Nina Otero Community School Program Request Form

COMPUTER SCIENCE - SECRETS IN CODE SERIES *

Introduction (grades 4-6) - presenter & video – Discusses a few examples from history where codes were used and explains the coding process. Shift Ciphers (grades 4-6) - presenter & video - Introduces the concept of shift ciphers: where a letter in the alphabet is represented by another letter or is represented by a number. Both methods use code wheels. Because code wheels may not be available in students’ homes, we also introduce the “linear code table” that is easily replicated at home with a pencil and paper. Symbol Ciphers (grades 4-6) - presenter & video - Another method for representing messages is by substituting letters with symbols. We’ll discuss languages that are based on symbols or characters (e.g. hieroglyphs) and we’ll discuss examples where symbols were used to send secret messages.

COMPUTER SCIENCE - COMPUTATIONAL THINKING SERIES: *

Logical Reasoning (grade 5) - presenter & video - Explains what logical reasoning is, then walks students through examples that demonstrate three types of reasoning: classification, analogies and fact analysis. Visual Pattern Recognition (grade 5) - presenter & video - Helps students to recognize various types of patterns.

EARTH SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT SERIES *

Mapping our Location on Earth (all grades) - remote presenter & video entitled "Earth & Mapping Introduction" - Two-session program: Session 1 introduces students to mapping and spatial orientation; Session 2 involves hands-on map making. Earth’s Water Cycle (grades 3+) - presenter & video entitled "Water Cycle" - Students learn about the earth’s water cycle and its various components: the effects of the oceans, atmosphere and land forms, different forms of precipitation and the return of moisture to the atmosphere via evaporation and transpiration. Activity: How can water be ‘cleaned’ by the earth. (CURRENTLY NA) Simtable Demo (all grades) - in-person presenter - A digital sand table based on GIS data. A Santa Fe company that created the leading technology used for wildfire and emergency management can do grade-appropriate demonstrations. Science Kit Support (all grades) - in-person presenter - Volunteers can assist with preparation of kit materials or lessons. Rocks and Minerals (grades 2+) How our earth forms

LIFE SCIENCE SERIES *

Science of Birds (all grades) – remote presenter - Students learn about how birds fly, how they sing, and various physical adaptations of birds (beaks, feathers, wings and more). How Does the Eye Work? (all grades) – remote presenter & video entitled "How Does the Eye Work?" - Using a working model of the eye, students will learn about all the pieces of the eye, how they work, and what can affect eyesight. (CURRENTLY NA) A Tree’s Tale (all grades) – in-person presenter - Working with real tree rings, students learn about the science of trees and tree dating. (CURRENTLY NA) Science of Bees (all grades) – in-person presenter - Students learn all the buzz about bees from an amateur beekeeper and retired biology teacher. Bugs vs. Insects - the importance of pollinators

MATH & ENGINEERING SERIES *

Fun with Fractals (all grades) - presenter - Students learn about fractals, fractal patterns, and how they blend science, math and art. Students will discover real-life examples in art and nature and practice creating their own fractals. Calculating Averages (all grades) - video only entitled "Calculating Averages for your science fair project (English/Spanish)". Math Ratios 1 (all grades) - video only entitled "Math Ratios 1: Introduction". Math Ratios 2 (all grades) - video only entitled "Math Ratios 2: Making a Hummingbird Feeder". Fibonacci Numbers (all grades) - online presenter plus 3 videos entitled "Fibonacci: Where They Are in Nature" and "Fibonacci: The Golden Ratio" and “Fibonacci: The Number Zero.” A bit of history about Leonardo of Pisa, and the number zero. Students also learn about Fibonacci numbers and where they show up in nature. (CURRENTLY NA) Word Problems (all grades) - in-person presenter - Using high-interest (sports, music, movies) stories, students will go through the steps of the various mathematical tasks needed to solve the problem. (CURRENTLY NA) The Golden Ratio (all grades) - in-person presenter - Students will learn about the Golden Ratio and why it is so fascinating to artists, scientists, designers, and mathematicians. Then, students will be challenged to look around their classrooms and at their personal belongings to find objects or structures that use the Golden Ratio. A discussion of ratio and proportion would be included. (CURRENTLY NA) Is this Really Math? (all grades) - in-person presenter - Do your students need practice on fundamental math skills, such as fractions, calculating percentages and time tables? In this activity, volunteers will use high-interest materials and visuals such as contemporary music, sports data and Smart Board visuals to help students gain practice and confidence in math and understand the value of math in our lives. (CURRENTLY NA) Legos (all grades) - in-person presenter

STEM FAIR SUPPORT SERIES *

STEM Fair Mentoring (grades 3-8) - remote presenter - Volunteers can work with students in your classroom as they work on their science/STEM projects. Science Journal (all grades) - video only entitled "What is a Science Journal? (English/Spanish)". Calculating Averages (all grades) - video only entitled "Calculating Averages (for your science fair project) (English/Spanish)". Classroom Science Experiments (grades K-6) - in-person presenter - Students learn how scientists think and work by participating in a classroom science experiment, which emphasizes three important elements in any scientific process: making measurements, changing one thing at a time, and conducting multiple trials.

STEM LITERACY *

Request support to incorporate literacy with STEM topics (all grades) - video only, current examples are "Energy: Introduction to types of energy and the forces.", "Force & Motion", and "Moon Craters Investigation". Counting on Literacy to Scaffold Math Learning (all grades) - in-person presenter - Children’s literature (fiction and nonfiction) is used to engage students in math through reading and hands-on activities. Literature is used to contextualize math concepts and to apply the practices of making sense of problems, constructing viable arguments, and modeling by thinking, talking, and writing math.

HEALTH SCIENCE SERIES *

How Do We Move (grades 4-5) - remote presenter plus 3 videos entitled "How We Move: Introduction", "How We Move: Balance", and "How We Move: Eyes and Ears" - Session program that introduces students to basic vocabulary of the muscles, bones and brain and how they work together. Students will perform many activities to explore how our brain communicates with our muscles, how our muscles react to stress, and how to improve balance, coordination and strength.

HUMANE EDUCATION SERIES *

Virtual Field Trip of the Shelter (video only) - students should watch this video before they view the other Humane Ed videos. Overpopulation (all grades) - remote presenter & video. Adoptions (all grades) - remote presenter & video. What Animals Need (all grades) - remote presenter & video. Safety Around Dogs (all grades) - remote presenter & video. (CURRENTLY NA) Canine Heroes (grades 6-8) - in-person presenter - Students will learn about the physiology of a dog's sense of smell. A team from High Desert Canine (a specially trained search dog and the handler) will talk about how that's used in search and rescue missions. They'll also talk about animal behavior and the importance of teamwork. The session ends with a live demonstration.

STEM Explorers! *

The program is geared toward gr. 3-5 students. Kids learn about a wide variety of STEM topics by watching STEM videos produced by local STEM experts. The youth can then earn points and cash prizes by completing activities in each video. Teachers can also earn cash prizes for helping their students to complete the 3-week program. Go to to the STEM Explorers! web page to download a PowerPoint presentation for more detail.

Nina Otero Community School Program Request Form

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