Spend a Week in Finland Free—International Science Youth Camp Opportunity

The budding scientists, engineers, or mathematicians in your class may be interested in applying for the first-ever international Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp). MY Camp will be held in Helsinki, Finland, June 6–13, 2010, and is aimed at young people (ages 16–19). All activities, travel, food, and accommodations will be provided free of charge!

Details are available at http://www.technologyacademy.fi/millennium-youth-camp-fi.html.

With news stories about flu and flu vaccines in the media daily, kids (plus parents and teachers) need ways to learn the facts without fear, and have some fun doing it. Find out how vaccines work, why you need them, and even why you should thank a chicken and a cow for your flu vaccine. We’ve developed a free downloadable activity and background article to teach elementary and middle-school students and their families about the flu, the H1N1 virus (swine flu), and the importance of vaccinations. Visit www.terrificscience.org/flufor the activity and background article. Additional free activities on hand hygiene and other timely health topics are available at www.terrificscience.org/healthrich/activities.html.

Schools are in the spotlight this month as we welcome our students back amid worries about the H1N1 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends frequent hand washing, especially after you cough or sneeze, as one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from getting the H1N1 flu.
According to the CDC, you should wash your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel or wipes are also effective. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. You may want to share the Germ Center and 300 Germs videos (linked in the left column of this page) with your students. These attention grabbing animations can help to engage students in discussions about flu prevention.

You can get lots more information on proper hand washing techniques and other cool activities about hygiene and germs in the Lather Up! Hand Washing Activity Handbook.

Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm

Now’s the time for Ohio teachers to enroll in three new fall academies!

   • Teaching Chemistry with Charisma
   • Careers Built on Science: Putting Science to Work
   • Family Science Academy

>> Click here for more information.

Want Credit for Great Science?—Keep in Mind Our Online HealthRICH Courses

Terrific Science is pleased to offer two HealthRICH online courses based on our award-winning Strive to Thrive! series of health science books. These distance-learning courses for teachers of grades 5 and up provide substantial science content tied to the National Science Education Standards. Courses include content readings, web searches, question and answer sessions, and lots of hands-on activities for use in the classroom or outreach programs. The courses (each providing 1 semester hour of tuition-free graduate credit in chemistry from Miami University) begin this fall.

>> Click here for more information.

Mickey Sarquis received Miami University's prestigious Benjamin Harrison Medallion

The staff of Terrific Science is pleased to announce that our director, Mickey Sarquis, is the recipient of the 2009 Miami University Benjamin Harrison Medallion. The Harrison Medallion is named after U.S. President (1889-1893) and Miami graduate Benjamin Harrison and is awarded to Miami faculty members who have made outstanding national contributions to education. Learn more at http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/11529

Introducing New Book: Chemistry with Charisma

We're proud to introduce our latest book, Chemistry with Charisma: 24 Lessons that Capture & Keep Attention in the Classroom. Keeping students actively engaged in chemistry can sometimes be a challenge. This book contains 24 of our best classroom-tested activities guaranteed to engage and motivate your students with fun, multi-sensory lessons that students will find meaningful and relevant to their world. But behind the hands-on play is lots of serious science: the book uses toys, model building, and everyday objects and phenomena to encourage students to question their assumptions about the way things work.

>> Click here for more information.

Introducing Marvelous Moving Things: Early Childhood Science In Motion

We’re pleased to announce the publication of Marvelous Moving Things: Early Childhood Science in Motion, our newest book in the Big Science for Little Hands series. Teachers of children ages 3 to 8 will love the book’s 22 hands-on activities that use moving toys to build process skills in all four phases of the learning cycle. See www.terrificscience.com/sciencestore for a detailed description of this terrific new book.

Mickey Sarquis receives the 2008 Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach

The staff of Terrific Science is thrilled to announce that our director, Mickey Sarquis, is the recipient of the 2008 Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach. Established in 1995 by the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, the Helen Free Award recognizes individuals who’ve worked to improve public understanding and appreciation for chemistry. Learn more at www.terrificscience.org/award.