Science Tidbits
February 2018
Congratulations to our Caddo QSM Grant Winners
About the Grant: The Quality Science & Mathematics Grant Program (QSM) was established by R.S.17:374 of the Louisiana Legislature in the summer of 1992 for the purpose of providing materials and equipment to mathematics and science public school teachers. Teachers can be awarded up to $750. The QSM program had funds to award approximately $162,000 in grants to eligible classroom teachers for the 2017-2018 school year. Applicants had to show that their proposals would enhance the quality of instruction for regular education students who were enrolled in mathematics or science classes.
Complimentary LSTA Membership
Good News!
In an effort to support teachers of science this year during the implementation of the revised LSSS, LSTA is extending a complimentary membership to ALL Louisiana teachers of science, administrators, and informal educators until October 24, 2018.
All you need to do is complete and send in a membership form!! Contact your regional representative or download a form from our LSTA web site!
And more good news for current members. While the LSTA Board is celebrating with the 1000 + Louisiana science teachers who attended the NSTA Area Conference in New Orleans, the board acknowledges the high cost of a national event. As a result, the Board has approved extending membership expiration dates from November of 2017 to November 2018.
Upcoming Applications and Events
2018-2019 SMART Applications are available! Due, February 26th by 4:00 pm
Science and Medicine: Academic Research Training (SMART), which allows high school students to earn science credit under the guidance of biomedical personnel and a certified
science educator. For an application click HERE.
2017-2018 Regional Science Fair
The Louisiana Region I Science and Engineering Fair will be held at the Bossier Civic Center, 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, LA on March 1-3, 2018.
Please see the official memo from the Region I Science Fair Director, Dr. Elaine Cox.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is currently accepting nominations in honor of outstanding math and science (including computer science) teachers of K–6. The award recognizes those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning. Awardees join a network of more than 4,700 past recipients and receive a certificate from the President of the United States, a trip to Washington, DC, and $10,000. Educators are invited to nominate a teacher or begin an application on the PAEMST website.
Nominations close on April 1, 2018; applications must be completed by May 1, 2018.
Link: https://www.paemst.org
Regional Autonomous Robotics Circuit (RARC), February 24, 2018
RARC is a series of cyber and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) competitions that include liberal arts lessons. The competitions build upon one another and allow students in grades 3-12 to showcase their skills by competing against other students in their division (elementary school, middle school, and high school). Competition 2 will be Saturday, February 24, 2018. NICERC is still looking for volunteers. For more information, please visit https://nicerc.org/rarc/northwestla/volunteer/.
Upcoming Workshops
Using Crazy Traits to learn genetics
When: March 8, 2018
4:30-6:00
Where: C.E. Byrd High School
S201
Presented by:
Natalie Fox, C.E. Byrd High School
Annie McCulloch, Green Oaks Middle School
Sign up on Edivate
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
6-12: Using Science Vocabulary to Enhance the New Louisiana Student Standards for Science
When: March 13, 2018
4:30-6:00
Where: Caddo Magnet High Room A-7
Presented by:
Amanda Dolph, CMH
Deena Lachman, CMH
Sign up on Edivate
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
Using NSTA Classroom Resources to enhance LSSS
When: March 15, 2018
4:30-6:00
Where: Room 1
Presented by:
Deena Lachman, Caddo Magnet High
Lisa Nance, 6-12 Science CIS
Sign up on Edivate
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
Literacy in Science
When: March 20, 2018
4:30-6:00
Where: Room 1
Presented by:
Merrill Davis, Fair Park High School
Malisha Means, CMCTC
Betsy Willis, Ridgewood Middle School
Sign up on Edivate OR
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
Exploring Louisiana Student Standards for Science Using BreakOut EDU boxes
When: March 22, 2018
4:00-6:00
Where: PD Auditorium
Presented by:
Lynda Delo, MST Coordinator
Eunhee Chol, CMM
Sign up on Edivate
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
Using HHMI Resources
When: April 5, 2018
4:30-6:00
Where: Captain Shreve High School
Room 315
Presented by:
Katie Strong, C.E. Byrd High School
Amy Douglas, Captain Shreve High School
Lisa Nance, 6-12 Science CIS
Sign up on Edivate
Fill out this FORM if you are having trouble signing in.
Grants and Scholarship Opportunities
Louisiana Grant Watch
What's New with Symbaloo?
Click below to visit some of Caddo Science Symbaloo's newest awesome links.
Edulastic (I have to keep this one up because it is so great!)
Visit Edulastic to create technology enhanced assessment questions to better prepare students for the upcoming field test. With Edulastic you can create drop-down question, drag and drop questions, fill in the blank, and much more. Thank you Ms. Merrill Davis for Sharing!
Grade assignments and assessments in under a minute! Get reporting and analysis on student performance. Quickly send scores to students. Saves teachers an average of 3.7 hours per week! Over 790,000 installs and millions of assignments graded!
When Ordering Chemicals for High Schools
Caddo Parish Schools recently completed a monumental chemical cleanup. 100's of bottles of out-dated, corroded, and not used chemicals were removed from high schools to ensure the safety of our students and teachers.
In order to safely remove chemicals from classrooms we must work through the Department of Environmental Equality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bring in qualified technicians to log chemicals, properly package chemicals, and safely dispose of chemicals stored in lab closets. This process is exceptionally expensive and time consuming. To limit the amount of unnecessary chemicals Caddo Parish has on hand, I asked your principals to include me in the ordering process for purchasing chemicals for your classroom using classroom fees. Please sent the purchase request to Lisa Nance at lmnance@caddoschools.org or fax to 318-603-6368 to request my signature for chemical purchases. I will send your school a copy of the SDS for each chemical ordered along with a signed copy of the purchase request.
Microscope Repairs?
Quick Link to Useful Science Documents
- In 2017-2018, the higher of the 2016 or 2017 science scores will be counted in SPS.
- In 2018-2019, the higher of the 2017 or 2019 science scores will be counted in SPS*.
*Please see the John White's 10/24/17 newsletter for more info.
6th Grade
LEAP 2025 Field Test Guide for 6th Grade
6th Grade Task Phase Changes PDF
6th Grade Task Gravitational Waves
6th Grade Task Gravitational Waves PDF
6th Grade Task Chemical Reactions
6th Grade Task Chemical Reactions PDF
7th Grade
LEAP 2025 Field Test Guide for 7th Grade
7th Grade Task Cell Transport PDF
7th Grade Task The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
7th Grade Task The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone PDF
7th Grade Task Genetic Probability
7th Grade Task Genetic Probability PDF
7th Grade Task Genetic Variation and Survival
7th Grade Task Genetic Variation and Survival PDF
8th Grade
LEAP 2025 Field Test Guide for 8th Grade
8th Grade Task Climate and Weather
8th Grade Task Climate and Weather PDF
8th Grade Task Coastal Erosion, Preservation, and Restoration
8th Grade Task Coastal Erosion, Preservation, and Restoration PDF
8th Grade Task Water is Life PDF
8th Grade Task The Development of Scientific Theories
8th Grade Task The Development of Scientific Theories PDF
High School Biology
LEAP 2025 Field Test Guide for Biology
Biology EOC Released Test Questions 2013
Biology EOC Released Test Questions 2012
Biology EOC Released Test Questions 2011
Biology Task Comparing Organs PDF
Biology Task DNA-RNA-Protein PDF
Biology Task Animal Behavior PDF
Science and Biology Field Test Item Types
The field tests include the following stimulus-based item types:
• selected-response (multiple choice and multiple select)
• technology-enhanced (dropdown menus, drag and drop, hotspots, etc.)
• fill-in-the-blank
• two-part items made of a combination of item types
o--- two-part dependent, where the score in part B is dependent on the response in part A
o--- two-part independent, where the responses in each part are related in content but not in scoring
• constructed-response
• extended-response
More information on the upcoming Science Field Test found HERE.
Science Funnies!
#caddoscience
Caddo Science
Email: lmnance@caddoschools.org
Website: www.caddoschools.org
Location: 1961 Midway Ave, Shreveport, LA, United States
Phone: 318-603-6372
Twitter: @caddoscience