Celebrate the Holiday Season in the DuPont Planetarium!

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1 @ USC Aiken USC Aiken. 471 University Pkwy. Aiken, SC Winter In This Issue: Tis the Season and Spring Break Camps Page 1 Student Programs Page 2 Future City and Traveling Science Page 3 Masters Program, Ruth Patrick Award and Toys for Tots Page 4 Planetarium Page 5 Adopt an Animal Page 6 Galactic Guardians Page 7 SEED and R. Alexander Award Page 8 Science Fair and STEP Page 9 Science Store and Camp Invention Page 10 Celebrate the Holiday Season in the DuPont Planetarium! discovery camps April 2-6 Join us for a delightful show about the season that holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year. Tis the Season traces the development of many endearing holiday customs and how they light up our lives during the darkest time of the year. The show explains the science behind the winter solstice and Earth s seasons, and it explores possible astronomical explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. Tis the Season is one of our most popular, longest running shows. Many families come back year after year to rediscover the Christmas spirit through this holiday tradition. Make your reservations soon for public showings of Tis the Season on any of the dates below: December 3, 10, 12 at 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. December 17, 19, 26 at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. You may also schedule a private showing of Tis the Season (or any other planetarium program) by calling RUTH PATRICK SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER grades K-5 SPRING BREAK 2012 For more information visit Infusing the Love of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics!

2 Page 2 K-12 Student Programs This year a record number of K-12 students will visit the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center with their teachers. The RPSEC Student Programs staff has developed several new programs this year in response to teacher requests. New programs include Under the Sea, Method to the Madness, Journey to the Center of an Atom, Kinesthetic Astronomy, Two Small Pieces of Glass, and Worlds in Motion. The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center currently offers 52 hands-on, inquiry-based programs. All of our programs are aligned with South Carolina and Georgia academic standards, and many of our programs are interdisciplinary. Our Student Programs website includes program descriptions, standards correlations, and related Traveling Science and Mathematics Kits that support and extend each lesson. These kits contain excellent post-visit activities and are available, free of charge, for checkout. To reserve a kit, go to rpsec.usca.edu/travelingscience/ or call (803) The deadline has passed for reservation requests for the school year. Once again, we received many more requests than we will be able to serve, and our schedule is now full. We are unable to schedule additional programs at this time, but will be happy to place your request on a waiting list in the event of a cancellation. To download a reservation request form, please go to Grant from Wells Fargo Enables Student Visits Thanks to the generous support of Wells Fargo, every eighth grade student from Aiken Middle School visited the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center for a series of hands-on programs in September The grant paid for RPSEC program fees and transportation for 591 student visits. The visits featured hands-on, inquiry-based programs aligned with eighth grade earth science, physical science, and mathematics standards. The students enjoyed visiting the planetarium for the Mission to Mars show. Launch videos propelled them from Earth; then they zoomed through space and watched a NASA animation of a rover landing on Mars. They were able to view Mars from Earth, from the Hubble telescope, from Voyager, from spacecraft still orbiting Mars, and from the cameras of the rovers on the surface of Mars. They compared surface features, landforms and rock types on Mars with Earth s geology and viewed the Martian night sky using NASA images and our Digistar projector. The program concluded with a look at the night sky and some of the stories behind the constellations. During the Are You Dense? class, the students investigated density as they predicted, measured, and ordered the masses of Earth materials including mineral samples, water, sand, and iron filings. They worked in teams to take measurements, collect data, and graph the relationship between a substance s volume and mass. The students also had an opportunity to examine properties of minerals, use a field guide, and handle museum quality mineral specimens; then they identified 10 unknown minerals using a dichotomous key in the Minerals, Ores, and Fossil Fuels program. Valuable products made from earth resources were discussed throughout the class. Many thanks to Judith Goodwin from the USCA Advancement Office and to Melissa Kidd, the eighth grade science teacher at Aiken Middle School, for helping us make this experience possible!

3 Page 3 South Carolina and Georgia Schools Participate in the South Carolina Regional Future City Competition The mission of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition is to provide a fun and exciting educational engineering program for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. This program combines a stimulating engineering challenge with a hands-on application as students present their vision of a city of the future. Aiken Area Home Educators Aiken Middle School Alcorn Middle School Ashley Hall Banks Trail Middle School Blackville Hilda Jr. High Bluffton Middle School Blythewood Middle School Bryson Middle School Carver-Edisto Middle School Chapin Middle School E. L. Wright Middle School Participating Schools Edgewood Middle School Felton Laboratory School Jefferson Davis Academy JET Middle School Kennedy Middle School LBC Middle School Merriwether Middle School New Ellenton Middle School North Augusta Middle School Palmetto Middle School Paul Knox Middle School St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School W.A. Perry School of Aerospace The SC Regional Future City Competition is sponsored by the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and Savannah River Site Education Outreach Programs. For more information visit FREE Teacher Resources and Visiting Scientists Available The Traveling Science and Mathematics Demonstrations Program has over 300 science and math kits available for use in the classroom. Supplement your curriculum with nationally recognized and state adopted exemplary materials. Kits have been correlated to SC state standards. Many kits contain children s literature so that you can integrate your science and language arts lessons. In addition to these resources, you can request a visiting Scientists with Traveling Resources and Neat Demonstrations (STRAND) volunteer for classroom presentations. For more information please visit or call us at

4 Page 4 Foundational Core Courses (6 hours) AERM/EDRM 700 Introduction to Research in Education AEET/EDET 709 Applications of Learning Principles Design Courses (15 hours) AEET/EDET 603 Design and Development Tools I AEET/EDET 703 Design and Development Tools II AEET/EDET 722 Instructional Design and Assessment AEET/EDET 755 Design and Evaluation of Information Access and Delivery AEET/EDET 793 Advanced Instructional Design and Development Technology Core Courses (12 hours) AEET/EDET 650 Internship in Educational Technology AEET/EDET 735 Technological Applications for Diverse Populations AEET/EDET 746 Management of Technology Resources AEET/EDET 780 Seminar in Educational Technology Electives (3 hours chosen from the following courses) AEET/EDET 652 Design and Evaluation of Games and Simulations AETE 731 Instructional and Informational Applications of Technology or EDTE 731 Integration of Technology and Instruction SLIS 706 Introduction to Information Technologies TSTM 790 Advanced Study in Technology Support/Training Management Masters Degree in Educational Technology Earn Your USCA Degree Online Do you enjoy using your computer? Do others ask you how to do something on their computers? Do you enjoy showing to others something new on your computer? Have you considered getting a masters degree? Then maybe it is time for you to consider the Masters of Education in Educational Technology (MEd Tech). The MEd Tech program at University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) and the University of South Carolina (USC) Columbia is accepting applications for enrollment. For more information visit The focus of the program is to develop capabilities essential to the effective design, evaluation, and delivery of technology-based instruction and training (e.g., software development, multimedia development, assistive technology modifications, web-based development, and distance learning) in order to (1) prepare educators to assume leadership roles in the integration of educational technology into the school curriculum, and (2) to provide graduate-level instructional opportunities for several populations (e.g., classroom teachers, corporate trainers, educational software developers) that need to acquire both technological competencies and understanding of sound instructional design principles and techniques. Anyone interested in enrolling in this program should contact Karen Morris at Spirit of Ruth Patrick Award Presented to Debra Rood The Spirit of Ruth Patrick Award was presented to Debra Rood at the Aiken County School Board meeting in October. Debra is a teacher at New Ellenton Middle School, where she strives to help her students understand abstract science concepts and make connections between the science they study in school and the real world. Since 2006 this prestigious award has been presented annually to a K-12 educator who has demonstrated a keen interest in mathematics and science and has been effective in providing meaningful learning for K-12 students. This award recognizes a teacher in the CSRA who demonstrates a passion for teaching and infusing a love of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and the USCA Classified Employee Assembly have again joined together to support the Annual Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. USCA faculty, staff, and students as well as local residents are encouraged to bring in a new, unwrapped toy to the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center during regular business hours. The deadline for donations is December 14th.

5 Page 5 lanetarium Public Show Schedule Schedule for Public Planetarium Shows December 2011 August 2012 Dates Show Names Show Times 2011 December 3, 10, 12 Tis the Season 7:00 and 8:00 p.m December 17, 19, 23, 26 Tis the Season 6:00, 7:00 & 8:00 p.m January 7, 14, 21, 28 *An cient Sky Lore Digistar Laser Fantasy 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m February 4, 11, 18, 25 Follow the Drinking Gourd 7:00 and 8:00 p.m March 3, 10, 17, 24, April 7, 14, 21, 28 Earth & Sky Night 4/ May 5, 12, 19, 26 Mission to Mars (Mars at Opposition on 3/3) To the Moon and Beyond (40 th anniversary Apollo 16) Two Small Pieces Of Glass More Than Meets the Eye 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 * Solar System Adventure 8:00 and 9:00 p.m July 7, 14, 21, August 4, 11, 18, 25 In My Backyard Digistar Laser Fantasy Follow the Drinking Gourd Digistar Virtual Journey * New shows at the DuPont Planetarium 8:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Special Events Spring Earth & Sky Night and National Astronomy Day: April 28, 2012 Transit of Venus: June 5, 2012 Descriptions of New Shows Ancient Sky Lore: In this live show, the presenter points out constellations and stars while sharing enchanting tales involving heroes and maidens, herdsmen and a harp, real and imaginary animals. Star stories from ancient cultures come to life on the planetarium dome! Solar System Adventure: Become a Planet Specialist, Math Expert or Flight Engineer while your planetarium spaceship takes you on an educational adventure past the Sun, Moon and planets of our Solar System. We need you to have a successful mission! General Shows Adults $4.50 Seniors $3.50 4K - 12th Grade $2.50 USCA Staff / Students $1.00 Digistar Shows Adults $5.50 Seniors $4.50 4K - 12th Grade $3.50 For more information please visit

6 Page 6 Thank You to Our 2011 Adopt an Animal Sponsors! The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is grateful for the support of the following 2011 Adopt an Animal sponsors: Barred Owl- ADOPTED by Eugene and Anne Sawyer American Alligator- ADOPTED by Preston Tiffany Corn Snake- ADOPTED by the Bernard Family Albino Corn Snake- ADOPTED by Tristan Davis Box Turtle- ADOPTED by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Perrine Snapping Turtle- ADOPTED by Mr. and Mrs. James M. Ferrell Painted Turtle- ADOPTED by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Perrine Red-Eared Slider Turtle- ADOPTED by Anna Flaherty Barking Tree Frog- ADOPTED by Drs. Carol and Bob Botsch Tiger Salamander- ADOPTED by Robert Flaherty Adopt an Animal Program 2012 The RPSEC is looking for sponsors to help support the cost of feeding and caring for the animals used in our K-12 educational programs for one year beginning in January Donations are tax deductible. For more information, please contact Deborah McMurtrie at DeborahMc@ USCA.edu or (803) BIRDS Barred Owl (Strix varia) Non-releasable male, Raleigh...$500 Eastern Screech Owl (megascops asio) red phase male, Winston...$300 Eastern Screech Owl (megascops asio) grey phase female, Salem... $300 REPTILES: CROCODILIANS American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) female, hatched 2009, Caroline..$250 American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) male, hatched 2009, Tex...$250 REPTILES: SNAKES Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula getula)... $100 Grey Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides)...$100 Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)... $100 Albino Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)...$100 REPTILES: TURTLES Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)... $75 Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)... $75 Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta)... $75 Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia)... $75 Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)... $75 Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta scripta)... $75 AMPHIBIANS Barking Tree Frog (Hyla gratiosa)... $50 Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)... $50 Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolora)... $50 Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala))... $50 Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris)... $50 Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)... $50 Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)... $50

7 Page 7 Become a Galactic Guardian for 2012 How would you like to adopt a celestial object and be its Galactic Guard- ian for a year? There are a number of celestial objects that need a car- ing person, family or group to look out for their best interests over the next year. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to support programming at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center with your tax- deductible donation. For more information, please call the main office at or RPSEC@usca.edu. $400 level: 1. Sun 2. Moon 3. Milky Way Planets: 4. Mercury 5. Venus 6. Earth 7. Mars 8. Jupiter 9. Saturn 10. Uranus 11. Neptune 12. Pluto (Dwarf $399.99) $150 level: Zodiac Constellations: 13. Virgo 14. Libra 15. Scorpius 16. Ophiuchus 17. Sagittarius 18. Capricornus 19. Aquarius 20. Pisces 21. Aries 22. Taurus 23. Gemini 24. Cancer 25. Leo $100 level: Special Constellations: 26. Andromeda the Princess 27. Aquilla the Eagle 28. Auriga the Charioteer 29. Bootes the Herdsman 30. Canis Major the Big Dog 31. Canis Minor the Little Dog 32. Cassiopeia the Queen 33. Cepheus the King 34. Crux the Southern Cross 35. Cygnus the Swan, Northern Cross 36. Draco the Dragon 37. Hercules 38. Lyra the Harp 39. Orion the Hunter 40. Pegasus the Flying Horse 41. Perseus the Hero 42. Ursa Major, Big Dipper 43. Ursa Minor, Little Dipper $75 level: Galaxies and Nebulae: 44. Cat s Eye Nebula, NGC Cat s Paw, NGC Crab Nebula, M1 47. Dumbbell Nebula, M Flame Nebula, NGC Helix Nebula. NGC Horsehead Nebula B33, IC Horseshoe Nebula, M Lagoon Nebula, M8 53. Orion Nebula, M Owl Nebula, M Pillars of Creation (M16) 56. Ring Nebula, M Rosette Nebula, NGC Seagull Nebula, IC Stellar Spire (M16) 60. Tarantula Nebula, NGC Trifid Nebula, M Andromeda Galaxy, M Black Eye Galaxy, M Cigar Galaxy, M Pinwheel Galaxy, M Sombrero Galaxy, M Sunflower Galaxy, M Tadpole Galaxy, UGC Whirlpool Galaxy, M51 $50 level: Other Constellations: 70. Centaurus 71. Cetus the Sea Monster 72. Columba the Dove 73. Corona the Crown 74. Corvus the Crow 75. Delphinus the Dolphin 76. Lepus the Hare 77. Monoceros the Unicorn 78. Sagitta the Arrow Stars and Star Clusters: 79. Albireo, a double star 80. Beehive cluster 81. Alcor & Mizor, double stars 82. Hercules globular cluster 83. Pleiades, the Seven Sisters 84. Polaris, the North Star Brightest Stars: 85. Aldebaran 86. Altair 87. Antares 88. Arcturus 89. Betelguese 90. Capella 91. Castor 92. Deneb 93. Fomalhaut 94. Pollux 95. Procyon 96. Regulus 97. Rigel 98. Sirius 99. Spica 100. Vega

8 Page 8 26th Annual Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED) All Time Attendance RECORD The 26th Annual SEED offered the community over 55 science and mathematics related exhibits and activities hosted by business, industry and school organizations. Visitors had the chance to make their own paper, build straw towers, make slime, learn about satellite communications, interact with Ft. Gordon soldiers and much more. Students also had the chance to test their skills with SEED trivia, completing math puzzles and exploring other thought-provoking exhibits. Over 3300 people attended this year s event. Thank you to our Platinum and Presenting Sponsors! Everitt Named the Dr. Robert Alexander Outstanding Administrator of the Year Dr. Elizabeth Everitt, Superintendent of Aiken County Schools, received the Dr. Robert E. Alexander Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award at the October Aiken County School Board meeting. The award is named after the retired USC Aiken chancellor and is presented to a school administrator who promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Dr. Everitt has championed the importance of partnering within and across schools, with the community and with postsecondary colleagues to increase student achievement for all students. Everitt states that by sharing our expertise, resources and passion in science, math and technology, we can help our students be prepared for the workforce and college.

9 Page 9 CSRA Science and Engineering Fair Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, in partnership with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, once again proudly sponsors the Savannah River Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The 2012 event will take place at USCA on Saturday, March 10, First place winning projects by 4th through 12th graders from Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) public, private and home schools are invited to enter. Projects are judged for scientific reasoning, creative ability, thoroughness, technical skill and clarity. As in the past, judging will be performed by scientific, engineering and other technical professionals from SRS, SREL, USCA and the surrounding community. The science fair promotes students interest by providing public recognition of outstanding work and by giving students the opportunity to interact with community scientists. Lots of great prizes will be given during the awards ceremony. For additional information, contact Kim Mitchell, SRS Education Outreach Programs, at kimberly.mitchell@srs.gov or Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Territory: The Georgia counties of Columbia, Burke, Richmond, Lincoln, Wilkes, Jefferson, Taliaferro, Warren, McDuffie, Emanuel, Jenkins, and Glascock The South Carolina counties of Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, Saluda, Hampton, Bamberg, and McCormick Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP) The Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP) is a cooperative effort between Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Silver Bluff Audubon Center, and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. Two field trip locations for STEP include the Savannah River Site and the Silver Bluff Audubon Center. At each location, STEP students utilize classroom and outdoor laboratories to conduct scientific investigations on topics such as water and soil ecology, wildlife, forestry, archaeology, navigation and more. For program information please visit the STEP NOTE: To visit the Savannah River Site, there are specific procedures that must be followed two weeks prior to your visit for badging purposes.

10 Page 10 MARK YOUR CALENDARS! June 18-22, Looking for that perfect holiday gift? Visit the Science the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. The science store is open during public shows at the DuPont Planetarium. The store is also open for visiting groups. Please call to make arrangements to visit the store. The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center Newsletter is a publication of the RPSEC for our patrons. The RPSEC housed at the University of South Carolina Aiken encompasses the Center of Excellence in Educational Technology (CEET), DuPont Planetarium, RPSEC Student Programs, RPSEC Professional Development, Traveling Science and Mathematics Demonstrations Program (TSMDP), the Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP), and Center of Excellence in Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching (CE- MIST). If you have any information that would be beneficial to the audience of this newsletter, or if you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact John Hutchens, Editor, at or via to johnh@usca.edu. Deadline for submission in the next newsletter is March 2, 2012.