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The Lab ReportA Monthly Newsletter for the Discovery Education Science Techbook

JANUARY 2012

Our monthly Lab Report will provide you with quick updates, instructional strategies, best practices and professional development opportunities surrounding the Discovery Education Science Techbook. Meant to be a quick read, many of our updates will link you to the the Discovery Education Science Blog where you may dive deeper into the story and explore other posts focused on science instruction.

Welcome back. We are halfway through an amazing school year with an exciting winter and spring ahead of us. To kick things off in the new year, first give yourself a high five for a job well done. The Instructional Implementation Team has been on the road, visiting classrooms, hosting community nights and joining the professional development sessions. We’ve been inspired by what you’ve accomplished in a very short period of time. The team will continue to support you through in-person & virtual events, as well as communications via email and this monthly “Lab Report”. Second,

to start the new year with a bang we have the 2012 DEN SCIcon.

2012 DEN SCIcon focuses on providing participants with some of the most effective

strategies for transforming their science classes through the meaningful and effective integration of digital media content. Click here for the agenda.

Register for the online sessions at:http://links.discoveryeducation.com/scicon2012

or join us for one of these in-person events:

Hartford, CT (Register here) Kansas City, MO (Register here) St. Louis, MO (Register here) Townsend, MT (Register here) Cullowhee, NC (Register here) Piqua, OH (Register here) Richardson, TX (Register here)

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high five

Give yourself a

place hand here

“TECH” THIS OUT! with Brad FountainDiscovery Education is continually pushing the envelope and we are now providing access to all the wonderful instructional content available in the Discovery Education Science Techbook directly on your iPad. This includes Flash based interactives like Potters Pond. Simply download the free app ROVER from the iTunes store. Once you launch the app you simply enter your username and password and you are good to go.

FOUNTAIN’S FAVORITES with Brad FountainContinuing our bridging literacy and science theme, let's look at another easy to implement literacy strategy. The literacy strategy this time is called RAFT. RAFT is a writing strategy that helps students understand their role as a writer, the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing and the topic they'll be writing about. By using this strategy, teachers encourage students to write creatively, to consider a topic from a different perspective and to gain practice writing for different audiences. I have included a couple of samples science RAFT activities (click here). Using a RAFT strategy in science students are required to demonstrate what they know about a specific concept in great detail providing teachers with a unique way of assessing their students' understanding of the concept.

HUBBLE’S TELESCOPE‣ Seasonal Science Streams

Monthly live video broadcast focused on engaging hands-on science activities fit for the season. Lesson plans included.

Register below for the January 18th event: january2012seasonalsciencestream.eventbrite.com

‣ DEN SCIcon 2012 2012 DEN SCIcon focuses on providing participants with some of the most effective strategies for transforming their science classes through the meaningful and effective integration of digital media content.

Register for the online sessions here: links.discoveryeducation.com/scicon2012

‣ 3M Young Scientist Challenge Do you have what it takes to be America's Top Young Scientist? Discovery Education and 3M are looking for students in grades 5-8 who are enthusiastic about science. The top 10 students will receive a trip to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, MN to compete for the chance to win $25,000!

To find out more go to: www.youngscientistchallenge.com/

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A quick look at upcoming events from

Going Green with Trinette GreenJanuary is a good time to study the differences between climate and weather. This time of year, many areas in the US are experiencing extreme conditions, ranging from the great snow falls in Cordova, Alaska to the intense flooding in Houston, TX. Students can investigate the environmental trends and may raise questions about the effects of weather conditions. Use the interactive glossary from the Discovery Education Science Techbook to increase student understanding of the terms weather and climate as well as to help them recognize relationships. Students can write a narrative for the animations or compare and contrast the images from each term. The video is also a great way to assist students with a visual representation. Definitions are provided for each glossary term along with the key context, both of which are also available in Spanish for your English Language Learners.

February Sneak Peak

In February we invite you to participate in the “I Lu V Techbook” webinar series. This professional development series will focus on resources and strategies to help you make the most of the Discovery Education Science Techbook. We’ll be giving out prizes based on attendance, so make sure you register today.

To learn more about this series click here:

links.discoveryeducation.com/techbookvalentine

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Prizes Attend 2 webinars* in February, receive a pair of Techbook Goggles

Attend 6 webinars* in February, receive a Techbook Lab Coat