Dataspire is hosting a free virtual Strategy Share-Out for K–12 educators on Tuesday, March 3rd (4–5pm PST / 7–8pm EST): “Upgrade the Claim: Helping Students Level Up Their Data-Based Conclusions.” This one-hour session gives teachers a simple, classroom-ready routine to help students write stronger claims and reasoning from provided data visualizations—especially the kinds of graphs students see on state math and science assessments. Educators will leave with repeatable prompts they can use right away to build data sensemaking and strengthen CER responses. Register here: https://dataspire.mykajabi.com/strategy-share-out

2026 Philadelphia Institute: Teaching Students to Evaluate Sources and Claims

This 3-day Institute for middle and high school teachers will explore and connect two types of curricular materials that deepen students’ understanding of how to evaluate socio-scientific issues, such as the climate crisis, energy use, and food security, using instructional scaffolds called Lateral Reading and Model-Evidence Link Diagrams.

We are looking for school-based pairs of teachers who have overlapping student populations to apply as a team. Our vision is to partner one science teacher (particularly in Earth or environmental sciences) with either a social studies or English language arts teacher so the same student population experiences both types of curricular materials. Solo applicants from any of the three content areas will also be considered.

There will be two pre-Institute webinars (Mondays, May 4 and May 18, both 7-8 PM EDT) and a 3-day Institute (June 24-26 at Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, 1600 Vine Street, Philadelphia). Complete participation in the webinars and the Institute will result in a stipend of $900 per teacher.

Applications are due March 31, 2026; notification of selection decisions are expected no later than April 13th. Apply at https://bit.ly/LR-MEL-2026_PA

Questions can be directed to mel2institutes@gmail.com. We hope to see your application soon!

The NJSOC is proud to partner with the NJ Forest Service to "relaunch" Project Learning Tree in New Jersey. This award winning environmental education program is designed for preschool-grade 12 and provides activities and resources to engage students in learning about the environment through the lens of forests and trees. All lessons are aligned with NGSS and our workshops will also provide connections to NJ Climate Change Standards. 

For more information on upcoming workshops, go to: https://njsoc.org/events/category/educators/

Overview: NYS Camp is a fully in-person, residential STEAM program hosted in West Virginia and administered by the National Youth Science Academy (NYS Academy). Participation is provided at no cost to delegates, including housing, meals, academic programming, and transportation.

Dates: The 2026 NYSC will be held July 11 – August 1, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements (2026)

- Graduating Seniors: Graduate between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

- Rising Seniors (Current Juniors): Graduate between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

- Demonstrated academic excellence in STEAM

- Leadership, social maturity, and extracurricular achievement

- Curiosity and interest in STEAM careers

- Full availability for the entire program duration

Application Deadline: March 27, 2026

How to Apply: Applications are submitted via the NYS Camp Online Application System (https://airtable.com/appMdxwg3qQE1IHlD/shr3BNM7WQD9ee4yr). 

Rutgers Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Science is offering Summer Enrichment Academies for students in grades 3 to 5
Foundational Institute: Introduction to Design Thinking - Think Like an Engineer 

is a hands-on program offered for students in grades 3–5, running from July 20–24, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., designed to spark creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. During this engaging week, students will explore engineering concepts, design thinking, and maker-centered activities through interactive investigations and creative challenges. Participants will use tools such as Sphero robots, Ozobots, and beginner-friendly microcontrollers to build, program, test, and improve their designs while learning to apply the engineering design process. Through collaboration and guided experimentation, students will strengthen critical thinking, perseverance, and innovation skills. This experience provides a strong foundation for future participation in middle and high school Maker programs while fostering confidence and excitement for STEM learning.

For more information, go to: https://cmsce.rutgers.edu/summer-enrichment-academies

Rutgers Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Education is offering Summer Enrichment Academies for Middle and High School Students.

Middle & High School: Honors Design Thinking Summer Academy

Design • Engineer • Prototype

This intensive 5-day honors academy immerses middle and high school students in the engineering design process, from identifying real-world problems to designing, building, testing, and presenting innovative solutions. Students explore human-centered design, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving while working in collaborative teams.

Using professional tools and maker technologies—CAD, 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics, and microcontrollers—students transform ideas into functional prototypes. Throughout the week, students document their process and create a STEM-focused digital portfolio showcasing design thinking, iteration, and technical skills.

The academy culminates in formal presentations, where students communicate their design decisions, constraints, and impact—building confidence and college- and career-ready engineering skills.

More information can be found at: https://cmsce.rutgers.edu/summer-enrichment-academies

Astronomy Live: The Scientific Discoveries Led by Citizen Scientists

Tuesday, February 24, 2026
7:30 pm

Ever wondered how you can aid NASA in making new scientific discoveries?

Join Jackie Faherty, associate curator in the Museum’s Department of Astrophysics, to discover how everyday people are making extraordinary contributions to astronomy through hands-on participation in real scientific research. This program explores the groundbreaking discoveries made by citizen scientists, from identifying new exoplanets to tracking distant stars and galaxies. Learn how public collaboration with professional astronomers is accelerating our understanding of the universe and hear from current volunteers about their essential work.

Location Hayden Planetarium Space Theater

Find out more at: https://www.amnh.org/calendar/citizen-scientists

Hey Science Teachers!

Want to spend a summer at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY conducting research with Cary Scientists? Apply now for our Research Experiences for Teachers program. More information can be found on our website. Paid travel and housing available for out-of-area teachers. Contact Rebecca Van Tassell (vantassellr@caryinstitute.org) with questions. Applications due March 15, 2026.

Through the Cary BIORETS program teachers will:

• Increase their knowledge of ecology
• Develop their skills in conducting original research, including research design, implementation, and data analysis
• Increase their knowledge of effective pedagogy and curriculum design for building ecological and data literacy
• Be part of a collaborative community of middle and high school teachers, scientists and educational researchers.

Cary BIORETS includes:

• $8,800 stipend for full participation
• Six weeks of collaborative summer research in the field of ecology
• Four virtual school-year follow up sessions to support implementation of new curriculum
• A culminating in-person, two-day writing workshop to support teachers in publishing their work
• Mentorship by Cary scientists
• Collaborative professional learning opportunities
• Support to present at a regional conference or national conference
• Funding for purchasing classroom materials

Teachers who are eligible:

• Work as a middle or high school teacher in a STEM field (including biology, Earth science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering)
• Have worked in a classroom for at least one year
• Have an interest in increasing your and your students’ ecological literacy
• Be able to commit to the entirety of the program, including teaching new curriculum materials

We are particularly interested in teachers who:

• Work with historically marginalized and underserved students
• Work in under-resourced schools, including those in rural and urban communities.
• Have limited access to professional learning opportunities
• Want to engage in the translation of cutting edge research into meaningful learning experiences for students

The framework documents listed are all being published at https://www.nj.gov/education/standards/stamp/

 

Title	Date	Time	URL for registration
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6-8 Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science	2/13/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55076
Introduction to the Framework for 2nd Grade Science	2/23/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55291
Introduction to the Framework for 2nd Grade Science	2/27/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55292
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Life Sciences	3/9/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55111
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Physical Sciences	3/10/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55074
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Life Sciences	3/16/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55112
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Physical Sciences	3/17/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55075
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Earth & Space Sciences	3/19/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55251
Introduction to the Framework for Grades 6 - 8 Earth & Space Sciences	3/20/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55252
Introduction to the Framework for Third Grade Science	5/11/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55271
Introduction to the Framework for Third Grade Science	5/15/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55272
Introduction to the Framework for Kindergarten Science	5/19/2026	3:30 PM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55253
Introduction to the Framework for Kindergarten Science	5/20/2026	8:30 AM	https://homeroom5.doe.nj.gov/events/details.php?t=2;recid=55274

Students 2 Science (S2S), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring, motivating, and educating students in grades 3–12 to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Through hands-on lab experiences, we connect students with real STEM professionals and help them see how what they learn in the classroom comes to life. They are currently looking for future, past, or present educators and anyone passionate about teaching and learning to volunteer with our STEM programs, specifically our elementary programs. Many of the students we serve come from under-resourced communities and have had limited exposure to STEM learning opportunities. Volunteers play a key role in sparking curiosity, building confidence, and showing that learning science can be fun and achievable for everyone.

Below are two ways to get involved:

ISAAC Program
This program runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at both our Newark Technology Center (Newark, NJ) and our Apollo Technology Center (Whippany, NJ). Once an application is approved, volunteers can sign up for shifts through our volunteer portal. In this role, you’ll work directly with elementary*, middle, or high school students, guiding them through hands-on experiments and supporting their learning process—an excellent opportunity to gain real classroom-style experience. *Elementary is only hosted at our Whippany location.

Career Advancement Program (CAP)
Opportunities for CAP vary throughout the school year, depending on career panels and special events. This fall, we’re also launching a virtual mentorship program for students. If any of your members are interested in participating, I’d be happy to connect them with our CAP Director.

Those interested can fill out our Volunteer Application here: Volunteer Application - Students 2 Science.

Thank you for helping us share this opportunity with future educators who are eager to make a difference in the classroom and beyond. Together, we can help young learners develop curiosity, confidence, and excitement about STEM!