Elementary Science Newsletter
October 12
Oklahoma's best science PD is coming to Edmond!
The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association Fall Conference
Coming October 31-November 1, 2014
OSTA “Flips” for Science
Registration for the OSTA Fall Conference is Now OPEN
The University of Central Oklahoma is once again the host for the OSTA Fall Staff Development Conference “OSTA Flips for Science”
UCO’s Howell Hall Science building on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
8 am until 4:00 pm
$30 per person full Member registration, includes refreshments before and during the conference as well as lunch.
When you register for the conference, be sure to check your attendance at the OSTA Awards Reception on Friday, October 31st. Join as we celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of outstanding science educators from across the state. The reception will be held on downtown OKC on Film Row at the Dunlap-Codding Law Firm. The address is 609 W. Sheridan.
Registration Discounts are available to Full time College/ University Students. Student volunteers can also receive a waiver on the cost of registration in exchange for service to the association during the conference. Contact Dr. Beth Allan to schedule volunteer time and obtain a registration discount code. Volunteer opportunities are limited.
On-line payment is preferred.
This is a Members-Only Conference.
Join OSTA HERE
Register for the Conference by logging in to your OSTA Memberclicks account (Login required).
Ag in the Classroom grants
Nominate yourself or a colleague to serve on the board of the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association
There's still time to identify the outstanding teacher/leaders who can contribute to the future of OSTA and Oklahoma Science Education through service on the OSTA Board of Directors. Any active Oklahoma science teacher who is a member is eligible to run and be elected to OSTA office. Nominations this year are for terms beginning in 2015 for the offices of OSTA President-Elect (to serve as President 2016 and past-President 2017), Middle Level Director, College/University Director, Director at Large, and Secretary/Historian. Self nominations are welcome. The OSTA Board of Director Nomination form is online and found here. Hurry, Nominations close October 17th!
Classroom makeover contest
The Compass Learning Classroom Refresh Contest gives teachers and students the opportunity to win a classroom makeover worth up to $70,000. Prize packages include cutting-edge personalized learning software, hardware, and professional development.
Here's how it works:
- Encourage your teachers to work with their students to create a music video expressing how technology will enhance the learning experience.
- Submit videos between September 19 and October 24.
- Spread the word to your school and local community to vote for each video for a chance to win!
Winners will be selected based on a mix of public votes and a judging panel. View full contest guidelines, including the prize package details per grade category, at www.ClassroomRefreshContest.com.
Art and Science Contest- grades 2-4
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
2014 IGES Art Contest for Grades 2-4
Entries Postmarked by November 14, 2014.
Let’s have a wild celebration!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964, the law that protects nearly 110 million acres across America and the trees, animals, fish, and streams that thrive within those areas.
To celebrate this important milestone, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) invites young scientists and artists in grades 2-4 to take a walk in nature, observe it, and express what they see or feel through art.
Whether in a city or rural area, students are encouraged to visit a neighborhood park, wildlife refuge, nature center, or other wilderness area with a teacher or parent. During the visit, students should observe the surroundings, listen to the sounds, and think about what makes this place special or unique. It may be insects buzzing, a beautiful tree, a colorful rock formation, a sparkling stream, sand and sea shells, or a bushy-tailed squirrel, fish swimming in a lake, or a butterfly floating through the air. It may also be a place to run, enjoy a snack, or discover something new.
Students should then create colorful and creative art capturing what is special or interesting to them about nature and why we protect it.
Artwork submissions must be postmarked by November 14, 2014!
For more information on the contest, including suggestions, rules and guidelines, and resources, visit: http://strategies.org/education/student-contests/art-contest/2014-wilderness-wonder/
Science Standards Framework Project- applications being accepted
Announcing Science Standards Framework Project
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is seeking K-12 classroom educators to participate in the development of the Oklahoma Science Standards Framework. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will provide educators with information and resources to develop curriculum aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. The framework will not serve as curriculum itself. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will be modeled from a similar resource developed in Minnesota (the Minnesota Mathematics and Science Standards Framework see link http://www.scimathmn.org/stemtc/).
To find out more about this opportunity and how you can apply go to https://www.ok.gov/dcs/solicit/app/solicitationSearch.php?status=open-pending and download a copy of RFP 2650000297. Please follow all instructions and if you have any questions, please contact the Contracting Officer listed on the first page of RFP Kathy Hallum, email: Kathy.hallum@omes.ok.gov or phone: 405-521-3851
Mexican Jumping Beans
Cool tech tool of the week: GoSoapBox
GoSoapBox allows you to have your audience respond to questions through their laptops, tablets, and phones.
Polls and Discussion in GoSoapBox are the meat and potatoes of the service. The Polls tool allows you to survey your audience by having them select an answer choice in response to a question. The Discussions tool allows you to have audience members reply to open-ended questions.
One of the simplest yet effective survey options in GoSoapBox is a tools called a Confusion Meter. The Confusion Meter allows members of your audience to simply say, "yes, I get it" or "no, I don't get it." The Confusion Meter, like all of the GoSoapBox survey tools, can accept anonymous feedback.
Want to gather questions from your students to use to inform your instruction? GoSoapBox has you covered. You can use the Social Q&A tool to have students submit their questions to you. Students can see each other's question submissions and vote them up if they want to.
Scroll through the SlideShare below to see visuals of all of the features of GoSoapBox.
Getting Started with GoSoapBox - September 2013 from gosoapbox
Applications for Education
GoSoapBox allows you to create an event prior to your presentation or lesson. You can select all of the questions and question formats ahead of time. When your presentation or lesson starts, give your students the link to the event and they can access respond to the questions when you prompt them to respond. The Confusion Meter is the simplest tool in the GoSoapBox collection, but might be the most useful for some teachers.
Instructional Strategy of the Week: Exit Tickets
Click here for more instructional strategies.
Need resources?
Safety Reminder
Please review the following documents before beginning any activity that may pose a risk to students (directions for locating these resources are in parentheses).
- Science Class Safety Information Sheet (R:\Safety Information\Internal Policies)
- Elementary Science Safety Notebook (R:\01 Elementary Resources\5th Grade\Science\Elementary Science Safety)
- Review all documents in R:\01 Elementary Resources\5th Grade\Science\Elementary Science Safety
If you have any questions at all regarding safety in the science classroom, please contact me.
Important Dates
- Pets in the Classroom Grants (PK-8th)- now open
- Fund for Teachers Travel Grants- opens October 1
- Engineering is Elementary workshop travel grant (grades 1-5)- due October 10
- Oklahoma Science Teacher Association conference- November 1
- PASCO STEM Educator Award nominations (provides funding to travel to NSTA conferences)- November 30
OK STEM Centers is looking for a few good teachers
OK STEM CENTERS…
is a statewide network of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Master Teachers (MT’s), The network is dedicated to providing regional, high quality professional development for PreK-12 teachers with the goal of improving student achievement in STEM.
OK STEM CENTERS activities will be held in collaboration with Career Tech Centers/regional universities where resident content experts can be a resource for each Master Teacher.
Master Teachers will be required to attend monthly training at the University of Central Oklahoma, do online content modules provided by the National Science Teachers Association, develop lesson plans for a statewide STEM Teacher Website to support the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science, and work at least 2 afternoons a week with their regional partners and/or teachers. Master Teachers are also encouraged to conduct at least one weekend training a month and will be required to conduct a summer professional development institute.
Minimum Requirements:
- Current K-6 teacher and/or 6-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics Teacher
- Masters Degree and/or National Board Certification Preferred
- Demonstrated experience and/or interest in being a teacher leader
Participants will receive an $800.00/month stipend during the school year and a $1500/month stipend in June and July.
To apply go to: OK STEM CENTERS Application
For MORE INFORMATION please contact:
Dr. Beth AllanBiology DepartmentUniversity of Central Oklahomaeallan@uco.edu(405) 974-5775