In this Science Snippets Smore, you will find the following:

1. Instructional Focus: Planning and Conducting Investigations
2. OSTA Events
3. Upcoming PD Dates
4. Mystery Science Updates
5. Discovery Resources for November
6. Stemscopes Updates
7. Science Olympics
8. Curriculum Materials
9. MPS Science Resources
10. Halloween Science
11. Halloween Children's Books + Engineering Practices
12. Bring the Science!
13. Winner! Winner!
14. Science Outside the Classroom

As we spoke about on Coordinator Day, we are focusing on a different Science and Engineering Practice each month. For November we are focusing on the following:

We all have science standards that specifically ask for STUDENTS to plan and conduct investigations. It's messy. It can be loud. I can take more time than a typical cookie-cutter investigation. However, the students LEARN so much from taking part in their learning this way. The video below goes through an example of how to make this work in your class.

Ever thought of serving in a state-wide capacity? Oklahoma Science Teaching Association is accepting nominations for several board positions. You can self-nominate or nominate a colleague.

Join the OSTA Board!

Nominations are now open

Oklahoma Science Teaching Association is looking for passionate, hardworking science teachers from across our great state! Sound like someone you know? Nominate yourself, a friend, or a colleague who would like to become a part of OSTA leadership.

Positions open:

Director-At-Large (2-year term - 2 Positions Open)

Middle School Division Director (2-year term)

College/University Division Director (2-year term)

Secretary (2-year term)

President-Elect (3-year term)

To Nominate Click Here

So you know the basics, but what does it actually LOOK LIKE in the classroom?

Discovery in Action: LEARN

Monday, November 7th

4:30 - 5:30

ASC Board Room

Discovery in Action: Managing Hands-On Investigations

Thursday, December 1st

4:30 - 5:30

ASC Board Room

Science Olympics Q & A Time

Trying to respect your time, instead of having ANOTHER training meeting, scroll below to see links to a video about your grade level event. Science Olympics begins when we get back from Thanksgiving Break. In the next few weeks, please take time to watch the training video and read your grade-level section in the Science Olympics Handbook.

We will have a Q & A time scheduled the week before Thanksgiving to address any lingering questions or concerns. This is will be through zoom so feel free to come and go to ask any questions.

Wednesday, November 16th

3:30 - 4:45

Thursday, November 17th

3:30 - 4:45

ZOOM LINK

Meeting ID: 963 0952 9338

Passcode: Olympics

Mystery Science has added some lessons with hands-on activities to both Kindergarten and First Grade.

Kinder: Are Plants Alive? (New to the Plant Secrets Unit)

1st Grade: What will a baby plant look like when it grows up? (Plant Superpowers Unit)

Did you know that all PKL - 6th teachers have access to Discovery? DId you know that it has more than just science resources? Discovery has science, social studies, ELA, math, SEL, and ELL resources for you to use in your classroom.

Check of a small sampling of what Discovery had to offer for relevant November resources! This link has resources for Native American Heritage Month, Day of the Dead Celebrations, Polar Bear Week, National STEM Day, Election Day, Sesame Street Day, Veteran's Day, World Kindness Day, Thanksgiving, and Red Planet Day.

There are also November activity calendars with topics for PK -2 and 3-6 along with grade level resources and virtual field trips.

CHECK IT OUT!

Sixth grade teachers were invited to meet last week to discuss how Stemscopes was going so far this year. We discussed making changes to the following:

Heat and Matter: Explore 1: Modeling Temperature and Heat

This explore was found to lack engagement, and we will be looking for alternatives to place in the pacing guide next year.

Properties of Visible Light:

Be cautious when using the lasers, and make sure student are aware of the dangers. The green laser is especially strong and may need to be used for demonstration purposed only.

Modeling Waves through Various Mediums:

Matt Stedronsky (WC) suggested that this would be a great opportunity to bring in music, especially drums, to help with this topic. Talk to your music teacher to collaborate!

Order:

We also spoke about possibly changing the order of the science pacing. Currently, we teach in the following order: Physical, Earth, Life. It was suggested that we move life science after physical science to allow for Earth science to be taught without spanning too may breaks.

Let me know what you think!

Science Olympics is back on for the 22-23 school year. Please familiarize yourself with the handbook and your grade level competition. Below are short videos about each event. YOU WILL NEED TO WATCH THESE as they replace an mandatory training.

Did you know our science department has resources for you to have and some that you can borrow? The following are all available for check-out:

Mineral Kits
Rock Kits
Fossil Kits
Planetarium

Need some materials for a science activity? We can do that too! Please allow at least a week for common materials and longer for specialty materials.

Let's face it. Halloween is a HARD day for learning in elementary. Let's tie some learning in with the excitement of Halloween. Below are some activities that you can do to teach science concepts and enjoy Halloween!

There are several programs that are sponsored by museums in the metro area that will allow teachers to bring additional resources into the classroom. Check it out!

Zoobaru Outreach - The zoo will come and do a program for 45 minutes. The cost is 125 - 175 (depending on the number of kiddos).

Zoo Boxes: 5 different "trunks" of materials with lessons provided by the OKC Zoo. It requires a $25 deposit, but that is refundable once the materials are returned. Topics: Habitat Boxes, Wild Oklahoma Kit, Suitcase for Survival, Sensory Bag, and Animal Artifacts