This week

Life Lessons

• Feature — Science by the sea: Learning about nature at the beach
• It's a fact — Fun and informative Web sites
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

Science by the sea: Learning about nature at the beach

Are you taking a family vacation to the beach this year? The ocean offers a variety of opportunities to learn about science in a fun way.

Think about going snorkeling or scuba diving to learn firsthand what the world is like under the ocean. Take a waterproof camera and snap some pictures of underwater scenery and marine life.

When you get back home, reference your pictures to books or Web sites to find out how many types of marine life you found.

Before you go, learn about the types of animals and marine life that are in the area as well as the history of the area. For example, if you are going to Hawaii, Hanauma Bay in Oahu features more than 50 species of fish.

If you aren't going to the beach, there are still many activities you can do to learn about science. Many of them are in your own backyard. Look up a star map on the Internet or in a book. Then look up at the night sky in your backyard, or try going to a spot where you can get away from city lights. Identify as many constellations as you can in the sky and write them down. Then go back and figure out how far away those stars are from Earth.

Visit National Geographic's Web site (www.nationalgeographic.com) for fun information about marine life and astronomy:

• National Geographic — Oceans and Coasts Habitat (www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/habitats/oceans.html)
• National Geographic — Star Journey (www.nationalgeographic.com/stars/chart)

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It's a Fact

Fun and informative Web sites

Did you know that researchers have found that over the summer months most kids forget over one-half of what they learned during the school year? We all have to practice our skills in order to keep them sharp.

The following Web sites are educational and fun, and they will help keep your brain sharp for the upcoming school year:

• National Geographic — Forces of Nature
  This Web site includes video clips and other intriguing information about tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanoes.
  www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature
• Solar System Exploration
  This NASA Web site dedicated to the solar system features cool pictures, articles, summaries of space missions, and other multimedia.
  www.solarsystem.nasa.gov
• Channel One
  The Channel One Network's Web site is a community that brings together young people from around the globe to learn about and discuss everything that's on their minds — from issues in the news to what happens in school.
  www.channelone.com
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
  Explore the Web site of one of the world's greatest aquariums. Monterey Bay features over 200 award-winning galleries and exhibits
  www.montereybayaquarium.org
• BBC — Science & Nature
  The best of the British Broadcasting Corporation's Science and Nature coverage is available on the Web with pictures, quizzes, and other multimedia.
  www.bbc.co.uk/sn

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen and sophomores

Even in the summer months, it is a good time to think about the important role that high school courses play in your future. Are you aware that the types of courses you take in high school assist you in obtaining a certain type of financial aid?

Several states offer grants for students who have graduated from a public or accredited private high school in the state and who have completed challenging programs of study. Typically, students must also exhibit family financial need.

• Ask your guidance counselor for information about grants offered by your state government.

For juniors

Summer is flying by, and your summer earnings are mounting. Before you spend too much of that hard-earned cash, you should give some thought to a savings program.

• Discuss the issue of money management with your parents. It may be wise to open a checking account or learn to manage a debit card.

For seniors and parents

Those who took AP exams in May should receive Score Reports soon. In reviewing these scores, there are several bits of information to keep in mind:

• Exams are scored on a scale of one to five. Many colleges will award college credit for a minimum score of three.
• If you are disappointed in the score(s), try to remember that taking an AP exam is a valuable educational experience. Also, college admission decisions are not made based on AP scores. Just taking an AP course indicates to colleges that the you have completed a rigorous college-level course.
• Visit the Web sites of prospective colleges and investigate their policies on credit by examination so you will be aware of what credit is available for the scores you achieved.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web site (www.collegeboard.com) or call (866) 756-7346.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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