Coweta Science Update

On Friday, September 10 at 10am, this Direct to Discovery interaction will join Laura Levy (Research Director, GEAR) and Tyler Kinner (STEM Curriculum Development Lead, STEM@GTRI) to explore story telling in video games. We'll dive into examples, compare and contrast books and games, and talk about how users can use their own video games to tell unique stories. This interaction stands alone, but is also taking place as part of our broader Pollinator PSA Steam Challenge. This session is most appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. This sessions is free to attend. See more events like this at the GTRI STEM Direct to Discovery webpage and find more of their resources on their STEM@GTRI webpage.

Attention 8th grade science teachers: Check out the newest session with our virtual PLCs Community, Writing in Science. Resources and templates are shared! Follow these steps to join the community and access the session: http://ow.ly/ikGh50G2du7

On September 16, join Dr. White for a K-5 STEM/STEAM share-a-thon! He'll share holiday and seasonal themed STEM/STEAM lessons for each grade level. Lessons are available for free. Plus there will be door prizes for some lucky attendees! Join via Google Meet. See the Elementary Science Google Classroom for the link!

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.

Public health brings together science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and other disciplines to create a healthier world. A new online portal from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) connects K–college students and teachers to resources to inspire the next generation of STEM learners to pursue careers in public health. For example, students in grades 4–8 can read the Ask a Scientist comic series (available in both English and Spanish) to learn more about how the body fights disease, how people become infected with germs, and how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. K–12 teachers can access curriculum to explore public health issues in the classroom, such as How Loud Is Too Loud? (grades 3–6), a series of lessons addressing the science of sound and protecting your hearing; Body and Mind (BAM) learning modules (grades 4–8), which teach students about healthy lifestyle choices; and The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak, a graphic novel and accompanying activities (grades 6–12) that help students understand what a disease variant is and what public and animal health experts do when outbreaks of infectious diseases occur.

The portal also has training resources for college students, such as the Environmental Health Traineeship Program, which features opportunities to participate in hands-on laboratory experiences focusing on technologies and practices that benefit environmental public health.

Educators at Towson University Center for STEM Excellence have developed a collection of K–12 digital science learning resources to incorporate into existing curricula. The resources include lessons, videos, and virtual science investigations on science topics. The lessons are designed as Google Slide presentations and can be used for in-person learning, hybrid classrooms, and distance learning. For example, you’ll find lessons to explore plate tectonics with elementary learners (Amazing Appalachians, grades 3–6); develop observation and questioning skills among middle level students (How Do Scientists Know Things? grades 4–9); and investigate how a pharmaceutical can be used to treat lactose intolerance in humans (Looking Into Lactase, grades 9–12).

The video science investigations, targeted for middle and high school levels, provide students an up-close look at the chemistry of Making Salt, the fermentation process (Observing Fermentation), the relationship between surface area and diffusion rate (Demystifying Diffusion), and other topics. Finally, Instructions for Teachers, a downloadable PDF, gives educators helpful information and tips for accessing and assigning the lessons.

Developed as part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools program, Where Is Gina the Geographer? is a virtual scavenger hunt for students in grades four and five. The activity enables students to learn state facts while practicing science skills such as collecting data, drawing conclusions, gathering information from an interactive data source, and making inferences. In the approximately hour-long virtual activity, students follow a series of clues like landmarks, weather, and population to eliminate potential hideouts—and use the Bureau’s State Facts for Students website to answer questions to help find where Gina is located. The site has teacher and student versions of the activity, as well as additional Teacher Notes. Most appropriate for grades 4-5.

GoNoodle Educator, a teacher-focused extension of GoNoodle.com, offers videos, games, and other curricular resources to enhance elementary instruction in classroom, hybrid, or remote-learning settings. Like the learning experiences at GoNoodle.com, these kinesthetic-based educational activities work on desktop or laptop computers (not on tablets or mobile devices) and engage students in learning science and other core content through movement. For example, Quantum Zapp is a three-minute, movement-based game that introduces students to more than 100 inventions in history. In addition, customizable Question Sets for K–6 audiences address core subjects (e.g., Science, Math, English language arts, Social Studies, and Health) and can be played as is or copied and edited to meet students’ specific learning needs. Science-themed printables and videos support instruction on topics such as the water cycle and science processes (Think Like a Scientist). Teachers can access these and other resources on the Go Noodle Educator Frequently Asked Questions page.

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