Coweta Science Update

The GA DOE has released several new resources aimed at increasing teachers' ability to make time for science in an already packed school schedule. These sessions emphasize the connections between science and ELA. By incorporating more ELA standards in your science teaching, you can multiply the time available for science in your classroom. Here's a link to the video. If you're in the elementary classroom and would like a deeper dive, check out Reading & Writing in the Elementary Science Classroom. You can find these resources and many others on the GA DOE Science Professional Learning Playlist.

To support safety best practices in the classroom and lab, Flinn Scientific has launched Lab Safety: New Teacher Academy for science teachers who have been teaching three years or less. Academy participants will attend three 90-minute safety webinars and receive a hands-on kit featuring relevant lab safety materials. The webinars address major areas of science safety, including handling protocols, chemical and specimen storage, student safety guidance, first aid, Personal Protective Equipment use, and regulatory compliance.

After attending the webinars, teachers will receive Professional Development New Science Teacher Certification and a New Teacher Lab Safety Starter Pack, which includes a chemical storage pattern poster, safety poster, periodic table poster, a WhiteBox Learning glider, a Flinn catalog with safety reference guide, and a $25 coupon for first-time Flinn purchasers. Participating teachers will also have on-call access to Flinn safety experts throughout the school year.

This hands-on activity for grades K–2 was developed by teachengineering.org at the University of Colorado Boulder. The activity introduces students to the engineering design process and explores the roles of scientists and engineering. After comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between scientists and engineers, students are challenged to produce a set of purple popsicles of their own design using various materials and following a specific set of criteria. Students work through the seven steps of the engineering design process (ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test, improve) following an “I do, we do, you do” model of guided instruction. The activity’s lesson plan includes links to worksheets such as a downloadable recording sheet, Venn diagram, rubric, and assessment reflection sheet. The lesson plan also includes ideas to extend learning and tips for scaling the experience for older students.

GA Bio is excited to offer hands-on, immersive science teacher professional development for rural Georgia teachers. Curriculum is built to highlight and leverage the biotechnology that exists within traditional science courses, including biology and AP biology, chemistry and AP chemistry, physics, environmental biology, agriculture and horticulture, physical science, and life science.

RTTI 3.0 has a Fall Training series followed by Spring Training Series. The Fall Series is virtual, live, hands-on, and takes place over four, two-hour sessions. Participants will be sent supplies to engage and practice during each session.

The Spring Training Series is in-person, hands-on, and takes place over one and a half days. Trainings will be held regionally, in southwest (Bainbridge), southeast (Vidalia) and northeast Georgia (Athens).

Participants will have time to plan and prepare to implement one of the labs from the training within the school year to either enhance a current lesson or replace a less effective lesson. Participants will leave the training with a lesson plan as well as a plan with Georgia BioEd Institute to receive materials necessary for successful implementation. Sign up here. You can find more of their free resources here.

Visit NASA’s Artemis Mission to the Moon web page for resources to excite K–12 students about this multi-mission lunar exploration program, which includes sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024. Through the Artemis program, NASA will use new technology to study the Moon in new and better ways and prepare for human missions to Mars. The web page presents a mix of information, activities, and lesson plans to introduce students to the Artemis missions.

Read an overview of the Artemis program (versioned for grades K–4 and 5–8), or learn about the spacecraft and space hardware used in the Artemis missions through coloring sheets (grades K–4) and video-based drawing activities in which students in grades 5–12 draw alongside mission astronauts who share information about their role in the missions. Another hands-on activity suitable for classroom or at-home settings is Impact Craters (grades K–8). In this activity, students act as mission astronauts studying the composition of craters on a model of the Moon’s surface. Moon to Mars Bingo, an activity for grades 5–12, reinforces students’ understanding of key mission vocabulary (e.g., Orion, Space Launch System, Payload, Deep Space) in a lively, game-based format. Finally, beginning on October 26, educators and families are encouraged to register to receive four weeks of Artemis 1–themed content, covering everything from prelaunch to post splashdown and delivered directly to their e-mail address.

The National Geographic Resource Library offers curated resource collections on science-, social science–, and geography-related topics, including hurricanes, infectious agents, abiotic factors, energy, and natural resources. The collections feature a mix of maps, lesson plans, videos, interactives, articles, and encyclopedic entries, many of which have versions for different reading levels. While most collections are targeted for middle and high school levels, a few collections are available for elementary educators, such as Best of Explorer Magazine (K–5); Learn at Home: Grades K–2; and Learn at Home: Grades 3–5. In addition, collections such as Interpreting Data (grades 5–12) and Interpreting Maps (grades 5–12) provide experiential opportunities for students to develop skills working with data and maps. Create an educator account, browse the collections, and bookmark your favorite resources.

STEM Rising, a project of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Public Affairs, highlights ways the Energy Department supports science education and workforce development. At the website, K–12 teachers can access educational online content, events, internships, workshops, activities, and more. View a list of annotated descriptions (and links) for more than 170 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) resources for K–12 audiences, developed by scientists and educators from national labs.

Explore the properties of matter and more through activities from Brookhaven (New York) National Laboratory, which offers at-home activities for K–12 audiences that include a video-based study of Shifting Shadows for elementary learners; a collection of mini experiments investigating Dark Matter and Energy for middle level learners; and a video series introducing careers in science research for high school learners. Or find information, lesson plans, safety tips, games, and more to explore energy topics in the classroom at Energy KIDS, an educational website for K–12 teachers and students from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Another notable resource is the Science at Home video series from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Most appropriate for middle and high school levels, these video experiments provide opportunities for students to learn alongside LLNL scientists as they conduct Light Experiments at Home with a Laser Physicist; learn What Atmospheric Scientist at LLNL Does; and Make Backyard Craters With a Planetary Defense Physicist.

The Wonder of Science was created to support the next generation of science teachers. The website aggregates resources developed by Paul Andersen and other science teachers implementing the Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS). Paul Andersen is an educational consultant and YouTube creator living in Bozeman, MT. Paul is an experienced educator having taught science in Montana for 20 years. Paul was the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year, and was also one of four finalists for the 2011 National Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching Paul has created hundreds of YouTube science tutorials that have been viewed millions of times by students around the world. Paul has provided training for thousands of students, teachers, and administrators around the world. Paul enjoys providing meaningful professional development that can be applied immediately in the classroom.

The Vernier Experiment Sampler is a digital publication featuring 21 data-collection experiments for students from middle to college levels. The book contains four experiments each in biology, chemistry, engineering, middle level science, and physics, as well as an Introduction to Data Collection experiment to help get started. The experiments give students practice in using sensors to collect and record data. Experiment titles include Reflectivity of Light (middle level), Mapping a Magnetic Field (middle level), Enzyme Action: Testing Catalase Activity (biology), Acid-Base Titration (chemistry), Accelerations in the Real World (physics), and Calibrating a Sensor (engineering).

Tell GSTA how phenomenal science learning helps spark your interest in science and how knowledge of STEM topics and science concepts help you understand the world’s grand challenges and how these grand challenges relate to your local place.. You can also discuss how you use critical thinking and problem solving to address current and future world problems.

This competition is for your students. There are $100 winners in elementary, middle, and high school. Applications are due Nov. 1. See more about the competition here.

The Georgia Science Teachers Association Conference will be held Feb. 10-12 at the Hilton Peachtree City. GSTA is looking for presenters. Please consider sharing the phenomenal science work you and your students are doing! Below are the conference strands. Here's the link to submit your proposal. Submissions are due October 29, 2021.

Strands

• Phenomenal 3D Teaching, Learning and Assessments: Since first implementing the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science, teachers have been making the instructional shifts necessary to enable students to move from learning about science to using science to make sense of phenomena and figure out solutions to problems. Sessions in this strand will focus on investigations, lessons, assessments, performance tasks, and other resources that engage students in the integrated use of the three dimensions. This strand will also focus on the use of phenomenon-based formative assessments and the resulting data to accelerate learning by addressing knowledge gaps.

• Phenomenal Virtual Learning: The 2020-2021 school year gave many teachers the opportunity to teach in a new virtual space. Whether synchronous or asynchronous, teachers experienced new challenges and successes in acclimating to virtual or hybrid teaching and learning. Sessions in this strand will focus on teaching practices and resources that support interactive, engaging phenomenon-based three dimensional teaching and learning in a virtual or hybrid classroom.

• Phenomenal Literacy in Science: The forefront of every Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science is to “obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.” This science and engineering practice illustrates the natural fit between science and literacy. Reading, thinking through, writing and sharing information are all critical aspects of making sense of phenomena and designing solutions to problems. Sessions in this strand will focus on evidence-based literacy practices that support students’ use of the three dimensions to make sense of phenomena.

• Phenomenal Science for All: Students have diverse experiences, assets, and abilities that support their engagement, curiosity, and motivation in the classroom. Sessions in this strand will focus on teaching practices and learning experiences that promote the success of all students and enable them to make personal connections to science as they make sense of phenomena.

• Phenomenal STEM/STEAM: Effective STEM/STEAM education uses an interdisciplinary approach to help students learn and use 21st Century skills to make sense of and design solutions to real world problems. Sessions in this strand will focus on curriculum, programs, partnerships, and approaches that effectively integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to support phenomenon-based student learning.

Google Classroom is one of the many ways information about science instruction and resources will be shared. Join the appropriate Google Classroom using one of the codes listed below. Just go to classroom.google.com and click on the + button in the upper right hand corner, click "join", then copy and paste the appropriate join code below.

• Elementary- mfasbyg

• Middle- aiowxf4
  

• High- jwilem3

Help me to help you! Let me know who you are, where and what you teach. I'll share the directory with everyone so you can form your own learning communities. Just click on this link. Easy-peasy!

With new learning resources this year, there is a lot to learn. Join these teacher led sessions each quarter to learn from your peers. You'll find shortcuts, best practices, and more in these sessions. The focus will be on things that will help you in your classroom tomorrow! See the specific dates for your grade band by clicking here or by going to the science curriculum webpage and clicking on professional development.

Looking for help mastering Google Classroom? Want to learn more about supporting your students reading and writing? Look no further than the CCSS Professional Learning Website. Its your one stop shop for professional learning!

GaDOE has launched a new innovative platform to provide the opportunity for science teachers and GaDOE staff to collaborate, connect and share thoughts and resources as well as encouragement for the 2020-2021 school year! The instructions below will help guide you in the creation of your account and navigating to the virtual professional learning communities that you are interested in.

Step 1: To get started, visit the GaDOE community website via this link, select "Create an Account" and follow the prompts for setting up a new account on the platform.

Step 2: Once you have completed your account you will have to wait briefly for activation/approval. Once approved, you are ready to join a group! Navigate to the "Groups" section. For science teachers and leader, there are several groups available to join: Select and join the groups you are most interested in.

Please contact Dr. Donald White with any questions or comments.

Email: donald.white@cowetaschools.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/cowetaschools.net/coweta-science/home
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA 30263
Phone: 770-254-2800
Twitter: @dwhitesciguy