2021-22 Middle School Science

Can you believe it is already April? This is the time of year where we start updating content for next year. Below you will find information on how you can be involved in that important work. Please take a moment to read through the science updates for April and maybe throw your hat into the ring to participate on a science curriculum team. As always, thank you for all you do to support science in our schools.

This year we will be looking for teachers to assist with making intentional connections to the Nature of Science standards within the Student Facing Courses and Curriculum Maps. We will also be seeking recommendations on additional hands-on investigation opportunities within the SFCs. Work will take place over the course of three evenings (April 20, May 4th and May 8th) at the District office. A curriculum contract will be paid for completed work. We are looking for teams of 2 teachers per grade level.

We will also have an opportunity for the new StarLab - Traveling Planetarium Curriculum Development that will be available to schools starting next year

If you are interested in serving on a science curriculum team this year and summer, please complete this 2022 Curriculum & Professional Development Work form by the end of this week.

Due to the short turn around, please be advised, that if selected, we will have an orientation meeting Wednesday 4/13 from 4:30-5:15pm via zoom. Invites will be sent out Friday (4/8).

First Woman tells the tale of Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon. While Callie is a fictional character, the first female astronaut and person of color will soon set foot on the Moon – a historic milestone and part of upcoming NASA missions. Through a series of graphic novels and digital platforms, First Woman aims to capture our attention and unite the next generation of explorers who will return to the Moon.

Thank you again for participating in the 7th Science Early Release Day Session. We spent some focused time in the EXPLAIN phase and defined criteria that exemplify it.

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

1. Like before, you will apply your new found knowledge around the Explain phase. Look at upcoming content in your course.
2. Use an Explain activity that meets the successful Explain characteristics shared in session 5 & 6 AND that meets the criteria for Grade-Appropriate Assignments as well as Strong Instructional Practices as defined by the Opportunity Myth for a lesson.
3. Make note of the instructional moves you used in the lesson to exemplify the explain phase and strong instruction as defined by Core Actions 2 & 3 in the Science IPG (Links to an external site.).​
4. Collect 2 or 3 student work examples.
5. Upload the student examples and a brief (1 paragraph) summary of how the lesson met the explain criteria to the ERD MyLearning Course before Session #8 on April 13th.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can either respond to this email or contact Mark Butler or Lauren Whitaker at mwbutler@pasco.k12.fl.us or lwhitake@pasco.k12.fl.us. We look forward to a great learning session together and can’t wait to see you all.

We are looking for feedback on the March Early Release Day Session 7. Please take a moment to complete the feedback survey linked here:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aaJT4khSVE6bZ7duOoYiIC7CvVPR295NkQb0UeONnltUM0o5NDhJV1I5VEZGMkY3QUxSQjBYOUk4Ty4u

We are looking forward to our next Early Release professional learning day coming up on Wednesday April 13th. Please take notice of the wave schools and times.

Wave 1 Schools 12:15-1:15

CSRMS, Hudson Academy, PMS, PRSMS, RRMS

Wave 2 Schools 1:50-2:50

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

Zoom Session Link

• Wave 1 @ 12:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81441603407
• Wave 2 @ 1:50pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83097999217

Pasco County Schools would like to take this opportunity to invite you to share your expertise with educators from around the county by presenting at our summer learning events happening this July.

Our call for proposals is open to all staff who would like to host sessions to be held during Together We Learn which will take place from Monday-Wednesday, July 25 – 27, 2022 with a target audience of teachers, coaches, school support staff, SRP, and school/district leaders.

View this flyer and submit your proposal to present a session and join your colleagues in exploring integrated MTSS practices happening right here in Pasco County!

Proposal deadline is Friday, April 15, 2022

Click here to submit your proposal!

Celebrate Water Conservation Month!

Take the Classroom Conservation Challenge with your students
in honor of Water Conservation Month this April!

April is Water Conservation Month throughout the state of Florida, as it is typically one of the driest months of the year and the peak demand season for public water use. Educators are encouraged to get their students involved by taking the Classroom Conservation Challenge!

How to take part in the challenge:

1. Visit the Classroom Conservation Challenge webpage here
2. Take the Classroom Conservation Challenge pledge as a class
3. Implement an action project to promote water conservation
4. Receive a small packet of goodies for participating!

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.

I'm a Scientist Website

“To be great at science, ​you just need a question that you are really interested in.”​

​​- NOOR AL-ALUSI

• Shy and quiet as a child, Noor sought adventure, new experiences and challenges.

• Noor Al-Alusi, MS is currently a medical student at the UCSF School of Medicine
  
• A trip to Ghana exposed her to a critical need in global public health.
  




Download her poster here!

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. All 7th graders participate in this amazing experiential problem based program at Starkey Park or CrossBar Ranch. Please reach out to Karen Stewart for program information.

#PascoDoingScience

Email: mwbutler@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Phone: 813-794-2452
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Phone: 813-794-2257
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: jmaxwell@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: lwhitake@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Twitter: @SciencePasco