NJSTA shares regional science education and professional development opportunities to support science teaching and learning throughout New Jersey.  Check out the Events page for our calendar of NJSTA and regional events. Do you want to see your information highlighted as news article or in our newsletter? Please scroll down to find out how!

  • 12 Oct 2019 9:31 AM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    NJAMLE is preparing for our state conference being held at Kean University in March.  Adam Welcome, co-author of "Kids Deserve It" is the keynote speaker.

    If you are interested, please complete the Call for Presenters Form: https://forms.gle/QUDF66JogG7BRTzH8


    https://njamle.org Come learn, share, and connect -We're better together!


  • 12 Oct 2019 9:28 AM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    National STEM Scholar Program

    We need your help to share an all-expenses paid professional learning opportunity for middle school science teachers affiliated with your organization. Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 class of the National STEM Scholars Program, a program designed specifically for middle school science teachers inspiring the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pioneers nationwide. Please forward!

    Forward Forward

    An all-expenses-paid professional development opportunity for 10 select middle school science teachers

    Apply Now

    Seeking middle school science teachers who:

    • enjoy the creativity in teaching

    • are eager to share ideas with colleagues

    • are excited about networking with peers from across the U.S.

    • would like financial and academic support for great ideas

    The National STEM Scholar Program works to inspire the creativity and passion of middle school science teachers, ten of whom will be selected for this prestigious program. The next set of Scholars will be hosted by The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science and The Center for Gifted Studies from May 31 - June 6, 2020 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

    Scholars will engage in hands-on, minds-on science activities; connect with speakers and thought leaders in STEM education; learn with skilled science educators; and develop a creative Challenge Project for classroom implementation. Each Scholar will receive a Chromebook and funding for Challenge Project supplies and materials.

    National STEM Scholars will share midpoint progress with their colleagues while attending the National Science Teachers Association annual meeting in April 2021. Mentoring will be provided throughout the year by Western Kentucky University faculty.

    All expenses, including travel costs, materials, mentoring and Challenge Project supplies will be covered by a grant from the National Stem Cell Foundation.

    If you have questions, please call 270-745-6323 or email gifted@wku.edu.

    Application Deadline February 1
    Learn more & apply at

    wku.edu/gifted/nss


  • 12 Oct 2019 9:19 AM | NJSTA (Administrator)
    Scholastic View in browser
    Middle school contest—students and teachers win big!
    What's it like to visit space? Ask your students to use their problem-solving
    skills to create an innovation for travelers staying at a hotel in space.
    Students can compete to win an iPad and $1,000 for
    your classroom—bonus: chance to speak with astronauts!
    Start by completing our STEM lesson and activities that support the contest.
    ENTER NOW
    SCHOLASTIC.COM/OPENINGDOORSINSPACE


  • 5 Oct 2019 8:00 AM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    To support educators with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards,
    the Science Education Institute is offering
    a series of one-day NGSS workshops.
    These workshops are continuously updated
    based on national best practices.

     

    Making Crosscutting Concepts

    Explicit

    Grades K-5: Tuesday November 12, 2019

          Grades 6-12: Wednesday November 13, 2019

    9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

    Fee: $125;   Credits: 5.5 PDU Hours

     

    More Information

    • Participants will be engaged in NGSS-aligned investigations that are driven by natural phenomena in a variety of science content areas to deepen their understanding of Practices and Crosscutting Concepts and how they mutually support each other.
    • Participants will learn how to use Crosscutting Concepts to frame questions for class discussions and to focus student thinking about natural phenomena. They will take away strategies to help students define systems related to the natural phenomena they are investigating. Specifically, they will investigate how to trace the matter and energy into, within, and out of these systems, and consider how these systems are changing and on what scale.
    • Participants will experience and reflect on how Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas are meaningfully integrated in instruction and assessments using Performance Tasks.
    • There will be time for reflection and to plan NGSS-aligned lessons.
    • The workshop leader, Dr. Wil van der Veen, is a nationally recognized expert in science education and a member of the New Jersey State Leadership Team for the NGSS. Participants will work in small groups that are facilitated by experienced classroom teachers from our NGSS Teacher Leader Program.

     Register Online

     

    We recommend sending leadership teams of 3-7 teachers to at least three one-day workshops or the Summer Institute to develop a solid foundation for the NGSS.

     

    Register soon - workshops fill up quickly!

     

     ************************************* 

                 Visit  www.raritanval.edu/ngss 
            for more information and to register for our

    NGSS Professional Development Workshop Series
    for 2019-2020

     ************************************* 

    Using Systems and System Models

    to Make Sense of Phenomena

    Tuesday December 10, 2019 (Grades K-5)

    Wednesday December 11, 2019 (Grades 6-12)

     

    Constructing Explanations Supported by Arguments

    Tuesday February 4, 2020 (Grades K-5)

    Wednesday February 5, 2020 (Grades 6-12)

     

    Planning NGSS-Aligned Lessons and Assessments

    Tuesday March 10, 2020 (Grades K-5)

    Wednesday March 11, 2020 (Grades 6-12)

     

    This workshop series is supported by generous grants from the New Jersey Spacegrant Foundation.

     

    *****

    Other Professional Development Workshops offered by the Science Education Institute

     

    Starlab Training

    Wednesday November 20, 2019 (Grades K-12)

    Fee: $150;   Credits: 6 PDU Hours

    *****

    To discuss long-term NGSS professional development plans contact Dr. Wil van der Veen a wil.vanderveen@raritanval.edu


  • 4 Oct 2019 10:24 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    Kids Invent Webinar

    Join Lemelson-MIT and partners MED-EL Medical Electronics, Deaf Kids Code and Invention Convention for a webinar that will offer insight into ideas4ears, a children’s invention contest that aims to come up with solutions for people living with hearing loss. MED-EL, who organizes ideas4ears, is a global innovation leader in hearing loss solutions, its founders having been the first to develop the microelectronic multi-channel cochlear implants. The contest was created to “improve children’s understanding of the challenges associated with hearing loss and deafness as well as the benefits of treatment.”

    Topics to be covered include:

    • Explanation of the contest and its background
    • Details into the application process
    • Related invention example from a past ideas4ears winner 
    • Shared insight and invention resources from partner programs 

    Register at: https://lemelson.mit.edu/events/kids-invent-webinar

  • 4 Oct 2019 9:42 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)


    OpenSci Ed Launches First Three Units of Open-Content Instructional Materials

    Developed by World-Class Science Curriculum Developers for Middle School, Free Materials are designed for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science.


    OpenSciEd, an effort led by ten partner states -including NJ-, science educators, curriculum developers, and philanthropic organizations to improve the supply of and demand for high-quality K12 science materials, announced the public release of its first freely available instructional materials for middle school science. The three units of instruction, Thermal Energy, Metabolic Reactions and Sound Waves, have been externally evaluated by Achieve's Science Peer Review Panel and are listed as examples of quality materials on www.nextgenscience.org. They each cover approximately six weeks of classroom time.


    “It’s a privilege to provide schools with rigorous science instructional materials that combine the expertise of a world-class development consortium and the wisdom of current teachers, administrators and state leaders,” said Jim Ryan, Executive Director of OpenSciEd. “These first three units are just the beginning of this initiative, and we will continue to release instructional materials every six months until there is a complete middle grades program in early 2022.”


    OpenSciEd brings together leadership from ten partner states and world-class science curriculum developers from BSCS Science Learning, Northwestern University, Boston College, The Charles A. Dana Center and Digital Promise to make available free classroom and professional development materials for every teacher.


    “This project is a tremendous opportunity to advance science education,” said Dr. Daniel Edelson, executive director of BSCS Science Learning. “Each member of the Developers Consortium is deeply committed to working with classroom teachers, specialists, and education leaders in the design and implementation of our instructional materials. It is a huge honor to be involved in this work during a time when high quality instructional materials for science are critically needed.”


    OpenSciEd materials are freely available in both print-ready PDFs and as editable google docs, allowing teachers, schools and districts more flexibility. Ryan notes the organization’s mission is to eliminate as many barriers as possible for teachers and students to access and use high- quality materials and has partnered with a printer and kit provider to offer the materials at extremely competitive prices for those who wish to purchase the materials


    “Since launching in 2016, Achieve’s Science Peer Review Panel (PRP) has reviewed nearly 300 free and publicly available units using the EQuIP Rubric for Science and only 14 units have earned the top two ratings, including the three units released by OpenSciEd,” said Matt Krehbiel, Director for Science at Achieve.


    “The OpenSciEd project has pioneered a process by which classroom teachers, district and state leadership, researchers and curriculum developers work together to produce a high quality, standards-aligned curriculum that has been proven to engage all students, regardless of identity or background, in meaningful science instruction,” said Jill Cowart, Assistant Superintendent, Academic Content at Louisiana Department of Education. “The newly released units, brought to life by teachers, have the potential to reshape middle school science education across the country.”


    This project is made possible by the generous philanthropic support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.


    About OpenSciEd

    OpenSciEd was launched in 2018 as a nonprofit to address the need among teachers and school districts for high-quality, open-source, full-course science instructional materials, as well as to support the implementation of middle school science instructional units as a result of the adoption of the National Research Council’s document, A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

    For more information about OpenSciEd, please visit our website at www.OpenSciEd.org

    The Liberty Science Center is the OpenSciEd lead training hub for the state of New Jersey. New Jersey educators interested in OpenSciEd should email Anthony Bisulca or Michael Heinz for more information.


  • 4 Oct 2019 9:17 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    Welcome Back to School!

    It's a brand new school year and we are ready for it. How are you using Thomas Edison in the classroom this year? Whether you're an history teacher, art teacher, a parent, or all of the above - Edison can inspire students in many different ways. Spark some bright ideas with the resources below:
    Join our Facebook Group for Teachers
    Our new group, Edison for Teachers, was created to help you collaborate with other teachers from all over the world. Share your bright ideas & get inspiration on how to teach your students about the Life of Edison, the importance of STEM, how to invent & innovate, and more. JOIN HERE 
    Compete in the Thomas Edison Pitch Contest 2020
    Over the last 10 years, we have watched your students amaze us with the most creative ideas and thoughtful presentations year after year. To celebrate, we are featuring special prizes, challenges, and more for this year's competition! You can sign a team up as early as this November this year. LEARN MORE 
    8 Ways to Excite Your Students About Thomas Edison
    We know that an old scientist with a light bulb isn't always the most appealing thing to teach...good thing Edison wasn't your average scientist! Here are 8 activities that might spark interest students like these. READ MORE 

    Need Edison info for your class?

    Visit our website here to learn more about Thomas Edisonhis inventionshis quotes, and more! We are the most reliable source for all your Edison book reports and project needs.

    JOIN THE THOMAS EDISON COMMUNITY

    VISIT THOMASEDISON.ORG


    Copyright © 2019 Edison Innovation Foundation, All rights reserved.


  • 1 Oct 2019 9:53 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    Saturday, October 5th, from 11AM-2PM. 

    The Franklin Astronomy Club will debut it’s new hydrogen alpha telescope setup at the Snyder Farms Fall Festival in Somerset, NJ.

    Please see the attached flyer or visit http://facebook.com/FranklinAstronomy for details.

    Festival details here: http://snyders-farm.com/fall-festival/


  • 1 Oct 2019 9:47 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)
    GEEA Logo

    Applications for the 2019 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards are due this Friday!

    The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards Program is New Jersey’s premier awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, programs and projects throughout the state. These awards recognize individuals, businesses, institutions, communities, organizations, educators, youth and others who have made significant contributions to environmental protection in New Jersey.  

    Since the awards program was established in 2000, nearly 180 winners have been recognized.  

    Nominations can be submitted for the following categories: Climate Change & Clean Air; Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats; Water Resources; Land Conservation; Healthy and Sustainable Communities; and Healthy and Sustainable Businesses. In addition, the category for “Environmental Education” has been divided into two awards: one for adult-led educational initiatives and one for projects that are student-led or have succeeded due to a high level of student involvement.  

    The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards Program is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology, in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.  

    Award winners will be honored at a ceremony in December, to be held in or near Trenton.  

    The 2019 application and awards information can be found at www.nj.gov/dep/awards.  Completed applications must be received at DEP by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4.  

    For questions about the application or awards program call Tanya Oznowich at (609) 984-9802 or email her at  Tanya.Oznowich@dep.nj.gov.



  • 22 Sep 2019 3:54 PM | NJSTA (Administrator)

    logo.jpg

    Sterling Hill Mining Museum

    “An Earth Science Journey from Ore to Store”

    The origins of our everyday “stuff” is a mystery to most. This workshop will take you on a natural resource journey from ore to store to explore how Earth materials are acquired and refined to create the products on our shelves. The content of this workshop is a perfect fit for elementary and middle school teachers seeking innovative ways to connect students to everyday Earth and Space Science phenomena. The academy takes place at Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, NJ on Saturday November 2, 2019 from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (8:00 AM check-in). Attending teachers will receive classroom resources to effectively tie the workshop content into their curricula related to K-8 Earth and Space Science NGSS. Additionally, six professional development hours will be provided. Workshop fee: $30, payable the day of the workshop and includes lunch and materials. Register at: https://forms.gle/pi3p92hQwSMDrEkU8 Registration closes October 18th or when capacity of 30 has been met. Contact Missy Holzer (mholzer@monmouth.com) with any questions.




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To submit an article for the NJSTA Newsletter, contact our Newsletter Editor, NJSTANewsletter@gmail.com


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