New Opportunities: July 27, 2022

AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM

What: The Aurora Fossil Museum is proud to provide an informational outreach on the STEM related teaching materials they provide. Their Program Developer and Geologist, Andrew Dietsche, will guide you through the resources that can be acquired from the museum. He will also share how other teachers have implemented the STEM materials and services of the museum to fulfill NC teaching standards. This outreach will provide information that could be helpful to creating comprehensive lesson plans. The Aurora Fossil Museum looks forward to helping our western North Carolina educators. (Each participant will leave with enough materials to implement lessons in their classrooms)

Who: The content will be most relevant for the following teachers–4th grade, 8th grade, and HS Earth Science (Priority will be given to STEM West Partners: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, and Polk Counties plus Newton-Conover City Schools and New Dimensions)

When: August 19th, 2022 from 4:00-5:00

Where: Catawba Valley Community College-East Campus, behind Northern Tool & Equipment. Enter Center Doors and go straight back to room #1110.

Why: Fossils and Geologic Time can be difficult to teach in a hands-on and inquiry based way. This training, along with materials, add engagement to any classroom!

Smoky Mountains STEM Collaborative

Greetings – We are very excited about being able to hold the annual Space Apps Challenge in-person at PARI this year! Mark your calendars for 9/30-10/2. Registration is open now on the website: https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/rosman/ . Overnight accommodations are free to participants and all ages are welcome. Teams of students will need at least one adult with each team. Adults can work with the team of students or band together for a challenge team of their own. Details about the specific challenge categories will be posted later in August.

Also, look for library programs on the images from the James Webb Space Telescope during the first week of August. Hope to see you there!

If you have questions about the Space Apps Challenge, library programs or if you want to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please let me know. Thanks.

—
Randi Neff, Project Coordinator
Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative
308 Bradford Hall, SWCC
447 College Dr., Sylva, NC 28779
phone: 828.339.4357

Are you, or do you know, a high school girl interested in this question: “What is physics, and how is it used to both understand the world around us, and fuel the inventions of the future?” Did you know that students who take a physics course in high school are more likely to succeed in their pursuit of STEM careers? We invite those who identify as girls or as non-binary genders, and also their allies, to join us in exploring physics.

The LEAP! workshop invites students to investigate these questions inside the labs of working scientists at NC State. Typical workshop topics — organized by students, researchers, and faculty from the Physics Department — have included capturing subatomic particles, solar spectra, astrophysics in the computer, atomic force microscopy of DNA, programming arduinos, organic electronics, microfluidics, fracture, and more!

The 2022 event (after a two-year hiatus) will be held on Monday, Aug 15.

Grade Level: High School

Date: Monday, August 15, 2022

Location: Riddick Hall on NC State Campus (2401 Stinson Drive) – Pickup and Dropoff will be from the Riddick Hearth (the common room on the 3rd floor)

Cost: FREE!

Application Deadline: August 10, 2022

APPLY NOW

Are you interested in free resources for teaching statistics and data that have been vetted by experts? We want to share an upcoming opportunity to support teachers in their professional development. We have developed an innovative way for teachers to personalize their professional learning about teaching statistics and data and are ready to invite teachers and instructional coaches to engage with us in our new platform.

We are recruiting 75 middle and high school teachers to participate in a research study on professional development using the InSTEP online professional learning platform. Teachers will receive $1,000 for participating in 20 hours of professional development and can earn CEUs (or professional development hours). Teachers also have the opportunity to earn additional compensation for other research activities. Teachers will engage with the InSTEP professional learning materials at their own pace, on their own time.

Please feel free to contact Dr. Gemma Mojica at [email protected] with any questions you might have about the professional development opportunity or research.

Complete Interest Form

SAVE THE DATE:

Check out our region:

NC Foothills Experience (wpcog.net)

More Science Activities from

Smithsonian Education!!

FREE Lesson Resource!

Support for Afterschool Organizations

Select schools and afterschool organizations are provided full access to Discovery Education’s Daily Learning Platform, making it easy to find engaging resources that reach every student. Discovery Education’s flexible, award-winning K—12 learning platform connects educators and afterschool professionals to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, and timely professional learning. Together, these resources give educators what they need to facilitate instruction in any learning environment and create a lasting impact.

Is your school or program interested in gaining FREE access to the Daily Learning Platform and all the incredible resources it offers? Just fill out this simple FORM to be added to the list.

SUBMIT YOUR FORM TODAY!