News From Vernier
Are you looking for innovative ways to explore science and put a spark into your winter labs? Read about accelerations in the
halfpipe, beef up your labs with a hot dog activity, or download a sample lab from our new elementary science book.
1. Halfpipe Physics with Vernier
Have you ever wondered about accelerations during a skateboard ride in the halfpipe? We have data for you! Last fall we helped with data collection at an event filmed by the Discovery Channel. Professional skateboarders and BMX bikers wore our Data Vest with our LabPro and a 3-Axis Accelerometer. They collected acceleration and video data as they rode. They experienced g-factors comparable to five times that of Earth gravity--much more than we expected. Check out the URL below for more information. You'll find
a short video clip of a BMX rider, synced to the accelerometer data. The rider does a flare (a sort of back flip) at the end. Very cool!
2. Beef Up Your Labs with This Innovative Chemistry Activity
Hot dogs once again move to the top of the list of prepared meats used as objects of research in this simple, yet illuminating, activity. By measuring the rate of cooling of various types of hot dogs, your students can investigate the heat retention abilities of various organic substances. Will the veggie dog prevail over the all-beef hot
dog? Frankly, only time will tell.
3. Congratulations to the Vernier Technology Award Winners!
The 2005 winners of the Vernier / NSTA Technology Awards have been announced. Congratulations to these outstanding educators for their creativity and dedication to teaching science.
4. Free Sample Lab from "Let's Go! Elementary Science"
Be among the first to try an activity from "Let's Go! Elementary Science." Due to be published in March, this activity book will include experiments in temperature, force, magnetic field, gas pressure, motion, light, and voltage. Download an activity from the book for free from our web site today!
5. What is Your School Doing for Earth Day? Win a $200 Gift Certificate. Are you doing something innovative with Vernier data-collection technology for Earth Day? We want to hear your story. If we publish your Earth Day activity in our Caliper Newsletter or on our web site, you'll receive a Vernier t-shirt and a $200 Vernier gift certificate.
6. Logger Pro 3 Wins Awards
Logger Pro 3 is the proud recipient of both the "Reader's Choice Award" for best data-collection software, and Technology & Learning's Legacy Award for "meeting the challenge of keeping pace with swiftly changing technologies and maintaining high quality consistently throughout the years."
7. Hands-On Professional Development This Spring
Join us for one of our free, 4-hour, hands-on workshops to learn how to integrate our computer and handheld data-collection technology into your chemistry, biology, physics, math, middle school science, physical science, and Earth science curriculum.
I hope you find some of this useful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me.
Christine Vernier
Vernier Software & Technology
13979 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97005-2886
toll free: (888) 837-6437
phone: (503) 277-2299
fax: (503) 277-2440
http://www.vernier.com
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Women Life Scientists: Past, Present and Future
~Special offer from the American Physiological Society in honor of National Women's History month~
This exciting book of 20 life sciences modules explores the work of female scientist and has great hands-on, inquiry activities. Each module drops easily into middle and high school life sciences curricula and are aligned to the National Science Education Standards. Each module includes a brief biography of a female science role model and a classroom activity with a multidisciplinary focus. Role models include both contemporary and historical women, women of color, and women with physical disabilities.
For more information and sample modules, go to: http://www.the-aps.org/education/k-12misc/pubs.htm .
Special offer for the month of March - this book is only $5.00 (including shipping & handling). Order form: http://www.the-aps.org/education/k-12misc/ord-wls.htm .
Janet L. Jackson
American Physiological Society
Education Office
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3991
T: (301) 634-7232
E: JJackson@the-aps.org
FREE Teacher’s Kit and Opportunity to Win $250-$5,000 for Your School
The Consumer Aerosol Products Council (CAPCO) has created a FREE resource for science teachers. The CAPCO Science Class Challenge Kit contains all of the materials necessary to teach your students about the earth’s protective ozone layer, CFCs and aerosol products. The Kit includes a teacher’s guide, classroom activities, experiments, homework assignments and the DVD, “Another Awesome Aerosol Adventure.” In addition, the kit is a perfect companion to CAPCO’s Science Class Challenge, an opportunity to design your own creative method of teaching important environmental issues. Through the Science Class Challenge, teachers can earn $250-$5,000 for their schools as well as a pizza party for their class. To order a kit and learn more about the Science Class Challenge visit: www.nocfcs.org.
Weekly Cogno Science Challenge
Take a few minutes each week to share with students a thought-provoking science puzzler, drawn from the award-winning Cogno science board games. You’ll receive an email each week with a fully illustrated one-pager, ready to be photocopied for students. Your email includes the answer and explanation, so you can facilitate as much or as little discussion as you like! Fun, discussion and learning about astronomy, forces & motion and life sciences. Recommended for grades 3rd-10th. For more information and to sign up, go to: www.cogno.com/challenge.
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Have you got a wonderful science activity to share?
Consider being part of a sharing session at a future NSTA Convention.
