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Science Community Opportunities

November 23, 2020

Science CommunityOpportunitiesNovember 23, 2020

Greetings: We respectfully request that you do not send emails directly to the listserv. Please email your opportunities to Kira at kira.sommer@schools.utah.gov, or send them to the specialists. All announcements received before Wednesday at 12pm (noon) will be added to the following week’s email. Thank you.

General Opportunities (K-12):

  • Utah Learn@Home Student Science Experiences - Created by Utah teachers for at-home science engagement aligned to SEEd Standards

  • Utah Updated K-12 OER Science Textbooks - Aligned to new SEEd Standard

  • Principles for Remote Teaching and Learning Course Open! - This course may be completed for 1 USBE credit and/or can be explored as a resource to support the efforts to plan for the upcoming school year. Educators may register for “Principles for Remote Learning” now.
  • Hill Aerospace Museum offers field trips: By highlighting aerospace historical objects in every STEM lesson, your students will discover the real-life application of the principles taught. Field trips can be virtual, in-house, or at your school!
  • Trails Online - The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation is proud to announce a new free, five-week online program called Trails. Online. Ecology on the Trail. that teaches science concepts while utilizing the environment and trails in the Cottonwood Canyons.

  • Whyville Lesson on Epidemics – Looking for a way to teach your students about COVID-19? This unit is designed for grades 6-8 however could possibly be used in grades 4-8. For questions about the unit, contact USU’s Colby Tofel-Grehl at colby.tg@usu.edu

  • Botany Bins - his new program strives to enhance Utah’s SEEd standards while accommodating socially distanced and virtual classrooms.

  • Utah Green Schools Program: Utah Green Schools recognizes and inspires 21st-century sustainable practices in Utah schools, including environmental literacy, health and wellness, and building facilities. Our program is aligned with nationally recognized partners including the Department of Education National Green Ribbon Schools, Green Schools Alliance, Project Learning Tree GreenSchools and the NAAEE.

  • UTSTA Online Courses - These online Content and Classroom Teaching Courses are developed by Utah teachers and community experts to support teaching the Utah Core Standards; building deep content knowledge in science to support instruction; and effective teaching strategies that are best practice to help support student success in college and career.

  • UTSTA Face to Face Endorsement Courses - UtSTA offers in-person classes with instructors for endorsement courses during summer and throughout the year, in partnership with BYU, UVU, and SUU. The classes are designed to be hands-on and inquiry based so the teachers can learn the lessons/techniques and take them back to the classroom.

  • Utah Geological Association Call for Teacher Applications - The Utah Geological Association (UGA) is seeking nominations for the Utah Science Teacher of the Year Award until December 31, 2020.

    Empowering Educational Innovators - The seeds of innovation are planted at a young age and technological advances provide learners of all ages the opportunity to be creators, builders, designers, producers, and makers. Our goal is to empower all students, teachers and education leaders to engage as innovators -- social problem solvers who have developed an innovator mindset and skillset.

  • Earth Science Lessons on PM2.5 Air Pollution using actual Utah Data: The following lessons were created by teachers at The Waterford School and professors at the University of Utah. The lessons are class exercises to be used in Earth/Space Science classrooms that align with the Utah SEEd Standards.

  • Can You Solve The Cells Mystery?: You and your team of microbiologists have just received mystery samples from a remote cave in the Amazon basin. Can you use your knowledge of cells to determine whether they are from living or nonliving things?

  • National Youth Science Camp: is accepting applications for the 2021 Camp (Deadline Feb 28th). This is a very prestigious opportunity for high school seniors where only two from Utah will be chosen to participate based on a written response, academics, and well-roundedness. TEACHERS – please share this opportunity with your seniors. More details available on attached flyer and their website (www.nyscamp.org).

  • Clark Planetarium Educator Newsletter

  • Face to face Science Endorsement Courses are available for registration now at utsta.org. Courses start on June 2021. You may be reimbursed the registration fee through your LEA. Please contact your LEA for details.

  • Online Science Endorsement Courses are available for registration now at utsta.org. Courses start on January 7, 2021. You may be reimbursed the registration fee through your LEA. Please contact your LEA for details.

  • Governors Energy Teacher Award - Do you teach about energy and natural resources in your classroom? Apply for this award from the Governor's Office of Energy Development and wiln $500.00. Applications are due Jan 5th. Contact Dawn Monson for details at dmonson@utsta.org

Elementary (K-6) Opportunities:

Secondary (7-12) Opportunities:

  • Science News magazine: Society for Science & the Public’s Science News in High Schools program brings Science News magazine and related educational resources to high schools across the United States and worldwide.

  • Jim Allison: Breakthrough is a moving, true story of a warm-hearted, stubborn scientist, and his visionary quest to find a cure for cancer. A talented team of teachers co-created a robust accompanying Educator Toolkit with lesson plans, lab activities, career exploration activities, and more aligned to Biology and AP Biology Standards.

  • The Billy Michal Student Leadership Award: given annually to one student from each state and the District of Columbia who demonstrates the American Spirit in his or her community.

  • The PEER Physics: Team at the University of Colorado Boulder is offering a free webinar series to highlight strategies to support student engagement in developing principles from scientific evidence.

  • Nourish The Future 2021 Teacher Leader Application - The Nourish the Future national leadership experience is a year-long cohort program designed for middle and high school science teachers who want to advance their expertise in the classroom, increase their influence as teacher leaders/mentors, and enhance professional development presentation skills—all while exploring solutions to real-world problems and the connection between science content/skills and potential careers. (Applications close December 15, 2020).

  • Energy in the Classroom Professional Development: Sponsored by the Governor's Office of Energy Development. Elementary and Secondary courses offered in Salt Lake City and Cedar City. Teachers will receive $150 of materials and funds to help cover substitute costs. Date of event February 25, 2021.

  • Energy in the Classroom Professional Development: Sponsored by the Governor's Office of Energy Development. Elementary and Secondary courses offered in Salt Lake City and Cedar City. Teachers will receive $150 of materials and funds to help cover substitute costs. Date of event March 17, 2021.

Please note: These are opportunities that have been requested to be shared with the Utah science teacher community. The Utah State Board of Education has not specifically vetted or endorsed the programs shared. Any concerns or questions should be directed to the organizations associated specifically with the event.

Melissa Mendenhall

Elementary Science/STEM Specialist

Utah State Board of Education

melissa.mendenhall@schools.utah.gov


Ricky Scott

Secondary Science Education Specialist

Utah State Board of Education

richard.scott@schools.utah.gov