Elementary Science

Environmental Grant $$ Available

Funding for 3rd through 8th Grade Public School Classrooms to Execute Projects to Benefit the Environment!

1. What's available? Disney's Planet Challenge is offering a Double Your Impact match offer for hands-on environmental project(s) submitted by 3rd through 8th grade teachers requesting up to $650 in materials.      

 

2. Who qualifies? If you are a full-time 3rd through 8th grade teacher at a public school, you can qualify for this funding!     

 

3. How do I participate? There are two easy steps to qualify for this funding:

• First, log in to your teacher account on DonorsChoose.org (if you don't have one, any public school teacher can sign up atwww.donorschoose.org/teacher).
• Once you're logged in, submit one or more hands-on project requests focused on benefiting the environment including up to $650 in materials each. Projects must engage students directly in benefitting the environment through water conservation and watershed protection, recycling, composting, restoring/creating community gardens, etc.

Make sure to submit your request as soon as possible for the best chance of funding. Projects must be submitted before January 20th for consideration

   
4. Then what happens? Within a week of project approval, if your projects meets the above criteria, you will see a Disney's Planet Challenge logo on your project page. This means it has qualified for this match offer and now has a great chance of being fully funded by the other donors that visit our site.

Owl Pellets

Do you need owl pellets for your students?  Then check out www.discountowlpellets.com.   It is a great place to order owl pellets from at a reasonable price. Thanks to Theresa Bass, 4th grade @ Bells Ferry for sharing.

  

 

Science & The Common Core

By now I'm sure you've heard a lot of buzz about the roll out of the new Common Core.  You know that Common Core (CCGPS) is focused on ELA & Math.  So as a teacher who also teaches science, you may be wondering where the Common Core standards for science are.  There aren’t Common Core standards for science.  Content standards for science were not included in the scope of work during the development of the Common Core standards for ELA & Math.  This does not mean that science is not impacted by the roll-out of the CCGPS.  The new CCGPS for ELA require a shift in focus from mostly narrative to more informational text.  This increased focus on informational text will provide teachers with greater opportunities to integrate science instruction meaningfully into their literacy blocks.  This integration will not replace the need for instructional time devoted to hands-on inquiry science, but will enable teachers to deepen student understanding of the concepts about which they are learning through reading and writing.

The science content standards are NOT changing with the implementation of CCGPS.  In the 2012-2013 school year we will still be responsible for teaching the same science GPS we have taught since 2006.  New national science standards are on the horizon, but they are at least 2 years away from implementation.  If you’re interested in learning more about the new Next Generation Science Standards, please visit www.nextgenscience.org.

Common Core State Standards: Elementary

Zoo Atlanta Seeks Teacher Input

Zoo Atlanta recently received grant funds to completely update its Cases for Conservation program (formerly known as Teacher Loan Boxes). These boxes can be checked out from the Zoo to be used in the classroom and will include curriculum aligned with standards, lesson plans, biofacts, etc. Other than a refundable deposit, there is no charge to teachers. To make sure this program is designed to meet their needs, please fill out a short survey. Responses are needed by next Friday, November 11. We’d like to get as much input as possible, so please forward this survey request to your colleagues as well.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SG5BFGG

 

Vocabulary Notebook Ideas

Download Vocabulary-notebook

3C Interactive Notebook Session

Download 3C Interactive Notebooks

Science Lab Teacher Collaboration Day

On Nov 8th K-5 Science Lab teachers are invited to collaborate & commonly plan at Russell ES.  We will be meeting from 8:00-3:00.  Please check with your building administrator about attending this collaboration. 

 

Please bring ideas, resources, etc. to share with your peers.  Let's pack a lunch so we can maximize our rare time together.  Kelly Bodner, veteran science lab teacher, will be facilitating this session.  Please bring laptops, flash-drives, etc.

Visit the link below to let us know if you will attend.

http://www.doodle.com/cwa9cvhweun9t2sn

Outdoor Learning Symposium Registration Open

Register by this Friday to receive the extended early bird discount to the 15th annual Outdoor Learning Symposium on October 21st at Georgia Perimeter College: Decatur Campus.

This year's theme, "Leaving Footprints : Natural Paths to Learning", evolved from many different modes and methods of Outdoor Learning. It refers to leaving lasting impressions or “footprints” in the minds of students and using the natural world as a path to accomplishing the many standards and concepts that must be taught and learned along the way.

Field Studies from National Parks Service

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area strives to help educate people of all ages to the park and its resources. We off er curriculum-based programming, free of charge, to school groups (including home schoolers), those with special needs, scout groups, and other organized educational groups of
fifteen or more.

Programs are presented either at your school or at the park. For in-class programs, staff can accommodate several classes in a day (to meet the needs of a grade group). For field studies, staff can accommodate two classes/program/day. Two field study programs can be combined to enrich your field experience.

For more information or to register for a program, please contact the park’s education coordinator, Marjorie Thomas, at 678-538-1243 or the park’s information number at 678-538-1200.

Special Funding Support for Title I Schools! Download Application for Title I Fieldtrip

Flyer of programming options for Field Studies Download Educational Programs 2011-2012 ver4 6x9