Graphic Organizers for Formative Assessment: 3 graphic organizers every teacher needs
Just a reminder of how basic graphic organizers can be used for formative assessment and engagement.
Valentine’s Projects/Pop Up Cards
North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program
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Our Certification Program encourages professional development in environmental education and acknowledges educators committed to environmental stewardship.
Student Success Grants
Sponsored by The NEA Foundation
| Website: | https://www.neafoundation.org/for-educators/student-success-grants/ |
| Contact: | The NEA Foundation 1201 16th St. NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202.822.7840 Email: [email protected] |
| Description: | The NEA Foundation provides grants to stimulate students’ curiosity and excitement about learning, and help them become successful 21st century global citizens. Through the Student Success grants, the foundation helps students learn how to think critically and solve problems. The foundation has successfully provided funding to thousands of educators to enable them to take the lead on a wide range of projects to improve student learning. Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, technology, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students. Eligible applicants are public school educators in prekindergarten through grade 12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public higher education institutions. Education support professionals include paraeducators, school bus drivers, maintenance and custodial staff, food services staff, school nurses, student services workers, clerical and office assistants, school security officers, and technicians. Applications must be submitted through the online grant system. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Charter |
| Award(s): | Grants of $2,000 and $5,000 are awarded. |
| Deadline(s): | Applications are accepted December 22, 2020 through March 19, 2021. |
| Focus: | General Education, Global Citizenship, Professional Development, STEM/STEAM/STREAM |
| Grade Level(s): | 6-8, 9-12, 3-5, K-2, PreK, Higher Ed |
| 21st Century Themes and Skills: | Critical Thinking, Problem Solving |
Young Scientist Challenge
Sponsored by Discovery Education, Inc. and 3M
| Website: | https://www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge |
| Contact: | Discovery Education, Inc. 4350 Congress St. Ste. 700 Charlotte, NC 28209 Email: [email protected] |
| Description: | Discovery Education, Inc. and 3M invite students in grades 5 through 8 to participate in the Young Scientist Challenge. Entrants must create a one- to two-minute video describing a new, innovative solution that solves an everyday problem. Judges are looking for student videos that: • Explain their chosen problem and how it impacts them, their families, communities, or the global population. • Describe a new innovation or solution that could impact or solve the problem. • Explain the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics behind their innovation. • Illustrate how their innovation could both address the identified everyday problem and have a broader impact locally or globally. Students in grades 5 through 8 at a public, charter, private, parochial, or home school are eligible to apply. The ten entrants with the highest overall scores are deemed finalists and compete for the grand prize. The remaining entrants are considered for a state merit award. Up to 51 state merit winners are chosen based on highest score among the remaining entries received per state. Entries must be submitted online. |
| Eligibility: | Public, Private, Charter, Other (including homeschool, 501 (c)(3) organizations) |
| Award(s): | Ten finalists each receive $1,000. The grand-prize winner receives $25,000. |
| Deadline(s): | Entries are accepted December 15, 2020 through April 27, 2021. |
| Focus: | Engineering, Global Citizenship, STEM/STEAM/STREAM, Technology Education/Computer Science |
| Grade Level(s): | 3-5, 6-8 |
| Content Area(s): | Mathematics, Science |
| 21st Century Themes and Skills: | Innovation |
NC STEM Calendar: Post your summer opportunities now!
Parents and families are starting to make plans for the summer, so now’s the perfect time to make sure you post your summer camp opportunities in the NC STEM Calendar.
We highlight featured programs and opportunities in our biweekly newsletters and across our social media feeds, so be sure to update your listings in the portal so we can help spread the word about your opportunities.
As always, our team is more than happy to help if you have any questions, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best,
The NC STEM Calendar Team
NEED Distance Learning Resources
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has caused many schools and educational institutions to rethink and restructure how the 2020-2021 school year will play out. We understand the need for engaging and hands-on ideas for teachers and organizations to use in a distance learning environment and for families to use at home to keep kids thinking, exploring, and inquiring during this time. Below are some of our favorites resources we’ve pulled together for teachers, students, and families to utilize!
NEED curriculum is always available for FREE PDF download at shop.NEED.org.
Upcoming Professional Development Training for 4-H Agents and Teachers
This message is being sent on behalf of Amy Chilcote, Extension Associate and 4-H Curriculum Specialist with North Carolina 4-H. For more information contact Amy at [email protected] or (919) 513-0730   Need Digital Assets:The 4-H Curriculum Website is growing its digital assets for educators. This month Soil Solutions (3rd grade) and Soil to Seed (high school) will be added. Check It Out  Professional Development Training 3rd Grade Soil solutions brims with hands-on science lessons that utilize local landscape to connect students to the world of soils and plants in an inviting and relevant way. We will go through the curriculum and showcase the digital assets educators can use with their youth. This aligns to Ecosystems. Register Here  Professional Development Training: High School Environmental Science. From the food we eat, to the water we drink, to the places where we live and play, soil erosion and sedimentation profoundly affects our everyday lives. Soil to Seed is designed to cultivate high school aged-youth in understanding the principles of erosion and sediment control. We will go through the curriculum and showcase the digital assets educators can use with their youth. This aligns with high school environmental science standards. Register Here Registration Open for Nature Adventures  Are you an educator looking to spice up your spring education plan with fun virtual learning opportunities for your students? Nature Adventures is a 6-part series of 45-minute educational sessions for the spring semester developed and taught by professional Environmental Educators from North Carolina’s 4-H Camps on natural science topics for grades 2 through 7. Take a virtual field trip to the coast to learn about Black Bears, use your senses on a night hike to explore the adaptations of nocturnal animals, learn about the night sky, find out why butterflies are so important for pollination, and more! This program is provided for FREE to teachers and families. All programs are aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (forthcoming) and are presented live over Zoom. Can’t make the live event? Register for the recording and go at your own pace! Register an entire class or individual students. REGISTER HERE. |
New Dates Announced: Applications are being accepted for virtual summer NIEHS STaRS Experience
In order to better accommodate teachers calendars, the second session of the STaRS 2021 programhas been rescheduled to Monday, July 26, through Friday, July 30 (originally scheduled for August 2-6, 2021). Applicants for the 2020 STaRS program automatically will be considered for the 2021 program.
Middle and high school science teachers and community college instructors are encouraged to apply for the 2021 NIEHS Science, Teachers and Research Summer (STaRS) Experience. STaRS 2021 is a virtual one-week professional development (PD) program, designed and conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
The goals of the PD are:
- To enhance participants’ understanding of basic research in environmental/biomedical sciences; and
- To enable participants to transfer knowledge received from this program into classroom applications and better support their students, including those from underserved populations.
The 2021 virtual STaRS Experience will be held online by NIEHS and will be a one-week program. The program will contain many interactive lessons and activities with special topics relating to COVID-19. The first offering is scheduled for Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 16, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The second offering is scheduled from Monday, July 26, through Friday, July 30, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Participants will be assigned to one of the two week-long program options. STaRS participants will receive a $1,000 stipend to offset costs to cover their time spent during the program.
Requirements:
- Applicants must currently teach science in a North Carolina middle school, high school or community college; and
- Applicants must be available and fully engaged for the full one-week program (July 12-16 or July 26-30).
Women and individuals of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021.
NCSLA 2020-2021 Webinar Series
Webinar #5 The Science of Self-care
Monday, February 15, 2021, 5:30-7 PM
Going beyond the rhetoric around self-care, Dr. Steven Scoggin, Wake Forest University Chair of Psychiatry, will describe the current medical model for chronic stress. Ashley Hawkins Parham, Health and Wellness Coach from the Office of Wellbeing at WFU, will guide us through an interactive session demonstrating trauma-informed mind-body skills. You will leave the webinar with skills for managing emotions and tools to create your own resilience plan. NCDPI’s state social worker, Pachovia Lovett, will share how DPI is supporting educators through the pandemic challenges.
Presenters:
Steven N. Scoggin, M.Div. Psy.D., LCMHC
Department of Psychiatry
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Ashley Hawkins Parham, M. Psych
Health and Wellness Coach, Koru Mindfulness Teacher
Wake Forest University Wellbeing Center
Pachovia Lovett, MSW
School Social Work Consultant – NCDPI
Sponsor Highlights: BWF/SMT and Legends of Learning
FREE to NCSLA Members but you must register to attend.
$40 for Non Members: includes all four webinars plus one-year NCSLA membership
Register at ncsla.net
See attached flyer for more information
 The American Institute of ArchitectsK-12 Initiatives The AIA has created 11 engaging problem-based classroom activities for K-12 students that use real-world problems to spark interest in the architecture profession, explain its impact, and foster students’ critical design thinking skills. Each problem scenario includes a grade-level appropriate lesson guide and activity sheets that will help students work through the lesson. Topics range from disaster recovery and resilience to environmental stability, with scenarios such as building a homeless shelter that solve a social need with innovative design. For all 11 classroom activities, you’ll find: Student activity sheet (PDF fillable)Background information The problemLearning resourcesHands-on activities Video inspiration from the AIA Film Challenge It’s never too young to start thinking like an architect. Visit AIA for more information. |