Linking Science, Mathematics & Literacy

The Linking Science, Mathematics & Literacy for ALL Learners program is accepting applications from teachers of grades 6–8 science, English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and special education for its second cohort. This professional learning opportunity blends science, mathematics, and ELA content with a focus on the diverse learner in the middle school classroom. The program offers a yearlong professional development that

• Provides instructional support to teachers using STEM multimodal text sets, with special attention to the needs of diverse learners in new locations and with new populations; and

• Develops grades 6–8 STEM multimodal text sets that address NGSS, CCSS-ELA.RST, and CCSS-Math Standards, with embedded math and research-generated data.

For more information on the program, what it means for teachers and their students, commitments, benefits, and how to apply, Learn more here:  https://scienceandliteracy.missouri.edu. (Deadline January 15, 2024)

Exploring the Universe Through Legos

Looking for a way to engage students in grades 3–5 in learning about the universe, celestial bodies, and space exploration? Have them create models of astronomical phenomena using Lego bricks! This Education World lesson engages students in hands-on model building and challenges students to determine how to reflect the unique characteristics of their celestial body using Lego pieces. To extend learning, students can create a collaborative Lego model of the solar system incorporating all the pieces. The lesson plan includes a lesson sequence, suggestions for celestial models for students to build (e.g., Sun, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Mercury, Comets, Asteroids, Space Stations, Space Shuttle), and assessment ideas.   Learn more here: (LINK)

Explorer’s Guidebook 

Excite students in grades 3–5 to investigate nature with simple activities from Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Explorer’s Guidebook. Students can go on a habitat scavenger hunt, create a sound map, or test their bird identification skills. These are just a few of the experiences offered in this adaptable activity book, designed for teachers, families, and anyone looking for an easy way to learn about birds and connect to nature. (E-mail registration is required to download a copy of the book.) Learn more here: (LINK)

To EARTHDAY.ORG’s Your Art, Our Earth Poster Competition

Students in two categories—ages 5–17 and 18+—are invited to create posters for this year’s theme, “Planet vs. Plastics.” Students will design an iconic poster that expresses why we need to say no to plastics. The competition has three categories:

• Human Health and Plastics 

• Oceans and Plastics

• Fast Fashion and Plastics

A panel of judges, consisting of EARTHDAY.ORG Board members, will choose two posters to champion the cause of Planet vs. Plastics. Six finalists may have their artwork posted on the EARTHDAY.ORG website and social media accounts. (Deadline January 22, 2024) Learn more here: (LINK)

ACS-Hach Professional Development Grant

The grant supports high school chemistry teachers in advancing their professional learning and enhancing the teaching and learning of chemistry in their classrooms. Applicants must teach in a U.S. or U.S. territory school. Teachers can request up to $2,500. (Deadline January 21, 2024)
Grants may be used for

• Conference or workshop registration fees

• Travel expenses

• Tuition and educational expenses for new/upcoming courses

• Books and online instructional resources

• Substitute teacher pay

Learn more here: (LINK)

National Geographic’s Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship

The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is a professional development opportunity for preK–12 educators. Exemplary educators are selected to travel aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ voyages for a field-based experience, exploring destinations like Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, or Southeast Alaska. Fellows will transfer their onboard experience into new ways to teach students, engage colleagues, and bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities. To qualify, applicants must 

• be a current preK–12 classroom teacher or information educator from the 50 U.S. states, Canada, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense Activity schools; 

• have plans to return to a classroom or teaching environment the year following their assigned expedition and demonstrate the ability to incorporate what they learn into their teaching; and

• have a proven dedication to geographic education in their teaching field and show promise of continued active engagement in the future.

Fellows represent an array of grade levels and subject areas including STEM, social studies, second-language programs, and art. (Deadline January 7, 2024) Learn more here: (LINK)

National Geographic Slingshot Challenge 

 National Geographic Society is holding Year 2 of the Slingshot Challenge, in which youth from around the world can share their ideas for “slingshotting” our planet forward! Students ages 13–18 will create a one-minute video sharing their solutions to our current environmental problems. A selection of entries will be eligible to receive funding for up to $10,000. Participation is free of charge.

The submission deadline is February 1, 2024. Check out the Slingshot Challenge Resource page at https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/projects/slingshot/challenge-materials/ to register for virtual information sessions for students to meet with National Geographic Explorers to ask questions and workshop their ideas and challenge solutions. The page also has user guides and toolkits, as well as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Learn more here: (LINK)

The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is a professional development opportunity for pre-K–12 educators. 

Exemplary educators are selected to travel aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ voyages for a life-changing, field-based experience, exploring destinations like Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, or Southeast Alaska. Grosvenor Teacher Fellows will transfer their onboard experience into new ways to teach students, engage colleagues, and bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities.

Applicants must have the following eligibility:

• Current pre-K-12 classroom teacher or information educator from the 50 U.S. states, Canada, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense Activity schools.

• A proven dedication to geographic education in their teaching field and show promise of continued active engagement in the future.

• Plans to return to a classroom or teaching environment the year following their assigned expedition and demonstrate the ability to incorporate what they learn into their teaching.

Submit your application today and share with us your teaching and leadership abilities and how this experience will positively impact you, your students, and your teaching environment.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Completed applications must be received in our online system by January 7, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

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. 

The KidWind Challenge, which officially kicked off in 2009, is an annual event that allows students to explore the power of wind by building and testing wind turbines and then competing against other teams in their age division (4th-8th or 9th-12th).  Check out the flyer for the event and watch our 3-minute overview video to see what the competition is like.

Sign up for one of our upcoming events and check out the additional resources we've put together. If you have any questions or want to talk more about this, please reach out to us at ksenergyprog@ksu.edu.

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

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