The Swamp School is in the process of publishing a new environmental science curriculum for middle school related to the Gulf Oil Spill. If you would like a free copy of the outline, please go to the online school page: http://wet-land.com and browse to the class: The Gulf Oil Spill – A natural and physical science curriculum for middle school.
Archives
Middle School Math & Science Portal
The Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2) project supports middle grades educators with high-quality, standards-based STEM resources and promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its users. Educators use MSP2 to increase content knowledge in science, mathematics, and appropriate pedagogy for youth ages 10 to 15. Visit MSP2 at: http://www.msteacher2.org
PD at NE Aquarium: Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences
Attention Massachusetts middle school science teachers! The Gulf of Maine watershed program is a field- and classroom-based program that will provide Massachusetts middle school science teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach students about local watersheds and show how climate change affects watersheds. The program consists of a three-day summer workshop, two call back/follow up sessions and a teacher-lead meaningful watershed education experience (MWEE) in the field and classroom for students in grades 5 through 8.
After completing the three-day summer workshop, participating teachers are expected to design and conduct a meaningful watershed experience with their students during the fall semester, including a field trip, if possible, and a classroom experience. The Aquarium staff will provide support for field trips.
During follow-up sessions, participants will reconvene to present their projects to one another, as well as to other educators at the Massachusetts Marine Educators annual conference. They will also share information about their projects with other educators through conversations at their schools and in presentations at local education conferences.
Dates: July 15 – 17, 2010 (Thursday-Saturday)
Two call back dates, October 2 and December 4, 2010 — Attendance Required
Location: New England Aquarium, Boston
Cost: free (cost of graduate credits additional)
Credit: 45 PDPs or, for an additional cost, 2 graduate credits from Cambridge College
Please register by July 1, 2010
To register for the summer courses, please contact the Teacher Resource Center for more information. Advance registration is required. Please call 617-973-6590 or email the Teacher Resource Center at trc@neaq.org.
Watershed PD for Middle School Science Teachers, Massachusetts
The Gulf of Maine Watershed program, offered by the New England Aquarium, is a field- and classroom-based program that will provide Massachusetts middle school science teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach students about local watersheds and show how climate change affects watersheds. The program consists of a three-day summer workshop, two call back/follow up sessions, and a teacher-lead meaningful watershed education experience (MWEE) in the field and classroom for students in grades 6 through 8.
After completing the three-day summer workshop, participating teachers are expected to design and conduct a meaningful watershed experience with their students during the fall semester, including a field trip, if possible, and a classroom experience. The Aquarium staff will provide support for field trips.
During follow-up sessions, participants will reconvene to present their projects to one another, as well as to other educators at the Massachusetts Marine Educators annual conference. They will also share information about their projects with other educators through conversations at their schools and in presentations at local education conferences.
Dates: July 15 – 17, 2010; two call back dates, October 2 and December 4, 2010
Please register by June 15, 2010. To register for the summer courses, please contact the Teacher Resource Center for more information. Advance registration is required. Please call 617-973-6590 or email the Teacher Resource Center at trc@neaq.org.
Online Resource – Marine Debris Curriculum
Hawaii Sea Grant announces a new inquiry curriculum, “Sorting Out Sediment Grain Size and Plastic Pollution,” published in the journal Oceanography (vol. 22 no.4). Designed for middle- and high-school students, the activity explores beach erosion, beach health, and plastic pollution with instruction in field sampling and hands-on sediment size determination.
Train a Goldfish, Then a Whale
Immersion Learning is challenging kids ages 10 to 14 to a Goldfish Training Contest. Contestants will create a 2-minute video showing how they trained their fish to perform a unique behavior, using Marine Mammals of the Arctic Program techniques. The top three entrants will win the chance to be a Beluga whale trainer for a day at the Mystic (CT) Aquarium in February 2010. Check online for more information.
Request for Proposals for Development of Middle School Curriculum
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, commonly referred to as Weeks Bay Reserve is seeking a qualified Vendor to assist with the development of a comprehensive curriculum focused on estuaries for grade levels 6-8. The Weeks Bay Reserve is part of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Lands Division, Coastal Section. The curriculum development will be under the direct supervision of the Weeks Bay NERR. Content will be developed by the contractor in collaboration with the Weeks Bay Reserve and other educators in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Vendors who are interested in preparing and submitting proposals will find a complete description of the services and requirements for this project by going to the Weeks Bay website, in the education section, under k-12. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must comply with the instructions and procedures contained therein. Proposals due by January 29, 2010.
Making Waves – Middle School Resources and Activities
Making Waves is a multimedia outreach project designed to help bring science and math to life in your middle school classroom by unlocking the mysteries of the oceans. Partners for the website include the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, USGS, and InterActive Teacher Magazine. Resource topics include Sea Level Rise, Red Tides, Oceans from Space, Real Time Data, and much more. Check out the background information, activities, and links.
Making Waves – Middle School Activities
Making Waves is a multimedia outreach project designed to help bring science and math to life in your middle school classroom by unlocking the mysteries of the oceans. Partners for the website include the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, USGS, and InterActive Teacher Magazine. Resource topics include Sea Level Rise, Red Tides, Oceans from Space, Real Time Data, and much more. Check out the background information, activities, and links on this website.