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E-Blast November 27, 2008
In this E-Blast
- Leadership
- Building a Presence
- MDE Science
- K-12 Science
- Middle and High School Science
- Middle School Science
- November Contest Winners
- Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Here are your science education resources and announcements for November 27, 2008 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
It isn't the incompetent who destroy an organization. The incompetent never get in a position to destroy it. It is those who achieved something and want to rest upon their achievements who are forever clogging things up.
F.M. Young
Thank you to Herm Boatin, Science consultant and lecturer, University of Michigan-Dearborn, for contributing this leadership quote.
Building a Presence
Happy Thanksgiving from Building a Presence
Among the many things that I give thanks for are loyal science educators like you, who have helped make Building a Presence a success for all of us, this year. Happy Thanksgiving! Let's use this day to ensure the spirit of giving and being genuinely thankful is instilled in all of us.
MDE Science
Bill Welch Speaks at MSELA
Bill Welch, interim Science Consultant for MDE, recently spoke at the Michigan Science Education Leadership Association's Fall Dinner Meeting at the Walled Lake Outdoor Environmental Center. He shared his thoughts on a few topics:
- MDE is producing a document on Writing Across the Curriculum and science will be inc luded. There will be 23 strategies to use a part of the instructional process on Writing to Learn and Writing to Demonstrate Knowledge.
- The K-7 Companion Documents are still not approved for distribution. The process is continuing. It is taking a little longer then expected because some of the expectations were modified and some expectations were moved within grade levels. These changes were made to improve content accuracy and to make units more complete.
- An online science survey to determine the alignment of your curriculum with the Michigan science standards will be available soon.
- A group of teachers from K-16 met recently to review the standards for the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, MTTC (elementary). The test will be much more rigorous and will follow the new content expectations. It will be used for the first time in 2013.
- Science Builder, the vocabulary tool, has been a great success. If you need a CD, please contact your math and science center. You can also use the online version at:
http://www.sciencebuilder.com/michigan.php
Please remember that the username is michigan (all lower case) and the password is science (all lower case). - A group of technical education teachers and content teachers met during the past two weeks to correlate the Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards with the content standards. They hope to find a match, which would allow the CTE teacher to grant content credit in the CTE class.
- At the most recent staff meeting for MDE, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan has challenged the education community to utilize technology to support instruction and all the work that we do.
K-12 Science
Earth Day Enthusiasts
No matter where you are located in Michigan, you are invited to join in the celebration of Earth Day! In anticipation of Earth Day 2009, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Web site will feature a section titled, 'Earth Day Michigan.' 'Earth Day Michigan' is an online map of the state, which highlights statewide events occurring in honor of Earth Day 2009. By clicking on a particular region, you may view event descriptions of celebrations in your area.
Through the creation of this site, they intend to generate greater participation in Earth Day. If you are aware of an event or activity that you would like featured on the site, please contact Mr. Michael Kennedy, kennedym7@michigan.gov, or Ms. Olivia Cohn, cohno@michigan.gov.
Please include the following information in your message:
- Name of event:
- Web site of event, (if available):
- Event location:
- Date and time:
- Price, (if applicable):
- Brief description of event:
After an initial base of events has been established, they will be posted online. This site will be updated on an ongoing basis through early April. For more information, please visit the 2008 Earth Day Michigan site at:
http://www.michigan.gov/deqenved
click on 'Earth Day,' and click on 'Earth Day Michigan Activities.' Celebrate Earth Day every day!
Michigan Environmental and Outdoor Conference 2009
The Michigan Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) will be having their conference next October 8-10 in Dearborn, at the University of Michigan, with a focus on urban environmental education. Save the dates on your calendar for this great event.
MSTA Conference in Detroit-March, 2009
The MSTA's 56th Annual Conference will be held at the Detroit Marriott Hotel in Detroit Michigan from March 5 - 7, 2009. Not only does the conference have over 280 sessions, but they have expanded on what teachers have said they needed. For example:
- An Elementary strand with over 30 sessions!
- SCST College strands!
- CEF (Convergence Education Foundation) sessions!
- MI Science Content Expectation Clarification sessions!
- Sessions for the K-7 GLCE's!
- Session on Brain Based Learning!
- Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum (DEQ) supporting: Air Quality; Ecosystems and Biodiversity; Energy Resources; Land Use; and Water Quality
- Sessions on renewable Energy!
- Sessions for a Green Economy!
- A presenter from Nigeria presentation on Early Years Exposure to science (EYES)!
And the popular OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Exhibits on Thursday, March 5, 2009 from 7 - 9 p.m. will return! That's right - NO CHARGE, everyone is invited. (Ontario Exhibit Hall). So mark your calendar! You don't want to miss ANY of the Science information and Exhibits! Registration is available NOW at:
http://www.msta-mich.org/conference/registration.php
NASA's Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project
The Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project (ESTCP) awards over 40 fellowships each year to in-service, alternative-route, and pre-service formal educators contributing to the development of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce based on NASA content and educational materials. The project helps to ensure that the Certificate in Applied Scien ce Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, contributes toward teacher licensure, assisting Fellows in becoming "highly qualified" science teachers. Fellows may earn a "Leadership Distinction" designation on their ESTCP Certificate. The ESTCP improves teachers' knowledge of pedagogical content as educators demonstrate changes in practice and apply science concepts.
Fellows come together to build an online community of practice as they complete a minimum of five exclusively online graduate-level "Short Courses," including Action Research. In addition, the project provides workshops for those who teach science teachers at schools of education. ESTCP and its workshops assist the educators in incorporating NASA content into methods and practicum courses for preservice teachers who may feed into the ESTC project. Educators serving underrepresented student populations are encouraged to apply.
- Endeavor Science Teachi ng Certificate Project website
- Frequently Asked Questions
Questions should be submitted electronically to the following e-mail address: nasa_endeavor@us-satellite.net. More information is available at: http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm
DTE Energy Foundation Mini Grants For Educators
The DTE Energy Foundation is accepting applications for its "Energy & Our World" Mini Grants for Educators program. Teachers of grades K-12 in public, non-public, and charter schools within DTE Energy's service territory may apply for the grants for interdisciplinary projects that incorporate problem-solving, decision making, and critical thinking skills. Grants typically range from $50 to $250. This year's funding will target projects that teach students about power generation, energy distribution, re newable energy technologies, environmental issues, and energy conservation. The deadline to apply is November 28, 2008. For information and an application form, visit:
http://www.dteenergy.com/minigrants
PD Opportunities for K-12 Teachers in the Muskegon Area
The West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) offers teachers the opportunity to learn the characteristics of placed-based education and how it impacts students, forge partnerships with community members, expand content knowledge on watersheds, and design a community-based project to implement in the 2008-2009 school year. WMGLSI is excited to be able to offer educators the following opportunities:
- Project Learning Tree
- Project Wet (Project Webfoot included in this session)
- Grant Writing 101 for Science Classrooms
- Great Lakes in My World
- Project Wild
- Water Quality Testing
For more information contact Melissa Maxson at 231-767-7336 or mmaxson@muskegonisd.org
Middle and High School Science
Interactive Online Resource for Weather
Both earth science teachers and general science teachers will be interested in this colorful and interactive website that shows worldwide weather. It has several useful features with advertising at the bottom that is so unobtrusive that you may not even notice it at first. Please visit the website at:
http://www.worldweathermeteo.com/WWMSat.html
Chemical Management in Schools Workshop
What is in your chemical cabinets? Do you need help in managing the chemicals in your school? Come to an interactive FREE workshop to explore the chemical management in schools resources developed through a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. You will receive a workbook and CD plus optional follow up assistance from the Chemical Management in Schools team. The workshop is for teachers, administrators, and other educators. It will be held on December 9, 2008, from 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM. The location is the GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute Lake Michigan Center, 740 W. Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, Michigan. There is no charge for this workshop, but pre-registration is necessary to assure that you receive the materials. For more information contact Dr. Janet Vail (vailj@gvsu.edu or 231-728-3601).
Middle School Science
Contest for Middle School Students
The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge asks teams of 2-3 students, led by a teacher or mentor, to create sustainable, reproducible environmental improvements in their local communities. Deadline is March 15, 2009. Information is available at:
http://wecanchange.com
Christopher Columbus Awards for Middle School Science
The Christopher Columbus Awards is a national, community-based science and technology program for middle school students. The program challenges students to work in teams of three to four, with an adult coach, to identify a problem in their community and apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution to that problem. Eight finalist teams and their coaches wi ll receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend national Championship Week and compete for valuable U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant, plus a $200 development grant to further refine their idea. For more information, please visit:
http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com
November Contest Winners
This month gave away 10 science CD's. Here is a list of the winners:
- Rebecca Briggs, Haviland Elementary-Waterford School District
- Aaron Segedi, Arthurs Middle School-Trenton Public Schools
- Kerri deBest, FC Reed Middle School-Bridgman Public Schools
- Kari Dawley, Gladwin Junior High School-Gladwin Public Schools
- Stacey Johnson, Cole Academy-Lansing
- Tom Baeckeroot, Bellaire High School-Bellaire Public Schools
- Mary Margaret Utess, St. Casimir School-Lansing
- Madeleine Karcz, Mark Twain School and Academy-Detroit Public Schools
- Connie Atkisson, O.W. Holmes Elementary-Detroit Public Schools
- Agnes Carter, Glen Lake Elementary-Maple City Schools
Congratulations to all of the winners. If you did not win, keep trying. Next month may be your lucky month.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- November 28, 2008: Deadline to apply for the DTE Energy Foundation-Energy and Our World Mini-Grants for Educators. For more information, please visit: http://www.dteenergy.com/minigrants
- November 28, 2008: Deadline for schools to register for the ENO Climate Change Campaign 2009. For more information, please visit: http://enocc.blogspot.com/
- November 30, 2008: Deadline to apply for Cohort 1 of the Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project. For more information, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/Endeavor_Science_Teaching_Certificate_Project.html
- December 1, 2008: Deadline for students in grades 7-12 to apply for the 2009 Team America Rocketry Challenge. For more information, please visit: http://www.rocketcontest.org/
- December 10, 2008: Deadline for students to apply to present student research at the Southeastern Michigan Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at Wayne State University. For more information, please visit: http://coe.wayne.edu/ted/jshs/deadlines.htm
- December 15, 2008: Deadline to apply for the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association's Outstanding Middle School Teacher Award. For more information, please visit: http://www.nmlsta.org/
- December 18, 2008: Deadline for middle school and high school students to enter the Michigan Society for Medical Research Essay Contest. Full information can be found at: http://www.mismr.org/services/essay/2009msessaycontest.pdf or http://www.mismr.org/services/essay/2009hsessaycontest.pdf
- December 20, 2008: Deadline to enter the Chemistry Lesson Plan Competition. For more information, please visit: http://www.chemed.org/Lesson_Plan.html
- January 1 - December 31, 2009: The Year of Science. For more information, please visit: http://www.yearofscience2009.org
- January 13, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. For more information, please visit: http://www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm
- January 15, 2009: Deadline to enter the International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment. For more information, please visit: http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/inner.asp?ct=competitions&comp=int_comp&int_comp=18th
- January 21, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Toyota TAPESTY Grants. For more information, please visit: http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/
- January 23, 2009: Deadline to register for the USA Biology Olympiad. For more information, please visit: http://cee.org/usabo/index.shtml
- January 28, 2009: Deadline to apply for the ExploraVision Awards Program. For more information, please visit: http://www.exploravision.org
- January 31, 2009: Deadline for 3-6 grade students to enter the Kid's Science Challenge. For more information, please visit: http://www.kidsciencechallenge.com
- February 4, 2009: Deadline for the Christopher Columbus Awards for Middle School Projects. For more information, please visit: http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com
- February 9, 2009: Deadline for teachers to apply for the ARMADA Marine Project. For more information, please visit: http://www.armadaproject.org
- February 12, 2009: Charles Darwin Bicentennial Day. For more information, please visit: http://darwinday.org/englishL/assistevent/index.html
- February 13, 2009: Deadline to register for the Michigan Environthon for High School Students. For more information, please visit: http://www.macd.org:80/envirothon.html
- March 5-6, 2009: Southeastern Michigan Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at Wayne State University. For more information, please visit: http://coe.wayne.edu/ted/jshs/
- March 5-7, 2009: Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Detroit. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org/conference
- March 6, 2009: Deadline to apply for Cohort 2 of the Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project. For more information, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/Endeavor_Science_Teaching_Certificate_Project.html
- March 13, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Research Experiences for K-12 Teachers (RET). For more information, please visit: http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/ret/
- March 15, 2009: Deadline for middle school students to apply for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. For more information, please visit: http://wecanchange.com
- March 16, 2009: Deadline for students to enter the 4th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. For more information, please visit: http://www.ashg.org/education
- March 19-22, 2009: National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. For more information please visit: http://www.nsta.org/conferences/2009new/
- April 6, 2009: Deadline to apply for the 2009 Thacher Scholars Awards for students in grades 9-12. For more information, please visit: http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars
- April 24, 2009: Michigan High School Math and Science Symposium at Grand Valley State University. For more information, please visit: http://www.gvsu.edu/rmsc
- May 1, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Grades 7-12. For more information, please visit: http://www.paemst.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).
- August 2-6, 2009: ChemEd Conference in Radford, Virginia. For more information, please visit: http://www.radford.edu/chemed2009/
- October 9-11, 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
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