DPS Secondary Science News
January, 2018
It's that time of year...
I invite you to join us on March 2 at Riverside for our Durham Regional NC Science Olympiad! You can support our DPS participants (currently registered: Carrington, Creative Studies, Githens, Little River, Lucas, Neal, Shepard, DSA, Riverside, and Jordan) or lend a hand with an event. We can ALWAYS use more volunteers! To volunteer, please go to this site and register.
If you've never been to a Science Olympiad event, it's worth dropping by just to check out the energy. North Carolina will host the national Science Olympiad tournament in 2020 (which is a really big deal) and I'd LOVE to have some Durham students competing in it!
Also of note, it's Science Fair season as well. This year, the Region 3A NC Science and Engineering Fair will be held on February 2 at Hillside High School. Congrats to all those schools that have already hosted Science Fairs! If you are interested in volunteering at the Science Fair, please contact Director Barrington Ross (who teaches at Brogden). If you'd like to judge, you can sign up here: https://ncsefreg3a.stemwizard.com/public_site/judge_register
Linda Tugurian, PhD, NBCT
Email: linda.tugurian@dpsnc.net
Website: http://bit.ly/dpssecscience
Phone: 919-560-2647
Twitter: @dps612science
Upcoming Events- Details coming soon to your inbox
January 15: Quarterly PLC for Middle School, 3-4:30 @ Brogden Middle School
January 21: MLK Holiday
January 31: Curriculum and Instruction Coach Academy, 8:30-4:30 @ SDC
February 1: MathCounts District Competition
February 2: Region 3A NC Science & Engineering Fair @ Hillside High School
February 7: High School Teacher Academy, 4:30-6:30, @ SDC
February 13: District Early Release Day (look for details soon)
February 14: High School Teacher Academy, 4:30-6:30, @ SDC
February 14: Curriculum and Instruction Coach Academy, 8:30-4:30 @ SDC
February 21: High School Teacher Academy, 4:30-6:30, @ SDC
February 26: High School Science Department Chair meeting, 4:30-5:30 @ SDC
February 28: High School Teacher Academy, 4:30-6:30, @SDC
March 2: Durham Regional NC Science Olympiad Division B/C Tournament @ Riverside
Quick News
We make updates to the Curriculum Overviews and unit maps throughout the year. You will find these in the shared folders for each subject as we finish them. You can find yours here: 6th Grade Science, 7th Grade Science, 8th Grade Science, Earth & Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science and Physics.
Making purchases? Check out the discounts: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzMODhERQCTzX3pPTzZQTFNma3c
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS!
Science Fair
School: Carrington Middle School
Measurement introduction
School: CMA
A tree of genetic traits
School: Creative Studies
CONGRATULATIONS
Been recognized for something? Let me know, so we can celebrate your professional achievements!
Cell respiration anchor
School: Northern
Science Fair
School: Lowe's Grove
CIBL Mitosis-Meiosis Card Sort
School: Lowe's Grove
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
The 2019 Energy Literacy Fellows Program
A year-long teacher professional development program for grades 8-12 science and technology teachers in NC's Duke Energy service territories. This professional development opportunity will showcase current energy science, technologies and careers to enhance Energy Literacy Fellows' ability to deliver energy-related content, conduct STEM-based activities and promote STEM career opportunities to students. Fellows will interact with diverse scientists, engineers and industry representatives to receive up-to-date, curriculum-relevant content and engage in hands-on, inquiry-based activities designed to support learning about the science of energy. Any 8th-12th grade teacher who addresses energy in their teaching is eligible to apply; 8th grade and environmental science teachers are especially encouraged. This program will benefit new and experienced teachers!
Click here to access the online application
All applications must be completed before 9AM on Friday, January 25th
The National Science Foundation is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. PAEMST is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. Anyone--principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public--may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. To submit a nomination, you will need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. If you know more than one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers may also apply directly at www.paemst.org.
Presidential awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.The nomination deadline is March 1, 2019 and the application deadline is May 1, 2019 for secondary school teachers (grades 7-12). Elementary school teachers (grades K-6) will be eligible to apply during a future cycle.
The Hollyhock Leading Fellows’ Program (HLF) builds on the work of the Hollyhock Fellowship Program (HFP) by selecting a subset of graduating/graduated Hollyhock Fellows who are poised to make a significant difference within and beyond their own classrooms as leading teachers. The HLF program develops teachers’ ability to practice leadership within their school contexts with the goal of improving instruction and creating equitable opportunities for all learners. HLFs engage in a rigorous series of in-person and virtual learning sessions over the course of one year to:
- Engage others in professional learning focused on high-leverage, equitable teaching practices.
- Design learning experiences for adult learners that provide a supportive environment to try out and integrate new teaching practices.
- Center the human experience of all teachers and students with whom they work.
- Understand transformational learning in their contexts and make strategic choices to support it.
Applications for the 2019 HLF program are open now until January 31, 2019. Find the instructions and application here. The HLF summer institute will be from July 5-13, 2019.
RESOURCES
You can also sign up for our Science Friday STEM Educators Lounge Facebook Group and Science Friday newsletter by clicking here and signing up at the bottom of the page. The STEM Educators Lounge is a club for educators like you to share what you're doing in the classroom with fellow science educators and be the first to learn about what we are working on at SciFri.
National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education (NSSME+) Released
A must read for educators, administrators, and all STEM education stakeholders. The 2018 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education, first conducted in 1977, identifies trends in science and mathematics and provides key data about the characteristics of the mathematics, science, and (starting this year) computer science teaching force; commonly used textbooks and programs and how they are used; influences on teachers' decisions about content and pedagogy; formal and informal professional learning opportunities; and how resources are distributed among schools.
Special Live Events are free live streaming programs open to schools and other organizations that serve K-8 students.These interactive, online sessions are broadcast live from the Academy on specific dates and times. Programs do book up in advance, so we recommend grabbing a spot while you can!
Weather & Climate
Target Audience: 4th-8th grade
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019
Times: 9:10 or 10:10am Pacific
Duration: 45 minutes
Earth Day Every Day
Target Audience: 4th-8th grade
Dates: April 19 & April 22, 2019
Times: 9:10, 10:10, or 11:10am Pacific
Duration: 45 minutes
Asteroids, Comets, & Meteors - Oh My!
Target Audience: 3rd-8th grade
Date: Friday, May 10, 2019
Times: 9:10 or 10:10am Pacific
Duration: 45 minutes
SCHOOL YEAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NCSSM Launches the Learning Innovations Project
The TLC at NCSSM invites you to join us in celebrating instructional leadership, exploring new ideas and technologies, and cultivating a community of sharing in our school and beyond. Our mission is to improve student learning through the use of intuitive design, innovative technology, and inspired instruction. We are excited to announce The Learning Innovations Project, a webinar series devoted to supporting teaching and learning by recognizing and empowering teacher-leaders, encouraging classroom innovation and experimentation, and meeting students where they are. In this series classroom leaders from NCSSM and beyond will share insights around student-centered pedagogy, effectively incorporating technology in the classroom and much more! Learn more here: https://www.ncssm.edu/learning-innovations/2019/01/09/launching-the-learning-innovations-project.
Winter Woody Plant ID, Townsend, TN, Jan 26, 2019
Do you know what to look for to identify trees and shrubs in the wintertime? Discover a number of leafless characteristics that will help you do so. This program is perfect for naturalist certification graduates as well as those who are simply interested in further developing their naturalist skills. The Smokies are a great place to explore in the wintertime!
Cost: $64. Includes lunch and breakfast. This program is one day only.
To Register: http://gsmit.org/event/winter-woody-plant-id-2019/
Liken’ Lichens Teacher Workshop, Feb 8-10, Townsend, TN
LICHENS…these mysterious organisms have fascinated people for years. Not a plant, not a fungus, but a surprisingly elegant combination of the two. Lichens are also an excellent opportunity to engage students in citizen science research in your schoolyard.
Spend the weekend delving into the enchanting world of lichens as we learn their basic ecology, identification, and natural history during this field-based teacher workshop. Participants will practice methods for setting up a Lichen Monitoring project back in their schoolyard. Workshop lasts from Friday supper to Sunday lunch.
Cost: Thanks to a generous grant from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the workshop is available for K-12 teachers and national park service employees for only $75. This price includes: Lodging, meals, instruction, and materials.
Space is limited, so register early! We have space for 20 educators.
Educator Treks
Monday, February 4, 2019, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Learn techniques used by museum curators to collect, prepare, and care for bird specimens in a research collection. Get hands-on experience by preparing a spread wing and other bird parts for the museum. Explore the museum’s vast research collection of birds and discover options for developing a natural history collection for educational purposes.
EDUCATOR TREK: TWIGS, EGGS, AND FROGS' LEGS
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019, 9AM-5PM
Prepare to observe the explosion of life as spring arrives in North Carolina! Discover ways to bring the coming of spring into your classroom.
NCCAT: EXPLORING LITERACY THROUGH SCIENCE AND HISTORY
3:00pm Monday, March 25, 2019 - 10:00am Friday, March 29, 2019
Join educators from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Museum of History to explore the rich natural and cultural resources of the Outer Banks. Immerse yourself in coastal ecology and follow the paths of influential historical figures to spark your interest and imagination. This program will focus on the use of non-fiction texts, legends and historical fiction, and inquiry-based learning to make cross-curricular connections that enrich classroom instruction.
Registration information: This workshop is being offered in collaboration with the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Please visit NCCAT’s website for registration information.
PITCHER THIS: PLANTS THAT EAT BUGS
SATURDAY, APRIL 27 - SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Join the Museum and the NC Botanical Garden to discover and learn about our wonderful insect-eating plants and the habitats in which they thrive.
EDUCATOR TREK: SPRING IN THE MOUNTAINS
3:30pm Friday, May 03, 2019 - 6:00pm Sunday, May 05, 2019
Participate in ongoing research projects studying the impacts of air quality and climate change and bring home ideas to teach about our interdependence with the natural world.
The Science House PD for Teachers
The Science House (Raleigh Office) Presents: Using Makey Makey to Target Invention Literacy
February 11, 2019
The Science House, NCSU, 909 Capability Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695
Join us for a day of exploration and invention using a device called a Makey Makey! With the Makey Makey, students can make any conductive material act as a computer keyboard. Because it comes preprogrammed, students with no coding experience can use it and experiment with it as they start to learn coding. Capitalize on the maker movement in your classroom to enhance any curriculum! Teachers joining us will receive intensive beginner instruction and guidance for classroom implementation for any curricular area. Participants who register before 1/25/19 will receive their own Makey Makey kit! This program qualifies for new Digital Learning competencies!
February 12, 2019
The Science House, NCSU, 909 Capability Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695
After you've completed one of our basic Makey Makey sessions, come join us for exciting new ways to use your Makey Makey in your classroom. In this advanced session, we will show you how to get more from your Makey Makey by using the features on the back of the device. We will also show you how to use the Makey Makey GO. Participants who register before 1/25/19 will receive their own Makey Makey GO. This program qualifies for new Digital Learning competencies!
Project Learning Tree
March 26, 2019
Environmental Education for the K-8 Educator
Guilford College Greensboro, NC
To Register: http://go.ncsu.edu/ncplt_guilford
Cost: $20
Questions, Renee Strnad renee_strnad@ncsu.edu
April 17, 2019
Southeastern Forests and Climate Change
Walnut Creek Wetland Park Raleigh, NC
To Register: http://go.ncsu.edu/ncplt_wcwp
Cost: $20
Questions? Stacie Hagwood Stacie.Hagwood@raleighnc.gov
SUMMER PD OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS
High school science teachers are encouraged to apply for the 2019 NIEHS Science, Teachers and Research Summer (STaRS) Experience. STaRS is a two-week professional development (PD) program, designed and conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
The program will run from Monday, July 8, to Friday, July 19 (excluding Saturday and Sunday), from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. each day. STaRS participants are expected to attend the full two-week program. 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. Participants receive a $2000 stipend.
Requirements:
- Applicants must currently teach science in a North Carolina high school;
- Applicants must be available for the full two-week program (July 8-19, excluding Saturday and Sunday); and
- Applicants must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel to Research Triangle Park (which may include overnight stays at a hotel in Research Triangle Park on Sunday through Thursday each week).
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019.
The NC Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience
Discover the forests in our state, and learn about the wood products industry!
- Participants will receive resources and teaching materials to be used in the classroom/organization
- All meals, lodging, and transportation at the conference will be provided for
- Educators can earn continuing education credits (CEU) and EE certification (6 hours-Criteria I and 10 hours-Criteria III)
- Educators will apply online to the program. Accepted participants will have two weeks to pay a onetime registration fee of $50.
- Workshop is geared towards formal and non-formal STEM professionals with emphasis on 3rd-12th grade science educators.
- Registration for the program is first-come-first serve basis
SIGN UP FOR AN EXPERIENCE!
Piedmont: Southern Pines, North Carolina June 17-20, 2019
Coastal Plains: New Bern, North Carolina June 24-27, 2019
Mountain: Asheville, North Carolina July 22-25, 2019
For more information, and to apply online, visit www.ncforestry.org/teachers.
2019 EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE INSTITUTES
YELLOWSTONE INSTITUTE
Participating educators will study and experience the wonders of the world’s first national park. Join us from sunrise to sunset as we observe the incredible wildlife of Yellowstone, including bears, bison, wolves, and elk. Learn about the area’s unique geology while exploring the amazing world of geysers, hot springs, and mudpots.
Dates: June 15–24, 2019. (Mandatory pre- and post-trip sessions will be held in Raleigh on April 6 and November 2, 2019.)
Cost: $950 (Includes supplies; round-trip airfare from Raleigh to Bozeman, MT; all ground transportation; instruction and lodging.)
Scholarship: The Clyde Wayne Quick Memorial Scholarship provides $500 in financial support for one participant in the Yellowstone Institute each year. Donated by his loving wife, who attended the Yellowstone Institute in 2007, this scholarship honors Clyde’s love of nature and concern for preservation of our public lands. Priority is given to public high school and middle school science teachers with demonstrated need, but any public school teacher is eligible for the scholarship. To be considered for this scholarship, please submit a written request to Melissa Dowland along with your program application.
AMAZON INSTITUTE
Participants will experience first-hand the unique ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest in northeastern Peru. Educators will spend nine days learning about the native flora, fauna and cultural history as they explore on foot and by boat along the Amazon and Napo rivers near Iquitos, Peru.
Dates: July 9–19, 2019. (Mandatory pre- and post-trip sessions will be held in Raleigh on April 13 and November 2, 2019.)
Cost: $1,400 (Includes supplies, round-trip airfare from Raleigh to Peru, ground transportation, instruction, lodging, and most meals.)
Application Deadline: Monday, March 4, 2019. The application consists of the Educator Application and a Supervisor Recommendation. Both must be received by March 4 to be considered.
SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a no-cost, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina students who aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Open to students in their second or third year of high school, you live on a college campus for four weeks in the summer and conduct research around topics of your interest — while enjoying the company of like-minded peers. You will have the opportunity to engage in research with faculty and get hands-on experience at a university.
Project Drawdown Teen Summit
Saturday March 2, 2019*
9AM to 4PM
UNC Institute for the Environment
100 Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Limited travel scholarships are available (see application for details)
A zero waste, vegetarian lunch and snacks will be provided!
During this summit students will learn about Drawdown from Crystal Chissell, VP of Operations and Engagement for Project Drawdown, and will explore the top 10 solutions outlined in the book through a mixture of presentations and hands-on activities. Participants will also learn about NWEI’s Drawdown EcoChallenge and receive guidance for either actively leading or joining a team for the April 3-24, 2019 EcoChallenge. Participants will receive a paperback copy of Drawdown.
NC Gravity Games will be returning to Lenoir, NC on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Gravity Games are an engineering challenge and STEM celebration where teams from across the state design, build, test, and race gravity-powered cars.School-age teams can choose to build a car from race-approved kits, or to design and build their car from scratch! And, if they're up for a steeper challenge, this year's engineering challenge is "Transformation" - to design and construct a vehicle that starts the race on three or four wheels but transforms during the race to cross the finish line on two. Apply to participate now by clicking on the link: 2019 North Carolina Gravity Games If you have any questions, please contact Erik MacIntosh, NC Science Festival Programs Manager, 919-962-3274, or email ncscifest@unc.edu.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
WIDA Workshops from NCDPI
ESL/Title III at NCDPI offers self-paced online workshops. WIDA has designed four (4) learning opportunities that educators can complete at their own pace, anywhere and at anytime. These workshops offer content that can be implemented right away to support English learners! Complete this registration form.
Global Educator Digital Badge
The Global Educator Digital Badge provides an opportunity for educators to focus their professional development on developing their own global context and understanding of how to integrate global education throughout curricula. It also provides the opportunity to build global competency in students.
The State Board of Education approved North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB) is available for the following educator categories: Teacher, Teacher Leadership Specialist, Library Media Coordinator, Instructional Technology Facilitator, School Counselor, Career Development Coordinator, School Social Worker, School Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Instructional Central Office Staff, Principal/Assistant Principal, Superintendent.
For more information on the Badge (SBE Policy, FAQs, Process Flyer, Implementation Guide, MOA), please visit our website or contact NCGlobaEducation@dpi.nc.gov.
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
The Far Side of the Moon: What China and the World Hope to Find
By SHANNON HALL
The side of the moon we never see from Earth contains secrets about our solar system’s early days, and it could help astronomers see the universe more clearly.
• Interactive: Chang’e-4 Lands on the Moon
What We’ve Learned About Ultima Thule From NASA’s New Horizons Mission
By KENNETH CHANG
The team that manages the spacecraft will have to wait 20 months for all of the data and images it recorded, but they have reported some early findings.
The Sounds That Haunted U.S. Diplomats in Cuba? Lovelorn Crickets, Scientists Say
By CARL ZIMMER
Diplomatic officials may have been targeted with an unknown weapon in Havana. But a recording of one “sonic attack” actually is the singing of a very loud cricket, a new analysis concludes.
An Elephant-Size Relative of Mammals That Grazed Alongside Dinosaurs
By NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR
Paleontologists believed dicynodonts died out as dinosaurs conquered the world, but fossils found in Poland suggest they survived millions of years more.