Polar News and Notes Education

In early January, a coalition of more than 500 universities, K-12 schools, educators, scientific societies, science centers and museums, government agencies, advocacy groups, and others kicked off the Year of Science, or YoS2009. The Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) expects this yearlong recognition, with events scheduled across the country, will engage the […]

We’re proud to announce the newest addition to the Beyond Penguins project: a monthly podcast series!
 
Each month, join hosts Robert Payo and Stephanie Chasteen as they discuss misconceptions, teaching activities, and the latest news related to the poles. The podcasts are designed to accompany the current month’s issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears […]

The January issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine is now available!
Polar Mammals was co-produced with the American Museum of Natural History, and includes a wide range of engaging and informative content!
Do you want to know more about polar mammals and the adaptations that help them survive in these cold environments? This […]

The European Space Agency reports new rifts on the Wilkins Ice Sheet, which is connected to two islands by a strip of ice. The rifts could cause the largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula to destroy the strip, or bridge, of ice that has been preventing the shelf from breaking away.  
Wilkins Ice Sheet, […]

U.S. Satellite Laboratory, an online provider of curriculum products and teacher training, has added a program on polar research for upper elementary to high school students to its offerings. With the purpose of using technology and real-time science and mathematics content, the organization works with NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National […]

Would you like to add some real-time data to your penguin unit this year? Thanks to education outreach resources from an Antarctic research team, you can!
Dr. David Ainley studies Adelie penguin populations in Antarctica. His long term research of 30 years has recently shown indication of the penguin populations reacting to climate change. His web […]

September 24 will be the officially designated Sixth International Polar Day. Polar days are held every three months during the two-year-long scientific program focused on the poles, the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY). The days are occasions for schools, science centers, and museums to engage their audiences in learning about the importance of the poles […]

Tuesday, May 27 was the first of five scheduled Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears web seminars. The free, online seminars are run through a partnership between the National Science Digital Library and the National Science Teachers’ Association. 47 educators participated, representing a wide variety of geographic locations (across the U.S. and even Sydney, Australia!), teaching […]

Interested in refining your teaching practice? Using rubrics? Meeting the needs of all students? Check out Issue 3 of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears - Polar Patterns: Day, Night, and Seasons!
In this issue:
Learn about rubrics and checklists and use technology to create your own.
Learn about meeting the needs of gifted students without leaving others behind.
Learn […]

The National Science Teachers Association in partnership with the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) are showcasing the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears magazine in the next free web seminar in the NSDL series:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Series
Integrating Science and Literacy for the K-5 Classroom
Seminar 1: Polar Geography
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
6:30pm-8:00pm Eastern Time

NSTA Web Seminars […]