Teachers! Save these dates on your calendar so you can join us in hands-on activities and discussions led by Penn State scientists and engineers designed to deepen your understanding of topics aligned to the PA elementary and middle school science, technology and environmental science standards. All workshops are free for elementary and middle school teachers, and Act 48 credits are available. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided by the Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS). Maximum enrollment is 24, so register on-line now to reserve a spot.
Location:
119 Chambers Bldg
University Park, PA
Questions:
Contact Leah Bug
814-865-8397
leahbug@psu.edu
********************************************************************************************
Download a printable version of this year's schedule (pdf, 60kb) Updated!.
October 3, 2009
Exploring the Mysteries of Electricity and Magnetism (pdf, 104kb)
Mark Merritt
8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
Explore the mysteries of current electricity and magnetism! Why do they behave the way they do? How do they work together to help us accomplish everyday tasks? Investigate these and other questions the way scientists do, by developing mental models, testing them, and revising them until they can reliably explain what we observe.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Form, Sources, Conversions and Transformations of Energy (K-8)
- Atomic Molecular Theory of Matter (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Magnetism & Electricity (FOSS 3-4)
- Electronics (FOSS 6-8)
|
- Electrical Energy and Circuity Design (STC 6-8)
- Electrical Circuits (STC 4)
- Magnets and Motors (STC 6)
- Light (STC 6-8)
|
October 24, 2009
Force, Motion, and Ancient Weapon Design (pdf, 133kb)
Lena Bradley and Jason Bartell
8:30 am-2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
Become a medieval engineer! Use the physical laws of force and motion to design and calibrate a catapult to hit a changing target. How can an object move if there is no force acting on it? How can an object be accelerating if its speed stays the same? In this workshop we will explore these and other big ideas of force and motion to see how we depend upon them to solve practical problems and predict the motion of objects in every day events.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Newtonian Laws of Force and Motion (K-8)
- Forms, Sources, Conversiona, and Transformation of Energy (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Balance and Motion (FOSS 1-2)
- Ideas and Inventions (FOSS 3-4)
- Models & Designs(FOSS 5-6)
- Force and Motion (FOSS 6-8)
|
- Motion and Design (STC 4)
- Energy, Machines and Motion (STC 6-8)
|
January 16, 2010
Next Generation Homes: Teaching the Design of Zero-Energy Homes
Andy Lau and Lisa Brown
8:30 am-2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
What exactly is a Zero Energy Home (ZEH)? In this workshop we’ll explore a timely, four-module curricular unit developed by a team of Penn State engineering and education staff and students that is based upon the principles of designing a home that produces all of its energy needs, a Zero Energy Home. Via instruction and representative activities, we will help you examine a house as a system and subsystems and understand how energy is used in a house. The final project is to design a ZEH using the principles learned in the previous modules.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Forms, Sources, Conversions and Transformations of Energy (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Ideas & Inventions (FOSS 3-4)
- Matter and Energy (FOSS 3-4)
- Solar Energy (FOSS 5-6)
- Models and Designs (FOSS 5-6)
|
- Light (STC 6-8)
- Energy, Machines and Motion (STC 6-8)
- Electrical Energy and Circuit Design (STC 6-8)
|
February 13, 2010
Magic of Chemical Transformations
April Hill
8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
Why are sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl2) by themselves dangerous and toxic, but when combined as NaCl, they are harmless and make the ocean salty and food more flavorful? Join us as we explore the magic of chemical transformations related to everyday materials. Learn how understanding the structure of matter helps us understand its chemical and physical properties and allows us to predict its behavior during chemical and physical change.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Forms, Sources, Conversiona, and Transformation of Energy (K-8)
- Atomic Molecular Theory of Matter (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Solids and Liquids (FOSS 1-2)
- Water (FOSS 3-4)
- Mixtures and Solutions (FOSS 5-6)
- Chemical Interactions (FOSS 6-8)
|
- Changes (STC 2)
- Food Chemistry (STC 5)
- Chemical Tests (STC 3)
- Properties of Matter (STC 6-8)
|
March 6, 2010
Rocks and Minerals: Earth's Storytellers
Maureen Feineman
8:30 am-2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
Uncover clues contained in rocks and minerals to answer some of the Earth’s oldest mysteries! Just as uncovering artifacts at archeological sites provides us information about the history of ancient civilizations, rocks and minerals tell us the story of Earth’s history. Learn how geologists use these clues to understand the dynamic nature of earth and how and why it has changed over time.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Earth Systems Theory (K-8)
- Atomic Molecular Theory of Matter (K-8)
- Forms, Sources, Conversions and Transformation of Energy (K-8)
- Evolution of Life Over Time (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Pebbles, Sand & Silt (FOSS 1-2)
- Earth Materials (FOSS 3-4)
- Landforms (FOSS 5-6)
- Earth History (FOSS 6-8)
|
- Soils (STC 2)
- Rocks and Minerals (STC 3)
- Ecosystems (STC 5)
- Measuring Time (STC 6)
- Catastrophic Events (STC 6-8)
|
April 10, 2010
Changing Habitats and Biological Adaptation: Driving Forces of Evolution
TBD
8:30 am-2:00 pm
Register for this workshop
What happens to a population of organisms when its habitat changes over time? Follow this process to better understand interrelationships between the basic needs of organisms, how they have adapted to satisfy those needs, and the implications of changes in habitat to the survival of the population.
Big Ideas in Science:
- Cell Theory and Organisms (K-8)
- Evolution of Life Over Time (K-8)
- Earth Systems Theory (K-8)
Directly related FOSS and STC curricula:
| FOSS |
STC |
- Animals Two by Two (FOSS K)
- Insects (FOSS 1-2)
- Structures of Life (FOSS 3-4)
- Environments (FOSS 5-6)
- Diversity of Life (FOSS 5-6)
- Populations and Ecosystems (FOSS 6-8)
|
- Organisms (STC K-1)
- The Life Cycle of Butterflies (STC 2)
- Plant Growth and Development (STC 3)
- Animal Studies (STC 4)
- Microworlds (STC 5)
- Ecosystems (STC 5)
- Organisms - From Macro to Micro (STC 6-8)
|
********************************************************************************************
