2nd Grade Migration Movement Game and iPad Buid-A-Bird App

2nd Grade Migration Movement Game and iPad Buid-A-Bird App

Awarded another $10,000 grant!

Check out what we are doing with our $10,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grant awarded for the 2011 - 2012 school year on our Barrett Elementary School Wildlife Refuges and Nature blog http://tinyurl.com/BarrettNature

Keep up to date with our project via Facebook http://tinyurl.com/BarrettNatureFacebook

Follow the project on Twitter @BarrettNature

Watch our videos www.YouTube.com/BarrettNature

Project Discovery Updates

Our blog location has changed. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab

Get Involved With Nasa Now And In The Future

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Get Involved With Nasa Now And In The Future 2nd Grade

View more presentations from LSullivan.

Career Day Speakers in the Discovery Lab

Dr. Guido Cervone talked to Barrett students about being a researcher and university professor. The students and teachers learned a lot about remote sensing using birds, kites, balloons, airplanes, and satellites. We learned about geostationary and polar orbiting satellites. Dr. Cervone showed us how he uses satellite images to study hurricanes. It was really interesting when he showed us how an infrared camera works. You can visit the J-Track 3D from NASA to see different satellite orbits. http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/jtrack/3d/JTrack3D.html

Cindy Schall is a teacher at the Arlington Career Center in the Animal Sciences department. Students enjoyed learning about different careers involving animals. Some of the careers Ms. Schall talked about were being a pet sitter, trainer, working in wildlife management, a veterinarian, and a veterinarian technician. It was fun when she showed us how she is training Cedric, her Great Dane. It was cool when we listened to the heart beat of the Ball Python snake she brought to the Discovery Lab. At the end of the lesson, we could pet the snake (or not).

Mr. Hill has many different roles at XM Satellite Radio so he is sometimes called a jack-of-all-trades. He showed us how the satellites are launched. We were surprised the rocket launches with the satellite from a ship! We learned the satellite is powered by solar panels and batteries. It was fun to listen to music from XM radio. Mr. Hill gave our classes bags, squishy balls, and photographs of the rocket launching. Thank you Mr. Hill!

Mr. Easley Selected for Research in Yellowstone

 

Mr. Easley was one of 23 teachers selected from across the nation, along with two educators from the Netherlands, to spend a week in Yellowstone National Park. He will participate in hands-on investigations led by NASA scientists and NASA education specialists. Participants will learn how NASA scientists study ice and snow on Earth and the search for life (and consequently water) in the Solar System by going to Yellowstone National Park region in the depth of the winter season.

Mr. Easley announced the good news during our Barrett NASA Explorer School team meeting. Congratulations Mr. Easley!!!

If you'd like to learn more about this exciting opportunity, please read the program abstract below:

NASA Explorer Schools
Winter's Story at Yellowstone National Park
Program Abstract


As NASA pursues answers to the fundamental question, "How is Earth changing and what are the consequences for life on Earth" NASA scientists collect and analyze planetary data from space and on the surface. As the Agency seeks to understand the complex Earth system, several focus areas for understanding this complex system have been established. Climate variability and change, atmospheric composition, water and energy cycle, and weather are areas for study. NASA's study of Earth systems is tied closely to its goal to "Identify the habitable zones in the solar system." The compelling context of Earth system science presents opportunities for engaging educators in the process of scientific inquiry, helping them communicate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (also known as STEM) content while developing a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Earth system. The Agency is committed to the development of innovative methods for communicating with science teachers. The Winter's Story Program at Yellowstone National Park provides a unique venue for helping teachers understand the role of the cryosphere on the Earth system and provides a context for delivery of compelling content to their students.

The over-arching question, "In what ways are climate and the requirements for life connected?" provides the basis for the Winter's Story experience. This question ties together two Benchmarks, "The cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere plays an important role in determining climatic patterns" and "ecosystems always change when climate changes". The experience provides an opportunity for implementing recommendations for Professional Development Standards A5 and C6 for educators found in the National Science Standards, and content goals specified in AAAS's Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Standards.

Upon completion of the Winter's Story experience, the participating educators will have a better understanding of the water cycle in the Earth system and how energy is transferred within that system and the implications of climate and climate change on life. The methodology for delivery of relevant content will be inquiry and hands-on investigation led by NASA scientists and NASA education specialists. Participants will achieve goals by learning how NASA scientists study ice and snow on Earth and the search for life (and consequently water) in the Solar System by going to Yellowstone National Park region in the depth of the winter season.

Once participants return to their classrooms, they will be able to facilitate student learning associated with National Science Education Content Standard D for Earth and Space Science and Life Science and Benchmarks 4B associated with The Earth and Benchmarks 5D associated with Interdependence of Life. Teachers will be able to utilize inquiry methodology as modeled during the Winter's Story experience. Students will gain content knowledge about Earth processes through application of science concepts in a NASA unique context.

Barrett Partnership with Lockheed Martin

On Tuesday, October 23, 2007, Barrett formalized our partnership with Lockheed Martin. Principal Mrs. Bratt shook hands with retired astronaut Ken Reightler, who is the Vice President and Program Manager for Lockheed Martin Space Operations. Also pictured are David Brandt, Manager, NASA Space Exploration Programs and Project Discovery teachers Allyson Greene and Laurie Sullivan.