Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year Joshua Underwood gives instructions to juniors Megan Huber and Amanda Lee during chemistry class at Mason County High School.Photo by Amy Wallot, Jan. 9, 2015 By Joshua Underwood josh.underwood@mason.kyschools.us Being a teacher is often as much about being an entertainer as it is being a conveyor of knowledge. We have to [...]
The National Academies have released a document to help guide the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that may be read online or downloaded for free. “Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards” describes a new vision for science learning and teaching that is leading to improvements in science classrooms. The document offers guidance to teachers and [...]
The Living Arts and Science Center in Lexington is offering several science and art discovery field trips and outreach programs. The programs are interactive and stimulating ways to reinforce art and science curriculum. Offerings include the science discovery exhibit, “The Nature of Color,” as well as the art discovery exhibits “Afterimage” (through March 13) and “Wild Things” (March 20-May 2). [...]
NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is now accepting applications from educators for the Cycle 3-2015 Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) Program. Teams selected receive online astronomy instruction and a trip to Palmdale, Calif., to participate in two SOFIA science flights. The science flights are eight- to 10-hour flights on a 747SP aircraft carrying a 2.5-meter diameter telescope dedicated to [...]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the third edition of a report, Climate Change Indicators in the United States, which may be of interest to teachers. The report presents observed data on key measures of our environment, including U.S. and global temperature and precipitation, ocean heat and acidity, sea level, length of growing seasons and more. The report includes [...]
The Center for Science, Teaching, and Learning (CSTL) and Dow Chemical Co. present the Dow STEMtheGap Teacher Challenge, which offers the top 50 winners the opportunity to win a $1,000 educational grant for their classrooms. Teachers are invited to submit their ideas on how to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. Entries will be judged by an independent [...]
Science Friday is celebrating observation – and we’re challenging you and your students to get out and observe everything! #ObserveEverything is a nationwide invitation to practice the essential skill of observation with Science Friday’s large community of scientists, students, parents, and educators. It’s a great opportunity to complement the inquiry-based instruction you’re doing with students … and have a little fun with multimedia creation [...]
The GeoSphere, a unique learning environment in which students enter a 20-foot inflatable globe, sit on Antarctica, and are given an unparalleled view of our planet, is coming to Western Kentucky University from Nov. 17-20. Students go inside the GeoSphere one class at a time (25-30 people) for programs, which are 15 to 20 minutes long. GeoSphere shows natural vegetation [...]
Join educators who are working to support teachers using the Literacy Design Collaborative framework at a two-day LDC Coaches Institute in Lexington. The session is intended for teacher leaders, instructional coaches, and administrators who are working with other teachers on implementing LDC tasks and modules in science, social studies and English/language arts classrooms. The institute will concentrate on effective communication and [...]
Heidi Anderson, a biology teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Fayette County), co-authored the cover story in the September edition of The Science Teacher, a national journal. The article, “Lights and Larvae,” describes using optogenetics to teach recombinant DNA and neurobiology.