Holiday Tree Lighting - Bowie, MD

Spread holiday cheer and help illuminate the City of Bowie Christmas Tree. Santa arrives by Fire Truck. Caroling and seasonal fun for all. Belair Mansion, Bowie. 7 p.m.

Candlelight Tours, Tree Lighting and a Visit from Santa at Belair Mansion - Sunday, December 2

On Sunday, December 2 there will be a very special holiday celebration at Belair Mansion. It starts with candlelight tours of the mansion from 3 to 7 p.m. , and continues with caroling outdoors at 7 p.m. and the lighting of the City's holiday tree. The evening culminates with the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on a fire truck, courtesy of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Deparment!

There's more than 250 years of Christmas history at Belair. Traditional decorations and flickering candles offer a glimpse of the past through the eyes of the many residents of this historic house. The music of “Bedlam” will fill the air. In colonial times, Belair’s residents feasted, sang and visited – but there was no decorated tree in anyone’s parlor. That holiday tradition didn’t find its way to America, or Bowie, until the mid-19th century.

The City’s holiday tree lighting has been a tradition for over 50 years. The City invites you to be part of that tradition at the Mansion, following the candlelight celebration. Bundle up for caroling outdoors. Once the tree is illuminated,
Santa and Mrs. Claus’ will arrive to join the celebration. The music of the
Christian Community Presbyterian Church (CCPC) Bell Choir will entertain visitors inside while they wait to have a chat with Mr. Claus!

Admission is free, but please bring a canned food donation for the Bowie Food Pantry to help those in need this holiday season. Belair Mansion is located at 12207 Tulip Grove Drive. For more information, contact Matt Corley, Special Events Coordinator, at 301-809-3078 or mcorley@cityofbowie.org.

Tours: 3 - 7 p.m.
Caroling and tree lighting: 7 p.m.

Sotterley Holiday Candlelight, Hollywood.

Enjoy "From This Day Forward," a history production brought to life by the Sotterley Players Acting Troupe. Sotterley Plantation. 6:30-10 p.m. $15 for tickets, advance reservations required. 301-373-2280;

For more information visit:

http://sotterley.org/index.htm

44300 Sotterley Ln

Hollywood, MD 20636

Tour Information

1703 Plantation House Guided TourAvailable from  May 1 through October 31 Check in at Visitor Center $10 for adults / $8 for seniors $5 ages 6-12 / 5 and under free Tuesday - Saturday: Tours at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm  Sunday: Tours at Noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm

Darnell's Chance - Gingerbread House Display

Gingerbread House Contest and Show, Upper Marlboro.

14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 
301-952-8010; TTY 301-699-2544; Fax 301-952-1773
darnallschance@pgparks.com

For a sweet treat, come and view an amazing display of edible gingerbread houses. No nibbling allowed! Visitors will have the opportunity to vote in the Viewer's Choice Award Competition. Darnall's Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro. 12-5 p.m. $1/person. 301-952-8010, pgparks.com 

  

Nature Gift Ideas

Science and Nature Gifts for the Kids On Your List by serchomeschool

I've been asked to put together some information regarding science and nature gifts for students. Listed below are some staff favorite nature books, great places t buy educational science gifts, and the types of microscopes we use and where to buy them. Happy Holidays!

Staff Favorites for Children's Books:

K-5

·        The “Are you a…” Series are great, such as Are You a Ladybug? or Are You an Ant?

·        Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin.

 8-12 yrs.

·        Any of the Janell Canon, such as Stella Luna, Verdi, Pinduli.

·        There’s a Hair in My Dirt, Gary Larson

·        Any of the DK Eyewitness books, personal favorites include sharks, Egypt, butterflies and moths, gems and minerals, and birds.

·        Shaman’s Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest,  Lynne Cherry.

·        Turtles in my Sand Box, Curtis and Shongut (about diamond back terrapins).

·        B is for Blue Crab, Menendez and Stutzman.

·        Bug Butts, Cusick.

·        Awesome Ospreys, Donna Love.

·        Sea Soup: Phytoplankton, or Sea Soup: Zooplankton, Cerullo.

·        The Way Things Work, DavidMacaualy.

·        Explorabook, Klutz Press.

·        Cross Sections of Man-of-War, Stephen Biesty.

13+ yrs.

·        Swamp Walker’s Journal, Carroll.

·        My side of the Mountain,Jean Craighead George (anything by her is great!!!).

·        How we Know What We Know about Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming, Lynne  Cherry, Gary Braasch, and David Sobel.

·        Monkeywrench Gang, Edward Abby.

·        The Evolution of Calpernia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly.

MICROSCOPES

We’ve been asked about a good microscope for students. We use dissecting scopes from Home Science Tools.

·        This is the dissecting scope we use in the classroom: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/stereo-microscope-deluxe-20-40x/p/MI-24STERX/ ($200, on sale now for $189)

·        This is a nice digital microscope addition that can hook your microscope up to the computer screen, through the ocular,  and take photos: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/microscope-digital-camera-eyepiece-pack/p/MI-DIGICAM/ ($60)

·        This is a fairly good compound microscope: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/home-microscope/p/MI-4100STD/ ($180).

·        For compound microscope, Microscope Slide-Making Kit: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/microscope-slide-making-kit/p/MS-KIT04/ ($14.95)

Acorn Naturalist: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/

·        Birdsong Identiflyer (learn bird songs): http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/BIRDSONG-IDENTIFLYER--P2423C0.aspx ($29.95)

·        Cards for birds songs in the Identiflyer: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/search.aspx ($5-10)

·        Animal Track Molds: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/search.aspx  ($10+)

·        Green (Global rivers Environmental Education Network) Introductory Water Quality Monitoring Kit: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/GREEN-Global-Rivers-Environmental-Education-Network-INTRODUCTORY-WATER-QUALITY-MONITORING-KIT-P488C0.aspx ($34.95)

·        Port-a-Bug Observation Container: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/PORT-A-BUG-FIELD-OBSERVATION-CONTAINER-P2941C0.aspx ($8.95)

·        Clear Lucite magnifying “bug” box. http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/CLEAR-LUCITE-MAGNIFYING-BUG-BOX-SMALL-P1314C0.aspx ($0.85)

·        Bird-Opoly: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/BIRD-OPOLY-GAME-P4310C0.aspx ($24.95)

·        Any of their puppets: http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/search.aspx ($7-$45)

Nature Watch: http://www.nature-watch.com/

·        Giant Inflatable Insects: http://www.nature-watch.com/giant-inflatable-insects-p-902.html?cPath=142_147 (Set of 5, $39.99).

·        See-Through Compost Container: http://www.nature-watch.com/see-through-composting-container-p-1218.html?cPath=142_146 ($32.99)

·        Owl Pellet Activity Kit: http://www.nature-watch.com/owl-pellet-activity-kit-p-255.html?cPath=142_143 ($19.95)

·        Break open your own geodes: http://www.nature-watch.com/break-open-geodes-p-124.html?cPath=142_155 ($5-$40.00)

Educational Innovations: http://www.teachersource.com/category/gifts

At this site you’ll find some great ideas, the whole site is fun. You can find anything from gelatin heart and brain molds to anti-gravity globes and beaker mugs.

Carolina Biological Supply Company: http://www.carolina.com/

Carolina is where we get all of our supplies for lab classes. They have great kits for raising butterflies, insects, etc.

·        Precision Gyroscope: http://www.carolina.com/physical-science-rotational-motion/precision-gyroscope/752181.pr?catId=&mCat=&sCat=&ssCat=&question=gyroscope ($10)

Shakespeare's Characters / Writing Lab

I am coordinating elementary (age 8+) classes for 2013 Winter/Spring on Friday in Capitol Hill, if you are interested in joining please let me know.

Shakespeare Theatre  http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/info/education/expand-your-knowledge/school-programs

Shakespeare’s Characters -Bring William Shakespeare’s famous characters to life! 

During this residency students will delve deeply into Shakespeare’s language and explore a variety of characters from his plays. Students will learn how to analyze and interpret Shakespeare’s text and how to create a fully realized character. Activities may
include, paraphrasing and performing speeches, creating characters
through movement activities, designing character’s homes & costumes, creating character related props, writing in a specific character’s voice and researching historical characters. The residency will culminate with students performing scenes and monologues.

Day and Time: Fridays from 10:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
Date Range: January - April (10 weeks)
Cost Range: $250-$350

Writopia Writing Lab (MAX of 6 students)  http://www.writopialab.org/
Writopia Lab is a national community of young writers, ages 8-18.
Founded in New York City in 2007, Writopia Lab has now spread to Greater
 New York, Greater Washington, and Los Angeles.
At Writopia, your kids enjoy individual
attention, fun writing games, loungy couches and laptops, and, best of
all, completing a wonderful original story with the help of a published
author!
Day and Time: Fridays from 1:00pm – 2:30 p.m.
Date Range: January - April (10 weeks)
Cost Range: TBD

ayeola.

ayeola74@yahoo.com

Goddard Space Flight Center

 Here’s what we have planned for December:

***please note, there is NO Sunday Experiment this month – the Sunday Experiment program will return on January 20, 2013, featuring the Solar Dynamics Observatory***

NEW! Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Exhibit. Everything is open and unwrapped– come check out the amazing changes starting to happen in our exhibit spaces!

Sunday, December 2: Monthly Model Rocket Launch. Bring your model rockets by the Visitor Center, learn a little rocket science, and then launch them with the help of the NARHAMS Model Rocket Club.  No registration required, and open to all ages.  The fun gets going at 1pm.

Monday, December 3/Monday, December 10: I’m an Engineer! Our afterschool engineering program for students in grades 1-3 – the sessions this month and in January are FULL!  Our next dates for I’m an Engineer! will begin in February 2013; please check http://visitorcenterevents.gsfc.nasa.gov for updates and program registration.

Wednesday, December 5: Family Science Night.  Our Family Science Night this month will explore how NASA uses satellites for communication.  This program is intended for middle school students and their families; to attend, we ask that each family group includes at least one middle school student with at least one adult, and that each additional child is over the age of 8.  Registration is required, and there are only a few spaces left!  To register (online only, by November 28), please visit http://visitorcenterevents.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.viewEventDetails&event_id=29

Wednesday, December 12: Gerald Soffen Lecture Series.  Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission – the last one to land on the Moon – with a special edition of the Gerald Soffen Lecture Series featuring Dr. Noah Petro. The event will start at 7pm, and seating is on a first-registered basis; to ensure a priority seat, please register online at http://visitorcenterevents.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.viewEventDetails&event_id=26

Tuesday, December 18 – Friday, December 21: GeoDome Days!  Check out our portable, inflatable planetarium, and take a tour of the universe without ever leaving Maryland!  Schedule may vary by day; please check at the front desk for a daily schedule.

Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day Holiday.  The Visitor Center will be closed.

Thursday, December 27 – Saturday, December 29: GeoDome Days!  Avoid going stir-crazy at the house over the winter break!  Check out our portable, inflatable planetarium, and take a tour of the universe without ever leaving Maryland!  Schedule may vary by day; please check at the front desk for a daily schedule.

Tuesday, January 1: New Years Day.  The Visitor Center will be closed.  We hope you’ll come for a visit in the new year!

Calling all high-school students: Are you looking for service hours?  Are you interested in NASA science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and want to share your enthusiasm with the public?  Then we need your help!  The NASA Goddard Visitor Center is looking for student volunteers to assist with educational programs and visitor services throughout the summer, with further opportunities during the school year.  If you are interested, please contact Catherine Kruchten at 301-286-0251.

There is now less of it but please continue to pardon our dust! We have completed a number of major improvements in our exhibits gallery and brought in some exciting new exhibits, such as the full size model of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).  There is still more work ongoing but most of the gallery is fully re-opened.  Please bear with us through this period, and we will keep you updated with more details on the changes as they happen.  And make sure to come by to see our new exhibit space!

And you can always visit the Visitor Center Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NASAGoddardVisitorCenter)  or home page (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/home/index.html) for more information.

Thank you for supporting our programs, and we hope to see you at the Visitor Center soon!

--
Catherine Kruchten
Paragon TEC
Informal Educator
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
phone: 301-286-0251
email: catherine.kruchten@nasa.gov

Thanks,
T

Trena Ferrell, PhD
Goddard Space Flight Center
Education IPA
Trena.M.Ferrell@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.7504/Fax: 301.286.1655
KB3JVV

Music from the War of 1812

THE COLONIAL MUSIC INSTITUTE PRESENTS MUSIC OF THE WAR OF 1812

Posted Thu, 11/15/2012 - 17:33

The Colonial Music Institute

Presents Music of the War of 1812 (Part 3)

Hyattsville Library Branch
Saturday, December 8, 3 pm
 

The Colonial Music Institute presents Music of the War of 1812. Political songs, sentimental ballads, and songs encouraging enlistment were all sung at home, on the streets, and in theaters. This program is led by Dr. David Hildebrand, and concludes the three part series on the Music of the War of 1812.
 

Santa's Workshop - Blue Sky Puppets

BLUE SKY PUPPET THEATRE PRESENTS: SANTA'S WORKSHOP

Posted Tue, 11/20/2012 - 16:00

Blue Sky Puppet Theatre Presents: Santa’s Workshop
Largo-Kettering Library Branch

Families welcome
Saturday, December 1, 2 pm

Come join Suzy, Chester and Buster as they entertain their parents, their classmates and Santa himself at Santa’s workshop day care at the North Pole. Sponsored by the Friends of the Largo-Kettering Library. 

(Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Puppet Theatre)

Accokeek Area Homeschool Association (AAHA!) Meeting

Join us at the Accokeek Area Homeschool Association (AAHA!) meeting this Monday November 26, at 7 at the Accokeek Library. Antonia Bookbinder will present "Ancestral Knowledge and Homeschooling."  Bring a mug for tea!

We look forward to seeing you.

Katharine Vincent

AAHA Founder

Monica Reynolds

AAHA Founder

Children are always welcome to play quietly during the "train the trainer" style presentation for the parent teachers.

Mark your calender: Our next meeting is Monday, December 10th!

......................................................

Please note that my e-mail has changed to katwvincent@gmail.com. 

Twitter @katwvincent 

#SketchDCHomeschool

Way2Go College information link

Here is an updated link to register for the Way2Go College information session

http://way2gomaryland.org/event/way2go-prince-georges-county

Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 10:00 - 13:00

University of Maryland University College

3501 University Blvd. East,

Adelphi, MD 20783

For Directions: http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/locations/adelphi_building.cfm 

Join us for our Fall Informational Event

·      learn firsthand from USM students how they charted their paths to college;

·      get tips and vital information directly from USM admissions and financial aid experts and representatives from The College Savings Plans of Maryland;

·      receive valuable information from a Prince George's County Counselor

·      learn how to pay for college and choose a college major;

·      explore the Way2GoMaryland web site;

·      receive a Way2GoMaryland gift pack;

·      win door prizes;

·      enjoy refreshments.

·      Learn who won the essay contest; first prize wins a Kindle

Register for the event by creating an account or by using the form found in the News and Events section of the site.

  To register groups with 8 or more students, please call (301) 445-2756 by November 16.

Please login or register to sign up for this Events.

Geocaching - SERC

Online Learning Activities for Kids Over the Holiday

November 20, 2012 by serchomeschool

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Home School families!

I know many of you will be busy cooking your turkey or to-furkey and needing to keep the kids busy. Here are some fun educational activities to consider. If you’re like me you grew up reading (and still reading) Ranger Rick. Ranger Rick has come come into the modern age with great web pages and a new cousin for younger readers, called Ranger Ricky, or Ranger Rick Jr.

Here are some great online learning games:http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Games.aspx

You can learn about what different sharks are named and what bats eat. There are so many good things to learn and play!

Here you can read about all sorts of animals:http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Animals.aspx

Here are some fun games from the Discovery Channel, from chasing tornadoes to finding whales. This site is probably better for older kids, ages 12+  http://dsc.discovery.com/games/games.html

GEOCACHING and Ranger Rick at SERC

Geocaching is using your GPS, either on your phone or GPS unit, and finding hidden “caches” or treasures at given coordinates. There are hidden boxes all over MD, and probably near you. You can find the coordinates at Geocache.com and type in the location you’re interested in. It’s a great way to combine being outdoors and technology. Just be sure the areas you go into are safe this time of year, and wear bright colors!

Here at SERC we have geocaching boxes in partnership with NWF and Ranger Rick Geocaching. Several of our home school families help maintain 10 boxes on our 3 trails . There will be some new boxes and micro-caches soon! AFTER DECEMBER 8TH (hunting season will be over) you too can come in to geocache the “treasure” boxes (or even before or after class!).

Name	Coordinates
JAVA TRAIL
That A Way Piscataway	N 38° 53.232 W 076° 32.738
Java Cash Crop	N 38° 53.367 W 076° 32.934
Vernal Stream	N 38° 53.134 W 076° 32.922
DISCOVERY TRAIL	Coordinates
Beeched in Frog Canyon	N 38° 53.043 W 076° 33.259
Discover Log	N 38° 52.960 W 076° 33.174
Hoggin’ All the Cache	N 38° 52.726 W 076° 33.092
Contee Watershed Trail	Coordinates
Ruins, I see Ruins	N 38° 53.505 W 076° 32.769
Treasure of the Watershed	N 38° 53.561 W 076° 32.860
All Fall Down	N 38° 53.632 W 076° 32.758
Contee Cache	N 38° 53.676 W 076° 32.500

Volunteer Fair - SERC

Volunteer Fair

at the

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Volunteer with the Education Department at SERC

November 26^th-30^th

10 am-Noon

Reed Education Center

There will be special tours every day of the fair, at 10:30 am, which will last about 45 minutes

Pre-registration not required, just drop in!

Learn more about the  Chesapeake Bay area and share your enthusiasm for  nature with others by becoming a  volunteer at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Md. SERC is  looking for volunteers to support its hands-on K-12 and public education programs that  center on SERC research and Chesapeake Bay ecology. Volunteer opportunities   accommodate various interests and schedules and include: field trip assistants, canoe guides, aquarium maintenance team, trail guides, office  assistants, classroom helper,   gardeners, and  curriculum designers. SERC provides volunteer training and continuing educational experiences. New volunteers are also teamed up with experienced volunteers until they get their “sea legs.”

Interested? Call Karen McDonald 443.482.2388

Speech Writing - Smithsonian

Parents/Educators

To register yourself and your student(s)for this event, please go to to www.nmaahc.si.edu.

Behind the Dream: Speech Writing as a Call to Action

Saturday, January 19, 2013
9:30a.m.-12:00p.m.

Using historical examples and prompts, teachers can join museum educators to explore speech writing as a call to action. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with Clarence B. Jones, who served as speechwriter and counsel to Martin Luther King, Jr. and was instrumental in the crafting of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Teachers are invited to share the experience with up to three students. Students must be registered at the same time as the teacher. Attendees will receive primary source materials for use in educational settings.

This program is presented in conjunction with "Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963" exhibition.

Port Discovery Thanksgiving Friday

Happy Thanksgiving

from Our Family to Yours!

Port Discovery Children's Museum wishes you and your family a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

  

The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so our employees can celebrate the holiday with their families.

Our doors open at 9:30 am on Friday, November 23rd, so come early and enjoy our annual Gobble! Gobble! Weekend of special programs and performances!

        

Gobble! Gobble! Weekend Fun

November 23 - 25  

Friday, November 23

Museum Hours: 9:30 am-5 pm

• Fall Leaves and Turkey Hat craft activities:10 am-3:30 pm
• Science in Action-Gobbling Turkeys:10 am-12:30 pm; 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
• Roly Poly Bear Cubs:11 am-1 pm
• Mother Goose on the Loose:10:30 am
• Jingle Jangle Music Time:11 am
• Musical performance with Uncle Pete:12:30 pm and 1:30 pm

Saturday, November 24

Museum Hours: 10 am-5 pm

• Fall Leaves and Turkey Hat craft activities:10 am-3:30 pm
• Pop Up Science:11 am and 11:30 am
• Circle Time:11 am and 12 pm
• Journey to IMAGInation Magic Show with David London:12 pm and 1 pm
• Musical performance with Uncle Pete:12:30 pm and 1:30 pm
• Science in Action-Gobbling Turkeys:1:30 pm-3:30 pm

Sunday, November 25

Museum Hours: 12 pm-5 pm

• World Rhythm Drum Circus:12:30 pm-3 pm; 4 pm-5 pm
• Performance by Mr. Norman:1 pm and 1:30 pm
• Mother Goose on the Loose:1:30 pm
• Jingle Jangle Music Time:2:30 pm; 3:15 pm; 4 pm
• Roly Poly Bear Cubs:2:30 pm-4:30 pm
• Kamishibai Story Time:3:30 pm

Programs are subject to change. Please check "Cool Things To Do" upon arrival.

For more information, visit our website.

(Programs are subject to change 

**************************************************************************************************************  

Holiday Special!

10% OFF GIFT, NEW, and RENEWAL MEMBERSHIPS

 
 Plus, receive an additional 3 months added to your membership for free!    

Click here to purchase or renew your membership. 

Use discount code: holiday12 at check out and click recalculate to receive discount, or purchase at the Box Office.

Offer expires December 17, 2012.