PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is currently accepting applications. Teachers are invited to submit an application to participate in field research learning experiences during the 2009 (Arctic) or 2009-2010 (Antarctic) field seasons.

Through the PolarTREC program , over 40 K-12 U.S. teachers will spend two to six weeks in the Arctic or Antarctic, working closely with researchers in the field as an integral part of the science team. PolarTREC teachers and researchers will be matched based on similar goals and interests and teachers will be trained to meet the program requirements prior to the field season. While in the field, teachers and researchers will communicate extensively with their colleagues, communities, and students of all ages across the globe, using a variety of tools including satellite phones, online journals, podcasts, and interactive “Live from IPY” events and web-based seminars.

Teachers and research projects will be selected and matched to fill the openings available. All major expenses associated with teacher participation in PolarTREC field experiences are covered by the program, including transportation to and from the field site, food, lodging, and substitute teacher costs.

The teacher application deadline is Monday, September 29, 2008. The program expects to notify teachers of selection decisions in December 2008.

More information and application forms are available at http://www.polartrec.com. Teachers can learn more about PolarTREC by participating in an informational webinar on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Register for the webinar by Tuesday, September 9 at http://www.polartrec.com/join/informational-webinar/form.

Don’t miss the chance to participate in current polar research and enhance your science teaching practice!

You may have noticed our new widget, a Shelfari bookshelf (if not, see the right sidebar). We’ve created a Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears group on Shelfari - a social networking site for book lovers.

Shelfari is a free site that allows you to create your own virtual bookshelf, add books that you’ve read, are currently reading, or plan to read, and post comments and reviews about your books and those on other’s shelves. In the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears group, you have access to selected polar-themed children’s books from the magazine’s monthly Virtual Bookshelf column. We hope you’ll join us and post your own comments, reviews, and ideas for classroom use about our selected books!

Visit the Beyond Penguins group at http://www.shelfari.com/beyondpenguins/shelf or click on the widget in the blog sidebar.

Get a more in-depth view of content and literacy strategies from Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears and interact online with our presenters and other educators across the country!

The National Science Digital Library is starting up its professional development series of free web seminars for educators in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association again on Sept 25th. These 90-minute programs run from 6:30pm-8:00pm Eastern on their specified date. The fall schedule features two seminars related to Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears:

Sept 25th: Celebrating Astronomy: A Star’s Story
Learn about the life cycle of a star, dark matter and other concepts related to 5th-12th grade astronomy

Oct 29th: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Series: Physical Science From the Poles
What’s the difference between an ice shelf and an ice sheet, or an iceberg and sea ice? Why do glaciers and icebergs appear blue? How will melting ice in the Polar Regions affect sea level? In this seminar, we’ll explore ice’s many forms in the Arctic and Antarctica and how this real-world context can be used to teach physical science concepts such as states and changes of matter, density, and buoyancy.

Nov 13th: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Series: Energy and the Polar Environment
The Polar Regions provide an interesting real-world context for the study of energy: intense seasonal fluctuations in the amount of solar radiation and heat, and the albedo (reflectivity) of the ice caps. Climate change and the declining sea ice of the Arctic are changing the energy balance of this region.

Dec 9th: Chemistry Comes Alive: III—Water
Registration opens in September. More information coming soon.

How to register:
1. Read the list of programs available
2. Click on the link of the program for which you would like to sign up
3. Register for each seminar you want to attend

You’ll receive login info that you will need to log on on the day of the seminar.

See you online!

Would you like to add some real-time data to your penguin unit this year? Thanks to education outreach resources from an Antarctic research team, you can!

Dr. David Ainley studies Adelie penguin populations in Antarctica. His long term research of 30 years has recently shown indication of the penguin populations reacting to climate change. His web site, Penguin Science, details his research findings and provides a wealth of materials for teachers, students, and the general public. Multimedia resources on the site include video, images, and the opportunity to order a 40 minute DVD sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Teachers will be most interested in the Education page, which provides a variety of projects and resources for the classroom. Students can receive a postcard from Antarctica, ask questions of researchers, or participate in the popular “Nest Check” project. In this project, the research team selects six Adelie penguin families to follow and take pictures every day. Students create a journal and record data such as weather conditions, length of foraging trips for the female vs male, dates of egg(s) laying, chick hatching, fledging, and so on. This real-time data project provides a wonderful opportunity to observe and discuss penguin behavior. This year’s Nest Check begins Nov 5 and ends Jan 30. Learn more about Nest Check and other Penguin Science educational resources at http://www.penguinscience.com/classroom_home.php.

September 24 will be the officially designated Sixth International Polar Day. Polar days are held every three months during the two-year-long scientific program focused on the poles, the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY). The days are occasions for schools, science centers, and museums to engage their audiences in learning about the importance of the poles to life on our planet.

 The theme for the sixth polar day is Connecting Communities from Pole to Pole. The education office of the International Polar Year organization provides ideas and resources for participation by classrooms and community groups. Among the ideas for “connecting communities” are:

Make contact with other classrooms and groups via a web interface to be provided at the IPY site. 

Hold a class discussion about experiences and lifestyles in your community and then imagine the discussion held in a country nearer or farther from the poles. Seven questions are provided by the IPY.

 Post your discussion on the IPY web site and compare your answers to those given by schools in a different area.  

Launch a virtual balloon on the IPY web site’s world map on September 24 to show your organization’s participation. 

Participate in live web and video connections to the polar regions and experts

IPY will supply links to many resources about the culture, history, and modern-day concerns of people living in the Arctic. Printable flyers and press releases will be available for publicizing Polar Day events in your school and community.