Kids’ and Teen Events at the Upcoming Southeast Michigan Mensa Regional Gathering

Kids and Teen events at the upcoming Southeast Michigan Mensa Regional Gathering on the weekend of April 24th through 26th, 2015 at the Holiday Inn at 37529 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills, MI 48335.

Further details about the event can be found here, including registration information: http://mensadetroit.com/semmantics/.  If you prefer to register by mail or at the door, please use this Registration Form.  If you do not have a Mensa member in your household, please note the registration fee for guests is an additional $10. Guests must be sponsored by a Mensa member. Gifted In Michigan typically sponsors non-member families for this event. Please contact us at gifted_in_mi@sbcglobal.net if you need a sponsor! Thank you!

ALL WEEKEND
• Weekend long Lego building and Life Size Minecraft Block building. This year we have added Lego Mindstorm robot building!
• Weekend long Lego Building Contest, winner awards to be presented at Sunday’s presentation of prizes.

FRIDAY

6-7 pm – Mystery Icebreaker and Pizza

7-8:30 pm – Video Games Programming with GameStart School: http://www.gamestartschool.org/ – At GameStart School, we teach kids how to program using video games! Design, build and write code for games like Minecraft, StarCraft, Roblox and Portal in a variety of software development environments. Our 90-minute workshop will give you a chance to write Python code that directly impacts the Minecraft world around you!

8:30-9:30 pm – Kids’ Pool Party!
9:00 pm – Kids’ Attend Chocolate Orgy – We’ll have some great kid-friendly options at our chocolate orgy this year. We have a chocolate fondue fountain and sprinkles!

SATURDAY

9-10:30 am – Kids’ Take-It-Apart Party – A number of people have volunteered to bring “old junk” in for this event. We’ll have basic electronics, computer equipment, etc., and we can always use more. Bring your old junk to find out what is inside of it! We will have our special head screwdriver set and some other tools available, but please feel free to bring your own wrenches, screwdrivers, pry tools, socket wrenches, nut drivers, adjustable wrenches, hex drivers, or pliers, if you would like. Please do not bring dangerous tools such as hatchets, hammers, razors, chisels, saws, etc. to help us insure everyone’s safety. Thank you!

10:30 am – noon – Kids’ Karaoke – Everyone loved our Kids’ Karaoke workshop last year. This year we will be having a Karaoke contest! Our Karaoke machine uses your mobile device, so download your song ahead of time, if you can and practice at home! Bring your device in for the contest. Many Karaoke songs are downloadable for free from the web. If you can’t bring a mobile device just bring the name of your favorite song and we will bring it up for you at the event!

Noon – 1 PM – Lunch

1:00 – 2:30 pm – Genes and ConSEQUENCES Lab – Have you heard of bioinformatics? This field merges molecular biology with computational techniques. Do you want to use the same tool geneticists worldwide use to analyze genetic sequences and use detective work to find out what has caused a patient’s disease? Then this is the lab for you! This is a great chance to learn about the BLAST tool: http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi and the Human Genome Project, too.

1:00 – 4:00 PM – Teen/Adult Rainbow Loom workshop with Cat Allison of Party On in Farmington Hills – Bring your own Rainbow Loom for this workshop or buy one at the event for $10-$15. You will use the Rainbow loom board and a variety of colorful rubber bands to make a 3D design. You will learn about the different styles of bracelets, charms, animals and 3D designs that can be made.

3:00 – 5:00 pm – Mystery Chemical Lab – Learn first hand about the properties of chemicals and reactions in this lab. You will be given a set of mystery chemicals and reagents, and will use them to create multiple reactions. You will follow the scientific method, making careful observations like a good detective, which every scientist must be. With your careful technique, you will successfully identify these mystery compounds and learn about chemical stoichiometry in the process!

5:00 – 6:30 pm – Finger Loom with Cat Allison of Party On in Farmington Hills: http://partyon-supplies.com/ – There will be a short lecture about the history of Rainbow Loom, products, and creations. Then we will use a variety of colorful rubber bands and a small Finger Loom to create bracelets. This is a great class for beginners of any age who enjoy crafting with their hands. Adults are encouraged to join in on the fun and either assist younger students, or make their own. Not recommended for 4 years and younger.

6:30 – 7:30 pm – Dinner

7:30 – 9:30 pm – Kids’ Science Fiction / Gamer Convention – Bring your favorite Sci Fi Costume to wear to this fun event. We will have games, snacks, Sci Fi movies, etc. for your favorite young Sci Fi fan. We’ll also have a contest for best costume!

SUNDAY

10 am – 11 am – Polyhedra Power! – Have you heard of Stella http://www.software3d.com/Stella.php? This is a funky software program which allows you to design, print and assemble your own personal polyhedron. We will be operating Great Stella and a color printer to produce polyhedra only limited by your imagination! Come join us for fun polyhedra creation!

11 am – noon – Arts & Scraps Workshop – Let’s learn to finger weave and make some great hippy headbands!
11 am – noon – Lego Project Judging – Be sure to have your child’s Lego project ready for judging in the Kids’ Room at this time!
Noon – Prizes Ceremony – Lego, Karaoke and Sci Fi Costume contest prizes/certificates to be awarded here!

If you can, please RSVP to our facebook event.  Thank you!  Can’t wait to see you there!!

Two Summer Scholarships Available from the Michigan Association for Gifted Children

The Michigan Association for Gifted Children is pleased to announce that in 2015 it will once again offer Summer Scholarships. This year, two $300 scholarships will be awarded. Interested students can use our online application, which provides applicants with an easy, streamlined method of applying. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be nominated by a current MAGC member, and agree to submit verification that the scholarship money was used as planned, as well as a short review of the summer experience for possible publication in the MAGC newsletter. MAGC membership is only $25 per year, and you can join online using the MembershipApplication.    The online application will be available from now until the deadline of midnight, March 1, 2015. Applications must be received online by the deadline to be considered for an award. There are no exceptions to the due date. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Monday, March 31, 2015. Check out the website, http://migiftedchild.org/, for more information, or go directly to the scholarship application form at scholarship application.

 

Edison Invention Challenge Deadline Approaching Dec. 8th

JOIN OUR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY COMPETITION
On October 2014, we announced our 5th Annual Edison Invention Challenge for grades 6 to 12. Students and others are encouraged to create a new invention using alternative technology (wind, solar or fuel cell technology). In the spring of 2015, the winners and their school and teachers will be announced at an awards event. If you are in grades 6 to 12, you can join the invention challenge. December 8, 2014 is final entry date.

Learn more details by logging onto:http://edisoninventionchallenge.org/main/

Online College History Course Sponsored by University of Oklahoma and the History Channel

The University of Oklahoma is proudly announcing a new partnership with A+E Network and HISTORY® to offer a TV Network-branded fully online course. THE HISTORY CHANNEL®’s United States, 1865 to Present will be taught by award winning author, OU professor, and renowned historian Steve Gillon.

The groundbreaking 16-week interactive, immersive course will run January 12 – May 8, 2015. Utilizing the strengths of both partners, “United States, 1865 to Present” has been rigorously designed by OU and will be taught by Professor Steve Gillon, the resident historian of HISTORY® and professor of history at OU. Combining professionally-produced and engaging video lectures with discussion groups and social interactions between students, as well as selectively integrated content from HISTORY®, this course has been designed to offer a singular and collaborative learning experience to a wide range of students.

The course can be taken by lifelong learners who’ll have the unique opportunity to enjoy a world-class education from one of the country’s top institutions of higher learning and pioneer in online courses, as well as THE HISTORY CHANNEL® one of cable’s best known brands and a leader in cross-platform history education.

College students around the world seeking to meet their graduation requirements, as well as incoming freshmen looking to jumpstart their education, can also take the course at a competitive price. Upon completion of the for-credit course, students will receive three transcripted college credits that may be transferable to another institution.

https://historychannel.ou.edu/

Rocks and Robots Speed Sumo Class Sunday Afternoons This Fall

Rocks and Robots

Speed Sumo Sunday afternoons this fall. 6 weeks long
Space is very limited sign up now

Speed Sumo: Parent child all ages

Sunday, October 26th through Sunday, December 7th

Hi Everyone,

The first session was a blast. The second six week session starts this Sunday. Classes run from 2:00 – 4:00 Sunday afternoons.

The class is called Speed Sumo. You and your child have only 90 minutes to design, build, program, test and battle your LEGO robot. Space is very limited. Sign up now.

Many students are new this session so we will be having instruction for all skill levels.

Click here for details: http://www.rocksandrobots.com/content/classes?utm_source=Copy+of+Speed+Sumo+Fall+2014&utm_campaign=Speed+Sumo+Fall+2014&utm_medium=email

and I’m looking forward to lots of innovative designs. Thanks

Dr. George

Sincerely,
George Albercook
Rocks and Robots

 http://www.rocksandrobots.com/  Camp@RocksAndRobots.com
(734) 645-0211

The 70th Annual Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Show Upcoming

Prospector’s Showcase

Michigan’s Mineralogical Event of the Year!

Presented & Sponsored by:
The Michigan Mineralogical Society and
The Cranbrook Institute of Science

The 70th Annual Greater Detroit
Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Show

October 10, 11, 12 2014
At Macomb Community College
South Campus

Special presentations this year include:

The CoreKids K-12 Program
The History of Silver & Gold Mining in Michigan
Scepter Amethyst
Dinosaur CSI
Ohio Minerals & Collecting Sites
How to Identify True Amber
Herkimer Diamonds

Collections from World-Renowned Museums and Universities
Vendor Offerings for the Novice & Seasoned Collector

http://www.michmin.org/

Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) Annual Conference Registration Still Open

Michigan Association for Gifted Children

Excelling with the Common Core
Annual Conference 2014 

Have You Registered  Yet?
It’s Not Too Late!

Fantastic speakers in a fabulous setting…REGISTER NOW!

The Michigan Association for Gifted Children invites you to join them for their annual Conference,

Excelling with the Common Core. Participants will take away strategies for identifying, raising, and educating gifted kids, as well as tips and techniques that ensure the Common Core State Standards are presented at the high levels of thinking and deep, rigorous levels of content required for ALL students, including the gifted.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Art Costa, founder of the Art Costa Centre for Thinking and author of Habits of Mind. Dr. Costa will discuss modifiable intelligence and what how we can grow cognitively throughout our lifetime. Participants will explore the nature of intelligent behavior and learn five strategies to enhance students’ intellectual capacities.

You will also hear from State Representative Sam Singh, who will discuss proposed legislation to identify gifted children and youth in Michigan. This is the first step in obtaining gifted education and services for students statewide. Learn more about the upcoming bill, including ways gifted families and educators can advocate for its passage.

Additionally, gifted education expert Dr. Ellen Fiedler will present two sessions, including, “Parenting Gifted Kids: Issues and Answers.” Dr. Fiedler will explore issues that commonly confront parents of gifted children and provide practical suggestions for dealing with the multitude of concerns they encounter along the way. Dr. Fiedler’s second presentation will be “Gifted Adults.” 

You can also learn about:

• Common Core – What Is It and Is It Enough for Gifted Students? – Kelly Schultz
• Posing Powerful Questions to Engage and Transform the Intellect – Art Costa
• Advocacy That Works – Sherry Sparks
• How to Create a Student Profile for the Identification of Gifted Learners – Beth Still
• Growing Up Gifted: Students’ Reflections on Teaching, Learning, and Being – Christie McWilliams
• What’s Uncommon about the Common Core? Examining the Implications of Standards-Based Instruction in the English Classroom – Rosalyn  Shahid
• The Challenges of Teaching Gifted Children: What Works – Keiko Morse
• Alternative Programming for the Gifted: Successful Examples – Susan Sheth & Kelly Schultz
• Abuses (and Smarter Uses) of Assessment in an Era of Accountability – Kathee McDonald
• Renzulli Learning: Using Technology to Amplify What Teachers are Doing – Jessica Schofield
• GT/LD or Twice Exceptional: What It’s Really Like– Kelley Senkowski

If you are a parent, educator, or friend of gifted children, this conference is for you! Register now and share this information with others!

Date: Saturday, October 11, 2014 

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location:

Michigan State University

Eli Broad School of Business

East Lansing, MI

 Cost:  

MAGC Members: $50

Non-Members:  $65

Student Registration: $25

(must provide current semester’s schedule)

SCECHs:   $5 (available during registration)

Registration includes gourmet food stations for lunch, vendors, contact with gifted school representatives, and give-aways!

For more information, please visit:http://migiftedchild.org/conference/

To register, go to: Conference Registration

See you October 11!

We Have Two Open Spots to Fill in our First Lego League Team!

Is your child interested in participating in First Lego League?

We unexpectedly have two spots available on our Gifted In Michigan Southeast Michigan Mensa team.  A few of our original team members found their schedules were too busy to allow participation, so they had to drop out.

This is a great year to participate!  We have sponsorship from our co-coach, Will Robinson’s employer Bose.  We also have four engineers from Bose who are right now registering to help mentor our team!

This is a time commitment though, so think it through before you sign up.  We are asking each participant to attend two meetings per week and one meeting per week on alternate weeks.  This may become two meetings per week, every week, as we near our competition date which will take place in November or early December.

Here is our lineup of meetings through the end of October.  We ask everyone to attend our Sunday meetings and either our Thursday or Saturday meetings (choice of Thursdays or Saturdays).  Of course if you are able, you are welcome to attend all meetings!  Meetings are at Melissa Jenkins’ House in Berkley.

Saturday, Sept. 20th – 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, Sept. 21st –  12:30 – 3 PM
Thursday, Sept. 25th – 6:30 – 8 PM
Sunday, Sept. 28th –  12:30 – 3 PM
Saturday, Oct. 4th – 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, Oct. 5th –  12:30 – 3 PM
Thursday, Oct. 9th – 6:30 – 8 PM
Sunday, Oct. 12th –  12:30 – 3 PM
Saturday, Oct. 18th – 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, Oct. 19th –  12:30 – 3 PM
Thursday, Oct. 23rd – 6:30 – 8 PM
Sunday, Oct. 26th –  12:30 – 3 PM

Our team will close to new members on September 30th, and this announcement is first come, first serve, so please sign up as soon as possible if you are interested.

Thank you!
Here are our earlier published details about First Lego League, for your reference:

Would your child like to participate in a First robotics competition with other gifted kids?  We are now assembling our annual Southeast Michigan Mensa / Gifted In Michigan First Lego League team and need participants!

Age range is typically 9-14, but we accept younger kids if they are interested in participating, and often younger kids are!  We will be meeting at Melissa Jenkins’ house in Berkley, MI at days/times convenient for everyone.  Most will probably be on weekends.  A parent will typically attend with your child.

This competition involves designing and building a Lego Mindstorms robot that can solve missions on a robot field!  The kids will also invent a solution to a world problem and learn how to be a great scientist or engineer!  The theme this year is “FLL World Class”.  Teams will design new methods for gathering knowledge and skills in the 21st century.

Total cost per participant will be $30.    Please send an email ASAP (at latest by Sept 30th) to gifted_in_mi@sbcglobal.net, with name, age, address and phone, if your child wants to participate.  Once all slots are taken, the team will close!  We currently have 2 slots available.

To learn more about FLL check out the following website: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/. To see how much fun our trophy-winning team had last year, check out our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/minotaursfirstlegoleague.

Time to Sign Up For First Lego League!

Would your child like to participate in a First robotics competition with other gifted kids?  We are now assembling our annual Southeast Michigan Mensa / Gifted In Michigan First Lego League team and need participants!

Age range is typically 9-14, but we accept younger kids if they are interested in participating, and often younger kids are!  We will be meeting at Melissa Jenkins’ house in Berkley, MI at days/times convenient for everyone.  Most will probably be on weekends.  A parent will typically attend with your child.

This competition involves designing and building a Lego Mindstorms robot that can solve missions on a robot field!  The kids will also invent a solution to a world problem and learn how to be a great scientist or engineer!  The theme this year is “FLL World Class”.  Teams will design new methods for gathering knowledge and skills in the 21^st century.

We plan to have a few non-mandatory meetings beginning in early August to learn how to build and program Mindstorms robots and assemble our Lego robot game models.  Work will begin in earnest once the challenge is released the last week of August and will continue, weekly or bi-weekly until our qualifying competition most likely in Nov.

Total cost per participant will be $30.    Please send an email ASAP (at latest by Sept 1^st) to gifted_in_mi@sbcglobal.net, with name, age, address and phone, if your child wants to participate.  Once all slots are taken, the team will close!  We currently have 7 slots available.

To learn more about FLL check out the following website: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/. To see how much fun our trophy-winning team had last year, check out our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/minotaursfirstlegoleague.

SpaceMath@NASA Retiring – To Continue Receiving Content, Support The Astronomy CAFE

As you may know, NASA has dramatically changed how it funds its education programs during this fiscal year and perhaps beyond.

SpaceMath@NASA has been generously supported through two consecutive NASA education grants, but the last of these grant monies have now expired. Consequently, SpaceMath@NASA is no longer an active resource with new updates as of July 1, 2014

NASA has long been a proponent of finding ways to leverage its resources in the commercial sector, and encourages education programs that it funds to make every effort to insure that the program can be expanded and maintained without further NASA financial support which they consider to be seed money and not intended to be permanent support. To that end, I am offering a way to continue supporting the development of mathematics resources based on real-world space science and discovery themes.

The Astronomy Cafe http://www.astronomycafe.net has begun the design of math resources that integrate Common Core Mathematics Standards with popular space science topics taken from press releases and other sources.

This is an experiment. If we receive little or no support for these products at Astronomy Cafe, I will abandon this program altogether as a privately extended venture. All that will remain will be a largely archival form of SpaceMath@NASA<mailto:SpaceMath@NASA> with little or no further problem development in the coming years. Moreover, after February 2015 the entire website will be taken down because for IT Security reasons, NASA cannot have public-facing websites that are not sponsored by NASA-affiliated civil servants or contractors.

Numerically, over 35,000 people visit SpaceMath@NASA every month, and since its inception in 2004 have downloaded over 9 million mathematics files and problems. I am still committed to providing Educators with these popular resources. Please support the resources at The Astronomy Cafe:

The Astronomy Cafe main page: http://www.astronomycafe.net
Educator Store: http://www.astronomycafe.net/store/storeEducation.html

I have also set up a Facebook page for Space Educators so that you can provide comments and suggestions, and read new announcements about current and future resources. Please visit this page and ‘Like’ it to give us a sense of how many of you want to continue to support the creating of future math-science real-world resources.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AstronomyCafe

mes in the coming months.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Sten Odenwald
Director of STEM Resource Development
National Institute of Aerospace
Hampton, VA
and
Heliophysics Division
Code 672.4
Goddard Spaceflight Center
Greenbelt, MD