Trainings, Grants- something for everyone
Jennifer Bristol
Resources For All-
1.The NSTA Learning Center has terrific FREE web seminars designed to help you locate and use its vast collection of 12,000 resources, online community, and professional learning tools. NSTA Web Seminars are free, 90-minute, live professional development experiences that allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, NSTA Press authors, and scientists, engineers, and education specialists from NSTA partner organizations. To find out more and to register, go to: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/SeminarRegistration.aspx
2.Through NSTA, the American Chemical Society will host a webinar “Chemistry Colors our World” on September 15 at 6:30PM focused on integrating National Chemistry Week resources into classroom curriculum. To learn about ready-to-use demonstrations, lab investigations, videos, and register, go to http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/ACS/webseminar22.aspx
3.Registrationis open for Seminars on Science from the American Museum of Natural History. The 6-week online courses can be taken for up to 3graduate credits each. All of the courses are online and are led by both an experienced classroom teacher and a research scientist. The next session runs from September 21st to November 1st. Sign up today and receive $50 off your registration fee! Use code SCIENCEMATTERS. For more information about the program, check out Seminars on Science at http://amnh.org/learn
4.The NGSS Evidence Statements for all grade levels are now available. These statements were developed and reviewed by educators and scientists, including many members of the NGSS writing team. The evidence statements are intended to identify clear, measurable components that, if collectively met, fully satisfy each performance expectation (PE) described within the NGSS. Find out more at http://www.nextgenscience.org/k-5-evidence-statements (for K-5); http://www.nextgenscience.org/middle-school-evidence-statements (for Middle School); or http://www.nextgenscience.org/ngss-high-school-evidence-statements (for High School).
5.PolarTREC(Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is currently accepting applications from teachers for teacher research experiences. Teachers are invited to submit an application to participate infield research learning experiences during the 2016 (usually Arctic) or 2016-17(usually Antarctic) field seasons. Deadline to register: September 8, 2015.For more information and to register, go to http://www.polartrec.com/teachers/application
Grants and Awards
1.If you're a U.S. preK–12 educator, you could win a $2,500 travel voucher to anywhere in the world in Accelerate Learning's "STEMscopes Field Trip Around the World" sweepstakes. All that's required is a Facebook "like" and sharing of the contest page with your educator friends (deadline September 4). More information can be found athttp://www.acceleratelearning.com/stemvacation15/
2.Enter the PBS Loves Teachers Sweepstakes for your chance to win a Samsung Galaxy® tablet, $100 Amazon gift card, and more! To enter, go to: https://offerpop.com/campaign/769030?elq=e4f0a91ddd614d5a9a3938f8de71f1d6&elqCampaignId=905&elqaid=1775&elqat=1&elqTrackId=7ff26a0b26114c28ae67b9a5d4a6340f
3.The 2016–2017 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program for U.S. K–12 teachers is a unique international professional development opportunity through the Fulbright Program. Teachers gain new skills, learn new instructional methods and assessment methodologies, and share best practices with international colleagues and students, and have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures and international education systems. Application deadline: November 4, 2015. For more information, go to: http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org
4. The Awards and Recognitions committee of NSTA has announced their revamped online Teacher Awards applications. They’ve added a new feature that allows you to nominate an applicant. That applicant will then receive an email informing them of the nomination along with the application. You may also apply for yourself. To find out more, nominate someone, or apply yourself, go to: http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx
5.Classroom pet grants available! If you are a teacher at the pre K through 8th grade level, you can apply for a Pets in the Classroom grant; please visit http://www.petsintheclassroom.org for more information.
6.For those of you writing or planning to write grants, check out Education World's Show Me the Money: Tips and Resources for successful Grant Writing at http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml
Student Opportunities
1.Beginning September 1, 2015, U.S. fourth-grade students will receive an Every Kid in a Park (EKiP)pass that will give them free access to all of the federal lands and waters across the country for a full year, with the goal of getting more than one million fourth graders onto public lands. For more information, go to: http://www.nationalparks.org/ook/every-kid-in-a-park
2.eCYBERMISSION, a free web-based competition for students in grades 6–9, officially went live, with open registration for student teams and volunteers. Professionals are encouraged to participate as volunteers to help build students' interest in STEM. Find more information and register at http://www.ecybermission.com/
3.In the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergize ME Infographic Challenge, 9th- 12th grade student teams use technology to learn about bioenergy. Student teams research, interpret, and then design an infographicthat responds to a bioenergy topic. Selected infographics are promoted nationally. Submissions aredue March 4, 2016 by 5:00 p.m. Central Time. All of the tools necessary to integrate this challenge into your curriculum or offer it as an after-school activity are available son the website. For more information and to download the Toolkit, visit http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/infographic-challenge
Great Deals and Latest Links
1.Leadingthe school's science department can be an honor, obligation, or headache—or all three rolled into one. We'd like to know what you think about the role of a science department head! Take this brief NSTA Reports survey now at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMK6KND
2.Getto know the otters, whales, and sharks of Monterey Bay, CA by tuning in to PBS for the premiere of BIG BLUE LIVE on 8/31. PLUS: Get into the action by joining PBS and special guests for a Twitter Party on 9/1 focused on marine biology and conservation! Date + Time: September 1 | 7-8PMEDT. How to Join: Follow @PBSLrnMedia on Twitter, then search for #BigBlueClass Event for Teachers + Students. For more information, go to: https://twitter.com/pbslrnmedia?elq=dd9bb8915d1440bc8eebe72f0c59b15d&elqCampaignId=908&elqaid=1783&elqat=1&elqTrackId=bdddc51f972f460a8d4a07b52203ab92
3.Highschool teachers, don't miss your chance to Adopt a Physicist, so your students can talk to physics graduates about careers, school, work, and family balance. Register by September 7. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.adoptaphysicist.org/
4.Environmental Justice and Freshwater Resources Course is a two- to three-week InTeGrate teaching module that enables undergraduate students to identify the freshwater components of the hydrologic cycle and connect them to the basic need of all human beings for equal access to clean freshwater. This module is part of a collection that is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators. For more information, go to: http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/freshwater/index.html
5.With support from Chevron, the National Academy of Engineering has launched Link Engineering, a dynamic new website designed to support implementation of pre K–12 engineering education. At Link Engineering, teachers, teacher educators, and school/district administrators will find tons of resources on the big ideas in engineering education and can connect with other educators to get feedback and share ideas. Learn more at http://linkengineering.org/
6. Environmental Justice and Freshwater Resources Course is a two- to three-week InTeGrate teaching module that enables undergraduate students to identify the freshwater components of the hydrologic cycle and connect them to the basic need of all human beings for equal access to clean freshwater. This module is part of a collection that is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators. For more information, go to: http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/freshwater/index.html
7.With support from Chevron, the National Academy of Engineering has launched Link Engineering, a dynamic new website designed to support implementation of pre K–12 engineering education. At Link Engineering, teachers, teacher educators, and school/district administrators will find tons of resources on the big ideas in engineering education and can connect with othereducators to get feedback and share ideas. Learn more at http://linkengineering.org/
8.Engineering challenges, paper airplanes, cantilevers, submersibles, and a freeze ray—what do they have in common? They're all elements of the film Despicable Me 2 that could be used to prompt science-oriented conversations with kids who've just seen the latest Minions movie. Read more from Blick on Flicks about how to use the Minions craze to get students interested in science. http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=60179
9. The American Association of Chemistry Teachers has a variety of resources to help with classroom/lab safety. To learn more, go to: https://www.teachchemistry.org/content/aact/en/classroom-resources/external-resources/safety.html
Science Information for Teachers (SIFT)
Join SIFT at: http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/sift/SIFTHome.html
And visit the Sifters Guide to Everything at: http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/siftguide/default.html
The SIFTer (http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/staff/Lawrence.html ) can be reached at: SI...@cpet.ufl.edu