VDOE Science UpdateMarch 21, 2018
News
2018 Virginia Association of Science Teachers Professional Development Institute
The 2018 VAST PDI theme isDiversify and Strengthen Science for All. TheScience for Alltheme calls on us to celebrate the ever-increasing diversity in our student population across the commonwealth. The upcoming PDI will offer a wealth of information about science resources that are available throughout the state of Virginia. Please consider submitting a proposal to share your expertise on how to better serve the rich tapestry of students across the state. Proposalsare due May 1.
Grants and Awards
Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award
The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) is looking for nominations for their annual Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award. Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section (Virginia is in the Eastern section). Nominationdeadline is April 1.
Secondary Teachers (6-12): Apply for the 2018Donna Sterling Exemplary Science Teaching Award
Donna Sterling was a visionary science educator with a passion for working with science teachers and developing habits of inquiry-based teaching. Most recently, her leadership in the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) focused onelementary and secondary teacher professional development. This award recognizes that exemplary teachers engage in continuous improvement, and is designed to support a professional development plan for the improvement of science teaching.In 2018, the award will be given to an exemplary secondary teacher. The award alternates between elementary and middle/secondary.
The awardee will receive a total of$4000. In addition, travel costs will be reimbursed to attend the 2018 VAST PDI to receive the award and to the 2019 VAST PDI to present a session on the professional development experience and outcomes. The awardee will receive $3000 at the VAST PDI in 2018. The remainder will be awarded after the awardee presents at the next VAST PDI and also submits an article to either the newsletter The Science Educator or the Journal of Virginia Science Education. Learn more and apply by July 15 at the VAST website.
Carton 2 Garden Contest
This contest rewards preK–12 schools that creatively repurpose at least 100 milk or juice cartons for their gardens. One grand-prize winner will receive a prize valued at $5,000. Three others will receive prizes valued at $2,500 in these areas: STEM, Sustainability, and Health and Wellness. 10 others—five from middle or high schools and five from elementary schools—will receive award packages valued at $1,000 each. Schools don’t need an existing garden to apply. Register to get free seeds and tips to start your garden and submit your contest entry by April 16.
NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced funding for its Environmental Literacy Grants. These grants support the education of K–12 students and the public in order to help communities become more resilient to extreme weather events and/or other environmental hazards. Learn more and apply by April 6.
Teacher Resources
NASA Women of STEM Website
The NASA Women of STEM website features career profiles, videos, and news articles about the women helping NASA reach for new heights.
Teacher Opportunities
NABT/BSCS/HHMI Biology Teacher Academy
This unique, professional development opportunity for classroom teachers provides active engagement with utilizing formative assessment strategies, designing and reporting inquiry labs, data processing, and graph analysis. Participants will also work through strategies to rethink curriculum design based conceptual thinking vs. facts. We will work with the VA SOLs, AP and IB Bio curriculum and the required science practices.This will be a time to energize and retool your 21st century biology teaching skills for maximum effectiveness.Participants will also earn 30 re-certification points.Free materials will be available.
The Biology Teachers' Academy runs fromJuly 8-13 at George Mason University. All fees, including housing on the GMU camus, if needed, are covered. If you have questions or you would like more information, please contactDr. James R. Schwebach.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Summer Professional Learning Opportunities
Join CBF for a five-day professional learning adventure on the Chesapeake Bay or one of its tributaries in summer 2018. CBF is offering more than 30 courses that will explore the mountains of Virginia, the rivers of Pennsylvania, the islands of the Bay, and many places in between. Learn how tointegrate the environment into your classroom and to help your students achieve environmental literacy success.
Biology II/Ecology Institute
Virginia Project Learning Tree® presents aBiology II/Ecology Institute, July 23 – 27, 2018, New Kent Forestry Center, 11301 Pocahontas Trail, Providence Forge, VA. Biology II /Ecology teachers are invited for a week of problem based learning investigations comparing micro habitats in the Coastal Plain. This course will focus on content knowledge, field investigations, and service-learning opportunities based on a Sample Ecology Curriculum Framework recently developed by Virginia teachers. Participants will receive copies of several Project Learning Tree® (PLT) secondary modules. Participants will be outdoors at least half of each day in the summertime heat and associated hazards such as mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy. Total instruction will be 40 hours. Lodging will be in shared hotel rooms (twin beds) at the New Kent Conference Center. Buildings are air conditioned. The registration fee includes all meals, lodging, and educational materials.Registration closes at end of day on June 15. After completing this registration form reserve your spot by sending a check for $50 written payable to “VFA-PLT Fund”.
QUESTIONS?Contact Page Hutchinson or 804.966.2201.
Student Opportunities
2018 Save the Bay Photo Contest
Open to both amateur and professional photographers, CBF's annual Photo Contest highlights the beauty and character of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed's rivers and streams through the eyes of those who enjoy them. They are seeking photographs that illustrate the positive aspects of the Bay and the rivers and streams throughout the its watershed. Show themyourvision of the Bay watershed—from Bay's headwaters in New York to its mouth in Virginia, from the Shenandoah Mountains of West Virginia to the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia. Images depicting people, wildlife, recreation, and farms within the watershed will all be considered, howeverall photos must include waterfrom the Chesapeake Bay or a river, stream, creek, or other body of water inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
2018 Save the Bay photo contest. Submission deadline isApril 6.
Young Scientist Challenge 2018 Now Open
Calling all middle school STEM students! Entries are now being accepted for a chance to win $25,000. Students must create a 1-2 minute video describing an innovative solution to an everyday problem. Learn more and register Young Scientist Lab. The challenge closes April 19.
Highlighted Superintendent’s Memos
- MEMO 049-18
Call for Nominations for Board of Education Advisory Committees: 2018-2021 Term - MEMO 036-18
Environmental Science Institute - MEMO 024-18
Spring 2018 Professional Development on the Implementation of Performance Assessments(Revised February 9, 2018) - MEMO 008-18
Secondary Environmental Science Course Support Documents
Contact Us
As always, please contact one of VDOE Science Team if you have questions.
Anne Petersen ()
Laura Casdorph ()
Myra Thayer ()
Find previous editions of Science Update on the VDOE Science Instruction website.