Heat Index and Feelings
Temperatures and social media have both been on fire as of late! I've often found myself getting a little frustrated with our meteorologist friends when they discuss things such as "wind chill" and "heat index". Why should I care how hot or cold it feels? Isn't temperature, temperature? Don't we work in a world of constants and isn't temperature something we've agreed on metrics for? Aren't we just talking about feelings here? Nope! We aren't. Turns out heat index matters. Turns out that the heat index was established in 1979 and is a ratio between the humidity and the temperature which impacts our body’s ability to evaporate sweat and cool. I thought it was fascinating, turns out that feelings matter to survival which I think educators likely know better than anyone. I know it's hot outside, but I hope you have had a cool start to your school year. I hope the students' enthusiasm is infectious and you have the best year yet. Please let me know what I can do to better support you and thank you for all you do.
-Meg
Chemistry / Physical Science Reviewers Needed
The Kansas Department of Education Science team has been hard at work piloting a new KSDE Science Unpacking Tool. The aim is to unpack the standards at the state level and to provide increased clarity and coherence around standards alignment. At this time, we are seeking 5-10 Chemistry and Physical Science teachers from across the state who would be interested in reviewing the work and providing feedback. This opportunity will come with a small stipend and will require reviewers to travel to Topeka on October 13th (travel and meals will be included in stipend considerations). Interested? Please email mrichard@ksde.org a copy of your recent resume, teaching load and brief statement of interest.
Upcoming Professional Development
Collaboration Meetings
Science Curriculum Leaders Collaboration
September 19th, 4pm (NEW Zoom Registration Link)Science Teacher Collaboration,
September 20th, 4pm (NEW Zoom Registration Link)
September Welcome Video.mp4
Elementary Science Specific
Targeted for K–8 audiences, and available in English and Spanish versions, National Environmental Education Foundation’s SunWise Toolkit presents more than 50 cross-curricular, standards-based activities to teach sun safety, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and stratospheric ozone. The activities address K–2, 3–5, and 6–8 grade levels and include hands-on components that promote active learning.
Watch Your Shadow (grades K–2) shows students how shadows change from morning to afternoon and helps students understand how the length of their shadows can tell them what times of day are best to seek protection from the Sun’s harmful UV rays. Sun Science (grades 3–5) engages students in experiments that provide visual evidence of the damaging effects from the Sun on various objects, as well as evidence of how protecting objects—and their own skin—can help prevent sun damage. Detecting UV Light Using Tonic Water (grades 6–8) teaches students about fluorescence and reinforces the concept that UV light is always present in sunlight, even if it’s invisible to the naked eye. Download the 171-page toolkit (e-mail registration required) or browse a selection of sample activities to get started. Learn more here: (LINK)
CHS Foundation provides $500 grants annually to pre-kindergarten–12th-grade teachers with classroom projects that use agricultural concepts to teach science, reading, writing, math, social studies, and more. Eligible projects include classroom and schoolyard gardens, embryology projects, aquaculture projects, and agricultural literacy reading programs, to name a few. Teachers have until June 1 the following year to complete the project and submit a final report. Only state-certified classroom teachers employed by a school district or private school teachers may apply by September 15. Learn more here: (LINK)
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
Open Source (Free) Aligned High School & Middle School Units Released
Three high school units have recieved the Achieve badge for high quality allignment and design. Learn more about each unit below;
Science Discipline: Chemistry, Chemical Reactions in Our World (LINK)
Science Discipline: Physics, Electromagnetic Radiation (LINK)
Science Discipline: Biology, Natural Selection & Evolution of Populations (LINK)
One middle school unit has recieved the Achievebadge for high quality allignment and design. Learn more about the unit below;
Science Discipline: Earth and Space, Volcanoes (LINK)
Please let me know if you have questions regarding these resources or the approach utilized in instruction.
The NSF-funded Polar STEAM project is recruiting educators for 2024–2025 collaborations with polar researchers to create educational resources about polar regions and science. Applications are open for Arctic and Antarctic field deployments as well as virtual collaborations in both regions. This opportunity is open to middle and high school educators, community college and minority serving institution faculty, and informal educators. (Deadline September 24) Educators will receive the following additional support:
a $500 stipend after successfully completing the virtual program;
a $1,000 stipend after successfully completing the field-based program;
substitute teacher costs during the educator’s absence from the classroom (if applicable); and
funding for domestic program-related travel, such as visiting the collaborating researcher’s lab or attending relevant conferences to share their work.
Learn more by visiting the Polar STEAM website and watching the recording of the project’s informational webinar. If you have any questions, e-mail polarsteam@oregonstate.edu.
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/
National Board Certification
Are you looking for meaningful personalized professional development? Have you considered National Board Certification? Teachers who have gone through the Board certification process say that it is the most valuable and transformative professional development they have ever received. The opportunity to connect professional learning with classroom practice brings to life a teacher’s experience, helping them reflect on individual student learning needs. Kansas has a great opportunity with The Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification housed at Emporia State University to support candidates. Please reach out to Alvin Peters at gpeters@emporia.edu to learn more or mrichard@ksde.org if I can support on your journey.
Support Sessions
Dimension 1 & 2, November 2 at 4:30 pm:
https://ksde.zoom.us/j/82609102600?from=addon
Dimension 3 & 4, November 9 at 4:30 pm:
https://ksde.zoom.us/j/89033977654?from=addon
Dimension 5 & Q/A, November 14 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
Wendell G. Mohling Foundation -
NSTA Scholarship
NSTA Scholarship
Are you a K-12 Kansas teacher who currently teaches science? Would you like the opportunity to apply for funds so that you could experience attending a National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education this year? In 2006, the Wendell G. Mohling Foundation began selecting a teacher each year, to receive a $1000.00 scholarship award to attend a NSTA conference of their choice. The application deadline is September 24, 2023, so you still have plenty of time to complete and send in your application.
The application with requirements can be downloaded by going to the foundation website at www.wendellmohlingfoundation.com and click on “Apply” at the top of the page. This year there will be 2 national NSTA conferences to choose from: October 25-28, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri, and March 20-23, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
Questions? Contact Kay Neill, Foundation Chair at neill1703@gmail.com or by phone at 1-620-342-4677.
Keep in touch via Facebook: Wendell G Mohling Foundation.
Website: wendellmohlingfoundation.com
Email: mohlingfoundation@gmail.com.
Phone: 785-764-9625, Carol Mohling
Kansas Association of Biology Teachers (KABT) has two 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.
NASA Tech Rise Student Challenge
About The Challenge:
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge invites 6th-12th grade student teams to submit science and technology experiment ideas to fly on a rocket-powered lander 🚀 or high-altitude balloon🎈. Students attending U.S. public, private, or charter schools – including those in U.S. territories – are challenged to team up with their schoolmates to design an experiment under the guidance of an educator. A total of 60 winning teams will be selected and awarded $1,500 to build their experiment, an assigned spot on a rocket-powered lander or high-altitude balloon flight, and technical support from Future Engineers. The challenge offers participants hands-on insight into the payload design and flight test process, with the goal of inspiring a deeper understanding of space exploration, Earth observation, coding, electronics, and the value of test data. This is a wonderful way to get hands-on with a NASA project this school year, and we encourage teams of all skill levels to apply.
Important Event Dates:
- Aug. 31st: Virtual Educator Workshop #1 RSVP HERE
- September 14th: Virtual Educator Workshop #2 RSVP HERE
- September 29th: Virtual Student Field Trip RSVP HERE
* October 20th: NASA TechRise Proposal Entries Due *
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.
