Science Teacher Update - April 2024
Reforming Science Practices - CCCs as Lenses for Sensemaking
The crosscutting concepts are often the most overlooked of the three dimensions present in our standards. Disciplinary Core Ideas focus on science content, an area we as teachers have felt fairly comfortable with for a long time, or if not comfortable, at least the most aware. The Science and Engineering Practices center on “doing science”, so we kind of know it when we see it. Are students Asking Questions, Developing and Using Models, and Designing and Carrying Out Investigations? Again, we can probably have deeper conversations about whether they practice these skills at the desired level, but we have a foundation.
Crosscutting concepts are a little more challenging. They make up a conceptual framework to help students understand new content and tackle novel problems. They allow students to build on what they know and incorporate new understandings using broad, big ideas from across science. Because they are so overarching, they can be both simple and complex to integrate into the classroom.
Resources:
B 97344—Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning is a well-organized book that explores each of the crosscutting concepts in more detail and explores other ways to integrate them into your classroom. It is available for checkout from the media collection.
These activities from the California Academy of Science help “demystify” crosscutting concepts and provide some great ideas for using them in your classroom.
The Wonder of Science - Always a terrific source of inspiration, the Wonder of Science has resources and videos centered around each crosscutting concept.
If you’d like a thought partner to brainstorm ways to get students more engaged in using crosscutting concepts in your teaching or working on student sensemaking leveraging the crosscutting concepts, 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 - MackinVIA and Science
MackinVIA is the AEA digital resource for all things eBooks. Formats include both audio and text formats, with many integrated features such as text-to-speech, digital notetaking, citation generator, and more! Titles include fiction and non-fiction texts, and are easily accessible through search terms. For books grouped by DCI, FOSS alignment, or for pairing a picture book with science instruction, check out our resource and tutorial page here.
BUT, did you also know that through your login to MackinVIA, you also have access to our digital professional library? To access MackinVIA, go to Class Link > AEA Digital Resources and open MackinVIA. From there, you will have the student-accessible content. To switch, all you do is go to your backpack in the top right corner and select “Change Site.” Choose the Professional VIA from the pop-up.
MackinVIA Digital Professional Library includes audio and text-based books on a variety of educational topics. For the science classroom, you might be interested in books such as Visible Learning in Science and Growing and Sustaining Student-Centered Science Classrooms or Paige Keeley’s Science Formative Assessment: 75 Practical Strategies for Linking Assessment, Instruction, and Learning (Volume 1). In addition to our digital library, don’t forget the even more robust physical professional book library! There are many science education titles to choose from that can be delivered to your school. To search the physical professional book library, click here. In the search, un-select “All Grades” and only select “Teacher.” That will limit the search for you.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or are looking for a specific resource.
Science Safety - Green Chemistry (Part 2)
Last month, we started our discussion on green or sustainable chemistry. This month we finish out the six other features of green chemistry and share a few resources you can use in your classroom:
7. Use renewable feedstocks: Use starting materials (also known as feedstocks) that are renewable rather than depletable.
8. Avoid chemical derivatives: If possible, avoid using blocking or protecting groups or any temporary modifications. Derivatives use additional reagents and generate waste.
9. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents: Minimize waste by using catalytic reactions. Catalysts are effective in small amounts and can carry out a single reaction many times, so they are preferable to stoichiometric reagents.
10. Design chemicals and products to degrade after use: Design chemical products to break down to innocuous substances after use so that they do not accumulate in the environment.
11. Analyze in real time to prevent pollution: Include in-process, real-time monitoring, and control during syntheses to minimize or eliminate the formation of byproducts.
12. Minimize the potential for accidents: Design chemicals and their physical forms (solid, liquid, or gas) to minimize the potential for chemical accidents including explosions, fires, and releases to the environment.
Do any of the above stand out as useful in your classroom?
Here are some additional resources you may want to check out:
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Reagent Guides: The purpose of the reagent guide is to encourage chemists to choose a ‘greener’ choice of reaction conditions.
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ACS GCI Green Chemistry Pocket Guide: Download the Design Principles for Sustainable and Green Chemistry and Engineering Booklet. This booklet describes the many design principles of green chemistry and engineering in a visually compelling format.
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Beyond Benign: In this comprehensive website focused on green chemistry education you can find resources, curriculum, studies, & programs for kindergarten through 12th grade science as well as university and professional level.
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Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse: Organization striving to accelerate green chemistry awareness, innovation and investment in the State of Michigan. Provides dynamic and interactive online information, resources, databases, learning opportunities and interactive tools for citizens, business and industry professionals, educators, policy makers, entrepreneurs and others.
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University of Scranton: Green chemistry teaching modules can be downloaded for incorporation into courses. Modules for general, organic, inorganic, environmental, polymer, and industrial chemistry, plus biochemistry and chemical toxicology.
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Green Chemistry Education Network: An online network of educators collaborating, mentoring, facilitating professional growth, and fostering the integration of green chemistry in education. Facilitated through the University of Oregon.
Upcoming Opportunities (Professional Learning, Grants, and Student Events)
Engaging in OSE - Anchoring Phenomenon and Key Features, sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Science Collaborative (EISC)
- Date: May 2, 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
Earth Day Festival
- Date: Saturday, April 20th, 2024
- Time: 9:00 am - noon
- Location: Danan Lansing Building &Community Building on the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds in Decorah, IA
Free, Open-House for All Ages Explore the latest in recycling, composting, solar power, electric vehicles, wildlife habitat, native planting, and more!
Activities & exhibits provided by local conservation and sustainability organizations. Special events include ...
- • Native tree seedlings & other giveaways
- • Presentations from local experts
- • Live raptor & Insect Zoo
- • Planetarium presentations
- • Free snacks & coffee
- • Electric vehicle showings
- • And much more!
Learn more at: www.winneshiekwild.com
Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Available for Summer 2024
A few Northeast Iowa Industries have shown interest in hosting Industrial Technology / Engineering Teacher Externs during Summer 2024. If you are interested in any of these placements listed below please fill out the application or contact Iowa STEM Externship Coordinator, Ann Gritzner at gritzner@iowastem.org.
Iowa DNR
- Location: Strawberry Point
- STEM Area: Environmental Science
- Description: Possible projects include tree and brush removal from prairie areas and assistance with tree and shrub planting installation and maintenance.
Upper Iowa Tool and Die & Innovations
- Location: Cresco, IA
- STEM Areas: Chemistry, Industrial Technology, Mathematics, Physics
- Description: Operating CNC Machines: Milling and Lathe which are programmed at the machine pendant, Injection Molding, Measure of part on a CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine with accuracy to 5 Microns
Geater Machining and Manufacturing, Co
- Location: Independence, IA
- STEM Areas: Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Mathematics
- Details: There is a large variety of projects we could have the externs take part in at Geater in all four areas selected for the teaching discipline choices.
John Deere Engine Works
- Location: Waterloo, IA
- STEM Areas: Engineering, Industrial Technology
- Description: Work with the Factory automation (FA) and Manufacturing Engineering (ME) Teams in building curriculum/lesson plans to guide the future users of the Automation Learning Lab. The intent of the lab is to provide new FA engineers and MEs or others interested in learning automation skills a “safe” place to do hands-on learning of skills such as PLC logic, and mistake-proofing without risk of impacting shop floor operations – we have installed and are continuing to install hardware such as PLC, camera, smart tool, pick light, and possibly a robot in the future.
John Deere Foundry
- Location: Waterloo
- STEM Areas: Industrial Technology
- Details: Project focused on robot programming, simulations, mechanical design, or factory layout.
During the summer, STEM educators work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry employees who help bring the classroom curriculum to life. Iowa STEM Teacher Externships provide educators with the exposure to answer questions about real-world applications, prepare students for careers they may have in the future, and improve educational experiences.
Iowa STEM Teacher Externships are full-time, six-week temporary summer positions in local businesses and agencies for licensed, secondary teachers of mathematics, science and/or technology. CTE educators in STEM areas are also eligible. STEM Teachers earn a stipend of up to $5,000 (including two paid professional development days), as well as three graduate credits through the University of Northern Iowa’s Continuing Education program.
PreK-12 Environmental/Conservation and Outdoor Learning
Iowa Teachers and Administrators: Please add your response!
In just 15 minutes, you can help us shine a light on environmental and outdoor learning in Iowa schools and create a blueprint for the future, not just in our state, but across the entire Plains and Rocky Mountain Region.
What is the Landscape Analysis?
The PreK-12 eeLandscape Analysis is designed to gain an enhanced understanding of environmental/conservation and outdoor learning in schools across 6 states in the Plains and Rocky Mountain Region. It will identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation, and provide recommendations and next steps for accelerating the impact of environmental and outdoor learning in PreK-12 schools. Data will be collected through Earth Day, April 22, 2024!
Take the Survey Now (https://bit.ly/PreK-12OutdoorLearning)
Participate in this eeLandscape Analysis -- 20 randomly selected survey respondents will
receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards. Make your voice heard.