Hello,

I hope you all had a great close to the school year with students and in this month's newletter you will find professional development resources that may help support you this summer. Check out the resources using the link below!

I am also writing today as I am moving out of this role with the Kansas State Department of Education and will be working at the University of Arkansas/School of Education next year teaching graduate science education courses and working on an equity teacher preparation project. If you need to reach me after June 4 please do so at lizette.burks@gmail.com.

I have thoroughly enjoyed these last three years helping support curriculum, instruction, and assessments state-wide for science. I was an 8th grade science teacher when the current Kansas Standards for Science (NGSS) were adopted and I took this role in hopes of supporting implementation of what this vision has in store for students. It has been an honor supporting the transition from scientific inquiry to three-dimensional learning found in our standards. What I can say for sure is that this vision is definitely worth all of our hard work happening across the state!

If you are interested in leading science education with the Kansas State Department of Education my job will be posted on this site in the future. I will be at the Kansas Excellence in Math/Science Teaching Conference KSDE is holding in June at Newman University. I hope to see you there and the deadline to sign up was extended!

Thank you for all that you do and again it has been an honor to serve in this role. Have a great summer!

www.smore.com/2fveb

 

Lizette Burks, Ed.D. Science Education Consultant Career Standards & Assessment Services (785) 296-8108 lburks@ksde.org www.ksde.org/science Kansas State Department of Education LANDON STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 900 SW JACKSON STREET, SUITE 653, TOPEKA, KS 66612

Registration closed May 24.

Registration for  Chemistry Modeling Workshop offered at Fort Hays State University will still be accepted until this coming Friday, May 24.  Any interested teacher should contact Earl Legleiter (303-801-8401),  Paul Adams (785-628-5344), or Ann Noble (785-628-5449) at the FHSU Science and Math Education Institute as soon as possible. 

SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION INSTITUTE

The Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) at Fort Hays State University developed from a strong desire to improve and embrace the education of science and mathematics in Kansas. By bringing together an extensive network of educators and pedagogy enthusiastics, SMEI hopes to strengthen the comprehension of these necessary skills in not only kindergarten through 12th grade and college students, but also the surrounding community. Check out upcoming summer opportunities!

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS Summer

• Modeling Instruction in Chemistry Workshop June 17-28, 2019  Registration closed May 24.
  
  
• Engineering for Middle School Teachers Workshop June 17 - 18, 2019 (stipend available)

• NASA Earth System Science Teacher Workshop July 22-25, 2019 (stipend available)

KSDE Math/Science Summer Conference: June 17-18 (Wichita)

Registration extended-- still available. 

STEM Reimagined is the theme for the 2019 KSDE Kansas Excellence in Math and Science Teaching Conference. PBL has been a wide-spread conversation throughout the state, but what are critical components for PBL in the K-12 science classroom? No matter the instructional model you use (PBL, 5E method, problem-based learning, etc.) come find out strategies that are critical to all instructional models that will help support student sensemaking in science aligned to the Kansas Standards for Science (NGSS).

The mornings will include guest speakers from Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics and others and chances to learn from expert math and science teachers in Kansas. The afternoon K-12 science presenters were part of a professional development project KSDE held this past year to help support the transition from scientific inquiry to three-dimensional teaching and learning (NGSS). These master science teachers implemented a high quality unit of instruction this year and are ready to share some of the best strategies they learned with you (driving question boards, talk moves, etc.). Graduate credit is available and registration closes May 24. http://bit.ly/2ZQndbZ

Free Materials Camp for HS Teachers: June 17-21 (Kansas City)

Join the fun this summer in Kansas City where you will learn the basics of Materials Science Technology as taught at the high school level. During this cost-free, week-long camp, you will work hands-on with metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites.  Participating teachers will leave with a comprehensive series of low/no cost laboratory demonstrations in applied science to use in chemistry, physics, math, technology, and industrial arts. You will also have an opportunity to earn 4 CEU credits through the ASM Education Foundation. http://bit.ly/2Hi9wtS

 

Science & Our Food Supply Free PD Workshop: June 1 & 7 (Wichita)

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have created Science and Our Food Supply, a hands-on curriculum for use in middle level and high school. During this one day workshop, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in food science experiments, explore food safety issues, and will become familiar with the lessons and activities in the Science and our Food Supply Curriculum. This curriculum is helpful for formal and informal educators who teach life science, nutrition, health, and family & consumer science classes. http://bit.ly/2LGIhyC

 

Upcoming Environmental Education Workshops Across Kansas: Kansas Association for Conservation & Environmental Education

 

May 28 (Topeka) Environmental Education Summer Course

June 6 (Galena) Environmental Education in Southeast Kansas

Join us for this workshop and learn how to incorporate environment education into your curriculum/programs to make teaching across the curriculum fun and engaging. http://bit.ly/2E7L91q

 

July 9 (Olathe) Green Champion Energy Institute Workshop

Open to educators from the Olathe school district. Join other teachers in the Olathe District as we strive to become the first “green district” in the Kansas City area. You will walk away with hundreds of engaging, hands-on, inter-disciplinary materials and resources to incorporate into your classroom. http://bit.ly/2E7L91q

STEM Reimangined Through Project Based Learning

June 17-18, 2019

Newman University

3100 McCormick Ave., Wichita KS

STEM Reimagined is the theme for the 2019 Kansas Excellence in Math and Science Teaching Conference. Join fellow math and science teachers from across the state to review, refresh and retool STEM. This conference will focus on ways in which teachers can use STEM activities to implement Project Based Learning (PBL) in their classrooms. PBL has been a wide-spread conversation throughout the state, but what are critical components for PBL in the science classroom? No matter the instructional model you use (PBL, 5E method, problem-based learning, etc.) come find out strategies that are critical to all instructional models that will help support student sensemaking in science.

The mornings will include guest speakers from Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics, and others and chances to learn from expert math and science teachers in Kansas.  During the afternoons each day, grade-banded groups will be digging deep into science specific strategies that are critical to help support student sensemaking in science. This will be a great opportunity to be inspired and learn from others. Bring your team or just yourself. Either way, you will walk away with your plan to move instruction to the next level this coming fall.

The afternoon science presenters were part of a professional development project KSDE held this past year to help support the transition from scientific inquiry to three-dimensional teaching and learning. These master science teachers implemented a high quality unit of instruction this year and are ready to share some of the best strategies they learned with you.

 

Graduate credit is available and registration closes May 24. Thank you for your consideration.

http://bit.ly/2ZQndbZ

 

Complete KATS Program Link Here

Wendell G Mohling Foundation Award change!!

The Mohling Foundation has been giving an award amount of $500 since 2006. This is considered "incentive" money to assist in funding a K-12 Kansas science teacher to attend an NSTA conference of their choice, during the school year in which they are selected as the recipient. 

Beginning next year, we will award $700 to one K-12 Kansas science teacher to use toward attending an NSTA conference of their choice.  While we know this still is inadequate to fund the expense, we consider it as incentive money to encourage a school district to do the "right" thing and pay the balance of the cost. School districts need to invest in the success of their teachers and in 90% of the cases involving our winners, the districts have indeed risen to the challenge. 

For more information, or to download an application form, please visit our website: www.wendellmohlingfoundation.com or you may access our website from www.kats.org. Applications are due Oct 1. 

 

The Kansas State Science & Engineering Fair (KSSEF) brings together all students advancing from local and regional science fairs happening across the state. The Kansas State Science and Engineering Fair is an ongoing annual project, occurring on March 29. 2019, at the Cessna Activity Center in Wichita, Kansas. KSSEF represents an excellent opportunity for aspiring students across Kansas to challenge one another, and themselves, to expand their knowledge of the scientific fields. Students will gain experience in critical thinking, leadership, and develop their problem-solving skills. The winning students will receive numerous awards that include trophies, cash, and scholarships. 

Students competing at the KSSEF will have competed at one of the six regional science fairs within Kansas and finished in the top 25% of their respective division. Students are required to have completed their own scientific research and must present their findings in both written and oral formats. Students who were judged to be in the top 35, or 25%, of their division in the regional fair will advance to KSSEF. The fair will showcase over 200 projects from students in grades 4-12.

How to get involved with KSSEF. Volunteers in STEM related fields are scheduled to meet with students and judge their scientific research at KSSEF. We are in need of more judges and If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, please complete the application below or pass along to others you know that may be able to help out.

http://goo.gl/uydFSz

from: Lizette Burks: Member, KSSEF Board of Directors

Please find a link below to access the most recent KSDE Science Newsletter.

In this issue:

• Learn more about how phenomena are central to our Kansas Science Standards
• New classroom formative assessment resources
• National Science Curricular Review: EdReports (6-8 Material Reviews Are Out)
• Kansas educators invited to join scientists at SciComm

 

Thank you.

 

https://www.smore.com/njfc0

Earth and Space Science News, Events, and Resources

 

 

Apollo Next Giant Leap Student Challenge NASA’s Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline invites teams of students in grades 5-12 across the United States and territories to recreate the Apollo 11 moon landing using a drone and a LEGO Mindstorm robot. Organizations will run the Apollo Next Giant Leap Student (ANGLES) Challenge locally to select a team to advance to the nearest regional challenge hub. The top team at each regional challenge hub will earn the grand prize of a trip to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas!

 

 

Humans in Space Youth Art Competition!  The SciArt Exchange invites young people 10-18 years old to submit visual, literary, musical and video artwork about what we will do on the Moon and why it is important. Entries are due April 30, 2019.

 

Join us in person at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston or online on Thursday, March 7, to hear Dr. Hewett give an overview of the incredible observations the New Horizons mission made at Ultima Thule. This presentation is part of this year's Cosmic Exploration Speaker Series theme, "LPI at 50: A Half Century of Solar System Exploration."

 

 

The online LPI Earth and Space Science Newsletter has links to events, workshops, grants, opportunities for students, and other science news.