KSDE Science Newsletter

September 2020

Sign-up for Science LISTSERV and Updates

Back to School
Science Considerations

In an effort to support you, where you are this semester, I wanted to provide you with this tool to assist you in visualizing what science instruction may look like in both a face-to-face and a remote setting (link to consideration tool). While I have provided several tools, these are not the only tools that can be utilized for these shifts.

Weekly Updates - Blog

In an effort to not flood email boxes but still provide timely information I have started to share information on a weekly basis via the KSDE science website. Much of the information will be repeated in this newsletter; but, for the most timely information please visit the website on Mondays. Link

Collaborations / Science Meet-Ups

In listening to educators around the state, it seems like now, more than ever, many of you are looking for ways to connect around science instruction and practices. It is my hope to offer both a time and space for these conversations to occur. These opportunities will have no agenda; but, I do intend to break out groups by science discipline / grade-bands to encourage a greater depth of conversations. If these times do not work for you, please let me know and we will find a time to connect. The registration links will allow you to sign up for any of the monthly meetings, and will allow you to add it to your calendar.

Curriculum Leaders (Third Tuesday of the Month):
Starting Sep 15, 2020 4:00 PM: (Registration Link) or 7:00 PM (Registration Link)

Teachers (Fourth Tuesday of the Month):
Starting Sep 22, 2020 4:00 PM: (Registration Link) or 7:00 PM (Registration Link)

KSDE Professional Development (No Cost)

Science Workshops and Professional Development

KSDE STEM Series-
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in STEM Classrooms K-12

Session 1: Equity (September 28)
Session 2: Diversity (October 26)
Session 3: Inclusion (November 30)

General Topics

KSDE Lab Safety & Hands on Science for 2020
When: Sep 17, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time
Audience: Science Teachers & Curriculum Leaders
Register in advance for this meeting: (Registration Link)

KSDE Sense Making Strategies for Science Success
When: Sep 23, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time
Audience: Science Teachers & Curriculum Leaders
Register in advance for this meeting: (Registration Link)

"Competency Elements" Science Sessions: Mondays at 4pm

These sessions are organized around the Competency Elements; but are open & applicable to all.

September 14 - Equity, Culture and Structure in Science: (Registration Link)
September 21 - Rigorous and Common Expectations in Science (Registration Link)
September 28- Individual Learning Needs in Science (Registration Link)
October 5 - Varied Pacing in Science (Registration Link)
October 12 - Student Empowerment in Science (Registration Link)
October 19 - Feedback and Assessment in Science (Registration Link)
October 26 - Mastery Progress in Science (Registration Link)
November 2 - Leadership and Communication in Science (Registration Link)

MINKS & CO - 2020/2021 Webinar Series

Mark your calendars! MINKS & CO is an annual webinar series geared at sharing best practices in science education across state lines. This year we will explore the nature of science in the virtual setting, and how we leverage the Science and Engineering Practices to develop scientific literacy. Collaborating states are Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, and Colorado. Registration link coming soon!

NSTA's Daily Dos

NSTA’s Daily Dos

The NSTA Daily Do is an open educational resource (OER) used by educators and families to provide students distance and home science learning. Check out this week’s NSTA Daily Dos.

Elementary: How Can We Tell What Season It Is? (Link)
Middle Level: Why Does Some Food Disappear? (Link)
High School: Why Is Water Sphere-Shaped in Space? (Link)
Families: How Can Light Make Dark Shadows and Bright Reflections? (Link)

Help Students Make Sense of the World this Fall

Help your students make sense of the world this fall with these online resources from the National Science Teaching Association.

The four-part web seminar series--Distance Learning Strategies That Support Student Sense-making—this September will explore ways in which we can continue to give our students experience with relevant, intriguing phenomena to create the need to engage in science learning to explain what they’ve observed utilizing distance-learning strategies. The focus of this series will be on synchronous and asynchronous online learning and connecting students with no Internet access. to their learning communities through smartphones and local computers (no internet access). During the live web seminars will allow participants to engage in high quality science lessons and exchange ideas, tools and tips with colleagues. Learn more and register here. (Registration Link)

Additional Opportunities / Resources

Kansas Water Education Resource Survey

Survey Link

Opportunity to Collaborate in Place-Based Water Lesson Development

The Kansas Water Office, in conjunction with state agency partners Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, and Kansas Department of Commerce, has initiated conversations with the Kansas State Department of Education regarding the development of Kansas water-themed educational resources for K-5 students within the state. This effort supports implementation of the 50 Year Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. Feedback provided through this survey will help guide additional planning efforts to develop these educational resources. If you have any questions on this survey or the educational resource development efforts please contact the Kansas Water Office at 785-296-3185 or by email at kwo-info@kwo.ks.gov. Thank you for your feedback.

2020 Kansas Association of Biology Teachers Conference (Virtual)

The annual Kansas Association of Biology Teachers fall conference will be on September 12th and 19th from 9 am - noon each day! The conference is virtual and free to all. Several presentations will feature practices promoting inclusivity and equality within a biology curriculum. The full line-up of presentations will be announced soon! Register today at http://tinyurl.com/2020KABTregistration…!

We are offering this conference for free to increase accessibility of this great content to all teachers. Those who are willing and able to donate funds to offset conference costs, can do so through the following PayPal link: http://paypal.me/kabt2020. The suggested donation is $15.

Any teachers, especially those in Kansas, wishing to join KABT or renew membership may do so at http://kabt.org/register. Please make sure you complete the Google form at the website, and then use the PayPal link to complete registration.

Please email Andrew Taylor at and.taylor07@gmail.com with any questions.

GeoCat

As a result of the unprecedented events related to COVID-19, the GeoCAT team is hosting monthly webinars. GeoCAT webinars will include guest speakers and introductions to special programs related to STEM fields, geosciences and careers in geosciences with a focus on Kansas, with the goal of developing a stronger community of Kansas science educators.

Below is the information for September Zoom webinar When: Sep 14, 2020 4:00 PM CST (Registration Link)

The first Geoscience Career Ambassador Training (GeoCAT) Workshop will be held in summer 2021 (dates TBD), at Kansas State University and will focus on introducing and familiarizing educators with geoscience careers in an effort to increase interest and enrollment of diverse student populations in geosciences across the state of Kansas.

Workshop Details:

- Participants receive $500 stipend.
- Costs of attending the workshop are covered.
- 3 graduate credits from K-State.
- PD credit for teachers of any grade.

The GeoCAT workshop is sponsored by The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). (Application Link). and for more information contact geocat@k-state.edu

STEM Starts Early Resource

This resource comes from the Sesame Workshop and is intended to provide considerations for ways to encourage our littlest learners to become confident in STEM (Link)

KACEE Conference -
Call for Proposals

You are invited you to submit a proposal for a concurrent session presentation and be a part of this virtual event, which is our first ever joint environmental education conference between Kansas and Missouri. It's a great opportunity to share your experience and ideas across the region! (Link)

Plan Time PD Modules

Plan Time PD is an effort to provide educators with professional development from KSDE in bite-size offerings that could be completed by a teacher on their plan period, a group of teachers during a department meeting or a group of educators during a devoted professional learning community (PLC) time. The modules are videos and handouts with a link to receive a certificate for engagement.
More coming soon! (Link)

Interested in sharing?

Feel free to use the #KSSci on your social media accounts so we can glimpses of greatness this semester. Thank you for the amazing work you are doing for Kansas Science Students. I appreciate you.

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