March Newsletter

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Mutants and Messages

A year ago I was standing in my backyard feeling defeated. We had just started the most epic of March Mammal Madnesses (Link) and while the furry warriors would continue, the rest of the world, including my classroom, were shutting down. Who had money on the sloth? I found myself forever changed in March of 2020, and yet there I was, standing in my backyard taking the time to hunt for clover. Not only clover... but those with four leaves instead of three. A seemingly simple mutation that represents luck. It's odd to think how things have changed and yet how they have stayed the same. Here I am, in March of 2021, waiting, not for mutations, but for a message of change, in the form of a vaccine. Mutants or messages- the sense of luck and hope for spring renewal remains.

Whether you are finding yourself with the mutants or the messages this spring I hope you are still taking the time to look around. In the wise words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, "Look at where we are, look at where we started... " it's been a very long year but we are lucky and we see you doing everything you can for Kansas kids. You and more than enough. I remember every day how lucky I am to be working for the best teachers in this country. I am eternally thankful you everything you are doing for Kansas students.

-Meg

Upcoming Professional Development

Collaboration Meetings (Theme: State Assessment)

Science Curriculum Leaders Collaboration,
March 16th, 4pm (Registration Link)
Science Teacher Collaboration,
March 17th at 4pm (Registration Link)

Kansas Hosts April MINKS and Co!

Join the April MINKS&Co session to learn more about the science and engineering practice (SEP) of "developing and using models"

(Registration Link)

Spring, Solstices and Science PD Session

Bees, bugs and the best PD this month. Come and join us March 15th at 3:30 pm as we take an hour to learn a little more about Spring phenomena and how they can be used to drive instruction. This opportunity will be targeted towards upper elementary and middle school. (Registration Link)

Summer Workshops

OpenSci Ed Storyline
Middle School Workshop (FREE)

Fort Hays State University and The Kansas Department of Education are pleased to offer this opportunity to Middle School Science Teachers. OpenSci Ed (Link) will facilitate an introduction to storylines and professional learning tied to sense-making strategies. Participants will walk away ready to teach a unit using storyline strategies this fall and access to a new PLC.

When: June 6-9; 9am -4 pm
Where: Fort Hays State University (Consideration of COVID will be given and a shift to virtual will be considered)
Registration Link: (Link)

About OpenSciEd

OpenSciEd is a nonprofit bringing together educators, philanthropic organizations, curriculum developers, and professional learning providers to improve science education by developing high-quality, freely available science materials.

Our units utilize a storyline approach - a logical sequence of lessons motivated by students' questions that arise from students’ interactions with phenomena. The units also include integrated social-emotional learning and supports for teachers and families in addressing these emotional and essential topics.

Physics Phenomena Storyline Workshop (FREE)

KU Physics and Astronomy and the Kansas Department of Education are pleased to offer this workshop for secondary level teachers, who are interested in learning more about the storyline process. Participants will be given training on storyline creation and implementation and will then work through a potential storyline / sequence of approaching the standards in bundle 4.

Who: While this workshop will target High School Physics standards, all and anyone interested in bundling physical science standards are welcome to attend.
When: July 19-22; 9am -4 pm
Where: Zoom
Registration Link: (Link)

KATS Kamp 2021

Kansas Association of Teaching Science (KATS) is inviting you to save the date for their annual conference, April 23 &24. The conference will be virtual and more details are coming. Help them plan by completing this survey: (Link).

Call for Presenters for KATS Kamp

(Link for Presenters)

Call for Vendors for KATS Kamp

(Link for Vendors)

Social Emotional Learning
in Science

Spring is quickly approaching, as is the season of assessment. While we know that assessments are not high stakes this spring, that does not change the perception in students' minds nor the stress and anxiety they may experience. So, how can we help to support students' Social Emotional Learning and Literacy... in our Science classroom. This was the focus of a WestEd Webinar. Take a moment this month to listen and reflect on how we can support one another this Spring and take a moment to explicitly integrate Social Emotional Learning and wellness into Science.

Differentiation Discussion

How do we get our students to share their diverse ideas and sense-making with us? How do we get them to "see" themselves in the science we are doing? Representation matters.

From diversity we gain diverse ideas... and those ideas make all the difference.

Whether you are celebrating a thematic month, or celebrate all year; allowing our students to seem themselves in our science conversations is a critical piece of our instruction. These posters are available for free download in 15 languages. Check them out here: (Link) and then reflect on ways to incorporating them purposefully in your space.

Safety Snippet

"A Safety Minute" Tips by Dr. Ken Roy - NSELA Safety Compliance Officer
Posted: February 14, 2021

“My Laboratory is Very Safe.”: The Dangers of Myopic Looks at Laboratory Safety - "Common practices similarly become routine and we rarely thing about how safe they are or, more importantly, how potentially unsafe they have slowly become over time." Roy suggests that this article (Link) is great perspective by author Rich Palluzi and well worth reviewing for all K-12 science/STEM labs - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-laboratory-very-safe-dangers-myopic-looks-safety-richard-palluzi

Additional Opportunities

From Outside of KSDE

Four Fort Hays State University Summer Opportunities (Some Stipends Available)

Move mouse over the flier and use arrows to view multiple fliers
Link to Printable Fliers: (Link)

Link to Apply: https://fhsucahss.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2nIO3Okjq6o5qBg

Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)

Register now for the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) webinar series to enhance your knowledge and teaching about climate and energy education!

Check out the range of topics (including teaching about consequences/solutions and teaching at the elementary level) and share this information with your networks:

(NEW this school year!) “Teaching Climate Consequences with CLEAN: Motivate and Inspire, Don’t Despair” presented by Karin Kirk

Thursday 3/4/2021 @ 6pm ET / 5pm CT / 4pm MT / 3pm PT

Link to register and more details: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6Q2MWENwS3O6h9BwkdoO8Q

“The UC Berkeley Understanding Global Change Project and CLEAN” presented by Jessica Bean

Tuesday 3/9/2021 @ 6:30pm ET / 5:30pm CT / 4:30pm MT / 3:30pm PT

Link to register and more details: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__cSty-lxTq--eT8hqQowIA

Please contact katie.boyd@colorado.edu with any questions.

Conservation Through the Arts - Junior Duck Stamp

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Great Plains Nature Center will provide virtual programs about the Junior Duck Stamp program, waterfowl (ducks and geese), some of their adaptations, and their wetland habitat during the month of February. The Junior Duck Stamp Competition entries are due to the Great Plains Nature Center by March 15, 2021. If you need art supplies, please let me know and I will be happy to provide you with whatever you need.

For groups K-2 we are planning 2 different 30 minute sessions with 15 minutes of information and 15 minutes of a guest artist showing techniques on how to draw ducks. For our older students, we are planning 3 one hour long sessions with 30 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes of drawing.

If you would like to schedule one of these sessions, please contact me at either 316-683-5499 or 785-260-5772 or you can send me an email to lori_jones@fws.gov. We hope to hear from you!

See fliers here (Link) for more information.

FHSU FLL Robotics- Virtual Lego Robotics Throwdown Challenge 2021

We welcome you to join our Fort Hays State University, Science and Mathematics Education Institute Virtual Lego Robotics Throwdown Challenge 2021.

If you are interested in joining the challenges the information is below. Find more details here: www.fhsu.edu/smei click on Lego Robotics tab

FHSU SMEI Lego Robotics 3 Challenges:

Break the Pyramid-For this challenge you will build a catapult to throw a ping pong ball at a pyramid of (21) 16oz red plastic drinking, attempting to knock them all over.
Beetlejuice Maze Challenge- This challenge you will navigate your robot through the maze from start to finish in the fastest time.
Self-timing Drag Race-The challenge is to create the fastest drag-racing robot that times itself.

Kansas NSF EPSCoR - Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute

Kansas NSF EPSCoR is going to hold its annual Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute this summer for Kansas High School Biology and Environmental Science Teachers June 7-11, 2021 at the University of Kansas Field Station Station (https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station).

Teacher participants will earn a stipend of $750 for actively participating in the week’s activities and writing curriculum. In addition, a travel allowance will be provided for those living more than 1 hour away from the field station along with room and board.

While attending the institute, teachers will participate in a variety of activities from carrying out investigations and learning about current university-level research, to exploring diverse outdoor environments. Early in the week participants will be divided into groups based upon their areas of interest to work with University of Kansas researchers. These groups will spend time developing NGSS inquiry-based curriculum for their own high school classrooms. The Institute is directed by Dr. Peggy Schultz, Associate Specialist with the Kansas Biological Survey and the Environmental Studies Program (https://biosurvey.ku.edu/directory/peggy-schultz ). All KU COVID 19 protocols will be followed and masks are required.

For more info: http://s.12ab.pw/l/08e-2

To apply: http://s.12ab.pw/l/c42-1

To help spark teachers’ interest, here is video from the 2018 institute for you to share with them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpgw3POGZpQ

The Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute is part of the education and outreach initiatives proposed in the Kansas NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1: Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Systems across Kansas award #1656006 (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1656006).

Kansas Teaching and Learning Project- Just in Time PD

The Kansas Association of Education Service Agencies (KAESA) along with the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) are excited to announce the Kansas Teaching and Leading Project. This project, which includes a comprehensive website with on-demand professional development and supporting resources, as well as live just-in-time webinars will support educators through this school year and beyond.

CLICK HERE to access the website for information in the areas of Understanding the Navigating Change Document, Social and Emotional Learning, Competency-Based and Personalized Learning, Remote and Hybrid Teaching and Learning, Teaching with Instructional Technology, Leadership and Communication, Community and Family Engagement, and Facilities and Operations.

Outstanding Biology Teacher Award

Every year, the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award program attempts to recognize an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12 only) in each of the 50 states; Washington, DC; Canada; Puerto Rico; and overseas territories. Candidates for this award do not have to be NABT members, but they must have at least at least three years of public, private, or parochial school teaching experience. A major portion of the nominee's career must have been devoted to the teaching of biology/life science, and candidates are judged on their teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, inventiveness, initiative, and student-teacher relationships. OBTA recipients are special guests of Carolina Biology Supply Company at the Honors Luncheon held at the NABT Professional Development Conference (Atlanta, November 11-14, 2021), receive gift certificates from Carolina Biological Supply Company, resources from other sponsors (including from Kansas Association of Biology Teachers), and award certificates plus a complimentary one-year membership from NABT.

Self-nominate by completing the requirements below

Nominate a colleague!

To nominate a colleague, forward them the information below OR email the co-directors with their contact information

(kluthek12@gmail.com & and.taylor07@gmail.com). The directors will send your nominee the application requirements. More details: (Link)

Rural STEM Educator Professional Development Program

Rural STEM Educator Professional Development Program: The University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Engineering and the East Central University (ECU) College of Education, through a grant from the National Science Foundation, operate the Rural STEM Educator Professional Development Program. This year, they are opening the program to rural STEM educators from neighboring states. As part of this program, educators work directly with engineering research faculty from OU and ECU on real-world sustainable energy research while developing relevant, guided-inquiry curricula for their classroom.

A few of the benefits:

- $5,200 stipend for participating in the year-long program

- Engage in cutting-edge sustainable energy research

- Room and board provided during summer research

- Grant (up to $1,000) for classroom supplies

Application deadline is April 15, 2021. Apply at https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3V4OATlgN7up0mp?Q_DL=CGUt2GqWLmDakLG_3V4OATlgN7up0mp_MLRP_1FB8hXV5lp5W6rP&Q_CHL=email

Call the Kansas Energy Program at 785-532-6029 or e-mail at ksenergyprog@ksu.edu for more information

Rural STEM webinars

Rural STEM webinars: OU and ECU are also providing monthly rural STEM webinars January through April 2021. I’ve attached the flier for those as well. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-energy-industry-resources-available-to-k12-teachers-tickets-135415366005?fbclid=IwAR3je4ab3WuFwZgKsUma_LMfSqYIMJMThUT1e707iQbD_upUKim9gwUSHec.

Thursday, March 4, 2021, 3:30 p.m. – Geothermal Energy

Saturday, April 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. - Bringing Research Into your Classroom: Panel Discussion with RET Teachers

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