Elementary Science

GSTA Conference Challenge Opportunity

The 3rd Annual GSTA Conference Challenge Information is attached.   It is a way for you to attend & present at the Georgia Science Teacher's Conference--we will cover registration, travel, etc. for 12 Cobb Teachers.  More information about the GSTA conference can be found at www.georgiascienceteacher.org. 

 

If you are interested, please read the attached, complete the application, and e-mail it to Sally Creel (Elementary) or George Stickel (Middle & High).  We need the completed applications by December 3rd.

 

We will form a committee to select several applicants to attend.  Selected applicants will be notified by December 10th.  

 

You are awesome educators and have a lot to share with others across the state.  Please consider giving this a go!  We wanted to ensure that we would have the funds to send some of you before we sent out this information! 

 

Download GSTAConfChallenge10

Science in the News

  Attached are several articles from recent headlines you may wish to use with your students.  I have saved each article as a PDF to make it easier to use in your classroom.  Please feel free to share any articles you run across as well.  Send them to me as a PDF or send me the link via e-mail at sally.creel@cobbk12.org.

Remember...Cobb Virtual Library has a ton of similar resources at your fingertips!  Check with your media specialist for tips and guidelines.  This is a resources that is adding new content all the time! 

 :-)  Sally

Download Eco-Propaganda

Download How_Earthquakes_and_Tsunamis_Can_Happen_-_Science_News___Science_&_Technology___Technology_News_-_FOXNews.com

Download NOAA_Center_for_Tsunami_Research_-_Tsunami_Event_-_September_29,_2009_Samoa

Download Strong_earthquakes_may_weaken_distant_fault_lines___Reuters.com

Download The_Associated_Press__Conditions_combined_for_devastating_tsunami

Download Two_Powerful_Earthquakes_Upend_Lives_of_Thousands_-_washingtonpost.com

Cousteau at Russell ES

You've heard of YouTube & TeacherTube, but what about SchoolTube?  This is a pretty user friendly site for schools.  Check it out online and think about using it with your students.  :-)  Sally

GSTA Awards Information

The start of school is a busy time of year!   It is the perfect time to be thinking of the wonderful lessons, labs, and experiments that would benefit your students.  Do you have the equipment or materials necessary to accomplish these goals?  Right now many teachers are adjusting to decreased budgets, limited supplies, and elimination of resources they have gotten for years.  If this describes you, then you should consider applying for one of the GSTA’s mini-grants.  Teachers can earn up to $500.00 to fund classroom projects to enhance student understanding of the Georgia Performance Standards. We also have awards to recognize excellence in teaching, administration, and funding to attend conferences.  How cool would it be win any of these? Plus winners are provided complimentary registration to the GSTA annual conference.  This year we will be in lovely Savannah, GA on February11-13, and we hope to see you there!

Download the application packet or e-mail gstaawards@gmail.com for more information.  The deadline to apply for awards is November 30, 2009.  

Download 09-10 GSTA AWARDS Information

Don't forget to submit your proposal to present at the GSTA Conference. New for 09-10 GSTA has gone 100% digital!  Presentation proposal survey link: http://tinyurl.com/2010gstapresprop

 

CCSD K-5 Science Update!

Download K-5 Science Update AA-AP

Free Admission to State Parks & Historic Sites on Saturday

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, which may not sound like something you’d necessarily celebrate. But this may (especially if the weather is in a rare cooperative mood): Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites is offering free admission at 59 state parks and historic sites that day.

On Free Day in the Parks, the regular $5 parking fee will be waived, historic sites will open for free, and even anglers can skip purchasing a fishing license.

The celebration includes many family-friendly events and service projects. Tap your toes to picking and singing at the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site’s Appalachian Jam.

Learn to canoe and catch trout during Outdoor Adventure Day at Unicoi State Park in Helen.

Listen for owls on a ranger-led night hike at Hamburg State Park in Mitchell. Watch molten iron become works of art at Fall at the Homestead at Red Top Mountain State Park in Cartersville. And youngsters can let it fly at a Kid’s Fishing Rodeo in the Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen C. Foster State Park near Fargo.

Find a full calendar of events at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org

Thanks to Jaymee Herrington, President of GSTA for the heads up!

Georgia Aquarium Partnership

CCSD has partnered with the Georgia Aquarium to offer special reduced admission to targeted grade levels.  Students in grades 1 & 4 may visit the aquarium for a rate of $8.00 per child.  For this price students will be able to participate in a 45 min structured programcorrelated to grade level science GPS, view the Depo show, and have unstructured time to tour the aquarium or visit the gift shop. 

Grade level specific programs you may choose from are:

In order to quality for this special rate, you will need to download and complete the registration form below.  Please fax, e-mail, or inner office mail the completed forms to Ellen Glantzberg at the contact information listed on the form.  We will forward this information to our special program contact at the aquarium.  They will send you registration information and payment information.  It is the responsibility of each school to secure their own bus transportation, submit payment to the aquarium, and complete necessary field trip permission forms.

Download GA Aquarium Reservation Form

Attention Title I Schools:

The Title I department will pay the transportation costs for one grade levelin your schools to visit EITHER the Georgia Aquarium OR the Tellus Science Museum.  Title I schools may contact Kaye Moon, Title I Grants Technician, for more information. 

Cousteau Came to Cobb!

I thought for a moment I was standing back stage at a rock concert!  Then I remembered I was at Russell Elementary School, and the noise was coming from a gym filled with excited 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade students who had just gotten a glimpse of conservation superstar, Philippe Cousteau! 

Russell Elementary was selected by Discovery Education to receive an afternoon with their chief ocean correspondent.  The students had spent all their free time learning all they could about the ocean, conservation efforts, and the work that Cousteau is involved in.  The students wrote down their pledges to make a positive difference in the environment on a large poster. 

K-2 students submitted questions to be asked during a live closed circuit interview with Cousteau conducted by Cobb County Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Russell teacher, Michaela D’aquanni.  One primary student wanted to know if Cousteau knew Sponge Bob.  The experience is one that Russell elementary students are not likely to forget any time soon!

Read more about Cousteau’s visit by visiting this link to the MDJ article.

NSTA Grants & Award Programs!

It’s that time of year again! NSTA and its sponsors are kicking off another exciting year of rewarding and recognizing high-performing science educators and students through our large-scale, nationally known competitions and grant programs.

Although we reach a large number of individuals involved in the science education community, there are still many science educators out there who don’t know about these programs. Help spread the word and include the news about these amazing opportunities for teachers and students on your Web site and/or in your member newsletters and communications. Check out the following opportunities listed below.

Disney’s Planet Challenge®
Fourth through sixth grade students have the opportunity to make a difference in their surroundings while using science, math, composition and problem-solving skills. Disney’s Planet Challenge has gone nationwide and now students across the country can participate! Registration is now open and students can win prizes, classroom grants, a trip to Disneyland® with their classmates, a chance to be on a TV show and much more! Teachers can use the Challenge with their lesson plans. Sample plans can be found on the website. Disney’s Planet Challenge is a great way to get students involved with their environment in a fun and creative way. Go to http://disney.go.com/planetchallenge/ to get started. Registration closes December 18, 2009. 
 
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
K-8 students have the opportunity to become “Agents of Change” as they team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their classroom, school and community. Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include savings bonds, school grants, exciting trips, TV appearances and much more. Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for elementary level entries is January 31, 2010 (finalists and winners to be announced March 10, 2010); and the deadline for middle school entries is March 15, 2010 (state winners to be announced April 26, 2010, and national winners to be announced May 10, 2010). For more information about the Challenge or to register for the competition, visit www.wecanchange.com. 
   
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Program
ExploraVision is a competition that makes science fun and exciting for students and gives educators an innovative way to present science topics in the classroom. This competition encourages K-12 students of any interest and ability levels to imagine a future technology using present day predicaments. Students can win up to $10,000 in savings bonds for college and cool gifts from Toshiba. Applications are now being accepted; the deadline is February 2, 2010. For more information about the program or to learn how to apply, visit www.exploravision.org.
 
Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

The Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program, one of the largest science teacher grant programs in the nation, and is now accepting entries for the 2009-2010 competition. Now in its 20th year, the program offers grants up to $10,000 to K-12 science teachers for innovative projects that enhance science education in their school and/or school district over a one-year period. For more information about the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program or to learn how to apply, visit http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/. Applications must be submitted no later than January 18, 2010 to be considered.

Georgia Aquarium & World of Coke FREE Open House

You're Invited to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Barnes & Noble Education Open House

Join us for our Education Open House for Pre-K through 12th grade educators and supervisory staff on Friday, September 25th to learn about our new educational programs.

 
Reserve Your Spot Today!
While there is no charge for you to attend this event, reservations are required; please use this link to register:   http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/visitus/bnbregform.aspx

Bring a Colleague!
You may bring one fellow colleague to enjoy this evening with you. Please note that any additional attendees must purchase a Pemberton Place Pass at the above registration link. ID or Payment Confirmation is required for entry.  This is a professional event and no children will be permitted.

Parking:
$7 Discounted Parking in the Georgia Aquarium Deck will be provided for attendees. The Georgia Aquarium parking deck is located at the Corner of Ivan Allen, Jr. Boulevard and Luckie Street. 
 
Registration:
Find the Barnes & Noble tents in Pemberton Place, located between the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, to register and pick up your Activities Punch Card. Your punch card will serve as enter-to-win slips for our drawings at the end of the night.
 
Your evening will start at the Taste of the World of Coca-Cola from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.  Followed by a visit to Georgia Aquarium to learn about our education program and meet educational vendors and partners from all over the Atlanta-Metro.  Tours of Georgia Aquarium Learning Loop will occur between 6:00 PM and 7:45 PM.  Teacher giveaways will occur at 8:00 PM on the main floor atrium.