Science Snippets: Eclipse Edition

We have a unique opportunity for students to become citizen scientists! The eclipse will afford us the opportunity to have students collect REAL data. To really collect some accurate data, you may want to consider having students work in stations. If you are new to science stations, below are some resources to help you get started.

Since the eclipse is a One-and-done event, you may want to consider going outside the week before to make sure instructions are clear and students know procedures.

• Start class with a bell ringer.
• Provide a Snap Shot of the Instructions (no more than 5 minutes)
• Ask students to move to stations and complete the assigned task.
• Do frequent check-ins, walk around to answer questions, and check for understanding.
• Wrap up with a whole group discussion.

1. Start of Small - practice the week before.

2. Use a visual timer.

3. Provide instructions in multiple forms.

4. Check in with groups often.

5. Provide recognition for staying on task.

This event will be memorable for our students, but it can be so much more than putting on glasses and staring at the sun. We can make it an engaging, cross-curricular learning opportunity.

We will be learning the following:

• What causes the eclipse and how to explain it to students;
• Science activities during the eclipse; and
• Math, ELA, and SS ideas to connect all subjects to the eclipse.

I hope you can join in the fun to make this a day to remember for your students!

We have added one more session to help work with your schedule.

March 28 (this Thursday) and April 1 (Monday)

Total solar eclipses are very rare. We are lucky to get to see two in our lifetime. The next eclipse in our area will be in 2045. It is very important that your students get to witness this event through a child's eyes.

• Talk about what the eclipse is and why it happens.
• Read stories about the sun and moon.
• Read American Indian legends and stories about the sun and moon.
• Examine primary sources of eclipse information.
• Create timelines of the events during the eclipse.
• Create a journal describing the impact the eclipse had on their senses.
• Create graphical displays.
• Create poetry (like diamante and haiku)
• Use a choice board for student to select areas to research or create.
• Explore mythology and cultural responses to the eclipse.
• Write a myth or creative story explaining the eclipse.

The eclipse should be more than just putting on some glasses and looking into the sky. This is a great time to set up stations to get some REAL data to examine.

Students work in groups to gather and record data at a prescripted time interval (2 or 3 minutes). Afterwards students will create a graphical display and will present their findings to the class. This can be done on pencil/paper or digitally.

Station Ideas:

• Temperature
• Wind Speed (Linked to how to make a wind gauge)
• Barometric Pressure (Linked to how to make a barometer)
• Shadows (Pictures at set intervals)
• Light Meter (Use the Lux App) - Make sure you request to be put on your Ipads ASAP.
• Sounds
• Humidity

Please make time to come to the eclipse PD ( March 28th or April 1st). We will go over some resources in detail and how you can use them in your class.

Jennifer Seitsinger, Shelby Webb, and I have created a Canvas Course with resources for your class. This will be available in Commons by Friday, March 29th.

There are Notice and Wonder activities, choice boards, journaling ideas, history, legends, broadcast projects, newspaper activities, and more!

For most grade levels in elementary, eclipses NEVER are addressed because they aren't part of our standards. Are you hesitant about teaching and participating in eclipse activities because you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the topic? Here are some resources to help you fill your knowledge bank.

Remember: We don't have to be able to answer all the questions. We need to know what questions to ask and how to find the answers.

"That is a great question! Where can we find the answer?"

There is so much happening in the world of science in April. It is a great opportunity to do a special unit or lesson in your classroom.

All orders were due on March 15th. We expect them to be delivered April 11-12. We will send an email to those that ordered as soon as we have a firm date.

The prices of the butterfly larvae have QUADRUPLED. Please take care with these precious resources.

All orders for the 24-25 school year were due on March 15th. If you did not get your order in, please contact me ASAP. Materials should be delivered to you before the end of the school year.

OSTA has several opportunities to for all teachers.

• Know someone deserving and award? We all know that teacher who deserves to be recognized. Nominate them today!
• Want to present at our state conference? You have great lessons and ideas - SHARE THEM.
• Want go attend our state conference? Want to just sit back and learn? Attend our summer conference.

Check out all the opportunities below.

Nominations for Awards are Open!

Click the links below to nominate outstanding Science educators!

Oklahoma New Horizons Award

The New Horizons Award recognizes the outstanding work and contributions of a first-year or entry-year teacher.

Science Teacher of the Year

Each year, OSTA recognizes an outstanding science teacher from each OSTA division: Elementary, Middle Level, High school, and University/College. The purpose of these awards is to encourage educators to continue to grow professionally and to publicly recognize those who contribute so much to science education in Oklahoma.

Jack Renner Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Science Education Award

Dr. John W. "Jack" Renner (1924-1991) was a professor of Science Education and Physics at the University of Oklahoma. His research on science learning was strongly influenced by a combination of Jean Piaget’s ideas on intellectual development and his own commitment to independent thought and action. The first issue of JRST (Spring, 1963) contained an article by John W. Renner on science understanding by junior high school students. During the next 25 years, he became a major influence in science education through his research and teaching. He received many awards during this time for his outstanding work in science education, and he served in important leadership positions, including NARST President, 1979-1980, and Program Chair, 1978-1979 and 1980-1981 (JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING VOL. 29, NO. 2, P. 103 (1992)).

In honor of Dr. Renner, this award recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to science education in the state of Oklahoma.

Informal Science Educator Award

The Informal Science Educator Award recognizes an informal educator's outstanding work and contributions toward the field of Science Education in Oklahoma.

Important Dates

• Nominations are due by Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 5:00 pm

• Application materials will be distributed to nominees by Friday, April 5, 2024

• All application materials must be submitted by Friday, April 26, 2024, 5:00 pm

• Awardees notified by Monday, May 20, 2024

• OSTA awards will be presented at the OSTA Celebration of Science Education Friday, June 7th at the Tulsa Zoo from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

• OSTA Summer Conference Saturday, June 8th at OU-Tulsa from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Questions: Contact awards.osta@gmail.com

Click here for details on how to become a member of OSTA.

Addressing Student Knowledge Gaps and Planning for Next Year

• Description: Students entering our classrooms have varying science learning experiences that can make teaching on-level content a challenge. This session will explore how using formative assessments and the Science Learning Progressions can assist educators with integrating missing skills and content students need for on-level learning, rather than front loading information at the beginning of the year or adding additional units to the curriculum. We'll also examine how the Science Learning Progressions can be used by teachers teams to better understand the skills and content that come before and after their grade level and/or subject area.
• All Grade Levels: Thursday, April 25 at 4:15 p.m., Register Here

Picture books and stories are a way for kids to relate to the science in a familiar way. It makes it memorable. Whether you use the "read aloud" versions from youtube or locate the books and read them to your class, the value is added to your lesson either way.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I would be happy to share.

Pacing guides have been updated for the 23-24 school year. There are no MAJOR changes. Sixth grade will be moving one of the scopes to a new place, and I have updated the Canvas Blueprints accordingly.

Looking for Read Alouds that work together with your curriculum? Check out the science pacing guides! In the lower righthand corner, there are some suggestions for read aloud books found in MyOn.

Did you know our science department has resources for you to have and some that you can borrow? The following are all available for check-out:

Mineral Kits
Rock Kits
Fossil Kits
Planetarium

Need some materials for a science activity? We can do that too! Please allow at least a week for common materials and longer for specialty materials.

To be entered into the drawing, tell me if this statement is fact or fiction:

Last month: One million tons of water falls every minute. Fact or Fiction?

Fiction! One BILLION tons of water falls every minute!

March: The Earth's rotation is constant. Fact or Fiction?