Two of my favorite bowls got stuck together the other day. I had a goodbye dinner with friends and family for my daughter who was going back to her job in Thailand after a 6-week holiday in the States.   We had a lot of food, and a lot of bowls.
Everyone helped clean up and stacked the dishes, as good guests often do.  I left two bowls out on the counter overnight and the next day I drove her to JFK airport in New York from Philadelphia. The next day, when I went to put the bowls away, the bowls were stuck together.  A smaller clear glass bowl was inside a larger blue glass bowl.

I tried prying them apart but with no success.  Then I remembered the phrase I have been telling my daughters for years: “It is brains not brawn.”  What I mean is, when faced with a situation that requires strength, use your brain to figure out the solution if you find yourself not strong enough.   Think pulleys, inclined planes, wheels, the pull of gravity,  (when trying to move heavy objects) and in this case, the fact that matter expands when heated and contracts when cooled (to open jars or release two bowls stuck together).

I used science concepts to free my bowls from their embrace, because pure strength wasn’t useful in this situation.

Here is what I did:

1. Turned the bowls upsidedown in the sink and ran hot water over the blue bowl (it was the outside bowl).

2. Turned the bowls over and immediately filled the clear smaller bowl with ice.

3. Waited a few seconds and was able to pull the two bowls apart.

I think it was the contraction of the clear bowl and the expansion of the blue bowl that did the trick!

It’s not too late to have a memorable 
summer with more than 1,300 Zoo animals! Sign up for summer camp at the Philadelphia Zoo. Full and half-day programs 
are available for children ages 3 to 15 years old ranging from 1 to 3 weeks in June, July and August. Pre registration is required. http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/phila/Kids-Families/Summer-Camp-2012.htm If you have any questions, please feel free to call 215-243-5601

A new science-based program is being  launched at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center August 2012.  The program, Exploring the Urban Watershed, is for young women entering 9^th grade in the Fall. It is free and will run from August 6^th through August 17^th, from 9:30 am to 3 pm. It will be based at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC) and will include stream studies and hands-on science labs. Exploring the Urban Watershed is an introductory exploration of the sciences that support the management and protection of our waterways and resources. Sponsored by the FWWIC/Philadelphia Water Department, it is made possible in part by a grant from the Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP). Interested applicants must apply by completing all of the attached documents and sending them to us by June 15^th.  Acceptance decisions will be made by June 29^th. Please pass this on to any promising young woman you think would be an ideal candidate for this opportunity. SWEPApplication 2012Revised Please direct questions to Karen Young karen.young@phila.gov

April 21, 3:30 p.m. at  Sister Cities Park Café (on 18^th and Race Streets) Developed with Philadelphia-area science and environmental educators in mind! Connect the Philadelphia Science Festival experience with classroom implementation while expanding your science and environmental resources by attending EcoExpress’ Science Café. You will receive information about free classroom resources and great tips from leading educational experts!

Anita Brook Dupree 

Anita Brook Dupree is one of the nation’s leading experts in science education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia, and holds National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Science. Anita was a middle school science teacher, and the science curriculum specialist for middle years for the School District of Philadelphia.

Jane Kirkland 

Jane Kirkland is the author of the award-winning Take a Walk® Books, a nature discovery series for kids 8 and up. Her awards include the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Education Award and two Teachers Choice Awards. She is a monthly guest on Philly’s Kids Corner radio program (WXPN) and has also appeared on Animal Planet TV, PBS, and NPR

Chuck Lafferty  Chuck Lafferty is a first grade teacher at Longstreth Elementary School. Chuck oversees and coordinates the last active “Campus Park Project” in Philadelphia. His most recent project is the creation of the “Kindergarten Interpretive Pollinator Garden” at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.

Meg Malloy 

Meg Malloy is an environmental scientist for the Philadelphia Water Department at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC). Previously, she worked at Thomas Jefferson University and at the University of Pennsylvania in their biology departments. Meg received her BA in biology from Arcadia University and her Masters of Environmental Studies from University of Pennsylvania.

Ellen Freedman Schultz 

Ellen Freedman Schultz is the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center/Philadelphia Water Department. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Bucks County Community College. Formerly, Schultz served as the Director of Education at the Foundation for Architecture, Philadelphia for their K-12 built environment education program. Interested in more events like this one? Visit EcoExpress.org! 

Dates: April 10, April 17, May 1 and May 8 – 4:30-7PM Full participation in the workshop series earns 10 Act 48 Professional Education credit hours. If you have already taken classes with us and found them valuable, please pass the flyer on to a colleague you think would both enjoy it and benefit. See   www.fi.edu/learn/workshops  for complete information. Questions – contact Susan Holmes: sholmes@fi.edu 215-448-1192.

The University of Pennsylvania is hosting several science teacher workshops this spring. To register for a workshop and for further details, including cost, directions to locations, agendas, what to bring, etc, please contact pennsti@sas.upenn.edu       Beyond Darwin’s Finches: Structure and Function Through Biodiversity The relationship between structure and function will be explored within the context of biodiversity. The content is appropriate for students in grades 7-10. Topics will include: proteins, histology, and correlating evolutionary adaptations to biodiversity. Assessment probes to identify and remediate misconceptions, inquiry-based lab activities and technological applications will be used to address individual learning styles. Presenters – Beth Gillard, Jeff Maddock Penn Faculty Partner:  Dr. Ingrid Waldron Saturday, April 14, 2012, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Rm  2000 – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia. PA POGIL POGIL is a student-centered and engaging teaching strategy. High school science teachers will learn how to effectively implement POGIL in their classroom, building collaboration, teamwork, and student understanding of science.  Participants will be able to use take home materials to utilize POGIL lessons in their own classrooms. Participants will have an understanding of the students’ and teacher’s roles in POGIL lessons, in which students act as self-managed teams and classroom teachers act as facilitators. Presenters: Carolyn Doherty, Elizabeth Harvey, Pat Munter, Sheila MacIntyre, Musa Mugambi, Susan Wanjir Saturday, April 21, 2012, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia, PA “Identifying” CSI Chemistry: Drugs, DNA, and Fingerprints Engage your students in learning chemistry and biochemistry through the use of a crime scene.  Unknown over the counter drugs will be analyzed and identified using presumptive color tests.  Gel electrophoresis will be utilized to teach the chemistry behind DNA fingerprinting identification.  Fingerprints can be visualized using various chemical techniques.  Enjoy a day of hands-on exploration and take home a CD of practical lesson plans and handouts ready for use in your classroom. Presenters:  Alexis Bizzaro, Diane Welsch, Chrissy Wilson Date:  Saturday, April 21, 2012, 9 am – 4:30 pm Location:  Ridley High School 901 Morton Avenue, Folsom, PA Environmental Science  PLT:  Training for K12 teachers from American Forest Foundation to use environmental education to integrate complex environmental issues into the Science Core curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia.  PLT offers a service-learning program called Green Schools with grants and resources to evaluate and CHANGE the footprint or impact of a school. Delaware Estuary Program:  Provides educators with resources and educational opportunities to discover the many differences between urban and rural watersheds.  This program leads to collaborative and creative efforts to protect and enhance the Delaware Estuary and its tributaries for current and future generations. Presenters: Michelle Greenberg, Ayana Griffin, Isabel Pilling, Michelle Thornton Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9 am – 3:30 pm Location:  John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia,   Using Technology in the Classroom Clickers   This course for grades 6-12 teachers will explore the use of clickers in the classroom.  Participants will learn how to set up the software/clicker system, engage in sample lessons, interact with Mobile Interactive Whiteboards, using Exam View for formal assessment, and get a chance to “play” with the clickers.  A complete classroom clicker set ($1200 value) and a Mobile Interactive Whiteboard ($400 value) will be given at the end of the session as a door prize to two of the participants. Presenters: – Justin Barry, Chris Warner Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Location:  New Foundations Charter School 8001 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia. PA Probeware   This professional development will focus on the use of probeware for data acquisition and analysis in the science laboratory setting. Topics will include an introduction to probeware, how to collect and analyze data, a sample experiment, and journaling results. PASCO and Vernier data logging systems will be on hand and time will be allotted for the audience to get hands on experience using the equipment. There will also be a brief discussion on the usefulness and importance of probeware as a pedagogical tool. Presenters: Maureen Huhman,  Tom Loschiavo,  Jim Navins Penn Faculty Partner:  Dr.  Jenine  Maeyer Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000 –  231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia, PA Food Chemistry Grab students’ attention by using food to teach chemistry.  Put a different perspective on your next meal, learn the difference between a potato chip and a potato crisp, explore ionic bonding via formation of gummy worms.  A brief background of food science, including microbiology, food engineering, and sensory science, will be discussed.  Participants will explore concepts using food-related activities, such as emulsions by creating the perfect salad dressing.  Other topics include:  types of mixtures, acids and bases, functionality of ingredients, and career paths in the food industry. Presenter:  Heather Erney Date:  Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9 am– 3:00 pm   Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St. , Philadelphia, PA Earth Science Plate tectonics is a unifying theme across Earth Science. It is what makes Earth unique within our universe, explains the restless Earth on which we live and helps to shape its surface.  In this course, teachers will use real data to draw connections between scientific evidence and plate tectonics. Throughout this course, teachers will identify their own misconceptions, as well as possible student misconceptions, as they deepen their content understanding of plate tectonics.  Teachers will work collaboratively as they trace the unique qualities of our dynamic Earth and its formation within the context of the universe. Participants will leave with stronger content knowledge and hands-on activities to use in the classroom.   This workshop is supported both financially and academically by Penn State and we are extremely grateful. Presenters:  Lauren Beal, Joy Bryson, Kathy Nolen, Kathy Tait Monday, June 25, 2012, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Location:  Franklin Institute 222 N. 20^th Street, Philadelphia, PA  

One of the most misunderstood concepts in science is the answer the to question: Why do we have seasons?  Many people, even very educated people, have strange misconceptions about this natural phenomenon.  In the late 1980’s a documentary called  “A Private Universe” was made about student misconceptions in science.

We have seasonal weather changes because of three reasons (and none of them are because the Earth is closer to the sun). The three reasons why we have Seasons are:

• The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. This means that the Earth is always “pointing” to one side as it goes around the Sun. So, sometimes the Sun is in the direction that the Earth is pointing, but not at other times. The varying amounts of sunlight around the Earth during the year, creates the seasons.
• Revolution – The Earth revolves around the Sun. The Earth takes 365.24 days to orbit the sun. As we move around the Sun during the year, the amount of light each area of the planet receives varies in length.
• The North Pole always POINTS in the same direction.  The North pole always points the same way as the Earth revolves around the Sun.

It is winter time in countries in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is summer time in countries in the Southern Hemisphere. During the summer, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a steep angle because the sun is higher in the sky. The light does not spread out very much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given spot. During the winter, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle because the sun is lower in the sky. These rays are more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. http://youtu.be/DuiQvPLWziQ Why do we have seasons video.

The Museum of Mathematics (scheduled to open in later 2012 at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan) is pleased to announce the inaugural Rosenthal Prize for Innovation in Math Teaching. Designed to recognize and promote hands-on math teaching in the upper elementary and middle school classroom, the Rosenthal Prize carries a cash award of $25,000. Click here to visit rosenthalprize.momath.org for more information.

What’s in store for the 2nd Annual Philadelphia Science Festival? Check out the all-new Calendar of Events to learn when and where to meet science superheroes, be dazzled by scientific design or explore the neurobiology of love. Click here for:   The complete list – nearly 75 events in all! – is now live on our website   Don’t forget: this year, many of the events (even the free ones) will require reservations. Registration and ticketing begins next TUESDAY, MARCH 20! http://www.philasciencefestival.org/calendar

Beyond Darwin’s Finches: Structure and Function Through Biodiversity The relationship between structure and function will be explored within the context of biodiversity.  The content is appropriate for students in grades 7-10.  Topics will include: proteins, histology, and correlating evolutionary adaptations to biodiversity. Assessment probes to identify and remediate misconceptions, inquiry based lab activities, and technological applications will be used to address individual learning styles. Presenters:   Beth Gillard, Jeff Maddock Penn Faculty Partner:  Dr. Ingrid Waldron Saturday, April 14, 2012, 9:00 am -1:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos  Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia To register, find out about cost, and to get directions:  send an email to: pennsti@sas.upenn.edu. Check out this event on the Penn Science Teacher Institute Facebook Page –http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-Science-Teacher-Institute/275415705865529 and get more details at pennsti@sas.upenn.edu