Toshiba America Foundation Science and Math Improvement Grants

K–5 teachers, do you have an innovative idea for improving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning in your classroom? Does your idea involve project-based learning with measurable outcomes? What do you need to make learning STEM subjects fun for your students? Apply for these grants of up to $1,000. (Deadline October 1). Learn more here: LINK

The Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grants

The Herb Society of America awards grants to public and private school teachers of grades 3–6 with classes of at least 15 students. The society will award 15 $300 grants to establish indoor or outdoor herb gardens. The funds may be used for supplies such as soil, plant trays, containers, and child or youth sized tools. (Deadline October 1). Learn more here: LINK

National Geographic Explorer Classroom Events

These free, live interactive sessions for grades K–2 and 3–8 bring National Geographic Explorers—scientists and researchers from around the world—to your classroom. Students will hear behind-the-scenes stories and interact with experts. September sessions will feature the theme “Conserving Ecosystems.” In October, sessions will address the theme “Water Conservation.” Events for grades K–2 happen on Mondays at 11 a.m. ET; events for grades 3–8 take place on Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET. Classes can be featured on screen in Zoom or watch the session live on YouTube. Educators will receive an instructional guide to accompany the session. Learn more here: LINK

Kansas Science and Engineering Fair

While the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have implemented 8 Science and Engineering Practices; we know that there is still merit in students (especially elementary students) going through opportunities to discuss and conduct scietific thinking. Did you know that Kansas has a Science and Engineering Fair that happens every spring? Science fairs are a great opportunity to promote cross curricular learning as students write their reports and practice their speaking and learning skills. It is also a GREAT opportunity to build their elementary IPS portfolios. Learn more about the Kansas fair here (Link) and please reach out if I can help with this in any way.

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Nominate outstanding grades 7–12 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) teachers by January 9, 2023, for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for STEM teaching—or apply for one yourself by February 6, 2023. Awards are given to teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

Awardees receive the following:

• A certificate signed by the President of the United States;

• A paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities;

• A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation; and

• An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues nationwide.

STEAM: Using Paint to Teach Stoichiometry and Solutions

During this American Association of Chemistry Teachers webinar on September 8, a chemistry teacher will share key components of a unit design that uses paint as a framework to learn stoichiometry and solutions. The unit uses three main checkpoints to weave the paint theme throughout before culminating in a lab experience in which students make their own paint to use in a class mural. Attendees will be introduced to the flow of this unit, as well as the format of each checkpoint activity and the final lab component. Advance registration is required. Learn more here (Link).

Ecology Project International’s 2023 Teacher Fellowships

Experience EPI’s methods for teaching field science as you conduct hands-on conservation research during these eight-day fellowships. Fellowships are open to formal and informal educators worldwide who teach in any subject area. EPI’s curriculum is appropriate for middle level, high school, or university educators. EPI funds most of the fellowship costs. Choose from the Baja Teacher Fellowship (March 4–11, 2023), the Winter Yellowstone Fellowship (March 4–11, 2023), or the Costa Rica Teacher Fellowship (April 22–29, 2023). (Deadline September 1) Learn more here (Link)

Youth Incentive Award

The Coleopterists Society, an international organization of professionals and hobbyists interested in the study of beetles, has established a program to recognize young people studying beetles. The Society has pledged to provide up to $1200 each year for the Youth Incentive Award Program. The Junior award is a monetary grant of $400 and the Senior award is $800. In addition, award recipients will each receive a one-year subscription to the society journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin

This is for children of grades 7-12 only.

The objectives of the Youth Incentive Award are to:

• provide encouragement and assistance to young beetle enthusiasts (grades 7-12).

• promote the study of beetles, the most diverse group of insects, as a rewarding lifelong avocation or career.

• provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills such as leadership, cooperation, communication, planning and conducting a scientific study, grant writing and managing funds.

• provide some financial support to enrich activities or projects.

A Youth Incentive Award Committee from the Coleopterists Society will evaluate the applications and will select up to two winners annually; one each in junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12) categories. The selection committee invites proposals for topics such as field collecting trips to conduct beetle species inventories or diversity studies, attending workshops or visiting entomology or natural history museums for special training and projects on beetles, studying aspects of beetle biology, etc. The proposed activities or projects will be evaluated on their degree of creativity, educational benefit to the applicant, scientific merit, feasibility and budgetary planning. This Award is for proposals by individuals only. Each applicant is strongly encouraged to find an adult advisor (teacher, youth group leader, parent, etc.) to provide guidance in proposal development, but the proposal MUST be written by the applicant. The Coleopterists Society would also be happy to assist in establishing contacts between youth and professional Coleopterists.

Additional details and application forms for The Coleopterists Society Youth Incentive Award Program can be obtained from: Dr. David G. Furth; Entomology, NHB, MRC 165; P.O. Box 37012; Smithsonian Institution; Washington, D. C. 20013-7012 (phone: 202-633-0990, FAX: 202-786-2894, email: furthd@si.edu). Also check The Coleopterists Society WebPage: https://www.coleopsoc.org/society-info/prizes-and-awards/

Applications for this year must be submitted by 1 November 2022.

Save the date: April 15, 2023 for a multi-section meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Contact: Larry.Browning@sdtate.edu for additional information

Time & Location

Nov 04, 8:00 AM CDT – Nov 06, 12:00 PM CST

The Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA

About the Event

The 2022 Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference will be held at the Kauffman Foundation Center in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, November 4th - Saturday, November 5th. There is an (optional) field experience on Sunday, November 6th.

For information on hotel accomodations and other conference information, click here.

PLEASE NOTE: All conference presenters and attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and able to show proof of vaccination.

Learn more here: LINK

NASA is calling on middle and high school students to join the second NASA TechRise Student Challenge. Students in sixth to 12th grades attending a U.S. public, private, or charter school –including those in U.S. territories –are challenged to team up with their schoolmates to design an experiment for a high-altitude balloon under the guidance of an educator. The challenge offers hands-on insight into the design and test process used by NASA-supported researchers. Teams should submit their experiment ideas by October 24th, 2022. Sixty winning teams will be selected and awarded $1,500 to build their experiment, an assigned spot to test it on a high-altitude balloon flight, and technical support from Future Engineers. To learn more about this exciting opportunity and get involved as a student, educator, or judge, visit NASA TechRise Student Challenge, and sign up for the Educator Event on August 27^th, 2022 and a Student Virtual Field Trip in September!

To help prepare new teachers and coaches for the 2023 Kansas KidWind Challenge, the Kansas Energy Program has scheduled the following six wind energy teacher workshops across the state. There is no cost to attend! Each person attending the workshop will receive a substitute stipend (if necessary), reimbursement for mileage to/from the workshop and your school, lunch, and a Vernier KidWind Basic Wind Experiment Kit (valued at $129). Learn more about KidWind with this quick overview video.

Follow the links below for more details and registration:

• Oct. 25 (Tues) – Oakley Oct. 26 (Wed) – Dodge City Oct. 26 (Wed) – Manhattan

• Oct. 27 (Thur) – Marion Nov. 2 (Wed) – Olathe Nov. 3 (Thur) – Iola