Learning Signs

Watch this. OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.

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This afternoon I watched the TEDx talk, “Seth Shostak: ET is (probably) out there — get ready.” I totally agree with what Seth says about the statistical probability / near certainly of extra-terrestrial life and intelligence being “out there” in space. I also agree with his point that we need to focus on getting kids [...]

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This morning before school I shared the start of this video with Rachel, who is VERY interested in science, space, and all things NASA. It’s a 25 minute tour of the International Space Station by Sunita Williams, who was the commander of the station until this past November. Rachel, YOU could be recording a tour [...]

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Alexander made a model of an animal cell for his 9th grade biology class this weekend. I asked him to take a photo of it, and (although he protested) he recorded a short AudioBoo describing his project and some of the cell parts. This media reflection is therefore an example of “narrated food,” as opposed [...]

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Rachel recorded this last night, following several discussions we’ve been having over the past few weeks about science and becoming a scientist. Last spring I took Rachel to Chris Simon’s classroom at Independence Elementary School in Yukon Public Schools, and she was VERY impressed with the STEM lessons Mr. Simon does with his students. She [...]

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In March and April this year Alexander worked on a simple machine project for his 8th grade science class. His design process and the results of his project are documented in the posts, “Draft Design for a Complex Machine to Generate Electricity from Water Power” (26 March 2012) and “Good Things Can Come From Science [...]

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(Cross-posted from Moving at the Speed of Creativity) This weekend, my 8th grade son and I worked on a project for his science class he’s been planning for over a month. In March I asked him to record a short podcast we posted over on our family learning blog, “Draft Design for a Complex Machine [...]

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Today we worked in our flower and vegetable beds in our front and backyard. Among other things, we planted some pumpkin seeds. We’re not sure if we’ll get any pumpkins (or cantaloupes, or ears of corn) but we’re going to give it a shot! Later this month we’re going to plant some tomatoes too. Here [...]

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Alexander is designing a “complex machine” for his 8th grade science class. He recorded a short AudioBoo today and described his design, which I photographed and embedded below. Please share comments and feedback. listen to ‘A Complex Machine Design’ on Audioboo I shared the “Sweeping Down the Plains” STEM project from K20-ALT with him this [...]

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A week or so before winter break, we had a cold snap in Oklahoma City. Rachel reported on some EXCITING sprinkler ice we saw walking home from school. Technorati Tags: oklahoma, sprinkler, ice, okc, city, report, reporting

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In this podcast, Rachel (age 7) and Wesley discuss some questions about how stars are born. http://cinch.fm/wfryer/talkingscience/247407 Sent from my iPad Cross-posted to Talking Science!

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Rachel (age 6) asked today about why other people in our family wear glasses and she doesn’t. She shared what she learned today about how the eye works. http://ipad.io/Jch This was my napkin sketch I used to try and explain this to her. Sent from my iPhone Posted via email from wesley fryer’s posterous

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Today was the science fair at our local elementary school, and Sarah shared what she learned about humidity and the science of baking bread. I brought my iPhone and interviewed her (using iPadio) at her exhibit in the cafeteria, and took several photos as well. It took about three minutes to upload this almost-four minute [...]

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Here are a few of my favorite photos I snapped today in Washington D.C. with Alexander. I added all of these to my NECC 2009 Flickr Set. This is the first time I’ve seen a Tomahawk cruise missile up close. We were able to not only see but also TOUCH several enormous meteorites today at [...]

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Alexander shared the following thoughts at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum today in Washington D.C. Technorati Tags: museum, smithsonian, space, video, youtube, hubble, telescope

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