Grades 6-12

Jenny Nord - Secondary Science Curriculum Coordinator

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/

According to the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)—the national center on Universal Design for Learning—a UDL learning environment is one that provides genuine opportunities that minimize barriers and maximize learning for all students; builds in support and challenge; and addresses the three networks of the brain to encompass the why, what, and how of learning (CAST 2018). The guidelines offer a tool for implementing UDL in the following areas that students access, build, and internalize through multiple means of:

• Engagement to create expert learners who are purposeful and motivated
• Representation to create expert learners who are resourceful and knowledgeable
• Action and expression to create expert learners who are strategic and goal directed

In science education, the Ohio Learning Science standards share UDL goals by supporting student-driven, flexible lessons to ensure meaningful access for diverse learners. With standards-based instruction, students work to figure out the world around them—to make sense of phenomena and problem-solve—by engaging in scientific and engineering practices while applying core ideas and crosscutting concepts. They do this through hands-on investigations or virtual simulations as they develop models, participate in constructive discourse, and develop artifacts that weave together the standards to demonstrate learning.

Multiple means of engagement: In UDL practices, this is the “why” of learning, enabling students to be engaged and motivated. A driving question that represents a core idea and introduces phenomena that are relevant and interesting immediately motivates students to learn more.

Videos are really helpful to get students to generate questions, to start thinking about what they’re learning. For example, a video about different types of animals in a rain forest can encourage students to consider why the frogs and birds are more colorful than those in nearby habitats.

In science learning, particularly life science, lessons may revolve around things students can see in nature near their homes or schools. Encourage them to go out on nature walks and start looking around to make connections to things they might have read about or done in class. That helps to answer that question ‘why am I learning this?’ because now they see it in their own environments, and it becomes more meaningful.

Multiple means of representation: The “what” of UDL learning provides options for comprehension— sharing information through multiple forms of supporting media. To provide representation that can be offered in a classroom or remote location, lessons should:

• Support hands-on investigations as part of everyday learning with materials that are provided through lab kits or are commonly found in a home
• Offer digital components that include literacy readers, interactive student investigation sheets, simulations, and assessments
• Incorporate printed text scenarios for on- and below-grade levels

Hands-on labs...that’s how every student learns science best, by manipulating materials. If they’re having a tough time understanding something as they move materials around, they can look at a simulation that helps key them into an idea. The good thing about this phenomena-based science learning is the teacher can offer the information in different ways to have students make sense of it.

When it’s difficult to source materials for hands-on labs in remote locations, look for a science curriculum that incorporates readers that blend English language arts with science. This is a really quick fix [for teachers] in how to incorporate science into the students’ day to day. It’s something that they can print out and write on, supporting reading comprehension and science applications. To further incorporate options for differentiation, use resources that are offered in Spanish to support students whose families speak Spanish in their homes.

Multiple means of action and expression: The “how” of learning enables students to demonstrate learning in ways most suited to them, sharing their individual artifacts that represent understanding for assessment. Whether learning remotely or in a classroom, students can:

• Record answers on interactive digital investigation sheets or record videos of themselves
• Write on index cards that can be added to a science notebook and referenced to demonstrate learning growth
• Engage in scientific discourse either on a digital platform, through phone conversations, or in a classroom. Even while socially distancing, students should strive to clearly present their thinking, using evidence to support their conclusions, and revising as their discussions lead to further discoveries.
• Answer open-ended questions to conclude an investigation to prompt deeper thinking, relating the core idea beyond the investigation

To share what they know throughout, students can do note-booking. It can be done digitally, but encourage using a physical composite notebook. That’s a great science practice and also translates into creating a journal . . . and helps with organization strategies. That’s an important piece that closes the digital divide—anything they do in a science classroom needs to be recorded, and there are multiple ways to record your information either at school or at home.

Taken directly from Building Blocks of Science, Haley Shust

A wrong address was given for the Science PD Calendar in our January 2021 Newsletter. Here is the correct address:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=Y29sdW1idXMuazEyLm9oLnVzX2VsZGVjbmpmNmVscGQxZzk2Z2Q2aXNmcGNjQGdyb3VwLmNhbGVuZGFyLmdvb2dsZS5jb20

Many professional development opportunities come across my desk. They are now placed in this calendar for you. With some, you can apply for CEUs or are given the opportunity to apply for credit. (Check district requirements) Please take advantage of this calendar to see what professional development is being offered to serve you. Check often...items are added nearly daily.

Here is what it looks like if you are in the correct place:

1.) April 25th marks National DNA Day, celebrating the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953.

The Festival is pleased to share these FREE classroom resources for educators from Illumina. In honor of DNA Day, Illumina has launched a campaign to impact 10,000 students, teachers, and learners in April through their genomic literacy programs.

Illumina is Offering Educators the following FREE DNA Day Resources:

• Receive a free DNA Extraction kit for your classroom (supplies are limited),
• Invite a genomics professional to speak to your class,
• Watch a LIVE "Skype a Scientist" session,
• Access free genomics curriculum, and more!

If you're interested in the hands-on DNA activity kit, educators must sign-up by March 5th! DNA kit supplies are limited - sign-up today and bring genomics into your classroom!

2.) NSTA Engage Spring 21 Virtual Conference: April 19-24: Middle School April 26-May 1: High School

Information and register here: https://tinyurl.com/98wmiiek

There are numerous on-demand PDs in your CLT folder. If they are marked with a blue-colored folder, they are a PD from this department. If they are marked with a red-colored folder, they are put out by O.D.E.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nxsPBvxWjWlo1sTbIS1oe9BITV8AmAmj?usp=sharing

Our Department:

Active Learning

Cognitive Demands in Science

What Makes a Good Question

Creating Multiple Choice Questions to Be Higher Level

Grid Method

HS Exemplar Unit

MS Exemplar Unit

Phenomena-Based Learning

O.D.E.:

Asking Questions and Defining Problems

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Developing and Using Models

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Teacher Created Materials: free on-demand webinar links

How to Identify, Reverse, and Prevent Learning Loss with Schoolwide Strategies

How to Identify, Reverse, and Prevent Future Learning Loss

6 Ways to Know You Are Culturally Responsive

Intervention Strategies for Reading and Mathematics

Everyday Strategies for Building Vocabulary

How to Use Writing as Part of Virtual Instruction

Strategies for Supporting Language Learners in Remote Teaching Environments

Student Engagement: 4-part series:

-Student Compliance Does not Equal Engagement: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-student-compliance-does-not-equal-engagement/2021/01

-Increasing Engagement with Student Choice: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-increasing-engagement-with-student-choice/2021/01

-Nine Strategies for Promoting Student Engagement: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-nine-strategies-for-promoting-student-engagement/2021/02

-Implementing Multiple Career Pathways to Engage All Learners: https://tinyurl.com/1y0rx8b5

Education Week:

-Learning Means Changing your Mind: https://tinyurl.com/5iv03837

-Bilingualism and Remote Learning: https://tinyurl.com/9c4dgs0n

-What Does Covid-19 Learning Loss Actually Mean: https://1tinyurl.com/fny9ac1d

-How Much Real Learning Time Are Students Losing during the Pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/1mu4hr0j

-10 Ways to Use Retrieval Practice in the Classroom: https://tinyurl.com/38agter4

-Helping Students Outsmart their Smartphones: https://tinyurl.com/10z5vexn

-Will There Be Standardized Tests This Year: https://tinyurl.com/ytabwrl3

-How Educators Can Use AI as a Teaching Tool: https://tinyurl.com/ytabwrl3

-Why Teamwork in Class Builds Competence and Confidence: https://tinyurl.com/33y26l3l

-6 Lessons Learned about Better Teaching during the Pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/1rjtt9qc

-10 Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies for the Science Classroom: https://tinyurl.com/dr6ms2z6

-PBL: https://tinyurl.com/ywtm6bx5

Achieve 3000:

-Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction: https://tinyurl.com/a94zvbtc

-11 Articles that May Interest You from their Magazine: https://tinyurl.com/364lux7s

Miscellaneous Sources:

-Ways of Making Online Learning Work for Students beyond the Pandemic: https://tinyurl.com/109dmzec

-NSTA: Capitalizing on Student Misconceptions: https://tinyurl.com/ftw26127

-How to "Read" Students during Remote Learning: https://tinyurl.com/18m3adb9

-Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning in the Age of Covid-19: https://www.carolina.com/knowledge/2020/10/30/claims-evidence-and-reasoning-in-the-age-of-covid-19

-Farthest Star Humans Have Ever Seen: https://tinyurl.com/t2soh401

-Instructional Approaches that Foster SEL Development: https://blog.definedlearning.com/project-based-learning-and-sel

-How to Cultivate Confidence in Students: https://tinyurl.com/1px64e4m

-4 Tips for Blended Learning Success: https://www.eschoolnews.com/2021/01/14/4-tips-for-blended-learning-success/2/?all

-6 Strategies to Make Distance Learning Classes not Terrible: https://tinyurl.com/ypnm68mh

Did you know? March was named for the Roman god of "Mars".

March 1: World Compliment Day: In the global initiative to create the most positive day in the world, World Compliment Day is celebrated every March 1 to spread joy through simple verbal affirmations of appreciation.

March 2: National Read Across America Day: The day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading.

March 2: World Teen Mental Wellness Day: World Teen Mental Wellness Day aims to raise greater awareness of mental health issues among teens, as well as provide education about removing stigmas surrounding preventative mental health.

March 3: World Wildlife Day: What do the orangutans of Borneo, the elephants of Sumatra, and the Black Rhino all have in common? They’re all critically endangered species. But on World Wildlife Day, the UN and its partners are planning to raise awareness of the gravity of this dire situation. An animal is only placed on the critically endangered species list if the International Union for Conservation of Nature believes the animal faces a very high risk for extinction.

March 14: Pi Day: Pi, also known by the Greek letter “π,” is a constant value used in math that represents the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is just about 3.14….15…9265359… (and so on). Not only that, but the fourteenth of March is also Albert Einstein’s birthday, so all together it’s nothing short of a mathematician’s and scientist's delight.

March 14: Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 18: National Biodiesel Day

March 20: Spring Equinox: The Spring Equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, is one of the four solar festivals of the year. The equinox — which translates roughly in Latin to “equal night” — is when the sun sits vertically above the equator, making day and night equal across the planet. The Spring Equinox officially marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. 5:37 a.m.

March 20: World Agrigultural Day: On February 29, 2012, Agriculture secretary Thomas J. Vilsack proclaimed March 8, 2012 to be National Agriculture Day. This proclamation stated a specific date and year. It can vary each year. The Agricultural Secretary annually proclaims the date of National Agriculture Day. This day is organized and promoted by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA).

March 21: International Day of Forests: Roosevelt called them “the lungs of the Earth,” Robert Frost and millions of poets were inspired by them, and Sting is fighting to save them. We’re talking about forests. The forests are so crucial to the future of our planet that the UN declared March 21 to be the International Day of Forests. For many years now, this amazing global celebration has been creating awareness all over the world about the importance of forests. They are one of our greatest natural treasures that we must preserve and protect.

March 22: World Water Day: This is a day dedicated to drawing attention to the water related issues that humans in almost every country face. Created by the United Nations, the goal of World Water Day is to bring aide to people who truly need it across borders.

March 31: Bunsen Burner Day: Bunsen Burner Day celebrates the birthday of its creator. German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen was born on March 31, 1811. And, you guessed it, von Bunsen created the Bunsen Burner.

Want more? Check these out:

https://nationaltoday.com/march-holidays/

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/march/

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/march.htm

Interactive State Soil Map: https://tinyurl.com/y6a3y8no

Feed the World; Ohio Corn: downloadable MS and HS lessons on biotechnology: https://ohiocorneducation.org/curriculum/biotechnology?mc_cid=5848796b55&mc_eid=47fe26b312

Open Science Ed Light Unit: https://www.openscied.org/instructional-materials/6-1-light-matter/

Carolina Biologic Cardiovascular Infographic: https://tinyurl.com/yop3cthf

Ditch that Textbook:

-All their Youtube videos in one place: https://www.youtube.com/user/ditchthattextbook/videos

-Templates for many occassions: https://ditchthattextbook.com/resources/templates/

-30 Google Slides and PowerPoint Themes: https://ditchthattextbook.com/free-google-slides-and-powerpoint-themes-for-teachers/

-50 Free Templates: http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/50-FREE-Templates-for-Teachers-ebook.pdf

-22 Must Have Templates: https://ditchthattextbook.com/12-must-have-templates-for-teachers-and-students/

-Remote Learning Tools: https://ditchthattextbook.com/elearning

-20+ Tips for Using Canvas LMS: https://ditchthattextbook.com/canvas-lms-tips/

-20 Tips to Use Google Classroom: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-tips-to-use-google-classroom-effectively-and-efficiently/

-How to Use Anything on the Web as an LMS Assignment: https://ditchthattextbook.com/lms-assignments/

-30 Apps that Work with Google Classroom: https://ditchthattextbook.com/google-classroom-apps/

-Social Media Reply Google Slides Template: https://ditchthattextbook.com/reply-template

-12 Social Media-Inspired Google Slides Templates: https://ditchthattextbook.com/social-media-templates/

-10 TikTok Tips for Teachers: https://ditchthattextbook.com/tiktok-teacher/

-10 Amazing Assessment Ideas: https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-amazing-assessment-ideas/

NSTA:

-Daily Dos: https://www.nsta.org/daily-do?MessageRunDetailID=3503507995&PostID=19147379&utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io#tab

-Digestive System Playlist lessons: https://tinyurl.com/8rttogqs

Ted Ed:

-Why didn't this 2000 year old body decompose?:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FXnPL2EaEU

-The World's Most Dangerous Fart: https://tinyurl.com/a3taggwh

HHMI Biointeractive Lessons:

-Homepage: https://www.biointeractive.org/

-Teaching Ecology Using Gorongosa National Park: https://www.biointeractive.org/planning-tools/resource-playlists/teaching-ecology-using-gorongosa-national-park

-The Biology of SARS CoV-2: https://tinyurl.com/2wdw6qmq

-ATP Synthesis: https://tinyurl.com/1fczqdhs

Fisher Science Education: articles with questions

-Gene Theft: Viruses Make Hybrid Proteins: https://tinyurl.com/1y1edgzm

-The Special Characteristics of Sulfur Polymers: https://tinyurl.com/3zttvrxa

-Forgot the Strain, Train the Brain: https://tinyurl.com/242o2xrz

-New Treatments Fight Peanut Allergies with Peanut Protein: https://tinyurl.com/10ckj2h0

-Otherworldly Sunsets Revealed in Planet Simulation: https://tinyurl.com/y7aokv3u

-Whales Migrate to Shed the Skin They're in: https://tinyurl.com/wr1974g8

Check out the Spruce Run Nature Center newsletter for many, many opportunities.

https://www.smore.com/cgj7w-spruce-run-environmental-center

Environmental Article: Innovative Ways to Create More Urban Green Spaces: https://tinyurl.com/4zt2o6os

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. Also, be certain that it aligns with the standards.

Middle School:

Color Changing Carnations: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/colorful-carnations/

Leprechaun Green Snow: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/store/leprechaun-green-snow.html

Blarney Beads Activities: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/store/uv-color-changing-beads.html

Leprechaun Eggs: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/store/jelly-marbles-clear-spheres.html

A Few Science Activities: https://www.teachhub.com/top-12-st-patricks-day-lessons

High School:

How to Make Gold Pennies: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/gold-pennies/

Several Chemistry Activities: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/saint-patricks-day.html

Office of Teaching and Learning (614-365-5727) is located at 3700 S. High St.

Alyse Clark, Executive Director, Teaching and Learning

Kenny Lee, 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