AIS this Saturday

Hello all

Many thanks to those of you that confirmed you would attend this Saturday.

We have a treat for you-our resident “Astronaut” is going to share his rich experience in the Shuttle program, his adventures etc.  It is going to be a great presentation.

I cannot speak for him but –if he has the time he may even sign an autograph or two!!

-

Raj

AIS this Saturday

Raghavan, Raj

Folks

We have a full plate/slate-if you like it-this week of teachers.

They are an eclectic group and are guaranteed to entertain/educate and inform all of us.

Since they are putting such a lot of effort we will have a reasonably even distribution of children per session.

Ask your children to keep an open mind—listen to the introductions of topics and then “quickly” decide!!

The three topics are (I believe they still are):

1.      Science of Music
2.      Science of Exercise
3.      Science in Nature

See you all Saturday

AIS for this Saturday (7th) is CANCELLED

Hello ALL

AIS for this Saturday (7^th) is CANCELLED

I apologize for doing this-you all know how I love to be with you all.

I am stuck out of town and a few of the coordinators can’t make it either. In addition 3 teachers bailed out on me-all for good reasons.

We will have sessions on 14^th and 21^st

Again sincerely apologize for this

Raj

Science is for Every One

RE: AIS Saturday

Hello all

 

This week’s  sessions will be in the other Building-9231 Corporate Boulevard. As I said last week it is the Building diagonally opposite from the old Building. Coming in from Shady Grove, turn into Corporate Boulevard, turn right at the  T junction, left and left (instead of right).

 

Since we will be going upstairs, please make sure no one wanders.

 

Good news: There are vending machines here!!

 

Three great sessions:

 

1.      Astronaut Training-who, when, how-the good, the bad and the difficult

2.      Chocolate  making-the beauty and the messiness

3.      Physics is fun

 

Please  be there NO earlier than 8:30-

 

If anyone has digital pictures of Rocket Launching please let me know on Saturday.

 

Raj

 

 

An Hour of Code

An Hour of Code for every student

Computer Science is a foundation for every student. Help introduce it to millions. 
All it takes is one Hour of Code. 


Ages 6-106 
No math needed 
No computers either

http://csedweek.org/

https://www.khanacademy.org/hour-of-code/hour-of-code-tutorial

Added Presentation PPTs

Pl. see this link.. added few presentation from this year and past.


http://ais-lm.blogspot.com/p/presentations.html

RE: AIS Saturday

All

 

We have 3 sessions this Saturday

 

1.      Spooky Science-Since this is a Halloween topic, the teacher wants to do it for the kids that were unable to attend last time

2.      Kaleidoscope? How does it work?

3.      Mystery topic - electro magnetism

Come early after 8:30 to get a good number.

 

See you all

 

Raj

FW: AIS Saturday

'

Subject: AIS Saturday

 

All

 

We have 3 sessions this Saturday

 

1.      Spooky Science-has made a roaring comeback

2.      Something about Bats—you may all start flying

- how bat senses work. 

How to read faster

Come early after 8:30 to get a good number.

 

See you all

 

Raj

AIS Saturday

All



We have 3 sessions this Saturday



1. Spooky Science-has made a roaring comeback

2. Something about Bats—you may all start flying

3. Mystery topic

Come early after 8:30 to get a good number.



See you all

Fresh Air Weekend: Chris Hadfield, Brandy Clark, Kennedy Conspiracies

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/02/242166402/fresh-air-weekend-chris-hadfield-brandy-clark-kennedy-conspiracies

Astronaut Chris Hadfield Brings Lessons From Space Down To Earth: The former International Space Station commander achieved Internet stardom with his in-space rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity." After three missions and a total of six months in space he shares what he's learned in a new book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.

RE: AIS this Saturday

 

 

From: Raghavan, Raj
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 11:31 PM
To: Raghavan, Raj
Subject: AIS this Saturday

 

ROCKET Launching Day

 

At  Montgomery County Fairgrounds

 

Please get there by about 8:45 to 9:00 AM.

 

Please find below information from Richard Steiner, the NIST coordinator, who gives out engines.

 

Please explain that probably the only open entrance is on the east side off Chestnut St. AIS launch is on the fields on the west side near Perry Pkwy. Also, explain to parents that we have limited areas and platforms to launch from, so lines will be inevitable, especially at the start.

 

Let's try to stagger the arrivals. It isn't staggered enough, but it might help the initial congestion. (Next year we might consider launching longer, but having more staggered times, and expecting the early arriving sites to leave early.) LM at 9:00 NIH, Urbana, LHU at 9:15 NIST 9:30

 

There will be a notification by 8:00 AM on Bob's telephone 301-975-6035 in the event of bad weather, and a notice on the web site.

 

Every assistant and site manager should show up between 8:00 and by 8:30 at the latest. We need to get the launch platforms set up, distribute engines, tissues and powder, have people positioned to guide parking cars, and instruct helpers as to what needs to be done to prepare each rocket for launch. We will start closing down around 11:15, so the kids should have time for at least three launches or so. Everyone is also expected to stay for clean up of the area. If parents are helping at the launch platforms, and they decide to leave early, they need to find a new parent to run the platform, rather than bring the launch site back to me and go home. (Hopefully, a few parents will stay to the bitter end, but there have not been many recently.)

 

To site managers, please inform your parents that we will put safety of the kids above all wishes to "have fun with the toys". We have had several close calls in the past couple of years, with rockets going off prematurely, badly built rockets twisting around to head into a crowd, burned fingers as the kids run to pick up a failure before the back-blast goes off, or the kids try to pull the spent engine out themselves. Even in the distant past, one child had burn spots on his jacket because a homemade rocket flew at him while he was too close.

 

These rocket engines are NOT TOYS. If their kids bring a poorly built rocket, especially a home-made one that cannot hold the engine tightly or is totally unsuitable for flight, then they will not be given an engine. Unfortunately, last year several kids and parents also brought kit rockets that had not been glued correctly or were missing parts. We will not have sufficient tools or supplies on hand for the kids or parents to repair a faulty rocket at the site. We give out one engine per child per visit to the engine main distribution positions. No engines will be given for future launches.

 

We will only use my launch platforms, unless new ones made by someone else conform to the safety restrictions for launching rockets.

(Generally that means a stable platform and 3 foot guide-wire with the rocket at the bottom of the wire.) If the emails you send out are asking for volunteers to man the launch platforms, then explain some safety precautions, so I don't have to repeat them several times before we begin launching. (I prefer helpers who already know what they are doing and intend to follow the safety guidelines.) The rocket is not to be launched until there are no people within 30 feet of the rocket.

Clip leads are not to be left connected to the battery when positioning the rocket.

In an effort to speed the launch times, the adults should attach the clip leads to the rocket instead of waiting for the younger kids to do so. The kids can do the last connection to fire the engine.

In the event of a rocket that twists out of control to land nearby, the adult should be watching to make sure the kids do not run to get the rocket, since there will be another back-blast about 3-4 seconds after the main engine cuts out.

The engines are hot, so the children should not try to pull the spent engines out themselves.

(With my Assistants or a trusted adult attending each launch site, we will consider putting a box of spare engines at each site in the event of a fuse failure. Then the engine could be immediately replaced instead of having the kid go back to get an engine and then get back in line.

The spares would have to be strictly controlled at all times and not given out to circumvent the main distribution checks on rocket quality!)

 

Please follow these safety rules, rather than tell your parents to ignore the cranky guy. If everyone is safe, then we all have fun.

The children's safety comes first!

 

Cloud in a Bottle - Nice little experiment !

Test

Krishna

 

Test mail-you are on the BCC-please let me know if you get it

 

Raj

AIS coming Saturday 26th

Hello all

FYI

AIS - LM Blog: http://ais-lm.blogspot.com/

This Saturday, the 26^th of October you are all coming to the usual place. We will have three interesting topics that will be presented. ROCKET LAUNCHING WILL BE NEXT SATURDAY-NOV 2^nd.

To get a choice from all three topics-it will be good to be here after 8:30 –soon after-later kids will have a choice of two or even just one.

Please do not come before 8:30 AM.

Topics are:

• Electricity
• Spooky Science
• Money

All three are sounded very interesting when the teachers described them.

Come and have fun. As Halloween is coming, you may meet some ghosts and goblins!!

Cheers

Raj

RE: AIS coming Saturday 19th

Some kind person left me a ShoreTel coffee mug today.

 

If it was not meant as a gift(!!), I will bring it next week

 

Cheers

 

From: Raghavan, Raj
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 6:42 PM
To: Raghavan, Raj
Subject: RE: AIS coming Saturday 19th

 

Hello All

 

Tomorrow is rocket making day.

 

Please see instructions attached. This is for you to study, digest and understand!!

 

Both are the same-except for different Windows versions as I was told

 

I have copies.

 

Cheers

 

Raj

 

 

Rocket Making

RE: AIS coming Saturday 19th

Hello All

Tomorrow is rocket making day.

Please see instructions attached. This is for you to study, digest and understand!!

Both are the same-except for different Windows versions as I was told

I have copies.

Cheers

Raj

 Rocket Making Doc 

AIS coming Saturday 19th

Hello all

Please see link below

AIS - LM Blog: http://ais-lm.blogspot.com/

If you need something from me-add names/delete names/urgent info please e-mail me

Rocket Building this Saturday.

Please bring 2 inner tubes each of Paper Towel Roll and Toilet Paper Rolls. If you have extras please bring.

Would like to start at or slightly prior to 9:00 AM

Please get here closer to 8:30 AM

Location same place you were last time-Auditorium -9211 corporate Boulevard, Rockville, md 20850

Bring ID

Since there is a lot of work to do, parents please/must stay

Cheers

Raj

Session 1

We had fantastic first day .. 79 kids showed up !! We had great three sessions.

1. Chocolate Chemistry - Dr. Vasan
2. Computers and Security - Subodh Monica
3. 3D Vision - Krishna Samavedam (Presentation  PDF  PPT )

Next week we will be building Rockets.. We need lots and lots of help from parents. Please plan to attend and volunteer !!

FW: 2013 Adventure in Science starting in October

From: Raghavan, Raj
Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 9:24 AM
To: Raghavan, Raj

Subject: RE: 2013 Adventure in Science starting in October

Sequestration

               Furloughs

                      

                              Shutdown

                                           Chaos    

Hi all

We hear this being blasted everyday over the airwaves unfortunately affecting a number of good people. For you all we offer a sense of peace and enjoyment and a knowledge acquiring environment –away from worries-for two plus hours-at Adventure in Science.

Yes-we will start—this week-(12^th) Saturday. There have been plenty of rumours that we may cancel or delay because NIST and NIH are having issues-not sure how they are going to manage

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Please come in between 8:30 and 8: 50

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Please bring your driver’s license-if bringing relatives that do not have a driver’s license, please bring some kind of identification for them-passport/green card etc

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>You have directions-drop off your child/children at the door go round and park. Address is: 9211 Corporate Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850-I may have said 9231 previously-that will be from next week onwards-it is just Raj having a “senor moment”!!)

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Parents –we like you to, love you to and you are expected to, be with your children.

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>After a few housekeeping duties, the presenter will start around 9:15 ish; should last till 11:00 or so.

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Next week we will be “constructing” rockets-if you have not already please collect two inside tubes of Paper towel rolls and two tubes of toilet paper rolls.

We have a splendid person presenting-with real/live experience of travelling in Space-has plenty of stories to keep us all enthralled-

From Raj..

Folks

We had a “splendid” meeting yesterday at Parent’s orientation-at least I thought so anyway! The snacks were good!!

Please find class schedule attached.

Classes start Oct 12^th –Saturday-Please get here between 8:30 and 8:45 AM. Bring ID-driver’s license-if older family (parents/grandparents are coming) as long as you (Child’s parent) have a valid ID you should be able to take them in. First day is always a bit slower than later

First day of class is for everyone-ONE speaker-an astronaut that went on a few Space Missions-held the record for the longest Spacewalk for a while.

Address for day 1 is: 9231 Corporate Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850

After that we will meet in 9211 Corporate Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850 (Same campus-different building)

               -We are off Shady Grove Road. Coming from Route 355 towards Research Boulevard, go over the bridge on 270, turn right at the next light into the campus (Corporate Boulevard)-right at end of road, right at STOP sign; Building on your left-Drop your child off-go round and park (in a legal space!!)

               From 270-either way- North or South, take exit 8 –going towards Route 495, take Exit 8, take Omega drive ramp off the exit, turn left at Stop sign and Left into Campus-drive to the farthest building

               On 270, going away from Route 495, take exit 8, bear left to light, turn left at light, right at 2^nd light into Corporate Blvd.

IF I have confused you enough, please call for clarification!!! I can be reached on 301 640-2500

IMPORTANT:

Week 2 we build rockets-please collect 2 inside tubes of Paper Towel Rolls and 4 inside tubes of Toilet Paper rolls.

Week 3-we launch rockets at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds

Parents: As I mentioned, you all CAN teach (or share your knowledge); Please think about topics that you are comfortable with.

Best way to reach me-e-mail; Second best way-call number above

Cheers

2013 Broadcom MASTERS Science and Engineering Project Showcase

2013 Broadcom MASTERS Science and Engineering Project Showcase Saturday, September 28

Dear Parents ... (From Manoharan)

Dear Parents,

Welcome to AIS 2013-2014 session at Lockheed Martin.  Some of you are new to AIS and some are returning parents. 

For about 20 weeks starting from October, your children will have a great learning experience while learning something new in science every week.  There will be about 50 topics at basic level covering some broad topics like Computer, Physics, Chemistry, Ecology, Biology, Astronomy, math, food, and others.

These topics will be handled by those who are driven by an interest to teach what they learnt or knew.  The important thing is that they are all more like you with a regular daytime jobs not related to teaching. 

You too can have an active role in this program.  We request you all to actively participate in this program which is currently run with few volunteers by sharing your expertise in science.

If you are a professional teacher, that is great.  If you are a scientist or Engineer, you can think of teaching something in science.  For most of us it is a little intimidating in the beginning.  But we have seen that with some preparations, anyone can do it. Remember, you will be teaching small groups of children and each group may have about 20 kids. If you are interested, try to take a topic in which you are comfortable, include a project that can give hands on experience and make the presentation simple. All expenses towards the project will be covered.

Please go through the various topics covered in 2012 and 2013 which are posted in the AIS blog.    You can come up with your own new topics in Science.  Even if you decide not to present but are ready to help in preparing the presentation, please discuss with Raj or any of the volunteers who will provide you with necessary ideas and help.

Let us have a great teaching experience together.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Manoharan

Instructor Resources

Posted material for helping teachers to prepare AIS topics. Instructor Resources

Silver Spring Mini Maker Faire

Silver Spring Mini Maker Faire

Science Fairs 2.0

Science Fairs 2.0
A report card on the state of science fairs today, and a look into the future.

AIS -topic analysis

To all,
.

I have given little more thought to the topics and I am submitting to all of you for consideration.

1. Total number of classes: Oct (4 weeks), Nov (3), Dec (3), Jan (4), Feb (4), March (3)- Total of 21 weeks
2. Assuming 3 classes of 20 children (assuming participation by 60 children), we need 63 presentations.
3. First two weeks we either prepare a rocket or launch-all of the children work together this therefore leaves -57 slots
4. Atleast 3-4 sessions are repeats -topics- illusion, volcano, frog dissection, health-yoga- that reduces the slots to 57-8=49 topics (single presentation)
5. The topics that are relevant @basic level (with out complicated math or formula can be chosen from following broad topics:
6. Computer (see Sam's list), 2 Physics (electricity, magnetism), 3. Chemistry (kitchen chemistry, soap, candle), 4 Ecology (tsunami, wild fire, pollution, recycling), 5. Biology (DNA, Panda, frog described above), 6. Astronomy (stars and planets, space travel), 7. math 8. food, 9. others.
7. The point I am making is that we could poll parents by sharing this info and encourage them to participate.

Please comment.

Vasan

2013 Adventure in Science starting in October

Hello All

You all have registered and assigned the Lockheed Martin site for this year’s sessions. Welcome.

Hope you all have received the Parent orientation invitation from AIS. It is scheduled for Wednesday September 25^th at the 4-H Center in Derwood Maryland starting at 7:30 PM. We will provide a brief overview of the program for all, site specific details for each of the sites. This is  a welcome-meet and greet session. Last probably till 9:00 PM at the latest.

This will also give you a chance to meet other parents and learn about the AIS expectation of each family.

Hope to see you all there. If you want to bring friends that are interested but have been unable to register, please do. There is nothing against bringing your children-don’t want to bore them about the mundane details!! Entirely up to you.

We “normally” have some snacks which they may enjoy tasting!!

If you are not registered for Lockheed and you get this, please let me know. This was the preferred e-mail you folks had given for notification. Please let me know of any changes.

If someone you know has been registered at Lockheed and is not in this list, please ask them to let me know.

Cheers

Raj