join in the project go to the wiki page and join. If you just want to look at the files from my 3 6th grade cafes - energy, life science and space units - or my powerpoint explaining the café concept you can access those files in a drop box the Matt Nupen set up for us at : http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1483419/energycafeunits.zip ( I have also upload these files to the wiki site - or attempted to anyway ) ) any questions about the drop box please contact Matt at - matt@nupen.us also "Nora McDevitt" at Nora.McDevitt@Youngstown.k12.oh.us seems to have a handle on organizing a geology unit - she has a list of 21 folks interested in that unit in particular so far - Nora, is that a High school level unit or will it be 6 - 12 altogether? Nora if you can set up an email list for those working on that unit you guys could communicate with each other with questions and suggestions - would you be willing/able to do that? Margie Tuesday, December 08, 2009 11:50 AM If you do create a unit please send a copy to me ! Margie Gifford 20. DDobney [ddobney@wellington.k12.oh.us] Monday, December 07, 2009 11:28 PM If you did not receive the attachments to the science cafe units here is a drop box you can go to to access them - thanks to Matt Nupen for posting my files here for you all!! http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1483419/energycafeunits.zip Tuesday, December 08, 2009 8:13 AM I have been reading about the Science Cafe units and would like to try doing one with my 8th grade classes. Does anyone have a unit that includes the rock cycle, fossil (carbon dating), layers of the earth and/or plate tectonics? They look really interesting and I think my students would like a break from the routine. About how long do the units take to complete? I think I saw a guess/estimate of a few weeks.... Thanks for all the great information - our printer has been very busy as I have printed many of the lessons posted on this listserve and given them to the other science teachers in our building! Debbie Dobney, McCormick Middle School, Wellington,Ohio 21. Carol Roth [croth@cysd.k12.pa.us] Thursday, December 10, 2009 11:44 AM I love the collaboration page idea. I have been a part of many collaboration websites but have never had much success with finding science connections there. This could be the avenue we need to make the connections with other Earth Science teachers instead of sending it out to the whole world Thursday, December 10, 2009 10:56 AM [NSTA Earth Science] YEAH Tanya...I would love to do that and have had a problem getting that started in the past. Now I am excited!!! I am always looking for someone to collaborate with about the natural resources in their state. My students do a "showcase" of sorts for PA and would love to share with other states. Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:37 PM [NSTA Earth Science] Hi everyone! You can count me in too. I teach Earth Science to 9th graders and would love to be a part of all of the fun. Could we get a list of the states that people are from as well so we can consider which state standards we are striving for and who we could collaborate with even more closely? Carol Roth Earth & Space Science Teacher, Central York High School York, PA 22. Roni Jennings [rjennings@k12albemarle.org] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:03 PM I'm not familiar with the concept, but would be interested to understand the idea, perhaps contribute, and share with my colleagues. I recently finished a stint on our county's science vertical team as the Earth Science member (9th grade course in much of Virginia). Any ideas that might challenge, encourage, motivate and help our students' understanding and achievement seems worth the time! Roni Jennings Earth Science Albemarle High School rjennings@k12albemarle.org, [|mailto:rjennings@k12albemarle.org]> 23. jennjudkins@comcast.net [jennjudkins@comcast.net] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:23 PM I do Plate Tectonincs, Rock Cycle, Volcanoes and Earthquakes. Let me know if you're looking for contributions. An Earth Science Cafe would be a great idea! Jennifer Judkins 8th Grade Science Wilmington Middle School Wilmington, MA 01887 24. Nancy Smith [nancy_smith@verizon.net] Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:23 PM [NSTA Earth Science] Count me in! This sounds like fun. I do have to contend with science fair over the next 2 months with 120 students however and may be out of it for awhile.Nancy Smith, Richmond, VA 25. Parker, Becca [bparker@hollandhall.org] Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:44 AM I’m in too! Becca Parker 8th Grade Science Holland Hall School 26. Sue Jagoda [skjagoda@berkeley.edu] Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:58 AM I would like to be part of this, too. Thanks, Sue Jagoda Avon Lake, OH 27. Collins, Laura [collinsl@calvertnet.k12.md.us] Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:24 PM __http://prezi.com/xvuyrehae015/__ This link is to a prezi I made on measurement. Check it out. Like anything else, there is a learning curve, but I think that they will be engaged in figuring it out because they're pretty cool. Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:47 AM Speaking of adding technology. How about including activities where kids can make a "prezi". Have any of you played with them? They're like a powerpoint but way cooler! **Laura Collins** 6th Grade Science Teacher Plum Point Middle School Huntingtown, MD http://www.teacherweb.com/MD/PPMS/MrsCollins/ 28. Alyce Dalzell [ADALZELL@d49.org] Thursday, December 10, 2009 11:25 AM I am so excited reading the posts and thinking about collaborating…I have 6-8th students and teach it all. I am not real tech savvy but I have a lot of ideas and students always willing to help me learn. Ha. Count Colorado in on this adventure, Alyce Dalzell Patriot Learning Center Alternative Middle School 29. Lorraine Neilan [Lorraine_Neilan@wrsd.net] Thursday, December 10, 2009 11:51 AM I would be interested in joining the group. I teach 6th grade Earth and Space Science. Please let me know how I can get invovled. Wachusett Regional School District 30. Alicia F. Oelfke [Alicia_Oelfke@hcpss.org] Thursday, December 10, 2009 2:56 PM I think that, if at all possible, we should submit an example or two of student work with the activities shared. Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:22 PM I think this discription should be a page on the wiki as well. Alicia Feddor Oelfke Secondary Science Resource Teacher, Howard County Public School System 31. Toni Evans [Toni.Evans@ssfs.org] Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:34 PM I'm interested in participating as well. Chemistry and earth sciences sound like a good place to start. Love the wiki idea. Toni Evans Middle School Science Department Head Sandy Spring Friends School Sandy Spring Md 20860 32. Donna L Melpolder [dmelpol@chatham.k12.nc.us] Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:41 PM The WIKI idea would be great. Although I am not in the classroom I would love to contribute in each of the areas. Our state has an integrated science program for grades K-8. Donna Melpolder, M.Ed., NBCT, Instructional Program Facilitator-Science, Chatham County Schools NC 33. Larry Flammer [flammer4@gmail.com] Thursday, December 10, 2009 2:43 PM Not sure I could add directly to building the wiki - but I’d like to suggest a few lessons dealing with geological dating and fossils that should be very effective and you might want to consider adding to your resources. Geological Time: See index of lessons at http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/evol.fs.html Comments on selected lessons suitable for middle school: 2) shows some of the patterns of emergence and extinction of main groups of vertebrates; 3) shows how each successive group adds modifications of previous traits. Fossil discovery (and the nature of science): Let me know if I can help you with any of these. Larry
 * Date a Rock** - helps teach how radioisotope half-lives used to measure ages of certain rocks
 * Virtual Age-Dating Tutorial** - good interactive for carbon-14 dating (might be a stretch in MS)
 * Patterns in Time** - Does 3 things: 1) gives students //familiar// sense of 100s of millions of years;
 * Understanding Geological Time** (UCMP) - good tutorial.
 * Time Machine** - takes fair preparation, but it’s a kinesthetic experience for students.
 * Varve Dating** - can use photos of varves - discover events that spanned nearly 2 million years.
 * The Great Fossil Find** (analyzing fossil discoveries)