Going once...Going twice....SOLD..

To the unknown voice at the other end of the line for a little over 100,000. bucks..

 The Largest egg ever to surface the grounds--from Madagascar--

Attenborough's Giant Egg--hunted into extiction by the late 1600's- As tall as a Terror bird-- The Phorusrhacids---The Elephant bird--Aepyornis maximus--  


   

The Elephant Egg now in the hands of the unknown bidder.

We would have to wait and see who was the bidder and winner of enormous fossilized egg...





Stay tuned-

To learn more go on line--

Visiting the Beach

I had to get away from it all for awhile.      
I took a drive to the Long Island beach. It's free this time of the year. I spotted our part time resident--- the Piping plovers-- Charadrius melodus- It sure did make my day!

They start their migration north mid-March and start breeding mid-April. If breeding is successful chicks hatch a few days shy a month. In the winter they migrate south.

I saw a few hoping around. I only wished I brought my camera. Soon they will start to build there nests.

They are protected by the Endangered Species act and are tagged; since the 90's they have been increasing. It is important to protect animals. . Other wise they become extinct, like our native birds Carolina parrots- Conuropsis carolinensis and Passerine pigeon- Ectopistes migratorius killed and extinct by humans by the early 1900's because they were a nuisance to city and  farms folks. Most extinction occurs today due to habitat destruction. A decrease in these birds indicate habitat changes that may also impact other species.  

Talk about Sandy's habitat distraction for most human coast dwellers. The storm has built up the perfect habitat for these shore birds. More sand means more nesting places and possibly more food, and hopefully, an increase in population.

Try taking a trip to the beach now--It's free-- Don't forget your binoculars and camera.

Click on link below to learn more......

Piping Plover - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover

  

SCONYC- 2013

 Science Council of New York City= SCONYC a networking program that embodies the educational system for NYC and State. It is held every year where educators K-12 and educational organization groups come together to relate, discuss and inform about new innovative ways to teach and learn. 

The SCONYC conference and workshops was held this past Sunday April 6, 2013-at Stuyvesant HS-Manhattan. 

Key note speaker Amie Hamlin- Executive Director of NY coalition for healthy foods. She addressed the importance of eating the right foods (plant based), and how it can save the planet 3 times day.

Basically, don't consume junk food--This includes meat and some dairy products-

You can visit the site to learn more- About NY Coalition for Healthy School Food


 
The exhibits is where you can sign up to get information on new learning materials and possibly get some materials for free. In the afternoon there are workshops and panels.

This year the greatest emphasis (for me) was on the topic of  "The Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS)- a workshop presented by Allen Asher. It focuses on K-12 graders learning "The Nature of Science": It encompasses a framework for teaching and learning, and having a deeper level of the epistemic knowledge of and about the nature of science; to prepare students' future academic achievements, to build strong science-based skills in students, and for students' to become more of an informed citizen(s) in our society. 

The NGSS also includes disciplinary core ideas--one being core ideas of engineering and technology, and crosscutting concepts connected to the nature of science learning. The schedule for the final decision to be released this week. To learn more check out the links below:

Next Generation Science Standards-www.nextgenscience.org

The National Research Council's “Framework for K-12 Science ...opportunityequation.org/.../national-research-councils-framew

Three Dimensions | Next Generation Science Standardswww.nextgenscience.org/three-dimensions

Nature of Science- www2.gsu.edu/~mstnrhx/9870/science.htm

 NSTA :: Next Generation Science Standards: NSTA Recommendationswww.nsta.org › About NSTA › National Standards Update

 The Next Generation of Science Standards...10 Things - LiNC - MIT-linc.mit.edu/stem/2012-march/kaspar.html

Next Generation Science Standards | Achieve- www.achieve.org/next-generation-science-standards

One final thought--this new standard will take 3-5 years to actually know if it will stand or fail. It would be wise for all teachers to start implementing this new standard into their curriculum and teaching.