Science, Naturally! News, Number 2, June 2006Science, Naturally! News, Number 2, June 2006A regular publication of Science, Naturally!, an independent publisher creating products that teach the science of everyday life.
WELCOME to Science, Naturally! News, an electronic newsletter from Science, Naturally! We hope you find that the information we provide is useful. Feel free to forward the newsletter to friends or colleagues.
There is just so much to learn! There are novels to read, plays to see, music to listen to, animals to classify, formulas to learn, principles to understand, mysteries to solve, and on and on. And the amount there is to learn keeps growing as new discoveries are made and new technologies open up new doors. Our world is constantly expanding with information and knowledge.
Unfortunately, however, our public education system is contracting. Rather than embracing the plethora of subjects to be taught and ideas to be exposed to, we are limiting what kids learn.
This is because the primary factor guiding what goes on in the classroom today is standardized testing. Kids, teachers, and entire school systems are being judged, rewarded, and penalized by the kids' ability to correctly answer multiple choice questions in reading and math and fill in the corresponding Scantron bubbles. Scoring well on these tests has taken precedence over music, drama, science, even recess. This recent trend, dubbed "narrowing the curriculum," is producing students who excel at taking standardized tests-even though they may fail when required to perform skills of higher learning, such as critical analysis and connecting and dissecting themes.
The standardized test obsession is a key component of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act of 2001. Each school is required to administer annual exams-but only in math and reading. All other subjects, such as science, social studies, health, art and music are left by the wayside. (Limited science testing will be introduced in the 2007-2008 school-year, but math and reading will still be strongly emphasized.) In the same way that states who do not comply with the 21-year-old minimum drinking age are not eligible to receive federal highway funds, failure to comply with the NCLB testing process puts schools and districts at risk of losing significant funds from the Department of Education.
Here at Science Naturally!, we are particularly concerned with the new, narrowing curriculum, including the lack of adequate science education. We are committed to increasing science literacy by exploring and demystifying key science topics. Our mission is to produce products-for children and adults alike-that are filled with interesting facts, important insights and key connections in science. Our books, such as 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, are designed to make potentially intimidating topics intriguing and accessible.
As a result of NCLB, the majority of our nation's schools have shifted resources into a weighted focus on math and reading in efforts to increase pass-rates on the enforced standardized testing. Some schools now devote 6 out of 8 periods a day to them.
Some organizations, including the Business Roundtable, are sounding an alarm. Concerned that our students need a much higher level of science literacy in order to fill jobs of today and tomorrow that will help the US compete in the global market, the Business Roundtable's goal is to double the science, engineering and mathematics graduates with bachelor's degrees by 2015.
According to an April Wall Street Journal article of current undergraduates in China receive degrees in natural science or engineering, compared to 15% in the U.S. Chieh-san Cheng, president of Global Science and Technology Inc. in Greenbelt, MD explains, "Science and technology play an increasingly important role in the twenty-first century. Understanding science has become critical for competing in the global workforce, making consumer decisions, taking care of older generations, education younger generations and leading fuller lives."
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is a concise, intriguing, and valuable tool to help people learn the basics they need in this new society. It is part of our response and contribution to the narrow curriculum that is taking over America's school systems. We would like to see children's minds expanding across the curriculum, including a priority on critical thinking skills and science education. Until that happens, we are working to expand the number of resources available to the teachers and parents who want to educate and produce students eager to be prepared for life in an expanding world.
We are very excited about our new title... 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, we want EVERYONE to have a copy for themselves, give them as gifts and donate them to libraries and schools. This book is endorsed by science organizations and educators and is perfect for kids, grown-ups and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life.
*Buy now and get discounts up to 62%*
5 Copies for $ 34.95 and FREE shipping: 36% Discount!! (retail: $55.75)
10 Copies for $ 59.95 and FREE shipping: 43% Discount!! (retail: $107.50)
25 Copies for $124.95 and FREE shipping: 53% Discount!! (retail: $268.75)
100 Copies for $389.95 and FREE shipping: 62% Discount!! (retail: $1074.50)
*Expires July 31, 2006*
One of our readers contacted us recently and asked us if we could include a question in a future 101 Things Everyone Should Know book. Her question: Why do feet smell? This is a great question! In fact, we are working on additional books in the 101 series, such as Math, Health, World Cultures, etc. We want to know what questions are on your mind. A new feature, available on both www.ScienceNaturally.com and on www.PlatypusMedia.com, is "Submit a Question". Simply go to the page dedicated to one of our 101 Things Everyone Should Know books, either for Science or Math, then click on "Submit a Question". We want your ideas, questions and wonderings. If your submitted question is used in one of our upcoming books, we'll send you a free book!
"This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it."
~ Thomas Carlyle (British historian and essayist)
Margaret Kenda is a prolific writer committed to helping children learn and enjoy science and math. She is the author of Science Wizadry for Kids and Math Wizadry for Kids. She is also a friend of Science Naturallys' and served on the Advisory Board for 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science and 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math. She recently contributed this activity to Science, Naturally! News. Thanks Margaret!
Sugar is made of crystals, & so is glass. Get together with a friend, & cook up glass. This will be sugar glass that you can eat.
CAUTION: You will need an adult to help you with the cooking.
What you'll need:
Here's what you do:
Now you have sugar glass ready to eat!
The way you created edible glass is basically similar to the way factories produce real window glass. There are a few big differences, though, as you might expect. Glass factories use sand, not sugar, for the glass. Also, the heat needed to dissolve the sand into glass is much higher.
We are very excited about our new title... 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, we want EVERYONE to have a copy for themselves, give them as gifts and donate them to libraries and schools. This book is endorsed by science organizations and educators and is perfect for kids, grown-ups and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life.
*Buy now and get discounts up to 62%*
5 Copies for $ 34.95 and FREE shipping: 36% Discount!! (retail: $55.75)
10 Copies for $ 59.95 and FREE shipping: 43% Discount!! (retail: $107.50)
25 Copies for $124.95 and FREE shipping: 53% Discount!! (retail: $268.75)
100 Copies for $389.95 and FREE shipping: 62% Discount!! (retail: $1074.50)
*Expires July 31, 2006*
ScienceArts-101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is now available at ScienceArts. Tricia Maher-Miller recently opened ScienceArts in Alexandria, VA to offer children the opportunity to discover science through the wonder of art. Classes are offered for children up to age 7 and incorporate a range of creative, interactive learning activities.
Dia will be promoting 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science at the National Science Teacher Association's (NSTA) conference this coming November. The conference will take place in Baltimore, MD November 2-4, 2006.
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Science, Naturally! is committed to increasing science literacy by exploring and demystifying key science topics. Our mission is to produce products--for children and adults alike--that are filled with interesting facts, important insights and key connections in science. Our materials are designed to make potentially intimidating topics intriguing and accessible. Our products are perfect for kids, parents, educators and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science affects everyday life.
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