Systems of the Season
Yesterday was the first day of October and in Kansas City (where I live) it was easily over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As my six-year-old, Edison, and his best friend Molly were dragging the kiddie pool on to the driveway and filling it with watering cans of water. I kept staring at the leaves that had begun to fall on our yard. The picture doesn't do it justice but there was something majestic about the deep red of the body of the leaf and the bright greens that remained near the veins. I had donated a "power red" of blood to the American Red Cross that morning and again, even in the heat of an abnormal fall, there was this pulse of connectedness between the kids, myself, the leaves, and simple moments of laughter. There was connection, there was peace and in no abnormal fashion, there were sensational moments of wonder. As we continue to fall into the rhythm of the school year, I hope this finds you well. I’m here when you need me and would do nearly anything to help support you. Thank you for all you continue to do for Kansas students.
-Meg
Upcoming Professional Development
Collaboration Meetings
New Teacher / Preserivce Teacher Collaboration
October 4th, 4pm (Zoom Registration Link)Science Curriculum Leaders Collaboration
October 17th, 4pm (NEW Zoom Registration Link)Science Teacher Collaboration,
October 18th, 4pm (NEW Zoom Registration Link)
Regional Professional Development
Science Assessment Basics
During the morning of this session educators will take a deep dive into our science standards and then look at how to formatively assess them. This session will look at the three dimensions of our science standards and examine appropriate grade level expectations. In the afternoon educators will have the opportunity to look at their own curriculum and apply the morning's learning with thought partners. Each meeting will consist of a morning of typical professional development followed by an afternoon to workshop.
The cost for each event is $25 - $35.
Elementary Science Specific
To celebrate World Space Week 2023, the nonprofit Space Foundation will hold a free virtual educational series called Audience With an Astronaut beginning on October 4. The five-part series, co-sponsored by the United States Air Force Academy Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program, features STEM hands-on activity lessons, Q&A segments, and audience engagement via polls and videos. The first three sessions are
October 4—Retired USAF Lt. Col. Duane “Digger” Carey, discussing the topic Back to the Moon. (grades 3–5)
November 14—Kathryn Thornton, addressing the topic Space Technologies: Past, Present, and Future. (grades 6–12)
February 27, 2024—Kjell Lindgren, speaking on the topic What’s It Like to Live in Space? (grades 6–12)
We are excited to launch our 2024 Teacher of the Year program! Do you know an amazing teacher that is incorporating agriculture into their K-12 classroom that deserves some recognition? Nominate them today for our 2024 KFAC Teacher of the Year award! https://ksagclassroom.org/teacher/year/
Secondary Science Specific
The AMS is accepting applications from K–12 teachers to participate in its summer 2024 Project Ice teacher professional development course, offered as part of the National Science Foundation/Oregon State University (OSU)-led Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX). Teachers will be selected competitively from across the country, with priority given to those impacting underserved students. Participants will take a graduate-level, multi-week hybrid course in paleoclimatology and ice core science that includes a workshop at OSU in Corvallis, Oregon, where they will engage with COLDEX scientists and visit the OSU ice core lab and Marine Geology Repository.
Travel, lodging, meals, and tuition will be provided for about 22 selected teachers. The online portion of the course runs from May 28 to June 22, 2024, with the on-site residence experience taking place June 23–29. Apply by November 30. Learn more here: (LINK)
In this chemistry lab for grades 9–12, students model the interaction between hand sanitizer particles and virus particles, as well as between soap particles and virus particles. Students use their understanding of molecular structure and intermolecular forces to analyze their observations and behavior of the particles to gain a better understanding of how soaps and sanitizers work. The lab supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Scientific and Engineering Practices regarding developing and using models, as well as constructing explanations and designing solutions. The lab lesson plan is available on the American Association of Chemistry Teachers website and includes a Teacher’s Guide with relevant links and a Student Activity with background information.
Support Sessions
Dimension 1 & 2, November 7 at 4:30 pm:
https://ksde.zoom.us/j/82609102600?from=addon
Dimension 3 & 4, November 28 at 4:30 pm:
https://ksde.zoom.us/j/89033977654?from=addon
Dimension 5 & Q/A, December 5 at 4:30 pm:
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching. The Awards were established by Congress in 1983. The President may recognize a total of 110 exemplary teachers each year. The award recognizes those teachers that have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas.
Awardees reflect the expertise and dedication of the Nation's teaching corps, and they demonstrate the positive impact of excellent teachers on student achievement. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Why Apply?
Recipients of the award receive the following:
A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
An all-expenses paid trip to a recognition event, which includes an award ceremony.
A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation.
Nominate a K-6 Teacher or Apply Today at : https://paemst.nsf.gov/nomination/nominate
Kansas Association of Biology Teachers (KABT) has exciting events coming up. You do not need to be a member to participate (but they are super fun and you should consider joining for $15):
Saturday, November 18 – The fall conference will be held at Quivera Wildlife Refuge in Stafford, KS. Speaker applications are currently being accepted (see QR Code or https://forms.gle/jXHUGye3kxMitZEy8). Conference topics typically span a wide range of teaching life sciences. If you choose to drive up the night before, we have a block of bed & breakfasts set aside in Ellinwood, KS – including the historic jail! Spend the night in jail with Bio Colleagues and learn new stuff! More information to come or email kel@tuel.us to be notified as details become available. Conference registration will be $15 which covers the cost of lunch. First year teachers and pre-service teachers are free to attend!
Additional Opportunities
From Outside of KSDE
Ad Astra Technology Summit
Don’t miss the Ad Astra Technology Summit on October 2, in Wichita! This event features networking opportunities with business and industry leaders as well as educators.
Educators will explore relevant topics in education and hear from the keynote speaker: Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, Inc. Inquire about student and educator discounts to attend this exclusive event!
The conference's education strand includes:
STEAM integration into math and reading
STEM and SEL standards and connections
K-12 computer science education
Esports and gaming benefits and connections to standards
Artificial intelligence in K-12 schools
The Individual Plan of Study and STEM careers
And more!
Want to attend for free? Twin Valley has sponsored a limited number of educator scholarships. Learn more and apply here: https://adastrasummit.tech/teacher-ticket-scholarships/
Seating for the conference is limited. Reserve your seat today! adastrasummit.tech
Artemis Moon Tree Seeds
Education and community organizations can apply to receive a living piece of spaceflight history to promote STEM: a seedling grown from a tree seed that flew around the Moon on the NASA’s Artemis I mission in late 2022. NASA and the USDA Forest Service will distribute Artemis Moon Tree seedlings of five different species. Nearly 2,000 seeds were flown to space.
Organizations like schools, libraries, museums, and others engaging with students or the public can apply for a Moon Tree seedling through NASA’s Artifact Module. Eligible institutions include formal and informal K–12–serving organizations, universities, community organizations, museums and science centers, and government organizations. The application period closes on October 6.
Learn more here: (LINK)
Help Identify High-Quality Instructional Materials with EdReports
EdReports is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower educators with independent, credible, evidence-rich information about instructional materials to ensure students have what they need to be college and career-ready. They are now accepting applications for reviewers for reviews of K-12 science instructional materials starting in April 2023. Apply now to engage in deep professional learning on the Next Generation Science Standards with a national network of skilled educators.
Learn more about EdReports here and apply to become a reviewer here.
Pilot Game Opportunity- Ogallala
The Kansas Geological Survey is developing educational materials related to the aquifers of Kansas. This includes videos, activities, and a board game we're calling "Ogallala!" The activities are for a middle school audience and above. If you are interested in trying out the board game to your classes or receive the other educational activities, contact Andy Connolly at andrewco@ku.edu. The board game is a print-and-play so no purchase or extra materials needed.
World Rabies Day Poster Competetion
The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) at Kansas State University (KSU) and the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE) in collaboration with Bavarian Nordic and the One Health Commission Bat Rabies Education Team (BRET) are hosting a poster contest to educate children about rabies prevention in Kansas. We invite K-12 students to participate by designing an eye-catching and informative poster emphasizing ways to prevent rabies. Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease that can be transmitted to people by infected mammals, including skunks and bats.
Wildlife are an integral part of our ecosystem, and serve important roles e.g. bats are responsible for pollination and eating crop-destroying insects. However, people may be unaware of the health risk that wild animals can pose to people and pets through the potential transmission of the rabies virus. Not all wild animals have rabies, but skunks are responsible for most animal cases of rabies in Kansas and bats are the origin of most human rabies cases in the United States.
We need your help to raise awareness about rabies prevention! The goal of our poster contest is to help get the word out about rabies, recognizing the potential for wildlife rabies reservoirs to transmit rabies to humans and pets and that there are ways you can prevent rabies transmission. We invite K-12 students to help in this effort, by designing an eye-catching and informative poster that can serve as an educational resource to help protect people against rabies.
Download our Poster Competition Resource Kit (PDF) to share with teachers and/or students at your school.
To learn more about the competition and PRIZES, please visit: https://ksvdl.org/world-rabies-day/poster-rules.html
