STEM Notes
January 2016 Edition
NGSS Resources For You to Use!
Many of you expressed a desire to learn more after our recent NGSS training at Buckingham. Awesome! Know that nobody has this stuff all the way "figured out" yet. But people are starting to offer more ideas and resources to build our knowledge about how to teach STEM more effectively. We can and should be part of that conversation!
Here are a few resources to help either refresh or dig deeper into NGSS...
1. Teaching Channel Overview videos - https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/next-generation-science-standards-achieve
2. Bosemann Science - Paul Andersen (a teacher) has created videos about many parts of NGSS. He posts all of these as well as some handy pdf resources. Paul does a particularly good job of linking K-12. http://www.bozemanscience.com/next-generation-science-standards/
3. Next Generation Science Standards website - This is the source! Pay particular attention to the appendices on the left hand menu (progressions are helpful). http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards
4. Oregon Science Teachers Association website - This is our local connection to one of the largest science teacher groups (NSTA). The website is up to date and includes many great resources about NGSS. http://www.oregonscience.org/NGSS@OSTA
Here are a few resources to help either refresh or dig deeper into NGSS...
1. Teaching Channel Overview videos - https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/next-generation-science-standards-achieve
2. Bosemann Science - Paul Andersen (a teacher) has created videos about many parts of NGSS. He posts all of these as well as some handy pdf resources. Paul does a particularly good job of linking K-12. http://www.bozemanscience.com/next-generation-science-standards/
3. Next Generation Science Standards website - This is the source! Pay particular attention to the appendices on the left hand menu (progressions are helpful). http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards
4. Oregon Science Teachers Association website - This is our local connection to one of the largest science teacher groups (NSTA). The website is up to date and includes many great resources about NGSS. http://www.oregonscience.org/NGSS@OSTA
Bend Research Science Night - January 26th
This is an awesome experience in hands-on science demos from local scientists and engineers. We have a limited number of seats (24) and families must be able to make it to Bend Research's Tumalo facility and have some parental supervision. The event lasts about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. It starts at 6 pm. This is best for 3rd to 5th graders. The demos repeat every year. The first 24 to signup will receive instructions! Send this link for sign up!
http://tinyurl.com/zb2p75y
http://tinyurl.com/zb2p75y
One of our Partners: Central Oregon STEM Hub
Did you know that there are regional STEM hubs around the state and that we have one locally? Some of you have had a chance to interact with Kendall Bartholomew who coordinates the Central Oregon STEM Hub. Now working into her second year on the job, she is continuing to develop STEM resources by linking schools, businesses, and community. Did you know she even has 3D printers that she can loan out?
Check out some of the STEM Hub's offerings at it's website.
http://centraloregonstem.org/about/
Kendall has expressed the need to link up with a few teachers to work on a committee with she and some of her key contacts to improve offerings. Would you be interested in helping?
Check out some of the STEM Hub's offerings at it's website.
http://centraloregonstem.org/about/
Kendall has expressed the need to link up with a few teachers to work on a committee with she and some of her key contacts to improve offerings. Would you be interested in helping?
STEM Week Suggestions?
This Spring, we'll be coordinating (and hopefully enjoying) our annual STEM Week activities here at Buckingham. In the past, we've had school-wide design challenges, assemblies, and a parent STEM night. STEM Night has been a school-wide program including community partner activities in the gym, STEM Career sharing, and students sharing their STEM work around the building.
What do you envision for this week? Do you have any ideas about how to make existing activities better? Do you have new ideas that will enrich our community?
This is a great time to start planning and dreaming since it isn't right upon us! Please feel free to share ideas with any STEM committee member.
What do you envision for this week? Do you have any ideas about how to make existing activities better? Do you have new ideas that will enrich our community?
This is a great time to start planning and dreaming since it isn't right upon us! Please feel free to share ideas with any STEM committee member.
Design Club Update
Design Club started it's second session on Thursday, January 7. Over 50 K-5 graders were present and designing! A key change between the first and second sessions is that this round, students are working in small work groups for the next 8-10 weeks on a topic. Our six work groups include 3-5 grade Lego Robotics, K-2 Lego Structures, DIY Design and Build, Coding and Ozobots, Wooden Structures, and Electrical Circuits. These groups are run mostly by skilled parent volunteers and motivated teachers (thanks Frank and Rebecca especially).
We will not be able to take many more students this session. Fifty or so students is already pretty challenging to keep tabs on for now. There may be a possibility of additional students, though, in our last session which will start at the end of March.
We will not be able to take many more students this session. Fifty or so students is already pretty challenging to keep tabs on for now. There may be a possibility of additional students, though, in our last session which will start at the end of March.