The Exploratorium EduNews is sent out in an email text format four times a year to teachers, school librarians, school administrators, professional developers, and others involved in K-12 education. Each issue includes announcements about Exploratorium-produced Webcasts, print publications, new online resources, and updates about our initiatives in teaching and learning.

Please feel free to forward EduNews to your colleagues and, if they like it,
they can sign up for their own free copy at:
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/educate/newsletter.html>.

Contents

1 - COME SEE US AT NSTA
2 - APPLY TO THE SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE (deadline: April 16, 2003)
3 - NEW TRAITS OF LIFE WEB SITE
4 - ONLINE SNACKS
5 - FEATURED WEB SITE: SCIENCE.GOV

1 - COME SEE US AT NSTA
http://www.exploratorium.edu/outdoor
See inquiry in action at our booth (#1058) at NSTA, March 27-30, 2003, in Philadelphia. New and classic Exploratorium Web online resources will be demonstrated. In addition, you can attend the following presentations given by the Exploratorium's Teacher Institute staff:

*Iron Science Teacher (Featured Presentation) by Paul Doherty and
Linda Shore, March 27, 3:00 pm-5:30 pm
We have been Webcasting our own satirical version of Iron Chef--called Iron Science Teacher--and it is rapidly achieving cult status among science teachers, science students, and science enthusiasts. Join us as we present a special Iron Science Teacher at NSTA's Philadelphia convention. What is the "secret ingredient" for this special show? Who are our very special guest contestants? You'll just have to attend to find out.

*Supporting Science Teachers from "Cradle to Grave" by Linda Shore,
March 27, 9:30 am-10:30 am
The Exploratorium has supported science teachers for nearly 20 years. Learn how our new beginning teacher program supports novices by linking them to our veteran teachers and museum resources.

*Multicultural Share-a-Thon: An NSTA Multicultural Committee and Association of Multicultural Science Education (AMSE) Workshop by Modesto Tamez and others, March 28, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm

*The Amazing Immune System: How It Works--Both for Us and Against Us by Tory Brady, March 28, 2 PM-3 PM

2 - APPLY TO THE SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE (deadline: April 16, 2003)
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ti/programs/index.html#summer_program
During the summer, the Exploratorium Teacher Institute brings middle and high school teachers together to work with each other and with staff physicists and biologists to learn more about science and mathematics teaching. On a typical day, participants interact with exhibits, do activities, build small versions of Exploratorium exhibits, and share teaching strategies. There are also opportunities to learn to use power tools for building things for the classroom. Each day consists of 3.5 hours of class and 2 hours of independent project or research time. Exploratorium resources such as the Learning Studio will be available for project research.

Participants are required to study at the Exploratorium for 5.5 hours each day, Monday through Friday, for 4 weeks. Each participant will be awarded a stipend of $1,100 after
completion. Three units of credit from San Francisco State University can be earned through the program. Registration and paying for credit takes place during the Institute. Applications are available at
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/ti/programs/index.html#summer_program>

3 - NEW TRAITS OF LIFE WEB SITE
http://www.exploratorium.edu/traits
What are the essential elements of life? How can you distinguish between the living and nonliving world? You can explore these questions and more at the Exploratorium's new collection of Life Science exhibits.

On this site, you can find information ABOUT the collection, sample EXHIBITS online, see the Traits POSTER "How Does a Muscle Work?" and meet the SCIENTIST who illustrated it, explore the many LINKS to other sites where you can find more information about the nature and structure of the natural world, and get BREAKING NEWS in the Life Sciences.

4 - ONLINE SNACKS
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/
Snacks are scaled-down versions of Exploratorium exhibits--miniature science exhibits that teachers could make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials. By using Snacks in their classrooms, teachers can climb out of the textbooks and join their students in discovering science for themselves. Snacks are divided into
easy-to-follow sections that include instructions, advice, and helpful hints.

Not only teachers find Snacks useful: Children bring Snacks home to their families. Scouts use Snacks to help get science merit badges; Snacks make appearances at science fairs, birthday parties, and impromptu "magic" shows.

5 - FEATURED WEB SITE: SCIENCE.GOV
http://www.science.gov/
"Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results." Over 1,000 annotated sites are included. Use the browsable index for a broad range of topics from Agriculture and Food to Science Education. Searchable by keyword.