The spring edition of Science News and Updates newsletter coincides with the one-year mark of COVID-19 and it's emotional to reflect on all the changes it has brought to the ways we work and live. We would be remiss not to acknowledge the reality of this situation and how it has impacted us all over the last year. To those who have lost loved ones, we send our deepest sympathies. To those who have watched sick family members and friends suffer, or have battled the virus themselves, we send our love. To everyone, we send our gratitude. Thank you for continuing to learn with us, thank you for sharing your stories of success and struggle, and thank you for providing students with science learning experiences through it all.

“As the format for school this fall continues to be hotly debated, we should not retreat from our commitment to science education. The launch of Sputnik in 1957 brought the need for a scientifically literate populace to the forefront of American consciousness. In the same way, we must consider this pandemic our generation’s calling to enliven science education, particularly in the early grade-levels.” This quote from a recent op-ed spotlights the need for each of us to be the voice in our circle that advocates for science. 

Please share this link with others so they can receive future Science News and Updates.

Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Howe, and John Spiegel

 Our Professional Learning calendar for 2020-21 has been updated. 

The Informal Educator Leaders Network is an ongoing opportunity for informal educators in San Diego County to come together to share best practices in the field and current environmental education efforts. Network meetings will be virtual, so please register for the link to join. 

The Science Leaders Network is an ongoing convening of educators who have the responsibility of championing science implementation efforts in their schools and district. Leaders come together several times throughout the year with the goal of building countywide capacity of all stakeholders in effectively implementing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the region. Participants in the network identify action steps in their work and share their progress at each meeting. Registration is required. 

Join us to learn how to integrate K-2 math and science content in an authentic way. We will identify connections between the subjects and walk away with completed grade-level lessons. Use this link to register for the two afternoons, April 21 and 28.

The California Association of Science Educators (CASE) is accepting proposals for the 2021 California Science Education Conference Oct. 8 to 10. This year’s conference will be virtual. CASE is seeking workshops that address a variety of learning needs in our community, which varies by hybrid and virtual learning, by grade band, role in implementation (including classroom teachers, district-level coaches or teachers on special assignment, informal science educators, pre-service teachers, and higher-education faculty), and level of implementation. Proposals for 90-minute workshops and short course are now being accepted at the Proposal Submission page of the CASE website. Proposals are due by March 26.

This section of Science News and Updates highlights districts and schools across San Diego County focused on bringing high-quality science learning experiences to all students.

If you follow the SDCOE Science team on Twitter, you may have noticed that we started using #LearningFound in our posts. The purpose of the new hashtag is to highlight and celebrate student learning and counter the narrative that students are experiencing “learning loss.”

The global pandemic has most definitely limited students’ access to learning inside a school building, but it has also presented many unique learning opportunities for students both virtually and in their homes and neighborhoods. This tweet resonated with many and has been seen by more than 8,000 people with 38 retweets and 87 likes from educators as far away as Delaware and North Carolina. Educators have started using the hashtag in their own posts and you can join the conversation with highlights of your students’ learning! Share the learning successes of your students on Twitter and add #LearningFound.

Here are some #LearningFound posts from San Diego County educators.

Consider following the SDCOE Science team on Twitter, @cjcochrane21 (Chelsea), @sdngss (John), and @twnklstrr (Crystal), as we often share upcoming events and science happenings from around our county and beyond.

Amazing work is happening throughout our county. To have your school or district featured in the next edition of Science News and Updates, share your NGSS story by completing this Google form. 

Be sure to check out our NGSS in Action videos highlighting student learning in the classroom on the SDCOE Science Resource Center website.

The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County (RCDGSDC) invites local high school students to apply for its annual Conservation Scholarship. RCDGSDC will award up to seven scholarships of $1,000 each to senior students pursuing further education in the fields of resource conservation, environmental science, biology, or agriculture. Review the 2021 Conservation Scholarship application for eligibility criteria and specific qualification details. All applications must be completed and submitted online. You will need a valid Google account to access the application. To apply, click here and complete the application by 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 5.

The Biocom Institute is hosting the inaugural Life Science XP Education Symposium to bring together K-12 educators, partners, and industry members who are reimagining life science/biotech learning experiences in their classrooms, schools, and districts. The goal of the symposium is to experience and learn from these innovations first-hand with active practitioners and partner providers. Participants engage in a variety of professional learning and networking opportunities to connect educators, industry experts, and scientists. The virtual symposium takes place from 3 to 5:15 p.m. April 28 and 29. Learn more and register on the event website.

Applications are now open for the 2021 Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science. There are two options to join: You can choose to apply for the fully funded program (at no cost to you), or if you have access to professional development funds you can pay to register and guarantee your spot. Please review the descriptions of the program and the appropriate application and registration links. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (formerly San Diego Zoo Global) hopes to engage with you and your fellow educators at the San Diego Zoo’s research facility this summer. Applications close April 11. 

The free Spring 2021 webinars feature information on how to reduce waste in your bathroom and closet, sustainable parenting, and curbside composting. 

Visit the calendar of events for more information and to register for these events. 

The I Love A Clean San Diego education team has worked diligently to transform the in-person environmental education presentations into live online classroom learning opportunities. The virtual presentations can be scheduled via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams as needed. They are free to public and private K-12 classrooms within I Love A Clean San Diego’s service areas. Included topics are recycling and household hazardous waste, ecosystems and marine pollution, food waste, watershed pollution, ocean acidification, living a zero waste lifestyle and more. The programs are NGSS-aligned and vary in length from 45 to 60 minutes. You and your students can expect interactive elements including polls, Menti questions, multiple short discussions and group activities. Also, many programs come with optional follow-up materials to help extend students’ learning opportunities outside of our live presentation. If you are interested in learning more or looking to schedule a virtual presentation, email education@cleansd.org or fill out our online Presentation Request Form.

The Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant Program awards up to $3,000 to K-12 schools for new or existing gardening projects. Requests may be made for educational gardens that grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and grains. Funding is intended for projects that turn outdoor spaces into hands-on learning gardens, connecting kids to food, sparking curiosity, and supporting classroom curriculum. Visit the grant website. The application deadline is March 31.

Thanks to generous donations and grants, the San Diego Zoo Education department is offering free virtual education programs for Title I schools in San Diego County (on your preferred virtual platform). Programs are also available to non-Title I schools for a small fee. Visit the San Diego Zoo Education department for details about its virtual Inside Story Guided Tour and other options. 

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has financial aid available for students in need so that all students can access high-quality, virtual science programming. Birch Aquarium connects PreK-12 students to its ocean planet through virtual, experiential learning programs where students meet and observe ocean organisms, explore and analyze data about changing conditions in ocean habitats, or ask questions about aquarium careers and current conservation issues. The programs are aligned with NGSS and designed to be engaging for students joining virtually from their home or classroom. Programs are 30 to 45 minutes long and are available Monday through Friday. Learn more about youth and school group programs and apply for financial aid on the Birch Aquarium website. Most schools in Southern California with Title I status or other need will receive full support and are encouraged to apply. 

ArtsBusXpress is making a detour until the buses start rolling again! It is partnering with arts and science venues to provide Virtual Field Trip Xperiences to all San Diego County K-12 educators and students. There are 55 unique Virtual Field Trip Xperiences from nine arts and science venue partners. Current venues include La Jolla Playhouse, Living Coast Discovery Center, New Village Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air and Space Museum, San Diego History Center, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, and San Diego Zoo/Safari Park.

Each Virtual Field Trip Xperience is live, interactive, and personalized for a class of up to 40 students. The venue partners will work with each teacher to ensure the best possible Xperience for their students. Once a teacher reviews the list of available Xperiences, they can apply for the necessary funding for the selected program. For more information about ArtsBusXpress, please visit the website or email info@artsbusxpress.org.

Library NExT STEAM Workshops

Library NExT (Network of Education x Training) is a series of workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students on more than 60 STEAM-related subjects. This San Diego Public Library program is a collaboration with UC San Diego Extension and Sally Ride Science. Many online sessions are available for grade spans 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Visit Library NExT | Public Library to learn more and register for sessions. 

The topics addressed in this Spanish and English video series include geology, tide pools, California Tribes: Chumash, weather and climate, native plants, and native animals. The activities can be found on the State Parks Junior Rangers webpage. Children who participate in Junior Rangers, a statewide program for ages 7-12 years old, receive a digital badge for each virtual adventure completed.

California State Parks offers K-12 students the opportunity to engage and connect to California parks resources through their PORTS program (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students). The PORTS program connects students to California’s diverse cultural, natural, and historic resources through virtual field-trip experiences.

Join PORTS at Tijuana Estuary Natural Preserve in Southern California to explore how the secrets of the salt marsh help to study and protect our changing climate. You can expect to join our interpreters to guide your students in building observation skills through nature journaling, discover salt marsh habitats and adaptations, or explore some of the real-time data to monitor the health of estuaries. Book a trip.

Virtual field trips allow students to experience the wildlife and science programs normally offered at the Living Coast Discovery Center. All programs are aligned to the California NGSS. Virtual educational programs include a live animal encounter, pre-recorded field trip, and live Zoom field trip. The Living Coast Discovery Center virtual wildlife programs are NGSS- and Common Core State Standards-based. Sponsored teachers will receive a recorded lesson, Zoom lesson, animal encounter, and additional resources (a $300 value) absolutely at no cost through Title I aid.

The San Diego River Distance Learning Station has its Cool River Program — Distance Learning Resources with video lessons, printables, and storytelling. These activities are most appropriate for students K-8 and focus mainly on ecology, environmental education, and nature connection. 

PEAK@Home is an at-home resource available in English and Spanish for families and students adjusting to distance learning. The library of K-8 environmental STEM lessons are NGSS-aligned, environmentally focused, and easy-to-implement for non-educators. Students can explore topics related to energy, water, waste, and climate through hands-on science and engineering activities. All materials required for the lessons or lesson webinars are items that can be easily found in students’ homes. All a student needs is a little curiosity! Students can also tune in to My Energy Future webinars, where STEM professionals describe their current career in STEM, skills for success, journey into their career, and advice for students. Register to access the lessons. For more information about the full K-8 PEAK Student Energy Actions program offerings, visit www.PEAKstudents.org or contact us at education@energycoalition.org.

In an effort to support high school students and educators during COVID-19, SEI has prepared distance learning resources. Bring hands-on projects to your students using SEI’s distance learning units which include climate change, energy auditing, renewable energy, and air quality. The distance learning units are teacher-facing resources that will fit into many subjects' scope and sequence and are designed for engaging students in synchronous, virtual instruction. SEI also offers student-facing distance learning curriculum that is designed to get your students thinking about sustainability across a range of topics from air quality to green transportation. All student-facing curriculum is ready to share with your learners and includes background content and engaging activities. The student-facing curriculum can be implemented with or without internet access. 

As schools are continuing remote learning or adhering to smaller group sizes, the San Diego County Water Authority and Shows That Teach have created a virtual assembly option so that elementary school students can continue to learn about water and science in a fun and engaging way. The assemblies will be performed on Zoom or Google Meet as needed. They are free to public and private elementary schools within the Water Authority’s service area. Topics included are the water cycle, local and regional water supplies, water-use efficiency and more. To schedule an assembly, email education@sdcwa.org.

Cuyamaca Outdoor School (COS), the original 6th Grade Camp, has created an engaging virtual opportunity for 6th graders to experience camp remotely. Virtually Camp Cuyamaca encourages students to go outside and explore, providing 90 minutes to two hours of daily content plus another 45-50 minutes of optional “evening” content every day for five days. Content includes: an introductory video, several instructional videos and activities centered around a science project and a positive impact project, virtual field trips (videos of COS staff members out on the trail at Cuyamaca pointing out awesome things in nature), nature journaling (journal and pencil included in the science kit that each student will receive), and a closing video. To learn more or to participate, contact COS Principal Kris Pamintuan at kristine.pamintuan@sdcoe.net.

The Scripps Community Outreach for Public Education team (SCOPE) has just launched virtual tours of the Hubbs Hall Experimental Aquarium and the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. These short YouTube videos (16 and 11 minutes, respectively) are an excellent introduction to some of the research conducted at Scripps and are intended for a public or student audience.

Three new practice briefs that focus on climate and environmental literacy have been released. STEM Teaching Tools Practice Brief 68, Keeping Climate Science Learning and Instruction Focused on Creating Solutions and Building Community Resilience, provides guidance, research, and resources to educators, school leaders, and district staff. STEM Teaching Tool Practice Brief 69, Using Local Phenomena to Communicate Climate Solutions, provides research, guidance, and resources on how the use of local challenges related to climate as phenomena can provide students with the opportunity to create community solutions. STEM Teaching Tool Practice Brief 70, How can environmental educators practice intersectional environmentalism?, provides research, guidance, and resources on how environmental educators can support social justice movements.

Enjoy remote learning resources, resources for teachers and counselors, as well as resources for parents at the UCTV Education Channel website. Visit the Sally Ride Science page to view investigation demonstration videos and the Women in Leadership archives. 

Enjoy animated videos and activity demonstrations to support science learning in our Science @ Home and Flipside Science series. Flipside Science is a youth-powered series that tackles complex environmental topics and empowers viewers to make a difference.

The SDCOE Distance Learning Units of Study were purposefully designed to integrate content, and provide flexibility and choice. The units of study connect content in the following areas: English language arts, English language development, mathematics, science, history/social science, arts, computer science, and physical education through integrated study in K-5 and thematic units in grades 6-12. These open-source units are being developed in Google to ensure maximum flexibility for districts to use them with their preferred distance learning instructional platform. Also find the Learning at Home Bingo series and additional resources that support distance learning on the SDCOE COVID-19 webpage.

To have your event or resource considered for a future edition of SDCOE’s Science News and Updates provide your information via this Google form.