In our May edition we said that “summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and let your curiosity take over;” however, we live in San Diego County and can say the same thing about fall! People often say we don’t have seasons here, but we do. The observable differences from one season to another may be more subtle in San Diego County than in other places, but many things are quite different here in the fall. We just need to make keen observations to notice the differences. If we think through the lens of the crosscutting concept of stability and change, we may notice these differences over time and can observe that change may occur at different rates. Stability and change is connected to systems and system models. Start by picking a system. Remember, a system is anything that consists of interacting components within a boundary. Take a picture or make a sketch of the system you pick. Make observations of your system under study throughout the fall. How is the system stable? How is the system changing? We’d love for you to share with us on Twitter using #sandiegoNGSS. Chelsea has selected a potted red Valencia orange tree as her system under study and will being tweeting observations and noticing about the stability and change of this system throughout the fall. 

Each edition of Science News and Updates will highlight a crosscutting concept and encourage ongoing observation through the lens of stability and change. For natural and built systems alike, conditions of stability and rates of change provide focus for understanding how a system operates and the causes of changes in systems. Consider using these questions to think more deeply about your observations this fall.

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To connect with us between newsletters and learn more about environmental literacy, see our brand new Environmental Literacy News and Updates.

Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Starr Howe, and John Spiegel

A Blueprint for Action for Equitable Science Education: Initial Steps for Coordinated, Systemic Reform offers a starting point for systemic K-12 science education reform in California by identifying state-specific priorities for enacting equitable science education and providing a series of actions for implementation. The priorities recommend shifts in policy and practice, and were developed collectively by the science community of practice and a larger coalition of science educators and professional organizations who will work together in 2022 and beyond to ensure our K-12 system delivers high-quality, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned, culturally and linguistically responsive science learning experiences in equal measure to all students in our state.  

Science and Engineering in Preschool Through Elementary Grades: The Brilliance of Children and the Strengths of Educators (2022) 

Starting in early childhood, children are capable of learning sophisticated science and engineering concepts and engaging in disciplinary practices. They are deeply curious about the world around them and eager to investigate the many questions they have about their environment. Educators can develop learning environments that support the development and demonstration of proficiencies in science and engineering, including making connections across the contexts of learning, which can help children see their ideas, interests, and practices as meaningful not just for school, but also in their lives. Unfortunately, in many preschool and elementary schools science gets relatively little attention compared to English language arts and mathematics. In addition, many early childhood and elementary teachers do not have extensive grounding in science and engineering content. Read online or download pdf.

Call to Action for Science Education Building Opportunity for the Future (2021)

Scientific thinking and understanding are essential for all people navigating the world, not just for scientists and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals. Knowledge of science and the practice of scientific thinking are essential components of a fully functioning democracy. Science is also crucial for the future STEM workforce and the pursuit of living-wage jobs. Yet, science education is not the national priority it needs to be, and states and local communities are not yet delivering high-quality, rigorous learning experiences in equal measure to all students from elementary school through higher education. Read online or download pdf.

Join our ongoing convening of science leaders across San Diego County, designed to build capacity in all participating educators to effectively implement NGSS in the region. Participants receive statewide and local updates, identify and share NGSS resources and best practices for implementation, and develop common messaging and advocacy for science and science support. This year, all meetings will be held in person from 9 a.m. to noon at the SDCOE main campus, with a virtual attendance option available. Meeting dates are Oct. 5, Dec. 7, Feb. 1, April 5, and May 3. Please be sure to register.

The learning and processes used in the CAST Data Institute can be used back in districts to share CAST results, refine science implementation plans, and clearly communicate information to multiple educational partners. Register for this in-person event being held on Jan.26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $50 per person with continental breakfast and lunch provided.

The SDCOE Science team is pleased to announce the spring 2023 professional learning series designed to build K-12 teacher’s understanding and skills in designing and implementing student-centered assessment aligned to the NGSS. Participating teachers will build their assessment literacy skills as they create a vision for student-centered classroom assessment, learn to use tools to evaluate assessment tasks, and design and use equitable formative and summative science assessment tasks. This practical, hands-on experience is being offered in partnership with California Science Project and San Diego Science Project and utilizes tools and processes of the CA NGSS Assessment Toolkit for Student-Centered Assessment. For more information, including dates and registration information, refer to the Building an NGSS Classroom for Student-Centered Assessment: Pathways for Professional Learning document.

Californians will recognize California Native American Day on Sept. 23 and Indigenous Peoples' Day on Oct. 10. The SDCOE and California Indian Education for All (CIEFA) will be hosting Native Ways of Knowing micro-courses as a way to learn more about the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of California Native people. Educators and leaders are invited to learn from Native American educational, cultural, and tribal experts. Consider enrolling in the Teaching Traditional Ecological Knowledge: We Are Water Protectors course, which introduces the concept of traditional ecological knowledge through Native American children's literature. Gain knowledge on supporting literacy, selecting instructional resources, and designing culturally responsive instruction for Native American students. Learnings will review and encourage participants to identify strategies for Native American student success. Learn how to create intentional learning spaces to engage, support, and honor K-12 Native American students. 

After completing the 90-minute self-paced course, check out these resources that may help bring diverse voices into your science classroom. Tending Nature is a documentary series that explores how, for a thousand years, land has provided for Native peoples and how tribal groups have actively shaped and tended the land. The middle school resources and lessons explore the ecosystems of the Klamath River Basin, the problems caused by an unhealthy river system, and the collaborative efforts by tribes, government agencies, and non-profit groups to solve the problem by restoring the river. Indigenous STEAM shares land-based educational materials developed in collaboration with families, communities, and educators. The story arcs put into the foreground Indigenous knowledge systems — roles, relations, responsibilities, and gifts between and within human and other-than-human communities — and intergenerational arrangements in teaching and learning.  

Please reach out to us if you are interested in learning more about local educational agency-level support. The SDCOE Science team can be reached via email: Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Starr Howe, and John Spiegel.

Build awareness of equitable NGSS assessment systems. In grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) sessions, educators will experience and unpack student-centered 3D classroom assessments, analyze their system of assessments using a continuum, and evaluate tools and resources to improve current assessment systems. Save the dates below. A registration link coming soon here. The collaborative is offering three opportunities for learning in this series. All professional learning sessions will be virtual via Zoom.

The California Science Education Conference, hosted by the California Association of Science Educators (CASE), is the pre-eminent science education event held annually for educators from throughout California. Drawing more than 1,000 attendees, the goal of the annual gathering is to develop an educational space for professional learning, deepening connections, fostering creativity, generating new ideas and energizing science educators to build excitement and enthusiasm for science education inside and out of the classroom. This year, we are thrilled to return to an in-person inspiring, fun-filled educational event for all involved. This includes the details of a partner program that will provide your company with maximum amount of return on your investment for your participation this year. We can't wait for you to connect with California Educators in Palm Springs Oct. 13 to 16, with Oct. 13 designed as Pre-conference Science Leaders Day for district leaders, such as teachers on special assignment and administrators, who wants to gain deeper knowledge of NGSS and the full conference Oct. 14 to 16. Conference details and registration information can be found online.

Join us Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn more about this fun, hands-on project that introduces students to basic engineering, design, and science concepts while fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity skills as students build a remotely operated vehicle through SeaPerch. The program guides students on building an underwater robot while supplying educators with the tools and training to help them through the process. SeaPerch aims to promote opportunities to engage students and educators in inquiry-based learning with real-world applications. Register today.

For information concerning the 2023 SPSD Tourney, go to SeaPerch San Diego.  

Point Loma Nazarene University’s Perspectives on Science lecture/dinner series is back again for a 24th season. Seminar and Q&A sessions will be held at the Fermanian Center, followed by a buffet-style dinner served in the Cunningham Faculty Dining Room in Nicholson Commons. Marine Biologist Dr. Andrew Nosal will get the program underway Oct. 11 with a seminar entitled Movement Ecology of Sharks off the Coast of Southern California. Details regarding the rest of the amazing line up for 2022-23 program and how to register can be found on the Perspectives on Science Speaker Series website. You’ll be amply rewarded from October through May with informative lectures, tasty snacks and dinners, and helpful conversations with educators who share your interest in science. Registration becomes official once the $100 subscription payment and completed registration form have both been received. For interested educators, the Point Loma Nazarene University offers one unit of continuing education credit for an additional fee. The registration deadline is Sept. 30. Space is limited.

We know amazing work is happening throughout our county. Please share with us. We’d love to showcase you and your students. If you don’t have time to complete this short Google form, then we encourage you to email Chelsea Cochrane a quick note. We can come to your school and write the story. 

Fleet Week San Diego 

Fleet Week Student STEM Day 2022 is a free activity day for all schools and home-school families in the San Diego area. The Innovation Zone will allow participating organizations to showcase interactive displays to local and regional students. Students will get an upfront view of new and emerging technologies, many of them encouraging STEM education programs. The event will take place Nov. 3 and 4 at Broadway Pier 1000 in the San Diego Embarcadero. Registration is required.

Visit Fleet Week San Diego for details and registration information.  

Mark your calendars for San Diego Ag in the Classroom’s 8th annual Food and Flower Happy Hour Teacher Resource Fair. The event is a festive and informative celebration of local agriculture and resources for garden-based education. This year’s event will be held at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas on Oct. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. Registration information will be shared closer to the event date. 

In partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the California State Library, State Parks is providing free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state park units operated by State Parks to library card holders. California public library card holders can check out the California State Library Parks Pass via their local public library. If you don’t have a library card, visit your local library to get one. Find your local public library at library.ca.gov/branches. Watch this video on how to get your pass. The pass entitles the user to a free vehicle day-use entry for one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle. View an interactive map with California’s public libraries and nearby participating state parks.

Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) 

Check out free, interactive virtual field trips for K-12 students to stay connected to our state's natural, cultural, and historical resources. Visit the PORTS website to browse programs by location or topic and for booking details. Designed for in-person and virtual classrooms, the programs are customizable for all grade levels and include additional teacher resources built around the program. The fall calendar includes topics such as California's indigenous cultures, towering trees, marine protected areas, immigration stories, gold rush history, and desert ecology. 

The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) has launched a new Community-Based Partners Hub that promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of community-based partners and their products and services while fostering relationships between educators and community-based partners for increased student enrichment and engagement. The goals of the hub are to increase the visibility and access to environmental education community-based partners and be a reliable central repository for districts, schools, and teachers to identify programs that align with their local needs and meet educational standards. Learn more about our San Diego partners.

Interested in environmental education presentations for your classroom? Look no further than I Love A Clean San Diego. Presentations are free to public and private K-12 classrooms within the group's service areas, including, but not limited to, unincorporated San Diego County and the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach. Topics range from recycling and household hazardous waste, ecosystems and marine pollution, food waste, watershed pollution, ocean acidification, zero-waste lifestyles, climate change, and more. Programs are NGSS-aligned and vary in length from 45 minutes to one hour. To learn more or see if your school qualifies for free presentations, email education@cleansd.org or fill out the online presentation request form.

Energy is Everything is a comprehensive energy education program focused on serving TK-12 students in California. Energy is Everything gives educators high-quality, flexible training and curriculum resources to help them teach energy and climate concepts with a STEM focus. The lessons are comprehensive, standards-aligned, and focused on STEM, energy, and the environment. Energy is Everything is for all educators, including those at schools, in after-school programs, and at other community organizations such as YMCAs, libraries, Girl Scout troops, and more.

ArtsBusXpress is a nonprofit organization that connects students with art and science venues for field trip opportunities The organization is preparing for in-person and virtual field trips to over 100 museums, theaters, discovery centers, and more to supplement teachers' STEAM lessons. K-12 teachers can visit the Places to Go page on the organization's website to see a list of field trip destinations, including options for virtual experiences. For more information, visit the ArtsBusXpress website.

NOAA Ocean Service Education recently announced several new ocean literacy resources: 

You can access all of these resources as well as the Climate Literacy Essential Principles in English and in Spanish on the Ocean Service Education Literacy Resource webpage. The National Marine Educators Association Ocean Literacy webpage has even more resources and information about Ocean Literacy efforts.

The Energy is Everything program aims to develop the next generation of energy workers by raising exposure to high-value energy career pathways for K-12 disadvantaged students. Energy is Everything is a multi-disciplinary program aligning with California state standards and STEM skills that is focused on energy and environmental topics. The program guides students in applying science and engineering practices, such as researching, designing solutions, redesigning, note-booking, and communicating. Simultaneously, helping them build their conceptual knowledge, Energy is Everything intends to increase STEM skills, especially in energy and water resource management. As students deepen their understanding of human impacts on the environment, they shift their behavior and decisions towards living more sustainably. Learn more about the program at the Energy is Everything website.

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Community Engagement team has been working since 2005 to make the alliance's scientific staff and facilities available to challenge, engage, and inspire students from middle school to college. Their approach provides the opportunity to share a full, in-depth look at the work of conservation biology and the many fields of study that help guide conservation decision making. Specialized facilities offer the chance to work firsthand with the tools and techniques used in conserving endangered species. All of the programs are developmentally appropriate, relevant to real-world problems, and emphasize understanding through inquiry.

The Community Engagement team offers a 2.5-hour lab field trip program, titled Exploring Conservation Science, to interested science teachers and their classes. This program is open to middle school, high school, and undergraduate classes, and includes visits to both the Beckman Center and the adjacent San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. For more information and to reserve a field trip, please refer to the Exploring Conservation Science site.

The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts hosts an annual speech competition for high school students, addressing a specific topic relating to conservation. Students first compete at the regional level by submitting their speech via video, with the top speakers advancing to the state competition. There are cash prizes at both the regional and state levels. In addition, travel expenses for the state competitors are paid for by their local resource conservation district. For all information and the application, click here.

Guided by California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts, the Education and the Environment Initiative curriculum consists of 85 engaging units that address core academic standards in science, history–social science, and English language arts. The curriculum is a powerful, State Board of Education-approved instructional resource that helps educators teach to state standards in science and history–social science using the environment as context. 

Presidential Awards for Excellence in STEM Teaching 

The National Science Foundation administers Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which were created by Congress in 1983, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of STEM, including computer science. This year's awards will honor STEM teachers working in grades 7-12. Nominations close Jan. 9. Applications must be completed by Feb. 6.

An intern program is a two-year credential program that allows someone to be a full-time teacher of record while earning their credential. It differs from a traditional teacher education program, which requires student teaching as well as completion of all coursework requirements prior to employment as a teacher.

Register for free online California Subject Examinations for Teachers prep courses on the CSET Test Preparation tab of the Educator Preparation webpage. Access to materials is provided via email two to three days after registration. 

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