Earth Science Week

Explore “Our Ever-Changing Earth” October 9–15 during Earth Science Week. This event is dedicated to helping students discover the natural processes that shape our planet and foster curiosity about the natural world. National Fossil Day, October 12, lands mid-week to spotlight the unique ways in which fossils are clues to the world’s history.  Celebrate in your class with this collection of resources. Students can see how earth’s landscape changes through forces including volcanism, learn about the role air masses play in weather, and hear how diseases can travel long distances in clouds of dust.

National Chemistry Week

Did you know that 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry? If you haven’t had a chance to celebrate yet, National Chemistry Week is the perfect time. Dedicate October 16–22 to “Chemistry—Our Health, Our Future!” which focuses on the positive impacts of chemistry in nutrition, hygiene, and medicine. Get your classroom involved using this collection of chemistry resources. Students can become a detective in a food poisoning case, explore the separation of colors in water and other solvents, and hear how cell phones could be used to detect dangerous airborne toxins.

Health Literacy Month

Speaking of health, further discuss its importance with your class during Health Literacy Month. This collection of resources from Science NetLinks and AAAS provides information ranging from basic personal health and safety to mental health awareness and medicine. Students can play a game to test their knowledge of body systems, learn the science behind how germs affect their bodies, and investigate the factors that lead to obesity.

Spooky Science

Celebrate the science behind the scare this Halloween! Your class can uncover the science of mummies, take a closer look at skeletons, or hear about the legend of glowing wounds. Students can create monster bugs and hear about a special species of jumping spiders. Find out about a giant snake from the past and some hungry pythons causing problems today. Discover a new development in forensics or hear how the old technique of leeching is still being used. Also, learn how one teacher’s Halloween-inspired reading of Stella Luna led to non-traditional, interdisciplinary teaching methods. 

Newsletter Vacation

We have entered the final stretch before the new site launches! While we’re busy making sure things run smoothly, the newsletter will be on hiatus until the new year. In the meantime, you can keep up with all our latest announcements and resources by visiting:

• Twitter
• All About Science group
• Facebook