Secondary Science Newsletter
March-April, 2019
I think I can, I think I can....
It's that time of year, where the weather warms up and we begin to turn our thoughts towards summer. As the year wears on, it is easy for the learning to wane, energy to lag, and to start counting down the days until school is out, but let's pump some life into these last few months of school! You know your students better now than at the beginning of the year. Now is the time to try something new. What might they be willing to try? What might YOU be willing to try?
Some experts believe it is important to get student’s input about what will help the classroom energy at the end of the year, but Larry Ferlazzo, an education expert, also says teachers should talk to students about what is expected of them -- and ask them to respond to two questions:
- What are three things you can do to help finish the school year strong academically?
- What is one thing you can do to help your classmates finish the year strong academically?
He says research has shown that the conclusion of any experience is critical to a participant’s understanding of a topic and, importantly, their attitude about what they have done.
“From this perspective, what occurs in the final weeks of our classes will have a huge influence on how students feel about – and make future decisions related to – school, the subject you are teaching, how they might feel about future teachers and other learning issues,” he says.
So, go ahead, try something new, finish strong, and don't forget to go outside and enjoy the spring!
Tiffany Wendland
Coordinator, Secondary Science
https://www.educationworld.com/teachers/put-some-spring-spring
BCPS NGSS NEWS
Living Systems Updates–
Decoding Your Future: The LC3.SR.Summative has been revised to include success criteria for the students.
It's All Relative: The LC1.SR.Summative Data document has been modified to reduce the number of bases the students compare in the DNA strands and to better demonstrate the evolutionary relationships between the organisms. The LC1.TR.Summative has been revised to reflect the changes in the data.
All Units: Advanced Academics lesson seeds have been added to each unit in the Living Systems course. These lesson seeds are designed to allow for differentiation within your classes. Students who show mastery of the content may be assigned these options in order to extend their learning.
Earth Systems Updates–
Climate Change: This unit has gone through modifications to improve teaching and learning. Changes include revisions to the I Can statements and each Learning Cycle’s LC document, SR.Summative, and TR.Summative. Please be sure to use these revised versions as you plan for and teach the Climate Change Unit.
Schoology Modules Used to Deliver High School NGSS Professional Learning
The Secondary Science team, in collaboration with the Office of Organizational Effectiveness, converted our March High School Professional Learning (PL) sessions to online, self-paced formats delivered through Schoology. These PL sessions included Living Systems, High School Curriculum Review, and Integrated Physics and Chemistry. The teachers learned about topics such as evidence statements, reflective learning, problem-based learning, the new vision for science education, and strategies needed for successful implementation of NGSS. The teachers used the discussion portion of Schoology to share their experiences with a unit from their curriculum and they uploaded resources that worked in their classes to the resource share groups in Schoology. The last round of NGSS Professional Learning for the school year will be in late April/early May. See the Professional Development section below for additional information.
For the most up-to-date NGSS news and resources, visit the NGSS website. Also, be sure to join the National Science Teachers Association for great lesson ideas and NGSS updates.
NGSS Grade 8 PL-Things are Heating Up!
On March 3rd a small but mighty group of Grade 8 teachers met at Cockeysville Middle to focus on the fourth unit of the new curriculum, Climate Detectives. We decided to change up the format and provided learning stations for each of the four Learning Cycles of the unit. Kudos to Matt Budinger and Joe Davis for getting the stuff together for the stations to teach about convection currents and thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere and hydrosphere. To promote using the Culminating Event (CE) as a means of driving instruction, we started with the prompt about extreme weather. Teachers provided their own initial responses to the CE prompt and then had to move to an area of the room based upon their responses and provide their rationale. This modeled a strategy that could be used with students to introduce the CE upfront. We are looking forward to a similar format for the upcoming April 3rd meeting at Parkville Middle School. See you there!
For the most up-to-date NGSS news and resources, visit the NGSS website. Also, be sure to join the National Science Teachers Association for great lesson ideas and NGSS updates.
Welcome Krystal!!
Krystal Romanowski is excited to start her journey as our new Title 1 Secondary Science Resource Teacher. Krystal has taught high school science for nine years at Chesapeake High School. During her time with Baltimore County, she has had the opportunity to present at the Blended Learning Institute, Responsive Instruction Workshop, Leadership Academy, Science Professional Study Day, and the NSTA national conference. Krystal is passionate about continuing to learn and grow, and choosing positivity. One of her most impactful experiences was attending the Discovery Education Network Summer Institute (DENSI) where she learned about a variety of literacy strategies that can be implemented in any content area. This school year, Krystal participated in a peer coaching class that allowed her the opportunity to visit many of her colleagues and grow in the art of coaching. She is looking forward to the opportunity to work with teachers throughout Baltimore County and we're happy to have her join the Secondary Science Team!
PO 1st Place - Towson Team #3
PO 2nd Place - Pikesville Team #1
PO 3rd Place - Towson Team #2
2019 Physics Olympics (PO) and Chemathon
The 31st annual Physics Olympics and 6th annual Chemathon were held concurrently on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019. Over 200 students representing 17 high schools in BCPS showcased their science and mathematics skills by solving STEM challenges. Thank you to our dedicated teachers who facilitated events and/or brought teams and a special thanks to Steve Shaw and the entire Dulaney crew for hosting us. You are the reason these events are so successful! Check out more pics on Twitter @BCPSSci.
The 2019 event theme was "Science is the Name of the Game.” Thank you to Ankit Adhikari from Towson High School for designing this year’s t-shirt graphics.
Check out the clip on BCPS-TV https://vimeo.com/322885744
Chemathon 1st Place - Towson Team #2
Chemathon 2nd Place - Pikesville
Chemathon 3rd Place - Hereford Team #1
Teams from 6 BCPS Schools Qualify for STATE MESA Day
First-place challenge wins at Baltimore Regional Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Day have qualified teams from six Baltimore County schools to compete at the State MESA Day competition. The qualifying teams are from Chadwick, Randallstown, and Timber Grove elementary schools, Deer Park Magnet and Stemmers Run middle schools, and Eastern Technical High School.
Fifteen elementary, middle, and high schools participate in the MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) Baltimore County Public Schools program throughout the school year by working on different challenges. On March 22, the MESA BCPS student teams met at Morgan State University to share their solutions for the different challenges.
The following teams placed first:
Elementary school level
Basswood Bridge Challenge – Randallstown ES
SCRATCH (code writing) Challenge – Timber Grove ES
Storybook Theme Park Ride Challenge – Randallstown ES
Wearable Technology Challenge – Chadwick ES
Middle school level
Basswood Bridge Challenge – Deer Park Magnet MS
ALICE v3.4 (code writing) Challenge – Stemmers Run MS
National Engineering Design Challenge – Stemmers Run MS
Wearable Technology Challenge – Stemmers Run MS
High school level
Basswood Bridge Challenge – Eastern Technical HS
Cyberrobot (code writing) Challenge – Eastern Technical HS
National Engineering Design Challenge – Eastern Technical HS
Wearable Technology Challenge – Eastern Technical HS
The State MESA Day competition will be held on May 18, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, where the MESA program is based.
In addition to offering congratulations to all the winners, MESA BCPS coordinator Ann Meckel also congratulated all participating MESA BCPS schools and their school coordinators. “Everyone at each school worked hard as they dared to succeed,” she said.
The following schools are participating in MESA BCPS this school year: Chadwick, Church Lane, Deer Park, Hebbville, Lyons Mill, Powhatan, Randallstown, Timber Grove, and Woodholme elementary schools; Deer Park Magnet, Stemmers Run, and Woodlawn middle schools; and Eastern Technical, Randallstown, and Sparrows Point high schools.
TEACHER FEATURE
Elizabeth James, Lansdowne Middle School
Office of Science (Oos): What activities have you participated in over the summer?
Ms. James: I wrote CCR curriculum for MSDE, attended the AVID Summer Institute in Philadelphia, wrote Advanced Academics currciulum for the Office of Science, and traveled with my best friend to the Netherlands.
OoS: What song or movie title fits your philosophy of teaching?
Ms. James: The Brave Little Toaster
OoS: How have you embraced NGSS, learner-centered, and literacy instruction in your classroom?
Ms. James: Science at its purest, is a creative pursuit. I tend to always try to search for ways for students to be creative, whether by designing and building something, or just speculating on an idea or creating an argument to prove a point. I think that challenging students to think for themselves might be the most important skill I can impart on them. Coupled with that, I’ve also emphasized to students the importance of reading and writing on a regular basis using strategies learned at the Reading Apprenticeship training (I’m sold!). I also work with my students as they construct explanations and arguments, providing them with detailed feedback on their writing and giving them multiple opportunities for them to revise what they’ve written. Knowledge is power!
OoS: If you could suggest only ONE strategy to help teachers, which strategy would you offer and why?
Ms. James: Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like. Try to find ways to incorporate humor and lightheartedness into what you do. Building relationships enhances the learning by increasing interest. I remember the classes with the teachers that had the biggest impact on me.
Congratulations Katie!
Katie Dell, science department chair at Arbutus Middle, has been named one of 25 HP Teaching Fellows for 2019.
HP Teaching Fellows is a program offered by Digital Promise Global, in collaboration with HP and Microsoft’s Reinvent the Classroom initiative. According to the program website, “Fellows selected for the program… design learning experiences that are personal and accessible; authentic and challenging; collaborative and connected; and inquisitive and reflective."
Fellows, selected from across the United States and Canada receive free professional learning, which includes attending the Digital Promise Challenge Institute in Monterey, CA, from July 8 - 10. They will also receive opportunities for networking, presenting, and sharing thoughts about leadership at national conferences and virtual events.
Dell is in her seventh year with Baltimore County Public Schools. She joined the school system immediately after graduating from Towson University in 2012. She says she has enjoyed every minute at Windsor Mill Middle School and Arbutus Middle School. Before becoming science department chair at Arbutus Middle, she has served as a team leader, green school coordinator, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) Night coordinator, and tennis coach. http://www.bcps.org/news/articles/article10263.html
Show Us Your Stuff!!
Want to be the next featured teacher? Send us an email, tag us on Twitter, or call the Office of Science.
Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) Updates
High School MISA
Beginning with the 2018-19 school year, the HS MISA is fully operational, consisting of five 40-minutes sessions. As this is the final year that the test has a no-fault designation, ALL 9th GRADE STUDENTS as well as students in Grades 10 through 12 who have not yet met their high school science assessment requirement should take the test this May. The final year of no-fault designation was one factor that contributed to the decision to test 9th graders this year. This decision was made by Executive Leadership in the Office of Academics and the Division of Research, Assessment and Accountability in consultation with the Office of Science. The testing schedule, i.e., when students will take the test during the May 7 to June 7 testing window and if/how class schedules will be modified to accommodate testing, is a site-based decision.
We are aware that students will be unfamiliar with some of the content on the test. We thank you in advance for encouraging your students to do their best.
Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, High School MISA results will be reported for federal accountability. Students who take the MISA during the 2019-2020 or beyond will have to pass the test to fulfill their science assessment graduation requirement.
Supporting Success on the High School MISA
The Office of Science has and will put into place several supports for student success on the High School MISA. Current and planned supports are:
- Beginning with the 9th grade class of 2019-2020, students will take the HS MISA in May of their 10-grade year
- The inclusion of MISA-style assessments, e.g., Learning Cycle Summative Assessments, in our NGSS courses
- The integration of the seven tested Physical Science Performance Expectations (PEs) into existing Earth and Living Systems units so that students can develop understanding of these concepts prior to taking the MISA in May of their 10th grade year
- Schoology modules aligned to the 22 tested PEs that can be used for remediation
This webinar provides additional information about these supports. If you have questions about the High School MISA and/or graduation requirements related to science, please contact the Office of Science, speak with your Department Chair or post your questions to this padlet.
In addition, HS MISA Practice items are available on the Measured Progress website. Two sets of released items and sample student responses are available on the MSDE MISA webpage. We will add these resources to the High School MISA Supports folder within the Secondary Science Group in Schoology.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Spring has definitely sprung with our Secondary Outdoor Science programming! The schedule is full and all signs point to a productive spring season on the water. So far, about 600 students have conducted stream health assessments with us on schoolyards and at our new program site, Lake Roland Park. The staff there were eager to welcome Baltimore County students to the historic site to analyze the health and stability of nearby tributaries while also discussing the historic importance of the Jones Falls and the early days of Baltimore’s water supply. Next up, is our annual Ecoblitz that will take place at Camp Puh’tok in Northern Baltimore County. Students will conduct ecosystem assessments, identify possible threats and then will implement a mitigation strategy with the goal of increasing biodiversity. Canoe season starts on April 5th and we'll continue to investigate ecosystem health and the overall status of natural resources at our Days Cove and Dundee Creek sites. Once again, we are fortunate to have the support of Gunpowder Falls State Park staff to assist in running the programming. At Dundee Creek, students will be conducting additional investigations this year using our biofilm racks to assess for the presence of microplastics and will use our new oyster cages to explore ways that oyster reefs provide shelter for a variety of organisms. At Days Cove, students can anticipate observing nesting bald eagles, wood ducks, terns, cormorants, blue herons and osprey that arrived last week after a warm winter along the Gulf Coast and Central and South America. We will continue mapping SAV beds throughout the Gunpowder Delta and will conduct ecosystem health assessments throughout the spring. In addition, art students from Dundalk Middle and High School will visit the cove and will be planning and creating environmental murals on the sides of the newly painted canoe shed. The student-created designs will be painted in June under the supervision of a professional muralist and the Office of Visual Arts. The designs will be used as teaching tools during future BCPS and park-run canoe programs.
If you are coming out for a program, don’t forget to plan early and review the resources in the Secondary Outdoor Science Programming group folder on Schoology. The group code is FPZCM-XRFF2 if needed. The folder is filled with resources to support the alignment of our outdoor programs with the science curriculum. Keep in mind that the goal is to provide a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) for students that focuses on a local environmental issue, includes both classroom and field-based investigations, provides opportunities for students to synthesize new learning and identify cause and effect relationships, and then culminates with planning and taking action to address environmental problems in and around the school community. Don’t hesitate to give Joe and Matt a shout in the Office of Science if you would like to collaboratively plan a MWEE for your students.
Joe: jdavis3@bcps.org, Matt: mbudinger@bcps.org
BCPS Green School Summit Presenters, We Want You!
SAFETY SPACE
From the National Science Teachers Association Safety blog...
Just as we're reminded to check our smoke and CO detectors when we change the clocks for daylight saving time, Spring is a good time to review lab safety and evacuation procedures. Here are a few points of emphasis from NSTA...
- Teachers must make sure exits and aisles in the laboratory are not blocked and free and clear of all trip-fall hazards such as a book bag on the floor.
- Make sure students know the evacuation routes (at least two) and the staging area outside of the building where the class will regroup after they exit the building.
When the fire alarm sounds the science teacher should, if possible, shut off ignition sources (e.g., gas), cover hazardous chemical containers, close fume hood sash, close windows, and turn off all electrical equipment before exiting.
The teacher, who should be the last occupant exiting the room, needs to close the laboratory door.
Remove PPE, if possible, before exiting. If not, exit the facility with PPE and once at staging area, roll gloves and goggles in a lab apron and then place them in a plastic bag.
WHAT'S TWEETING?
SCIENCE FOR STUDENTS
2019 Johns Hopkins Summer Programs for Talented Youth
Information about the 2019 Science Courses is available via the links below.
DNA Day is Thursday, April 25!
National DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. This year marks the 16th anniversary of DNA Day, which will be on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Visit the American Society of Human Genetics webpage for DNA Day activities and ideas.
Johns Hopkins University Physics Fair
The Department of Physics & Astronomy's 16th Annual Physics Fair will be held on April 27, 2019 from 11am to 5:30pm.
Activities for all ages include:
- The Science Bowl – team competitions
- Demonstrations
- The Science Challenge – individual competitions
- Two (2) Professor Extraordinaire Shows
- 200 hands-on physics demonstrations
- Water rockets
- Scavenger hunt
- and much more!
View the 2018 Physics Fair Program or photos from the event.
The event is FREE and open to the public.
The Bloomberg Center, 2nd Floor Rotunda Area
3701 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218
If you have any questions, please call Pam Carmen at 410-516-7346 or email pam@pha.jhu.edu.
Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council Scholarships
Each year the ORNC Council awards scholarships to college-bound high school seniors from Baltimore County and City. Recipients should show a high level of commitment to the health of the environment and plan to continue their studies in environmental science and nature education. Our goal is to support two or three scholarships up to $5,000 each!
If you know a high school senior who may be eligible for the scholarship, please have the student call the Oregon Ridge Nature Center for an application form at 410-887-1815 or download an application here. Applications should be postmarked no later than April 5th.
We hope you will help by giving generously to the Scholarship Fund. To make a tax-deductible donation, checks should be made payable to the ORNC Council, specifying on the note line “Scholarship Fund” and sent to:
Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council
13555 Beaver Dam Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
To donate on-line click here.
The names of all donors will be published, so if you would like to make a gift in another’s name, please specify the donor’s name as it should appear on the list.
Thank You for Helping Us Educate Future Environmentalists!
10th Annual Easy as Pi STEM Event (7th and 8th Graders): Input needed on date
The Society of American Military Engineers – Baltimore Post is holding the 10th Annual Easy As Pi STEM event for Maryland 7th and 8th graders. The event , which typically runs from 9 am – 3 pm, will take place during the Spring at the Engineers Club in downtown Baltimore. During the event, the students are broken into small groups at attend different STEM. Last year, almost 100 students from across Maryland attended the event. The number of students per school is based on the number of schools that are interested; in the past, it has been roughly 12-13 students per school.
If your school is interested in attending, please provide Ms. O'Donnell (contact info below) with dates that work for you in April/May 2019. If you could send at least 5 available dates, she will use this information to select a date that matches up for the most schools. Spring break and testing dates are also helpful so she can identify dates that do not work.
Laura O’Donnell
Technical Leader I
AECOM Environment
(410) 637-1745
Genes in Space Contest
Calling all students in grades 7 through 12! Have you ever wondered about how astronauts might survive a deep-space mission or how we might use biology to transform new worlds? If so, Genes in Space is for you!
Genes in Space is a science contest that challenges students to design original DNA experiments that address real-life challenges and opportunities of space exploration. The winning experiment is conducted by astronauts on the International Space Station! The contest is free, and does not require equipment. Proposals will be judged solely on their creative and scientific merit.
Who can participate?
- You must live in the USA and be in grades 7-12
- You can work alone or in a team of up to 4 students
- You must be available to present at the 2019 ISS R&D Conference in Atlanta, July 29 - August 1 (funding for travel provided)
Students are encouraged to seek mentorship from a teacher, parent, or another science enthusiast.
Vist the Genes in Space website for experiment ideas, scoring and application information as well as resources for teachers and students.
Genes in SpaceTM started in 2015 as a collaboration between Boeing and miniPCR with the goal of inspiring young minds to solve real-world problems in the biological and physical sciences. Before we knew it, generous sponsors (CASIS, Math for America, and New England Biolabs) joined us to support, enable, and grow this unique program.
We’ve now received hundreds of inspiring student-led proposals. Genes in Space enabled the first DNA amplification experiment in space, designed by high school student Anna-Sophia Boguraev. Genes in Space contestants have enabled other outstanding space biology milestones since then.
We celebrate creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking among young innovators by renewing the challenge every year. Thank you for joining us in this exciting journey!
RiverXChange High-Tech Pen Pal Opportunity (6th Graders)
Upper elementary classes near Albuquerque, New Mexico, are looking for partners to exchange information about rivers and their watersheds! RiverXchange is a FREE year-long program focused on communication between classes around the world about water resources issues. Their hands-on lessons explore rivers, watersheds, stormwater, municipal water supplies, ecology, and conservation.
Students communicate 4 times throughout the school year on a private website. RiverXChange staff provide training and support to ensure a safe and successful experience. Through writing and creative sharing about rivers, the program integrates science with language arts, social studies, and 21st-Century learning skills, all correlated to Common Core Language Arts Standards!
Check out the public RiverXChange website for more information and to access the registration form. For questions, please contact Jenny Llyod-Strovas at lloydstrovas@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
BCPS NGSS Professional Learning
Staff in the Office of Science are offering several workshops to provide professional learning for teachers of our science courses aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and to gather feedback on the implementation of the new curricula. Workshops are open to middle and high school science teachers with registration priority for teachers currently teaching the respective course(s). The following workshops are being offered over the last few months of the school year:
Grade 8
· April 3, 4 to 6pm, Parkville MS, Room 225
· May 2, 4 to 6pm, Greenwood Bldg. E, Room 114
Middle School Curriculum Review
· May 15, 4 to 6pm, White Oak Training Lab
Living Systems
IPC
High School Curriculum Review
· May 14, 3:30 to 5:30pm, Greenwood Bldg. E., Room 114
Interested participants must register by logging into BCPS One on the BCPS Web site, selecting the Professional Learning tile, and then selecting the Registration System tile. The institutes can be found in the Workshops – Registration catalog. Workshop titles begin with “NGSS Professional Learning.” Teachers attending workshops outside of the regular school day will receive a stipend for their participation. Teachers must register for the workshops at least one week in advance. Sections with low attendance may be canceled.
Contact Julie Damico at jdamico@bcps.org if you have any questions.
2019 Summer Curriculum Writing
Thank you to the approximately 60 teachers who applied for Science Curriculum Writing Workshops! We are reviewing the applications and will email hiring notifications by April 18th.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email Tiffany Wendland twendland@bcps.org.
If you have questions about the institutes, please email Julie jdamico@bcps.org
Professional Development from Towson University
The Towson University Center for STEM Excellence is committed to supporting in-service science teachers in Maryland with high-quality professional development experiences. We offer a variety of workshops that help teachers build content knowledge, increase technical skills and explore learner-centered, inquiry-based pedagogy.
Summer offerings for Secondary Science Teachers are: for more information.
iSTAR (Inclusive Science Teaching and Research, High School)
Who: Maryland high school science teachers
What: Engage in authentic research while exploring inclusive teaching practices for student success in STEM
Where: Towson University (8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252)
When: July 9-12, July 16-19; November 16
Why: Successful participants will earn a $900 stipend and receive 4 CPD credits from MSDE.
How: More information and application available here. Applications due March 28.
Climate Literacy and the NGSS
Who: Maryland secondary science teachers
What: Learn about three different climate change activities and how they connect to the three dimensions of NGSS
Where: TU Center for STEM Excellence (701 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202)
When: July 23-26; November 9
Why: Receive a classroom implementation kit that includes all the materials you'll need to implement a climate lesson in your own classroom. Successful participants will earn 2 CPD credits from MSDE.
How: More information and application available here. Applications due April 15.
Ant Analysis: Using insect investigations to engage students in science
Who: Maryland middle school science teachers (grades 6-8)
What: Learn about insects, their role in the ecosystem, and their relationships with other organisms through a hands-on, authentic research experience.
Where: Towson University Main Campus (8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252)
When: July 23-26; November 9
Why: Successful participants receive $1,500 stipend, a classroom insect 'starter' kit and authentic research experience.
How: More information and application available here. Applications due April 19.
Visit the TUCSE PD webpage for more information
NGSS in Action: Building a Coherent 3-D Science Lesson
Instructors from the the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics are offering this hands-on workshop for middle and high school science teachers. The workshop is 9am to 4pm on Saturday, June 15th in Smith Hall. RSVP by April 30th (there are only 20 spots available!!) by emailing Dr. Menon at dmenon@towson.edu or Dr. Devadas at mdevadas@towson.edu Participants will receive a $75 stipend.
Looking to fill your Teacher Toolbox? Build your confidence in facilitating student-centered field investigations that align with school curriculum and NGSS.
Come join us for a FREE hands-on workshop that will focus on getting kids outside and leading their own investigations.
Educators will have the opportunity to explore Department of Natural Resources lessons that provide authentic learning experiences focusing on stream ecology and water quality investigations. They will also receive additional lesson plans, resources and tools to get their students out of the classroom and into their own investigations.
For more information visit the DNR Education Webpage or call 410-260-8988
Make a Date with DATA - Saturday, May 11
How do we study changes in Earth systems? What are we learning about these changes? How can data help us understand, respond to, and prepare for changes in Earth systems?
NOAA, The Maryland and Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserves, and Delaware Sea Grant invite middle school, high school, and field-based educators to come to the Cooperative Oxford Lab, in sunny Oxford MD (well sometimes it is) for a one-day professional learning opportunity.
During the workshop we will:
* Plan and carry out investigations using environmental data
* Review core Earth systems science concepts
* Share ideas and resources for teaching about Earth systems in the classroom and the field using environmental data
* Make and take environmental sensors and infographics
Join us and learn how to bring data-rich learning activities into your curriculum! Activities will support teaching with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs).
Participants will receive teaching resources and supplies for making environmental sensors as well as training on the creation of powerful infographics. Lunch will be provided.
When: Saturday, May 11; 10am to 3pm
Where: Cooperative Oxford Lab, 904 South Morris St., Oxford, MD 21654
Questions? Contact Bart Merrick bart.merrick@noaa.gov Registration link
JOIN US TO...
- Learn about major climate change content, including causes and mechanisms, estuarine ecology in the frame of climate, and solutions to address and mitigate climate impacts.
- Become familiar with NGSS connections to climate change.
- Learn about where to find climate science, data, education resources, and people!
- Develop a plan for teaching about climate in the context of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE).
ACADEMY REQUIREMENTS:
- Participate in all component (online, in-person, implementation)
- At the end of the Academy submit an implementation plan
MD CPD credits and DE clock hours are available for this Academy (pending approval). A $100 stipend is available upon completion for implementation.
Register here (link is blocked by BCPS firewall)
Questions? Contact Bart Merrick bart.merrick@noaa.gov
Save the Date(s)!
2019 STEM Summer Classes at NDMU
Notre Dame of Maryland University is offering several STEM classes this summer. All courses are $1,450. Registration is available here
- Environmental Field Study 6/24 - 6/28 (8:30am - 4pm)
- STEM Institute 7/29 - 8/2 (8:30am - 4pm)
- Technology of STEM Educators 7/28 - 7/26 (M, W, TH; 6 to 9:15pm)
If you have program or application questions, please contact the academic advisor, Donna Schissler at dschissler@ndm.edu
OSPREY BANDING
Contact us
Email: officeofscience@bcps.org
Website: http://www.bcps.org/offices/science/
Location: 105 W Chesapeake Ave, Towson, MD, United States
Phone: 443-809-4251
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCPSOfficeofScience
Twitter: @BCPSSci