The Science Reflector - NCSTA Newsletter

The following district directors have submitted news items for NCSTA members:

District 1
District 3
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8

Not sure which district you are in? Check out the district map at the bottom of this page.

News from District 1
Director: Karen Dawkins

Greetings from District 1

Hello to all District One members. Congratulations to all who made presentations at the NCSTA PD Institute or contributed in other ways. Special thanks to the teachers from Beaufort, Pamlico, and Hyde Counties who represented the Big Ideas in Science Project. Note that the District I Drive-In Conference will be March 15 at Goose Creek State Park in Beaufort County. There will be concurrent sessions for K-5, 6-8, and high school courses. If you have a great teaching idea you’d like to share, please let me know. You will receive more details in the mail, but feel free to e-mail me with questions or suggestions (dawkinsk@ecu.edu).

It is time to begin planning for summer professional development opportunities. The NC Mathematics and Science Education Network is offering statewide PD institutes that might interest you. They include K-2 Science, 3-5 Science, 6-8 Science, and Biology. You are welcome to attend the institutes at any NC-MSEN Center. Since the CSMTE at ECU is probably closer for most of you, you are certainly invited to participate in the sessions to be held there. In addition, there are online PD modules available through the ECU Center: K-2 Science, 3-5 Science, Grade 6 Science, Grade 7 Science, Grade 8 Science, Physical Science, Biology, Earth/Environmental Science, and Chemistry. Application forms will be available soon.

News from District 3
Director: Carrie Jones

It was great to see you all at the NCSTA conference! Congratulations to the NCSTA board for another successful year. This was the first year of my working behind the scenes and one thing I learned is that this conference is hard work. Please take time to thank a board member for their time and effort if you see them out and about.

At any rate, welcome to the new year----my New Years Resolutions….to leave papers at work, call parents every week, and put on a happy face to the disrespectful student with the I-Pod, who forgot his homework, and is sleeping for the nth time….bah humbug (wait that’s Christmas:). Seriously though, I love the block schedule this time of year for the change in students and the fresh start.

On another note, I hope you will consider attending the April 19th Drive-In Workshop taking place at the Webster Center near Crossroads in Cary, NC. We are still seeking presenters and door prizes if you have some contacts. More details of the event to come….

What’s happening locally this time of year?

Science House: http://www.science-house.org/

LEARN NC online courses available: http://www.learnnc.org/courses/

The Kenan Fellows Program is accepting Applications until January 24th:
http://www.ncsu.edu/kenanfellows/join/apply.htm

Museum of Life and Sciences in Durham: http://www.ncmls.org/

Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh: http://www.naturalsciences.org/education/index.html

Exploris/IMAX in Raleigh: http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/

Imagination Station in Wilson: http://www.imaginescience.org/

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to attend our free district conference. If you are interested in presenting or just want to attend, please contact Keri Randolph, kerandol@chatham.k12.nc.us. The workshop is free for NCSTA members, and there will be something for all grade levels.. Bring your own lunch or pay $8 to have lunch provided.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill
Dr. Daniel Reichart, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
On September 4, 2005, UNC astronomer Dr. Daniel Reichart made an out of this world discovery when he detected an explosion in the farthest reaches of the universe dating back 12.8 billion years. His findings smash the record for the farthest explosion ever recorded in space. Join Dr. Reichart on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. in Zoom In as he recounts his discovery and shares his latest search for gamma-ray bursts---ancient explosions in space. See www.moreheadplanetarium.org for more information.

SciWorks in Winston-Salem
Go to http://www.sciworks.org/Newsletter.html to sign up to receive free newsletters or browse past issues to keep up with happenings at SciWorks.

News From District 6
Director: Heather Edmisten

I can’t believe that we just celebrated our winter break and first semester exams! This year is truly on a roll. The NCSTA Professional Development Institute was a great success in November. If you were not able to attend, you truly missed a great time and a wonderful opportunity. Next year plans to be even more exciting as we host an area NSTA conference Oct. 30-Nov 1. Start planning and asking for funds now. It will be worth your while!

I am so very excited about working with NCSTA and you, the members while serving as the District 6 Director. District 6 has been very active and energetic under past leadership and I hope to continue this excitement within our district. If you have any suggestions or ideas for District 6 please feel free to contact me so that we may get these moving! Let’s work together to keep things moving in 2008! I look forward to working with you!

District 6 will be hosting a district wide “drive in” on Saturday, February 2nd 2008. This will be a great opportunity for all science teachers to share great lesson ideas, teaching methods, instructional strategies, and classroom ideas. This event will take place at Providence Day School and will take place from 8:15-2:30. Registration is free for all NCSTA members, and only $25 for non members. Lunch is available for an additional cost. Please email Debbie Michael at debmichael@charter.net for more information. This will be an exciting time for all!

Websites for teaching science
The internet has many valuable resources for teachers and students in all content areas. Sometimes, the number of sites that pertain to our search is overwhelming. There are quite a few internet resources that assist in science instruction and that have interesting information for technology as well. I have included some of my favorite websites for science and technology.

Social bookmarking
One of the most valuable resources that I have found is the website www.ikeepbookmarks.com This site allows you to bookmark sites as you search and then have access to them from the web on any computer. This is very helpful, as many times I have bookmarked a site at school and then can’t access those bookmarks from home. This site eliminates that issue all together.

Science sites
www.freerice.com/
This site provides vocabulary words for students to practice (not science specific) AND donates rice to countries that may not have it through the United Nations.

www.science-class.net
An old favorite. This site offers a multitude of lesson ideas and resources for all areas of science. Very easy to navigate and to find what you are looking for.

www.windows.ucar.edu/
Windows to the universe. A great site for educators and students. Many resources and links to a variety of earth science topics and lesson plans.

serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlyearth/teaching_refs.html
Great resource for teaching earth’s history. Many new ideas for teaching geological time, earth’s history and plate tectonics.

ithacasciencezone.com/envirozone/lessons/03atmos/default.htm
Atmosphere lessons. From ozone to absorption and insulation all areas of the atmosphere and its processes are included here. Great resource for all earth and environmental teachers.

www.ucar.edu/learn/1_6_2_26t.htm
A great activity to show how ozone forms and moves in the atmosphere. My students love this activity. It gets students up and moving and allows them to learn a very important concept in the process.

pblchecklist.4teachers.org/testing.php3?idunique=3&max=6&checklist=14
Project based learning is an excellent tool to teach any unit. This site provides a simple tool to create a checklist for any project based learning activity.

Wikis in the classroom
http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
One of the hottest technology tools for classroom use is the wiki. A great way to get students using social technology in the classroom. This resource allows teachers to use technology students use at home for educational purposes. A great way to post questions that deal with you unit and to have students get actively involved. This site gives an overview of a wiki and ways that it can be implemented within the classroom.

News From District 7
Director: Elizabeth Bustle

Greetings to all District 7 new and existing members! I was pleased to meet several of you at the NCSTA Professional Development Institute and I hope all who attended gained a wealth of information and made excellent professional contacts.

REMINDERS:

Science Fair and Olympiad seasons are upon us: Saturday, February 23 (Regional Science Olympiad Competition in Hickory, NC) and Saturday, February (Regional Science Fair Competition at the Walker Center on the Campus of Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC). Special thanks to Marty Hemric (hemricm@wilkes.k12.nc.us) and Rob Halpern (robhalpern@mcacademy.com) for agreeing to organize the regional Science Fair this year. Please contact them by email if you have any questions about a project or registration information. For directions to Wilkes Community College go to: http://www.wilkescc.edu/misc/directions.htm.

Please remember that there will be no November PDI in 2008 due to the excitement of hosting the National Science Teachers Association regional conference in Charlotte, NC, October 30-31. If you would like to present a session or workshop during the “Charlotte’s Science Web” Conference, please submit your proposal by January 15 (ASAP)! Proposals can be submitted online at www.ncsta.org. The new and improved NCSTA website also offers information on a study grant (applications due March 15) and an Innovative Curriculum Grant (applications due May 1). Please check these out, too!

On January 31, February 14, and February 28, the Appalachian State University Math and Science Education Center (M.S.E.C.) will be offering seminars from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Room 105 of the Walker Building on Alternative Energy Forms, Waterway Pollution, and Consequences of Overusing Fossil Fuels, respectively. If you are interested in attending a seminar, please contact Vicky Isaacs at isaacsve@appstate.edu .

Districts 7 & 8 will be conducting a “Physics Alive” Drive-In Workshop on the tentative date of Saturday, March 8 at Patton High School in Morganton, NC (Burke County). We are still waiting on final confirmation from our host site, so district members will receive official registration information after January 19. Our keynote speaker will present physics connections on all levels, but our workshops will focus on a variety of topics. Please plan to join your fellow district members for this event!

As always if you have any announcements or information you would like included in the newsletter OR if you have any NCSTA questions / concerns, please email me at any time: bustlee@davie.k12.nc.us.

News From District 8
Director: Teresa Cowan

Updates from the NCSTA Professional Development Institute – November 2007

WOW…. What fun we all had. From the intensive workshop schedule to the bizarre mishap of our guest speaker, Astronaut Bill McArthur…the PDI was eventful to say the least. If you were not there, you missed it. Record attendance, awe-inspiring speakers, and bonding time with old as well as new friends. I hope all that were there took home the same excitement that I did.

Final note: Congratulations to all honorees at the convention but District 8 would like to call special attention to our District Honorees. Start planning now for next years honorees.

Sherry Lawson – teacher at Enka Middle School in Buncombe County received the District 8 Middle School TOY.

Pamela Jaillet – teacher at Isaac Dickson Elementary in the Asheville City Schools System received the District 8 Elementary School TOY.

Communication Outreach

Remember to contact me (thembree@bellsouth.net) with news, celebrations, workshops, questions, and suggestions.

I have now met persons in Madison, Macon, McDowell, and Mitchell counties that will act as contacts. I also have a contact in the Asheville City School system and an individual who teaches in the private school sector of our county. All have agreed to help facilitate communication from their areas to the district level. Thanks to those but I NEED MORE CONTACTS. Please consider helping with communication within your county.

Membership Opportunities

Please keep me informed of your current placement professionally. This allows me to ensure that you receive correspondence both on the district and state level. Primary form of communication will be email bulletins, so please make sure that your email addresses are current with the NCSTA registration information.

Drive-In Workshops are coming in the spring. District 7 and 8 are collaborating in this event. Look for details before the end of February. Topic for this spring: PHYSICS AROUND US. Conference is free for members and a minimal cost for nonmembers (aka: recruits). If you have ideas, are interested in attending, and/or interested in presenting please contact me.

For Your Information: COOL opportunities for you, your students, or both

PEAK Conference: Preparing Educators for Adventures with Kids- Seventh annual Outdoor Education Conference (professional development) sponsored by YMCA Camp Greenville held February 7-9. Check out their website for details: www.campgreenville.org.

Renewal Credits: Need a renewal credit now that the state regulations are becoming overwhelming? Check out LEARN NC for professional development courses offered via the internet.

Paideia Professional Development Institutes in Teaching Math and Science: The Institutes are being held at Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in conjunction with the Horry County Schools on February 8 and 9. For more information and to register, please visit our website at www.paideia.org.

North Carolina Zoo: With the recent zoo fiasco, a trip to the zoo might be the educational opportunity that our students need in order to establish order from chaos. Check out the zoo website for lesson plans, costs, etc.: www.nczoo.org.

SCHOLARSHIPS$$$$: Check out www.nelnet.com for scholarship opportunities for high school students. Nelnet is an education planning and financing company who is giving away scholarships in 2008. It is worth the look.

Fly-Fishing Camp for students: If you have students interested in the wonders of fly-fishing, here is the opportunity they have been waiting for. RIVERCOURSE in a fly-fishing camp offered by NC Trout Unlimited. For more information have the students check out the website: www.NCTU.org and click RIVERCOURSE. I sent a student last year and he is still talking about the aquatic lessons he learned.

Happy New Year. Have a great winter and spring. Keep in touch and remember to contact me with information to share about your school, county, etc. Look for details concerning the DRIVE-IN conference. Hope to see many members and recruits at the conference.