Two worthy programs to participate in this year or mark on your calendar for next year.
Great Outdoor Bird Count
Monday is the last day for this year, so it’s not too late to take part in a citizen science project that will help scientists answer questions about bird populations (of not just North America, but the entire world), such as “What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?” This relates to a common early childhood question, “How are they the same and how are they different?” You and your students can be part of the Great Outdoor Bird Count!
Today through Monday, February 18, we invite you to be part of this massive citizen-science effort. Join tens of thousands of fellow bird watchers from around the world by counting birds and submitting your checklists to www.birdcount.org. Simply watch birds for at least 15 minutes at any location and tally the number of each bird species you see. Submit a new checklist for each day and for each new location. You can count in as many locations as you like. Just be sure to enter a new list for each site.

You can submit your data any time during the count and afterward until March 1 so you can count today (Sunday) and tomorrow, and submit your data later in the week or next.

National Engineers Week
“Celebrate Awesome” February 17-23 during National Engineers Week!
You can:

• download posters,
• read about engineering,
• use the 2012 Framework for K-12 Science Education to see how science and engineering practices are side-by-side in developing the Next Generation Science Standards due out this year,
• learn from Engineering is Elementary why we should teach engineering to children,
• and set your young engineers to work on a real life problem—maybe designing a bird feeder or water source!

Sorry for the late notice about these two worthwhile programs. I was preparing to present and then attending my state –AEYC conference, the very worthwhile Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education’s conference, Building Bridges Creating Connections (how engineering is that!?). I participated in several STEM sessions and presented on using ramps to promote children’s investigation into science and engineering concepts. Thank you to all the volunteers who made it such a valuable experience.