Welcome to the November 2022 edition of Science News and Updates.
It is hard to believe that 2023 is right around the corner. We hope you have had a chance to slow down and enjoy the last of 2022, making keen observations and noticing subtle differences all around us as we experience fall in San Diego.
Did you pick a system to study through the lens of Stability and Change throughout the fall. How is the system stable? How is the system changing? Share your observations with us on Twitter using #sandiegoNGSS. The potted Red Valencia Orange tree Chelsea is studying seems more stable than the other citrus trees in her yard. It is the only citrus tree without fruit — all five other citrus trees have two or more! The fruit is evidence that change is a good thing. We encourage you to continue (or start) your ongoing observation through the lens of stability and change, as time scale often affects whether we consider a system stable or changing.
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Over the next two months, we invite you to observe through the lens of Patterns. A pattern is defined as anything that repeats when there is cause for repetition. Identifying patterns can help describe relationships and predict general outcomes of phenomena. Utilizing observations of patterns helps us make meaning of the world, classify objects, and identify cause and effect relationships. Patterns are useful as evidence to support explanations of the causes of phenomena and can be used to support arguments. What observable patterns do you see? Share your observations with us on Twitter using #sandiegoNGSS.
The NSTA Press publication Crosscutting Concepts Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning edited by Jeffrey Nordine and Okhee Lee states that when we use the crosscutting concepts as a lens for our own observations we, “can better guide students’ three-dimensional science learning, including learning to understand and use these concepts as you enrich your own understanding of them and see examples of their use in both real-world problem solving and classroom contexts.”
In the preface, Helen Quinn describes the crosscutting concepts as, “conceptual tools for examining unfamiliar situations and finding an approach that helps develop understanding. Each CCC is a lens for looking at a problem. Each lens highlights a particular perspective and thus leads its user to ask productive questions that arise from that perspective.”
Consider using these prompts with students to support their use of the crosscutting concept of patterns in and out of school.
- What patterns do you observe? What patterns do you notice in the data presented?
- What questions do you have about the patterns you have noticed?
- Does your model reproduce these patterns?
- What do you need to investigate about this system to understand this pattern better?
- Does the pattern in the data support the conclusion? Why or why not?
- How is ____ changing over time?
- What do you predict will happen to ____ in the future? Use patterns to justify your answer.
- What are some similarities and differences among the ____?
- What is one way you could classify these ____ to create groups that are similar to each other?
- Describe the attributes (characteristics) you are using to classify the ____.
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Science Team
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California Funding Opportunities for Science Education
The current state budget includes multiple opportunities for prioritizing and funding science education.
The following CA state funding opportunities from the 2022 governor’s budget were identified as “priority funding opportunities'' for the support and prioritization of science education by the California Partnership for Math and Science Education (CAPMSE) Statewide Science Leadership Coalition in Anaheim on Sept. 30:
- "A-G" Completion Improvement Grant
- Learning Recovery Block Grant
- Educator Effectiveness Funds
- CA Community Schools Partnership Grant
- Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
- Arts, Music, Instructional Materials Block Grant
- Teacher Residency Program
U.S. Department of Education
On Oct. 12 the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) launched the YOU Belong in STEM initiative. The initiative aims to galvanize the broad STEM education ecosystem to implement and scale equitable and high-quality STEM education for all young people from Pre-K to higher education.
YOU Belong in STEM will focus on improving student outcomes by promoting positive conditions for STEM learning and development. Research shows a direct correlation between a sense of belonging in the classroom and a student's focus and academic content retention. Through the new initiative, the DOE seeks to show both teachers and students that they have a place in the STEM field and in the pathways to long-term success that STEM has to offer in a 21st century economy. In the coming weeks, the DOE will provide guidance and other technical assistance to elevate STEM teaching and learning, convene STEM partners and thought leaders, elevate bright spots and evidenced-based practices that engender belonging in STEM, and partner with public and private entities to leverage our best efforts and reach.
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Science Leaders Network
Join this ongoing convening of science leaders across San Diego County, designed to build capacity of all educators to effectively implement Next Genergation Science Standards (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 tools 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 for the 2022-23 school year are Dec. 7, Feb. 1, April 5 and May 3. Please be sure to register for the Science Leaders Network.
California Science Test (CAST) Data Institute
The CAST Data Institute is designed to assist district teams in looking at and using CAST data to inform implementation efforts in science. Districts are invited to bring a team (teacher on special assignment (TOSA)/science specialist, administrator, classroom teacher, and data coordinator) who will collaborate together to:
- Conduct an analysis of CAST data using structured protocols and processes
- Determine additional data to collect to evaluate status of NGSS implementation
- Develop an action plan for further investigation of NGSS implementation
- Create communication talking points about CAST to share with educational partners
The learning and processes used in the CAST Data Institute can be used at the district level to share CAST results, refine science implementation plans, and clearly communicate information to multiple educational partners. Register for the in-person CAST Data Institute on Jan. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $50 per person with continental breakfast and lunch provided.
Building an NGSS Classroom for Student-Centered Assessment: Pathways for Professional Learning
The SDCOE Science team's spring 2023 professional learning series is designed for K-12 teachers to build understanding and skills in designing and implementing student-centered assessment aligned to 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 the 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.
San Diego Science Educator Book Club
Join SDCOE Science Coordinator Chelsea Cochrane for the 2023 Science Educator Book Club. We will meet virtually to discuss one chapter per month, January through August. This year we will read The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez. Book will be provided to first 10 participating San Diego science educators. Registration for the book club closes Dec. 6.
Ramirez's book examines eight inventions and reveals how they shaped human experience. Each chapter is a fascinating and inspiring story that offers new perspectives on our relationships with technologies. “Ramirez showcases little-known inventors — particularly people of color and women — who had a significant impact but whose accomplishments have been hidden by mythmaking, bias, and convention.”
Leading Science for K-8 Administrators
Educators will learn about tools and insights from the Instructional Leadership for Science Practices (ILSP) project, engage in science learning, and practice collecting evidence of student learning in science. All participants will receive The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Implementing K-8 Science Practices. “This is an essential guide for any K–8 instructional leader who wants to empower all teachers to provide all students with rich science experiences and develop the cognitive and noncognitive skills students will need to thrive in more advanced courses, work, and society.”
- 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 3 (in-person)
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on March 17 (virtual)
- 9 a.m. to noon on April 28 (in-person)
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on May 12 (virtual)
Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about district and local educational agency support and contracting with SDCOE. The SDCOE Science and Environmental Literacy team can be reached via email: Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Starr Howe, and John Spiegel.
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Additional Science Professional Learning Opportunities
CA NGSS Collaborative
Professional Learning (PL) Series No. 2 Coherent Science Assessment Systems
Build awareness of equitable NGSS assessment systems. In grade band 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. Registration is now open for Option 2 and 3. All professional learning sessions will be virtual via Zoom.
- Option 2: Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Option 3: March 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Presidential Award of Excellence in Math and Science Teaching
- Dec. 3 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching (APAST), the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees (SEPA), and the STEM Teacher Leadership Network (STEMTLnet) are proud to present a joint virtual conference led by PAEMST awardees that will provide participants with a well-rounded view into three-dimensional teaching and learning in classrooms today. This event is free and open to all those interested in the continued improvement of science education. Come hear from Presidential awardees and their colleagues as they discuss key shifts needed for the improvement of science education everywhere.
UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
UC San Diego MRSEC is now accepting applications for the 2023 Advanced Materials Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program, June 26 to Aug. 18 (8 weeks). This research program is aimed at providing K-12 and junior/community college educators with a summer experience in a MRSEC research lab. Participants receive an introduction to research in the materials science and work on projects and modules that they can translate to their classroom at their institution. Their team of education experts in the Research Immersion in Materials Science and Engineering (RIMSE) program provide guidance on developing materials science content, demonstrations, and course materials that dovetail with the current California Science Education Standards. Eligibility is open to K-12 and junior/community college educators with programmatic focus on STEM who are citizens or permanent residents of the US or US territories, as stipulated by the NSF. No prior research experience is necessary. Educators will be paid a $900/week stipend (stipend includes allowance for meals), on-campus housing, and reimbursement of travel expenses up to $500. UC San Diego and our MRSEC are committed to the achievement of excellence and diversity among faculty, staff, and students. Women, minority applicants, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply to the NSF RET program.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
Are you looking for affordable professional learning that will enhance your instructional practice and enrich your students' learning? Check out NSTA's collection of professional Learning Units that you can use at your own pace to gain the knowledge you need. Choose from a variety of short courses that will spark new ideas, expand your pedagogical skill set, and could provide you with continuing education credit. Most courses are offered at a discounted price for NSTA members and some sessions are free, such as What is Sensemaking?.
John Muir Laws — Nature Stewardship Through Science, Education, and Art
A world of infinite beauty and discovery waits just beyond the point where we usually stop paying attention. Nature offers us peace, a rich and meaningful place to learn. There is no computer program that can replicate the richness of seeing a flower up close, the intrigue of geeking out with bugs, or the calm of laying on your back and watching clouds. The key to developing a closer connection with nature is deliberately enhancing your powers of observation and wonder. Learn how the methods of a field naturalist will help you notice more, remember what you discovered, and be actively curious. A nature journal is a lens that focuses our attention and crystalizes our observations, thoughts, and experiences. The system is creative, rigorous, and playful, easy to begin and learn, and will grow and mature over a lifetime. This site is a resource of tools for your journey. Start now: you can do this, and the world is waiting. John Muir Laws offers free online nature journaling workshops and events, curriculum and lesson plans, as well as free illustrated Crosscutting Concept posters.
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We know amazing work is happening throughout our county. Please share your story with us so we can 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 also can come to your school and write the story.
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President’s Environmental Youth Award
The Environmental Protection Agency has opened the application period for the 2023 President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) program and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). The PEYA program recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects by K-12 youth, promoting awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encouraging positive community involvement. The PIAEE recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for student learning. Applications for both programs are due Jan. 11.
Art x Climate
Art x Climate seeks to strengthen partnerships between science and art and demonstrate the power of art to advance the national conversation around climate change. The U.S. Global Change Research Program, in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, invites artists to engage in the development of the Fifth National Climate Assessment by creatively visualizing climate change in the United States: its causes, impacts, and manifestations; our shared vulnerabilities; and the strength of our collective response. Selected art submissions will be featured in the Fifth National Climate Assessment as chapter covers and within the chapters. Selected artworks may also be used in case studies, in public events, or in communication materials. There are two calls, one for artists ages 13–17 and one for artists 18 and up. Artists who wish to submit their works must do so by Jan. 27.
SeaPerch San Diego (SDSP)
California State Parks — California State Library Parks Pass
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 fewer or one highway licensed motorcycle at over 200 participating state park units. 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.
Community-Based Partners Hub
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 and fosters 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.
I Love A Clean San Diego
Interested in environmental education presentations for your classroom? Look no further than I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD)! Presentations are free to public and private K-12 classrooms within ILACSD’s service areas, including, but not limited to, unincorporated San Diego County, and 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.
The Energy Coalition - Energy is Everything
Energy is Everything is a comprehensive energy education program focused on serving TK-12 students in California. Energy is Everything gives energy 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 science, technology, engineering and mathematics, 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
ArtsBusXpress is a nonprofit organization that connects students with arts and science venues for field trip opportunities, and 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.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Literacy Resources
These materials were developed by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) with Support from NOAA, the North American Association for Environmental Education, the Lawrence Hall of Science, the College of Exploration, and innumerable scientists and educators.
Energy is Everything
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 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills; focused on energy and environmental topics. The program guides students in applying science and engineering practices (researching, designing solutions, redesigning, notebooking, 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 Energy is Everything program.
Exploring Conservation Science Field Trips
The Community Engagement team has been working since 2005 to make San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's scientific staff and facilities available to challenge, engage, and inspire students from middle school to college. Our 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. Our specialized facilities offer the chance to work firsthand with the tools and techniques used in conserving endangered species. All of our 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 all interested 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, California. For more information and to reserve a field trip, please refer to the Exploring Conservation Science site.
Conservation Education Speak-Off
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.
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults - Virtual Workshop
Join AEOE on Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. to learn from award-winning, best-selling author, and professional consultant Monique Gray Smith as she shares about her most recent published book, the adaptation of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass for the young adult audience. During this engaging workshop, Gray Smith will focus on how to share Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants with young adults.
Ms. Smarty-Plants Assemblies
The Water Conservation Garden and Ms. Smarty-Plants™ are providing fantastic, free, and fun programs for your students this school year. She can visit your school in person, or you can visit The Garden to explore our garden exhibits. She will inspire students about water conservation, gardening, and science! Water Districts throughout the county are funding these programs for schools. Please reach out to our education team or website to see if your school qualifies for a free program!
EcoLogik STEM Workshops
Join STEM professionals for a 1.5- to three-hour EcoLogik STEM workshop exploring the real science conducted in America’s national parks. Participants will use technology to investigate real-world problems and learn ways to solve them, empowering them to preserve and protect nature and sparking an interest in STEM. These workshops are free to the public, and can be located at Cabrillo, libraries, and other community spaces around the county.
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National Children’s Museum
The National Children's Museum launched a second season of the children's podcast STEAM Daydream. Each of the season's eight episodes is led by a young innovator, who — with the help of content experts from across the country — solves an everyday STEAM mystery aligned to science standards and classroom content. Developed by museum educators for classrooms grades 1-5, each 20-minute episode empowers young listeners to ask big questions about important STEAM topics. The STEAM Daydream podcast fosters young learners' curiosities and challenges them to think critically about the world around them.
Ten Strands - Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum
Guided by California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts, the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum consists of 85 engaging units that address core academic standards in science, history–social science, and English language arts. The California EEI 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 (NSF) administers Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), created by Congress in 1983, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of STEM, including Computer science. The 2022-23 awards will honor science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teachers working in grades 7-12. Nominations close on Jan. 9. Applications must be completed by Feb. 6.
SDCOE Single Subject Intern Credential Program
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.
SDCOE Online CSET prep courses
Register for free online California Subject Examinations for Teachers prep courses on the CSET Test Preparation tab of the SDCOE Educator Preparation webpage. Access to materials is provided via email two to three days after registration.
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.
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If you have any questions or comments about Science News and Updates, please contact one of our science team members.
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District Advisor, Curriculum and Instruction
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Environmental Literacy Coordinator
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Science Administrative Assistant
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county.
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