Google Doodle celebrates Robert Bunsen

200th Anniversary Robert Bunsen

Google Doodle

Today, Google celebrates the 200th birthday of one of the most important  chemister, Robert Wilhelm E. Bunsen. He investigated emission spectra of heated elements and discovered caesium (1860) and rubidium (1861) with Gustav Kirchhoff. Bunsen was a pioneer in photochemistry. He developed the laboratory gas burner, now popular as the "Bunsen burner" and still in use today.

Once again, Google reminds the world of the occasion, this time with an interactive chemical laboratory doodle. Do recognize the flaming Bunsen burner? Take a look on this video

Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award, named after Bunsen and his colleague Gustav Kirchhoff, is a prize awarded in recognition for "outstanding achievements" in analytical spectroscopy.

Robert Wilhelm E. Bunsen was born on March 31, 1811 in Göttingen, Germany.

Robert Bunsen statue 

Hauptstrasse, Heidelberg 

http://webpub.allegheny.edu

"Bunsen was one of the most universally admired scientists of his generation. He was a master teacher, devoted to his students, and they were equally devoted to him. 

At a time of vigorous and often caustic scientific debates, Bunsen always conducted himself as a perfect gentleman, maintaining his distance from theoretical disputes. 

He much preferred to work quietly in his laboratory, regularly enriching his science with useful discoveries. 

On a point of principle, he never took out a patent, despite the fact that his new battery and new laboratory burner would surely have brought him great wealth." Read more here

Education:

In the International Year of Chemistry what a wonderful motivation to educators and students to join the celebrations of IYC in Chemistry curriculum.

"The IYC 2011 will be a year-long celebration in which anyone can participate. You can coordinate an activity, engage in a project, or simply share an idea. Join in now and become part of something special." 

Educators can share, discuss and plan ideas for IYC 2011 here. 

Students can plan activities with their educators in the classroom and then share for IYC 2011, by country,  here

And to add an event or events to the list, go to the Activities section and submit a description of the activity. 

Don't miss the video message by Irina Bokova's, Director General of UNESCO, for the Opening of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011.

http://reich-chemistry.wikispaces.com

"Marie Curie was honoured with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1911). Since then, only  3 women having been honoured on this way. It's important to encourage young women to contribute their talent to this exciting field."

Irina Bokova 

 "Chemistry - our life, our future."

(The official slogan of the IYC 2011) 

G-Souto

31.03.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

References:

Robert Bunsen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bunsen

International Year of Chemistry 2011 

http://www.chemistry2011.org/

International Year of Chemistry 2011/UNESCO

http://www.unesco.org

Why Daylight saving time?

Well, at this time of the year time changes! In Europa clocks changed last Sunday March 27 (almost in all countries!


Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. 

http://upload.wikimedia.org

"Most areas of North America and Europe observe daylight saving time (DST), while most areas of Africa and Asia do not. South America is mixed, with most countries in the warmer north of the continent near the equator not observing DST, while Chile, Paraguay, andUruguay and southern parts of Brazil do. Oceania is also mixed, with New Zealand and parts of southern Australia observing DST, while most other areas do not". Read more on Wikipedia


Why do we have Daylight Saving Time? In the CBS video below, we can watch  an animated explanation for moving our clocks forward and backward in the spring and fall.

Mitch Butler and Josh Landis of "The Fast Draw" team provide an animated explanation for moving our clocks forward and backward in the spring and fall.

Education:


This interesting video provides a good explanation of the rationale for Daylight Saving Time. And students will understand the reasons of DST.


Interesting links to complete this theme in the classroom: 

• Day Light Saving Time (clouds)

Like the clouds, an interactive website about DST that students might use to develope tech skills, picking the clouds one by one to learn about Day Light Save, when, why, where. There are some good itens to enlarge knowledge like the History, Controversy (amazing guidelines) or Anecdotes (funny)

• Day Light saving Time Around the World 

Students might learn when DST happens in the different countries around the world - Geography curriculum

• HoradoMundo.com

Similar to the previous link but students might learn about DST in Portuguese, English and Spanish - Languages curricula


Kids are always very curious to understand why 'things' happen! Here a good way to let them learn about Day Light Saving.




"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!' ..."


The Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland


G-Souto
30.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®


Credits: video CBS 

Cata Livros, projecto de leitura online

Projecto Cata Livros

http://www.gulbenkian.pt

Os pequenos leitores que gostam de ler e de usar a Internet vão ter acesso ao portal "Cata Livros", criado pela Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. O projecto será apresentado no dia 5 de Abril 2011.

"Cata Livros  é o novo projecto desenvolvido pela equipa Gulbenkian/ Casa da Leitura que utiliza a Internet para aproximar os jovens leitores de um conjunto de títulos essenciais da literatura para infância e juventude, com destaque para a produção nacional, assentando no carácter lúdico e interactivo das narrativas e desafios propostos. 

A apresentação do sítio Cata Livros realiza-se no dia 5 de Abril, pelas 15 horas, na sala infantil da Biblioteca Municipal de Oeiras."

O mocho, ícone carismático da Casa da Leitura, ganha como parceiro um corvo. Os dois servirão de cicerones na aventura em que se transformará a leitura. 

A ideia é promover a leitura, e é dirigida a um público de faixa etária entre os 8 e os 12 anos, que domine a Internet e que goste de ler.

No portal haverá todos os meses um livro em destaque, "bastante trabalhado", à espera de ser mexido e disfrutado pelo internauta.

"Esse livro será colocado online para que possa ser, praticamente na íntegra, folheado, haverá um conjunto de jogos, desafios e temas sobre a obra propostos ao leitor", descreveu João Paulo Cotrim, um dos responsáveis do projecto.

José Eduardo Agualusa

Ilustração Henrique Cayatte

Publicações Dom Quixote, Lisboa 2000

http://agualusa.info

O primeiro livro em destaque será "Estranhões e Bizarrocos", de José Eduardo Agualusa com ilustrações de Henrique Cayatte, Prémio Nacional de Ilustração 2000.

Mensalmente será escolhida preferencialmente uma obra da literatura portuguesa, lusófona, para jovens e crianças, mas haverá espaço para a divulgação de outros textos, bem como para a oferta de livros.

Os livros abordados serão escolhidos segundo critérios de qualidade literária e estética, mas também de representatividade histórica e estilística, sem descurar a atenção ao texto e ao grafismo. 

"Há ainda o preconceito de que a Internet afecta a vida dos livros em papel" e com o "Cata Livros pretende-se aliar dois mundos: o prazer da leitura de livros em papel e a utilização da Internet"

João Paulo Cotrim.

Cata Livros será uma espécie de laboratório no qual a equipa do portal irá tentar perceber como evolui a relação com o jovem leitor.

O Cata Livros ganhou vida própria a partir da Casa da Leitura, um projecto da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian criado há quatro anos como um espaço onde mediadores de leitura - professores, pais e educadores - podem encontrar informações sobre livros para adolescentes e crianças.

A Casa da Leitura cumpre um papel de biblioteca online, adaptada assim ao contexto tecnológico. Em quatro anos contabilizou mais de oito milhões de visitas.

Convite Cata Livros

http://www.catalivros.org/

Cata Livros, nome que pretende mostrar que "o livro pode funcionar como uma pequena máquina de roubar coisas à realidade", disse João Paulo Cotrim.

Se estão curiosos, poderão dar um saltinho ao sítio web Catalivros que promete já alguma interactividade. E isso é bom! Porque os jovens desta faixa etária preferem tudo o que pode interagir com eles!

A equipa que desenvolve o "Cata Livros" acredita que os livros (palavras e  imagens), contribuem para tornar a vida melhor. 

Acredita ainda que ler é um direito e um prazer que pode ser descoberto com pequenas, mas decisivas, ajudas de outros leitores.

Concordo plenamente! A leitura é um dever e pode ser um prazer se incentivado pelo prazer que professores e pais põem nesse aspecto importante da vida. A leitura!

A vida seria bem mais triste sem livros!

http://www.gulbenkian.pt

The Calouste Gulbenkian Fondation will have a new project online to captivate young chidren (8-12 years old) who like read and have good skills in the use of the Internet.


The platform Cata Livros (something like 'Fis Book') will be online April 5, 2011.

Gif

www.google.pt/images

The project is developed by Gulbienkian/ Casa da Leitura and it aims to captivate new readers. Portuguese fiction for children and teenagers in an interactive way. 

Every month a book will be suggested on the website www.catalivros.org (only April 5) and young 'geeks' might interact with the book and the activities  about it. The site offers already interesting interactivity.

The first boook was unveiled: Estranhões e Bizarrocos a book by José Eduardo AguaLusa, (Angola) who writes in Portuguese language, illustrations by Henrique Cayatte. The story is about all kind of animals created by a magician. A fantasious metaphor about dreams. 

www.google.pt/images

Education:

The project aims to bring together print books and digital books. And we know  when it comes to the “Books versus Digital Media” the debate on children’s reading habits continues.


It is undeniable that literacy is a foundational skill all children must master to succeed. But unlike print media, digital texts have huge potential to engage young readers in stories with richer interactions. For sure!


So, this could be a captivating trend to poor readers but good on digital skills. And digital platforms like Cata Livros could be an important tool to reach poor readers.

The project might be very interesting but rather limited. I wonder... one book per month? It's so little to captivate such a group: 8-12 years old! 

Illustration Ziraldo

http://www.imagiterra.com

Children are so different, even they are the same age! And between 8 and 12 years old? A huge difference!

Let's see how Cata Livros works on April 5!

G-Souto

28.03.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

References:

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

http://www.gulbenkian.pt

Gina Souto, 'Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton', February 21, 2010
http://gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com

Mario Laginha & Maria João

Mario Laginha & Maria Joâo, Portuguese jazz musicians. Mario Laginha, classical composer, but most of all jazz composer, is a fantastic pianist, and he is one of jazz music’s leading lights, at the moment in Portugal.  He has been distinguished with several awards for his talented work.


Maria João is known for her vocal flexibility and improvisational skills. Her music incorporates an eclectic mix of various folk / ethnic musics, modern jazz, and the avant-garde.


Mario Laginha and Maria João have a complicity of 25 years. They are fantastic  together! Here the theme Blue Horse live.




G-Souto


27.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 


(on a cloudy and lazy Sunday afternoon)

Earth Hour 2011: It's time to go beyond the hour!

http://wwf.ca/earthhour/

At 8:30 PM (local time) on Saturday, March 26, 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

With Earth Hour almost upon us, our thoughts are with the people of Japan during this incredibly challenging and sad time for their country.

The simple idea of switching off lights for an hour to drive action on climate change began in Australia in 2007.

This year it’s expected that well over 1 billion people in over 145 countries will take part.

This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.

Portugal

http://assets.panda.org

In Portugal 81 cities will switch off the lights of some emblematic monuments ! Families, friends, will stay together to switch off the lights at home. Some go on the street to illuminate the cities with candle lights.

Education:

Students are more and more motivated for environmental problems.  I have developed some Earth Hour projects with my students for Earth Hour 2008; Earth Hour 2009; Earth Hour 2010 in Portuguese curricum, Une Heure pour la Terre 2010 in French foreign language curriculum. 

• In Civics curriculum a group of young students (10-12 years old) created a thematic blog - Environment - and they published some posts about Earth Hour: 60 Earth Hour 2008; Hora Planeta 2009; Earth Hour 2011.

Here some activities created by Earth Hour network that you can develope in the classroom, envolving your stydents:

• Virtual Lantern project - Create a virtual lantern with the students. Choose a lantern shape, color and write a message and complete here 

• Play the Lights out Game (younger students) here

• Virtual Light Switch here

And why not a students' concert like this one...

Young violinists Conservatory of Music

Lisbon Metropolitana Orchestra

http://assets.panda.org

In Lisbon, the, the young group of Metropolitana Orchestra consisting of violin students from the Conservatory of Music of Lisbon, between 3 and 18 years old will play during Earh Hour 2011. Read here (Portuguese site).

This solidarity concert will take place at Aula Magna, Lisbon, at 8:30 PM (local time).

It is not just about lights, although the lights provide the lovely visible marketing shots of cities going dark. 


Turning off your computer, your TV and all those other power-hungry devices is an important part of the process. Your Geeklet ritually disconnecting from their game and shutting down the computer is really making a sacrifice. 


So, we are all on it! Tomorrow, 8:30 PM (local time) switch our lights, disconnect our geeklet ritual, light on our candles!




G-Souto
25.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 

It's about Twiter and poetry!

World Poetry Day at CCB, Portugal

http://www.ccb.pt/sites/ccb/pt-PT/Programacao/Literatura/PublishingImages/F1DiaPoesia.jpg

Twitter turned 5 March 21! March 21 is World Poetry Day since 1999!


Two days ago happened to be both World Poetry Day and the fifth anniversary of the moment when Jack Dorsey sent out to the world the first message using the service that soon became known as Twitter.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01794/news_twitter_1794401b.jpg

"Over the last five years, Twitter has changed the way many communicate online, offering a concise way to interact with large crowds of people. It has become an invaluable tool for spreading breaking new."


Nick Bilton


"Poetry contributes to creative diversity, by questioning a new our use of words and things, our modes of perception and understanding of the world.!"


UNESCO 


So, don't you think that they have a lot in common in their specific way? Let's see!

Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/03/20/weekinreview/TWITPOEM/TWITPOEM-popup.jpg

There is some evidence that literary is flowering of Twitter. The Twitter haiku movement is well under way. Science fiction and mystery enthusiasts especially have gravitated to its communal immediacy. And even litterateurs, seem to be warming to it. Read more here


Education:


This idea gives us a fantastic way to introduce Poetry in the Literature classroom. 


Students love the narrative text! Poetry... is different! Not all the students feel touched to poetry writing! It's important to motivate students with different strategies! The Twitter calling bards  is a good motivation, believe me!


"To celebrate, The Times asked its readers and followers to compose short poems on Twitter using the hashtag #poetweet. Hundreds of poems, many of them brevity-friendly haiku, flooded the Twittersphere. Below, a few of the submissions. More Twitter poems can be found by searching #poetweet at search.twitter.com."


So, as you see, we can be all the time creative and follow our creativity to put it in classroom.


I defended the idea of using Twitter in Literature curriculum in my presentation  and theme discuss "Creative learning in the digital age" during the workshop in EFQUEL  Innovation Forum Lisboa 2010.

Twitter's rule makes the students take discipline on their thematic homework. They become better in writing and do appreciate the importance of the word semantic. 

Some students were bad writers and had an awful time getting their thoughts down properly and in a concise way. Twitter's rule really helps students and why not some educators improve both of those things.

Keeping ideas in 140 characters or less teach students to be concise in writing.

Poetry! Even better! How interesting to ask students to write a poem within Twitter's text limit of 140 characters!


The 21 March, I was on my account on Twitter and I followed the hastag #poetweet! Interesting! 


Well! Go on! Share the idea with your students! They will love it! It might be the start for a poetry contest for students on Twitter !

Nancy White & Suzy - An Intro to Twitter from CommunityMatters on Vimeo.

To introduce younger students to Twitter what a better way than the video that I discovered recently via Nancy White! It's so cute and cuddly the way these 2, Nancy and Suzy really break down what Twitter is and helps explain it to students.

I met 'virtually' Nancy White during my participation in the conference Where for Digital Identity on 07 January 2010, London, organized by Eduserv, hosted at the Conference Center of the British Library. 

She made her presentation 'virtually' between  Steven Warburton and Shirley Williams. Nancy's points of view was very interesting. Since there I follow her on Twitter. 

On the video above, Nancy White explains in a marvellous and creative way how students might use Twitter.

Twitter is a viable place for learning about real-time events and a place where students and educators can take part in some really meaningful educational  way.

"The confluence of these two events - both having to do with humanity’s deep and sometimes uncontrollable need to communicate - is occasioning a fresh outpouring of opinion about the future of Twitter as a vehicle for real creativity."


G-Souto
23.03.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®


Credits: video Community matters


References:


UNESCO, World Poetry Day, 21 March 2011
http://www.un.org/en/events/poetryday/

Randy Kennedy, How Do I Love Thee? Count 140 Characters, NYT, 19.03.11

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/weekinreview/20twitterature.html

Alexus Mainland, Celebrating a Form of Tweetrature, NYT, 21.03.11
http://www.nytimes.com


Gina Souto, Dr., Creative learning in the digital age, EFQUEL Innovation Forum Lisbon, 08.09.11

http://gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com/2010/09/efquel-innovation-forum-lisboa-2010.html