ESC REGION 11 SCIENCE NEWSLETTER
Education Service Center Region 11 - April 2021
Survey - Final Opportunity
Health TEKS Survey- Final Opportunity
This survey is to collect and provide information to districts related to addressing Health Education Instruction. The data collected will help district personnel with decisions on how they might implement the Health Education TEKS.
We are collecting your contact information. Your information will allow district personnel to contact you directly if they have a question or need clarification.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. Anyone who would like access to the data may email Cheryl Bowden at cbowden@esc11.net.
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Interactives and Simulations
Take time to check out some of these sites and see what will work with your classes and students!
PhET - Yes, you know of this one, but did you know if you sign up for a free account that you also get access to free lessons! Plus, they have upgraded and added items.
Biology Simulations - Simulations, Blogs and Games
Bioman - Biology games and virtual labs
College of Staten Island - Sounds crazy, but they have links to many virtual labs and simulations in a clearinghouse format. Links that lead to other locations. It is multidisciplinary, so see if there is something here that works for your content. Some are easier to sort than others. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Biotechnology, Epidemiology, Virtual Dissections, Physics, and many more. These are more secondary than elementary.
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Science Opportunities
2021 POGIL Virtual Writers' Retreat
WHAT: Developing, Writing, and Improving POGIL Activities
WHO: Teachers
DEADLINE: April 5, 2021
DATE: July 11-15, 2021
COST: $520
LIMITS: 24 Teachers
FORMAT: Virtual
How to Apply: Complete the POGIL Writers Retreat Application
LINK: Application Link
Our POGIL Virtual Writers' Retreat will provide an opportunity for individuals or small teams to spend focused time on developing, writing, and improving POGIL activities with the mentorship of experienced POGIL author coaches.
The 4-day agenda (plus a 2-hour orientation) includes workshop sessions focused on activity authoring, feedback sessions, and ample time for writing and interacting with other authors and author coaches.
The retreat is appropriate for authors in all content areas at both post-secondary and K-12 levels. If you have an interest in authoring high-quality POGIL activities if you have already authored activities and would like to refine them, or if you are getting activities ready to submit for endorsement, the POGIL Writers' Retreat is a great opportunity for you to get feedback from colleagues and author coaches.
For an additional fee, retreat participants can earn 3 graduate quarter credits through Seattle Pacific University.
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STAAR Review Using Digital Breakout Rooms
Digital breakout rooms are a great way for teachers and students to review for STAAR whether you are Face-2-Face or in a virtual setting. Digital breakouts can range from simple to complex, allowing teachers to differentiate for various student needs in the classroom, including special education and language learners. Individuals or groups of students can participate. Consider allowing students to create some items and mini breakouts by concept or topic. Join in, learn, and get started creating your own digital breakout room using some or all of the following: Google Sites, Docs, Slides, Forms, web link, simulations, and others. Choices of dates as options, but you can attend all for your grade level if you like.
Engage by Design Series: Science 6-8 STAAR Review using Digital Breakout Rooms
Engage by Design Series: Biology STAAR Review using Digital Breakout Rooms
TIMES: 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Also, knowing the challenges, there are times set aside for technical assistance where you can register and pop into any or all.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPTION DATES:
April 13, 2021, April 14, 2021, April 15, 2021
TIMES: 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Please visit the ESC Region 11 Science Professional Development page for a complete list of currently available offerings.
LIVE Summer Science Offerings 2021
July 21, 2021
Engage by Design Content Series: Home on the Range for K- through Second-Grade
July 22, 2021
Engage by Design Content Series: Home on the Range for Third-through Fifth-Grade Science
Description:
Join us for one day of science investigations and field experiences, using role-playing and models and games to make science fun and interesting as students explore the world around them. Lesson investigations will explore habitat, adaptations, population studies, the water cycle, and more. Each participant will receive the complete RANGELANDS guide, which contains 27 student-centered lessons using hands-on, real-world science investigations. Each lesson includes from 3 to 8 activities. The Welder Wildlife Foundation developed the RANGELANDS guide. The lessons use real-life, hands-on science and social studies skills and tiered tasks for various ability levels along with embedded higher-order thinking skills. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes. If COVID-19 prevents in-person sessions, this will be offered as a virtual session.
Please visit the ESC Region 11 Science Professional Development page for a complete list of currently available offerings.
COMING SOON - Summer Offerings 2021
Needing options for getting summer PD. We have a large number of items that will be available. Some face-2-face listed sessions are subject to change based upon the most recent COVID-19 numbers and if ESC Region 11 facilities will be open. We are planning for as many options as possible to assist in your work. Most of the sessions are linked below, though some are not live for registrations at this time.
June 8, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Digital Interactive Notebooks K-5- 1/2 day via Zoom
June 9, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Interactive Notebooks MS - 1/2 day via Zoom
June 10, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Digital Interactive Notebooks HS (Bio heavy) - 1/2 day via Zoom
June 22-23, 2021- K-12 Statewide STEM Leadership Training
June 28-30, 2021- K-12 Statewide STEM Teacher Training
July 1, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Corn in the Classroom for K-5 (Coming Soon)
July 12, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Earth Science & Watersheds: Utilizing Models for Increased Student Participation- 1/2 Day Face-2-Face
July 13-14, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: STEMulating Design Challenges K-5 (Book fee)
July 15, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Integrating Satellite Imagery, Animations, and Videos into your Curriculum- 1/2 Day Virtual
July 19-20, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: STEMulating Design Challenges, 9-12
July 21, 2021-Engage by Design Content Series Science: Home on the Range for K-through Second Grade Science
July 22, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: Home on the Range for Third-through Fifth-Grade Science
July 21-22, 2021- Engage by Design Content Series Science: STEMulating Design Challenges, 6-8 (Book Fee)
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Texas Home Learning (CRIMSI) - Three Options Now Available
The COVID Recovery Instructional Materials Support Initiative (CRIMSI) provides additional support for Texas Home Learning to reduce learning loss related to COVID 19. Interested districts, schools, and educators can participate with any combination of campuses, grades, teachers, or subject and can customize the CRIMSI experience based on local needs. Over 85 districts are currently participating this Spring, and new supports are coming for districts!
Join the new CRIMSI supports, customized for your local context
21-22 Full-Year Pilot (Apply by 6/11)
- Recover COVID-related learning loss and accelerate student growth with support to select materials and facilitate operations for full-year implementation
Visit texashomelearning.org/CRIMSI to learn more or email us at TexasHomeLearning@tea.texas.gov.
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Great Minds PhD Science TEKS Addition Modules Released K-5
Access the following new modules at https://texashomelearning.org/:
- Grade K Module 2B – 3/2
- Grade 1 Module 2 – 3/2
- Grade 2 Module 2 – 3/2
- Grade 3 Module 3 – 3/1
- Grade 4 Module 3 – 3/1
- Grade 5 Module 3 – 3/1
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Collision Lab HTML5!
Sample Learning Goals
- Draw "before-and-after" pictures of collisions
- Construct momentum vector representations of collisions
- Apply the law of conservation of momentum to solve collision problems
- Explain why energy is not conserved and varies in some collisions
- Determine the change in mechanical energy in collisions of varying elasticity
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PhET Quality Assurance Specialist Job Opening
PhET Interactive Simulations has an opening for an entry-level, part- or full-time, manual quality assurance (QA) specialist with a focus on educational simulation testing.
This position works closely with PhET’s team of software developers to ensure that all sims behave correctly during use. This is a great job for anyone who enjoys working with technology, has a solid understanding of basic science and math concepts at the high school level, and enjoys trying to find bugs or easter eggs in computer games or software. PhET has a strong software engineering team; there is no requirement to write any lines of code.
Candidates can work remotely anywhere within the U.S. or can relocate to Boulder, Colorado. The start date is flexible and can be as late as July 1, 2021, if needed.
Application review will start March 15th and will continue until the position is filled. Thank you for spreading the word!
-Your PhET team
10th Annual Mitchell Institute of Physics Enhanced Program (MIPEP)
FORMAT: Virtual via Zoom
WHEN: June 14-25, 2021
COST: FREE
CAPACITY: 40 Teachers
EARLY APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 12, 2021
The Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University is inviting high school teachers to apply to the 10th Mitchell Institute Physics Enhancement Program (MIPEP), to be held during June 14-25, 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, MIPEP 2021 will be offered in the live-streamed virtual format via Zoom. The participants should expect two weeks of standards-based training, including Zoom classes with experienced Texas A&M professors, virtual labs and demonstrations, sessions with master teachers, ideas for low-budget physics demos, popular lectures by top researchers and astronauts, and networking with colleagues. The goal of MIPEP is to help teachers develop a deeper understanding of physics concepts and explore effective instructional strategies that will enhance their classroom instruction and impact student performance in physics. The preference will be given to new and crossover high school physics teachers who don't have a lot of college training in physics.
The teachers who complete the program will receive 80 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education, including 34 credit hours of G/T curriculum and six credit hours of G/T annual update. The program is free for teachers.
The early application deadline is April 12. After that, the first round of acceptance letters will be emailed, and subsequent applications will be accepted depending on the available space. We have the capacity for up to 40 teachers.
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TEA Information and Updates
Science Workgroups Draft TEKS Revisions
Once approved, the TEKS will not go into effect in your classroom until the 23-24 school year.
Workgroups have shared out the following draft revisions. We know that you are beyond busy. Please try to review the revisions and provide specific feedback.
Feedback will be accepted in response to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) workgroup drafts throughout the review and revision process. Comments on drafts will help to inform future work groups' recommendations. When providing specific comments and recommendations for a workgroup, please identify the workgroup in the email's subject line. For example, in the subject line, please indicate "Science TEKS Review Work Group A Feedback." Please submit comments to TEA at teks@tea.texas.gov.
Final Recommendations Work Group B - Adopted by SBOE in November 2020 meeting. (Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics.)
Look for approved HS TEKS to be posted on the TEA ritter site.
**It is possible that the High School TEKS will be reopened in the spring if there is a need to adjust to the vertical alignment with Middle School.
Scientific and Engineering Practices Work Group - Final Recommendations
Work Group C Draft - Middle School Recommendations
Work Group C- Draft - Grades 6-8 Vertical Alignment Recommendations
Work Group Draft- High School - Aquatic, Astronomy, and Earth Systems Recommendations
Work Group D Working Draft - Earth and Space
Work Group D is still accepting Elementary (K-5) applications, other HS Science courses, and CTE courses for science credit. Workgroup members are posted on the TEA website.
TEKS Review Process Flow Chart
TEKS and Instructional Materials Review and Adoption Schedule
- 2019-20 TEKS Reviewed
- 2020-21 Revised TEKS Adopted / Issue Proclamation 2023
- 2021-22 IM (Instructional Materials) Reviewed
- 2022-23 IM (Instructional Materials) Adopted
- 2023-24 Revised TEKS and Instructional Materials Adopted (Required by law- Use in classroom instruction)
*NOTES:
- It is recommended that districts that write their own curriculum begin this as early as the 21-22 school year and add any instructional materials as support in the summer of 2024.
- TEKS Resource System will begin revisions as soon as the TEKS revision is complete so that all components will be ready for use during the 2024-25 school year.
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Stay Connected!
Science and Other Newsletters
Newsletter Signup: From the dropdown, select Science
Visit our Site: https://www.esc11.net/science
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Contact Us! Region 11 Science and STEM Lead - Cheryl Bowden
Email: cbowden@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/science
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: (817) 740-7755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esc11science/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @ESC11Science