Teachers’ Lounge

Apply to participate in this exciting professional development opportunity!

Integrating Art and Science: An Institute for Teachers – An Online/Onsite Course – A Unique collaboration between
the Academy, the de Young,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
and the American Museum of Natural History!
K-8 teachers are invited to apply!
July 25-August 5, 2011

Our Focus: Participants will go on an “expedition” in the sense of exploring a new environment or a new idea and apply 21st Century Skills across art and science institutions.

• This course will focus on 21st Century Skills (such as observation, investigation, and creative problem solving) as a means to authentically integrate art and science. What are the “parallel processes” between artists and scientists? Explore specific examples across institutions such as art and science collections, exhibits, and galleries.
• Gain an appreciation and understanding for object-based learning, in both the museum and classroom settings.
• Learn how you can access and utilize museums and online museum resources in Golden Gate Park and Central Park in New York City!
• Develop a collection of ideas and resources on a chosen theme integrating art and science.

The first two days will be spent at the Academy and the de Young in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Following the onsite days, we will connect online with the cohort of teachers on the East Coast participating in the same course with the MET and AMNH! Learn from your colleagues across the country and collaborate locally to share your experiences and ideas.

Onsite workshops a the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young:
July 25 and 26, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Asynchronous interactive online activities:
Monday, July 25 – Friday, August 5

Live webinar (web seminar) sessions:

Wednesday, July 27 12noon ET or 3pm ET

Friday, July 29 12Noon ET or 3pm ET

Monday, August 1 12Noon ET or 3pm ET

Wednesday, August 3 12Noon ET or 3pm ET

Friday, August 5 12Noon ET or 3pm ET

Week of November 14, 2011
“Virtual Class Reunion” webinar to share any lessons and ideas.

How to apply:

• Complete this form and mail it in. Application deadline is July 18, 2011.
• Find a partner! Pairs or groups of teachers are encouraged but not required.
• Send in a check for $150 to the de Young (see address on application form).

Questions? Contact hcarmena@calacademy.org

Great news! Academy educators will be partnering with our friends over at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to deliver a half-day short course at the 2011 NSTA national conference.

NSTA National Conference
March 10–13, 2011
San Francisco, CA

To receive earlybird registration rates, visit the conference website by the Friday, January 14!

More than 1,400 presentations and workshops have been scheduled, covering a wide range of scientific disciplines and targeting audiences from preschool to college.

After entering contact information and registering for the conference itself, you’ll have the opportunity to select short courses, social events, and field trips — such as the short course hosted here at the Academy.

Short Course
“Exploring Birds and Citizen Science at the California Academy of Sciences!”

DATE & TIME: Friday, March 11, 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
LOCATION: California Academy of Sciences

How can you use your school yard for citizen science and inquiry? Join staff us for an indoor and outdoor adventure that will arm you with tools to conduct citizen science counts and guide your students through all aspects of designing and conducting their own science investigations—from carefully observing birds to asking intriguing questions, from collecting and analyzing relevant data to sharing their results with peers. Participants will test their new skills firsthand with an outdoor eBird citizen science count. Take home a BirdSleuth: Most Wanted Birds curriculum kit—lessons and supplies that will jump-start participation by your class! Learn more about BirdSleuth

NSTA will provide transportation to and from the Academy of Sciences. Course Cost: $96 (advance) or $101 (onsite). Purchase tickets when you register online or on the San Francisco Advance Registration Form.

PRESENTERS: Jennifer Fee (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY); Helena Carmena and Megan Schufreider (California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco, CA)

Psst…a little birdie told us that staff are arranging a behind-the-scenes tour of the ornithology collections at the Academy, in addition to a search for bird specimens within the museum exhibits!

Do you know a teenager or college student with a passion for insects?
Then you should read more about the Fullerton Student Grant, which funds one-year memberships in the Pacific Coast Entomological Society (PCES) for students who have an interest in entomology, arachnology, and related terrestrial arthropods.
(Think: beetles, butterflies, spiders, ticks, flies, millipedes…)

Scarab beetle, Chrysina gloriosa © California Academy of Sciences H. Vannoy Davis, 2005

Who can apply for the grant? This grant is intended for students from high school through graduate level who have never been members of PCES. How can I apply? Submit an application for membership from the website, www.pcentsoc.org. Just be sure to indicate that you want to be considered for the Fullerton Student Grant. Please submit proof of full-time school attendance, either a photocopy of your current student card or a letter from your professor or teacher on institutional letterhead. If you are home schooled, please have your parent/teacher write the letter.

Is this a new society?
Not at all! PCES was organized back in 1901. Entomologists need a place to get together to talk. The last meeting was held in Sacramento on November 20, when Frederique Lavoipierre of Sonoma State University spoke about “A World of Insects: Strategies for Effective Entomology Outreach.”

How often do the members of PCES meet? Where do they get together?
The Pacific Coast Entomological Society holds about nine meetings a year, rotating between the California Academy of Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Davis, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento. Meetings are held monthly during the academic year (September through May), usually on the third Friday of each month. Meetings start at 8:00 pm, although members often get together at 6:00 pm for a pre-meeting dinner at a nearby restaurant.

I have more questions…
Leave us a comment below. Or, go ahead and send an email to Vincent F. Lee. In addition to working here in the Entomology Department at the California Academy Academy of Sciences, Vince acts as Managing Secretary for the Pacific Coast Entomological Society. He is quite excited to hear from teachers and students interested in learning more!

Did you know that the Naturalist Center at the Academy hosts a book club for adults? Known as Bookworms, this monthly book group focuses on science-themed books hand-picked by our librarians and the group. Expand your knowledge of a science topic, engage in dialogue, and perhaps meet an author or two!

Did we mention that the book club is free? This book group meets after the museum closes, so you’ll have time to commute after school. Academy staff just need to know to expect you, so you can be escorted to the meeting room from the business entrance off Middle Drive. To reserve a place, pick up a “ticket” on the online calendar or call 800-794-7576.

Here’s the line-up for the next few months. Purchase a used copy from Amazon, or place a hold on the book at the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL).

Topic: Evolution at the Academy

Evidence of Evolution by Susan Middleton and Mary Ellen Hannibal

Something special for our book club meeting this month! Join the authors for a group discussion of their new book about evolution which uses specimens from the Academy’s research collections to illustrate evolutionary development in plants and animals.

SFPL . Amazon

Topic: Science in the Late 18th Century

The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes

Join a dedicated group of readers for a discussion of this winner of the 2009 Royal Society Prize for Science Books. Come prepared with your thoughts about this book about scientists such as Joseph Banks, Humphrey Davy and William Herschel “who changed our understanding of the world forever.”

SFPL . Amazon

Topic: Medical Detectives in New Guinea

The Collectors of Lost Souls: Turning Kuru Scientists into Whitemen by Warwick Anderson

Join us for what promises to be a lively discussion about this compelling story of scientific research in the 20th century. Kuru, a rare brain disease affecting people in the central highlands of New Guinea came to the attention of scientists in the 1950’s who were puzzled by its origins. This led to the new field of medical investigation where the scientists learned from the natives and vice versa.

SFPL . Amazon

Can you believe that almost a year has passed since our new building opened to the public on September 27, 2008?

Well, over 2 million visitors have graced our halls since then, and we’re marking the occasion with a weekend-long celebration on September 26 and 27, 2009, presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

Whether you’d like to bring your own family or encourage your students to attend, the event will be a great opportunity to engage with science, art, world culture, and the local community.

Here’s the line-up of the festivities!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

Hiyas Philippine Folk Dance Company 9:00 am

Meaning “jewel” or “gem,” Hiyas strives to present the treasure of Filipino folk dance in its most traditional form in an era where authentic steps and movements are modernized or forgotten. To begin the day’s festivities, the troupe will perform on the Academy’s front steps.

Chinese Lion Dancers 10:00 am

Lion dancing is an ancient Chinese tradition that brings good luck, prosperity, and happiness to its audiences. The dancers and their thundering musical accompaniment are believed to dispel evil spirits and ensure prosperity. On the Academy’s front steps, the White Crane Lion Dancers will thrill you with a rousing performance.

Big Cat Ambassadors 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm

Meet a mountain lion, cheetah, lynx, and caracal during this presentation by the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund. Learn about each animal’s native habitat and conservation status, and get answers to your questions about these charismatic ambassadors of the natural world.

African Drummers Noon

Join the Nigerian Masquerade Drummers and immerse yourself in the sounds of traditional African drumming. Performances will take place on a stage erected in the West Garden (to reach the garden, look for the T. Rex, Academy cafe, or ceiling-hung blue whale skeleton, and walk out the glass doors).

Parangal Dance Company 2:00 pm

Experience the colorful costumes and graceful choreography of Philippine folk dancing by San Francisco’s Parangal Dance Company. This performance will also take place on the West Garden stage (to reach the garden, look for the T. Rex, Academy cafe, or ceiling-hung blue whale skeleton, and walk out the glass doors).

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

Loco Blanco 11:00 am

The inter-generational performing ensemble Loco Bloco is an explosion of rhythm, movement, color and passion, combining African, Brazilian, Latin, Hip Hop and Funk beats. Meet the drummers on the Academy’s front steps as they share their passion for performing.

Chinese Fan Dancers Noon

The traditional Chinese fan dance is renowned for its beautiful and delicate poses. Join the Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company to experience this time-honored tradition. This performances will also take place on the West Garden stage.

Science Adventures 2:15 pm

Come explore the natural world through stories, experiments, games and crafts. For children in 1st through 4th grades, Science Adventures takes place in the Education Classroom on the 3rd floor, next to the Naturalist Center. Capacity is limited, so arrive on time!

Raptor Show 2:30 pm

What characteristics do raptors share? What do they eat, and where do they live? What birds of prey might be found at The Bird Rescue Center, and which do we have here at the Academy? Come out to the stage in the West Garden for this presentation with live animals.

African Drummers 1:15 pm and 3:00 pm

Join the Nigerian Masquerade Drummers and immerse yourself in the sounds of traditional African drumming. Performances will take place on a stage erected in the West Garden (to reach the garden, look for the T. Rex, Academy cafe, or ceiling-hung blue whale skeleton, and walk out the glass doors).

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Planetarium Show Debut: Journey to the Stars Shows every 45 minutes, starting at 10:00 am

Travel through time and space to experience the dramatic lives and deaths of stars. Witness brilliant supernova explosions, dive into the heart of the fiery Sun, and watch it transform into a red giant five billion years in the future. Discover the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the stars in our new Planetarium show.

Amateur Astronomers 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Who says you can’t study stars in the daytime? I know of a particularly prominent star often seen above the horizon. Join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers on the Academy’s living roof, and take a closer look at our Sun through a solar telescope.

Science and Sustainability Tent 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Join Academy naturalists and partner organizations for a variety of hands-on science demonstrations and sustainability tips.

Inside the tent in our East Garden, you’ll meet majestic birds of prey from The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa, including hawks, falcons and owls. Learn about the habitat and adaptations of these amazing animals, and find out what you can do to help support them in the wild.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will also be on hand with energy-saving tips.”Pacific Gas and Electric Company congratulates the California Academy of Sciences for its amazing first year,” says Nancy McFadden, senior vice president of public affairs for PG&E. “We are proud to partner with the Academy on our shared commitment to a sustainable future.”

Penguin Feeding 10:30 am and 3:30 pm

Did you know that 17 species of penguins exist on the globe, and most do not inhabit Antarctica? Where are our penguins from? Meet Pierre, Ocio, and the rest of the African penguin colony. Aquarium biologists field visitor questions as they feed and care for the birds.

Coral Reef Dive 11:30 am and 2:30 pm

Meet a diver who descends into the exhibit to introduce you to the world’s deepest living coral reef tank, and get answers to your questions about the most diverse aquatic ecosystem on the planet. Bring along a Coral Reef Color Wheel, or try your hand at some Fish Family Identification.

Swamp Talk 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm

Learn about some of the Academy’s most popular animals. You’ll find out what it takes to care for the albino alligator and the alligator snapping turtles, which are native to swamps in the southeastern United States. By the way, how did we get the turtles into the exhibit? Check out this video from last August!

Explore the Living Roof 10:30 am and 3:30 pm

Join Academy naturalists to learn about the plants on the Living Roof, as well as the diversity of birds and insects they attract. How do pollination and dispersal play key roles in shaping this natural landscape? Meet in the Naturalist Center on the 3rd floor.

ADMISSION DISCOUNT Don’t forget to walk, bike, or take public transit — you’ll save $3 off the price of general admission. For those of you that prefer to drive, consider parking for free on the Great Highway and taking the Golden Gate Park Shuttle Service, which is $2 for an all-day pass.

Questions or comments are always welcome!
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