Together We Have Earth-Saving Powers is a contest that Liberty Science Center and ParentGuide have created to make every child an eco superhero! Children ages 12 and under can submit drawings, paintings or photographs showing their “Earth-Saving Powers” such as recycling, taking mass transit and reminding friends and family to use canvas shopping bags. First prize is a class field trip to Liberty Science Center for up to 40 people. Second prize is a Super-Powers party at the Center. Every child receives a prize for entering – a free visit to Liberty Science Center! Entries must be received by December 19, 2008.

Find out about more details and entry rules

(NEW YORK- July 28th) – The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Communications and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have joined together to inspire student achievement in sustainability through a comprehensive education initiative, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Announced today, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is an unprecedented partnership between three industry leading organizations that are committed to educating, empowering and engaging students, teachers and communities in environmental sustainability.

Kicking off the 2008 school year in September, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
is the first and only national K12 sustainability education initiative aligned to state education
standards and uniquely tailored to match students’ growing comprehension abilities throughout their
school aged years. By partnering with Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, which provides scientifically proven, standards based digital media tools and resources to classrooms nationwide, and the NSTA, the largest science teacher organization in the world dedicated to improving science education and increasing student learning by engaging all teachers of science, the Siemens Foundation will serve as a pioneer in recognizing sustainability efforts within the K12 education system.

“As a leader in environmentally relevant businesses, Siemens knows the answers to tomorrow’s
critical environmental questions are in the minds of today’s students,” said James Whaley,
President, Siemens Foundation. “Uniting with Discovery Education and NSTA complements
Siemens’ commitment to the future and to those who are going to create it. We look forward to
unleashing this tremendous reservoir of potential through the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.”

“Education and the environment have always been part of Discovery’s core mission and we are
proud to be a partner in encouraging students to learn about and create sustainable solutions through the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications.

“The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will engage science teachers and allow
students the opportunity to think like scientists, learn more about key environmental issues, and to develop critical thinking skills that will help them to make informed decisions regarding stewardship of the planet,” said Dr. Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director, NSTA.

Designed to equip students in every grade level with the tools and inspiration to develop innovative green solutions for schools, homes and communities, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will transform participants into active citizens for a greener tomorrow. The program begins by helping young students understand the basic concepts of sustainability and why it’s important to protect the environment. At each subsequent stage, the concepts expand to engage students beyond their classrooms, into their communities and to the global world.

·K-2:

• My Classroom: Introduce students to the importance of “being green” and provide opportunities for active learning and engagement.

· 3-5:

• My School: Inspire students to think beyond their classroom — using science and math skills to take their school “green.”

· 6-8:

• My Community: Empower students with tools to apply the Scientific Method to real world “green issues” in their local communities.

· 9-12:

• My World: Connect students with real world scientists as they tackle today’s “green challenges” — moving from insight to global action.

In September, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge launches with a national middle
school competition where teams of students will identify an environmental problem in their
community and will research and recommend a reproducible environmental improvement program. Teams will then provide an explanation about how other communities across the country can launch similar environmental improvement programs.

The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will expand to kindergarten and elementary
school students in 2009 and to high school students in 2010, complete with standards based
lesson plans and teacher materials, student projects and prizing to foster learning, team work and problem solving around sustainability.

For more information about the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, visit
http://www.wecanchangetheworldchallenge.com.

About the Siemens Foundation:
The Siemens Foundation provides over $4.5 million towards science, technology, and engineering and math initiatives annually. Its signature programs, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology and
the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, reward exceptional achievement in science, math and technology. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow’s scientists and engineers. The Foundation’s mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens’ U.S. operating companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.siemensfoundation.org.

OK, so technically, I’m not even supposed to be writing this right now, but I never got a chance to do it last night, so you can just pretend that the following was posted on May 2nd

Can you survive 24 hours without your computer?

Unless there’s a power outage or an EXTREME vacation involved, it’s usually a challenge for me, but I’m going to do it on May 3rd anyway!

Let’s see just how many people can go without using their computers tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, 2008. To be part of the experiment, just register online, consider advertising Shut Down Day on your blog or website, and maybe even create a short video of what you did with all the extra time you had with family and friends while you weren’t on your computer using all that electricity (Earth Day is Every Day!) There’s a contest you can enter to win some great prizes.

What will you do with your time? I’m going to help my son learn how to ride his bike- we took his training wheels off last weekend- wish me luck!  I’ll try to not Jott or Twitter his progress, but I can’t make any promises about not filming the whole thing.  As long as I don’t upload anything until tomorrow I’ll be good, right )

To celebrate the merger of eInstruction and Interwrite Learning, they have announced a Content Meets Technology Sweepstakes which runs from Tuesday April 8, through Thursday, May 13, 2008.

Three lucky classrooms will win a prize package worth over $8,000 in eInstruction’s innovative education technology tools!

How the Sweepstakes Works

It’s easy! Just visit www.eInstruction.com to enter the sweepstakes and to submit, in 250 characters or less (approx. 25 words), your vision of a classroom that combines curriculum with technology. You will be able to see your entry pop-up on a Google® Map immediately, as well as all participating classrooms throughout the US. 

Three classrooms will be chosen at random, one in grades K-5, one in grades 6-8 and one in grades 9-12. Enter the contest and you could win this interactive prize package:

• Interwrite™ Workspace with ExamView™ reader
• Interwrite™ Board
• Interwrite™ Pad
• 32-Pad CPS RF Clicker System
• One year subscription to ExamView Learning Series
• Epson PowerLite 400W Projector.
• Epson Short-throw Projector Wall Mount
• Free installation and online training

Help spread the word about this exciting contest and you can increase your odds of winning—see details when you visit the sweepstakes website!

The winners will be announced on Monday, May 19, 2008. Remember, your class could win an $8,000 Interactive Classroom Makeover!

Richard Garriott made his fortune as a video game developer, creating the popular Ultima series. Now he’s paying for the privilege of traveling to the International Space Station (ISS).

What makes Garriott different from all previous space farers is that he has a parent who has also been in space! His father, Owen Garriott, is a former NASA astronaut. The elder Garriott flew to NASA’s Skylab space station in 1973 and on a space shuttle mission a decade later. He was also involved in early work for the ISS, when its design was still being hashed out.

Students of all ages are encouraged to submit their design for a student patch or t-shirt that celebrates the educational aspect of Richard Garriott’s upcoming flight. As the next civilian to fly into space, Richard plans to engage with students, teachers and the 50 Challenger Learning Centers around the world through interactive activities before, during and after his flight currently scheduled for lift-off to the International Space Station on October 12, 2008.

The student design should symbolize the adventure and discovery of spaceflight from the student’s point of view. The winning student design may appear on both a patch and a t-shirt. Challenger Center for Space Science Education plans to post some of the submitted student’s designs on their national website, and will award the winner with a certificate and t-shirt with his/her design later this year. The design may even get flown into space!

Submit your student’s design by the deadline of April 18^th to   www.challenger.org

Richard Garriott plans to spend time before, during and after his flight conducting interactive webcasts about his spaceflight training in Russia; holding amateur ham radio conversations with students during his flight; and performing experiments that can be replicated by students using everyday objects to demonstrate important concepts in physics. For more information, visit the Challenger Center for Space Science Education at www.challenger.org.  For program information, please contact Shannon Rush, Challenger Center:  srush@challenger.org

To request an interview with Richard Garriott, please contact Stacey Tearne, Space Adventures:   stearne@spaceadventures.com