August Newsletter

We hope you had a wonderful summer. Most importantly, we hope you had some time to yourselves so that your body could recharge for another exciting school year. We know teaching great science is exhausting. Let STOM help you! In this month's newsletter, we have some great Fall opportunities for you and two sets of FREE lessons for you! Want to attend a great conference? What to engage in some great PD, want to start off the year with free Olympic-themed stations aligned to the NGSS practices, want to win an award? Want to get more involved with STOM? Read below for all of these great opportunities.

There's my respecting your time one paragraph max introduction...now onto the important stuff!

Mike Szydlowski

STOM President

In the spirit of the amazing Summer Olympics that just ended, our president, Mike Szydlowski developed a back to school Olympic-themed set of station challenges to get your students started with some of the NGSS science practices. All stations use super cheap/free materials. You can choose from Cotton Ball Shot Put, Paper Airplane Javelin, Paper Plate Discus, Math Decathlon, or Precision Scientific Measurements. Enjoy!!!

Find them HERE.

We are excited to announce that our Fall STOM Conference will be in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday November 2. We are including more networking opportunities than ever by including more informal organization,, more up to date topics, more fun, and more freebies. Plus, no sub is required so everyone can attend. We are looking for our teaching experts (YOU!) to present some of the amazing things you do. Presenters will attend the conference at no charge. Be bold, have fun, and get recognized for the amazing things you do. Complete THIS FORM to express your interest in presenting at your exciting conference! Act fast...the deadline to present is September 1!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Starting soon, we are launching a comprehensive cohort program designed to enhance your expertise in high-quality science education aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards. This initiative aims to empower educators like you to earn valuable micro-credentials while delving deep into various facets of science pedagogy.

Key Details:

• Program Overview: The cohort program spans four distinct groups tailored to meet the diverse needs of educators: elementary, secondary, NGSS, and Tech and AI in Science.
• Curriculum Focus: Participants will delve into advanced strategies for implementing the three dimensions of science education: Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts.
• Benefits: By joining our cohort, you will gain access to exclusive resources, collaborative learning opportunities, and the chance to earn micro-credentials that showcase your mastery in science education.

Furthermore, as part of this initiative, you will attend our upcoming conference in Columbia, MO, where you will have the opportunity to network with fellow educators and engage in enriching discussions surrounding cutting-edge practices in science education. National experts will be attending.

We are confident that this program will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to elevate your teaching practice and positively impact student learning outcomes.

If you are interested in participating or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to STOM's president, Mike Szydlowski at mjszyd@gmail.com or Carrie Launius at janetcarrie@gmail.com.

The program is being sponsored by Savvas and Hand2Mind. Because of the sponsorship, it is free to attend but you are required to attend the conference in Columbia, MO, on November 2, 2024 at Jefferson Middle School. The cost of the conference is $80. Some scholarships are available if needed.

We look forward to embarking on this transformative journey with you and collectively advancing science education in Missouri.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Thanks to a grant from the Mid Missouri Solid Waste District, the Columbia STEM Alliance developed a comprehensive series of waste management and reduction lessons that are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. Specifically, they are most aligned to the middle school NGSS science practices and the Human Impact DCIs. Lesson topics include identifying the problem, data analysis, composting, packaging reduction, green DIY products, testing and analysis. Teachers can choose to do just one or all lessons.

The lessons can be found HERE. STOM members can also find them in the member resources area.

Know an outstanding science advocate or teacher? STOM is looking for nominees! Awards will be presented at the STOM Conference in November, in Columbia, MO.

Nominate HERE

The awards are:

Excellence in K-12 Science Teaching – Recognizes a teacher who teaches either elementary and secondary science (2 awards) that exhibits exemplary science teaching using three-dimensional science. Teachers will be asked to fill out an application and

submit evidence of their work including a lesson plan and assessment.

Robin Kyles Trail Blazer Award – Recognizes a teacher who promotes a love of science by working with underrepresented populations.

The Science Cultivator Award – Recognizes a teacher who exemplifies excellence in agricultural studies.

Other awards that will be given are nominated by the board and committee. These awards are:

Champion of Science – Recognizes an individual, business, or organization that promotes and supports science education.

Charles R. Granger Legacy Award – Recognizes someone who has a history of promoting science education throughout their career and has made substantial contributions to the science education community.

Nominate HERE

STOM would love your great ideas! If you would like to get involved with STOM in any capacity, we want you! Please e-mail our executive direction at janetcarrie@gmail.com to discuss options!