Science Bound

Nothing Less Than Success

Fall Kick Off Ceremonies…Reactions/commentsWhat went wellSuggestions for next year

Creating a Supportive Science Bound Community What activities or strategies have you used to

create a supportive and respectful in your Science Bound group? What were the reactions of your students? What went well? What would you do differently next time? How will you continue to place emphasis on

building and maintaining a supportive community throughout the year?

Wagon Wheel Activity

Start with a topic/questions to discuss Give students “think time” Have them organize into two concentric circles Give them 4-5 minutes to discuss their

topic/questions with a partner. Make sure each partner gets a turn to speak.

At the end of the allotted time, the outside circle rotates to the left (or right)

Give students 4-5 minutes to discuss their topic/questions with their new partner.

Repeat 1-2 more times.

Wagon Wheel Activity

Science Experiences for Your Students

Utilizing Community Resources

Science Center of Iowa

401 W. ML King Jr Parkway; 515-274-6868 Hours: MTWFS 9:00 – 5:30 Th 9:00 – 8:00 Cost: $8 (platforms only); $13 (platforms & IMAX) Coming soon…ROBOTS: The Interactive

Exhibition & IMAX – Sept. 20 – Jan. 4, 2009 Contact: Cindy Anderson, Director of IA Learning

Center with questions 515.274.6868 ext 295 cindy.anderson@sciowa.org

Des Moines Botanical Center 909 Robert D. Ray Drive; 515.323-6290 Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily Cost: Students $1.50 (group rate) Guided and self-guided tours available (need

at least two weeks notice for guided) Education Coordinator: 515.283.8753 or

email at peckumn@dmww.com

Blank Park Zoo

7401 SW 9th Street; 515.323.8383 Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily Cost: $6.00 each (group rate - call 323.8304

to reserve this rate in advance of visit) Education Coordinator: Sherry Aschan

515.323.8330 or SKAschan@blankparkzoo.org

Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center 75 East Army Post Road; 515.282.8060 Hours: M-F 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: Students $1.00; Adults $5.00 Tours available Education Coordinator: 515.282.8060 or

email Katesedu@qwest.net

Iowa Hall of Pride

330 Park Street; 515.280.8969 Hours: M-Sat 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: Free for all IA Students; Adults $5.00 Includes not only athletics but academics and

arts too! Education Coordinator: Shelly Williams

515.564.8510 or email shelly@iowahallofpride.com

Living History Farms

2600 111th Street, Urbandale; 515.278.5286 Hours: W-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $11.00 and up Special programs available Education Coordinator: Dan Jones

515.278.5286 or email djones@lhf.org

State Historical Society of Iowa 600 East Locust; 515.281.5111 Hours: M-Sat 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: Free Includes exhibits featuring mammoths and

how we use natural resources. Education Coordinator: Sarah Macht

515.242.5193 or email Sarah.Macht@iowa.gov

Metro Waste Authority

Various facilities within the Urban Environmental Partnership

Education Coordinator: Mary Gillaspey 515.323.6505 or email mgi@mwatoday.com

Astronomy Opportunities

Des Moines Astronomical Society (DMAS) website: http://www.dmasonline.org/

Public Nights each Friday beginning at 8:00 p.m. @ Ashton Observatory

DMAS also provides lectures to groups and schools. Contact: president@dmasonline.org

Watch for fall, 2008 public nights at Drake University Municipal Observatory

NASA for Educators

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html

Includes information about the NASA design challenge

Links to other resources

Neil Smith Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 339, Prairie City, IA; 515.994.3400 25 minutes east of Des Moines http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nealsmith/ Learning Center: www.tallgrass.org Education Coordinator: Cheryl Groom at

Friends of the Prairie Learning Center; email Cheryl_Groom@fws.gov

Des Moines University

3200 Grand Ave; 515.271.1400 Mini Medical School (begins 2/2009) Website:

http://www.dmu.edu/community/minimed/ Health Careers Exploration (begins 9/28/08)

Website: http://www.dmu.edu/community/HealthCareersExplorerPost141/index.htm

Other Resources

Learning for Life: http://www.learning-for-life.org/ National Weather Service: 515.270.2614 Iowa Environmental Council: 515.244.1194 US Geological Survey – Iowa:

http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=IA Iowa Science Teachers: http://ists.pls.uni.edu/ Polk County Conservation Board:

http://www.conservationboard.org/

Jester Park Natural Playscape (see Conservation Board “Things to Do” tab)

More Science Resources

Virtual Field Trips: http://www.field-trips.org/trips.htm Excellent Collection of Virtual Science Field Trips:

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/virtual.php Collection of virtual tours, trips, and live webcams:

http://ldshomeschoolinginca.org/vft.html Daily science discoveries and headlines:

www.sciencedaily.com http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/ Logic Puzzles: http://www.rinkworks.com/brainfood/ Great links!:

http://www.scitechdaily.com/resources.htm#portholes

Utilizing Technology…

The Futures Channel – Connecting Learning to the Real World. http://www.thefutureschannel.com/index.php

Start a wiki for your group!! www.wikispaces.com is FREE!

Free Web 2.0 Sites for Educators: http://www.teach42.com/2007/03/06/top-10-free-web-20-sites-for-educators-and-a-few-honorable-mentions/

Comprehensive Web 2.0 List! http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html

Kits Available for Checkout

DMPS activity kits developed for Science Bound teachers and students

Available for checkout by contacting Steve Benson (steven.benson@dmps.k12.ia.us)