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	What's New?
	Year of Science 2009 announces January 3, 2009 launch event in conjunction with annual meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. University of Connecticut launches Year of Science Web site.

	YoS09 Logos
	Download a folder of Year of Science 2009 logos.

	Celebrate!
	Charles Darwin - The annual international celebration of the 200th year since his birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.

COPUS welcomes teachers and schools to the celebration of Year of Science 2009!

Welcome K-12 educators! COPUS and the Year of Science 2009 provide wonderful opportunities for you and your students to share what you are doing in science and to get involved in activities both locally and nationally that will stimulate student curiosity and enthusiasm for science!

	Themes for Year of Science 2009
	January - Process and Nature of Science; Communicating Science February - Evolution March - Physics and Technology April - Energy Resources May - Sustainabililty and the Environment June - Oceans and Water July - Astronomy August - Weather and Climate September - Biodiversity and Conservation October - Geosciences and Planet Earth November - Chemistry December - Science and health

Each month in 2009 is focused around a scientific theme. (See chart to right.)

You will be able to find theme - related resources, activities, video clips, podcasts, student challenges, citizen science opportunities, and much, much more on the Year of Science 2009 website. The site will debut in November 2008, but you can start your planning for the celebration NOW!

First, register your school or department as a participant. It's free and simple! You can register by completing the form at: http://copusproject.org/register/. Once registered, we can notify you of upcoming activities that will be of interest to you and your students.

Second, consider hosting your own event or activity and tell us about it. We will promote it on the YoS09 website! You might consider the following ideas:

• Have students research a scientist or type of science then post what they learn about how science works in the school hallways, library, or other common areas
• Set up a "What is Science" display in the school library or display case
• Host a science cafe for kids or the community. Learn more.
• Hold a process of science party in your classroom
• Host a science speaker from a local university and/or science organization for an evening event about science for students and their parents
• Have the school journalists interview a scientist for an article in the school news paper or for the school news show
• Have students design a "What is Science" survey that they use to pre-assess then educate their parents
• Host a biomusicology evening for your community in which students record the sounds of science
• Host a Bio-blitz that involves parents and the community
• Anything else you can dream up! Share your great ideas ().

Third, don't do it alone! There are regionally coalescing groups of science stakeholders from coast to coast that would love to plan events and activities with you. Follow these links to find other COPUS participants who might want to work with your school:

• http://copusproject.org/participants/participants.php

• http://copusproject.org/regional_hubs.php

Additional Resources

The Understanding Science Web site (www.understandingscience.org) will be available this fall. You can contribute to the celebration of Year of Science 2009 by focusing on the process and nature of science in your lessons of the 09 school year. Resources in this site will help you to incorporate inquiry-based teaching into any lesson you already have or use additional resources on the '09 Web site to teach with the themes!

Don't forget to register online at: http://copusproject.org/register/.

For more information about COPUS and the Year of Science 2009, please visit: www.copusproject.org or contact Sheri Potter - .

The Year of Science 2009 celebrations are led by participants in the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS).
To learn more about COPUS visit http://www.copusproject.org