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Archive for October, 2011

Eight Ways to Integrate Technology Into Science For Kids

October 27th, 2011

Many concepts require the use of science-specific software, videos, simulation, etc. when developing activities in science for kids. Through visualization, modeling, and multiple representations, appropriately implemented educational technologies can make scientific concepts more accessible. When developing learning strategies that address science standards, here are seven ideas for integrating technology into science for kids.

Ideas that Support Authentic Science Experiences – Items that fall into this category provide resources needed for doing each phase of authentic science activities.

1. Virtual Field Trips - Many science centers and museums, such as the American Museum of Natural History in New York, offer virtual tours of their facilities and exhibits.

2. Webcams - For the study of weather, wxnation.com includes weather radars, live outdoor webcams, and local weather forecasts for more than 100 cities.

3. Videos/DVDs – Titles such as All About Light from the Physical Science for Children Video Series available from an online school video site includes real-life demonstrations and hands-on activities.

Ideas that Support Scientific Inquiry Skills – These help students locate and obtain information to support inquiry. To be included here the item should make data collection and analysis easier and more manageable and make it easier to visualize and understand phenomena.

4. Search Engines – Use both Google and Bing and see how the results differ. Change the wording of the search phrase and see what different results occur.

5. Video/DVDs – The Scientific Inquiry video series from schoolvideos.com introduces elementary students to biology, geology, astronomy, and physics.

Ideas that Support Science Concept Learning - Items in this group allow simulating and modeling of scientific processes and provide opportunities to engage in problem-solving activities.

6. Online Simulations - Sites such as phet.colorado.edu/ and cse.edc.org/products/simulations/ (chemistry) offer interactive simulations for science activities

Ideas that provide Access to Science Tools – These allow access to unique tools and collections of information thereby expanding opportunities for learning.

7. Google Earth - a virtual globe, map and geographic information program

8. Innerbody.com - fun, interactive Study the anatomy of the human body

In most schools, integrating technology into the curriculum is a priority. This article has provided just a few ideas for using technology in science for kids in hopes of inspiring those who read it to develop even more creative ways to do so.

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Tags: com local weather forecasts Support virtual field trips

Giant Fleas From the Jurassic Sucking the Blood of Dinosaurs

October 24th, 2011

Fossilised Fleas Ten Times the Size of a House Flea from the Jurassic

Warning, reading this article may cause irritation. Don’t blame me if you end up scratching your skin as your read this piece. Dinosaurs and fleas, dinosaurs and their parasites, what a combination. Our subject is the evolution of that highly specialised and very successful insect the flea. A number of new studies into the evolution of fleas have taken place recently, with a focus on giant blood-sucking parasites from the Middle Jurassic.

Chinese scientists have been slowly and surely piecing together the origins of the flea family using fossils found in two regions of China, both famous for their dinosaur fossils. Scientists have been “scratching” around in the sedimentary layers of Liaoning Province and in Ningcheng County collecting beautifully preserved, ancient, insect specimens that shed light on the origin and evolution of fleas. They may not be as exciting as a Triceratops or a T. rex but it seems that fleas may have readily adapted to feeding off and living on the Dinosauria as they evolved and diversified. We know that many readers will be just “itching” to learn more about these latest fossil discoveries.

Fleas – Highly Specialised Insects – Very Successful Insects

Fleas are one of the most dramatically specialised of all the families that make up the Order Insecta. They have reduced wings, a laterally-flattened body and specialised mouth parts for feeding on the blood of mainly mammals (including our own species). There are about 2,550 species or sub-species known and they are present throughout the world, even places like the Arctic circle – just ask a lemming. Most fleas are small, usually between 1-3 millimetres in length. Fleas are parasitic insects – insects that feed on other creatures (parasites).

Fleas in the Fossil Record

Like most insects, Fleas are seldom preserved as fossils. Indeed, take away those fossils of insects preserved inside amber and you are left with a disproportionately sparse fossil record for such an important group of Arthropods. Definitive fossil evidence of fleas has been largely confined to fossils of fleas caught in tree sap and preserved as amber. Most of these fossils date from the Cenozoic, from after the time of the dinosaurs, but in one or two exceptional locations fossils of fleas that once plagued the dinosaurs can be found. The evidence suggesting the origin and early evolution of fleas has not been gathered together and studied, there simply were not enough fossils to study – until now. » Read more: Giant Fleas From the Jurassic Sucking the Blood of Dinosaurs