The Georgia DOE has been busy updating the Teacher Resource Link with new resources for science teaching. These resources are free, standards-based, and are cross-curricular. You can sort them by grade level, subject area, and standard. You can access them through Infinite Campus --> SLDS --> TRL --> Essential Kit. Here's a link to the Quick Start Guide. Take a minute to look through the resources. You'll be glad you did!

Looking for some winter themed STEM activities? Check out these easy and fun STEAM challenges. STEAM activities like these are great way to capitalize on your students holiday related energy bursts!

Winter STEAM Activities

The DOE has provided some additional support for the use of phenomena in science. These "Grab and Go" phenomena cards provide possible phenomena ideas as investigations, observations, or problems. The cards can be cut out and arranged for possible connections between standards, where a phenomenon might connect different areas of your course. The cards could provide a visual as standards are bundled. The phenomena shown on cards are only suggestions--modify to best fit the needs of your students! You can find them for grades 7 and up. Six and K-5 are being written. Access them through Infinite Campus --> SLDS --> TRL --> Essential Kit or with this link: http://bit.ly/GSEGrabandGoCards

This phenomenon graphic organizer shared by Christy Fogel, 5th grade teacher at Arbor Springs Elementary, makes it easy to focus your students when they're exploring a new phenomenon. Students observe a new phenomenon drawing or describing what they saw. The labels are important to help you understand what your students are thinking. Students then document questions they have about the phenomenon and what they would need to know to help figure out what happened. Students then share their ideas verbally with explanations for the phenomenon based on the evidence they have gathered. Students can agree or disagree with other students using evidence they have gathered. The emphasis is on the evidence and respectfully disagreeing when evidence doesn't match up. Students are allowed to change their ideas based on new evidence. Want to know more? I'll be happy to come show you what this looks like in any classroom! Schedule Your Appointment Here!

Don't miss out on new resources and freebies! Join the Science Google Classrooms! Use the class codes listed below.

Elementary: uz7l4 (that's a lowercase L...not a 1)

Middle: wumkvdb

High: s0ei0d (those are zeros...not Os)

Are you interested in obtaining or renewing your Coweta STEM Recognition? The process is simple!

1) Teach 5 STEM lessons. A STEM lesson typically includes some sort of design challenge for your students. Designing a poster or Google Slide presentation does not count as a design challenge. Teachers may collaborate on lessons together. For example, if your STEM lesson calls for writing (which it should!), partner with an ELA teacher to help!

2) Fill out the STEM Activity log. Briefly describe the 5 lessons on this form.

3) Post one exemplar lesson with student work samples. Pictures or videos of student work so other teachers and students can understand what the assignment leads to using this http://bit.ly/CCSSSTEMRecognition form.

4) That's it! Now sit back and enjoy the admiration of your colleagues and community.

If you have more questions or would like to discuss lesson plan ideas, contact donald.white@cowetaschools.net or michelle.clarke@cowetaschools.net. You can also find more info at www.cowetastemrecognition.weebly.com

Looking for ideas for your STEM/STEAM lessons? Check out some of these!

150 STEM & PBL Activities

https://www.teachengineering.org

http://www.novelengineering.org

https://www.eie.org

http://www.stemcobb.com/lesson-links.html Elementary STEM Lessons

http://www.stemcobb.com/ms-stem-lessons.html Middle School STEM Lessons

239 STEM Resource Websites

If your school hasn't gotten on the Science World Tour Calendar, email me! I have resources to share and can help your school meet its goals in science and literacy. I'll come visit during your planning period or before/after school or during a planning day. We can talk collaborating on a lesson plan or co-teaching. We can look at your school science data and more! Don't miss out!

Schedule Your Appointment Here!

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

Email: donald.white@cowetaschools.net
Website: bit.ly/CCSSScience
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA 30263
Phone: 770-254-2800
Twitter: @dwhitesciguy