Science Matters
A periodic curriculum update: December 2019
Science Alliance for Durham Public Schools
Make sure your school is represented in the new Science Alliance for Durham Public Schools! This leadership group will serve as the primary point of communication and advocacy for science in our schools. We will be focused on improving science instruction, data analysis, and community partnerships. Our next meeting will take place on December 10 from 4:30-5:30 at the Museum of Life and Science. We’d love to have a representative from every school! If you'd like to represent your school, please sign up here. The remaining meetings will be held on February 18 and April 28.
Curriculum resources can be found at: https://central.dpsnc.net/.
Science Learning around the District
NC Science Olympiad is COMING!
February 29: Divisions B & C @ Riverside High School
March 21: Division A @ Southern School of Energy & Sustainability
Click the links to volunteer!
Leadership Opportunities
DPS Hub Farm Curriculum Team
Remaining meeting dates:
February 11, 4:30-5:30
March 10, 4:30-5:30
May 12, 4:30-5:30
Sign up here!
Science Alliance
Remaining meeting dates:
Dec 10, 4:30-5:30
Feb 18, 4:30-5:30
April 28, 4:30-5:00
Sign up here!
NC Science Olympiad
NCSO Regional Tournament Registration is now officially open for all divisions!
K-12 Curriculum & Instruction will pay registration for one varsity team at each DPS school. Do not pay when registering. NCSO will bill us!
Opportunity knocks
Apply for the BioInteractive Ambassador Academy
HHMI BioInteractive is inviting educators to participate in a three-year professional development Academy to promote and support evidence-based teaching practices that incorporate our classroom resources, approach, and values. Participants in this Academy will engage in a research-based professional development pathway focused on building professional learning leadership capacity and growing the Ambassador community.
Benefits of participation in the Academy include:
- Up to three years of professional learning and development.
- Full travel and registration support to participate in at least one regional or national science education and/or scientific conference annually during the three-year Academy.
- Participation in a national professional network of expert life science educators.
- Stipend, full travel and registration, and coaching support to present at least once at a national and/or regional meeting.
Upon completion of the three-year Academy, cohort members will join the HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador community and help to design and facilitate BioInteractive professional learning experiences for other educators, serve as program advisors, and contribute to BioInteractive content as developers, reviewers, and field testers. We welcome educators from all identity groups and educational contexts to apply.
Visit BioInteractive for more information and eligibility requirements.
If you have questions or need support from HHMI staff, please contact us at biointeractiveacademy@hhmi.org or 301-215-8868.
Teach the Moon: Bring Lunar Phenomena into your Classroom
The Moon is a constant celestial companion in classrooms around the world. Lunar phenomena have much to offer teachers as both an engaging narrative and visible presence in the sky. Incorporate Moon themes and connections into your instruction by exploring this curated list of media-rich and NGSS-aligned interactive resources from PBS LearningMedia and NASA.*
Experience what it is like to see a total lunar eclipse with these videos and a slideshow. Use this resource to make observations and to describe the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth during a lunar eclipse.
Learn about the mechanics of lunar eclipses with these videos and visualizations. Use this resource to view and engage with visualizations that show the alignment of the Moon, the Sun, and Earth from multiple perspectives and to provide opportunities for students to develop and use models and make evidence-based claims about eclipses.
Litter Prevention Program for Elementary Schools
We are creating a Litter Prevention Program for Durham schools that will give students the opportunity to learn about and engage in environmental stewardship activities. We are conducting a needs assessment survey to hear about what community members believe would be best for their schools.
The results of this survey will be used to create a sustainable program that addresses the expressed interests and needs of the elementary school communities. Your opinion matters! Please take the survey and share it with others who are part of the elementary school communities. The survey will be open until December 1, 2019.
For questions about the survey or the program please reach out to Abby Gostling at abby@keepdurhambeautiful.org or (919) 560-4197 ext. 21222.
Take the survey here!
Prism Grants
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund's Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics, or PRISM, grant applications are due on December 5. Grant applications provide up to $3000.
NC Science Festival
Gear up for the 10th annual NC Science Festival, which returns in April 2020. If you're interested in hosting an event as part of the Festival, please visit our website for more information and to submit your event details. Submissions are due January 10, 2020.
Mini grant applications are ALSO available for events. If you've got a great idea for an event, but need some help funding it, please consider applying for up to $1000 from our Event Sponsorship Program. Applications are due November 30, 2019. And for those of you on UNC System campuses, mini grants of up to $5000 are available through the UNC Challenge Grant program, and those applications are also due 11/30/2019.
DPS Foundation Grants
We are planning to award approximately $100,000 throughout the 2019-20 school year in support of your innovative ideas and projects. All applications received by January 10, 2020 will be considered for the second round of awards which will be distributed in early March. Please visit our website at https://www.bullcityschools.org/grants to learn more about the application process.
Metorologist Available for Class Presentations
Biogen RTP Community Lab Registration open
Women in STEM
Outdoor Learning
DPS Teacher Collaborative
Remaining meeting dates: Dec 5, Jan 30, Feb 20, Mar 19, April 23
Teacher Professional Development
2020 NIEHS Science, Teachers and Research Summer (STaRS) Experience
High school science teachers are encouraged to apply for the in Research Triangle Park. STaRS is a two-week professional development (PD) program in July that is designed and conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
The program will run from Monday, July 6, to Friday, July 17 (excluding Saturday and Sunday), from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. each day. Participants will conduct biomedical research investigations in laboratories and will learn from NIEHS scientists and guest speakers from local universities about various issues in biomedical and environmental sciences, such as environmental triggers of diseases, translation of basic research to clinical application, gene editing, genetically modified organisms and bioethics. To offset costs associated with lodging, meals, transportation and time spent during the two-week program, participants will receive a $2,000 stipend, coordinated and disbursed by NCABR. The stipend will be provided in two equal payments, which will be disbursed each week of the program.
Women and individuals of underrepresented groups are encourage to apply.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Webinars from NCSSM
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is excited to announce two upcoming fall webinars!
Supporting Underrepresented Minority High School Students in the STEM Pipeline
Presented by Camilla Brothers
Dec 3, 2019 3:00 PM
Link to register for FREE: http://bit.ly/2DcHiiR
Navigating the Digital Divide in Student Communication
Presented by Dr. Amanda Martyn
December 4th, 7-8pm EST
Link to register for FREE: http://bit.ly/30iAytL
NC Museum of Natural Sciences Teacher Treks
Jan 3
EDUCATOR TREK: WHERE SWANS FLY AND BEARS WALK
3:30pm Jan 3 - 10:00pm Jan 4
Apr 18
EDUCATOR TREK: SECRETS OF THE SWAMP
8:00am Apr 18 - 6:00pm Apr 19
May 1
EDUCATOR TREK: SPRING IN THE MOUNTAINS
3:30pm May 1 - 6:00pm May 3
Duke's STAR Program
The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program provides a high-quality research experience for undergraduate students, high school students, and middle and high school teachers during the summer academic break.
The eight-week program, held June 22 to August 13, 2020, will give participants who are interested in science and medicine real hands-on experience in research methodology and writing.
Due January 10, 2020
Program website and application http://bit.ly/2QPBVhx
Updates from NCDPI - Science Standards Revision Timeline
Our Webinar Series for 2018-2019 focused on the National Research Council’s (NRC) publication A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. This year’s series will examine how the three dimensions are integrated in local curriculum units/lessons. Recorded webinars from 2018-2019 are located on the K-12 Science Google Site Professional Development page.
Download a free copy of the Framework from
Please join us from 3:30-4:30pm for the following topics:
- Webinar 2: Focus on DCI January 28,2020 Registration Link
- Webinar 3: Focus on the SEPs March 10, 2020 Registration Link
- Webinar 4: Focus on the CCs April 30, 2020 Registration Link
Programs for Students
NC American Chemical Society (ACS) Project SEED (Science Educational Experience for the Disadvantaged)
NC ACS Project SEED is a paid summer internship. First year students will receive a $2500 fellowship. Throughout the year, students present their research at local, state and national science competitions. Students who reside in Wake, Durham, Franklin, Orange and Harnett counties commute to their internship sites at North Carolina State, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central, Duke, or Campbell University. Links are below for the student application and Chemistry teacher recommendation.
Student Application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetqy2V112bnKtxhx4TSdDfAnApWX7866cnG7h7iajwqpJEVw/viewform
Chemistry Teacher Recommendation:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIqH0RhIr85uuKsIkKnQbIIc5T8lAnZw9xIhTHZ2wvhFsR8Q/viewform
As incentives for students to apply, you may want to suggest they review 1) the WRAL TV news report https://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3244981/ and 2) the 2014 Partnership Award from the NC American Chemical Society, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo8ivdbMp1M The 2011 senior SEED class received the highest total scholarships, $8.2 million. (4-year total)
If you, students or parents have questions, please contact (919) 247-4854 or fmcneal2@gmail.com.
*A letter is attached to share with students.
Community Connections
Willow Alston-Socha
Email: willow.alston-socha@dpsnc.net
Website: central.dpsnc.net
Location: Durham Public Schools, NC, USA
Phone: 919-560-9184
Twitter: @Willow_STEM
Linda P. Tugurian, PhD
Email: linda.tugurian@dpsnc.net
Website: central.dpsnc.net
Location: Durham Public Schools, NC, USA
Phone: 919-560-2647
Twitter: @DPS_science