

Science Snippets
MPS Elementary Science New for February 2022
Instructional Strategy of the Month: Fact or Fib
Frequently Accessed Resources
Professional Development

5th Grade Science OSTP
Many questions swirl around the 5th grade science OSTP. Let's meet (through zoom) to talk about what to expect, resources, and questions you may have.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
4:15 - 5:15
Drab to Fab: Strategies to Teach Science Content (3rd - 6th)
Reading and watching videos are a staple to learning science content, but are your students ENGAGED? How can we take instruction from boring to engaging? In this session we are going to take a look at some strategies to get your students engaged with any subject.
Mark your calendars!
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
4:30 - 5:30
ASC Boardroom
Read Across America Day Virtual Read Aloud
Celebrate Read Across America Day with a virtual read alouds featuring international renowned writer and activist Alice Walker.
This virtual experience includes Alice Walker reading the book and talking about the book-writing process, as well as illustrator Quim Torres discussing the illustration process—in Spanish! Subtitles will be available to help you engage every student with this exciting event.
You can also find a ready-to-use activity and additional resources to build a fun lesson around this annual holiday.
Trade Books about The Environment

Energy Island (3-6)
At a time when most countries are producing ever-increasing amounts of greenhouse gasses, the rather ordinary citizens of Samsø have accomplished something extraordinary―in just ten years they have reduced their carbon emissions by 140% and become almost completely energy independent. A narrative tale and a science book in one, this inspiring true story proves that with a little hard work and a big idea, anyone can make a huge step toward energy conservation.

No Monkeys, No Chocolate (2-4 )
Everyone loves chocolate, right? But how many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it’s made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist?
This delectable dessert comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn’t survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels.

One Plastic Bag (PK - 3)
Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred.
The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads. Water pooled in them, bringing mosquitoes and disease. Something had to change. Isatou Ceesay was that change. She found a way to recycle the bags and transform her community. This inspirational true story shows how one person's actions really can make a difference in our world.
Discovery Calendar Activities (PK -2 )

Little Girl Big Dream (PK -2)
Based on the life and story of Olympian Samantha Peszek, Little Girl Big Dream inspires children to dream BIG, work hard, love themselves and to support and encourage others. Little Girl Big Dream is written by Leslie Harter, Illustrated by Hayley Moore and published by Vooks.

Wind Power (PK - 2)
What is wind?
How can it be helpful?
Use this Discovery Education Studio about Wind. You will find embedded videos, vocabulary, embedded songs, and estimation all about wind!
Discovery Calendar Activities (3-5)

Explorer Series: Life Science Choice Board
Choice Boards are a great way for students to learn while giving them some freedom. Discovery has a new choice board is on life science, specifically heredity and traits.
Each one of the choices has embedded videos, readings, and other activities to complete. If you need help, I will be happy to walk you through how to use one with your students.

Generation Beyond: Mars Exploration Virtual Field Trip
Discovery Calendar Activities (6-8)

Wave Patterns

Here a cell, there a cell
Celebrate our Earth

World Wildlife Day - March 3
World Wildlife Day on March 3rd annually dedicates a celebration to all life on our planet. The yearly event is regarded as the most important, raising awareness about threatened and endangered plants and animals.
How can you honor our wildlife? LINK

Earth Hour - March 26th 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The event is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on a specific day towards the end of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.[1] It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.

Learn about Butterflies Day - March 14
On March 14th, National Learn About Butterflies Day encourages us to look for a blur of color as butterflies begin migrating across the country. Each year the celebration brings with it an awareness of the varieties of butterflies and their importance to our survival. Spring and summer are just right around the corner, so it is an excellent time to take a few minutes and learn something new about butterflies and appreciate their beauty.
How can you get involved? LINK
Butterfly Larvae Order Form
We will be ordering butterfly larvae for the kindergarten, first, and third grades to arrive on/around April 4. Please complete this form so that I can order the correct amount. You may need to come to ASC to pick up your larvae if I have more orders than I can deliver. I will notify you about that ASAP. All orders must be received by March 25th.
Second grade teachers: The animal life cycle is not one of your standards; your standard focuses on the life cycle of plants. However, I know many of you enjoy the butterfly unit. You can fill out the order form, but the budget for this will go to kinder, first, and third grade teachers first. I will purchase for 2nd grade if there is enough money left in the budget.