Next Generation Science Standards
Dear Presidential Awardees,
During a conference call of the National Alliance of Presidential Awardee Associations (NAPAA) held in May, the NAPAA board agreed to take an advocacy role in promoting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Below is a letter from Achieve related to the first release of the NGSS and how our association can take an active role in this process. We encourage all Presidential Awardees to provide feedback during the NGSS review cycle.
Sincerely,
The NAPAA Board (Ruth Ruud, Conni Crittenden, Kenneth Huff, Sara Normington, Steve Rich, and Sandy Schoff)
The first public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is available at www.nextgenscience.org from May 11 to June 1. We welcome and appreciate your feedback.
There is no doubt that science—and, therefore, science education—is central to the lives of all Americans. To that end, we must ensure that all students have a solid education in science. The recent NAEP science scores show we have a long way to go to ensure all of our students have the science education they will need for college, careers, and life. That’s why 26 states are working together to develop the NGSS—internationally-benchmarked and rigorous state science education standards. As part of that development process, there will be two public comment periods where all interested parties are invited to give feedback. The first one begins May 11.
The NGSS have been written as student performance expectations grouped by topics, and can be viewed in the topical groupings or individually. The draft performance expectations are composed of the three dimensions from the NRC’s Framework for K–12 Science Education. These draft performance expectations describe how students will demonstrate their understanding.
To review the draft standards, go to www.nextgenscience.org. When you are ready to provide comments, click on any of the links that say “Go to the NGSS Survey.” Be sure to submit your survey by June 1. Feedback collected during the comment period will be organized and shared with the leading states and writing team members. After the feedback is considered, a feedback report will be issued that will explain how feedback was handled and why.
Thank you to McGraw-Hill and VWR Education
Thank you to McGraw-Hill Education for sponsoring our breakfast meeting and VWR Education for sponsoring our business meeting and social at the NSTA National Conference in Indianapolis. The Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching is grateful for the continued support and commitment of our sponsors.
APAST @ NSTA 2012
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- APAST Members with our gracious hosts
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- APAST and PAEMST
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- Linda Smith- District 2 Director APAST
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- Melissa Collins, PAEMST
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- VWR Education welcomes APAST Members to Social
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- APAST & McGraw-Hill Education
STEMIE Awards presented by McGraw-Hill Education
EVERY TEACHER DOES EXTRAORDINARY THINGS!
• Do you have an innovative math lesson?
• Have an interesting idea for math game or science activity?
• Want to share your most intriguing science project?
McGraw-Hill Education is celebrating extraordinary STEM teachers like you, with the 2012 STEM Innovative Educator Awards (STEMIE Awards for short). All you have to do is record a 2-minute video demonstrating something innovative you’ve done in the classroom along with a short essay and lesson plan, and submit it on this site. First place wins $15,000, second place gets $5,000, and third place will win $2,500, plus we’ll grant up to $2,500 more in fun awards like Honorable Mentions.
You can learn more on the Contest Details page, or if you’re ready enter now!
http://stemie.mcgraw-hill.com/
Calling all APAST members to NSTA 2012!
APAST Breakfast
Sponsored by McGraw-Hill
Friday, March 30, 2012
NSTA Conference Indianapolis
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Indiana Ballrooms C and D
7:00 to 9:00 AM
RSVP by March 22, 2012 to Ruth Ruud, APAST President, at ruth.ruud@yahoo.com
You’re Invited to Join Us at the
APAST Business Meeting and Social
Friday March 30, 2012
NSTA National Conference
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
350 W. Maryland Street, Ballroom G
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy:
• FREE Hors d’ouvres and refreshments
• Your chance to win FREE RED—
ReallyEasyData Collectors
• Networking with fellow award winners
Please confirm your attendance by emailing Ruth Ruud
at ruth.ruud@yahoo.com by March 22nd.
Sponsored by Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories / RED Really Easy Data Collectors
Be sure to visit your fellow PAEMST awardees at…
The SEPA/APAST Share-a-Thon and the CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book Sessions are being combined into a new larger event called the “Elementary Extravaganza”.
Here are the details:
Indianapolis, Friday, March 30, 2012, 8:00-9:30 am,
500 Ballroom, Convention Center
We hope that as many SEPA members as possible will be present and will share great teaching ideas Share-a-Thon style. Please let Kathy, Sally and Alma know your intent to participate, as Presidential Awardees will be designated with special ribbons on their tables so that members will be recognized.
The contact for CBC/OSTB is Kathy Horstmeyer Khors3500@aol.com
The contact for general SEPA/APAST is Alma S. Miller milleralma@aol.com
The contact for APAST is Sally Bell sebell048@comcast.net
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Indianapolis, IN.
USA Science & Engineering Festival
What:
Science Festival
Expo and Book Fair
When:
Sat, April 28, 2012, 10am-6pm
Sun, April 29, 2012, 10am-4pm
Where:
Washington, D.C.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001
PAEMST Book Published
The Making of a Presidential Mathematics & Science Educator
Edited by Sean Nank, Ph.D.
To order, visit http://www.discoveryassociationpublishinghouse.com/Purchase_the_PAEMST_book.html
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) was first awarded in 1983. It is the only K-12 education award issued by the President of the United States. It is the highest award in the entire nation that anyone can bestow on mathematics and science teachers. One mathematics teacher and one science teacher can win the award from each state, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, United States territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity.
When a teacher has been nominated, s/he completes the application process and is judged at the state level. Between zero and three finalists are chosen at this level. From there, the finalists are judged again at the national level. Either one winner is chosen or the award for that particular state goes unfilled. The PAEMST is considered the Nobel Prize for educators.
When I was honored at the week-long award ceremony in Washington DC, I was surrounded by some of the best educators in the nation. Being in a room with PAEMST awardees, one cannot help but experience the excitement for education, dedication to teaching, and the vast amount of pedagogical and curricular knowledge, reflection, and appreciation for being a professional educator. These teachers’ pedagogical strategies, perspectives on math and science curricula, and personal teaching stories intrigued me. I was in awe at the insight and professional dedication and was compelled to learn as much as I could from these PAEMST teachers. I wanted to hear their stories and understand their journeys. This camaraderie and admiration for the importance of their stories is what motivated and is captured in this book.
During one of the award weeks in Washington DC, a guest speaker told the new awardees that when they returned to their schools and communities, people might wonder, “What makes you so great?” This book is, in part, is an answer to the query.
The PAEMST awardees’ climb to excellence began long before their recognition in Washington DC. These teachers measure their success by the time and support given to students as they share their honor with the myriad of people, contexts, and influences that made them the teachers they have become. Every chapter describes the teachers’ commitment to students, colleagues, and the profession of teaching.
This book is a collection of 50 autobiographical stories of PAEMST educators’ journeys through life and their educational experiences, both as students and as teachers. Nineteen of the award years are represented. Also represented are 28 states, Washington DC, and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Teaching experiences range from younger teachers and new awardees to retired teachers who were awarded the PAEMST over 20 years ago. Life experiences range from people who were born under communist rule and vividly remember the launch of Sputnik to people who were born after the Vietnam War ended.
Teleconferences and individual conversations with the authors in this book greatly influenced the organization of the chapters. The editor and many of the PAEMST awardees voiced concern that the mathematics and science chapters not be segregated. There is a consistent dialogue of segregation familiar to mathematics and science educators. The integration of mathematics and science chapters endorses a Deweyan approach of avoiding the artificial separation of subject matters. Mathematics and science are intricately entwined in research, discussions, pedagogical strategies, and curricula. Their symbiotic nature serves as a catalyst to foster greater integration in educational settings both in and out of the classroom.
The product of their efforts is a collection of chapters in which PAEMST awardees candidly describe their experiences, influences, and motivations, first, to become teachers and, then, to become great teachers. Each chapter provides a window into the making of a teacher of PAEMST status. The chapters are inspirational, educational, and candidly honest. Some awardees had “normal” lives while others lived through tragedy. Some had fond memories of their time as students and others recalled negative experiences. Although their stories vary greatly, the one commonality though all the chapters is that somewhere along their journey, they became outstanding.
Family Science
Observe, explore, experiment…exciting for scientists of all ages. These activities are great ones for families to share as children attempt to answer their authentic questions about the natural world. The home and neighborhood are great science labs. Here are ideas from teachers who have earned a Presidential Award to nurture tomorrow’s scientific minds. Ron Poirier, Past-president
We all “do” science all the time. It begins with “I wonder…” “ Why is the sky blue?” “Why do pancakes taste better with strawberries inside?” Parents can foster natural curiosity by encouraging such questions. They can also help their children find answers by showing them how to search and observe. Look at some of the questions families can explore together.
At the Beach:
I wonder what the best mix of sand and water for making a castle.
I wonder if waves always “break” at the same place.
Backyard Investigations:
I wonder why birds sing.
I wonder if different songs come from different kinds of birds.
I wonder which color M&Ms melts fastest…and why?
Looking up:
I wonder why it is still light out at dinnertime in the summer when it is dark by dinnertime in the winter.
I wonder why the moon looks different from week to week.
Sports:
I wonder if the amount of air in a basketball affects play.
I wonder if I play better before or after lunch.
From the Candy Counter to Mars by Ken Huff, President-elect:
You can use candy to learn how surface core samples can tell us about the structure of Earth and Mars.
What each person will need:
- 1 bite size candy bar at room temperature (Don’t reveal the brand!)
- 1 10-cm long clear, plastic straw
- 1 small paper plate
- 1 plastic knife
- 1 cm ruler
- 1 paper towel for clean up
Imagine that your candy is a section of a planet. Act like a geologist: take “core sample” by carefully drilling the straw into it. Record your observations. Take plastic knife and cut candy bar in half. Record the layers. Then trade notes. Can you tell which candy matches which core?
How are the cores different?
If these were layers of a planet, which would be the oldest?
What causes different rock layers to occur?
How would a core of Earth be different than a core of Mars??
Explore the unique environmental features of the planet Mars on websites like http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov
Juliana Texley, Secretary
We often talk about enzymes; they are the chemicals that make things “go” in cells. Here’s an activity to explore what an enzyme does:
You’ll need:
- Drugstore hydrogen peroxide
- A potato
- A fork
- Water
- Paper punches
- A small “dose” or catsup cup.
- Eye protection
Pour a small amount of peroxide into the smallest cup you can find. (The tiny catsup cups from fast food restaurants or dose cups from hospitals work well.)
Mush a bit of fresh potato to get some potato juice. Soak one paper punch in that juice. Soak another punch in plain water. Put them both into the tiny cup of peroxide. Watch what happens carefully!
Why do the punches act differently?
What kind of particles (atoms) make up hydrogen peroxide?
What kinds of particles could come from broken down hydrogen peroxide??
Would juice from a cooked potato act the same way?
More enzyme experiments:
Jello™ is a protein. Make tiny cubes of “finger Jello” (twice as concentrated as regular.) Put one cube in water and another the same size in an enzyme solution. (Meat tenderizer, contact lens solution, or enzyme detergent.) What happens?
Be a Science Star
John Hunt, District Director
Very simple physical processes can make very big things happen!
Here’s a demonstration that you can do while waiting for a restaurant meal. But to understand what it means, you might have to go outside. What you’ll need:
- Five toothpicks
- A very smooth surface, like an acetate sheet or a polished table surface.
- Water
Bend 5 toothpicks in half but leave the parts together so they make “V’s” Place the 5 V-shaped toothpicks on the smooth surface, with their points as close together as possible. You’ll have a star shape. Put a drop of water into the center of the toothpick formation. Observe what happens. Can you explain?
Then go outside and look at the tallest tree. Inside that tree are tubes. The tree gets water from the soil.
How is toothpick wood like tree wood?
How does the water reach the top?
Why do northern trees drop their leaves in the winter?
Dancing Raisins and More
Ruth Ruud, President
Chemistry is the interaction of matter. In this activity you’ll mix water, liquid music and dance powder.
Your challenge is to make raisins dance. You may have to repeat this activity several times to get just the right tempo.
- 4 raisins
- Dance powder*
- Liquid music*
- Water (50 ml)
- Spoon
- Small (juice) glass
Place the raisins at the bottom of the glass. Fill it half way with water. Any dancing yet? Add a spoonful of dance powder. Any dancing yet? Add a spoonful of liquid music to the mix. Now what’s dancing?
Measure:
- How many times does a dancer come up for air in a minute?
- Can you make the raisins go faster or slower? How?
Penny Secrets
Here’s another experiment that can be done with almost no equipment.
How many drops of water can you place on the surface of a clean penny before the water begins to run off? Use a dropper or tubular coffee stirrer (and don’t squeeze.) What if a bit of hand soap is added to the water? Does the number change?
Communicating with Children about the Natural World
In our rush to get to places and get things done, we seldom have time for the sort of creative discussions about children’s questions that lead to constructing new ideas.
Talking the Talk
When children wonder, it’s important to give them plenty of time…to think about what they want to say, and to explain. Here are some tips for good scientific conversations:
- Avoid questions that have “yes” or “no” answers. Ask children to describe, explain, or ask their opinions.
- Take plenty of time to wait for answers. Don’t rush the pace of conversation.
- Rephrase their questions and their answers: “Do you mean…?”
- Offer other ways for communication, like drawing, podcasting, photography or construction.
Crib Sheet for Parents
Adults are often reluctant to begin an exploration with children unless they know explanation up front. That’s really not necessary. “I don’t know but we can find out together” is a great model for a child’s inquiry. But for the faint of heart, we’ll provide some hints to the activities in this flyer in the next column.
From the Candy Counter to Mars
Geologists often assume each layer of a planet’s surface is younger than the one below. That’s not always true: lava can push between layers or quakes can tip them. But usually each new layer in a core tells a story of a newer time period.
An enzyme in potato juice breaks peroxide (H2O2) into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen bubbles cling to the punches and lift them.
Be a Science Star
Water clings to fibers in wood through adhesion. Evaporation helps pull water from the roots in a process called transpiration. In cold winters, trees don’t want so much water in their trunks as they could crack so they drop leaves.
Dancing Raisins
Like the paper punches, the raisins are lifted—but this time from carbon dioxide (CO2) released from baking soda by the influence of acidic lemon juice.
Penny Secrets
Water forms drops because of its surface tension. Its molecules prefer contact with other water molecules unless the force of gravity is greater than the surface tension. Detergent changes the forces between the molecules and lowers the surface tension.
A Note about Safety
A child’s questions can lead to exploration of something new and potentially unsafe. It’s important to emphasize common sense precautions in every exploration. These are just examples of common sense rules:
- Respect chemicals: Never taste a chemical and always wear eye protection when using them.
- Never experiment with fire or something that might explode.
- Don’t approach wild or unfamiliar animals.
- Don’t use sharp or power tools without an adult’s help.
Einstein Fellowship Information
Einstein Fellowship
Teachers: Share Your Passion!
Are you ready to share your passion for STEM education at the Federal level? Bring your passion and advocacy skills to Washington, DC as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow.
This prestigious fellowship program brings outstanding K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educators to Washington, DC for a school year to share their practical insights and real-world perspectives into the sponsoring agencies’ offices or on Capitol Hill. As an Einstein Fellow, you will receive a monthly stipend, a moving allowance and a travel budget. You are an excellent candidate for an Einstein Fellowship if you…
- · Thrive on personal and professional challenges.
- · Would relish the opportunity to network with creative, passionate, intelligent colleagues.
- · Recognize the importance of experienced educators sharing their knowledge in the national education arena.
- · Possess the desire and the confidence to work on educational programs and/or issues at a national level.
- · Interested in learning about the role of federal agencies in education, and influence program and policy decisions affecting students and teachers.
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. Visit http://www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm to learn more about the program. You will find additional information and a link to the online application using the navigation menu above Dr. Einstein’s picture. Access the application by clicking on the word “apply” in the box on the left side of the page once you link to the Department of Energy’s page. Create an ID and password to begin and you are on your way! If you have any questions about the program once you review the web information, contact Kathryn Culbertson, Program Manager, at culbertsonk@triangle-coalition.org or by phone at 703-516-5963.
Post a Project and Enter the National Lab Day Video Contest
Attention all science educators, for a limited time you can win money for your school by posting a hands-on learning project on NationalLabDay.org.
The first place winner for the NLD online video contest will receive a $1,500 “shopping spree” on DonorsChoose.org and a Flip Video Camcorder. The second prize winner will receive a $500 “shopping spree” on DonorsChoose.org and a Flip Video Camcorder. All submissions are due by June 1, 2010. For more information go to the NLD contest web page.