By Debra Shapiro
Photo Ark Project
In 2006, National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore began the Photo Ark project, aiming to document the roughly 20,000 animal species living in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries worldwide. With portraits of 13,000 species and counting, he’s more than halfway there! The photographs—suitable for grades 3–12 and viewable on the Photo Ark website—are intended to spread awareness about at-risk species and to showcase the great diversity among animal species on Earth. In addition, teachers can access classroom activities to explore topics such as animal adaptation as well as how to teach students to think critically about species extinction and develop their own opinions about conservation.
Children's Museum Indianapolis Lesson Library
Educators from the Children’s Museum Indianapolis have developed a collection of standards-supporting lessons based on museum exhibits and other topics for K–8 audiences. The lessons, many of which explore science concepts, can be paired with books, online resources, or other museum videos, and include hands-on learning activities that students can complete at home or in the classroom. For example, Seed Dissection (grades K–2) engages young learners in observing the parts of a seed and identifying how a seed’s different parts help a plant germinate. In Tye Dye Paper (grades K–2), students characterize materials by their state of matter, then combine materials to create a piece of colorful, tie dye–esque paper.
Upper-elementary learners (grades 3–5) can participate in activities such as Mold and Cast, in which students define the term fossil, learn to identify the difference between a mold and a cast fossil, and discover how scientists use models to learn about the physical structure of something in the natural world. Build a Parachute (grades 3–5) lets students create their own parachute to explore how air pushes up against an object and slows it down as it falls. At the middle level (grades 6–8) students explore DNA through activities such as DNA—The Action of Extraction, in which students extract DNA from wheat germ to learn how DNA can be found easily in food, and DNA—The Ladder of Life, in which students create a DNA model to illustrate how DNA bases are a like a blueprint for each living thing.
Arctic Ocean Curriculum Unit
Arctic Ocean Curriculum Unit was created by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) with funding from the North Pacific Research Board. Targeted for middle and high school levels, the unit updates Arctic Ocean–related lessons originally created through the PolarTREC teacher education program. The updated lessons feature the use of recent data, support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and polar and ocean literacy principles, and encourage cultural relevancy. The unit traces the movement of energy throughout the Arctic Ocean environment through 18 lessons broken into two main components. The first component focuses on the physical sciences, emphasizing seasons, climate, salinity, temperature, currents, and density. The second component focuses on biological sciences emphasizing life cycles, predator-prey relationships, food sources, and survival.
NASA’s Power to Explore Student Challenge
NASA invites K–12 students in the United States to learn about Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), then design a new RPS-powered space mission that would energize their space exploration dreams. RPS is a type of nuclear “battery” that for more than 60 years has enabled many spacecraft to explore some of the harshest, darkest environments and the farthest reaches of our solar system. Entries are due by January 17, 2023, and will be judged in three grade-level categories: K–4, 5–8, and 9–12. Student entries, which are limited to 200 words, should address the mission destination and goals and describe a unique “power,” or quality, the student has that can help the mission.
The grand-prize winner from each grade category (3 winners total) will receive a trip for two to NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to learn about the people and technologies that power NASA missions. All participants will receive a digital certificate and an invitation to a virtual event with NASA experts in which students will learn what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and explore. Fifteen national semifinalists in each grade category (45 semifinalists total) will receive a NASA RPS Prize Pack, and three national finalists in each grade category (9 finalists total) will receive a virtual session with a NASA RPS expert.
NASA and Future Engineers are seeking volunteers to help judge the thousands of contest entries anticipated to be submitted from around the country. U.S. residents ages 18 and older who can devote approximately three hours of their time to review submissions can register at https://www.futureengineers.org/registration/judge/powertoexplore.
Knowles Academy Free Online Short Courses
During October and November, Knowles Academy will offer free online short courses, covering topics like science practices, engineering design, project-based learning, equitable group work, and actionable norms. Led by experienced teachers, these courses are designed to improve science and mathematics teaching and learning. Participants will engage in interactive discussions with instructors and other participants as they explore new tools and strategies to use in their classrooms.
All online courses will be held via Zoom; participants must have internet access via a desktop or laptop computer or a tablet, with a camera. Class size is limited; register now to reserve your spot.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Works: A Storytelling Challenge for Students
In a new challenge launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), high school and college students can win up to $5,000 by telling stories about pollution prevention (P2) using videos, written stories, infographics, or storymaps. These stories will illustrate how businesses identified through EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) are reducing toxic chemical releases through innovative P2 practices and positively impacting the environment and communities. Entries are due by February 17, 2023.
EPA will hold a webinar on October 26 at 2–3 p.m. Eastern Time to educate students about the challenge. Students can register at https://abtassociates.webex.com/webappng/sites/abtassociates/meeting/register/1d58173fec37419d85524e69812bf904?ticket=4832534b00000005176283a17ac616a5fbb831027326c02afc9bc5cc222803cd020f95d020a93ac5×tamp=1665686488706&RGID=r45a1b030b2b215f76d6d2b23f34f1437.
Climate Change Curriculum Distance Learning Earth & Space Science Engineering Environmental Science General Science Instructional Materials Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans Life Science New Science Teachers News Physical Science Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices STEM Teaching Strategies Middle School Elementary High School Postsecondary
"Mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2006, mchoraji picha wa National Geographic Joel Sartor alianzisha mradi wa ""Photo Ark"" ili kuelezea aina 20,000 za wanyama wanaoishi katika bustani za wanyama na hifadhi za wanyama wa porini duniani kote." Kwa kuwa amepiga picha za spishi 13,000 na kuongezeka, amefikia zaidi ya nusu ya njia! Picha hizo, zinazofaa kwa darasa la tatu hadi la kumi na mbili na zinazoweza kutazamwa kwenye tovuti ya Photo Ark, zimekusudiwa kueneza ufahamu kuhusu spishi zilizo hatarini na kuonyesha utofauti mkubwa kati ya spishi za wanyama duniani. Kwa kuongezea, walimu wanaweza kupata shughuli za darasani kugundua mada kama vile marekebisho ya wanyama na jinsi ya kuwafundisha wanafunzi kufikiria kwa ukali juu ya kutoweka kwa spishi na kuendeleza maoni yao wenyewe juu ya uhifadhi. Maktaba ya Somo la Jumba la Makumbusho la Watoto la Indianapolis: Walimu kutoka Jumba la Makumbusho la Watoto la Indianapolis wametengeneza mkusanyiko wa masomo ya kuunga mkono viwango kulingana na maonyesho ya makumbusho na mada zingine kwa watazamaji wa K-8. Masomo, ambayo mengi ya kuchunguza dhana za sayansi, inaweza kuwa paired na vitabu, rasilimali online, au video nyingine makumbusho, na ni pamoja na mikono juu ya shughuli za kujifunza kwamba wanafunzi wanaweza kukamilisha nyumbani au katika darasa. Kwa mfano, Dissection ya Mbegu (grades K < 2) inahusisha wanafunzi wachanga katika kuchunguza sehemu za mbegu na kutambua jinsi sehemu tofauti za mbegu zinavyosaidia mmea kuchipuka. Katika Tye Dye Paper (grades K <unk>2), wanafunzi sifa vifaa na hali yao ya jambo, kisha kuchanganya vifaa kuunda kipande cha rangi, tie dye <unk>esque karatasi. Wanafunzi wa darasa la kwanza wanaweza kushiriki katika shughuli kama vile Mold na Cast, ambapo wanafunzi hufafanua neno la fossil, kujifunza kutambua tofauti kati ya mold na fossil ya kutengeneza, na kugundua jinsi wanasayansi hutumia mifano kujifunza kuhusu muundo wa kimwili wa kitu katika ulimwengu wa asili. Kujenga Parachute (Grades 3 - 5) inaruhusu wanafunzi kujenga parachute yao wenyewe kuchunguza jinsi hewa pushes juu dhidi ya kitu na kupunguza chini kama inashuka. Katika darasa la kati (grades 6 - 8), wanafunzi huchunguza DNA kupitia shughuli kama vile DNA: The Action of Extraction, ambapo wanafunzi huchukua DNA kutoka kwa kijani cha ngano ili kujifunza jinsi DNA inaweza kupatikana kwa urahisi katika chakula, na DNA: The Ladder of Life, ambapo wanafunzi huunda mfano wa DNA kuonyesha jinsi misingi ya DNA ni kama muundo kwa kila kiumbe hai. The Arctic Ocean Curriculum Unit (ARCU) ni shirika la utafiti la Arctic la Marekani (ARCUS) ambalo linasaidia katika utafiti wa bahari ya Arctic. Lengo kwa ajili ya ngazi ya shule ya kati na ya sekondari, kitengo updates Arctic Ocean <unk> kuhusiana masomo awali iliyoundwa kupitia PolarTREC programu ya elimu ya walimu. Mafunzo yaliyotolewa yanaonyesha matumizi ya data ya hivi karibuni, inasaidia Viwango vya Sayansi ya Kizazi Kijayo (NGSS) na kanuni za elimu ya polar na bahari, na kuhamasisha umuhimu wa kitamaduni. Mzunguko huu unaonyesha mwendo wa nishati katika mazingira ya Bahari ya Aktiki kupitia masomo 18 yaliyovunjwa katika sehemu mbili kuu. Sehemu ya kwanza inakazia sayansi ya fizikia, ikikazia majira, hali ya hewa, chumvi, joto, mikondo, na wiani. Sehemu ya pili inazingatia sayansi ya kibiolojia ikikazia mizunguko ya maisha, mahusiano ya wawindaji na windo, vyanzo vya chakula, na kuishi. NASA inawaalika wanafunzi wa K-12 nchini Marekani kujifunza kuhusu Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), kisha kubuni mpya RPS-powered nafasi ya safari ambayo ingekuwa nishati ndoto zao nafasi ya uchunguzi. RPS ni aina ya nyuklia betri ambayo kwa zaidi ya miaka 60 imefanya uwezo wa vyombo vingi vya angani kuchunguza baadhi ya mazingira ya ukali, giza na mbali zaidi ya mfumo wetu wa jua. Mawasilisho yanapaswa kufanyika kufikia Januari 17, 2023, na yatahukumiwa katika makundi matatu ya kiwango cha darasa: K <unk> 4, 5 <unk> 8 na 9 <unk> 12. Maandishi ya mwanafunzi, ambayo ni mdogo kwa maneno 200, inapaswa kushughulikia malengo ya utume na malengo na kuelezea "nguvu" ya kipekee au ubora, mwanafunzi ana ambayo inaweza kusaidia utume. Washindi wa tuzo ya kwanza kutoka kila darasa la darasa watapata safari ya watu wawili kwenda Kituo cha Utafiti cha Glenn cha NASA huko Cleveland kujifunza juu ya watu na teknolojia zinazotumia misheni za NASA. Washiriki wote watapokea cheti cha dijiti na mwaliko wa tukio la kawaida na wataalam wa NASA ambapo wanafunzi watajifunza nguvu za wafanyikazi wa NASA kuota kubwa na kuchunguza. "Wachezaji 15 wa kila daraja watapokea ""RPS Pack"" na wachezaji watatu wa kila daraja watapata ""Mkutano wa Virtual"" na Mtaalam wa NASA." NASA na Future Engineers wanatafuta wajitoleaji kusaidia kuhukumu maelfu ya michoro ya mashindano inayotarajiwa kuwasilishwa kutoka kote nchini. Wananchi wa Marekani wenye umri wa miaka 18 na zaidi ambao wanaweza kutumia saa tatu za wakati wao kuchunguza mawasilisho wanaweza kujiandikisha kwenye https: www.futureengineers.org registration.org Katika Oktoba na Novemba, Chuo cha Knowles kitatoa kozi fupi za bure za mtandaoni, zinazohusisha mada kama mazoezi ya sayansi, muundo wa uhandisi, kujifunza kwa msingi wa mradi, kazi ya kikundi ya usawa, na kanuni zinazoweza kutekelezwa. Zikiwa zikiongozwa na walimu wenye uzoefu, kozi hizi zimekusudiwa kuboresha ufundishaji na kujifunza sayansi na hisabati. Washiriki watajiunga na majadiliano ya maingiliano na walimu na washiriki wengine wakati wanachunguza zana mpya na mikakati ya kutumia katika madarasa yao. Kozi zote za mtandaoni zitafanyika kupitia Zoom; washiriki lazima wawe na ufikiaji wa mtandao kupitia kompyuta ya desktop au laptop au kibao, na kamera. Ukubwa wa darasa ni mdogo; jiandikishe sasa ili kuhifadhi nafasi yako. Katika changamoto mpya iliyozinduliwa na Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira (EPA), wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari na chuo kikuu wanaweza kushinda hadi $ 5,000 kwa kusimulia hadithi kuhusu kuzuia uchafuzi wa mazingira (P2) kwa kutumia video, hadithi zilizoandikwa, infographics, au ramani za hadithi. "Hadithi hii inaonyesha jinsi biashara zilizotambuliwa kupitia ""Hifadhi ya Utoaji wa sumu"" (TRI) ya EPA zinapunguza kutolewa kwa kemikali zenye sumu kupitia mazoea ya ubunifu ya P2 na kuathiri mazingira na jamii." Mawasilisho yanapaswa kufanywa kabla ya Februari 17, 2023. EPA itafanya webinar Oktoba 26 saa 2 pm EST ili kuwaelimisha wanafunzi juu ya changamoto hii. "Mafunzo ya ""Mafunzo ya Utafiti"" yanafanyika katika shule ya msingi ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Upili ya Shule ya Upili ya Upili ya Upili ya Upili ya Upili ya Upili." Mafunzo ya elimu ya umbali ya elimu ya umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali wa umbali