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Category Archives Educational

Stargazing For Dummies

Posted on April 18, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Disclosure: I wrote this post as an Ambassador for Dummies books through a Global Influence campaign. I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but as a fan of Dummies books, the opinions expressed are 100% my own and no other compensation was received.

To this day, I still remember the fist time I went to a planetarium. It was an amazing experience and changed the way that I viewed the night sky. Call me a geek, but I was fascinated with the constellations and the stories behind them. I was mesmerized with being able to see planets. Of course, I am going to date myself and note that a lot of this happened when Halley’s Comet came around in 1986. I even have a Girl Scout Badge thanks to this occasion. To date, I adore finding Orion in the winter night sky and searching for other constellations close to the great hunter.

Fast forward to being a parent. Now I have a fourth grader that adores all things related to science, but especially the stars, planets, and space. When I saw that there was a new Stargazing For Dummies (Affiliate link to Amazon) book by Steve Owens, I knew this was something our family had to investigate. This would be a book to help us to get a better understand for stargazing at different times of years and what tools we would need. Oh and as a bonus, TechyDad could read up on night-sky photography tips.

As with all For Dummies books, Stargazing for Dummies is broken into sections. There are four parts with 17 chapters that are filled with information to help people navigate the night sky, learn to use binoculars or telescopes, identify the 88 constellations and other celestial objects visible on Earth, and photograph the sky at night. Here is a breakdown of the book:

Part 1: What’s Up? Getting Familiar with the Night Sky – This section begins with a lot of educational items including information about the sky during the day and night, moon, seasons, and more. After this, there are tips on preparing for your own stargazing experience. There are a lot of trouble shooting tips included in this, especially about lights (which is a huge factor for us). The section rounds out with two chapters on using binoculars and telescopes for viewing the night sky. I have to say I am intrigued and wonder if NHL would adore his own pair of binoculars now to go stargazing.

Part 2: Joining the Dots: Learning Your Way Around the Night Sky – Once you are comfortable with viewing the night sky, Owens teaches us about fixed versus wandering stars. We learn how to identify things from planets to the International Space Station. Chapter 8 helps us to connect the star dots to see constellation pictures that are in the night sky. Owen explain how certain constellations like the Big Dipper and Orion can be used as signposts to guide you in locating others. There is also information that will help us to get an app with star maps that I know NHL will adore once we find a better viewing location.

Part 3: Star Hopping – This section highlights all 88 constellations that are visible on Earth. Owen helps to break them down into sections based on what season they can be viewed. There are also star maps within each of the chapters to assist newbies in their search. Tables are also given with each of the constellations that include when they are best viewed and information about the brightest stars within them. Star geeks will be in their glory with all of this detail.

Part 4: The Part of Tens – Two great lists round out this book. This first is a list of ten “targets” that new stargazers should be searching for. I think we may need to try this as a checklist for the boys as we try some more serious stargazing. The second list includes more items to look for under conditions that are more dark. The reality is that the city lights really do play a factor in a lot of what we will be able to see.

After reading sections of this book, I can not wait to dive into it more with my son. I think this book could really get him excited about a new hobby that all of us can explore together. I am sure we will head to planetariums and also see what stargazing events are coming up locally at the many colleges in our area.

If you are interested in seeing some of the cheat sheets from the book, you can view them on the Stargazing for Dummies page.

Do you like to go stargazing? I would love to hear what tips and tricks you have found that work, especially if you are going out with younger children.

Additional Disclosures: An Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the Dummies book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to purchase it through that link. The Field of Stars photo above is from NASA and was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Categories:
books Educational

Teddy Bear Hospital Experience

Posted on April 15, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Kids can often be afraid of hospitals and medical professionals. I know that my boys do not have fond memories of visiting them. Of course, being rushed on an ambulance and having people be unable to get an IV in a child can be traumatic. Thanks to this, we wanted to help ease the boys’ perception of hospitals, doctors, and others that work in the emergency fields.

Albany Medical Center held their tenth annual “Teddy Bear Hospital Day” over the weekend. Children in the community can bring their teddy bears (or aliens) to the event to have check-ups by a medical student. The kids actually rotate around different stations, where they learn about medical procedures while getting hands-on experiences.

When we arrived and parked our car, we went over to see the First Responders that were parked outside. The members from Western Turnpike Rescue Squad had their ambulance to give kids a tour. NHL was in an ambulance years ago when he had a febrile seizure. Poor JSL has been on one many more times after a hand full of febrile seizures. Neither of the boys recall those rides, but I do. They really enjoyed looking around inside the truck to see all of the equipment.

Members of the Engine 9 from the Albany Fire Department were also there with their truck. The kids were able to walk around the truck, ask questions, and explore. Oh and they also were allowed to jump into the truck for a great photo opportunity. I know these first responders are often the ones that show up at home, so allowing the kids to see how kind and patient they were was priceless.

From here we wandered through Albany Medical Center to the cafeteria where the event was being held. The boys had their stuffed friends ready. First, we signed them in and got our bags. Next, we waited on line for Stitch and Duffy to get their medical gowns and ID bracelets.

After this, Stitch and Duffy had check-ups from one of the medical students. The boys were allowed to use stethoscopes and other medical instruments to assist in the exam. From here, we wandered around the different stations that included: Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Hospital Adventure, Psych-Neuro, Clinical Nutrition, Orthopedic Surgery, Dermatology, Tar Wars, Lyme Out, and more. In addition to this, the kids were able to get ID badges made with photos of them with their friends. This was by far the cutest part.

Stitch and Duffy did really well, although they both required a cast. Stitch ended up having a broken ear as he went around with NHL. He got that fixed up and did really well in the end.

Poor Duffy ended up breaking his little tail when he went to get some shots. At least that is what JSL told them when they asked what happened to him. Thank goodness they had the supplies to help and stabilize that break.

A huge thank you to Albany Medical Center, the staff, professors, and medical students that ran this. It was so well done it was a pleasure to take the boys to. If you ever have the chance to go, I highly recommend it.

Have you ever been to an event like this one? I would love to know what your family thought and how it helped your children.

Categories:
doctor Educational local event

iPad in Education For Dummies

Posted on April 11, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As an educator and parent, I am a firm believer in using technology to assist children with their learning. These days, this can mean a lot of different things. In the past, it may have meant taking children to a computer lab to play educational games. Now, it can be using Skype to connect to a museum for a live lesson, watching videos of experiments on YouTube, and teaching children how to research items online. Of course, the invasion of iPads in schools and homes has changed a lot.

Admission time: We have an iPad and the boys adore using it. We have educational apps on it, but I know it could be a much more powerful tool. I signed up to read iPad in Education For Dummies (Affiliate link to Amazon) because I know I am not embracing the potential power of our iPad. While few local schools are using them in the classroom, I want to do something with ours at home. I have a feeling that our iPad may be the resource/tool that helps our Aspie son combat his anxious feeling about writing. Now, thanks to author Sam Gliksman, I have many more ideas and can not wait to try more of them with my children.

As with all For Dummies books, iPad in Education For Dummies is broken down into seven sections and 24 chapters that are filled with information for educators, homeschoolers, and parents looking for way to integrate iPads for additional learning. The best part of the book is you can read it in any order, or just focus on the items that pertain to your needs. Here is a breakdown of the book:

Part 1: Meeting the Educational iPad – Welcome to the 21st-century of education. We are given ways that the educational world is changing and how iPad use can assist this thanks to it being a multimedia tool. Chapter 2 includes a great way to get familiar with the iPad, making it ready to use, and what items are found within it. For schools looking for how to manage classrooms with iPads, Chapter 3 dives into this topic.

Part 2: Finding and Using Apps – First, Gliksman explains how to maximize the use of the apps that come on the iPad. This includes e-mail, surfing the web, using the camera and video capability, reading eBooks, and more. Chapter 5 talks about where to find educational apps and whether you should select free or fee-based versions.

Part 3: Finding and Organizing Educational Content – Rather than rely on clippings of items you find on the internet, this section helps to use the power of the iPad to tag, highlight, and sort information. I am now intrigued with using Instapaper and Diigo. In addition to this, sharing items on other platforms is also discussed.

Part 4: Exploring Applications for Digital Reading and Writing – Using e-books is a hot topic right now. While some people believe that children should use real paper books, the e-books are lighter, easier to store, and you can get so many of them via apps and lending libraries. Chapter 8 is all about reading with your iPad with younger children, documents, e-books, and where to find additional resources like e-textbooks.

Chapter 9 focuses on how to work on document writing on your iPad and Chapter 10 on becoming a digital author. I plan on spending a lot more time with these two chapters. I think this summer we may try to utilize some strategies here with my oldest son. He is a reluctant writer and as a child with Asperger’s he adores using technology. This seems like a win-win and we can get very creative. In addition to this, my kiddo adores math and science. Perhaps we can use Chapter 11 to incorporate this on our quest with tools for inquiry based learning. I have a feeling we may be trying SkyWalk, Monster Physics, and other items mentioned.

Part 5: Expressing Yourself with Media – Creative learning and teaching helps to engage children. This section guides teachers and parents through ways to attempt digital storytelling with different types of media on the iPad. The author also shares how to produce podcasts and screencasts. This section is heavy on technical information, but it is presented in a way that is easy to understand with your iPad in front of you. Some items in this section may also be helpful for my upcoming summer project.

Part 6: The iPad Classroom – This section helps teachers that plan on using iPads within the classroom. There is a focus on printing, scanning, presenting, and digitizing the whiteboard.

Part 7: The Part of Tens – Helpful lists in this section including

Ten Essential Apps for the Educator’s Toolkit – apps for productivity, reference, utility, professional development, and news.
Ten Keys to Successful iPad Implementation

After reading sections of this book, I now have even more respect for the educational power of the iPad. Author Sam Gliksman really guides educators and others through using them and rationale on why it is a good idea. As I mentioned above, I am now even more excited to really get my hands on my iPad to figure out how to use it for a fun Storytelling adventure for my boys this summer.

If you are interested in seeing some of the cheat sheets from the book, you can view them on the iPad in Education For Dummies page.

Are you an educator that has used iPads in the classroom? I would love to hear from you. If your children have utilized them at home or school please share any information you have as well.

Additional Disclosure: An Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the Dummies book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to purchase it through that link.

Categories:
books Educational Technology

Disney Does History

Posted on February 20, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Heading to Walt Disney World means learning a lot of information. You can focus on scientific items, world cultures, and even history. While visiting in December, TechyDad and I had some time before our flight home. We went into the Magic Kingdom to walk around and enjoy. As we walked by The Hall of Presidents, I noted that we had not been in there since our honeymoon. That means multiple new additions had been made. So we went inside to immerse ourselves in United States and Presidential history that is thanks to Disney. The theme this week is History and this seemed fitting for Presidents week.

Be sure to stop by Focused on the Magic by clicking on the button above to join in the Disney magic this week.

Categories:
Disney Educational travel vacation

Tuesday Tales – Lincoln’s Grave Robbers

Posted on February 19, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Do not let the title of Steve Sheinkin’s new book fool you. This book is not about zombies or anything else of that nature. No, the latest book from Sheinkin, whose book Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon was given the 2013 Newbery Honor, is actually a nonfiction book.

Lincoln’s Grave Robbers – Written by Steve Sheinkin – Scholastic Books – January 2013 – ISBN 9780545405720 – 224 pages – Ages 10+

The book takes us back into a little known part of the history of 1876. We are catapulted into the world of counterfeiting and shown the way the system worked throughout the United States. The book begins as Ben Boyd, one of the elite counterfeiters, is captured by Secret Service agents. His capture leads others within the ring of felons to hash out a new and very elaborate plan. This plan includes taking the body of Abraham Lincoln from the tomb in Springfield and holding it for ransom. Once they have Lincoln’s body, they can then demand the release of Ben Boyd and receive $200,000 in cash.

This book swept me away into a part of history that I was unaware of. Prior to reading this, I was unaware of the original duties of the Secret Service in our country. I had never heard about the plot to capture President Lincoln’s body, and I certainly knew nothing about the elaborate counterfeit rings that were big during this era. I learned a lot about how the systems worked during this time, how inadequate items were around Lincoln’s tomb, and wanted to know more about the people that Sheinkin wrote about.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn more about the time around the 1876 election. If they are intrigued with events around President Lincoln, this certainly is a different spin and will likely make them want to read more about the topic and time period. I know that I look forward to reading more of Steve Sheinkin’s books with my family as they get older and will be sure to tell my teaching friends about them.

What is your favorite nonfiction book? Do your children like to read books like Sheinkin’s? As always, please share what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: I received a NetGalley preview of this book courtesy of Scholastic Books in order to facilitate this review. I requested the title because my oldest son is fascinated with Abraham Lincoln and events from that time period. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for both of the book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the book through that link.