Discovery Education has a huge amount of great resources for educators, from videos to lesson plans to e-textbooks and more. Some of it is in Flash, so you can’t access it directly on your iOS device browser. However, iSwifter has partnered with Discovery Education to create Rover. Rover is an iPad browser that allows you to access Flash based content. The Flash content does not run on the device. It is streamed to the Rover app.

It allows you to browse and play Flash content, meaning you can now access Discovery Education’s massive resource collection of lesson plans, apps, and materials.

Discovery Education also has an iPad friendly site.

Related:

25 Free Resources from Discovery Education

Whatever subject you teach Discovery and the DEN can help you teach it well. Here are a few back-to-school reminders for using this great resource this year!

Make use of My Content, across the campus or district to share content with your grade or subject level team
Create classes in Classroom Manager to more easily bring great Discovery content, including custom built assignments, writing prompts and quizzes to your students
Use the Classroom Manager to differentiate assignments for different ability levels, cognitive styles, and learning modalities
Check out theTeacherCenterfor helps such as the Ready Zone: continuity of learning, Lesson Plan Library and STEAM content and more
AND OF COURSE

Regularly check the DEN blog from ourTexasteam and the National team; the linksare:

Texas: http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/category/texas/

National: http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/

NOW, your assignment: Share this post, especially the blog links with a colleague as an encouragement to use Discovery and the DEN!

Join us for the Discovery Education Canada Back-to-School 2011 Webinar series as we explore the basics of Discovery Education STREAMING, join in the Discovery Education STREAMATHON, build upon 50 more ways to utilize digital media, and create digital stories with Discovery Education.

Register today

http://links.discoveryeducation.com/CanadaBTS2011

All times listed are Eastern Time.

Discovery Education STREAMING: Back to Basics

Tuesday, September 6 @7 PM, Wednesday, September 7 @3:30 PM

Explore the basics of Discovery Education streaming!  We’ll discuss navigating, streaming and downloading, and uncover resources you never knew you had!

STREAMATHON: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/STREAMATHON2011

Wednesday, September 14 @9 AM – 7 PM

The 6th annual STREAMATHON is 11 hours of information-packed sessions on how to integrate Discovery Education and the newest online technologies used by today’s media-savvy students into classroom instruction.

50 Ways to Integrate Discovery Education STREAMING

Tuesday, September 20 @7 PM, Wednesday, September 21 @3:30 PM

Did you know that you have access to an interactive atlas, dynamic calendar, thousands of quiz questions, images, speeches, and sound effects? This fast-paced, energizing session will open your eyes to the possibilities of digital media and Discovery Education.

Weaving the Story of Learning: Digital Storytelling with Discovery Education STREAMING

Tuesday, September 27 @7 PM, Wednesday, September 28 @3:30 PM

Constructing stories requires deep understanding not just of discreet facts and knowledge, but also of the rich context of that information. Join us for an exploration of the creative ways to engage students across the curriculum with digital storytelling with Discovery Education resources.

Register today

http://links.discoveryeducation.com/CanadaBTS2011

Show your Discovery Education Team Spirit and win prizes by reporting events that reflect active use of Discovery Education curricular tools and resources and active participation in the Discovery Educator Network (DEN).

Visit http://links.discoveryeducation.com/DENbts2011

Register and start reporting points today!

by David Andrade, http://tinyurl.com/edtechguy

I love rockets. My Bachelor’s degree is in Aerospace Engineering and I’ve been interested in rockets since I was a kid. My dad worked on the main engines for the Saturn V rocket when he worked at Pratt & Whitney as a chemist, I’ve designed and manufactured parts for the space program as an engineer, and my senior project in college was designing a two-state-to-orbit space vehicle. I’ve found that all kids seem to have some interest in rockets and I use that as a great end-of-the-year project in my physics class.

I found a great resource from NASA – The Rockets Educator Guide – that includes lesson plans and activity ideas. NASA’s site is a great resource for this type of project. This guide has some great activities like rockets using film canisters, baking soda, and vinegar, paper rockets, altitude trackers and more. There is even a part on the history of rockets.

This week, I was able to show one class the live launch of the Shuttle Endeavor on NASA TV, which is currently showing video of a space walk. I also use the video from Rush’s “Countdown” song.

I start the project with a video of a shuttle launch and Rush’s Countdown song (written after they viewed a shuttle launch in the 80′s). Then the students do a webquest on NASA’s site that explains the science of rockets. We also discuss rockets and space flight and then start linking the topics we’ve done in the past to this project. I also bring in the chemistry behind solid rocket engines.

The students then get model rocket kits and build the model rockets. The rocket kits are challenging and call for the students to read and understand the directions and figure a few things out for them selves. They have to perform a stability test on the rockets and then calculate the predicted altitude. When we launch the rockets, we use altitude trackers and some trigonometry to find the actual altitude and compare it to the calculated altitude. We then talk about what could have caused the discrepancies.

You can extend the unit and do more activities from the educators guide. You can also have students research space missions, current spacecraft, and the future of space travel.

Discovery Education Streaming has some great videos and resources, including the “NASA at 50″, “Bill Nye Great Inventions” and “When We Left The Earth: The NASA Mission” series.

The students learn a lot, see an application of what they have learned, work as a team, and have some fun. It’s a great way to end the year.

Topics in this unit:

history of rockets

transportation

energy transformations

fluid dynamics

thermodynamics

aerodynamics

chemistry of solid fuel engines

stability

Newton’s Laws

Gravity

air resistance

Skills:

Teamwork

communication

reading comprehension

manual dexterity

application of knowledge

problem solving

math

Resources needed:

computer with internet to connect to NASA website

NASA Rockets Educator Guide – free

Model rocket kits, engines, and launcher (available from a variety of companies and suppliers. I use Estes).

(funding for these supplies have been through Donor’s Choose and an Air Force Association classroom grant).

As the winter break draws nearer, have you found that the students are less attentive than usual?   Discovery Streaming has items to help!

First, some holiday title suggestions from the catalog: 

• The Magic School Bus: Holiday Special — grades 2 – 4
• Christmas Tales from Foreign Lands (various titles in series) – grades 3 – 6
• Words of Faith: a Caribbean Christmas – grades 7 and up
• Holiday Facts and Fun: Hanukkah – grades k – 5
• Jewish Customs: Hanukkah – grades 5 and up
• Holiday Facts and Fun: Kwanzaa – grades k – 5
• The Principles of Kwanzaa – grades 6 and up
• The Number Crew (Spanish Version): Christmas Party – grades k – 2

  Second, some other ideas:

• Learn some Spanish Christmas songs (Let’s Learn Spanish Songs: Christmas Carols – audio clips)
• What is the winter solstice?  Several video segments can help students learn this science concept.
• Check the Calendar in the Teacher Center for items relating to not only the holidays but such things as Bill of Rights Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and National Drugged and Drunken Driving Month
• Learn about Christmas and other winter holiday via information in print and online from your friendly local school library; then look up the countries in the World Atlas, also found in the Discovery Teacher Center.

Got other ideas for using Discovery for the holidays?  Post them here for all to peruse and use!

If you are interested in volunteering please send your name, school district, subjects/grades that you teach and time slot that you are interested in to Shelley Santora Jones

Thursday, February 12th
4:00 ET
5:00 ET
6:00 ET
7:00 ET

Tuesday, February 17th
5:00 ET
6:00 ET
7:00 ET
8:00 ET

All participants will receive a copy of the four-DVD set of When We Left Earth:  The NASA Missions.

As always – we appreciate your help and support!

Do you know a middle school student who is eager to explore the wonders of science?  Discovery Education and 3M announce a call for entries in the 2009 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (YSC), the nation’s premier science competition for students in grades 5 through 8.  Ten finalists will be selected to receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the final challenge in October.  The winner will receive $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds ($25,000 cash value) and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Research shows that science test scores start to drop in middle school when interest in science begins to wane.  In an effort to foster the development of our nation’s next generation of scientists, Discovery Education and 3M have teamed up once again to reward students for their science acumen and curiosity, while encouraging them to share that passion by creatively communicating their findings.

Underlining the importance of communication skills in the science field, the competition challenges middle school students residing in the United States to create a one- to two-minute video about a specific scientific concept that relates to innovative solutions for everyday life.  Evaluated by a panel of judges, all video entries for the 2009 competition will be assessed based on creativity, persuasiveness, classroom suitability and overall presentation.  Videos will not be evaluated on production skills and may be recorded on cell phones or simple digital cameras.  All video entries must be submitted online at www.youngscientistchallenge.com by May 20, 2009.

The video entry should use science to create an innovative solution to one of these everyday problems:

1. How can I play my music system for my own enjoyment, without disturbing the rest of the house?
2. What can I do to the soles of my shoes to make them better perform when I skate board?
3.  What can I do to reduce the glare on my television when I’m playing video games?
4. What device or method can I create which might help lower my family’s heating or cooling bills?

For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, including submission guidelines and examples of entry videos, go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com.

On his way to the office, President Obama utilized a huge a variety of 21st century tools – including things like Twitter, blogs, Facebook, texting, and more – to mobilize his base and get his message out.

During his campaign he stated, “I will recruit new teachers and make new investments in rural schools, we’ll connect all of America to 21st century technology and telecommunications.”

In fact, ComputerWeekly.com has billed President Obama as our nation’s first Digital President.

As an educator with access to Discovery Education streaming you can celebrate the fact that you already have access to a myriad of digital tools.  Discovery Education streaming is jam packed with editable videos, sound effects, songs, speeches and more.  For example you can type in the keywords “Video Yearbook” to find an extensive editable video almanac.  This video series is filled with primary source material going as far back as 1938!

Feeling a little overwhelmed?  Don’t worry the Discovery Educator Network  is here to help!  This community is chock full of educators who are passionate about sharing their ideas and resources with each other.  In fact, next month we’re getting together at the VSTE conference to explore different ways to tell a digital story – check it out – this pre-conference event is free to anyone who wants to attend!

If PowerPoint is more your speed – we’ve got you covered too.  Check out the Bird House page on geekybird.com to find step-by-step instructions on all things DE streaming.

So join our new digital administration and incorporate a 21 century tool in your lesson plan today!

Today I’d like to sing the praises of the DE streaming help page.  If you haven’t checked out this page I encourage you to give it a look-see. 

Once there you’ll see three tabs.  The first tab, “Most Recent“  includes the most recent updates to the Help section.  The second tab, “Top Issues,”  dives into the top issues identified by users – and lists their solutions!  The third tab, “Top Guides,” provides quick access to different user guides found on the site.

You’ll also find the phone and email of our support team listed within the Help section as well as self-service tools like finding your username/password or what to do if you’ve changed schools.

Finally, you can type in keywords into the search box and find technical support answers relevant to your search terms!

Now you can see why I’m singing about our Help section.