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E-Blast for July 11, 2009
In this E-Blast
- Leadership
- The Science Matters Network in Michigan
- MDE Science
- K-12 Science
- Year of Science - The Month of July Features Astronomy
- Project Learning Tree Grants
- Seeds for Education Grants
- 2009 Earth Day Challenge Filmmaking Contest
- NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate
- Michigan Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Update Now Available
- Michigan Sea Grant Publication Available for Free
- Top 20 Science Websites
- High School Science
- Middle School and High School Science
- Middle School Science
- Elementary School Science
- June Contest Winners and July Contest
- Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Deadlines
Here are your science education resources and announcements for July 9, 2009 provided by Building a Presence for Science. These science education highlights are emailed to Key Leaders, Points of Contact and State Partners. Please forward them on to other science educators in your school. If you have questions or comments, please forward them to:
David Bydlowski
Michigan Coordinator - Building a Presence
bydlowd@resa.net
http://nsta.org/bap
http://www.msta-mich.org/bap
or
Sue Campbell
MSTA Representative
sue@ucia2.com
http://www.msta-mich.org
1. Leadership
I am a person of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to flexible at all times.
Everett Dirksen
Thank you to Herm Boatin, Science consultant and lecturer, University of Michigan-Dearborn, for contributing this leadership quote.
2. The Science Matters Network In Michigan
Only One eBlast in July and August
Please keep in mind that the e-blast will only come out once in July and once in August. The August eBlast will come out on August 20, then we will go back to our regular twice a month schedule (2nd and 4th Thursday of the month) in September. I hope you are having a wonderful summer!
Your Certificate of Appreciation for 2008-2009 is Ready for You to Download!
Are you a Building a Presence/Science Matters for Science Super Key Leader, Key Leader, or Point of Contact? You can now print a certificate of appreciation for the 2008 - 2009 school year. Just go to the following link, select your certificate type, and print! Thanks for all the work you have done to promote Building a Presence for Science.
http://www.msta-mich.org/bapcert/
MDE Science
Changes for the 2009 Fall MEAP Test
Here is a listing of the changes that will take place in the 2009 Fall MEAP Tests:
- Schedule will be more flexible - OEAA received a lot of feedback on last years' schedule. Some liked administering one subject a day and others did not like it. For the fall 2009 MEAP ELA, Session 1 and Session 2 will be administered on different days.
- Answer documents will have the barcode labels preprinted.
- There will be no separate make-up assessment forms. Schools will use the initial test for make-ups.
- Coordinator Handbook will be eliminated. Information will be included in the grade level Test Administrator Manuals.
- Reading test will be administered in grades 3-8.
- Writing test will be administered in grades 4 and 7 only.
- There will be no ELA score.
- There will be no constructed response items on math, science or social studies.
- To save costs, audio-cassettes and VHS tapes of accommodated versions will be eliminated.
Do You Want to Help Set National Standards?
In February, an original email was sent out asking for names to nominate as outstanding people with science expertise from Michigan to participate in setting the national standards for NAEP science assessment. They would participate October 7-11, 2009. There is another opportunity for participation on Jan 27-31, 2010.
Teachers should be current 4th, 8th, or 12th grade science teachers. Non-teacher educators may include college faculty, curriculum specialists, and other administrative school personnel with knowledge of science curriculum for 4th, 8th, or 12th grade students. The general public (parents, business, other professionals) may also be considered if they use science in their work. You must include the candidate's familiarity with subject matter/content area and why you believe the candidate would be outstanding above others. You must indicate their professional activities, awards, and honors. The first selection priority will be the qualifications of the nominees. Please share this and nominate anyone who you feel is qualified. Please include their contact information/qualifications. Also, please feel free to nominate yourself... after all you are involved with science education. Please note there is a September 1, 2009 deadline for this round.
For more information and to apply, please go to:
http://www.act.org/naepscience
K-12 Science
Year of Science - The Month of July Features Astronomy
Astronomy, the oldest science in history, has played an important role in most, if not all, cultures over the ages. Thanks to advanced telescopes and space probes, astronomy continues to be a trailblazer, enhancing our knowledge by delivering breathtaking discoveries almost on a weekly basis. Everyone should realize the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society.
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. Watch the official trailer for the IYA2009. To keep up to date on astronomy information and events happening in the United States during IYA2009, please visit:
http://www.astronomy2009.us
To celebrate astronomy, on the Year of Science 2009 website, please visit:
http://www.yearofscience2009.org/themes_astronomy/celebrate/
Project Learning Tree Grants
Project Learning Tree offers GreenWorks! Grants to engage teachers and students with their local community in learning-by-doing environmental projects. Projects enable schools to make a positive impact on their communities.
The $250 to $1000 category requires: training in PLT project; planning and implementing a project; integration of student learning and community service; inclusion of at least one community partner; a 50% funding match, and completion in one year.
The $1,001 - $5,000 category requires: applicants to meet all of the above requirements; involvement of increased numbers of students and community partners; and a plan to administer a Project Learning Tree professional development workshop for the staff of the school(s) sponsoring the proposal.
The deadline is October 31, 2009
Before making application, you must contact:
Ada Takacs Michigan DNR 8717 North Roscommon Rd. Roscommon, MI 48653
Phone: 989-275-5151 ext 2049
Email: takacsa@michigan.gov
Web: http://www.michiganplt.org
Seeds for Education Grants
This Grant Program gives small monetary grants to schools for the purpose of establishing outdoor learning centers. Grant recipients are those which most successfully reflect the Wild Ones mission to educate and share information about the benefits of using native plants in landscaping and promoting biodiversity and sound practices. The deadline to apply is November 15. For more information, please visit: http://www.for-wild.org/seedmony.html
2009 Earth Day Challenge Filmmaking Contest
The Pearson Foundation and the Mobile Learning Institute (MLI), invite K-12 students to develop a brief, 2-5 minute film that shares their views on the earth's future and the importance of combating climate change. The first-place team will receive a Flip HD camcorder and a digital-arts-ready laptop loaded with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0, Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0, and QuickTime. The second-place team will receive a Flip HD camcorder. Each member of five Honorable Mention teams will receive a Flip Ultra camcorder. The deadline to apply is September 1. For more information, please visit:
http://www.earthdaychallenge.org/awards.html
NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate
The NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project awards one-year fellowships each year to more than 40 current and prospective K-12 teachers. In partnership with state departments of education, Endeavor Fellows take five graduate courses in a live (online) format from the comfort of their home or school and learn to apply research-based pedagogical strategies and cutting-edge STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) content to their classroom contexts while becoming a part of a special network of like-minded educators across the nation. Endeavor Fellows will be awarded a NASA Endeavor Certificate in STEM Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, 15 graduate credits are awarded from other regionally accredited partners in higher education.
The application period began on July 1 and runs through September 30. Visit the Endeavor website at:
http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm
to learn more and apply.
Michigan Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Update June 2009 Edition Now Available
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Office of the Great Lakes has prepared this update at the request of Lt. Governor John Cherry to provide information on progress towards implementation of the MI-Great Lakes Plan, which was released in January 2009. Highlights include:
- MI-Great Lakes Plan: Our Path to Protect and Restore Michigan's Natural Treasures
- Lt. Governor Cherry Announces 'Green Jobs for Blue Waters' Initiative
- Advancing Michigan's Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Near-Term Actions Priorities
- President Obama's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- "Sustain Our Great Lakes" Program Announces $1.5 Million in Grants to Protect and Restore Great Lakes
- Recovery Act Funding Available for Michigan Clean Diesel Project
- Michigan Volunteer Stream Monitoring Grant Awards for 2009
- Michigan Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Grant Awards for 2009
- Recovery Act Funding Announcements
The Michigan Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Update June 2009 Edition is available at
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/MI-GL-Plan-Update6-09_281553_7.pdf
Michigan Sea Grant Publication Available for Free
The summer edition of upwellings is now available online. Looking for a new beach to try out this summer? Wondering what aquaculture is all about? For answers, read upwellings, Michigan Sea Grant's quarterly newsletter. To download a copy, please visit:
http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/upwellings
Top 20 Science Websites
Here are the 20 Largest Science Websites ranked by a combination of Inbound Links, Google Page Rank, Alexa Rank, and U.S. traffic data from Compete and Quantcast. All you have to do is visit: http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/science?003d4940
High School Science
Why Physics Campaign
The Why Physics? campaign is a joint effort between AAPT and APS to help high school physics teachers market physics to high school students, and to inform high school students, parents, and guidance counselors about the many benefits of taking a physics course in high school. A physics course can be of great benefit to a high school student for a variety of reasons. AAPT and APS decided to launch the Why Physics? campaign in response to a number of disturbing reports they have received from high school physics teachers who have noted that guidance counselors and parents often dissuade students from taking physics. The Why Physics? campaign seeks to develop a multi-pronged strategy that will harness AAPT and APS's collective resources to reach high school students in a variety of ways.
By far the most knowledgeable person about physics in any high school is the physics teacher, of which there is usually only one in any given school. Therefore, they are designing a large part of their campaign around enlisting and empowering physics teachers to be strong advocates for physics in their schools. AAPT's journal The Physics Teacher (TPT) reaches thousands of teachers every month, and using it as a vehicle for getting materials and information into the hands of physics teachers does is cost-effective. They are designing an eye-catching poster with a list of ten reasons to take physics, which will be disseminated as an insert in TPT for teachers to put on their classroom wall, or perhaps even on their science department wall; they will also disseminate this poster at AAPT meetings.
In addition to the poster, they have commissioned an op-ed piece for TPT from a high school physics teacher who has developed a number of successful strategies to recruit students into physics courses, and who has shown leadership in this area. Warren Hein, the Executive Officer of AAPT, will also devote one of his monthly columns to this issue. Additionally, they have discussed the idea of creating a brochure with proven strategies that physics teachers can use to increase their enrollments; these could also be hosted on the web. Many of the ideas or the above efforts have come from AAPT-hosted online communities such as Physics First, PTRAs, and PhysTEC Teachers-in-Residence.
Finally, they recognize that they cannot simply rely on teachers to counteract the anti-physics influence of uninformed counselors and parents, but that they must also provide information directly to these constituencies. Through the ComPADRE project, APS and AAPT are developing a website focusing on physics careers that will have information targeting high school students and their parents, and possibly also guidance counselors. This website is due to launch in the coming months, and their print materials will refer readers to the site. In addition, they are looking into the possibility of developing materials such as brochures for guidance counselors, and disseminating these through the American School Counselors Association, which has nearly 5,000 high school guidance counselors as members.
For more information, please contact:
Marilyn B. Gardner
Director of Communications
American Association of Physics Teachers
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3845
301-209-3306 - Fax 301-209-0845
mgardner@aapt.org
Golf Outing to Support the Michigan Envirothon
The 2nd Annual Golf Outing will take place on August 20, 2009 to raise funds for the Michigan Envirothon! Join them for a four-person golf scramble at the well-manicured Timber Ridge Golf Course in East Lansing. Golf gear rental is available, and 18 holes will be played, riding carts provided. For more information please contact:
Svenja Drebes at 517-324-4421, mienvirothon@macd.org
Or
Michelle Mitchell at 989-791-5960, mlmitchell@cmsenergy.com
Middle School and High School Science
Launch and Propulsion Educators Guide for Grades 6-12
The fifteen lesson plans in this guide help students learn about the science of rockets, principles of rocketry and the laws of motion. Student texts are included so that students may read about variables, forces and motion, and NASA's history and future. Students learn which variables affect the performance of a rocket. In the assessment, students engage in a competition wherein they apply what they have learned about rockets to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible. To download the guide, please visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Ares_Educator_Guide.html
Middle School Science
Training Workshops for Afterschool Universe Astronomy Program
Afterschool Universe is a hands-on astronomy program targeted at middle school out-of-school-time settings. It explores basic astronomy concepts through hands-on activities and focuses on a journey through the universe beyond the solar system.
A free, 2-day training workshop is being held on July 23-24, 2009 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. This training will prepare participants to lead the program or train others to do so. All attendees who complete the training will receive a printed and bound copy of the program manual at the end of the workshop. Most of the materials to run the program are easily available at grocery stores and craft supplies stores. A free kit of a few materials that need to be ordered from specialized retailers is given to those who commit to run the program for the target audience (approximately a $50 value). Workshop attendees also receive access to a password-protected Web site that has additional resources to help with the implementation.
Registration for this training session is due July 17, 2009. Register by visiting http://universe.nasa.gov/au/register.html
For more information about the program, visit:
http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool/
Questions about this program should be directed to the project coordinator at: Sarah.E.Eyermann@nasa.gov
DCAT Making a Difference Award
This award will recognize and honor excellence in a science program developed and implemented by middle-level science teachers, grades 6-9. Entries must show innovative and effective teaching strategies combined with a science program that has influenced students to explore and investigate science and its application to global problems. To be eligible, you must have an innovative middle-level science programs. The award is $2,500 to be used to enhance or expand the winning science program; the winning school's lead science teacher and principal will be awarded coach airfare and two nights' hotel accommodation to attend NSTA's National Conference. The deadline to apply is November 30. For more information, please visit:
http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx?lid=tnav#dcat
Elementary and Middle School Science
Zula International Early Science Educator Award for K-2 Teachers
The Zula International - NSTA Early Science Educator Awards recognizes and honors two (2) full-time PreK-2 teachers who successfully use innovative inquiry-based science to enhance science teaching and learning in their classroom. To be eligible, you must be a PreK-2 teacher with membership in one of the following: NSTA, CESI, NAEYC, or NHSA. The award is $1,000 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference and $400 for the awardee. Last year only 13 teachers applied for this award, so you are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this wonderful award. The application deadline is November 30. For more information, please visit:
http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx?lid=tnavhp#zula
Moon Munchies Educator Guide for Grades K-4
Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long-duration missions to the moon. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon, and the plants could be used to supplement meals. In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and the International Technology Education Association, or ITEA, present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers -- while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. The lesson plans in this guide encourage students to participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.
The Moon Munchies Educator Guide is available as a complete guide or can be downloaded in easy-to-use individual lesson plans. To download the guide, please visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Moon_Munchies.html
The Courage to Soar Higher Educator Guide for Grades 4-6
This integrated unit allows students to launch pop rockets; create a pop-up book about the solar system; build Mars colonies; and learn about the history of NASA and space exploration. Some activities include vocabulary lists and reading selections. Each of the 20 lessons in this guide, support national mathematics, science, technology, geography and language arts standards. To download the guide, please visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Courage_to_Soar_Higher.html
Toshiba Grant for K-6 Teachers
The Toshiba America Foundation targets projects that focus on improving science and math education and the science and math of technology for K-6. Projects should follow the national math and science standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2009. For more information, please visit: http://www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/about/HowApply.jsp
June Contest Winners and July Contest
In June, we gave away six $10 iTunes gift cards. Here is a list of the winners:
- Carole Gutteridge-Fenton Public Schools
- Tami Wittenberg-White Pigeon Middle School, White Pigeon Community Schools
- Stacey Barnard-Stevenson Middle Schools, Wayne-Westland Community Schools
- Mandy Springer-Kendon Elementary, Lansing Public Schools
- Barb Beck-Evergreen Elementary, Allendale Public Schools
- Karen Beaubien-St. Raphael School, Garden City
Congratulations to all of the winners. If you did not win, keep trying. This month may be your lucky month.
This month we have four wonderful prizes to give away this month. Each prize is an Meijers Gift Card.
To win one of these prizes, send an email to:
David Bydlowski
bydlowd@resa.net
State Coordinator for Building a Presence
You MUST INCLUDE your name AND mailing address AND your school name/district.
You may only enter once and only one entry per email address. Respondents 1, 15, 30, and 45 will receive a prize. We will post all of the winners in our next E-Blast. Good luck to you and thank you for being part of the Michigan Science Matters Network.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- January 1-December 31, 2009: The Year of Science. For more information, please visit: http://www.yearofscience2009.org
- July 11-16, 2009: The 2009 Michigan Youth Policy Summit on Greenhouse Gas Reduction, to be held at Western Michigan University for 11th and 12th Grade Students. For more information, please contact: Annemarie Fussell at Keystone (afussell@keystone.org; 970-455-4231) or Susan Grammer at WMU (susan.grammer@wmich.edu; 269-387-8642).
- July 17, 2009: Deadline for Middle School Teachers to apply for the free two day training for the Afterschool Universe Astronomy Program to be held in Greenbelt, MD. For registration information, please visit: http://universe.nasa.gov/au/register.html
- July 25 - 26, 2009: American Association of Physics Education Summer Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, please visit: http://www.aapt.org/Events/sm2009/registration.cfm
- August 2-6, 2009: ChemEd Conference in Radford, Virginia. For more information, please visit: http://www.radford.edu/chemed2009/
- August 16-22, 2009: World Water Week. For more information, please visit: http://www.worldwaterweek.org/
- August 20, 2009: Golf Outing to support the Michigan Envirothon at the Timber Lakes Golf Course in East Lansing, MI. For more information please contact: Svenja Drebes at 517-324-4421, mienvirothon@macd.org
- September 1, 2009: Deadline for K-12 Students to develop a brief, 2-5 minute film that shares their views on the earth's future and the importance of combating climate change. For more information please visit: For more information, please visit: http://www.earthdaychallenge.org/awards.html
- September 1, 2009: Deadline to apply to help set the national standards for the NAEP science assessment. To apply, please visit: http://www.act.org/naepscience
- September 25, 2009: Michigan Green Chemistry Conference "Green Up." For more at the Downtown DoubleTree Hotel in Detroit, MI. For more information, please visit: http://www.michigan.gov/deqworkshops
- September 29, 2009: 2nd Annual Aquatic Academy for Teachers hosted by the Muskegon Watershed Assembly. For more information, please download: http://www.mrwa.org/repository/pdf/brochure.pdf
- September 30, 2009: Deadline for K-12 teachers to apply for the NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate. For more information, please visit: http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm
- October 8-10, 2009: The Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education will be held at the University of Michigan, Dearborn Campus. For more information, please visit: http://www.michiganenvironmentaled.org/index.html
- October 22, 2009: Initial Test Date for the 5th and 8th grade science MEAP assessments.
- October 24, 2009: MDSTA Fall Conference at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. For more information please contact Kelvin Wise at: wisepill@aol.com
- October 31, 2009: Deadline for Project Learning Tree Greenworks Grants. For more information, please contact Ada Takacs at: takacsa@michigan.gov
- November 5, 2009: YES! Expo 2009 for middle school and high school students at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. For more information, please visit: http://www.yes.mtu.edu/
- November 15, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Seeds of Education Grants. For more information, please visit: http://www.for-wild.org/seedmony.html
- November 18, 2009: Fall Science Update at Grand Valley State University from 8:00 - 3:00. For more information, please contact Margo Dill at: dillm@gvsu.edu
- November 30, 2009: Deadline for K-2 Science Teachers to apply for the Zula International Early Science Educator Award. For more information, please visit: http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx?lid=tnavhp#zula
- November 30, 2009: Deadline for Grade 6-9 Teachers to apply for the DCAT Making a Difference Award. For more information, please visit: http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx?lid=tnav#dcat
- March 4-6, 2010: MSTA Conference in Lansing, MI. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org
To subscribe to the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please visit: http://nsta.org/bap
To unsubscribe from the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please contact your Key Leader or email David Bydlowski, Michigan Coordinator for the Building a Presence Science Network, at bydlowd@resa.net.