2021-22 Middle School Science

November - Science Newsletter

Science Teachers,

Welcome to November! It's that time of year where we give thanks, we finally get some cool weather, and we look forward to that awesome time called Thanksgiving break! This year continues to chug right along, but we wanted to make you aware of happenings in Pasco County Science. Please read below and as always, we are just a phone call, text, or email away if you need anything. Be sure to also check out the new "I am a Scientist" spotlight section. We hope these help inspire your students!

Science Support

Updates to the APEX Tier 2 Crosswalks

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Based on feedback from teachers and coaches, we learned that the APEX crosswalks were only aligned to the semester versions of the APEX courses and not the Year-long which many of you selected to support your students. The crosswalks have been updated to provide connections between both versions now. Check them out using the link below. They can also be accessed from any of the scope & sequence pages on the Secondary Learning Network.

https://pasco.instructure.com/courses/362961/pages/cfa-banks-and-tier-2-resources

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Broken Link Replacements for Middle School Student Facing Content

We are unable to push updates to any of the student facing content courses in MyLearning. This was done purposefully so that none of your amazing added content would be accidentally overwritten. However, this does make it difficult to fix any broken link issues. With that being said, we have come across some broken links in some of the content. Below are updated links for some of the issues that have been reported:

Grade 8 and Grade 7 Accelerated:

Universe Unit - Concept 1 - Structure of the Universe - Elaborate - The Two-Inch Universe:

a link to the PDF cut-outs and the instructions for the 2-inch universe activity

Universe Unit - Concept 2: Distances between objects in space - Engage:

Science Early Release Day 2 Follow Up

Thank you again for participating in the 2nd Science Early Release Day Session. We continued to dig into the Engage Phase of the 5E model but this time, through the lens of Grade Appropriate Assignments.

The session resources and a recording are housed on the Secondary Science ERD Canvas Course Page (enroll here: https://pasco.instructure.com/enroll/9HNCLK)

As a reminder, your follow-up activities include

Use an ENGAGE activity that meets those successful Engage characteristics we came to consensus on AND that meets the criteria for Grade-Appropriate Assignments as defined by the Opportunity Myth for a lesson.
Use the Science IPG (Links to an external site.) to check the activity's “grade appropriateness” against Core Action 1. Remember that Core Action 1 has three components:
1. The lesson focuses on the depth of grade-level content standard(s) or part(s) thereof.
2. The lesson intentionally relates new concepts to students’ prior knowledge and skills
3. The lesson intentionally targets the aspect(s) of rigor(conceptual understanding, procedural skill and application) called for by the standard(s) being addressed and is supported by text at the appropriate complexity.
Collect student examples as evidence to bring to ERD Day 3.
There is no submission component for this assignment. Be prepared to share student examples at ERD Session 3

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can either respond to this email or contact Lesley Kirkley or Jessica Maxwell at lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us or jmaxwell@pasco.k12.fl.us. We look forward to a great learning session together and can’t wait to see you all.

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ERD Session 3 Reminder

We are looking forward to our next Early Release professional learning day coming up on Wednesday November 10th.

Wave 1 Schools 12:30-1:30

CSRMS, PMS, RRMS

Wave 2 Schools 1:30-2:30

BPMS, CCMS, CENMS, CHMS, CLMS, GMS, HAC, HSEC, JLMS, PRSMS, PVMS, RBSMS, SRK8 (MS), SSMS, TEWMS

Zoom Session Link

Wave 1 @ 12:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81441603407
Wave 2 @ 1:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83097999217

I AM A SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT

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To counteract the stereotypes and ensure a more equitable future for STEM, we need more classrooms and resources that celebrate the incredible range of personalities, interests, backgrounds, and pursuits that drive discovery and progress. Every month, we will be sharing a new "I AM A SCIENTIST" spotlight highlighting an amazing real world scientist.

We encourage you to share this information and the scientist's story with your students each month because every student deserves a chance to see themselves in science.

It isn't about genius

"If you want something, you can really only work at it. You keep on trying and eventually things seem to unfold" - WADE CAMPBELL

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Wade is finishing his PhD at Harvard University, where he teaches students and works on computers and other machines to analyze objects and materials.
Wade grew up in the Four Corners region of Arizona and New Mexico (Gallup) and is a member of the Navajo Nation. He is mixed-race — Navajo and Anglo — and, from a young age, knew he didn’t fit into a specific mold
He currently studies the history of the American Southwest and works outside on archaeological digs in places like the U.S., Peru, and West Africa.

Download his poster here!

Additional Information

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Secondary Science Showcase Paperwork

Just a reminder that all project forms and paperwork are due by Dec 17th. If you're coming in a little late to the game, all necessary information and a recording of the coordinators meeting can be found on the Showcase webpage (https://pasco.k12.fl.us/PascoScienceShowcase).

School fair winners can be registered in zfairs as of now and all paperwork can be uploaded when ready. To register your winners, simply go to the zfairs site (https://fl-pses.zfairs.com/) and click "create an account:" at the top of the page. Select student and then follow the onscreen instructions. Make sure you have a teacher account prior to registering students so that they can be linked to you.

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Dont Forget Science Office Hours!

If you ever have any questions about science curriculum, 5E, science academy, showcase whatever, please don't hesitate to contact anyone of us at anytime via text, email, etc. In an effort to provide more structured support, the District Science Team is also offering regular Office Hours the first Tuesday of every month from 3:30-4pm via zoom. Science Teachers, Coaches, AP's can ask questions around science instruction and hear any updates to courses and plans. Stay as long or as little as you like.

Join us on Tuesdays https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84344456676

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MIDDLE SCHOOL WATERSHED AMBASSADORS PROGRAM (@CROSSBAR & STARKEY PARK)

All Watershed Ambassadors Program visits are a go for this year. The Pasco Environmental Programs Team has posted the visit calendar to the WAP's Program Site. Please reach out to Karen Stewart for program information.