E-Blast 2 May 2013
Please forward this E-Blast on to your colleagues and friends. If you have questions or comments, please contact Jean May-Brett, () Louisiana State Coordinator, LSTA/NSTA Science Matters Network
LSTA is recruiting your proposals for the 2013 Science institute:
- Short course and field trip submissions (due by June 14), contact Gayle Glusman at
.
- Session proposals (due by July 26) contact Program Chair, Charlotte Bihm at
.
Information on the following items can be found below the list.
1. Endangered Species Day: May 17
2. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve BioBlitz 2013: May 17/18
3. LIGO's FREE Science SaturdayTheme DO YOU SEE IT? 1PM-5PM May 18
4. Aquarium and NOAA workshop “How Do We Explore”: Deadline for registration May 21
5. Lakefront Airport May 22nd through 24th, the CAF Red Tail Squadron exhibit Rise Above
6. LA STEM Girls Collaborative Project (LaSTEM GCP) Champions Board Webinar: May 23rd
7. The Nat’l Science Education Leadership Association's Summer Leadership Institute
8. Curriculum and Instruction Science Education Specialization Texas Tech University.
9. Intracoastal Wetlands Expedition set to launch” June 16 through June 21, 2013
10. State Farm Good Neighbor Student Achievement Grants: Deadline June 23
11. Best Buy Children’s Foundation Youth Technology Grants: Deadline July 1
12. Energy Department America's Home Energy Education Challenge 2013–14 Program
13. The Next Generation Science Standards
14. LSTA Regional Workshops on the Frameworks for k-12 Science Education
15. Reading for Science Literacy
16. 2012 – 2013 eCYBERMISSION Louisiana Winners.
17. Science & Math Informal Educators project at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science
18. Tulane Science Scholars Program (TSSP)
19. Online Climate and Energy Teaching Resources – Grades 6-12
20. PreK-K Learning Activities ABC Mouse
21. Energy4me Education Programs registration will open in June.
22. Plant Study Teacher Guide
23. JASON Project middle school STEM training this summer
24. Contest
1. Endangered Species Day May 17
K-12 educators can access resources for teacher and learning about endangered species at will find a toolkit for planning Endangered Species events, podcasts, fact sheets, contest opportunities, lesson plans and postcards to spread the word about the importance of protecting endangered species.
2.Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in New Orleans, LA is the host for the BioBlitz 2013and BioDiversity Festival organized by the National Park Service and National Geographic Society May 17th and 18th. National Geographic Society BioBlitz page:
The event will take place at the park's Barataria Preserve in Marrero, LA.
Online registration is open
Funding for bus transport for schools that support is available.
Here are the BioBlitz 2013 contact names and numbers for Jean Lafitte Park and Preserve:
Dr. Julie Whitbeck, Park Ecologist, ; 504-589-3882, ext 118
Stacy Lafayette, Park Education Ranger, , 504-689-3690, ext 25
Joe Llewellyn, Park Assistant Superintendent, , 504-589-3882, ext 40
Barataria Preserve BioBlitz page:
3. LIGO's FREE Science SaturdayTheme for May DO YOU SEE IT?1PM-5PM, May 18
Join us in May and learn all about Observations and Illusions. It is also the last time for you to experiment with twelve of the exhibits that will be leaving LIGO at the end of this month.
LIGO SEC's Science Saturday is free and open to the public. During the Science Saturdays you get a chance to tour the facility, participate in demonstrations and activities, view a film and experiment with interactive exhibits in our exhibit gallery.
LIGO SEC is located in Livingston, LA. Visit our website for directions:
or for more information:
4. Aquarium of Americas (AoA) and NOAA PD workshop “How Do We Explore” - June 22
Participants will learn how to use standards-based lessons and online resources that guide classroom investigations into the innovative exploration strategies, sophisticated instrumentation and equipment used onboard the ship to explore our largely unknown world ocean. Topics include how targets are selected for exploration, mapping techniques, water column exploration, remotely operated vehicles and telepresence technology that enables access to real time ocean exploration. Educators who attend the full day will receive a $50 stipend. Each participant will receive Volume 2 of the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection, How Do We Explore?, materials related to activities presented during the workshop, a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, continental breakfast, and lunch. Registration Deadline: May 21, 2013 To register, contact Tricia LeBlanc at the AoA phone: (504) 378-2675 or
5. Visiting the New Orleans LakefrontAirport May 22nd through 24th, the CAF Red Tail Squadron traveling exhibit Rise Above showcases the struggles and triumphs of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first African American combat pilots. The exhibit is housed in a 53′ long customized trailer with sides thatslide out to create a 30-seat climatecontrolled movie theater with a 160- degree panoramic screen. FREE to students and their teachers, RiseAbove includes an interactive exhibit and character-building film.
Dates:Wednesday, May 22nd through Friday,May 24th
Call: 504-528-1944 x229 to reserve yourone hour experience. Space is limited.
For more information:
6. Louisiana STEM Girls Collaborative Project (LaSTEM GCP) Champions Board Webinar
Join the LaSTEM CP webinar on May 23rd at 3:00 PM for an overview of the Louisiana collaborative and appeal for persons interested in serving as a volunteer Champions Board member. LaSTEM is actively seeking Louisiana residents, representing science, technology, engineering and math disciplines to serve as Champions Board members who works in partnership with LaSTEM's Leadership Team to give the project a balance of desirable expertise and regional representation. For more information, contact Lou Papai, Louisiana STEM Girls Collaborative Project Lead, at (318) 424-8662 or email .
7. The National Science Education Leadership Association's (NSELA) annual Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) that will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia this summer. For the past several years NSELA has worked with science leaders in preparation for the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards. NSELA provided experiences at the SLI and the Professional Development Institutes to examine the Framework and drafts of the standards. This summer's leadership institute will provide the first opportunity to examine the standards and further understandings of them to develop plans for implementation.
You can learn more about the Summer Leadership Institute at:
8. Blended Delivery PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a Science Education Specialization
Texas Tech University. The first 25 program recipients will be eligible for $1000 scholarships toward their tuition and fees in Fall 2013. Application deadline June 1
The majority of the 66 hours of coursework will be completed online during the fall, spring and summer semesters; but students will also be required to attend as a group:
- three intensive, face-to-face, two-week, July sessions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 on the Lubbock campus of Texas Tech University, and
- national conferences of the National Science Teachers Association (three days in April 2014 in Boston), Association for Science Teacher Education (three days in January 2015 in Portland, OR), and National Association for Research in Science Teaching (three days in 2016 at TBA, usually in March). At the three conferences, students will attend conference sessions and meet with Texas Tech faculty as a group for cohort activities.
9. There area few spots left on our Intracoastal Wetlands Expedition set to launch June 16 through June 21, 2013. We would love to have you join us and show off your talents or ask that you pass on this awesome opportunity to your teachers/colleagues.The cost is only $100 for ALL 5 days (includes food, lodging, materials, kayaking, etc.). You will also need to provide your own transportation to Freeport, TX. I have attached the application.
Take a look at our video and pics:
10. State Farm Good Neighbor Student Achievement Grants: Deadline June 23
Increase academic achievement, workplace readiness, and stronger communities during the 2013-2014 school year with a $1,500 State Farm Good Neighbor Student Achievement Grant. The grant requires a 14+ week Semester of Service™ starting in Fall 2013. Educators from all fifty US states and D.C., and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Alberta are invited to apply. Each teacher awarded a grant will also receive a one-day professional development training in one of five cities around the country. Learn more at
11. Best Buy Children’s Foundation Youth Technology Grants:Deadline July 1
The Best Buy Children's Foundation is accepting applications from local and regional nonprofit organizations working to provide teens with places and opportunities to develop twenty-first century technology skills with the potential to inspire their future education and career choices. Community grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded for program activities such as computer programming, digital imaging, music production, robotics, and gaming and mobile app development.
12. Energy Department America's Home Energy Education Challenge 2013–14 Program
Registration is now open for America's Home Energy Education Challenge (AHEEC), a national student competition administered by NSTA for the Energy Department and created to help families save money by saving energy. Students, educators, and school principals are encouraged to register to participate at HomeEnergyChallenge.org.
This Challenge is a Fun Way for Kids Grades 3-8 to Learn About Energy Conservation
Sponsored by the US Department of Energy, and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, America’s Home Energy Education Challenge gives students the chance to LEARN about energy, DEVELOP techniques for reducing energy consumption, and SAVE money in their own homes by reducing household energy use.
All students grades 3-8 can participate as long as they have a Team Advisor, including:
Public and private schools
Home schools
After school programs
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other organizations
Students can also participate in the Energy Fitness Award by demonstrating a level of knowledge about energy after completing the lesson plans. Five (5) sessions are provided to Educators about energy generation, transmission, consumption, conservation, and management.
13. The Next Generation Science Standards Have Been Released
After several rounds of public input, the first major overhaul of the national standards for science teaching in 15 years has just been released. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) call for sweeping changes in the way science is taught in the United States, emphasizing hands-on learning and critical scrutiny of scientific evidence. The standards are organized in three dimensions: key concepts, crosscutting concepts and practices. Key concepts are broadly important and teachable over a series of years, such as the subject of climate change, which gets more complex as students build on their knowledge. The second dimension is crosscutting concepts, ideas that span the scientific disciplines such as energy and matter, cause and effect or systems. Lastly, students will be expected to understand the practice of science, undertaking scientific inquiry and comparing the practices of science with those of engineers.
To view the website and download the standards, please visit:
To access the FAQ’s, please visit:
14.Join science educators from throughout Louisiana for the LSTA workshop series on the Frameworks for K-12 Science Education and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Two half-day workshops will be offered by LSTA in regional locations. The first session will introduce the Frameworks which provide the vision for science education in the 21st century used as the foundation for the development of the NGSS. The second workshop will becentered on the NGSS. Watch future e-Blasts, the LSTA LASER and website for information on the workshop in your area.
15. Reading for Science Literacy
For more than 45 years, SB&F (Science Books & Films), AAAS’s online internationally recognized critical review journal, has evaluated nearly 1,000 print and non-print science materials annually to find the best materials available for all audiences from kindergarteners to college students, parents, teachers, and librarians. At this year’s AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston, SB&F debuted its Best Books of 2012 issue featuring an editorial by Project 2061 Director Jo Ellen Roseman, a biochemist by training. Recalling the books that sparked her own early interest in science, Roseman also notes that science has now become an important context for learning across the curriculum, citing recommendations in the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and in the National Research Council’s A Framework for K-12 Science Education. “High-quality science books can not only inform, entertain and engage young people,” writes Roseman, “they can also motivate and help young people to become better readers, writers, and thinkers.” Read the full article Reading for Science Literacy at:
16. Congratulations to the 2012 – 2013 eCYBERMISSION Louisiana Winners. Nearly 300 student teams from across the country were named state winners in the 11th annual eCYBERMISSION competition, one of several science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives offered by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). The competition drew 21,345 students this year, and state winners' projects covered topics such as educational video games, garbage disposal, and improving safety at school.
6th Grade Winners
1st Place: T.O. Rusheon Rams, T.O. Rusheon Middle School, Bossier, LA
Team Advisor: Charlene Cooper
Team Members: Collin Honey, Z'Andre Franklin, Jonathan Houghes, Micah Robinson
8th Grade Winners
1st Place: The Pickle Family, St. Margaret Catholic School, Lake Charles, LA
Team Advisor: Judy Reeves
Team Members: Bailey Dubus, Whitney Jones, Paige Parrish, Shajia Mitchell
2nd Place: Little Einstein's, Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, LA
Team Advisor: Erin Plauche
Team Members: Clare Kavanagh, Lauren Cooke, Yasmeen Magharehabed
9th Grade Winners
1st Place: Team Tiger, Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, LA
Team Advisor: Jay Jay Juan
Team Members: Sylvia Jones, Isabel Chauvin, Maddy Walker, Rosemary Lloyd
2nd Place: Team Jaguar, Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, LA
Team Advisor: Jay Jay Juan
Team Members: Mallory Pilie', Jeannie Nguyen, Gabrielle Terrebonne
Be ready for information on next year’s eCYBERMISSION challenge.
17. Science and Math Informal Learning Educators(SMILE) has been a major project at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and its partner institutions since 2008. How to SMILE is a pathway (an audience-specific branch) of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL.org). SMILE has more than 3,400 engaging hands-on interactive STEM activities that are both physical and virtual. Topics include Chemistry, Mathematics, Ocean Literacy, Climate, Energy, Life Sciences, Cooking and Astronomy.
18. Tulane University is pleased to invite bright 8th-11th grade students to participate in a Saturday program during 2013-2014 academic year with professors in the School of Science and Engineering. The Tulane Science Scholars Program (TSSP) is selective program for high school students who have exceptional talent in the sciences and mathematics. More detailed information about this program is available at The 2013-2014 academic year Saturday program has a $300 fee. Need-based scholarships are available and an additional application for this scholarship will be sent upon request.
Please see the attached flyer for information about how to apply. The deadline to apply is August 2, 2013, and students will be notified of acceptance by August 30, 2013.
There is still availability for the Programming and Materials Science courses this summer that Tulane is offering for college credit. More information about our summer program is available at tssp.tulane.edu. Please have your students apply now!
Please email with any questions. Thank you!
19. Online Climate and Energy Teaching Resources – Grades 6-12
1. Thissearchenginedirects you to 500+vetted, online activities, videos, and visualizations on climate and energy for grades 6 - 16. These resources have been hand-picked and rigorously reviewed by scientists for accuracy and by teachers for classroom effectiveness.
2. This site providesGuidance onTeaching Climate and Energy Scienceusing climate and energy literacy principles. You can read a summary of each principle, why the concepts involved are important, what makes them challenging to teach, andsuggestions of grade-specific teaching strategies. See activities, videos, and visualizations for teaching this principle. For example:
Climate LiteracyPrinciple #4. Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes
Learn moreabout teaching this principle.Find activitiesfor teaching this principle.
20. PreK-K Learning Activities
offers more than 3000 learning activities for the youngest students in the core subjects of science, reading, math social studies and art. Content is presented through books, song, games, puzzles, art activities and printables.
21. Energy4me Education Programs registration will open in June.
Energy4me “Energize Your Classroom” Teacher Workshop
Wednesday, 2 October | 7:30 am–3:00pm
Energy4me, SPE’s energy education outreach program, will invite 100 New Orleans-area classroom teachers (grades 4-12) to attend a free, one-day energy education workshop. Educators will receive hands-on training provided by the US National Energy Education Development project (NEED), listen to a presentation from a prominent keynote speaker, and tour the ATCE exhibitions. Additionally, educators will receive a variety of free instructional materials to take back to their classrooms. There is no cost for teachers to attend the workshop. Learn more »
Energy4me High School Student STEM Event
Wednesday, 2 October | 8:30am–1:30pm
SPE is educating the next generation of aspiring engineers, scientists and managers in the E&P industry. Approximately 200 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) high school students will see firsthand the exciting opportunities the industry has to offer. The program will include a scavenger hunt of the technology exhibits and hands-on energy lessons provided by the US National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project. Students will also have the opportunity to meet industry professionals and ask questions about possible careers in the E&P industry. There is no cost for teachers to attend the workshop. Learn more »