Most of us have heard of Engineering ... but do we really know what engineers do? Engineers are changing the world as we know it — and we are all born as natural engineers. So, how do we embrace our inner engineer and gain excitement about solving the world's problems? This session will leave students ignited to explore engineering. A great way to start is by learning how to make your very own video game! All the resources and inspiration are delivered in this session with our spectacular global engineer, Alex Cordes, with Understated Engineering, live from Norway. We learn that over half the cars in Norway are electric. Check out Green Car Reports to learn why. Interested in playing a video game that allows you to be an engineer? We all know Minecraft is awesome, but also check out Stardew Valley. Empowering scientists and artists of the future, Arduino has cool education resources for teachers and students. Tinkercad is another great way to engage students in engineering. Like the idea of building a solar racecar? Check out the Bridgestone Solar World Challenge. Find air-based, super-speed-levitation travel as fascinating as we do? Check out Hyperloop and one particular collaborative group, Paradigm Hyperloop. Learn more about space visionary Elon Musk and Space X. Wow, check out the walking robots at Boston Dynamics. Check out this video to learn more about Hydrofoils. For more engineering activities, see Global Education Alaska homepage and Fun-a-Day.
"Bat" for another session, with even more "batty" information, we host The Bat Lady, Kristen Lear, to learn about the five Alaskan bats, check out adaptations of the over 1,400 species of bats, and ask lots of questions about what makes bats unique. Did you know bats are the only true flying mammal? This and other amazing facts along with incredible visuals in photos and videos, guide us to understand a bit more about why bats are SO important to our world and so exciting to learn about! Want to learn more about helping to save the bats? Become a part of The Bat Squad at Bat Conservation International. Want to learn more about Kristen Lear, and reach out to The Bat Lady? Check out her website. The Homeschool Scientist has all sorts of batty activities and interesting facts about bats. Maybe your class would be interested in adopting a bat? See Bat World Sanctuary Kid's Page. Turn your batty adventures into bat crafts with the resources at Bats.org. If you want to have your very own bat house and help in the conservation process, check out this one on Amazon, (which ships to Alaska-YAY!).
NASA Psyche Mission, launching in August 2021, will be a unique exploration to the asteroid Psyche, which, with metal as a building block of planet formation, may open up a whole new world of learning about the formation of planets. Learn more about this fascinating mission, and explore the learning resources at Psyche's website. Learn more by watching Meteors at Mr. DeMaio's video. Find out about the formation of the planet (planetesimal) at Peekaboo Kidz. Learn about a planetesimal, or the beginning (small) formation of a planet, at Universe Today . A fascinating piece of today's Space Exploration shares about the Europa Clipper (Moon of Jupiter). The best part is checking out SkyView, the app that allows you to explore the sky and be told right away what you are looking at. Download SkyView - an app that helps you explore the sky in real time for ipad and iphone here and on Google Play.
We have a fascinating solar system. Much of what we have learned so far is from from space explorations and missions. Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility (SPIF), in partnership with NASA, housed at Cornell University, studies all the of the images we have captured in the universe, and WOW are they amazing! In this session, we explore why Jupiter looks so cool, why Mars has dust devils, why Mercury hasn't been explored as much, why Venus is called our sister planet, and more, through beautiful images delivered by SPIF Space Communicator Expert, Zoe Ponterio. SPIF has lots of resources for teachers and classrooms, including setting up a one-on-one Virtual Field Trip of your own. Want to explore why Mars has landslides? Check out Universe Today. Curious about The Big Crunch and The Big Freeze (theories about how the universe would end)? See Astronomy Magazine. Travel a little into the "What-if" of the Big Crunch Theory with the YouTube Channel Unveiled. Astronomy Magazine explores the difference between dark matter and dark energy. Learn about NASA's Juno Mission on Jupiter.
Cricket is excited to announce the 10th annyal Spark!Lab Dr InBae & Mrs. Kyung Joo Yoon Invent It Challenge! This is an exciting opportunity for kids from ages 5 to 18+ to practice the invention process, create something that makes a difference in the world, and win amazing prizes!
Stay tuned, and welcome!
Visit the Challenge website to discover this year's "game-changing" topic, and be sure to spread the word to teachers, students, homeschooling familes, or anyone else who might be interested in a fun, hands-on STEM experience.
Learn more about Invent It here.
Check out the Promo Video here.
Rube Goldberg Machine (RGM) is a crazy contraption which accomplishes a simple task in the most complicated and funniest way possible! Based on the “invention” cartoons of the famous, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Cartoonist, Rube Goldberg. His drawings and imagined machines are at the heart of the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. They use everyday items (mostly junk!), they tell a story, and most important of all — they make you laugh!
A Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) is an event where students of all ages compete with machines that they have imagined, designed and created in a fun and competitive forum. Our STEM centric competitions encourage teamwork and out-of-the-box problem solving, in a fresh learning environment that levels the playing field. To win, all you need is a great Imagination and a pile of junk!
SHAKE AND POUR A BOX OF NERDS #RGMC2021
Learn more about Rube Goldberg here.
Check out the Promo Video here.
Book Club for Kids is the award-winning podcast where kids talk about books. The New York Times says the "virtual gathering space for young readers feels more vital than ever in the social distancing era."
Have a student in grades 4-8 that is interested sharing the love of a specific book? They, too, can be a part of the Book Club for Kids podcast! Simply send an email to kitty@bookclubforkids.org with the following information:
Hi, my name is - (first name only)
I'm from - (what city and state)
And my library is - (what's the name of your library (could be your school name))
My favorite book is - (what's the title of your book and author)
Because - (not the plot, but why YOU like this book and why you'd recommend it to someone else)
Email the audio files to us at kitty@bookclubforkids.org.
OR: Your child can just call them at 323-639-3560 and follow the script.
Young people around the world need to connect and feel connected with each other now more than ever. Come join us! Interested in connecting over Flipgrid or having young people reach out to each other? Send us a message here requesting the password.
Learn about global projects, global happenings, and great stories. Join our Conversations.
Find out more about our program director, Michelle Carton, and what led to Global Education Alaska.
Alaska, as the largest state in our country, is on the rim of incredible opportunities, which will develop our young global leaders and create sustainability for generations to come.
We can't become global alone; this website and the many resources are for all youth to become empowered and embrace global citizenship. Join us throughout the year on global projects or suggest a global project for us to embrace or join.
Global learning is a collective effort for us all, while professional development keeps our work relevant. View conference presentations.
