ScienceUpdateJanuary2019Thisperiodice-newsletterfromtheMinn.Dept.ofEducation(MDE)issenttoafewemaillists,includingtheMinn.ScienceTeachersAssn.(MnSTA)anddistrict/organizationcontacts.Weencourageyoutoforwardthistootherteachersandscienceleaders.ArchivededitionsareatthisMnSTAsite.SeeMDEcontactsattheendofthisdocument.Note:MDEdoesnotendorseanyresourceoreventthatisnotconductedbyMDE.

*indicatesanitemthatwasnotinthepreviousedition

News*SecondDraftoftheMinnesotaScienceStandardsThefirstdraftofthe2019Sciencestandards,publishedinNovember,receivedarecordnumberofreviews.Theonlinefeedbacksurveyreceived230entrieswith30%ofthemfromgroups.73peopleattendedMDEtownhallmeetingsandtherewere156attendeeatfeedbackmeetingsattheMnSTAconferenceandregionalmeetings.Thankyoutoallwhocompletedthereview.TheScienceStandardsReviewCommitteeisanalyzingthisdataandmakingrevisionsinpreparationforseconddraftwhichwillbepublishedFeb.14.ItwillbeavailableforfeedbackuntilFeb.28.WatchforinformationaboutfeedbackmeetingsandtheonlinesurveyintheFebruaryupdateandontheMDESciencepage.AdditionalinformationaboutthefeedbackandtheplansfortheseconddraftareattheMnSTAScienceStandardspage.ThefinaldraftwillbepublishedinMaywithfullimplementationofthestandardsandanewversionoftheMCAexaminthreeorfouryears.

TeacherEventsandWorkshops*Code.orgAdmin,Jan.8,St.Paul

Isyourschoolordistrictlookingtoaddcomputersciencecoursesforyourstudentsingrades6-12?TPTishostingaCode.orginformationalworkshoptointroducedistrictcoachesandschooladministratorsofgrades6-12toCode.orgprograms.Applicationsforteacherstoparticipateinthisfreeprofessionaldevelopmentopportunityduringthe2019–2020schoolyeararenowopen(seebelow).Thegoalsfortheadministratorworkshopareto:

• Understandwhycomputerscienceeducationisimportant.• UnderstandwhattheCode.orgprogramsareabout.• Developagoalforexpandingcomputerscienceinschoolsanddistricts.• Developideasforraisingawarenessandencouragingstudentstotakecomputerscienceclasses.

Winter Science

TheworkshopwilltakeplaceTuesday,January8thfrom8am-11amattheTPTstudiosinSt.Paulandregistrationisnowopen!Pleasefollowthislinktoregisterformoredetails.Forquestions,contactAlexDexheimeradexheimer@tpt.orgor651-229-1204.

MNEarthScienceTeachersConference,Feb.1,Plymouth

TheannualMinnesotaEarthScienceTeachersAssn.conferencefeatures:

Keynote:AnnetteLee,directoroftheNativeSkywatchersprogramandAstronomyProfessoratSt.CloudStateUniversity.Thepresentationwillfocusoncross-cultural,interdisciplinary,andSTEM/STEAMresourcesforauthenticastronomyeducationengagement.

Concurrentsessions:• SkywarnStormSpottingandSevereWeather• AuthenticLearningandAssessments• StoryMapswithFREEESRImappingproducts• BedrockGeologyandHydrologicalChallengesofSoutheastMinnesota

Anddon’tmissthefabulousdoorprizes.

TheThursdayeveningpre-conferencesessionfeaturestheComoPlanetariumanddinneratGabe’sbythePark.

*InspiringInvestigationsthroughCitizenScience

ThisnewonlinecoursethroughtheCornellLabBirdAcademywillhelpyouexploreinquiry-basedlearningandscientificinvestigation,especiallyasinspiredbyoutdoorobservationsandcitizen-science.Throughcase-studies,practiceactivities,standardsalignment,andreflection,thiscoursewillprepareyoutoweaveinquiry-basedlearningintoyourstudents’livesinwaysthatwillbuildtheirconfidenceandmotivationtoengageinscience.

You’llalsoparticipateindiscussionboardsandlearnfromothereducatorsaswellasyourCornellLabfacilitators.We’llencourageyoutogetoutsideandexplore,andtothinkaboutapplicationsforandimplementationinyourown

programorclassroom.Finally,quizzesandassignmentswillhelpyoutestyourknowledgeandunderstanding.Theenrollmentfeeis$59.95.

*GreenSchoolsConference&Expo,April8-9,St.PaulThisnationaleventbringstogetheralltheplayersinvolvedinmakinggreenschoolsareality.AnditiscomingtotheRiverCenterinSt.Paul.ThisyearGSCEisco-locatedwithIMPACT,theleadingeventforsustainabledevelopmentintheMidwest.Theconferenceoffersengagingeducationalsessions,casestudies,hands-onworkshopsandlecturesfromtoday'sgreenschoolexperts.GSCEprovidesanunmatchedopportunityforgreenschooladvocatesnationwidetocollaborateandlearnfromoneanother—allwithavestedinterestinmakingapositivedifferenceinourchildren’sfutures. Check out the conference website.

*2019NationalSTEMScholarProgram,June2–8,Kentucky

Applicationsarenowbeingacceptedforthe2019classoftheNationalSTEMScholarProgram,aprogramdesignedspecificallyformiddleschoolteachersinspiringthenextgenerationofSTEMpioneersnationwide.NationalSTEMScholarsreceiveadvancededucationinthedevelopmentofSTEMprojectsforclassroomimplementation,spendafulldaywithanationalthoughtleaderinSTEMeducationandbuildanationalnetworkofcolleaguesforinformationsharing.TheapplicationdeadlineinFeb.1.

*AmazonRainforestEducatorWorkshop,July1–11,PeruScholarshipsandGrantfundsareavailableforthe2019EducatorAcademyintheAmazonRainforestofPeru,across-curricularprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopforformalandinformalscienceeducators.Highlightsinclude:

• InquiryProtocols&Resources:VernierTechnologyandCelestronDigitalMicroscopes• GlobalandCulturalPerspectives:ServiceLearning~Sustainability~GlobalEducation• NEW!AspecializedtrackforHSbioandenvironmentalscienceeducatorswithafocuson

sustainability,conservation,andfieldworkwiththeMaijunaindigenouscommunity• Workside-by-sidewithscientistsandresearchersoncitizenscienceprojectsandfieldstudies.• Explorethe¼milelongACTSPeruRainforestCanopyWalkwayinoneoftheworld’smost

biologicallydiverseenvironments.

TheapplicationdeadlineisFebruary1.

*NativeSkywatchersWorkshop,July18-19,St.CloudThis two-day workshop is designed for all educators & persons interested in increasing their knowledge of Ojibwe and D(L)akota Star Knowledge. A new focus this year will include: Earth and Sky, and interdisciplinary STEM connections. The workshop includes multiple hands-on activities so participants will be able to experience the culture and the science in the most authentic and meaningful way possible. Learnmorehere.*Code.orgComputerScienceWorkshops,St.PaulDesignedtosupportmiddleandhighschoolteachersbeforeandduringtheirfirstyearteachingComputerScienceDiscoveriesorComputerSciencePrinciples,theCode.orgProfessionalLearningProgrambeginswithafive-day,in-personsummerworkshopfollowedbyfouradditionalsessionsthroughouttheyear.Bestofall?Nopreviousexperienceteachingcomputerscienceisneeded.

Wewelcomeelementaryschoolteacherstosignupyear-roundforourno-cost,high-qualityone-dayprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopsforComputerScienceFundamentalscoursesfromanexperiencedcomputersciencefacilitator.

FullscholarshipsareavailableforallMinnesotateachers.ContactHadiPartovifordetails.

TeacherandSchoolAwardsandOpportunitiesPresidentialAwardforMathematicsandScienceTeachingCelebrategreatteaching!NominateacolleagueoryourselfforthePresidentialAward,whichbringsstateandnationalleadershipopportunitiesand$10,000.TwoteachersfromeachstatereceivethisawardfromtheWhiteHouse.ThisyearapplicationsaresoughtfromsecondaryteacherswithadeadlineofMay1.Informationandnominationsite.

SchoolProgramsandInstruction

School Celebration for Jim Schrankler

PhysicForcedemonstrationshows,January,Minneapolis;May,Rochester

Scienceteachersofallages-didyouknowthattheUniversityofMinnesota’sPhysicsForceperformsforfree12timeseveryJanuaryatNorthropAuditoriumontheUofMNcampusandinRochesterinMay?DidyouknowthattheForcewillhelpsubsidizeyourtransportationfeesifyouareatahigh-povertyschool?Well,wedo.Thisyear'sshowsarebetterthanever,withlivefire,lightning,acrushingbarrel,andaperformerfallingfromatower.

Signyourclassesupforthefreetickets!Yourkidswillseelarge-scalephysicsdemonstrationsdonebytrainedprofessionalspairedwithcomedydonebytotalamateurs.Informationandregistration.

StudentPrograms,AwardsandCompetitions*YoungScientistsRoundtable,Jan.26,Plymouth

KeepingBeesontheirSixFeetisthepresentationbyDr.MarlaSpivik,ahoneybeeresearcherattheUniversityofMinnesota.Shewilltalkaboutresearchrelatedtodiseasesandremedies.Thispresentationandroundtablediscussionforstudentsisat7:00atCentralMiddleSchoolinPlymouth.Moreinformationhere.

*SkyNetScholars,startingJan.26

SkynetScholarsisaprogramoftheBellMuseumformiddleandhighschoolstudentsthatputstheminthedriver’sseattoconducttheirownscientificexplorationsoftheuniverse.Scholarslearnhowtoaccessaglobalnetworkofresearch-gradetelescopesthatserveprofessionalastronomersandstudentsalikeovertheinternet.Theywillgettoexperiencehands-onastronomyandSTEMbasedactivitiesincludingtheuseofrobotictelescopestotaketheirownastronomicalimages.

*NationalYouthScienceCamp,June27–July20,WestVirginia

Teachersofseniors,encourageyourstudentstoapply.WeoftengetveryfewMinnesotaapplicants!TwograduatingseniorsfromMinnesotawillbechosenforthisprestigiousFREEsciencecampinthemountainsofWestVirginia.TheNYSCampisaresidentialSTEMprogramdesignedtohonorandchallengesomeofthenation’srisingSTEMleaders.AttheNYSCamp,STEMprofessionalspresentlecturesandleadsmall-groupdirectedstudiesonabroadarrayofSTEMtopics;somedelegatesareabletoconductresearchatthenearbyGreenBankObservatory.TheNYSCampexperiencealsofeaturesexcursionsintotheMonongahelaNationalForestincludingbackpacking,rock-climbing,caving,kayakingandmountainbiking.DelegatesarerequiredtoparticipateintheNYSCampprogramforitsentirety;thefast-pacedactivitiesandremotelocationsimplymaketraveltoandfromtheNYSCampverydifficult.TheNYSCampisoffered

toselectedparticipantsatNOCOSTsothattalentedstudentsmayattendregardlessoftheirfinancialability–transportationincluded.MinnesotausestheNYSCamp’sonlineapplicationsystem.Formoreinformationcontactjohn.c.olson@state.mn.us,Minnesotacoordinator.TheapplicationdeadlineisFebruary28.

*LakeSuperiorYouthSymposiumMay16-19,Duluth

Youthingrades8-12willexperiencethescience,art,cultureandchallengesofprotectingoneofthegreatestbodiesoffreshwaterontheplanet-LakeSuperior.Activitieswillincludehands-onworkshops,research,fieldtripsintheDulutharea,dynamicspeakersandafinalnightpizzapartyanddanceattheGreatLakesAquarium!

Workwithscientists,engineersandartiststoexplorethemanywaysyoucanengagewiththeenvironmentandpursueyourpassions.Internationallyknownspeakerand2013CNNHeroChadPregrackeisslatedforthekeynoteaddresstotalkabouthiscareercleaningupriverswhichstartedwhenhewas17.

StartplanningnowforyourgrouptocometoUMDandbepartofthisamazingexperience.Theregistrationfeeis$200perparticipantandincludeshousingmealsandactivities.Scholarshipstolow-incomestudentswilllikelybeavailable.Visitthesymposiumwebsiteformoreinformation

ScienceandEngineeringCompetitions• MinnesotaScienceOlympiad• ScienceandEngineeringFairandScienceBowl• FIRSTLegoLeague,FIRSTTechChallenge,FIRSTRobotics• SupermileageChallenge• RealWorldDesignChallenge• Toshiba/NSTAExploraVision• NSTAAngelaAward–girlsgrades5–8• MNScholarsofDistinction–highschool• NationalYouthScienceCamp–twoMinnesotaDelegates

MinnesotaProgramsandCompetitionsManycompetitions,out-of-schoolprogramsandfieldtripopportunitiesarepostedattheMn-STEMwebsiteandlistedintheReachfortheStarsCatalogofProgramsandActivities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MDEScienceContacts:

JohnOlson,ScienceContentSpecialist,@JohnCasperOlsonJimWood,ScienceAssessmentSpecialistJudiIverson,ScienceAssessmentSpecialistSendsubmissionsfortheScienceUpdatetoJohnOlson

OtherMinnesotaLinks:

Minn.Dept.ofEducationSciencePageMinn.ScienceTeachersAssociationFrameworksforMNScienceandMathematicsStandardsGet–STEMConnectionsbetweenschoolsandbusinessesMn-STEMSTEMprogramsandresourcesforfamilies,schoolsandcommunitySharingEnvironmentalEducationKnowledgeenvironmentaleducationresources

MinnesotaAcademyofScience:ScienceFair,ScienceBowlandothercompetitionsMnDNREducationwebsite:Curriculum,professionaldevelopment,posters,etc.