Label: School Visits

May 14, 2013

I am Skyping this morning with kids at the Mulberry Elementary School in Auburn, Georgia. I know that you guys have been using my website, so I wanted to create a special blog post just for you.

So now, you have a "Seymour-eye-view" of our Skype session!

Update: Tuesday afternoon 

The students from Mulberry Elementary uploaded their own photo, so now I can see what the Skype session looked like from a "kids-eye-view"!

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed all your great questions! 

May 2, 2013

It is easy to see that there is a big Seymour Simon school visit week coming up - we have been getting so many comments from new readers on the Seymour Science blog. Students in Lower Gwynedd Elementary School in Ambler, Pennsylvania - this contest is for you!

Two lucky winners are going to receive personally autographed copies of Seymour Simon’s new book, EXTREME OCEANS. Here is what you have to do to enter:

1.    Write a comment on this blog post and tell Seymour three fascinating facts about sharks.

2. Tell us your name (first name only), your grade, and your teacher’s name. This will let us contact you if you are the winner.

3.    Be sure to post your entry by midnight, Friday, May 17, because the contest ends then.

Two winners will be chosen randomly from all the correct entries. Older students may enter individually, and we will pick one winner. Students in grades K-2 may enter as a class and work with their teacher to enter the contest; there will be one classroom winner.Students who are not in the

Students who do not attend Lower Gwynedd Elementary may also enter this contest. The rules are the same as above, but for #2 please include your first name, your grade, your teacher’s name, the name of your school, and the city where your school is located. If we have at least 20 entries from other schools, we will randomly choose a third prize winner from the non-Pennsylvania entries. 

What if you don’t know any cool facts about sharks? You can start right here on the Seymour Science blog. Look at all the entries under the label "Sharks." We guarantee you that you will find some fascinating information in these stories! It is also ok if you use other sources for your information, such as books in your library, or a reliable Internet source like an encyclopedia, National Geographic Kids, or the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week website.

So, get to work and send us your entries today! Seymour will see you soon, and then you can all talk about sharks and Extreme Oceans together!

January 13, 2013

Thank you to everyone who entered the second MY AWESOME SCIENCE WORD contest. We enjoyed seeing the choices you made and reading your writing using those words. Nealy 100 students and classes entered this contest - that is a lot of excellent research and writing!

Are you ready? Here are the winners of Seymour Simon’s 2nd Awesome Science Word contest:

Individual Winner: Brandon/4th Grade, Penn Valley Elementary, Ms. Kochersperger’s class                         

Definition: Zircons are solid minerals that come in many different colors and can be transparent (see through) crystals used as gemstones.

Why you think it is awesome: I think the word zircon is awesome, not only because of how the word looks and sounds, but also because I like learning about different minerals found in the Earth.

Use the word in a sentence: Yesterday, my friends and I went to a cave full of crystals and my favorite one was a green, transparent zircon.

Classroom Winner: Mrs. Caron’s 2nd Grade Class, Oxford Valley Elementary School

Definition: Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide that is -107 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

Why you think it is awesome: Dry ice is interesting because it keeps food cold while it gets shipped to your house.

Use the word in a sentence: When a metal spoon touches dry ice, it makes a high-pitched, squeaky sound.

Both winners will receive a personally autographed copy of Seymour Simon’s SCIENCE DICTIONARY. Congratulations to everyone who entered! 

January 11, 2013

Ms. Miele from Village Park Elementary School in Pennsylvania brought me wonderful thank you cards, with student writing and drawings, after my visit there this week.

We don’t have enough space here to share them all, but I wanted to show you some of the lovely notes from these students.

Destiny wrote: "Mr. Simon, I hope you had a great time here," along with this lovely drawing of the two of us holding hands. Thank you, Destiny!

Savannah wanted me to know that she has some suggestions for new books: "What about flowers or bees? Birds are cool, too." And she added, "P.S. You inspire me." I am so touched by that.

2^nd grader Tyler wrote: "I liked when you showed us the paper airplane!"

And look at this terrific drawing of a space monster! One of my favorite topics!

January 6, 2013

Seymour Simon is heading back to Pennsylvania and visiting six more schools this coming week. As promised, we are running our contest again for students  in the Pennsbury school district. Welcome to the AWESOME SCIENCE WORD contest!

Two lucky winners are going to receive personally autographed copies of Seymour Simon’s newly updated SCIENCE DICTIONARY, with more than 2,000 entries!

Did you ever spend time browsing through an encyclopedia or dictionary? You might not have been looking for a specific word but just leafing through, finding cool topics and reading about them. For this contest Seymour Simon invites you to browse through his online Science Dictionary and find a word or image that you really like. Here is the link where you can find his Science Dictionary online: http://www.seymoursimon.com/index.php/science_dictionary/

Here is what you need to know to enter Seymour’s Awesome Science Word Contest:

Take a look around in the online Science Dictionary and find a word that you think is an Awesome Science Word. Once you have decided on your word, you have to do three things:

1. Tell us what your word is and explain the definition in your own words.

 2. Tell us why you think your word is awesome.

3. Use your Awesome Science Word in a sentence to prove that you really understand what it means.

Here is an example. Let’s say that I look at the online Dictionary pick "geyser" as my Awesome Science Word. I would write:

Definition in my own words: A geyser is a hot, underground pool or stream of water that sometimes explodes into the air, releasing hot water and steam.

Why it is awesome: I think it is awesome that hot water, smoke and steam can just explode out of the ground without any warning.

Using it in a sentence: If you ever go to Yellowstone National Park, don’t walk too near the "Old Faithful" geyser, because you never know when it is going to blow!

Here is how to enter once you have selected your Awesome Science Word:

A. Click on the yellow "Comments" link at the bottom of this blog to enter the contest by sharing your word along with your definition, why you think it is awesome, and your sentence using your word.

B. When you write you information, be sure to also tell us your name (first name only), your school, and your teacher’s name. That way we can find you if you are the winner!

C. Be sure to post your entry by midnight on Friday, January 11th. The contest ends then.

 

RULES:

• Two winners in the Pennsbury Schools will be chosen randomly from all the correct entries. 
• Older students may enter individually, and we will pick one winner. 
• Students in grades K-2 may enter as a class and work with their teacher to enter the contest; there will be one classroom winner. 
• Both winners will receive copies of the printed version of the SCIENCE DICTIONARY, autographed by Seymour Simon.
• Students who are not in the Pennsbury (Pennsylvania) school district may also enter this contest. If we have at least 20 entries from other schools, we will randomly choose a third prizewinner from the non-Pennsylvania entries. 

So, get to work and send us your entries today. Good luck!

December 14, 2012

Thank you to everyone who entered the MY AWESOME SCIENCE WORD contest. We enjoyed seeing the choices you made and reading your writing using those words.168 people entered this contest - that is a lot of excellent research and writing!

Are you ready? Here are the winners of Seymour Simon’s Awesome Science Word contest:

Individual Winner: Jack B., Quarry Hill Elementary, Ms. Dubell’s class                         

Definition: Jet streams are strong winds that effect the weather.

Why you think it is awesome: I think jet steams are awesome because they go 100 - 300 miles per hour.

Use the word in a sentence: I hear about jet streams on the weather channel and at airports.

Classroom Winner: Mr. Perlman’s Class, Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School

Definition: A Rainbow is a colorful, half shaped circle that appears after it rains and gets sunny outside.

Why you think it is awesome: We think rainbows are awesome because they have all of our favorite colors.

Use the word in a sentence: I see a big colorful rainbow in the dark blue sky!

Congratulations to everyone who entered. Be on the lookout for another blog post, because we enjoyed the work you did for this contest so much, we are going to publish some of your writing for everyone to read.

December 13, 2012

Seymour’s visits to the Pennsbury schools are continuing; he spent yesterday at Makefield Elementary School in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

In preparation for his visit, the Makefield students watched a video about Seymour Simon, read his autobiography, used his books in their art classes and explored nature.

Mrs. Renee Pope, the Makefield Elementary School librarian, told us: "We are a certified green school with a green roof, solar panels, a learning garden (the fruits and vegetables are used in our cafeteria when harvested), and many things inside the school that reduce the use of energy and our carbon footprint. We are building benches from trees cut down for the recent renovation. We had them milled and dried so we can use them to make our benches!!"

Seymour was presented with an amazing book (thicker than your arm!), with a letter to Seymour Simon from every student in the school about what they observed in the school’s Learning Garden. Seymour particularly loved this book because he is always encouraging his readers to get outside, to look, listen, hear, smell and observe the wonderful nature that is all around us. This school is full of SeeMore Explorers!

We don’t have enough room here to share them all, but here are some examples of both the beautiful artwork posted around the school and the excellent writing compiled into this book, THE NATURE OF MAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

DEAR SEYMOUR SIMON….

I saw rocks.                        - Adam, kindergarten

I found a praying mantis.                        - Scarlett, kindergarten

 

 

I saw a purple flower.                        - Adrianna, 1^st grade

 

There were bees.                        - Christian, 1^st grade

 

I herd crickets. I smelled flowers. I wish I can play and I want to live hear. It is a fun place. LOVE IT HEAR!! And I love Nature.                        - Nina, 2^nd grade

 

Being outside makes me feel good. I see a butterfly. I smell flowrs. I wish I could smell more things. If I was looking up from the grund to the sky I would see the botum of a flower.                   - Maggie, 2^nd grade

 

I feel on the out side of my body is cool air. I wish we had more flowers. I smel basil and choclit mint. I believe nature is cool.                 - Noah, 2^nd grade

 

I heard birds chirping. Being outside makes me feel free. I saw a yellow watering can. I tasted fresh mint. I wish I had a garden like this one. I never experienced something like this.                        - Avery, 3^rd grade

 

I hear the calm wind and the rustle of the leafs. I see bold pretty flowers. I wish bees grew 20 feet tall and butterfly wings were 30 feet long. Being outside in the garden makes me feel so happy.                         - Christian, 3^rd grade

 

I saw a praying mantis, a butterfly and a bee. It was so fun.            - Jeffrey, 3^rd grade

 

  One day I experienced nature Makefield learning garden. I see pretty flower. I hear bird cheering believe nature.                  - Ashlynne, 3^rd grade

 

I saw a woolly...

December 12, 2012

I had such a great time yesterday with the students and teachers at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and they took so many great photographs that Liz (my wife and editor of this blog) decided to make an Animoto video. Click Here to view.

I hope you like it. I really enjoyed my time with you all yesterday!

December 12, 2012

Seymour Simon visited Eleanor Roosevelt School in Morrisville, PA yesterday, and boy, was he surprised at all the things the students and their teachers had done to prepare for him!

Every classroom door was decorated as a different Seymour Simon book, and even the outside doors of the school were wrapped in paper that made them look like our solar system!

Here are photos of some of the great class decorations and bulletin boards:

A bulletin board dedicated to Seymour’s new book, EXTREME EARTH RECORDS.

This room studied POLAR BEARS.

Isn’t this an excellent WOLVES bulletin board?

 This room decided to concentrate on INCREDIBLE SHARKS.

And these guys got really carried away and built a 12-foot long Great White shark in the hallway. Wow! 

December 10, 2012

I have just received this lovely note from Ms. Carolyn Hjembo, the Reading Specialist at Quarry Hill Elementary School in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

First, Gracie learned some new things when she attended the assembly.

• Thomas liked how you made the paper airplane. The video was amazing!

•  Alex liked how you taught us a lot of things about space.

• I enjoyed your assembly and having the time to chat with you at breakfast and lunch.

Thanks so much for visiting us!    

For kids who want to read more about paper airplanes on my blog, inculding seeing the Paper Airplane video again (or show it to your friends), click here to find all the Paper Airplane stories on my website.

Happy folding!

Seymour Simon 

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