Science: Grades 6-12

Join NSTA's New Science Teacher Academy

NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, cofounded by the Amgen Foundation, is a professional development initiative created to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge.

According to a 2003 study by Richard Ingersoll, nearly 50% of beginning teachers leave their jobs in the first five years. The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy endeavors to use mentoring and other professional development resources to support science teachers during the often challenging, initial teaching years and to help them stay in the profession.

As an NSTA Fellow, you will receive:    

• Comprehensive NSTA membership and its benefits;
• An opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars
• Unlimited use of resources including vetted web links for lesson plans, links to state and national standards, professional organizations, safety tips and more;
• An opportunity to participate in e-Mentoring developed by NSTA, the New Teacher Center, and Montana State University that includes:
  • e-Mentoring with an experienced teacher in the same science discipline and grade level;
  • Facilitated online curriculum that focuses on science content and applicable classroom pedagogy;
  • Access to a nationwide, online network of science educators and scientists that facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and resources;
        
• Accommodations, coverage of airfare, food, and registration fees to attend the NSTA national conference;
• An opportunity to participate in specialized conference pathways and to participate in a Research Dissemination Conference or a Professional Development Institute.

Eligibility    

New Science Teacher Academy Fellows must be:

• Located throughout the country*
• Entering their second or third year of teaching
• Working a schedule with 51% of their classes in middle or high school science.    

Former Academy Fellows are not eligible.

Visit http://www.nsta.org/academy/ for an application

Hello!

Hi! The Science blog has a new contributor- me! I'm Herman Wood, one of the Technology Integration Specialists with the district. There are about 20 of us. Our mission is to facilitate the integration of technology into student learning. I requested to work with Sally and George because of my love for science. I taught the physical sciences at Wheeler and Harrison for 18 years before I came to this position. In fact, I was very fortunate to work alongside Dr. Stickel for most of my time at Harrison.

You'll hear from me sporadically when I have resources to share or information that may help you or your students. As always, please feel free to contact me directly via GroupWise. Just type in my name in the address line and I'm sure you'll find me!

Herman Wood

Science Competitions for Middle & High School Students

1) Science & Engineering Fair

http://www.uga.edu/oasp/

2) F1 Racing (see also Fred Stillwell fred.stillwell@cobbk12.org )

http://www.f1inschools.us/item.asp?itmID=18

3) BEST Robotics

http://www.bestinc.org/MVC/ and Georgia BEST http://www.georgiabest.org/ at SPSU

4) FIRST Robotics

http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/default.aspx?id=966

5) Siemens Westinghouse Competition

http://www.siemens-foundation.org/competition/

6) Science Olympiad, www.soinc.org <http://www.soinc.org/> the GA

site http://www.aug.edu/gaso/

7) Science Bowl, The only link I can find for this is for the

competition in Savannah this winter:

http://www.physics.armstrong.edu/faculty/mullenax/sciencebowl/

8) Odyssey of the Mind.... www.georgiaodyssey.org

<http://www.georgiaodyssey.org/> There are high school age divisions

Roller Coaster Lab--Explore Learning

The Roller Coaster Download labnbkrollcoast_ExpLrng.doc lab activity will help students understand a variety of concepts about motion. It is from Trinna McKay, a teacher at Booker T. Washington. If you do not have Explore Learning, you can sign up for a free trial (go to www.explorelearning.com )

Remdial Summer School Handouts

Please feel free to use these files with your students and share with your colleagues.This is the Handout that we provide each student: Download HandoutsRSS_2007.doc Here is the Systems Thinking page: Download System.doc

Here are the Power Points done by Ashley Kirby which correlate to each of the lessons in the "Handouts," above.Cells: Download rss_cell_lesson.ppt Ecology: Download rss_ecology_lesson.ppt Energy transformations: Download rss_energy_transformations.ppt Forces, waves, & electricity: Download rss_forces_waves_and_electricity.ppt Genetics: Download rss_genetics_lesson.ppt Structure & properties of matter: Download rss_structure_and_properties_of_matter.ppt Taxonomy & reporduction: Download rss_taxonomyreproduction_lesson.ppt