Secondary Science Department
Email: jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2577
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 380-997-0466
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools/
Critical Thinking Part 1: Cognitive Demands in Action
It is essential to create learning experiences that impel students to cultivate, practice, and apply critical thinking skills. There are several levers that offer pathways for teachers to promote critical thinking in lessons:
1.Choose Compelling Topics: Keep it relevant
A key Common Core State Standard asks for students to “write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.” That might not sound exciting or culturally relevant. But a learning experience designed for a 10th grade biology class engaged learners in a compelling topic—genetic engineering to solve the food shortage crisis—to analyze and evaluate multiple texts (including primary sources) and share the reasoning for their perspectives through discussion and writing. Students grappled with ideas and their beliefs and employed deep critical-thinking skills to develop arguments for their claims. Embedding critical-thinking skills in curriculum that students care about and connect with can ignite powerful learning experiences.
2. Make Local Connections: Keep it real
At The Possible Project, an out-of-school-time program designed to promote entrepreneurial skills and mindsets, students in a recent summer online program (modified from in-person due to COVID-19) explored the impact of COVID-19 on their communities and local BIPOC-owned businesses. They learned interviewing skills through a partnership with Everyday Boston, conducted virtual interviews with entrepreneurs, evaluated information from their interviews and local data, and examined their previously held beliefs. They created blog posts and videos to reflect on their learning and consider how their mindsets had changed as a result of the experience. In this way, we can design powerful community-based learning and invite students into productive struggle with multiple perspectives.
3. Create Authentic Projects: Keep it rigorous
At Big Picture Learning schools, students engage in internship-based learning experiences as a central part of their schooling. Their school-based adviser and internship-based mentor support them in developing real-world projects that promote deeper learning and critical-thinking skills. Such authentic experiences teach “young people to be thinkers, to be curious, to get from curiosity to creation … and it helps students design a learning experience that answers their questions, [providing an] opportunity to communicate it to a larger audience—a major indicator of postsecondary success.” Even in a remote environment, we can design projects that ask more of students than rote memorization and that spark critical thinking.
(taken partially from: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-eight-instructional-strategies-for-promoting-critical-thinking/2021/03)
Video Discussion: How to Teach Critical Thinking in an Era of Misinformation, Irrationality, and Rigidly-Held Beliefs:
Let's Talk Literacy
Here is a video from Josh Lawrence that might interest you to get you started:
Science Literacy folder in our CLT folder with many resources to assist you: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CpbKRWf_9gqb2E_YZs7xO3d8HljmtkOu?usp=sharing
- 6-12th grade reading and writing standards
- affixes and root words
- frontloading vocabulary in science
- interactive lecture and process time
- organizing information
- conceptual and deep learning
- developing students' memory
- lab report format
- graphing in the science classroom
- science literacies packet
Resources You Might Find Useful
Mentoring Minds:
Free downloadable poster: 9 Traits of Critical Thinking: https://inbound.mentoringminds.com/critical-thinking-poster?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lead-nurture
Ted Ed:
-A ravenous swarm stretches as far as the eye can see. It has no leader or strategic plan; its only goals are to eat, breed, and move on. These are desert locusts— infamous for their capacity for destruction. But most of the time desert locusts are no more dangerous than grasshoppers. So what does it take to turn these harmless insects into a crop-consuming plague? Jeffrey A. Lockwood investigates. View Animation
-Pixar's 10 Rules: https://ditchthattextbook.com/pixar/
-Story Telling Templates: https://wakelet.com/wake/jc_Ow792HG2enFJMrcc6m
-Easy Classroom Podcasting with Flipgrid and Wakelet: https://ditchthattextbook.com/easy-classroom-podcasting-with-flipgrid-and-wakelet/
-An Educator's Guide to Podcasting beyond the Classroom: https://ditchthattextbook.com/an-educators-guide-to-podcasting-beyond-the-classroom/
-Make a Copy: Podcast Episode Template: https://ditchthattextbook.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89ebb262831c898b1fdbd985f&id=16da228ce7&e=66be5af767
-Why Your Students Need a Podcast: https://ditchthattextbook.com/why-your-students-need-a-podcast-how-to-do-it-fast-and-free//
-Use Google Drawings for Brain-Friendly Visual Notetaking: https://ditchthattextbook.com/use-google-drawings-for-brain-friendly-visual-notetaking/
Chem Talk:
ChemTalk is creating the world’s first free chemistry “super portal” to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists. ChemTalk creates unique multi-media and written content designed for middle-school, high-school, and college science students. The content will be expanded into organic chemistry, material science, and the life sciences. This unique content is combined with easy-to-read articles and tutorials normally found on disparate platforms.
ChemTalk is also developing the ChemTalk LiveLab, a revolutionary concept that changes the way students without access to the best facilities can experience science. Launching in 2022, the LiveLab will live-stream experiments and demonstrations over Twitch and Youtube Live, allowing students around the world to interact in real-time, ask questions, and participate virtually.
CK12:
At CK-12, we believe every student deserves access to a tutor to help them through their learning journey. Flexi is a free digital learning companion, built to enhance the personalized learning experience for millions of students using CK-12 around the world.
Assign a FlexBook® 2.0 Math or Science lesson to share Flexi with your students, and explore the Teacher Assistant for notifications on those assignments!
Feed the World: Free lessons: https://tinyurl.com/3cm9x58d
Help Is on the Way!
Getting Started: If you were unable to attend one of the many PDs to get you started or it has just been too long ago, there are recordings and documents to assist you in the Implementations Resources folder found in the CLT folder. If this is your situation, please do take the time to go through these prior to the January 18th District PD Day. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XV76a8aZJ6Wfja9_evBzMhDM7Qzn5U1u?usp=sharing
January 18th: We will have sessions offered (except APES) that will take you deeper than the original PDs about your platforms. Please plan to attend one of the offered sessions for your platform and bring your questions/concerns. You will be given direction to lead toward the next PD that is only 2 weeks away from this one.
March 9th: This PD will focus on pedagogy. We are looking for teachers who want to present either 45 minute or hour and a half sessions with some form of pedagogy that is being employed successfully and creatively in your classrooms. If interested, please let Jenny Nord know.
Coaching: We are working with HMH, McGraw-Hill, and Savvas to provide coaching opportunities, hopefully during the school day, for you to have a smaller group session to assist you. The goal is that by the end of the year, you feel comfortable and confident with your platform and are able to use it with fidelity.
Student Opportunities
Water and Soil Hackathon: The Climate Initiative
Students can win $7,500 in The Climate Initiative’s Water and Soil Hackathon event
On January 15, The Climate Initiative is hosting a digital hackathon event, with $7,500 prizes for the top teams to bring their solutions to life. Student teams can learn more and register to secure a spot by 12/17. Register and Info Here
The Ohio Student Wildlife Research Symposium is Back!
After two years of cancellations due to COVID-19, the student wildlife research symposium is back! Join fellow student researchers Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Hueston Woods State Park as they reconnect for the 4th Annual Ohio Student Wildlife Research Symposium as part of the 54th Annual Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) Conference. The symposium will kick off the EECO Annual Conference once again, which will continue through April 3, 2022.
The Call for Proposals is open now, with a submission deadline of Jan. 14, 2022. Any middle or high school-age student may present a poster on research related to native Ohio wildlife and their habitats. Paper presentations are selected by a panel to fill a limited number of presentation slots. Paper presentations must be completed research. Posters can be either completed or ongoing research. Guidelines are included in the Call for Proposals. Submissions not selected for paper presentations will be allowed to present their research as part of the poster session. To learn more about this program, please view the session at the Ohio Department of Education’s Building Bridges conference in summer of 2021 or visit Ohio Student Wildlife Research Symposium to view the abstracts, poster topics and presentations from previous symposiums.
Future Cities Competition
Future City Competition (FCC) is a STEM competition where middle schoolers (grades 6-8) work as a collaborative team paired with a mentor to image, research, design, and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a citywide sustainability issue. This year’s theme, “A Waste-Free City,” has a goal of designing a zero-waste city. The Ohio region competition is planning to remain virtual for this year’s competition. This opportunity will allow students to strengthen their math, science, writing, public speaking, problem-solving and time management skills. Register now! For more information about this competition or assistance in starting a team, please view Future City Ohio or send an email. To see videos of past competitions, check out this YouTube Channel.
Capital University Girls in Science Day
“Capital University Girls in Science Day” will occur on Thursday, December 16th, 2021, and was founded by Dr. Carmen Dixon to address the lack of females in upper-level STEM classes in high school, university, and ultimately the workforce. Capital addresses this by hosting seventh and eighth grade girls from local middle schools to come to campus and work with female science faculty members in workshops using hands-on activities that revolve around a theme, such as this year’s theme “Solving a Crime with Science,” The girls get to work with female role models in the STEM profession, see that they are not along in their interest in STEM, and get a taste of the various job opportunities available in STEM careers for them. As part of the cost-free day, lunch, supplies, and T-shirts commemorating the day are included for each participant.
The hands-on workshops led by Capital professors this year include:
- Blood typing – a packet will be presented at the beginning of the day to the students with the story. We have various samples of blood from various suspects, and this workshop will study how to type simulated blood.
- Gel electrophoresis will be used to analyze DNA samples left at the scene
- Dissection of sheep hearts
- Computer science investigation of engineering ‘chip’ from the crime.
These all fit the story of the crime and students will have a discussion at the end of the day about what they learned, how they found out, ‘who done it,’ etc, along with a panel discussion with the mentors about how they got into the STEM field, classes they took, obstacles they face, and how they combine work and family. Contact: Carmen Dixon (cdixon2@capital.edu)
Genes in Space:
Here is an opportunity for students to engage in authentic science research at no cost. Genes in Space is an experimental design competition for students in grades 7-12. Each year, we invite students to propose DNA analysis experiments that address challenges faced by space travelers, then launch one winning experiment to the International Space Station. This recent CNN article offers a bit more info about what we've been up to lately: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/17/world/genes-in-space-deep-space-travel-scn/index.html
The contest has proven to be a great resource for science teachers. It offers a compelling, real-world context to teach the scientific method. It can also be used as a platform to teach modern laboratory techniques including gel electrophoresis, PCR, and more. Note that we are also offering virtual professional development sessions throughout the school year, in which teachers can learn more about the contest and gain hands-on experience with the biotechnology tools in the Genes in Space toolkit. You can find more information about those workshops here
CREATES-HS
CREATES-HS is a summer research program catered to students from historically excluded in medicine backgrounds (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/underrepresented-person-definition) who will be high school seniors in 2022-2023. These students should have a strong interest in science and/or math. They will learn about cancer research at a nationally ranked comprehensive cancer center that is one of only 45 institutions in the country to receive that particular designation. We recruit mentors from various colleges and departments to provide a diverse experience. The students also have the opportunity for professional development and will have a final poster presentation at the end of the summer to share their project.
If you know of a student that would be interested in this opportunity please provide them with the attached flyer below.
Important Information
Application period: January 3, 2022 – February 12, 2022 (Students will be notified sometime in March of selection)
Program Dates: June 6, 2022 – July 29, 2022
Paid - $2400 for entire summer, full-time work experience
Items Needed for Application
· 350 word essay about why they would like to participate
· School Transcript
· Email address of math or science teacher and principal or assistant principal
Articles that Might Interest You
-Why Personalized Learning Does and Does Not Work: https://tinyurl.com/yhdkxxs8
-15 Ways to Improve Small Group Instruction: https://tinyurl.com/56cczscc
-Small Group Instruction: https://tinyurl.com/2xynb7wv
-Successful Inquiry-Based Learning through Parent Engagement: https://fs24.formsite.com/edweek/images/8-15_InquiryBasedLearningSpotlight_Sponsored.pdf
-Teaching in the Metaverse: https://tinyurl.com/msepyuvp
-6 Challenges for Science Educators: https://tinyurl.com/488mhs5s
-What Students Can Do to Boost Student Motivation: https://tinyurl.com/yx2xvnts
-The One Thing Teachers Do that Hurts Students' Motivation: https://tinyurl.com/4jm3f3nt
National Geographic:
-5 Pandemic Tech Inovations that Will Change Travel Forever: https://tinyurl.com/6m9rxeup
Achieve 3000:
-Focused Simplicity to Recover Learning Loss: https://tinyurl.com/rnu3x7f8
Smithonian:
-Games and Simulations in the Classroom: https://tinyurl.com/navhfesc
Spruce Run Nature Center
Don't miss the Spruce Run Nature Center newsletter: https://www.smore.com/8qd3h-spruce-run-nature-center
Check out these virtual field trips:
7 of the Best Virtual Science Field Trips
Nifty ways to keep science education lively and entertaining with virtual field trips. Scroll down to view each.
https://interestingengineering.com/7-of-the-best-virtual-science-field-trips
25+ Educational Virtual Field Trips
Over 25 virtual field trips
https://www.weareteachers.com/best-virtual-field-trips/
11+ Science and Tech Museums You Can Tour Virtually
These virtual tours are a great way of visiting some of the best science and tech museums around the globe.
https://interestingengineering.com/11-science-and-tech-museums-you-can-tour-virtually
6 Virtual Tours of the Human Body
Some have a free version with a premium version
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-virtual-tours-human-body-free-interactive-anatomy-lessons/
Nova
Join NOVA on three virtual field trips which highlight some of the scientists and engineers featured in the new chemistry series Beyond the Elements.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/take-chemistry-field-trip-nova-education/
JLab
The Department of Energy invites you to take a peek at some of the research being conducted at our National Labs!
https://education.jlab.org/vft/
Physics Is Phun!
Enter the wild world of physics where appearances and logic are often turned upside down. Understanding the underlying concepts is essential for uncovering the magic of physics. It can be a thrilling adventure for students as they discover lots of cool methods for lasting knowledge.
http://www.cyberbee.com/physics_sites.html
Columbus Zoo Virtual Field Trips
Connect LIVE with the Columbus Zoo educators via Zoom, as we highlight habitats, animals and science concepts from all regions of the globe.
https://www.columbuszoo.org/home/discover/learn-at-the-zoo/digital-learning/virtual-adventure
https://reservations.columbuszoo.org/Info.aspx?EventID=5
Newport Aquarium Full Tour
The Newport Aquarium is an aquarium located in Newport, Kentucky, United States at Newport on the Levee, across the river from Cincinnati.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uJPEIgkwts
Nature Lab
Designed for ages 9-15 but customizable for all ages, virtual field trips allow students to travel the world and explore natural environments without leaving the classroom. Each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide, and student activities.
The Great Lakes
This virtual field trip from Great Lakes Now has three components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. Each video is a quick five minutes.
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/educational-resources/virtual-field-trip/
Great Lakes Now Virtual Field Trip
Great Lakes Now brings along students on a virtual field trip to learn more about the importance of coastal wetlands, the danger of algal blooms and a deep dive into lake sturgeon.
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/virtual-field-trip/
Winged Creatures
DPTV’s latest virtual field trip takes learners to three exciting metro-Detroit locations: the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo, the raptor habitat at the Leslie Science & Nature Center in Ann Arbor, and the bat habitat at the Organization for Bat Conservation in Pontiac.
https://www.dptv.org/education/digital-adventure/360-experience-winged-creatures/
Winter Fun!
Remember...if you use any lab or activity that you find online, be sure to follow all safety guidelines. Make sure that it is safe and appropriate to our safety guidelines before you ever attempt it. If showing something virtually, be sure to caution students NOT to try these at home.
Holiday HS Chemistry: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/holiday-chemistry.html
HS Physics Winter Sports and Snow:
MS Project Learning Tree Winter Experiments:
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/winter-experiments-activities
Office of Teaching and Learning
Office of Teaching and Learning (614-365-5727) is located at 3700 S. High St.
Leslie Kelly , Executive Director, Teaching and Learning
Brian Morton, Director of Secondary Curriculum
Katy Myers, Secondary Curriculum Supervisor
Heather Allen, K-5 Coordinator, hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us
Jennifer Nord, 6-12 Science Coordinator, jnord5257@columbus.k12.oh.us
Geri Granger, K-12 Spruce Run Coordinator, ggranger9556@columbus.k12.oh.us
