SD Unified Science
April 2024
Unified Science sparks curiosity and creativity, empowering the next generation to enact change in our local and global communities.
- Science: bit.ly/sdusdscience
- STEAM: bit.ly/sdusdsteam
Please share photos and other exciting news from your class with us! We would love to feature it!
High School Curriculum Pilot: BioLE, ChemES, PhysU
Did you know that OpenSciEd is rolling out its OER curriculum for High School Science? We have been field testing and refining resources and we are excited to expand our pilot. We are offering PAID teacher training June 17-21 and providing LAB SUPPLIES to support implementation of the curriculum. Please email Sarah smoynes@sandi.net to apply. Priority will be given to sites with interested teams.
SDUSD Science Asset Survey Spring 2024
Teacher talent is one of our greatest assets in San Diego Unified. The intent of this survey is to identify science resources, talents and potential professional learning opportunities as we move forward with NGSS. The survey is intended to help us gather information and identify strengths within our district such that we can grow together as a community of learners and influence the future of science. Completing this survey is voluntary. This survey will take you no more than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for all you do!
Highlighted Resources
Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, obscuring Earth's view of the sun. This alignment coincides with a new moon. In a total eclipse, the disk of the sun is fully obscured by the moon. In San Diego, we will experience a partial solar eclipse starting around 10 a.m., peaking at approximately 60% coverage by 11:11 am, with the entire event ending by 12:23 p.m.
Follow guidance from the American Astronomical Society for safe viewing, Eye Safety/How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely.
Educator Appreciation Night @ The NAT 5/8
The San Diego Natural History Museum is Educator Appreciation Night on Wednesday, May 8th from 5:30-8:30 PM (details can be found at this link). Registration will open on March 18th (the event is free, exclusive for educators only).
Working on your Spring Supply Orders for 24-25?
Here is a job aid for ordering through School Specialty: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U663_pPgP0m4F2JlEvXPFRa68lqO-Dh8kiDr1WZT7iU/edit?usp=sharing
ATTN HS Teachers: ScienceBridge Annual Teacher Training Workshop
Please see the attached flyer for information on our annual teacher training on Saturday June 1, 2024! This is for both veteran teachers who would like a refresher and for new teachers to ScienceBridge! We highly encourage anyone who has not trained on the Ocean Acidification and Enzyme kits to sign up for this spring training, since trained teachers will have priority for kit ordering. Please feel free to share the attached flyer with teachers whom you think would be interested in this training opportunity.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Computer Science Summer Professional Learning Programs!
Code.org San Diego & UCSD Create are offering Computer Science Summer Professional Learning Programs! These programs are highly supportive to prepare both experienced and novice educators with high-quality computer science instruction. The Summer of CS program includes:
§ A five-day summer workshop, which will fully prepare educators to utilize Code.org curricula (CS Discoveries and CS Principles) and teacher support systems.
§ Four one-day academic year workshops during the school year when teachers will reconvene for ongoing training and just-in-time support.
§ Additional opportunities for online and face-to-face networking and collaboration with peers throughout the year.
Full scholarships and stipends are available for teachers in schools with high underserved student populations, thanks to generous support from Code.org!
Learn more about Code.org's San Diego Professional Learning training here.
2024 SDNI Nanotechnology Summer Institute for Middle and High School Teachers
Middle and High School Teachers will learn how nanotechnology content can integrate with their current California NGSS science curricula. During the program, teachers will acquire knowledge that will enable them to prepare a lesson plan that integrates nanotechnology with their current science program. Teachers will then implement the lesson plan during the school year 2024-2025.
Teachers receive a $800 stipend and $200 nanotechnology material kit.Professional Development Credits: 30 hours of Professional Development Units can be reported to school districts.
Application to the SDNI Nanotechnology Summer Institute is now open through May 31, 2024. To apply, please email Yves Theriault at ytheriault@ucsd.edu and provide the following information: Full name, Name of School where teaching, Grade level(s), Science or Math Topic(s) taught, indicate your choice of one the following week for the 5-day training: June 24-28 or July 15-19
Attention MS Teachers: Amplify Resources!
- Welcome to Amplify Science page - introduction and getting started resources
- Most recent Amplify Newsletter
- Caregiver Hub
- Instructional Leaders Community of Practice
- Amplify Student workbooks are available in limited amount. If you are out of student workbooks we have a limited supply of workbooks to assist with restocking! Available through Destiny. Please reach out to your site Destiny contact (usually the librarian)
Student Opportunities
2024 National Youth Science Camp
Applications are open for the 2024 NYSC for high-achieving, science-oriented students. Current high school juniors. https://www.nysacademy.org/programs/nyscamp/2024-national-youth-science-camp-application/
Young Women in STEM!
YWC West is taking place at SDSU on Friday, May 17th, from 9am-2pm. The event is open to young women in grades 7-10 and school groups, school clubs, STEM/STEAM clubs, Girl Scouts Troops, Homeschool, etc. are welcome to register to attend.
Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects Annual Forum Symposium
We also want to bring to your attention our upcoming annual state wide virtual forum symposium on May 3, 2024! During this special event, we encourage PK-12 teachers to join the conference with students live during the school day, where session presenters like Melissa Cristina Márquez will share about her journey into marine biology, read her incredible new children's book, and interact directly with students!Join us for more incredible presenters who will be engaging directly with students of all ages between 9am-5pm PST in fun and inspiring ways!
This event is FREE for all PK-16 students, educators, administrators, researchers, university faculty/staff, and community partners! Registration is now open and spaces are limited so share about this incredible event today!
Applications for the 2024 SRTI Student Research Internship Programs are now open.
- The Student Research Internship Program spans 10-weeks during the summer, catering to high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Its core objective is to prepare individuals with an interest in health sciences, statistics, and computational/computer science to emerge as future leaders in translational medical research.
- The Medical Student Research Internship Program invites medical students to engage in an 8-week summer program. This immersive experience involves crafting and executing a distinct research project, attending translational science seminars, participating in a journal club, joining faculty round table discussions, and gaining clinical exposure guided by a physician-scientist mentor.
For further information:
- SRTI Internship Website: https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/translational-institute/education-and-training/student-research-internship/
- SRTI Brochure: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/pdfs/science-medicine/translational-institute/2023-SRTI-internship-brochure-low.pdf
- Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital Website: https://www.scripps.org/for-health-care-professionals/graduate-medical-education-gme/medical-student-rotations/scripps-clinic-and-scripps-green-hospital-medical-student-rotations
The 23rd Annual iVIE Awards & Student Film Festival Call For Entries Deadline is April 12th!
23rd Innovative Video in Education (iVIE) Awards & Student Film Festival, presented by SDG&E.
The festival is scheduled on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Location TBA.
There are many categories that you can submit your student work to
(i.e. news, PSA, animation, documentary, etc.). #LOVELECTRIC is back for a second year, with SDG&E as our presenting sponsor and asks students from ALL age groups to submit a video exploring the world of Electric Vehicles and all the reasons to #LOVELECTRIC!
Since 2001, iVIE has been showcasing videos produced by K-12 students throughout San Diego County. On average, iVIE receives 500+ video submissions from 120 teachers, 73 Schools (public and private) involving approximately 3,500 students. Submitted videos are judged by media professionals and educators curated by Media Arts Center San Diego(organizer of the annual San Diego Latino Film Festival & more).
iVIE is a K-12 student video competition and festival conceived to encourage and reward teachers and students who recognize the power of video as a creative and educational tool.
Call for Entries Deadline is April 12, 2024
$1 Entry Fee per film. Email ivie@mediaartscenter.org for more information.
Date & Location: Screening Date is June 1, 2024; Location is TBA
Scholarship Opportunity for HS Seniors
North Island Credit Union is encouraging college‐bound students in San Diego County to apply for its 2024 Student Scholarship Program. This year the credit union will provide a total of $30,000 in scholarships to recognize Southern California students who are motivated in their academic studies and active in their schools and communities. Eligibility includes high school seniors and community college students transferring to a four-year university who maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0, academic performance, school or community involvement, a letter of recommendation, and an essay submission. Applications are available through Friday, March 8, 2024 and winners will be announced on Monday, April 8, 2024. Interested students can find more information and apply at northisland.ccu.com/studentscholarship
Free Stuff!
We want to hear from you!
We want to hear your recommendations and share them with other science teachers!
If you have a favorite curriculum, reading, activity, or PLC plan that you want to recommend to other teachers we want to capture a short (1-3 minutes) video of you describing it and share it with other unified science teachers!
Email tlerner@sandi.net and one of us will come to visit you and record a short clip !
Science Joke! 😂
What did the femur say to the patella?
I kneed you


