Jeff Peneston, Liverpool High School science teacher and PolarTREC 2008 alumnus was introduced as the New York State Teacher of the Year at an event in the White House Rose Garden that was televised nationally on cable TV. The article describes the awarding of this honor by President Barack Obama at the White House.
In this lesson students research scientific field expeditions and learn what it is like working in the field. Students are able to ask questions of the research team as part of their project. Students then share what they have learned with their classmates.
Objective
1. Students understand what really goes on in the field during a scientific study.
2
This Live from IPY! event was part of the International Polar Week in October 2009. The theme of the week was was 'What happens at the poles affects us all'. This live event was held with PolarTREC teacher Cristina Galvan and the University of Wyoming polar bear research team on 8 October 2009. They were working on the USCGC Polar
Field Notes, the newsletter of Polar Field Services highlights a number of PolarTREC expeditions and 2010/2011 application period. Visit the article online.
This short article is an U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet about Ursus maritimus, the Polar Bear. It covers basic information, including: appearance, feeding habits, reproduction, adaptations, and protection.
An important science skill that needs to be developed is asking significant questions that advance knowledge. This activity helps students to understand the difference between significant and trivial questions.
Objective
Students should be able to distinguish between significant questions that advance knowledge and trivial questions.
Procedure
1. Have the students define significant question and trivial questions in a
Live from IPY! event with PolarTREC teacher Jeff Peneston and various science teams working on the Swedish Icebreaker Oden in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Event archive from 7 January 2009.
This short slide presentation includes maps and diagrams providing introductory material about the 2008 Oden Antarctic Expedition. Maps, images, and information provided courtesy of Abrahamsson et al. 2001, Garrison 1991, and Ducklow and Yager 2007.