Thursday, April 7, 2016

A qyartley newsletter that integrates the latest in the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, STEM and more! April 2016

MVLA Science Now!
A quartley newsletter that integrates the latest in the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, STEM and more!
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Table of Contents

General / Teaching
1. 5E's in our neighborhood

Subject Specific
1.      Earth & Space Science - Kinesthetic Astronomy
2.      Biology  Modeling Populations
3.      Chemistry - Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry
4.      Physics -  Spectroscopy
5.      Environmental Science - What are our Energy Choices


Computer Tip
1.       The amazing website of Concord Consortium
2. Collection of Assessment, Grouping, and Game Classroom Tools


NGSS
1.      NGSS Rubric for OUR lessons

Inspiration
1.      On Valuing Every Moment
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General / Teaching
1. 5E's in our neighborhood
Site Name
Designing Unit and Lessons with Examples
Site URL
Site Author
NGSS
Description
A quick read for starting to design units and lessons using the 5E's.
See subject specific 5E examples below:




Subject Specific
1.    Space Science -
Site Name
Kinesthetic Astronomy
Site URL
Site Author
Senior Developer: Evaldas Vidugiris
Description
Here we present a significant upgrade to the first in a series of innovative, experiential lessons we call Kinesthetic Astronomy. The Sky Time lesson reconnects students with the astronomical meaning of the day, year, and seasons. Like all Kinesthetic Astronomy lessons, it teaches basic astronomical concepts through choreographed bodily movements and positions that provide educational sensory experiences

2.      Biology -

Site Name
Modeling Populations
Site URL
Site Author
Concord Consortium
Description
Explore exponential and logistic growth models to analyze population data for African lions and identify carrying capacity.

3.      Chemistry -
Site Name

Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry

Site URL
Site Author
Concord Consortium
Description
Control the concentrations of molecules and temperatures of reactions to explore reaction rate, and learn to balance chemical equations.
4.      Physics -  
Site Name
Spectroscopy 
Site URL
Site Author
Concord Consortium
Description
Explore why excited atoms emit different wavelengths of radiation and learn how to identify atoms based on their unique atomic spectra.
5.      Environmental Science -
Site Name
What are our Energy Choices?
Site URL
Site Author
Concord Consortium
Description
Explore the advantages and disadvantages of using renewable and non-renewable sources to generate electricity.
Computer Tip   
1. The amazing website of Concord Consortium
Site Name
Concord Consortium
Site URL
Site Author
 Concord Consortium
Description
A great website of resources for teachers that give lessons and activities for all rigor levels. These lessons integrate skills and concepts and are NGSS aligned. Many amazing simulations too!


2. Collection of Assessment, Grouping, and Game Classroom Tools
Site Name
Collection of  Assessment, Grouping, and Game Classroom Tools
Site URL
Site Author
  Super Teacher Tools
Description
From Jeopardy to QR codes, “SuperTeacherTools.com is a go to site for providing technology tools for teaching that are quick and easy to access, learn, and start using in your classroom.


NGSS
1. NGSS Rubric for OUR lessons
Site Name
NGSS Equip Rubric
Site URL
Site Author
Next Gen Science
Description
A helpful rubric for teachers to evaluate the quality of their instructional lessons. This rubric is scaffolded and provides criteria by which to measure the alignment and overall quality of lessons and units with respect to the NGSS.
Inspiration
1. On Valuing Every Moment
Site Name
On Valuing Every Moment
Site URL
N/A
Site Author
The Magic Bank Account
Description
The Magic Bank Account
 THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN. IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD OF COACH PAUL "BEAR" BRYANT, ALABAMA, AFTER HE DIED IN 1982
 The Magic Bank Account

Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use.  However, this prize has rules:

The set of rules:
 1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
 2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
 3. You may only spend it.
 4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.
 5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, “Game Over!" It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
 What would you personally do?
 You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?
 ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL
 Shocked???
 YES!
 Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can't seem to see it.
 The PRIZE is................*TIME*
 1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.
 2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is not credited to us.
 3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.
 4. Yesterday is forever gone.
 5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING... SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
 So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life! Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start “spending”....


Monday, January 4, 2016

MVLA Science Now! 1/14/2016

MVLA Science Now!
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Table of Contents
General
1.      NGSS Accelerated Model Cours Pathways   
2.      Webinars: Learn to Use the NGSS Evidence Statements and Classroom Sample Tasks 
Subject Specific
1.     Earth & Space Science Get an Awesome Wind (or Temperature, Clouds, Pressure) for any Location on Earth
2.     Biology  -Watch the Evolution of our Species in Two Minutes
3.     Chemistry - Fun Chemistry Jokes and Quotes to Share with Students
4.     PhysicsSurprising applications of the Magnus Effect (Curving of a Spinning Ball).
5.     Environmental - Interactive GIS map for U.S. Energy Resources
Computer Tip
1.     “Short and Sweet” Guides for Learning Google Apps
Teaching
        1.     Higher Order Thinking Question Stems
Humor
        1.     Best of Neil deGrasse Tyson Arguments and Comebacks 

General
1. NGSS Accelerated Model Course Maps Pathways
     Achieve today released the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Accelerated Model Course Pathways - a resource that offers guidance to schools and districts seeking to organize NGSS performance expectations into a compressed time frame. The NGSS Accelerated Model Course Pathways are designed for high-achieving students who want or need to pursue advanced level science courses earlier in middle or high school, and at a more rapid pace. 
     "Districts and schools should maximize opportunities for high-performing students to learn the science in the Next Generation Science Standards as well as excel far beyond them," said Peter McLaren, Director of State and District Support for Science at Achieve.  "The accelerated model course pathways were created to allow this unique population of students access to advanced level and AP science courses sooner in their high school experience."
     Achieve coordinated the development of this resource with Advanced Placement (AP) educators and several writers of the NGSS. The final documents were reviewed by an additional team of classroom educators, science supervisors, and disciplinary specialists. 

Watch this video for a brief overview of the NGSS Accelerated Model Course Pathways.  

2. Webinars: Learn to Use the NGSS Evidence Statements and Classroom Sample Tasks 
The NSTA hosted two webinars to help educators begin thinking about the use of the NGSS Evidence Statements and the NGSS Classroom Sample Tasks. Links to the NGSS Evidence Statements, the NGSS Classroom Sample Tasks, and other NGSS resources can be found here

The NGSS Evidence Statements webinar introduces educators to the evidence statements for K-12, which describe what students need to be able to know and do by the end of instruction to demonstrate proficiency on each performance expectation in the NGSS. The webinar includes practitioner perspective on how the evidence statements can be used to help educators think through instructional planning.

The NGSS Classroom Sample Task webinar was designed to help educators think about how tasks that blend material from both the NGSS and the Common Core State Standards can be used to integrate instruction, resulting in more coherent experiences for students. The webinar introduces the sample tasks, which were developed collaboratively by math and science teachers, and discusses the benefits and challenges of cross-disciplinary classroom experiences.

Subject Specific
1. Earth & Space Science - Get an Awesome Wind (or Temperature, Clouds, Pressure) for any Location on Earth
Site Name
Get an Awesome Wind (or Temperature, Clouds, Pressure) for any Location on Earth
Site URL
Site Author
Windyty
Description
"Get a 13 day forecast."


2. Biology - Watch the Evolution of our Species in Two Minutes
Site Name
Watch the Evolution of our Species in Two Minutes
Site URL
Site Author
Yale Press
Description
“Click on a 'board' and scroll through to look at the funny jokes and quotes to get your students giggling about chemistry!”

3. Chemistry - Fun Chemistry Jokes and Quotes to Share with Students
Site Name

Fun Chemistry Jokes and Quotes to Share with Students

Site URL
Site Author
pinterest
Description
Do you need an engagement clip for water?  Check this out for a super hydrophobic substance.  Lots of "fair tests" using this material are shown in the video.  Be sure to scroll down to see the video.



4. Physics - Surprising applications of the Magnus Effect (Curving of a Spinning Ball).
Site Name
 Surprising applications of the Magnus Effect (Curving of a Spinning Ball).
Site URL
Site Author
Veritasium
Description
"Demonstrations and applications of the Magnus effect"

5.  Environmental - Interactive GIS map for U.S. Energy Resources
Site Name
Interactive GIS map for U.S. Energy Resources
Site URL
Site Author
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Description
"There are many features and options available through the "Layers/Legend" menu including our recommended map views on a variety of subjects as well as the ability to customize mapping layer options that may better suit your energy needs."

Computer Tip
Site Name
“Short and Sweet” Guides for Learning Google Apps
Site URL
Site Author
Shake up Learning
Description
“Here’s a great collection of cheat sheets for those using Google Apps. There are several other resources on this site as well that you might want to check out. These cheat sheets would be suitable for professional development or classroom use.”

Teaching
Site Name
Higher Order Thinking Question Stems
Site URL
Site Author
Keller School District
Description
Lists of higher level thinking questions.


Humor
Site Name
Best of Neil deGrasse Tyson Arguments and Comebacks Part 1
Site URL
Site Author
 Agatan Fnd
Description
Video clips of best of Neil deGrasse Tyson arguments and comebacks.”