It's time to start tracking green down in Alaska with GLOBE! Photo Credit: Tori Brannan | | Sharing STEAM opportunities and resources through statewide collaboration | Welcome to the AK STEAM Collaboration newsletter. On a quarterly basis we share Alaska and Arctic-focused opportunities and resources for educators in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). This is a service of the NNA-Community Office and University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center in partnership with the Alaska Science Teachers Association. | | |
Classroom Resources
Curriculum, classroom activities, citizen science opportunities
| Photo credit: U.S. GLOBE Office |
Monitor green-down with your students this fall
Check out the interactive Green-down Newsletter and learn all about how you and your students can monitor green-down from your school this fall! Green-down marks the end of the growing season for many plants. Your students can monitor green-down over the fall season to contribute to long-term environmental records. There are two ways to participate: you can monitor leaves on an individual tree using GLOBE's green-down protocol, or you can take landscape photos for NASA's PACE satellite mission in the GLOBE Observer app. You can also join a GLOBE webinar to learn more about the North American GLOBE Phenology Campaign this fall, which includes monitoring green-down, on August 19th.
| Photo credit: Tanana Valley Watershed Association |
Participate in Adopt-a-Stream activities
Spark an interest and collect data on the health of our streams with resources from this joint GLOBE Alaska and Tanana Valley Watershed Association (TVWA) Partnership Padlet full of resources and activities!
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Rural schools: Apply to Smithsonian STARS to receive free astronomy education resources!
Smithsonian STARS is a new nationwide investment in astronomy education for rural schools. You can fill out an initial interest form to receive updates on how to enroll in the program. Selected schools will receive a telescope, educator training in astronomy, standards-aligned lesson plans, and more!
| |  | Photo credit: Angela Lopez |
Join REAP's 2026 Power Pledge!
4th-12th grade classrooms and youth groups throughout Alaska are invited to participate in the 2026 Power Pledge Challenge this fall. Participating classes will receive a free classroom visit from an energy educator that includes a hands-on lesson to learn about local energy use and efficiency. Regional winners will get a prize party and field trip (if possible) sponsored by their local utility. The state winner will also receive ~$1,500 of energy lab supplies for their classroom!
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Science Stars
Awards received by teachers and students or nominations for teachers to receive awards
| Photo credit: Kevin Zhang | Photo credit: Annamaria Pustina |
Congratulations to Kevin Zhang and Annamaria Pustina!
Two Alaska students participated in the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair in May. Anchorage's West High School junior Kevin Zhang was a finalist in the 71st Alaska Science and Engineering Fair held in March. Kevin entered his project, Declining Sea Ice Increases Human-Polar Bear Encounter Risk at the Arctic Industrial Footprint, in the International Science and Engineering Fair. He attended the event with Holy Rosary Academy freshman Annamaria Pustina, who attended as an observer based on her project creating a seaweed biofabric. Kevin won fourth place in the Animal Sciences category and took home a $600 prize. Congraluations, Kevin and Annamaria!
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Students in Wrangell monitor bears for three summers running
Three years ago, students helped design and launch a bear camera system in the Anan Wildlife Observatory near Wrangell. The cameras continue to be student-run, and now the students are focusing on sharing the stories of the bears seen on camera. The students came to the project through the Teaching through Technology (T3) program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Read more about the students’ work in the Wrangell Sentinel newspaper!
| | | Opportunities for Educators | | |
Credit opportunity! Introduction to teaching science in Alaska
UAA PACE ED A581: Introduction to Teaching Science in Alaska is a continuing education course designed especially for K–8 educators who want to bring more science learning into their classrooms. Whether you’re new to Alaska or eager to expand your science toolkit, you’ll explore topics like Alaska Science Standards, supporting multilingual learners, data literacy, and place-based resources. Guest speakers from DEED, ADF&G, UAF, NSTA, ASTA, and more will join us. Held live over Zoom most Thursdays from September 10th through November 19th, 4:30–6:30 PM, this course offers opportunities to elevate your practice, connect with fellow educators across Alaska, and spark science curiosity in every student! Please register for the course by September 9th. Contact Ryia Waldern, math and science content specialist at the Department of Education and Early Development at ryia.waldern@alaska.gov with any questions.
Learn more and register here.
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Get great resources from the Science Friday Initiative and help create a new online community for educators
The Science Friday Initiative is offering a free monthly newsletter with great science activities to share with students! July’s newsletter included a list of great nature books for kids, a screen time experiment, and an activity to design your own mini-forest. This fall, they’re also launching the SciFri Learning Community Hub for educators to share science stories, spark curiosity, and celebrate discovery. Sign up for the Educate newsletter to receive awesome new activities every month and learn more about the community hub.
Sign up for the Educate newsletter!
Photo Credit: Science Friday Initiative
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Toshiba America Foundation offers grants for K-12 educators to bring STEM education to their classrooms
Toshiba America Foundation provides grants for K-12 educators to implement innovative STEM education opportunities in their classrooms. They emphasize project-based learning and generally do not fund requests solely for equipment such as computers or tablets. K-5 educators are eligible to apply for $1,000 grants (deadline October 1) and 6-12 educators are eligible to apply for $5,000 or more with rolling deadlines. Learn more and apply online today!
Photo credit: Toshiba America Foundation
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| | Opportunities for Students | |
Join the 2026-2027 season of LEGO Robotics!
First LEGO League Robotics is a fantastic way to promote teamwork while integrating a science theme into a hands-on experience with technology, engineering, and math. You can build a team in your classroom or as an afterschool activity. Contact Alyson Cooper (acooper@jedc.org) for assistance getting started with the program including getting a robot, or to get help finding a mentor for your team. Learn more about the 2026-2027 theme in this video!
Photo credit: FIRST Lego League
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Fairbanks Children's Museum Day Camps: No School, No Problem!
Fairbanks Children's Museum is offering day camps in September and October on no-school days. The museum offers a variety of programming for school-aged youth, including all kinds of different STEAM activities! They also offer half-day STEAM Pre-Kampsfor preschool children throughout the fall.
Learn more and register.
Photo credit: Fairbanks Children's Museum
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The Navigating the New Arctic Community Office builds awareness, partnerships, opportunities and resources for research funded by the National Science Foundation.
Our education team helps NNA researchers engage with Arctic-inspired educators in culturally responsive ways.
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The International Arctic Research Center is a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Our purpose is to understand the Arctic to make a difference.
Our education-related programs provide opportunities for K-12, college students and citizen scientists to engage in meaningful climate research.
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The Alaska Science Teachers Association works to inspire, promote and support excellence in science education.
Join colleagues across the state and share ideas, values and priorities in teaching science in the public schools or other sites.
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