Sleuth Academy will be the laboratory responsible for solving many mysteries as part of our school theme of Creative Student Investigators: Eagle Point Explores or CSI:EPE for short. Our teams this year are named for fantastic forensic scientists. Have a look at the new category of great website links on the right side of the page called CSI. Here you can find out about the scientist your team is named for and solve some online cases. The 6 super-sleuths teams are named for are …

Dr. Henry Lee - The crime-solver of all the big cases around the world!

Sir Francis Galton - The scientist that figured out fingerprints can be used for crime solving.

James Watson and Francis Crick - The team of scientists that discovered the structure of DNA.

Sir Alec Jeffreys - The scientist that figured out that DNA analysis could be used to identify a person and solve a crime.

Dr. Diane France - A true ‘Bone Detective’ or forensic anthropologist. When a potential crime scene involves just a bone or two they call Dr. France and she can piece together the puzzle.

Robert Hooke - One of the inventors of the microscope - helping us see where no eyes could see before!

I am looking forward to a fun-filled exciting year of mystery and crime-solving!

Any questions or suggestions?

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Authored by Dr. Milenkovic. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://sleuth.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/ready-set-investigate/feed/ http://sleuth.edublogs.org/2008/05/04/end-of-school-year-project-wrap-up-time/ http://sleuth.edublogs.org/2008/05/04/end-of-school-year-project-wrap-up-time/#comments Sun, 04 May 2008 15:49:06 +0000 Dr. Milenkovic http://sleuth.edublogs.org/2008/05/04/end-of-school-year-project-wrap-up-time/ We are finishing up several projects in Science Lab and in order to finish by the last day of school (June 5) please turn in the following as soon as possible:

By May 20 — 2nd - 5th graders please turn in your bird detective checklist (signed/initialed by a parent).  Don’t forget to print your first and last name and teacher on the cover.  If you lost your checklist and you still want to participate in the Jr. Birder program you can download another copy of the booklet here: Wings over Florida - Jr. Birder Checklist

By May 22 – 3rd graders - please e-mail a photo of you and your cabbage to info@sleuthacademy.org (or bring in a print or disk).   Don’t forget to include your first and last name and your teacher name.  Look here for example photos.

5th graders have been learning how to use iMovie and video camcorders to create video podcasts. A couple of classes might not finish, but I hope you will continue to use what you learned in middle school and beyond.

Kindergarten and 1st graders are finishing up the year learning how to use some science tools.

All students will be bringing home a copy of Celebrating Chemistry complements of the American Chemical Society. There are great activities in there to do at home this summer. Continue to visit sleuthacademy.org over the summer for updates and sneak peaks for the 2008-09 school year! Have a great summer of exploration!

Learn more about that funny bird from the Bird Brained video:

As in the March 11 Miami Herald - Eagles Nest Webcam - live (note: look during daylight!)

Cornell Birds: All About Birds

Field Guides - enter your zip code for a specific guide for your area

Florida Bird photos - use this to help you identify birds you see.

Florida Bird Sounds - hear the bird calls of Florida birds

Bird Beaks - Adaptations

More Bird Beaks - with great photos

A Game: Pick out the bird beak - how fast are you?

Are you a true Bird Detective? What is this Bird?

Download Close the Loop!

Some classes and science club have been making shrink plastic keychains/zipper pulls from the cafeteria salad containers (rescued from the trash, of course!). These are recycle code 6 (PS = Polystyrene) only. Here is a link to directions online: Super Shrinkers!

Have fun shrinking - just be sure you have an ADULT helper to help you with the oven!

Fourth graders are taking the “Journey of Wayne Drop” in preparation for their trip to the Everglades. We are investigating the “Mystery of the Swamp” and how wetlands can help clean water. The entire “Journey” is online at http://www.evergladesplan.org/education/index.aspx

Second and third graders are designing their own recycling factory - using tools like magnets and static electricity to sort recyclable trash (don’t worry it’s clean garbage!) in a contest in efficient teamwork. Check out the Keep America Beautiful site and watch videos and play a game at www.kabman.org.

All grades will soon be turning trash into treasure as we recycle and reduce the cafeteria salad containers (recycle code #6) into zipper pulls that will remind us how we can reduce our ecological footprint. Check out Bobby Bigfoot online to get some great ideas at www.kidsfootprint.org.

Fourth graders have been “rock detectives”. Practice what we learned in Science Lab at this great website: Mineralogy for Kids.

Second and third graders are classifying matter and learning about polymers and recycling. Try out this site for Polymers in Action or play a matter game! Find out how plastics are made and make a virtual plastic duck too!

• Team Ozone - Susan Solomon
• Team Everglades - Marjory Stoneman Douglas
• Team Coral Reef - Sylvia Earle
• Team Eagle - Rachel Carson
• Team Greenhouse - Roger Revelle
• Team Sierra - John Muir

Don’t forget about the science safety rules. Please return the signed portion of the 2007-08 Science Safety Contract to the Science Lab as soon as possible.