STEELS Standards Resources
September 11th, 2023
Useful Tools
Resources to Bookmark
- Elementary NGSS / STEELS Crosswalk & Gap Analysis
- Secondary NGSS / STEELS Crosswalk & Gap Analysis
- K-2 T&E Curriculum Map
- 3-5 T&E Curriculum Map
Professional Development to Support STEELS
Science Liaison Network - 8:30 am - 3:00 pm at the ARIN Central Office.
Meeting dates for the year are:
September 20, 2023
November 29, 2023
January 31, 2024
March 27, 2024
Science Liaison network is for science teachers who are willing to share the information gathered at the network session with their school administrators and teams.
Introduction - Everest Immersive Experience - October 12, 2023
This first level session is highly suggested for all science teachers, K-12, as it serves as an introductory session to the shifts in instruction the new STEELS standards require.
STEELS Series Practice I - Planning for Big Ideas - January 23, 2024 - ARIN Central Office
This next level of the STEELS series seeks to aid K-12 science teachers in unpacking science curriculum and standards, learn how to identify anchoring phenomenon and support their explanation, and finally, how to organize a sequence of learning experiences.
- Unpacking Curriculum and Standards
- Identifying Anchoring Phenomenon and its Explanation
- Organizing a Sequence of Learning Experiences
STEELS Series - Practice II and III - Eliciting Student Ideas and Supporting Ongoing Changes in Thinking - February 23, 2024 - ARIN Central Office
Practices II and III in the STEELS series aims to support K-12 science teachers' understanding of how to elicit student ideas and support ongoing changes in student thinking throughout a unit of instruction.
STEELS Series - Practice IV - Drawing Together Evidence Based Explanations - March 5, 2024 - ARIN Central Office
Practice IV of the STEELS series supports K-12 science teachers in learning about how to help students draw together evidence-based explanations throughout a unit of instruction. We will learn about how to support students in developing gapless explanations for the phenomenon they encounter in the classroom.
VIRTUAL SESSION: Technology and Engineering - 25% of PA STEELS - Feb 21, 2024
This session will be facilitated by Brandt Hutzel from PDE and will focus on unpacking the T&E Standards. This session is for ANY TEACHER, K-12, who may be responsible for implementing the T&E Standards. Recording Link from Brandt Hutzels Technology and Engineering STEELS session.
STEM Networking Sessions - These sessions will take place at Westmoreland IU7, located at 102 Equity Drive Greensburg, PA 15601. Session Dates are:
- September 28, 2023
- December 15, 2023
- February 6, 2024
- May 14, 2024
Summer 2024 STEP w/EbD Workshops
Fully-funded, 4-day in-person trainings (elementary, middle, and high school specific EbD courses) for 25 educators per level in the summer of 2024. Participants will receive a $816/person stipend to cover transportation, lodging, and meals (stipends will be paid by 9/1/2024). (32) Act 48 will be available as well as (3) graduate credits through St. Cloud State University for $500.
Winter/Spring, January 1 - April 3, 2024
This professional learning opportunity has three parts. The first is an 8-10 hour online, asychronous course that introduces participates to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences program. The second part of the program is optional (but lots of fun!) and will be held on April 4, 2024 at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek. This day will give teachers a hands-on experience on water testing of a local watershed and investigations into plant and animal life in our region. The third part of the program is also optional. It is the MWEE Capstone Project. This can either be a classroom session or a field trip (field trip at the schools expense). Addtional details can be found at the link in the title.
MWEE Capstone Project (field trip) Opportunities - This may be scheduled after completing the MWEE online session and the MWEE In-person session with Lori Rodgers at lrodgers@iu28.org.
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Registration in Open Now! 2024 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Education Summit!
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, ARIN will cohost the 2024 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Education Summit at Grove City College. This event is FREE and open to all science teachers and their administrators. The registration link can be found here.
The primary goal for this conference is to empower educators with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration they need to integrate environmental literacy and sustainability into their curricula and teaching practices. We will bring together passionate educators from diverse backgrounds and environmental professions to foster a community of environmentally conscious and engaged teachers who can, in turn, inspire and educate the next generation of environmentally responsible citizens. Vendors and Environmental Literacy specialists will also display resources and materials.
The themes for the breakout sessions are as follows.
Best Practices for Teaching ELS in the Classroom
- Implementation of ELS in Elementary
- Implementation of ELS in Secondary
- Equitable and inclusive environmental literacy education
- Mapping a MWEE into your curriculum
- Mapping PA STEELS into your district's curriculum
- Supporting district leaders with ELS of STEELS
- Building a District Environmental Literacy Plan
- Becoming a Green Ribbon School
- Leveraging Environmental Education Providers and Community Partners
If you have any questions please contact Lori Rodgers at lrodgers@iu28.org.
Curriculum Resources
⚛️ Science Curriculum Tools & Resources
- OpenSciEd - grades 6-12 available now, elementary will be available early 2025
NGSS Storylines - Next Generation Science Storylines project is dedicated to providing tools that support teachers in developing, adapting, and teaching with strongly aligned NGSS materials in classrooms around the country.
Inspire - free digital pilot for PA Schools
OER Commons - Open Educational Resources
Ambitious Science Teaching Tools - our 4 leveled trainings are based on these practices
Phenomena Driven Storylines - storylines for biology
Discovery Education - Pennsylvania STEELS - resources aligned to STEELS standards
Streamable Learning - Streamable Learning is excited to offer districts a pilot through the end of the current academic year that showcases our STEELS-aligned resources. Our coverage is extensive and includes live and interactive resources supporting 3.1 Life Science, 3.2 Physical Science, 3.3 Earth and Space Science, and 3.4 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability.
⚒️ Technology & Engineering Curriculum Tools & Resources
- ITEEA EbD Buzz - Engineering By Design curriculum resource - click here to request your own access.
- ITEEA Lesson Plans
- OER Commons - Open Educational Resources
Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) Opportunities - YES is a free curricular resource from the Museum of Science, Boston. The units engage students in real-world engineering programs. Through these hands-on engineering design challenges, student strengthens their knowledge of scientific concepts and computational thinking.
PBS Design Squad Global - This site includes all kinds of activities for young students to get involved with the Design and Engineering processes in a fun and engaging way. Take a look at some of these fantastic ideas.
PA STEELS Vendor Fair
School administrators and teachers who are looking for resources to implement the new PA STEELS Standards are invited to this informal event. Join us for an opportunity to visit vendor tables in a relaxed environment to preview resources, learn about services, gather information, ask questions, and set up future connections.
March 13, 2024 | 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Chestnut Ridge Conference Center
132 PINE RIDGE RD
BLAIRSVILLE, PA 15717
Registration is FREE - CLICK HERE
FREE FOOD - FREE PRIZES - FREE REGISTRATION