Flowers and Weeds
Edison, my son, is seven years old. Today while waiting for the bus, he and his friend Molly were picking the bright purple clover flowers and presenting them to one another with a bow as bouquets. With an early spring this year I've been tempted to mow my yard but then I keep thinking back to the bouquets. Are the purple and yellow poofs of pollen flowers? Or are they weeds? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a weed is defined as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing” and a wildflower is defined as “an uncultivated plant” and “a flower that grows in natural places without being planted by people.” At this time of year where state testing abounds, maybe it's ok if the grass is a little long and the thrill of presenting flowers to one another lasts just a while more. Maybe it's ok if the conversations in our classrooms diverge slightly from the norm and leave a lasting impression. I hope this season finds you and your students well. I know the end of the year can be hard, just don't forget to take a moment of two to smell the flowers... or weeds as they may.
-Meg
Upcoming Professional Development
Collaboration Meetings
New Teacher / Preservice Teacher Collaboration
April 3rd, 4pm (Zoom Registration Link)Science Curriculum Leaders Collaboration
April 16th, 4pm (Zoom Registration Link)Science Teacher Collaboration,
April 17th, 4pm (Zoom Registration Link)
Summer PL - Elementary
Back by POPULAR demand! Participants of Picture Perfect Science will learn straight from award-winning NSTA Press authors Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan. This introductory workshop, held via Zoom, will help educators build a solid understanding of STEM and literacy integration and the 5E Model through participation in engaging picture book-inspired lessons, lively discussion and interactive learning tasks. There is no cost for this workshop.
June 11th, 9-11 a.m., Kindergarten through Second Grade.
June 12th, 9-11 a.m., third through fifth grade.
June 18th, 9-11 a.m., Kindergarten through Second Grade . (REPEATED SESSION)
June 19th, 9-11 a.m., third through fifth grade. (REPEATED SESSION)
Elementary Science Specific
Educators can receive up to $5,000 to carry out hands-on stewardship projects that make a difference. NOAA Planet Stewards will support formal and informal educators working with elementary through college-age students, and the public, to carry out projects. Stewardship projects must make a substantive, and quantitatively measurable impact on an environmental issue related to the educator’s community.
Projects should focus on the conservation, restoration, and/or protection of human communities and/or natural resources from environmental issues in one of the following four focus areas:
• Marine debris mitigation/removal
• Habitat conservation and restoration
• Carbon footprint reduction
• Carbon sequestration
Apply by June 2. Learn more here: (LINK)
Do you ever wonder how much rainfall your area received from a recent thunderstorm? How about snowfall during a winter storm? An important volunteer weather observing program needs your help. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network (CoCoRaHS) seeks new volunteers. The grassroots effort is part of a growing national network of home-based and amateur rain spotters that aims to provide a high-density precipitation network that will supplement existing observations. Through CoCoRaHS, thousands of volunteers of all ages document the size, intensity, duration, and patterns of rain, hail, and snow by taking simple measurements in their own backyards.
Volunteers may buy an official rain gauge through the CoCoRaHS website. Besides the need for an official four-inch plastic rain gauge, volunteers are required to take a simple training module online and use the CoCoRaHS website or app to submit their reports. Observations are immediately available on maps and reports for the public to view. The process takes less than five minutes a day, but the impact on the community is tenfold: By providing high-quality, accurate measurements, the observers can supplement existing networks and provide useful results to scientists, resource managers, decision makers, and other users.
On the CoCoRaHS website, click on the Join CoCoRaHS emblem on the upper-right side of the main website. After registering, take the simple online training, order your four-inch rain gauge, and start reporting! The website has a teachers’ section. The CoCoRaHS program also has an extensive list of short YouTube videos. Watch a special YouTube video for schools.
The grants support small teams of teachers in implementing groundbreaking K–12 classroom instruction, and provide opportunities for teachers to integrate new strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers will be able to share their results with other teachers. The foundation awards grants to licensed K–12 teachers employed in public or private schools in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. (Deadline April 15)
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Academic Enrichment Grants
These grants aim to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. Funded programs nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. The foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Applicants must be employed by schools or nonprofit organizations (community centers, museums, etc.) and have direct and regular contact with preK–12 students. (Deadline April 15)
These grants aim to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. Funded programs nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. The foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Applicants must be employed by schools or nonprofit organizations (community centers, museums, etc.) and have direct and regular contact with preK–12 students. (Deadline April 15)
Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program
In this program, 50 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K–12 public or private school located in the United States. They must be full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff with effective and innovative projects that improve student learning. (Deadline April 19)
In this program, 50 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K–12 public or private school located in the United States. They must be full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff with effective and innovative projects that improve student learning. (Deadline April 19)
Secondary Science Specific
Educators can receive up to $5,000 to carry out hands-on stewardship projects that make a difference. NOAA Planet Stewards will support formal and informal educators working with elementary through college-age students, and the public, to carry out projects. Stewardship projects must make a substantive, and quantitatively measurable impact on an environmental issue related to the educator’s community.
Projects should focus on the conservation, restoration, and/or protection of human communities and/or natural resources from environmental issues in one of the following four focus areas:
Marine debris mitigation/removal
Habitat conservation and restoration
Carbon footprint reduction
Carbon sequestration
Apply by June 2. Learn more here: (LINK)
Teachers of grades 6–12 can apply online for a Toshiba America Foundation grant of greater than $5,000 to help bring an innovative project into their own classroom. If you have an innovative idea for improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning in your classroom, and if your idea involves project-based learning with measurable outcomes, apply by May 1. Learn more here: (LINK)
The grants support small teams of teachers in implementing groundbreaking K–12 classroom instruction, and provide opportunities for teachers to integrate new strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers will be able to share their results with other teachers. The foundation awards grants to licensed K–12 teachers employed in public or private schools in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. (Deadline April 15)
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Academic Enrichment Grants
These grants aim to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. Funded programs nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. The foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Applicants must be employed by schools or nonprofit organizations (community centers, museums, etc.) and have direct and regular contact with preK–12 students. (Deadline April 15)
These grants aim to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. Funded programs nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. The foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Applicants must be employed by schools or nonprofit organizations (community centers, museums, etc.) and have direct and regular contact with preK–12 students. (Deadline April 15)
Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program
In this program, 50 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K–12 public or private school located in the United States. They must be full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff with effective and innovative projects that improve student learning. (Deadline April 19)
In this program, 50 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K–12 public or private school located in the United States. They must be full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff with effective and innovative projects that improve student learning. (Deadline April 19)
Additional Opportunities
From Outside of KSDE
Grow it, Mill it, Bake it PD
Registration for this summer's Grow It, Mill It, Bake It professional development workshop is now live! Held in Manhattan on July 22-24, this workshop will focus on the science behind taking crops from the field to the cookie sheet. This workshop is open to all educators. Graduate credit is available. $1,000 travel stipends are available for participants. Register here!
NASA’s Heliophysics Big Year and Math
This 14-month series for science and math educators focuses on heliophysics topics with related math problems at three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. It is sponsored by NASA's Heliophysics Education Activation Team. Webinars will be one hour followed by a Q&A period beginning 7 pm ET
See each month’s folder for slide decks, recordings, and additional resources
Upcoming Webinars -
4/16/24 Total Solar Eclipse
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MJt-5gG-S-SskTPmYFb25g
5/21/24 Visual Art
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XqFErgloQECPkTn_uNEreA
6/18/24 Performance Art
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z4QRFZM2SCSX2QmPC7DMWg
Science Thought Ag PD
Registration for this summer's Science through Agriculture professional development workshop is now live! Held in Manhattan on July 15-17, this workshop will focus on the science behind crop improvement, including plant breeding, doubled haploid production, DNA extraction, and genetic engineering methods. Science and Agriculture teachers will especially benefit from this workshop, but it is open to all. Graduate credit is available. $1,000 travel stipends are available for participants. Register here!
Wanted: Person with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Science Field
Fort Hays State University is excited to offer a Noyce Post-Bac program and a Praxis Plus course. This program is designed for individuals who have obtained or will obtain a bachelor’s degree in science by the summer of 2024 and are considering a teaching career. Individuals selected will receive a $22,685 stipend to complete coursework in a post-baccalaureate program leading to a full teaching licensure. The curriculum will be delivered completely online. They will also be required to complete two years of teaching in a rural school district. If interested, please reach out to Imelda Koenke, (785)628-4144, I_koenke@fhsu.ed
ASM Flier.pdf
Noyce Post bacc flyer (2).pdfOTFS_ApplicationFlyer_ARMS031224-08.pdf