The STEM COLLECTIVE
November 27, 2018
Hour of Code Week
Congratulations SSEP Teams
The finalists are:
- How to Produce a Synthetic Soil from Waste Generated Onboard ISS proposed by the team from Career Magnet Academy.
- The impact of Microgravity on the Uniformity of Chemical Bonds from Hardin Valley Elementary
- Herbal Antibiotics' Effects on Escherichia Coli in Microgravity from Farragut High School
Honorable mentions are:
- The effect of Microgravity on Hericium Erinaceus Mushrooms from Hardin Valley Elementary School
- The Effects of Green Tea and Coffee on Bone Loss from Shannondale Elementary School
- Comparison of Germination Rates of the Moringa Oleifera in Microgravity and on Earth
- from Bearden High School
FIRST LEGO League Competition *This Saturday*
Science In Focus: Highlights from the Science Department
Analyzing and interpreting data includes making sense of the data produced during investigations. Because patterns are not always obvious, this includes using a range of tools such as tables, graphs, and other visualization techniques.
Just like solving a math problem, students must be taught how to analyze and interpret data and be provided opportunities to practice doing so.
Try this simple strategy with your students: Identify and Interpret (I2 ) Strategy
This strategy focuses on students answering two questions:
- What do I see?
- What does it mean?
Until students have practiced this skill extensively, model for them how to make observations about a graph or data table. Then interpret each observation separately until trends can be established.
The current Feature Resource on the KCS Science Department webpage is Data Nuggets. This can be a quick resource for data that students can practice graphing, analyzing, and interpreting.
TSIN Announces Statewide Design Challenge!
The 2018-2019 Student Design Challenge encourages Tennessee students to promote sustainable development in our state through clean energy solutions. Students will work as a team to research sustainable growth strategies and design and prototype a solution to reduce pollution in our state through clean energy. Schools will conduct project expos and then select outstanding projects to participate in a Statewide Expo in Nashville in Spring 2019.
By registering for the Design Challenge, you will receive a complete Starter Kit to roll out the challenge at your school. Sign up for the challenge and get your kit at the Statewide Design Challenge site.
Shell Science Lab Challenge $20,000
The annual Shell Science Lab Challenge Competition recognizes outstanding middle and high school programs for their exemplary approaches to science lab instruction utilizing limited school and laboratory resources. The Challenge will showcase the work of teachers, representing their schools, who submit innovative, replicable strategies to deliver quality lab experiences with limited equipment/resources, and award teachers/schools with additional tools, resources, and rich professional development opportunities needed to support high-quality science teaching and strengthen their existing capabilities.
All entries must be received by 12 Noon EST on 2/4/2019, via online submission.
Student Competition
VEX Robotics Competition
VEX Worlds
VEX IQ
VEX Robotics
Have a Dot and Dash Robot?
Research Experience for Teachers
Calling all FIRST Robotic Competition Teams!
Cool Resources
Earth Science Lesson Plans and Career Connections
Science Buddies-Engineering
Keep me updated!
Tweet the awesome stuff your kids are doing!
Microbit Fans
Weather Watch
Designing Membranes
Grant Opportunities
- Association of American Educators Grant: $500, Deadlines October 1st and March 1st. Classroom grants can be used for a variety of projects and materials, including but not limited to books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, and lab materials. Funds must be used within one year of the application deadline.
- First Energy Grant: Up to $1,000 for PreK-12th-grade teachers for projects and teacher professional development in the STEM disciplines!
- Toshiba: grants for 6-12 with the next deadline coming up December 1st
- Motorola Solutions: Up to $50,000 the deadline is February 1st.
- If you ever need help with grants, please consider contacting the STEM Coach if you need ideas on what to get with grants, or Dr. Laura Denton, the Grants Development Manager, for help writing it up. Dr. Denton is a wordsmith, and very willing to help you achieve your goals! Her email is laura.denton@knoxschools.org.
- Please let me know if you choose to pursue a grant, to help me know which items are of most interest to you! april.lamb@knoxschools.org.
KCS STEM
Email: april.lamb@knoxschools.org
Website: http://knoxschools.org/stem
Location: 912 South Gay Street, 10th Floor, Knoxville, TN, USA
Phone: 865-594-1576
Twitter: @kcs_stem