Science update for March 2024
Reforming Science Practices - Constructing Explanations/Sensemaking
While all of the practices play a role in this process, it is typically through the “Constructing Explanations” process that we get to see the final results of our efforts to make sense of the phenomenon. Students pull everything together to construct a how or why account for what is happening with our phenomenon. This process connects us back to our practices of modeling and constructing arguments to answer questions about our phenomenon and if we do it right we can help make science accessible to all students in our classroom.
As usual, Paul Anderson does a great job of highlighting some additional features we want to consider when implementing this practice and here are some additional resources for you to explore this practice and how to have students use it in the classroom:
- NSTA resources around sensemaking - These resources range from quick teacher tips to full webinars on the topic.
- Wonder of Science Graphic Organizers - both the “Constructing Explanations” and “Cause and Effect” graphic organizers highlight the “how or why account” feature that is critical to constructing good scientific explanations
- Read more about students Constructing Explanations and Engaging in Sensemaking - The book Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices has briefs on all the SEPs, including Constructing Explanations. The book Ambitious Science Teaching is another great resource around sensemaking - both can be checked out from our Media Library!
If you’d like a thought partner to brainstorm ways to get students more engaged in using this practice, or working on student sensemaking in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jmartin-hiner@aea1.k12.ia.us and plan a way in which we can collaborate!
Media Connections - Earth Science Resources
Luckily there are several things as part of the Keystone media collection…just search for “Earth Science” in the search bar. These are just a sampling...if there is something specific you are looking for, try searching in on the Keystone Media Catalog Search Page
Here are a few highlights to get you started:
- KM 12427 Air Quality Sensor Kit: Teachers and students can use these devices to capture and analyze local air quality and air pollution.
- KM 12491 Fluorescent Minerals Collection: Collection of 15 number-coded mineral specimens that allows study in the response of specimens to long-wave and short-wave ultraviolet rays.
- KM 12677 Disaster Zone (Books): Titles: Avalanches; Blizzards; Droughts; Dust Storms; Earthquakes; Floods; Heat Waves; Hurricanes; Ice Storms; Landslides: Sinkholes: Tornadoes; Tsunamis: Volcanoes; Wildfires. Text features include Infographics, an activity, and a glossary to reinforce new words. Second-grade reading level. IL 1-4.
- KM 11184 Blue Planet Modeling Globe: Shows the seasons of our planet over a year and physically portrays the exact location of the day and night terminator. A "6" diameter globe with 24-hour meridians drawn on its surface sits angled 23.5" on the rotating table.
- KM 13229 Fossils from Around the World: An educational experience that combines science with fun while encouraging respect for the Earth. Offers elementary students an introduction to the world of paleontology. Kit contains 10 fossils from all over the world in individual Lucite boxes with magnification. Also included in the kit is a nonfiction and fiction book pair.
- MOD 68 Moon (Lunar) Globe: Depicts geographical features of the Earth's moon. The globe is 12 inches in diameter and comes with a stand. Displays moon craters, "seas" and mountain ranges. Includes user guide.
- B 95009 Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy & B 96667 Uncovering Student Ideas in Earth Science and Environmental Science: Probes are designed to help K-12 teachers assess student thinking and address preconceptions.
These don’t even include our portable, digital planetarium as well as many more items! Navigate to the Keystone Media Catalog Search Page to find more media resources and reserve some today.
Science Safety - Green Chemistry (Part 1)
Thinking about using substitute materials in your classroom can not only help create a safer environment but can also help support the idea of green chemistry. There are twelve general principles of green chemistry and we’ll look at the first six in this installment, some of which have direct connections to your classroom.
1. Prevent waste: Design chemical syntheses to prevent waste, so that there is little to no waste to treat or clean up.
2. Maximize atom economy: Design syntheses so that the final product contains the maximum proportion of the starting materials.
3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses: Design syntheses to use and generate substances with little or no toxicity to either humans or the environment.
4. Design safer chemicals and products: Design chemical products that are fully effective yet have little or no toxicity.
5. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions: Avoid using solvents, separation agents, or other auxiliary chemicals. If you must use these chemicals, use safer ones.
6. Increase energy efficiency: Run chemical reactions at room temperature and pressure whenever possible.
Can you see any of these being directly integrated into the chemical use in your classroom? Or maybe you’d like to introduce this concept to your students? You can learn more about green chemistry, or introduce your students to this concept by watching this video: Introduction to Green Chemistry video.
We’ll continue with the remaining principles next month and provide some additional resources for utilizing green chemistry in your classroom.
Upcoming Opportunities (Professional Learning, Grants, and Student Events)
Student Event - Keystone Wind Energy Challenge 2024
Join us for our final student event of the school year, the Keystone Wind Energy Challenge! Students research the area of wind energy in general as well as the science and engineering behind wind turbines to build and test a wind turbine model they construct. Students then bring these projects to Elkader for display similar to a science fair and to test their working models in a wind tunnel to see how they do under controlled conditions. The event is open to teams or individual students in grades 4-12th grade where they compete in two different age brackets.
NGSS/Science Standards connections: Students engage in multiple Science and Engineering practices and understanding the conversion of energy that happens with a wind turbine has multiple standards connections for elementary, middle school, and high school science students.
You can learn more about the challenge in general at the following site: https://windrules.kidwind.org/. Our event may differ slightly from an official KidWind Wind Challenge Event, but the general process will be the same (more details will be shared with registered teachers). If this event sounds interesting but you can't participate at this time, make sure to mark your calendars - we host this challenge every year, usually near the end of April.
Details:
- Date: April 26, 2024
- Time: 9-2 pm
- Location: Keystone AEA, Elkader
- Competition age brackets:
- Grades 4-8
- Grades 9-12
Registration Deadline: April 12, 2024
A follow-up Google Form will be shared with registered educators to register projects/teams. Information will include:
- Name of school and teacher
- Division/grade level of the student(s)
- Names of the student(s)
Questions? Contact Jason Martin-Hiner
Iowa Classrooms+Workplaces Summit April 10, 2024 – Iowa Events Center
The Iowa Classrooms + Workplaces Summit will focus on work-based, career-connected, experiential and community-applied learning through partnerships with leaders from business and industry, education, nonprofits, elected officials, students and others. The STEM Council’s own Emily Abbas with Bankers Trust will be the Master of Ceremonies. Registration is required for planning purposes.
- Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024
- Location: Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, IA
- Time: 9:30-3:30pm
To register, please click here.
The UNI Science Education Update Conference
Date: April 12. 2024
Time: 9-3:15 pm
Location: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
The UNI Science Education Update Conference is for current and future teachers. The conference will focus on issues and topics related to teaching Grades K-12 Science and STEM, in collaboration with UNI STEM Departments and STEM Support Services. The conference will feature keynote presentations; presentations and workshop sessions; networking focus groups; and exhibits. Participating teachers will be provided with instructional materials and strategies that can be implemented in the classroom. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Sub-reimbursements
will be provided to Grades K-12 teachers who register early. No registration fee for participants. The conference is funded by a foundation grant provided by Dr. Robert & Brenda Good. Information may be obtained at our website which includes links for registration of participants and a call for presenters, facilitators, and exhibitors.
Engaging in OSE - Anchoring Phenomenon and Key Features, sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Science Collaborative (EISC)
Date: May 2nd, 2024
Time: 8 AM - 4 PM
Location: Grant Wood AEA
This course is intended for educators in grades 6-12 who are interested in revising their instructional practices using resources from OpenSciEd and will be beneficial for all 6-12 science educators looking to support the implementation of the IowaScience Standards in their classrooms. This course will involve a one-day face-to-face learning session focusing on the role of an anchoring phenomenon (using OpenSciEd as the examples) as well as break-out rooms to learn about different aspects of OpenSciEd. Participants who wish to earn credit will select from additional asynchronous options of their choice around specific topics related to science education to complete the course.
Course Number: 226452 Section Number: 318796 - Register Here
Registration Deadline: April 25, 2024
STEM at bat! STEM Power! Workshop Series from UW-Plattville
Check out this fun workshop hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where participants get to explore how STEM careers relate to baseball, softball, or other sports! They spend the night in our residence halls, watch a softball practice and baseball game, get to ask questions of players and coaches, and then do a bunch of fun STEM workshops in our amazing new building. Example workshops include building your own app to track your sport stats, analyzing your throwing speed, and much more!
Participation is open to boys or girls in 8th grade through 12th grade. Register online here and feel free to direct questions to Jodi F. Prosise, PhD.
Learning this summer at the Blank Park Zoo
The Blank Park Zoo would once again like to invite educators to professional development opportunities that will be held at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines on the dates listed below. The workshops are good for one hour of license renewal credit. In light of these strange times, take a break and consider joining us for fun, food, animals, and ideas to use in your classrooms!
Summer 2024
June 17/18– Patterns in Nature
July 22/23 – Habitats and Adaptations
Workshop Titles:
- Climate Change
- Pollinators: Birds do it; Bees do it...and so do Lemurs and Lizards!
- Conservation: People and Animals
- Lamarck, and Wallace, and Darwin – Oh, my!
- Biomimicry and Inspiration
- Nature-centered Science for PreK-2
- Art and Science
Registration forms to submit electronically and full descriptions are found on the zoo website – www.blankparkzoo.com under Education/Schools and Educators. Participants should contact Kathy McKee at 515-974-2557 or kamckee@blankparkzoo.net with any questions.