Science S'More

There are three new supports for students in science located in the Teacher Resource Link (TRL), accessible through SLDS, or choose this public link to access the resources in the Essential Toolkit.

The three resources are:

• Instructional Segments

• Self-Reflection Checklists

• Equity Instructional Planning Look-Fors

Instructional Segments: You’ll find instructional segments in the Essential Toolkit within the “How Do I Teach” bucket. All published instructional segments have been updated to include student support suggestions, which are organized to match the 5E format of the instructional segments to make it easier to find the support needed for each component of the lesson.

These supports are suggestions that can be used in the classroom for students who are struggling in science, but are not the only supports that could work for the lesson. Remember that students who have an IEP have specialized support accommodations designed by their IEP team, which must be followed regardless of any other support offered.

Self-Reflection Checklists: This tool helps students self-reflect on their progress. It is also located in the Essential Toolkit within the “Need to Know” bucket. Currently, checklists are available for 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th grade along with biology and physical science. The checklists are designed to:

• increase student ownership of their work and classroom

• help students recognize what they know and do not know to increase confidence

• give students a way to discuss their knowledge.

Equity Instructional Planning Look-For: Designed to help teachers evaluate their lessons for equity, this document is available in the Essential Toolkit within the “Need to Know” bucket.

This year's Milestones tests will feature technology enhanced items that require student to manipulate something on their screen to answer a question. These types of questions have been on the math Milestones for several years and were field tested on the science Milestones last year. This year these items will count towards your students' scores on the test. You can see sample technology enhanced items by clicking here.

Science News is an American bi-weekly magazine devoted to short articles about new scientific and technical developments, typically gleaned from recent scientific and technical journals.

This is an AMAZING site - please check it out!

You will find:

• great articles and trending news stories across a variety of scientific disciplines - Earth, Humans, Life, Space, Tech, Physics, Math, Chemistry and Science and Society
• a multimedia page containing a huge collection of videos, data visualizations, audio and more
• reviews of science-related books
• collections of articles based on science themes
• a Science News Magazine with archives going back to 1924
• an educator page with science and STEM resources
• a student page that features engaging Science and Society articles, a Word of the Week section that defines a science term and uses it in a sentence and in context, an Explainers section that provides a deeper dive into a broad range of pivotal topics, and a Technically Fiction section that explores facts found in the fantastic

National Geographic is an awesome resource for K-12 educators! Check out this site for classroom resources, personal professional development courses and student engagement experiences.

National Geographic's Resource Library has almost 5000 Encyclopedic Entries. These engaging resources can be filtered by grade level, subject, collections and and content types (activity, article, lesson, map, etc). Many of the articles are leveled, and they have a vocabulary list attached. What a great way to help your students increase their scientific literacy!

National Geographic’s free online courses for educators equip teachers with powerful tools to transform their classrooms. Through these courses, educators build their own skills and knowledge so they can foster the mindset of a National Geographic Explorer in their students. National Geographic online professional learning courses vary in their lengths and schedules so that busy educators can find a program that fits their needs.

The most amazing umbrella project for improving science teaching and learning with technology. Vast, huge, high quality, open, thoughtful, creative, and innovative.

The Concord Consortium has hundreds of science activities and computer simulations best used with middle and high school students. Teachers can use the site to find tasks aligned to their standards, push assignments out to their students, and track student progress. By assigning a task to their class, teachers can view written responses that students provide throughout an activity.

Activities are organized by discipline in the life, engineering, physical, and earth sciences. Teachers can select from official Concord Consortium activities or those created by other community members. One option is to choose larger thematic collections of activities, lesson plans, and assessments -- like Geniverse -- where kids learn about genetics by breeding virtual dragons. Alternatively, teachers can choose stand-alone activities like Describing Velocity, where students manipulate velocity-time graphs and act as racetrack commentators.

Molecular Workbench (MW) is powerful, award-winning software that provides visual, interactive computational experiments for teaching and learning science.

Data Nuggets are activities that bring real scientific data into the classroom, guiding students through the entire process of science while building their quantitative abilities.

Visit PBS NOVA Labs for a series of seven engaging and interactive labs: Polar, Evolution, Cybersecurity, RNA, Cloud, Energy and Sun. There are resources attached to the labs (videos, quizzes and Meet the Experts), as well as Educator Guides.

Explore natural phenomena and scientific practices with videos, lesson plans and interactive tools!

The Utah Education Network provides free web tools and services, such as lesson plans, videos, curriculum resources, and student interactives across a variety of science content areas.

This website provides a vision of ambitious science instruction for elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to support students of all backgrounds to deeply understand science ideas, participate in the activities of the discipline, and solve authentic problems.

The site features 4 core sets of teaching practices that support these goals. These core sets make up the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework. The framework has been based on classroom research from the past 30 years—research that has asked, “What kinds of talk, tasks, and tools do students need in order to fully engage in meaningful forms of science learning?”

The site also provides many helpful instructional tools: face-to-face, planning, scaffolding, and unit starters.

The focus is on:

• planning for engagement with important science ideas
• elliciting student ideas
• supporting on-going changes in thinking
• pressing for evidence-based explanations

User-generated videos, reviewed and approved by scientists—that’s what you’ll access through ScienceHack, a unique search engine just for science videos. With videos from a wide range of science topics and subjects, the data base is likely to contain something of interest for teachers and students of all ages and levels.

• biology, chemistry and physics
• robotics
• civil engineering
• computer science, space
• how "stuff" is made
• green energy
• psychology
• mathematics
• nature

For example, browsing the Nature category turns up videos as varied as footage of a Venus Fly Trap in Action and an encyclopedic entry on the Formation of a Thunderstorm. Teachers can also check out the Latest Videos section, which features the newest resources contributed to the data base.

Jeopardy Labs makes it easy to create customized jeopardy games for topic review without PowerPoint. K–12 educators can browse the site’s more than two million pre-made games, edit games to suit specific content needs, or build new games from scratch. To build a new game, users create a unique password and then follow simple onscreen prompts to complete the game template (e.g., title, category, questions, and answers). When the template is completed, the game becomes part of the site's data base and users receive an internet link to the game, which students can then play in the classroom or at home.

HHMI BioInteractive brings the power of real science stories into tens of thousands of high school and undergraduate life science classrooms. The BioInteractive stories anchor a variety of classroom resources based on peer-reviewed science. From data-rich activities and case studies to high-quality videos and interactive media, the resources are designed to connect students to big ideas in biology, promote engagement with science practices, and instill awe and wonder about the living world.

In addition, the BioInteractive website provides educators with planning tools to build resource playlists and storylines, and professional learning materials and opportunities to deepen their scientific and pedagogical expertise.

The resources and tools reflect current knowledge of how students learn and evidence-based strategies for supporting engagement and inclusion.

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Do you know where the red-eyed tree frog calls home? Play the Habitats game based on animal habitats to learn! Explore the desert, coral reef, jungle, and marsh to discover where many animals live by matching each animal to their correct habitat! Firefox is the recommended browser.

This website offers free virtual labs for middle and high school life science. You will need to use a Flash Player.

The Biology Corner is a resource site for biology and science teachers and students. It contains a variety of lessons, quizzes, labs, web quests, and information on science topics for all levels, including introductory life science and advanced placement biology. You can find lessons related to biology topics in the links listed under “topics” on the sidebar as well as specific curriculum for biology classes taught in high school.

• anatomy
• cell biology
• evolution
• genetics
• ecology
• science methods

Objective: Simulate changes in moth population due to pollution and predation, and observe how species can change over time.

The World Moon Project invites students from all over the world to observe the moon and identify patterns to gain a deeper understanding about the moon's appearance. Short essays based on student observations are collected by the World MOON Project. Participants then receive a packet of essays from other parts of the world so students are given both a local and global perspective.

MOON is an acronym that stands for "More Observation Of Nature," and Students learn to observe nature firsthand and are engaged in global collaboration. Teachers may choose to emphasize different aspects of the project to meet their own needs, and participation in the World MOON Project can emphasize curricular goals in one or more of the following areas:

• Lunar phases
• Inquiry skills
• Nature of science
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The World MOON Project is flexible, and each teacher can adjust the level of participation to meet their own needs. Free handbooks are available to guide teachers and students through the project. Click Teacher Handbook or Student Handbook to view the handbooks for a more detailed description about how the project works. Teachers will also have access to the CMPA-R, a 31 item computer based test that can be used as a pre-test and/or post-test. Teachers will receive score reports to track student progress and growth.

Earth Timelapse is a global, zoomable video that lets students see how the Earth has changed over the past 35 years.

EarthScope Voyager, Jr. allows students to explore and visualize the various types of data that are being collected. In this interactive map, the user can add various types of base maps, features, and plate velocities.

Google Sky allows users to view stars and other celestial bodies.

NASA’s Global Climate Change website hosts an extensive collection of global warming resources for media, educators, weathercasters and public speakers. Browse by topic and by media type, including videos, social media shareables, infographics, quizzes and interactives.

This site includes a fantastic array of information and resources:

• climate change facts, supported by evidence, causes, scientific consensus, vital signs
• a database of articles to support scientific literacy
• solutions to mitigate climate change
• engaging and education interactive resources
• a huge bank of educational resources
• Quizzes

The UCAR Center for Science Education has a collection of games and simulations related to weather, climate, atmospheric science, and space weather education. Test your knowledge with one of our games or gain a deeper understanding of earth science through a simulation.

They have also assembled a collection of additional games, simulations, and virtual labs from other sources.

Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator

Seasons Interactive is a website that illustrates the relationships between the axial tilt of the Earth, latitude, and temperature. Several data sets (including temperature, Sun-Earth distance, daylight hours) can be generated.

What happens when ocean currents and air masses interact? Find out in Weather Lab! Take on the role of a meteorologist by predicting spring weather and how people should dress for it in particular regions of the United States.

Weather Lab is a tool to help visualize how North America’s weather is formed. This lab is designed to model the complex interactions between air masses and ocean currents, but like all models it represents probable outcomes. Each prediction you make is for possible outcomes during Spring.

The citizens of Smithsonville are in dire need of a Disaster Detector! Help Smithsonville and other cities predict and prepare for natural disasters. Use tools to make predictions and save the city from damage by helping citizens prepare properly. Are you up for the challenge?

Disaster Detector teaches players how to analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and how to implement tools to mitigate the effects of those disasters.

Make it Rain! – this short video explores student misconceptions about phase changes, weather, and the water cycle, and reveals some of the pitfalls of common representations.

Morphy and his fellow alien crew have crash-landed on a foreign planet! His crewmembers evacuated at different times and are now missing. Help Morphy locate the crew members so that they can repair their spaceship. Beware! Morphy can’t survive this planet on his own. Along the way, Morphy will meet creatures with external traits that will help him survive this strange new world. Guide Morphy throughout this journey to save the missing crew!

Morphy is a life science game that teaches students that animals have external structures that function to support survival and behavior. Firefox is the recommended browser.

These Interactives offer a fresh and dynamic method to engage students in lessons on solar and lunar eclipses and factors that impact seasons.

Scientists and teachers developed these K-12 weather resources using data from Oklahoma Mesonet, a network of Oklahoma-based environmental monitoring stations, and the National Weather Service. Most appropriate for middle and high school levels but adaptable for younger grades, the classroom materials include Bellringers, which are short classroom activities that provide practice working with real data and interpreting weather-related graphs, tables, and maps. Long-term data interpretation activities are available in the Study Tools section. These classroom activities provide students with opportunities to read about specific weather phenomena (e.g., fog, ice, watering, soil moisture, severe winds, and other topics), answer data-related questions based on the article content, and participate in Scavenger Hunts related to the content.

The Windows to the Universe website is a richly interlinked ecosystem for learning about the Earth and Space sciences for use by the general public, students, and teachers. Windows to the Universe has been in development since 1995. It is currently managed by the National Earth Science Teacher's Association, and their hope is that it becomes a platform for Earth and Space science education globally.

The website includes a rich array of documents, including images, movies, animations, and data sets that explore the Earth and Space sciences, as well as the historical and cultural ties that exist between science, exploration, and the human experience. Because there are users of all ages, the information is written in three reading levels approximating elementary, middle school and high school reading levels. These levels may be chosen by using the upper button bar of each page of the main site.

PhysClips is a set of multimedia resources to teach physics at the high school and introductory college levels. Developed by the School of Physics at the University of New South Wales in Australia, the resource addresses three main areas of physics and provides resource collections for other topic areas, such as thermal physics and electricity and magnetism.

• mechanics
• sound and waves
• light

Each PhysClips chapter is a multimedia tutorial on a single physics topic. The chapters are illustrated with film clips of relevant physics demonstrations and include animations and diagrams explaining the topic’s key concepts. There are also Labs for light, sound and waves.

Students can watch the tutorials as a topic overview, or teachers can download the individual elements of each chapter to incorporate into their own instruction. Visit the website to access the resources and view an introductory video how to use PhysClips effectively in the classroom.

Here is a link to an excellent Education Week Teacher article on STEM lessons.

TeachEngineering is a searchable, web-based digital library collection comprised of standards-based engineering curricula for use by K-12 educators to make applied science and math come alive through engineering design in K-12 settings. Teachers can browse almost 2000 resources that incorporate 15 science-related subject areas!

• activities
• lessons
• curricular units
• maker challenges
• design challenges (Sprinkles)
• living Labs
• printable maps

The Student Enabled Network of Sensors for the Environment using Innovative Technology (SENSE IT) project is a one-of-a-kind environmental monitoring program best for middle and high school levels. Unlike most school-based water quality testing programs, which provide probes and other tools as part of a kit, the interdisciplinary SENSE IT curriculum integrates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) principles seamlessly into classroom learning as students build, test, deploy, and interpret their own environmental sensor network from scratch.

Through four learning modules, students develop deeper understanding of the environmental quantities being measured and gain real-world experience using the “tools of the trade” of research scientists and engineers. The modules are very flexible—they can be used effectively in both middle and high school classrooms, as well as in after-school programs and in many disciplines, including pre-engineering, general science, algebra, physics, biology, chemistry, and Earth science.

STEM-Works a resource for teachers, mentors, parents, STEM professionals, volunteers, and everyone passionate about getting children eager to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math.

This site provides links to articles, activities and information about "cool jobs" in the STEM field.

Here are some of the subjects students can explore: crime-scene investigation, extreme weather, medical innovations, robotics, space, the animal kingdom, under the sea, video games, and wind energy.

TryEngineering aims to empower educators to foster the next generation of technology innovators. This website provides educators and students with resources, lesson plans, and activities that engage and inspire.

There is a Teacher Resource page that offers searchable lesson plans and activities, featured articles and featured engineers. Here is a link to the Lesson Plan Download List.

The Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (CeMaST) offers a wide variety of STEM curricula and opportunities for K–12 educators and students.

The STEM Curriculum is divided into Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12). The lessons showcase real-world applications of science and mathematics, and introduce students to potential careers in forestry, nuclear power, wastewater treatment, genetic testing, and other fields.

YMI offers standard-based study guides to engage students in dynamic learning experiences. The guides tap into popular culture and address STEM skills, health and safety, sports and fitness, and other subjects. The majority of the activities are aligned to elementary and middle school standards.

DiscoverE works to ensure people everywhere understand how engineers, technicians, and technologists make the world a better place. This site offers searchable content, activities, games and videos for K-12 educators and students. There are also pages that highlight Cool Engineering Projects and fascinating Engineering Careers.

The Garbage Dreams game helps middle and high school students (grades 6-12) understand the enormity of the world’s garbage problem and how recycling not only makes ecological sense but also economic sense, too.

The game was developed to accompany a PBS documentary about the Zaballeen, a group of people in Cairo, Egypt, who survive by collecting and recycling the city’s garbage. To play the game, students take on the role of the Zaballeen—to sort, process, and profit from the garbage collected in from Cairo’s neighborhoods. Through gameplay, students discover the benefits of recycling on the environment and learn about different materials that can be recycled. In addition, students learn about different business strategies for recycling, such as hiring workers, acquiring tools (trucks), and recycling in different neighborhoods.

Visit the website to play the game, watch the documentary, and access additional materials on the topic, including lesson plans, background information on recycling, and film trailers.

Reviews of simulations, games and virtual labs for STEM education. Each “micro-review” provides a link to the resource or to the organization that created each resource, a thumbnail image to provide a “flavor” of each item, a mention of the creators or owners (to help you assess credibility and longevity), and the cost (if any).

The Mars Education lesson plans serve as a STEM resource for K-12 educators to download and utilize in formal classroom settings. These lessons are free and made to be fully accessible and downloadable PDF documents that can be saved or printed. All of the Mars Education Program lesson plans include elements of inquiry-based learning that are aligned to 3D Learning.