Explorer Newsletter

February 2019

Plus one makes TWO!

Thank you all for your support and kind words over the past two months. Adding Teddy to my family has been surreal and a dream come true! The students have been so gracious upon my return and understanding during this time, thank you! This is a fun time, Teddy just turned two months (although I feel like I just brought him home the hospital yesterday). Everyday is a new gift with him!


With a grateful heart,

Ruth

The Comeback of Cursive

This article by Karen Heller doesn't have anything to do with Gifted Education, but it made me happy to read it. When I was a classroom teacher 16 years ago, I loved teaching cursive. Want to introduce your child to the joys of cursive? Click here to create your own personalized cursive worksheets

February CAMPS

Maine Discovery Museum:

February 18-22, 8:00am-4:00pm: February Vacation Camp. Different topic each day!

$50.00 per child/day for non-members, $45.00 per child/day for Museum Members. Ages 5-12; Morning snack provided, please bring your own lunch and afternoon snack.


Challenger Learning Center of Maine:

February 18-22, 8:00am-4:00pm: February Vacation Camp. Five days of fantastic science fun! Different theme each day. $60/day; grades K-5; campers need to provide their own lunch and morning/afternoon snacks.


Maine Audubon at Fields Pond:

February 19th– 22nd (4 days), 9AM to 3PM; $50; Students, grades 3 – 5; $40/session Members, $50/session Non-member; Location: Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden

Maine Audubon winter vacation camp is an opportunity for children in grades 3-5 to learn about winter wildlife through hands-on activities and outdoor adventure. Each day will have a different theme and include topics about animal adaptations, snow science, tracking, and winter ecology. More information, click here

Makerspace Magic continues with Ms. Richardson

Have you set a reading goal?

Join the Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge here! Set a goal of how many books you want to read in 2019 then log in and record the books you read. Goodreads is a great way to document reading and get suggestions for great new titles!

Need a book recommendation? Try Excellence in Reading!

To encourage the joy of reading, the Foundation has developed the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program. Earn a commemorative certificate in recognition of your outstanding achievement and get an Excellence in Reading T-shirt, too!


Click here to learn how to participate and to download the necessary documents.

Local Happenings

Science Lecture Series, Harnessing the Power of Ocean Currents

Thursday, Feb. 21st, 7pm

167 Rangeley Road

Orono, ME

How can we use currents to generate sustainable energy? What are the environmental impacts of doing so? Explore how tidal turbines can optimize energy extraction and understand how coastal environmental conditions are affected by the long-term implementation of tidal turbines. Dr. Lauren Ross from Civil and Environmental Engineering will share her research in this area and its potential for Maine. For more information, click here

Author visit: J. Malcolm Shick

Wednesday, Feb. 27th, 6pm

145 Harlow Street

Bangor, ME

Along with images from his book, Dr. Shick will be talking about how corals have become part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Seen as rainforests of the sea, coral reefs have become emblematic of the fragility of marine biodiversity, their declining health a warning sign of the human-driven climate change that has produced warming seas, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels. For more information, click here

Maine Science Festival Pop-up event: Salmon in Maine

Thursday, Feb. 28th, 7pm

74 Main Street

Bangor, ME

In partnership with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Maine Field Station and the Maine Discovery Museum, the MSF is hosting a Maine Science Festival Pop-up event: Salmon in Maine as part of the International Year of the Salmon. The Main Street Gallery will be open for this after-hours gallery event, featuring artist Karen Talbot’s Maine’s River Run Fish. In addition to the exhibit, we will also have brief presentations on the history of salmon in Maine, the scientific study of Atlantic salmon that NOAA has done (and continues to do), and Karen’s work to meld the scientific with the artistic to tell the story of Maine’s river run fish, and salmon in particular. Speakers: Catherine Schmidt, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park; Ed Baum, salmon expert (retired, NOAA); Karen Talbot, artist. The talk starts at 7:45pm. For more information, click here

Save the Date for the MAINE SCIENCE FESTIVAL

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