SciQuest Printer Version

Happenings
ScienceQuest Welcomes New Clusters
On June 26th, representatives from community technology clusters gathered in Washington, DC to participate in ScienceQuest's Cluster Workshop during the 2003 CTCNet Conference. New additions to the ScienceQuest network include:

Thanks to special guests Flavio Mendez from the NASA Solar System Educators Program (SSEP) and Jennifer Sly from the Jacob Riis Settlement House and our host, CTCNet for contributing to another great session. The workshop covered elements of starting and running a successful team. Participants reported that they found many elements directly useful, for example: how to find science in everyday occurrences and materials, tools for engaging kids and how to make a project kid-driven. Welcome to the new teams! Photos of the day can be found at: http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/hot/cluster03pics.htm

Cost Share Realities
As you know, ScienceQuest receives much of its funding through the National Science Foundation (NSF). However, our funding also depends on generous cost share contributions of our partners from across the country. At the end of this fiscal year, we hope to be submitting the final cost share contributions of our partners.

If there are any questions, please contact Jennifer at jdorsen@edc.org.
Thanks for all your efforts.

Hellos and Goodbyes
ScienceQuest has been lucky to have the support of two wonderful people over the last couple of years. We want to wish them well in their new lives.

Susan Wong arrived only a year ago as an AmeriCorps *VISTA. She has taken a leading role in the development and maintenance of the website. Her legacy has included the design of the youth site archive, expansion of the current ScienceQuest site, and the creation of additional means of communication between ScienceQuest headquarters and its partners through this newsletter, technical assistance, and marketing materials. We wish her all the best during her move back to her hometown of NYC and in her search for the next adventure!

Vivian Wong (no relation to Susan) is also moving on after two years working with ScienceQuest, back to her home town of Chicago. She will be starting a graduate program in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University. Jennifer still remembers Vivian asking "What exactly is a CTC?" during one of her first days on the job. Now, she might become an expert on how CTCs contribute to community education! Vivian's touch will be felt through the many aspects of the project she helped with: writing professional and friendly materials, co-designing the original version of the web site, and developing relationships to Homestead and others around the country. Who will forget her exhortations to "Share the love" through cost share forms"? We wish her all the best in school and beyond!

Thanks to both for their contributions to ScienceQuest.

At the same time, we welcome Caitlin Feeley who started two weeks ago as our AmeriCorps *VISTA for the 2003-2004 year. She is still settling in, but has already helped recruit volunteer coaches and think more about the redesign of the youth section of the web site. Welcome, Caitlin; we are lucky to have you!

21st Century Community Learning Center Summer Institute
Jennifer Dorsen was invited to be a presenter at the 21st Century Community Learning Center Summer Institute in mid June, a conference that drew over 1400 people! The focus was on academic integration during the afterschool hours, a subject that had been highlighted in the Mathematica study of these federally funded programs. Presenters talked about model programs in each subject area, and Jennifer was one of three people talking about science. Science is poised to be a focus of after school programs because of the various elements of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) legislation and the pressures that programs experience with regards to reading, language arts and math enrichment. ScienceQuest is looking for ways that it can be part of the discussion about quality science programs that are engaging for youth, not simply "more school," and that provide important experiences to kids.

New Youth Section Shows Off Youths' Work in Style
ScienceQuest youth sites have a new home! With a new navigation system and an alphabetical listing of all the youth sites, visitors can browse with ease. An archive presents older sites that are no longer online. Look for your own teams' sites or look at what others have done.
http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/youth1/

Teams Showcase
Medieval Technology
Nace, Rishi, and Winess of Graham and Parks Community School in Cambridge, MA decided to take their coach Suzy back in time to study medieval technology. Check this site out if its been a while since you've thought about trebuchets and castle walls, or want to know whether a curved or straight wall is stronger.
http://grahamandparks.homestead.com/

Lil' Pets
Ever had or wanted a pet? Through our pet experts, Damian, Kalen, Kevin, Kimberly, Matthew, and Pearl of Lenox Hill House in New York City, you will learn everything about pet care-- from what guinea pigs eat to how to groom a snake. Before you choose your next pet, check out this informative pet care site. (By the way, snakes don't require grooming because they shed their skin!)
http://lilpets.homestead.com/

Reptiles vs. Mammals
In a battle between reptiles and mammals, who would win? While no animals were used or injured in this investigation, the team of Parsells Avenue CTC in Rochester, NY, discovered some amazing facts about alligators, anacondas, armadillos, and hippos. In addition, the team conducted its own anti- wrinkling experiment. Find out what methods best prevented skin from wrinkling and more.
http://reptilesvsmammals.homestead.com/

Web Spotlights
Asking Passionate Research Questions Worksheet
New and experienced coaches often ask, "How do you know when your kids have found a passionate research question?" The "Passionate Research Questions Worksheet" can help your team organize thoughts, hone ideas, and generate rich, exciting inquiry questions that are meaningful. Check it out!
http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/coachescenters/
phase1/Questions.pdf

Online Resources for Research
Your team has a general sense of what topic they want to pursue but they're not sure of the next step. Explore our collections of online resources on a variety of science topics, including a listing of search engines to find out more information and a "Ask An Expert" directory to get answers to even your toughest questions. Finding items for your "read, watch, ask and do" chart will be a snap.
Browseable list of resources: http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/coachescenters/
phase4/Onlineresources.htm

Choosing Appropriate Technology Guide
As the internet changes, so does the software used to create web pages. Our "Choosing Appropriate Technology Guide" will provides important information on website building software and tools that ScienceQuest supports.
http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/
coachescenters/phase4/Technologypolicy.htm

Online Resources
ScienceNews for Kids
Where can you go to read about Spiderman's superhero skills, the search for the perfect French fry, and the social side of baby talk? ScienceNews is an archive of articles on science topics from agriculture to weather. See a sneak preview and bookmark the permanent address for more exciting articles.
Sneak Preview: http://www.sciencenews.org/preview/home.htm
Bookmark: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org

ZOOMSci
Looking for an immersion activity for your team? Want to direct a curious student to more fun experiments he/she can do alone? ZOOMSci compiles various science experiments and activities from the PBS show ZOOM - here you can learn to build a baking soda rocket, send an egg bungee jumping, and more. There's also a page for educators using ZOOM activities, and a page devoted entirely to engineering projects.
ZOOM Science Activities: http://pbskids.org/zoom/sci/index.html
ZOOM for Educators: http://pbskids.org/zoom/too/
ZOOM Science Activities for Educators: http://pbskids.org/zoom/too/science/
ZOOM Engineering: http://pbskids.org/zoom/too/engineering/

Webmonkey 4 Kids - Planning Guide
Your team has brainstormed, investigated, and recorded information about its passionate research question when you realize that your team still has to build a website. Not to worry, you can teach your team web design skills through Webmonkey For Kids' tutorial on creating web sites. This self-paced tutorial is broken into different sections - from an introduction to the internet, to uploading your website. Whatever your team's experience with technology, there is something to learn from this primer. The web design lesson is especially good for learning how to plan and organize your website like a pro.
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/kids/planning/index.html

WebGenies
WebGenies is a colorful web design site for kids. It's loaded with lessons, projects, resources, and even technical assistance through email. A parent/teacher section offers pointers on how to guide your kids as they go through the lessons. You can even read about how a web design club of seven year-olds in England created its school website!
http://www.webgenies.co.uk/