Polar News and Notes Professional Development

The International Polar Year will be emphasized in the national conference of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science(SACNAS), to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 9-12.
The conference will focus on global change– particularly climate change and its impact on all fields of science, ecosystems, and populations from […]

Three of the Web Seminars scheduled by the National Science Teachers Association in May will offer teachers at all grade levels an opportunity to enrich their teaching about the polar regions. Each seminar is presented at 6:30 p.m. on its scheduled date and lasts for 90 minutes. Participation is free.
Presenters for the two-part seminars on […]

Friday at NSTA’s national conference in Boston, MA included two informative literacy sessions.
Scaffolding Inquiry: Research on Writing in Science
Dr. Rick Vanosdall, Director of the Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences at Tennessee State UniverVsity presented an overview of research results from his work with Dr. Mike Klentschy, the Superintendant of Schools of the En Centro School […]

Highlights from Thursday, March 27 at the National Science Teachers’ Association national conference in Boston, MA included a presentation on IPY science projects and the Polar Discovery expedition series.
IPY Science
Louise Huffman, Coordinator of Education and Outreach for the ANDRILL project, presented an informative session, IPY Cool Science: Hot Topics. An overview of the three […]

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is offering a summer institute, July 14-18, for middle school and high school teachers to promote teaching of science concepts and processes related to the polar regions. The institute, titled International Polar Year: Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Polar Connections, is sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Climate System […]

 Photo courtesy of Travis S., subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that Saturday, March 1, marks the ceremonial start to the 36th Iditarod?
Known as the “Last Great Race,” the Iditarod is a race across the beautiful yet rough terrain of Alaska. Covering more than 1,150 miles, mushers and their dogs cross frozen rivers, […]

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is seeking an enthusiastic teacher for a one-year fellowship (2008-2009)  in Washington, DC. The teacher will work with Deep Earth Academy staff to develop ocean science curricula, produce teacher-training workshops, maintain communication within a community of educators and assist with conference logistics. The position requires a minimum of 3 years […]

Free NSTA/NSDL Web Seminar Integrates Polar Geography, Literacy Skills
Polar geography is the subject of a free web seminar scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 6:30-8 p.m., EST.
This is the first in a series titled Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Integrating Science and Literacy for the K-5 Classroom. The seminars are an interactive, professional learning experience sponsored […]

Photo taken at Lake Bonney in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, by Carol Landis, subject to a Creative Commons license

Did you know that Antarctica was once a warm place? It is hard to imagine, but millions of years ago, the coldest, driest, and windiest place on earth was actually ice-free and inhabited by trees, plants, dinosaurs, and […]

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is holding three free web seminars on the International Polar Year and the living systems in the Arctic and Antarctic. The presenters’ scientists and educators– will share their expertise, answer questions, and provide information that can be used in elementary and middle school classrooms. Each seminar is a stand-alone […]