Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts – Fizzling Christmas Trees

Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column

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December 4, 2021

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News (December 4): Science Smarts: Fizzling Christmas Trees – Link: https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2021/11/27/science-smarts-exploding-snowmen/

Fizzling Christmas Trees

Patty Rooks

As the hol​i​day sea​son approaches, we get quite busy and it is often dif​fi​cult to find quick and easy activities to keep our young sci​ent​ists busy.

This week, I came up with a twist on an old favour​ite that is sure to please all of my young sci​ent​ists out there — this could also be used as a great homemade gift for all of our loved ones.

Let’s get star​ted!

Remem​ber to ask an adult before doing this exper​i​ment.

Materials

• Bak​ing soda
• Vin​egar
• One or two pieces of card​stock
• Tape
• Scis​sors
• Food col​our​ing (optional)
• Mix​ing bowl
• Spoon
• Meas​ur​ing cups
• Water
• Spray bottle with water
• Glit​ter
• Fra​grance or essen​tial…

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A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Canadian Museum of Nature Blog

This well-known adage has become even moremeaningfulto me since joining the Canadian Museum of Nature in 2019 as a Collections Information Technician and Digital Asset Manager. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege to dive into the Museum’sphysical and digital image collection housed within the Library and Archives located in the museum’sNatural Heritage Campus collections facility.

TheMuseum has a rich repository of images that document ourknowledge of and respect for the natural world,with over 95K digitized images of historical and contemporary images of specimens, fieldwork trips, and our popular Nature Art collection.The only problem is that our digital image collection database is only currently accessible by internal staff.What a shame to have so many beautifully preserved and documented imagesand no means of sharing them!That is why, with the support and assistance of many helpful colleagues, we decided that the best solutionwas to join forces with Google…

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Sharing Diigo Links and Resources (weekly)

Another EducatorAl Blog

More great blog posts from last week:

• Do Flies Really Throw Up When They Land on Your Food?

  Imagine you’re at a picnic and just about to bite into your sandwich. Suddenly you spot a fly headed your way, homing in on your food with help from its compound eyes and antennae. It manages to escape your swatting, lands on the sandwich and then s…

• How Will NASA’s DART Asteroid Mission Work? – GeekMom

  You may have heard that SpaceX launched their Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California very early Wednesday, November 24, and that it was carrying the NASA DART spacecraft, intended to help defend our planet from asteroid impac…

• Cliff Mass Weather Blog: The Great Atmospheric River Irony: Simultaneous Extreme Precipitation and Extreme Dryness

  Life is full of ironies and contradictions, and our weather situation of the past month is a wonderful example. A…

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A Welcome Escape: Dinosaur Fieldwork in 2021

Canadian Museum of Nature Blog

Comethe spring, I’m always itching to return to the field. Canadian winters are long and dark, and as the season wanes,I begin to get restless. The feeling was especially strong this winter, being trapped as I was. Like so many others,I continued to workfrom home in my windowlessbasement officeas the pandemic raged on.

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has affected the Museum’s bottom line, and so our research budgets were slashed. Still, I count myself luckythat I was able toekeout a brief field season this past August and return to my familiar stomping grounds in Saskatchewan and Alberta with my graduate students and new Curator of Palaeobiology, Dr. Scott Rufolo. Our plans were scaled back this year—there was little time to excavate much of anything—and so the focus was on documenting old dinosaur quarries.

I’ve talked about relocating old quarriesbefore, but I’ll repeat the importance ofsuch…

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Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts – Exploding Snowmen

Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column

November 27, 2021

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News (November 27): Exploding Snowmen – Link: https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2021/11/27/science-smarts-exploding-snowmen/

Exploding Snowmen

Patty Rooks

It was exciting to see a light dusting of snow this week, but I will be honest, I wish there was A LOT more out there this time of the year.

Who does not love embracing the winter season? There is nothing like getting all bundled up to go play out in the snow. What about being able to get out there and build a snowman?

Well, since I cannot get out and build a snowman, I will have to build one of my own… kind of?? Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• Outdoor location (preferably a sidewalk)
• Zipper baggies
• Tissue
• Black sharpie
• Orange sharpie
• Baking soda
• Measuring cups
• Measuring…

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Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts – Secret Messages

Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column

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November 20, 2021

Link in the Medicine Hat News: https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2021/11/19/science-smarts-secret-messages/

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News (November 20): Secret Messages

Secret Messages

Patty Rooks

I know as the cold weather is more and more frequent, many of us are looking for some fun activities to keep on hand for those young scientists to do inside. Not to mention, I think I may have the “Holiday bug” – I see decorations, lights and gift ideas everywhere!

With that being said, I have been stocking up on all things holiday. One thing that I may have gone a bit crazy with are the cranberries… I had better use some up before someone notices!

Let’s get started.

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• Stove
• Adult helper
• Small pot
• Cranberries
• Cranberry juice
• White paper
• Baking soda
• paintbrushes

View original post 391 more words

Sharing Diigo Links and Resources (weekly)

Another EducatorAl Blog

Here are some of last week’s amazing blog posts:

• COP26 final agreement: 196 countries agree to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and “phase down” coal | New Scientist

  Nearly 200 countries at the UN climate change summit in Glasgow have also committed to revisit and strengthen their 2030 emissions reductions plans next year, keeping the door open to crucial 1.

• New species of big-nosed dinosaur discovered by retired doctor | Dinosaurs | The Guardian

  A new species of dinosaur with an extremely large nose has been identified by a retired GP who spent lockdown rummaging through boxes of ancient bones.

• Scout Archives – Plantae

  Plantae is “the online home of the global plant science community,” offering a dynamic resource for aspiring plant biologists, professionals, and anyone interested in learning about plants and plant science.

• Facilitate the Minecraft Hour of Code 2021: TimeCraft

• Flipgrid Student Sign in and Join Code Tutorial…

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Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts – Lemon Battery

Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column

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November 13, 2021

Link in the Medicine Hat News: https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2021/11/11/science-smarts-lemon-battery/

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News (November 13): Lemon Battery

Lemon Battery

Patty Rooks

This is one of the most excit​ing times of the year for me! I am begin​ning to see Christ​mas dec​or​a​tions in the stores already. Per​haps it is too early for some of you, but whenever I see orna​ments, tin​sel and ESPECIALLY those out​door orna​ments, a smile creeps across my face.

One thing that I do not like is try​ing to fig​ure out why my out​door orna​ments are not working. You see, elec​tri​city and I seem to dis​agree on occa​sion… if I am not get​ting zapped, it does not work and it takes me FOREVER to fig​ure out. In order to brush up on my skills, I thought I would do a little cir​cuits exper​i​ment this week.

Let’s get star​ted!

Remem​ber to…

View original post 466 more words

Sharing Diigo Links and Resources (weekly)

Another EducatorAl Blog

More amazing blog posts from last week:

Repurposing carbon dioxide may be key to net-zero emissions | Texas A&M University Engineering

While a very small percentage of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide plays a vital role in sustaining life on our planet. However, if this delicate balance is disrupted, excess carbon dioxide can pose a formidable threat to our environment and the living…

Helping Middle and High School Students Reacclimate to Being with Others all Day – Edutopia

Many students are still a little overwhelmed at being around their peers, though they’re also excited. Some simple strategies can help them adjust to being back in school. The start of the 2021–22 school year has been rough.

Making a roll-and-write for history class using Roll through the Ages as a guide | Gaming the Past

So, I want to begin simply by promoting Eagle-Gryphon Games Roll through the Ages: The Bronze Age as…

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Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts – Brain Teasers

Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column

November 6, 2021

The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News (November 6): Brain Teasers

Link in the Medicine Hat News: https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2021/11/05/science-smarts-brain-teasers/

Brain Teasers

Patty Rooks

I recently found my basket of ‘brain teasers’ the other day (I think someone hid them from me…)! You will find quite a few around my house, as I absolutely love the challenge, not to mention I think it keeps my mind sharp the older I get.

There are so many different kinds out there, and to be honest, they can be incredibly expensive. Luckily, you do not have to spend a great deal of money to make them right at home. A dear friend shared this one with me many years ago, and it can easily be made with some scraps you may have lying around the house.

Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

View original post 322 more words