Expedition 35 arriving from space

  I was surprised to learn yesterday that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and his crew had arrived back on Earth from the ISS, I hadn’t realized Expedition 35 was coming back so soon.  You may remember a couple videos I posted before from Chris Hadfield. Pretty much everything he’s put out is worth watching as […]

 

Expedition 35 arriving from spaceI was surprised to learn yesterday that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and his crew had arrived back on Earth from the ISS, I hadn’t realized Expedition 35 was coming back so soon.  You may remember a couple videos I posted before from Chris Hadfield. Pretty much everything he’s put out is worth watching as he’s really in to interacting with us earthlings.

Additionally there is a video of the actual extraction of the astronauts if you’re interested in seeing a bunch of disoriented men sit in giant baby seats.

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The Cockroach – The Perfect Creature

We’ve all heard the legends of their ability to survive and I’m sure some of us refuse to believe it but the fact remains that cockroaches are incredibly resilient creatures. This video will give a rundown of just why they are so special and which cockroaches are more special than others. This video isn’t for […]

The Cockroach - The Perfect CreatureWe’ve all heard the legends of their ability to survive and I’m sure some of us refuse to believe it but the fact remains that cockroaches are incredibly resilient creatures. This video will give a rundown of just why they are so special and which cockroaches are more special than others. This video isn’t for everyone.

How to build a lathe

Not so much a how-to video, but more of a chronicle of one man’s journey through turning wood into something more useful. This is a very neat video that actually does go step by step through his process of making this contraption. The simplicity of this video really makes me think I could do something […]

How to build a latheNot so much a how-to video, but more of a chronicle of one man’s journey through turning wood into something more useful. This is a very neat video that actually does go step by step through his process of making this contraption. The simplicity of this video really makes me think I could do something like this.

How Storms Affect Businesses

Application of information is the only reason to gain information, and thus it is a very important skill that was not adequately taught when I was in school. It is useless to make students memorize and recall information, if they don’t know how they can use it later in life. This is why I have […]

Application of information is the only reason to gain information, and thus it is a very important skill that was not adequately taught when I was in school. It is useless to make students memorize and recall information, if they don’t know how they can use it later in life. This is why I have chosen today’s infographic. Part of the fifth grade curriculum is weather in North Carolina, and in my own experience, many students do not know why they are taught this information. However, this infographic is a great example of why it is important to learn something that can be sought otherwise.

Hurricane Sandy affected many businesses. Many were forced to close their doors, and those who served the entire country were greatly affected, and greatly affected others. For instance, I worked in a stationery store for a few months this past winter. Several major stationery companies were forced to close during the winter months because they were based in the Northeast. There was no way to call about questions, and production time was increased due to these closures. Another example involves a friend of mine here in North Carolina, who works in the marketing department of a major supplier of electronic supplies. When Japan was hit with the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, many plants were forced to rebuild their machinery, and she noticed a drastic spike in sales. So companies can be affected in two ways, by weather where they are located, as well as by weather to their suppliers.

Challenge your students to make other correlations. How will they use other skills in their future lives? How do politicians use history? How do marketing analysts use science and math? In the end, why are your students learning this information?

Blog: http://visual.ly/how-storms-affect-businesses

The unsinkable ant raft

Another random clip today but this one was just too interesting to pass up. These ants have linked together, are floating on top of water and now even with the force of a tool coming down on them they won’t sink below the surface. Pretty cool.

The unsinkable ant raftAnother random clip today but this one was just too interesting to pass up. These ants have linked together, are floating on top of water and now even with the force of a tool coming down on them they won’t sink below the surface. Pretty cool.

Read this Hack Ed Speech

It’s a must-read, the text of (Hack Education) Audrey Water’s recent speech to a Canadian audience in Alberta last week.

I do not recommend its reading as a curtsey to Canadian education thought leaders, as much as to point out a disturbing trend that is not limited to the ongoing education conversation.

This is something of a personal rant, but it has confounded me, the support that many of my country’s poor and aging pay to political elements whose legislative activities serve the rich and powerful — until I realized that there is a narrative being told that in America anyone can become rich and powerful and that we should all protect our potential membership in that club.  

In other words, if you aren’t willing to be the first to monetize it, then you shouldn’t expect to be part of the pitch.

Shame on us!

(CC) Image from Bill David Brooks   

Meteor footage over Japan

Here’s a short clip of a meteor flying in over Japan and then exploding in the atmosphere. It’s good to know someone’s at least keeping an eye on all this stuff flying around in space.

Meteor footage over JapanHere’s a short clip of a meteor flying in over Japan and then exploding in the atmosphere. It’s good to know someone’s at least keeping an eye on all this stuff flying around in space.

Making movies with atoms

The thought of making a stop-motion animation with atoms probably never would have entered my mind for my whole life had I not seen this video. I am grateful for all the creativity in the world, especially when it’s as surprising as this.

Making movies with atomsThe thought of making a stop-motion animation with atoms probably never would have entered my mind for my whole life had I not seen this video. I am grateful for all the creativity in the world, especially when it’s as surprising as this.

How Far is it to Mars?

With all of this hype about Mars and the exploration of Mars, there have been many infographics about Mars and space exploration. I have found yet another that is very interesting. Using pixels, this infographic shows how far away Mars is. However, it is not as far away as it used to be. Most people […]

With all of this hype about Mars and the exploration of Mars, there have been many infographics about Mars and space exploration. I have found yet another that is very interesting. Using pixels, this infographic shows how far away Mars is. However, it is not as far away as it used to be.

Most people who remember SPUTNIK and America’s landing on the moon are retiring, so in order to get a first hand experience, most teachers will have to speak with parents or grandparents. But the goal is to get first hand memories of this momentous event that can be related to your students today. For instance, what was someone doing when they found out about these momentous events, what were their thoughts? What did children play with and what were children excited about?

Then have your students imagine what it would be like to walk on Mars. Write a news article about the first Mars landing, or a diary entry as though they were the first person to walk on Mars. Have students discuss what landing on Mars would mean, and what they think will be the next goal after we do land on Mars.

Infographic: http://www.distancetomars.com