Science Newsletter
January 14, 2017
Check out what has been going on around EPS!
Curriculum documents
Check out the PD on Your Plan repository for ideas for studying with your PLC!
The following have been recently updated:
New questions have been added to the 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, Anatomy, Astronomy, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, and Zoology curriculum folders.
New lesson ideas have been added to the Elementary STEM folder, 5th grade Patterns in the Night Sky folder, 6th grade folder, 8th grade earth science folders, Health folder, Biology Adaptations folder, and Biology Ecology folder of Pearltrees.
New on the blog
Get connected!
Other Facebook groups you may consider joining include #OKSci, OKSci Elementary, #okSTEAM, Science through Phenomena, OkSci Biology, #OKSci5th, OKSci Middle School, and PDGeek.
You can also connect with other EPS science teachers on Twitter using the hash tag #EPSstem. I would encourage you to use this hashtag to show off all of the cool things that are going on in your class, as well! And don't forget to follow the official EPS science page @EPSscience while you're there.
Depth of Knowledge in Science
This chart can be downloaded from the PD on Your Plan folder.
The Effects (and Side Effects) of Three Dimensional Science Instruction
This blog post provides a thorough and honest narrative of what it was like for one teacher and her students to transition to three dimensional science instruction. Check it out!
Wait Time
Digital Conversion Plan
Mission: Empowering all students to succeed in a changing society.
Vision: Advancing excellence in everything we do!
Student focus
A culture of caring
An introduction of individualized learning
Students who are prepared for college and career
Safe learning opportunities for all students that allows for autonomy
Learning for all
Learning opportunities with technology will narrow the achievement gap
District success hinges on embracing all learning within an environment of pervasive caring that supports growth and success for all
Pervasive and equitably appropriate access across the district for all stakeholders
Learning for all that consistently reaches students in an ever-changing, opportunistic environment
Teamwork
Professional Learning Communities (PLC) make best use of human capital across the community
Digital collaboration between and among students, teachers, and the community
Creative solutions from new connections
Commitment to Quality
Digitally enriched and relevant curriculum that facilitates visible and active learning
Meaningful professional development that is feasible, intentional, focused, and ongoing
Quality infrastructure is essential for transformational learning
Technology-enriched, relevant curriculum is the foundations for learners of the future
Uncompromising Integrity
Students should possess the capability to evaluate the validity and relevance of digital information
Assure an appropriate environment that strengthens and develops digital citizenship
- Decisions that retain the uncompromising value of human resources
Rube Goldberg machine contest- registration ends 1/1
Refresh OSPRC Central Regional Summit- 1/2
Generation Nano- submissions due 1/31
Fund for Teachers grant- applications due 1/31
Exploravision- projects due 2/6Bright Schools competition- submissions due 2/6
Vernier Engineering Challenge- applications due 2/15
Science Ambassador Fellowship- applications due 2/15
World of 7 Billion- video due 2/23
NASA's Cassini Scientist for a Day- deadline 2/24
Oklahoma Envirothon- Registration deadline 2/24
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching- nominations due 4/1
Applications for SciencEscape 2017 are now open!
What is SciencEscape?
SciencEscape is a unique professional development opportunity for teachers and an exciting way for their students to experience science in a real-world context by exploring science in and around the museum for a day.
Who: Oklahoma teachers (grades 1-12) and up to 20 of their students
What: An adventure at the Sam Noble Museum! Students and teachers get to experience and explore science both behind-the-scenes and right in the museum’s galleries.
When: Spring Break
Where: The Sam Noble Museum in Norman, Oklahoma
Cost: This program is offered at no cost to the school or participants.
Flight Night Space Week Teacher Professional Development
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Oklahoma educators, join us for this free professional development opportunity led by the Space Foundation and powered by Flight Night.
Workshops include:
- Weather Basics (GPM, GOES-R, weather measurement)
- Copy That, CAPCOM teambuilding (Teambuilding/communication, problem solving, classification, kinesthetic creation, engineering)
- Save Your Super Hero (Pulleys, Newton’s Laws, forces, motion, seismometer, etc.)
- Hologram Maker Activity (Technology in the classroom, future of exploration)
Free glaciology and marine programs for girls seek applications
Inspiring Girls Expeditions is accepting applications through January 31, 2017 for free summer science and wilderness expeditions in Alaska and Washington for girls ages 16 to 17.
Three teams of up to nine teenage girls and three instructors will spend 12 days exploring and learning about mountain glaciers or fjords with tidewater glaciers. They’ll conduct scientific field studies with professional glaciologists, oceanographers, artists and mountaineers.
The three Inspiring Girls trips of 2017 will include Girls on Ice Alaska, Girls On Ice Cascades and Girls in Icy Fjords. They are operated through IARC and the UAF College of Natural Science & Mathematics.
Expedition details
- Girls on Ice Alaska: Girls ages 16 to 17 sleep under the midnight sun and explore an Alaska glacier from June 16–27, 2017. Girls from Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Yukon or California are eligible to apply.
- Girls on Ice Cascades: Girls ages 16 to 17 explore Mount Baker, an ice-covered volcano in Washington, from July 16–27, 2017. Girls from all states and countries may apply.
- Girls in Icy Fjords: Girls ages 16 to 17 explore Bear Glacier and its marine environment near Seward, Alaska, while also learning to kayak. Girls in Icy Fjords is new this year and will run from August 11-22, 2017. Girls from all states and countries may apply.
All Inspiring Girls programs help girls learn about the natural processes related to glaciers as they develop critical thinking skills and explore the connection between science and art. Participants design their own experiments and work as part of a team.
Girls participate in these programs tuition-free through small grants, gifts from individuals and support from the National Science Foundation, the Alaska Climate Science Center and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Visit the Inspiring Girls website for more information, and to learn about the application process.
Siemens STEM Daily
In celebration of the new program re-launch, we're kicking off our greatest sweepstakes yet: The $10,000 Possibility Grant Sweepstakes ! "Fab" your lab with the latest and greatest gadgets or purchase top-tier technology and supplies for STEM students. The possibilities are endless, so be sure to enter every day!
The new Siemens STEM Day offers:
- 135 FREE, downloadable, hands-on activities for grades K-12
- $10,000 Possibility Grant Sweepstakes - open now!
- 20 thematic, 5-minute teacher refreshers
And keep an eye out for our first ever National Day of STEM, coming this spring
from Siemens STEM Day!
Free Physics Quest Kits
Leading up to the big Valentines day dance, Lucy has a few problems. Well, really one big problem, she's lost her powers! They have gone as mysteriously as they came and she doesn't know why. But it seems that she's not the only one in the town to randomly develop powers. Kas is in for a big surprise. Follow Lucy, a.k.a. Spectra, and her friends through yet another adventure at Tesla Junior high. Students will learn about sound through experiments with vibrations, beat frequencies, amplification, and pitch.
Register now for a free kit with everything you need to do these four amazing sound experiments. Each kit has a comic book about Spectra, a teacher's manual with instructions for all four experiments as well as background information, and tons of fun.
Please note: The number of PhysicsQuest kits are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. You will be notified by email if you will receive a kit, or if you will be added to the wait list. If you have any questions, please email physicsquest@aps.org.
Kits will ship this spring.
Geosciences Program Internship for Students
About
The Geosciences Program takes place over six (6) weeks in the summer at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Princess Anne, MD.
Geosciences Program Interns:
- Reside in the UMES residence halls (housing and meals are provided), accompanied by trained resident assistants.
- Participate in lectures and field trips with hands-on activities in areas of geoscience such as atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, civil and environmental engineering, environmental science, marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology, physical oceanography, remote sensing/GIS and related fields.
- Enroll in either College Algebra or Calculus I (dependent upon math placement test score) and Freshman Seminar course.
- Receive $500 per week, paid bi-weekly and reimbursement for travel to/from UMES.
Eligibility Criteria
The Geosciences Program is for graduating high school seniors who:- Have a minimum 2.7 GPA.
- Have been accepted into an accredited US college/university. Preference will be given to students entering the institutions listed on the Application Information page.
- Plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in a geoscience discipline, such as atmospheric science, engineering (civil, electrical, environmental, ocean), environmental science, geography, marine biology, marine chemistry/biogeochemistry, marine geology, marine science, meteorology, physical oceanography, remote sensing/GIS, etc.
Program Benefits
- Paid travel to and from UMES, housing, meals, stipend and tuition and fees for two (2) for-credit college courses (Math and Freshman Seminar, credited through UMES).
- Students who attend a NOAA Cooperative Science Center (CSC) university partner may be eligible for scholarship opportunities and research positions through their respective center. Read about the Centers, their research and their academic partners.
- A network of faculty and staff that can provide support for finding future internships and opportunities with one of our partners, such as The Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP).
Grosvener Teacher Fellowship Program
The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow (GTF) program is a professional development opportunity made possible by a partnership between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Education. The program is named in honor of Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman Emeritus National Geographic Society and Education Foundation Board. It gives current K–12 classroom teachers and informal educators from the 50 U.S. states, Canada, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico the opportunity to extend Grosvenor’s legacy of excellence in geographic education. Exemplary educators are recognized for their commitment to geographic education and given the opportunity to travel aboard the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. Through this experience, they bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities.
Fellows are an integral part of the National Geographic community, working to further students’ understanding of the planet and empower them to generate solutions for a healthier and more sustainable future. To help ensure that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global awareness, Fellows take on a two-year leadership commitment to support educators with National Geographic. Throughout their commitment, Fellows may be asked to conduct webinars, participate in meet-ups, and serve as a mentor to other educators.
Applications must be received through our online system by December 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm Eastern. You can save your application and come back to it any time before the deadline. Applications will not be accepted by any other means.
Due to the high volume, we are not able to respond to individual questions. If you have any technical problems, please send an email to GTFprogram@ngs.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 2017 Fellows will be contacted by phone in February 2017, and announced on the National Geographic Education website in March 2017.
2017 Program Highlights
Selected educators will travel aboard the ships National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endeavour II,and National Geographic Sea Lion on expeditions to regions including the Arctic, British and Irish Isles, Canadian Maritimes, Iceland, the Galapagos, Antarctica and more. While aboard, Fellows will share the importance of geographic literacy with fellow travelers, develop activities to bring back to their classrooms, and have an adventure of a lifetime. Prior to the expedition, all 2017 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows will travel to Washington, D.C. (March 23–26, 2017) with all expenses covered to participate in a pre-voyage workshop sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.
SPIE Education Outreach Grants Program
SPIE is an international society advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light.
As part of its education outreach mission, SPIE provides support for optics and photonics related education outreach projects. The award process is competitive; applications are judged on their potential to impact students and increase optics awareness.
The key criterion in evaluation and ranking applications is the potential to impact students and to increase optics and photonics awareness.
Eligibility: Qualifying not-for-profit organizations such as universities, optics centers, science centers, primary and secondary schools, youth clubs, industry associations and international optical societies are eligible for project support. STEM activities should have an optics or photonics component.
Deadline: January 31, 2017
Occurrence: Twice a Year
Website: Visit grant page
Application Form: Open application form
NEA Student Achievement Grants
All applicants must be current members of the National Education Association.
Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, technology, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students.
Grant funds may not be used to:
- Support after-school, weekend, or summer programs:
- Pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, or salaries;
- Pay stipends to the applicants;
- Support conference fees for more than one person.
- Lobbying or religious purposes
*Identical applications will not be considered
Deadlines and Notification Dates
Applications may be submitted at any time. Applications are reviewed three times per year, every year.
- Application Received by: February 1 Notification By: April 15
Exploring Three-Dimensional Instruction Virtual Conference Saturday, February 11 10 AM - 2 PM ET
Join NSTA for a virtual conference on Saturday, February 11, for FOUR hours of exploring three-dimensional teaching and learning—including an overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and its architecture, as well as an introduction to the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. Whether your state has formally adopted the NGSS or has adopted similar three-dimensional standards, this virtual conference offers a strong foundation on which to build your implementation efforts. At the end of the virtual conference, participants will be able to: Busy that Saturday? No problem! Register and receive access to the conference archives to watch later on-demand. All registrants will also receive a special promo code for a discount on select NGSS books from NSTA Press; shipping costs are not included in this offer. NSTA Member Price: $63
NSTA Non-member Price: $79
AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant Program
The AIAA Foundation believes that one of the most significant means to inspire and advance the future of Aerospace is to fund grants to meet the unmet and unfunded educational need of students. Each school year, AIAA awards grants of up to $250 to worthy projects that significantly influence student learning.
To Apply: Review the Grant Guidelines.
Important Dates for the 2016-2017 Classroom Grants:
1 January 2017 – Submission Period Opens 12 February 2017 – Grant Submission Period Closes 25 March 2017 – Results are distributed via email to all proposers **Dates subject to change without warning.
Note: Grant Proposals must be completed and submitted by the grant submission period close date to be considered. All grant proposals must be submitted through our online application database. No paper submissions will be accepted.
The Stem K-12 Outreach Committee is comprised of experts in the field of aerospace education. They will review all qualified grant applications and make recommendations on funding. Based upon the funding available, the committee will choose to invest in projects that best serve our nation’s students and support the mission of the AIAA Foundation.
Questions?
Contact Felicia Livingston at felicial@aiaa.org or 703.264.7502
The deadline to apply for the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program is February 13, 2017. The application does require that you create and submit an original video. A sample from one of 2016's Digital Innovators is embedded below. The full application requirements can be found here.
Real World Science Workshop at the WWII Museum
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
WHO CAN APPLY?
Any teacher with 3-10 years of science teaching experience, who expects to be teaching science again next year to 4th-8th graders, can apply for the Real World Science Summer Seminar.
WHY APPLY?
You will come to New Orleans to spend a week at The National WWII Museum and in the lab of a partner university. You will learn how to teach science connected to history, with an emphasis on the nature and practice of science, and with extensions in literacy.
BECOME PART OF THE COHORT
Teachers who want to join a Real World Science cohort can apply from
JANUARY 2016 TO FEBRUARY 2016.
To stay updated about this project
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Each summer we will host a cohort of 5th-8th grade science teachers at The National WWII Museum. They will learn how to use our Real World Science curriculum to engage students in hands-on, minds-on science activities. These activities connect literacy, STEM, and history to get students solving problems.
2017 Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Information
It is that time of year again … time to provide science teachers and high school students with information about the 2017 JSHS competition. As the director for the Kansas-Nebraska-Oklahoma Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) I am very excited about hosting this very prestigious event. This year the regional JSHS event will be held March 3 & 4, 2017 on the OSU campus in Stillwater, OK.
The JSHS competition provides high school students with the opportunity to present their original research for cash scholarships (http://www.jshs.org). I encourage you to send out information (attached documents) to science/mathematics teachers who mentor students in STEM research.
**Once teachers and students get to Stillwater, Oklahoma, everything is paid for (hotel and food).
Participant application packets (including registration forms, research paper, and abstract) are due by 5:00 pm on Tuesday February 14th, 2017. No late applications will be accepted. For more information on application procedures, how to write a paper, and competition rules, please visit https://education.okstate.edu/outreach/jshs
Thank you for your continued effort to support students engaged in STEM research.
American Electric Power's Teacher Vision Grant
Classroom Grant awards from $100 to $500 are available for teachers of pre-K through Grade 12 who live or teach in the AEP service area or in communities with major AEP facilities.
The AEP Teacher Vision Grant program accepts grants for consideration annually through the fourth Friday of each February. Review and awarding of grants may take up to three months.
Any project that has an academic focus and a goal to improve student achievement will be considered. AEP has a special interest in science, mathematics, technology, electrical safety, the balanced study of energy and the environment, and energy efficiency.
Highly regarded projects will incorporate matching funds, community resources, and interdisciplinary or team-teaching projects. Funds may not be used for stipends or meals.
Eligibility: Teachers of pre-K through grade 12 who live or teach in the AEP service area or in communities with major AEP facilities can apply. Priority will be given to educators who have attended AEP Workshops for Educators, National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, or are affiliated with an AEP school-business partnership.
Grant Amount: $100 – $500
Deadline: February 24, 2017
Occurrence: Annually
Website: Visit grant page
Application Form: Open application form
Cassini Scientist for a Day Contest: An essay contest for students in grades 5-12
You have an opportunity to be a scientist for a day by telling NASA which of three images taken by the Cassini spacecraft inspires you.
Learn about Saturn, its fascinating rings and two of its most intriguing moons. Once your research is complete, choose one of the three targets and defend your choice in an essay of up to 500 words.
Your decision should be based on which target you think would provide the most interesting scientific results. Just like real scientists do, explain what you hope to learn from the image you have selected.
The deadline for the U.S. contest is Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
For more info, contest rules, and videos, visit: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scientist-for-a-day For more information about the Cassini Mission: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov Send questions to: scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov
Project Atmosphere Workshop
July 16-28 2017
National Weather Service Training Center
Kansas City, Missouri
The Project Atmosphere is a two-week teacher professional development workshop offered by the American Meteorological Society's Education Program. This project is specifically designed for K-12 teachers who teach science courses with atmospheric content.
This workshop is intended to:
- Introduce teachers to the latest technologies and techniques for sensing, analyzing, and forecasting weather
- Explore and suggest ways in which the products of these technologies and techniques can be employed in school studies of the atmospheric environment
- Prepare workshop attendees to conduct training sessions on selected atmospheric science topics for teachers in their home regions during the next school year
- Encourage participation in DataStreme Atmosphere Local Implementation Teams
Each participant will be supplied with a variety of instructional resource materials, including those to be used in peer-led teacher training sessions.
After successful completion of workshop activities, participants will:
- Demonstrate updated knowledge concerning the sensing, analysis, and prediction of atmospheric conditions
- Show evidence of being able to interpret and analyze weather information acquired through direct and remote sensing of the environment
- Exhibit understanding of major weather systems and features, especially those that bring on hazardous conditions
- Indicate how they intend to promote weather education in their home areas by peer training fellow teachers, especially those who teach students who are members of groups under-represented in the sciences
Workshop Components
Project Atmosphere will be held at the U.S. National Weather Service Training Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The intensive workshop includes lectures, tutorials, seminars, hands-on laboratory exercises, and field trips. National Weather Service and other NOAA personnel will present a variety of topics dealing with the sensing, analyzing, and forecasting of weather. Presentations will be articulated with science content and weather education presentations led by workshop faculty.
The workshop will include the following topics:
- Surface and upper-air observations and analysis
- Radar imagery and interpretation
- Satellite magery interpretation
- Weather forecasting
- Thunderstorms and severe storms
- Hurricanes
- Global climate change
- Teaching and dissemination of weather information
Activities typically extend from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm each day.
Workshop Staff
Workshop Faculty:
- Wendy Abshire, Workshop Co-Director, Director, Education Program, American Meteorological Society, Washington, DC
- Robert S. Weinbeck, Workshop Co-Director, Associate Professor, Department of the Earth Sciences, State University of New York - Brockport; Associate Director, AMS Education Program
Past Presenters:
- Louis W. Uccellini, Director, National Weather Service, NOAA, Silver Spring, MD
- William Lapenta, Director, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, Washington, DC
- Rick Knabb, Director, National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center, National Weather Service, Miami, FL
- John Ogren, Director, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service, Norman, OK
- Barbara Mayes Boustead, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Omaha, NE
- Jerry M. Griffin, Master Instructor, Forecast Operations Programs, NWSTC, Kansas City, MO
Facilities
The National Weather Service Training Center (NWSTC) will host the Workshop. NWSTC is one of the best equipped meteorological training facilities in the world. It has computerized weather information systems found in NWS forecast offices, satellite and weather radar display systems, and a meteorology laboratory, and is outfitted with classrooms, laboratories, and a full staff of instructors and support personnel. NWSTC is collocated with the NWS Central Region Headquarters and the NWS Aviation Weather Center which is responsible for commercial and private aviation forecasting for the entire United States.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Project Atmosphere, teachers and supervisors of science at the K-12 level should:
- Have sufficient college-level training to benefit from the material presented
- Teach or supervise the instruction of meteorology or an applicable course
- Demonstrate leadership in teaching, curriculum development, and/or the in-service training of fellow teachers
- Help promote weather education in their home regions, including a minimum of two training sessions for precollege teachers upon completion of the workshop
Participants will be selected to provide a national geographic distribution and a cross-section of school environments—inner city, urban, suburban, and rural. Teachers interested in promoting minority participation in science are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Procedures
All communications concerning the workshop and applications should be sent or faxed to:
Wendy Abshire
Education Program
American Meteorological Society
1200 New York Ave NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: 1-800-258-1176
All completed applications should be postmarked by March 27, 2017, although later submission will be considered if workshop vacancies exist. Initial notification of workshop awards and alternates will be made via letter.
In selecting individuals for participation and otherwise in the administration of this workshop, the AMS will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, and status as a Vietnam Era or disabled veteran.
Academic Credit
Participants may earn three semester hours of graduate credit in ESC 671: Selected Weather Topics through the State University of New York College at Brockport, upon satisfactory completion and the submission of a follow-up report on their weather education activities.
Credit will be awarded at the end of the Fall 2017 semester and may be applied to the Master of Science in Education degree at SUNY Brockport.
Participant Support
- Stipend of $600
- Single hotel room for twelve nights, arranged by AMS
- Food and incidentals allowance of $350
- Round-trip air or land travel from US home to Kansas City, MO
- Instructional and laboratory supplies
- Tuition
- Set of instructional materials
Housing
Participants will be expected to stay in hotel accommodations arranged by the AMS as the Workshop will be intensive and will involve several evening meetings. Informal interaction among participants will be an integral component of the workshop.
Participants should attend without families as their presence is likely to detract from full participation. No support will be provided for dependents.
2017-2018 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams Grant Application
The InvenTeam initiative, created by the Lemelson-MIT Program, offers an unparalleled opportunity for high school students to cultivate their creativity and experience invention.
InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. Each InvenTeam chooses its own problem to solve.
The application process occurs in two steps.
Step 1: Initial Application
Educators selected as finalists in step 1 are considered Excite Award recipients and attend EurekaFest at MIT June 15-17, 2017. The award is an all-expense paid trip to MIT and professional development on invention education. Only Excite Award recipients who attend EurekaFest will be invited to submit a final application.
Step 2: Final Application (by invitation only) will be due in early September 2017
Do you know an Oklahoma student or teacher who is wild about science?
ExplorOlogy® gives participants the opportunity to join scientists in the field for an adventure in discovery.
These programs are offered at no cost to participants.
Paleo Expedition and Oklahoma Science Adventure
Application Deadline: March 30, 2017
Application Deadline: April 28, 2017
Calling All Curious Minds & Problem Solvers
The 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is Now Open!
The search is on for America's 2017 Top Young Scientist. Could it be your student? Students in grades 5 through 8 across the country are encouraged to submit their big idea to solve a real-world problem for the chance to work one-on-one with a 3M Scientist and win $25,000!
As the nation's premier science competition for students in grades 5 through 8, the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge encourages them to explore scientific concepts found in everyday life and creatively communicate their solutions to improve lives in their communities and around the world.
Entering is easy as 1-2-3! Students should...
1. Identify a real-world problem they are passionate about
2. Brainstorm a solution to the problem
3. Film a short 1-2 minute video and submit it for the chance to bring their idea to life
Encourage Your Students to Start Early
It's never too early to start innovating! Encourage your students to use time over winter break to brainstorm their idea and challenge them to submit their entry before the April 19, 2017 deadline.
For questions, email YSC@discovery.com
NABT / BSCS AP Biology Teacher Academy
NABT / BSCS AP Biology Teacher Academy
Presented in Partnership with HHMI BioInteractive
June 25 – 30, 2017
Oklahoma Regional AL Biology Teacher Academy at Jenks High School
Jenks, OK
NABT, BSCS and HHMI’s BioInteractive are proud to announce dates and locations for the 2017 NABT / BSCS AP Biology Teacher Academies (California dates coming soon). Please note the dates below are for 2017, not 2016 as previously reported. The AP Biology Teacher Academy is an expansion of the popular BSCS / NABT AP Biology Leadership Academy, and supports a new generation of leaders in biology education.
Participants will:
strengthen how they teach their course so students learn more meaningful biology and are more interested in studying biology in the future;
use the practices of science to help students learn big ideas and unifying concepts of biology;
analyze and enhance their current curriculum materials to better reflect the AP Curriculum Framework;
learn to use formative and summative assessment information to examine what their students understand; and
develop a network of fellow biology teachers that supports excellence in biology teaching.
This program was developed for AP Biology Teachers, but all biology teachers are welcome to attend, including those teaching at both the high school and undergraduate level.
Doing Science Biology Education Conference
October 19-21, 2017
University of Oklahoma
Conference Theme
Data: Discover, Investigate, Inform
The study of organisms presents myriad forms, visualizations, and uses of data that stimulate new questions and engender new understanding of life on earth. The theme for the 4th Life Discovery – Doing Science Conference (LDC) challenges educators to create environments and opportunities for their learners to:
Discover Data – where can existing datasets be accessed; what can instructors and students do with them; how can we work with various types of data including numeric, geospatial, specimen, genomic, visual and audio; what classroom materials and resources are available and how can they be adapted?
Investigate Data – how do we scaffold student experiences to collect, analyze and interpret data (including existing data); can we help students to use new available technologies to “go beyond the bar chart” to visualize data in innovative ways; how can relationships be tracked, at different temporal and geospatial scales, in order to unfold the stories of life on earth?
Inform with Data – how do we design activities so students learn to assess the type, quantity, and quality of data needed to support a decision; locate relevant data; gain experience with data tools and statistical skills; discern appropriate scales for decision-making; and effectively communicate data?
Registration Information
Preconference workshops and fieldtrips begin on October 19, 2017 followed by two full days of presentations including keynote presentations, sessions, the Education Share Fair, short field trips, and networking discussions. We strive to set registration fees to meet costs. Registration fees will include continental breakfast on Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21, lunch on October 19 and coffee breaks. Registration fees are expected to be about $135-$150. Preconference workshops will involve additional fees.