New Opportunities: October 6th, 2021

APOLOGIES: It seems all of September’s posts were not sent out through Follow It!

I am sharing the link for all post’s in September. Some may be time sensitive and past but others are not:

September | 2021 | STEMWest


Learning From Each Other

Take a look at Alexander County’s Newsletter to see what ideas may be ignited for other districts and educators!


FREE Resources that Ignite Student Interest in STEM


The NEED Project: Energy Curriculum Resources


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Webinar Series: Making Sense of Three-Dimensional Science

Join us for series of webinars that will help you teach and assess new science standards.

More than a decade after the release of A Framework for K-12 Science Education, there is still confusion and misunderstanding about three-dimensional learning and assessment that is the foundation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*.

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is offering a free four-part webinar series designed to provide educators with information and examples of the three dimensions and how they are used to teach and assess students.

If you are adopting NGSS or three-dimensional standards based on the Framework, these webinars will help you make sense of the new science standards.

Register today for one or all the sessions. All registered participants will receive handouts and a recording of the sessions to share with colleagues.


Leap into Science Week Mini-Grants – Application Now Open

LEAP Trainings are still available! For more information go to: LeapNC (leapintosciencenc.org)

This PreK-1 curriculum and materials integrate literacy and inquiry science to build excitement about reading and science. They can be used for classrooms and Title 1 night presentations to encourage families to learn together!

All trained Leap into Science educators are invited to apply for a National Leap into Science Week (February 21 – 27, 2022) mini-grant in the amount of $1000. Grants will be used to support impactful science and literacy programming during National Leap into Science Week.  Educators must collaborate with their community to host a multi-day celebration of Leap into Science week using Leap into Science curricula to engage underserved rural and urban communities. These mini-grants are made possible through the generous support of the Unruh Family Foundation advised fund at the Arizona Community Foundation.  To learn more, please register for the Application Webinar on October 12 (2:00pm Eastern l 11:00am Pacific).

Please visit leap.fi.edu/minigrants for criteria and information on how to apply. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern | 2:00 pm Pacific on November 10, 2021.  
Learn More & Apply Today!


The Science House PD Opportunities

STEM To Your Doorstep (Northwest Office – Hickory, NC)

October 21, 2021

NC Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) 1990 Main Ave SE, Hickory, NC 28602

STEM To Your Doorstep! The Science House, NCSU, is conducting a STEM To Your Doorstep Professional Development session for K-16 STEM teachers at The Science House’s Northwest Outreach Office located at the NCCET in Hickory, NC! Sign up now to be trained so that you can check out classroom sets of equipment for free from our extensive loan program! This program qualifies for Digital Learning competencies!

Using Makey Makey to Target Invention Literacy (Northwest Office – Hickory, NC)

October 22, 2021

NC Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) 1990 Main Ave SE, Hickory, NC 28602

Join us for a day of exploration and invention using a device called a Makey Makey! With the Makey Makey, students can make any conductive material act as a computer keyboard. Because it comes preprogrammed, students with no coding experience can use it and experiment with it as they start to learn coding. Capitalize on the maker movement in your classroom to enhance any curriculum. Teachers joining us will be able to check out a classroom set of Makey Makey kits to use in their classrooms! Participants will receive their own Makey Makey kit! This program qualifies for new Digital Learning competencies!

SAFETY SENSE: Science Lab Safety Train-the-Trainer 2021 – Mountain Office

December 6-7, 2021

Mountain Horticulture Research Station (455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759)

Join The Science House for our “Science Lab Safety Train-the-Trainer” Professional Development opportunity which will take place on December 6-7, 2021 at our Mountain Satellite Office. Time 9 am – 3 pm. Come prepared to create or improve upon your school science safety program or Chemical Hygiene Plan. Receive free resources and information so that YOU can train other teachers in your school or science department.


North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Resources for Educators

STEAM CAREER SHOWCASE
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
The 9th annual STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities, a free virtual event for learners in grades 6–12, will be held on October 19 from 1:00–3:30PM. 
Learn more about the STEAM Career Showcase. 
 NCCAT: SAND, SEA AND CITIZEN SCIENCE
November 15–19, 2021Join the Museum and the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) to learn ways to enhance students’ environmental literacy through participation in citizen science projects. Get outdoors and explore North Carolina’s coastal ecology as we use the unique and beautiful ecosystems of the Outer Banks as a field laboratory to collect data. 
Apply now for Citizen Science: Interactive STEM for Active Engagement.
  Nature Neighborhood
Nature Neighborhood is a series of free, asynchronous virtual workshops that guide you through information and activities for exploring the natural world right in your own backyard.  Each workshop includes a short introductory video and follow-up assignments to get outdoors and explore.   You can complete the workshops at your own pace, as all the resources and materials are available on an ongoing basis.  You can also receive credit towards CEUs or EE certification (Criteria 2). 
 Learn more about Nature Neighborhood workshops.

NC Environmental Education Grants

North Carolina Environmental Education provides information for grants and contests to support environmental education research and community outreach efforts. 
 Learn more about grants and contests.

FREE PD Integrating Literacy and Science Standards Outdoors

Out Teach is offering a 2-part virtual professional development workshop this fall focused on integrating literacy into NC science standards using the outdoors. 

Through our partnership with Duke Energy, we’re able to offer this to 200 elementary teachers in in North Carolina at no cost. 

The workshop qualifies for 4 hours of CE and 4 hours toward NC EE certification, with 3 different opportunities to attend to accommodate the busy schedules of teachers.

See the attached flyer for registration information: