The Science of Kindness - an inquiry

THE SCIENCE OF KINDNESS

There are scientifically proven benefits of being kind
Kindness is teachable

You might like to try doing a kindness inquiry and see if the effects do decrease stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and increase energy levels, happiness….especially at the end of a busy year.
What are you going to measure?

Watch the video or read the file on the science of kindness to determine what you are going to measure. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=74&v=O9UByLyOjBM

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/the-science-of-kindness

You might use a blood pressure monitor or a fitness app or your garmin / fitbit / applewatch to measure your blood pressure.

What might you do to find out?

The kindness calendar has some ideas that everyone can try. 

http://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/625566/kindness_calendar.jpg

After a few days what do you notice?
What does it make you wonder?
Does being kind pay forward?

#science #BITL #STEM #kindness #christmas

Should we clone humanoid robots that are citizens? STEM & Ethical thinking

We made a decision not to clone humans so would we also decide not to clone human robots that are citizens?

                              STEM and Ethics

• What do you notice?

• Create a narrative around the future that you see? 

• What is missing or not represented?

• What are all the positives? 

• What are all the negatives?

• How will changes in technology impact our lives in the future and the lives of future generations?

• How might you be part of the production of new innovations?

• What role does society have in the future? 

• What values will impact our decisions in how new innovations and technology are funded, created and used?

• Just because we can, should we?

• We made a decision not to clone humans so would we also decide not to clone human robots that are citizens?

Video Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ5wcoRFcGw

*Sophia was awarded an honorary citizenship as a PR exercise for a Tech conference in Saudi Arabia.

#science #technologies #Australiancurriculum #ethics#Scienceasahumanendeavour #BITL

Literacy Arts Science Multi-mode communication and meaning making (transdisciplinary)

Soil Dwellers : Who makes their home in the soil?
How alive is your soil?
How many different organisms call soil their home?
Have you seen any rabbits, bilby’s, hopping mice, bandicoots, wombats or foxes living in the soil? What do we call these homes that animals make in the soil? Do they all have the same name?
Do they all make their home in the same way? What features/ body parts do they have that helps them to make their homes?
What kinds of insects or invertebrates live in the soil? How far down do they live in the soil? What other questions do you have?
Are there organisms in the soil growing that we cannot see? How could we find out?
What else do you see living in the soil?

Make a picture using the different materials to show what it looks like when an organism makes a home in the soil.

Poem called: What Remains by Sheryl Shapiro

Burrowing

I enter the dark, sweet depths

surrounded

enveloped

by fragrant scents

of the generations

Burrowing transforming fragments
into essential elements
rooting new life

Burrowing
through the hard pan
the stones
jagged
and
round

Excavating
with nail and nose
Passage
to an underground nest.

#literacy #art #science #soil #transdisciplinary #STEM

Creatively Explore: Human activity cause changes to Earth’s surface

   Earth and Space Sciences

Creative ideas to explore the Science Understanding : 

Human activity cause changes to Earth’s surface

• Build a theme park out of waste

• Design suburbs for people and wildlife

• Create an edible city

• Build a water efficient city

Year 4 Australian Curriculum Science

What do you notice?
What do you know? What don’t you know? What questions do you have?

What do you wonder?
What do you think? What features will you keep the same? What features would you need to change?

What do you think if?
What ideas would you like to try? What do you think might happen if you….?

How can you explore what your city, theme park or suburb might look like?
What materials might you use? What steps will you need to plan for to build your city, theme park, or suburb? How can you test out your ideas? Will you use computer software or pen and paper to draw out your plan? Would you build a model? What other things might you need to consider?

Feedback
How would you get feedback from other people before you test out your ideas? What kind of people would you need to ask? What might their job be? Why would you ask them?
From your investigations how would you use the information to make decisions on how to proceed next?
How might you improve? How can you build on old ideas? Are there things you did not consider

Connect science learning to students’ lives and aspirations through stories.

Connect science learning to students’ lives and aspirations through student's personal stories so that they see themselves as learners of science. Through being able to identify with science learning students can aspire to see science in their future.

Have you created a learning environment where students feel comfortable in sharing their families, communities, stories, rituals and traditions?

http://scitechconnect.elsevier.com/capturing-paths-science…/
'Stories in Science is an online platform where people can share stories about their relationship with science and read stories that have been shared by others. As noted on the website, “We are surrounded by so many stories in science. Stories of success, failure, fear, discovery, serendipity, collaboration, separation, inspiration, mentorship, and so much more.” One of the aims of the site is to inspire and to connect with those involved in science as well as those interested in science. Reading through the stories, there seem to be some common themes around challenges, determination, support, and surprising turns.'

Solving complex problems in science: Science as a Human Endeavour : Sustainability Science

Science as a Human Endeavour 

Three points should be considered when solving complex problems in sustainability and science:  (Benjamin P Warner, 2015) 

1. sustainability science programs must be INTERDISCIPLINARY in order to increase the scope of its research capabilities.

2. sustainability science research must be applicable to REAL _WORLD problems while contributing to discovery-based science. (sustainability science must not become pigeonholed because solutions to complex problems will likely be innovative.)

3. sustainability science must be integrated into SOCIETY. We cannot begin to solve complex problems without working with the PEOPLE most impacted by them.

Image from http://theconversation.com/sustainability-science-is-a-new-academic-discipline-but-is-it-sustainable-46719

Computational Thinking and Systems Thinking are key to solving complex problems. Breaking the problem down to study the parts is important but more importantly is being able to see how all the parts are related to each other. When we don't see how all the parts are connected we can become lost in the complexity of the problem and concentrate on the parts in isolation. The myopic perspective resulting from science practiced in isolation cannot provide useful solutions to complex problems. It is only when we observe the connections between the parts and look at the whole we can see how to solve complex problems in sustainability science.

Australian Curriculum: Science as a Human Endeavour | Use and influence of science 

 *Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations
*Values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research

See article by Benjamin P Warner Postdoctoral Development Geographer, University of Massachusetts Amherst in 
TheConversation  

#scienceasahumanendeavour #Complexproblems #science #systemsthinking #interdisciplinary

 #AUSTRALIANCURRICULUM

Are you ready to become a SPACE entrepreneur?

STEM – Space technology is changing so quickly: Are your students ready to become SPACE entrepreneurs?

Since the Space Laws in Australia are being reviewed, global interest is outpacing our local level of curiosity. This year (2017) about 4000 STEM industry and business people, including astronauts from around the world are coming to Adelaide to learn more about innovation and the advancement of space technologies.

How might you become an entrepreneur in the space industry?
How will nano-satellites revolutionise collecting big data on the Earth? How could they be used to forecast weather more accurately? How could they be used to provide information to manage our resources and protect our environment?
What is a nano-satellite?

Photo from this link https://www.gizmodo.com.au/…/this-is-how-astronauts-releas…/

What are they made of? How could you design one? How might you use 3D printing to make them? How might you launch a nano-satellite? Do you know how to code a nano-satellite to enable it to remain in space? Do they have a used by date? Could you make them to decay or burn up on reentry to the Earth once they have finished their mission?
Will nano-satellites add to our massive space junk problem that we currently have?
What other things would we need to consider to launch a nano-satellite?
What are some other possible uses of nano-satellites? How might they affect society?
What do you predict might be possible in the future, say in 2030?
What role would you like to play in setting up a space agency in Australia? A scientist, mathematician, engineer, computer programmer, designer, astronaut, technician, communicator, collaborator, project manager, rewilder, space miner, robot counsellor,…,

Year 7 Australian Curriculum: Science as a Human Endeavour and Earth and Space Sciences

Scientific knowledge has changed peoples’ understanding of the world and is refined as new evidence becomes available, such as, investigating how advances in telescopes and space probes have provided new evidence about space.

#science #space #australiancurriculum #technology #STEM

Materials can be changed physically by people and the environment.

Chemical sciences Year 1 Materials can be changed physically by people and the environment.

Bringing it to Life Science Questions
Helping students to construct their own meaning and building on from their prior knowledge and experiences.

Form and Function is an overarching key idea in Science

Objects in nature: Form and Function is an overarching key idea in Science Australian Curriculum:

Many aspects of science are concerned with the relationships between form (the nature or make-up of an aspect of an object or organism) and function (the use of that aspect).

What do you notice?
Can you see any patterns in these biological photos?
How many different repeating shapes can you see? How many of these repeating shapes are the same? Can you group these patterns ? Can you name these groups?
Do you know what each photo represents? How are they like other objects you have seen in nature? What else are they like? Are any of them unusual?

How does the structure enable it to perform its function? (How does its shape of the pattern determine what it is used for?)

How can you explore? What technology do you have to be able to take these kinds of photos?

#science #Australiancurriculum #BITL