https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v Feel free to add interesting articles or opportunities related to science here! en-us 2022-10-03 22:57:37 UTC 2023-07-06 00:19:11 UTC hello@padlet.com lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395957560 2022-11-23 19:25:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395957560 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395958560 2022-11-23 19:26:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395958560 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395959632 2022-11-23 19:28:17 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395959632 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395962642 This website contains Open Educational Resources that are FREE for any teacher who would like to use them. You can even share your own (assuming they are licensed under Creative Commons.) My favorite part? Ready made lesson plans aligned to Virginia Science Standards are available from the VDOE. Just search "VDOE Science" under groups. They have individual lessons and unit plans for K-Physics. Find the "Science Instructional Plans" folder to see what is available. ]]> 2022-11-23 19:32:26 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2395962642 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2405778740 Thank you to Rachelle Rasco for sharing this super cool article about a parasite that infects the brains of wolves... but makes them more likely to become the alpha! ]]> 2022-12-01 21:23:10 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2405778740 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2405790186 Rachelle Rasco shared this cool opportunity as well! If you live near Virginia Tech, this is a program you can use to request a physics student come and present to your class. Sounds like a fun opportunity to me!]]> 2022-12-01 21:39:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2405790186 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2409902892 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir- I just finished it. It is a must read for any Science Teacher, and it's super fun. Very entertaining, inspiring, and it has a lot of great application visuals you could reference in class. Check it out!]]> 2022-12-06 00:12:19 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2409902892 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2438595342 Bookmark this website to easily access the coolest and most recent science discoveries. This could make for a fun school activity!

https://phys.org/weekly-news/ ]]> 2023-01-10 00:44:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2438595342 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2438597255 How cute is this?! 

https://www.acs.org/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/valentines-activities.html]]> 2023-01-10 00:47:23 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2438597255 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2454034981 The VDOE is seeking STEM lesson writers to create lessons for elementary grades. The application process is two-step and begins with an online application. If selected for phase two of the process, you will be asked to submit a skeletal lesson on a VDOE template for a team review. Writers selected will be paid $100 per approved lesson. Please apply online by February 1, 2023. Contact  anne.petersen@doe.virginia.gov or brendon.albon@doe.virginia.gov for more information

]]> 2023-01-24 00:17:08 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2454034981 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2454036948 The VDOE Science Team will hold virtual webinars on the third Wednesday of each month from 4-5pm. This is an opportunity for VA Science Educators to hear directly from the team, and all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance. Click this link to register for any or all of the upcoming webinars. ]]> 2023-01-24 00:20:16 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2454036948 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2477480006 Is anyone else planning to attend the upcoming National Science Teachers Association Conference in Atlanta? I will be there, and I'm so excited! It's usually not this close to Virginia. If you will be there too, comment and let me know! Maybe we can get a group together to attend a session or grab a coffee!]]> 2023-02-11 19:32:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2477480006 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2480410568 Hi Everyone - Check out this website for FREE Virtual Activities and Labs to use in your classrooms. The Activities are SUPER CUTE and FUN! She even has ready to go escape rooms using PhET simulations. I met with the creator today, and I'm hoping to have her as a guest during a content session this spring. She has worked so hard on this website and is a start-up non-profit. Give it a try, and let her know if you have any questions or feedback!]]> 2023-02-14 00:07:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2480410568 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2518332047 The best way to find out about opportunities for Science Teachers to work or learn with the VDOE Science Specialists is to register for their Science Update email. Click this link to get on the mailing list! I've gotten so many cool opportunities just by keeping an eye on these emails!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0qAHc220VMsXIItDpkuntGcZJOIkqton_F-FfTsXlL_hszQ/viewform]]> 2023-03-15 20:06:55 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2518332047 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2518333958 Decide for yourself with this article about a math and science teacher who says ChatGPT has made her lesson planning easier! ]]> 2023-03-15 20:09:00 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2518333958 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2557676797 I know they seem expensive, but HEAR ME OUT! Playing with these models made me gasp out loud at the NSTA conference. My husband actually won a set of their hydrogen bond demonstrating water molecules, and they are a game changer in his science classroom. The beautifully crafted 3D Water Molecules gently stick together to simulate Hydrogen bonds while the included NaCl ionic bond uses strong magnets and the included alcohol connects with actual connectors to represent covalent bonds. And all of the models can demonstrate how these molecules would interact (such as the dissolving of NaCl in H2O.) I found these models so clever, and I knew they would really help students visualize and understand the differences between hydrogen, covalent, and ionic bonds. Check this company out! 

P.S. They have a week long camp you can attend with your CHOICE funds and then you get 12 different modeling kits to take back to your classroom from the camp! Not just the water ones!]]> 2023-04-17 23:55:07 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2557676797 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2557681995 Virtual labs are fun, but sometimes they are too "cute", not realistic enough, or not customizable. Enter PIVOT Interactives from Discovery Education. These virtual labs are special for several reasons...

1) They are completely customizable by the teacher. 
2) Each student gets different data to prevent cheating
3) Student supports are built in (as is auto-grading), but the supports and the grading can be scaled up or down. 

and MOST IMPORTANTLY

4) They are filmed in a REAL lab with REAL tools and allow the students to overlay the tools on top of the real footage to practice REAL measuring skills. 

I was impressed with the library of options they had including labs that are complex or too dangerous to do in person. (Anyone want to let the kids play around with elemental lithium so they can take temperature measurements and compare the reactivity of various alkali metals? I didn't think so, but you can do this safely with PIVOT!)

Whether you use this to clarify a real lab done in class or to supplement a dangerous exploratory activity - Check it out! And if you want a free trial - let me know! I can hook you up. :) ]]> 2023-04-18 00:01:38 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2557681995 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2591844383 This website has some tips on the proper ways to dispose of chemicals in your classroom laboratories. ]]> 2023-05-15 19:45:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2591844383 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2591845816 If you've got some time to fill after the SOL, check out these fun labs for all high school science subjects! ]]> 2023-05-15 19:47:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2591845816 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2618606149 Whenever it warms up, I can't wait to head to the ocean! And one of my favorite things to do there is to visit the aquarium - I get a lot of great teaching ideas from visiting science museums, zoos, and aquariums while traveling. Plus they are just fun! Check out this list of the five best aquariums on the East Coast, and let me know your favorite way to stay tapped into Science in the Summer!]]> 2023-06-08 20:28:01 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2618606149 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2618607611 According to this Science News article, scientists have found a way to monitor biodiversity *and* air quality all at once! We do love efficiency and progress! :D]]> 2023-06-08 20:30:49 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2618607611 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2639061226 This weekend, my family went to the North Carolina Zoo and had an amazing time! When we arrived, we asked about a teacher discount on admission and they said one was not available. Later in the day, we realized that we could upgrade our admission to a membership for only a bit more, so we decided to go for it. When they asked if we were eligible for any membership discounts like military, etc., my husband (also a teacher) said no (thinking that if they did not have an admission discount then they would not have a membership discount for teachers). I thought to speak up and say, well we are teachers - and lo and behold we got an extra $10 off our membership for the year! So the Lesson I learned is to shout that you are a teacher from the rooftops. You never know when it will pay off. :) 

Does anyone have any local zoos or aquariums that offer teacher discounts for the good of the group? I linked the NC zoo above for any of you in the southern VA area. It's not too far from us!]]> 2023-07-06 00:13:09 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2639061226 lizashby1 https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2639067190 Are you working this summer? Current surveys show that most teachers take time to work during their summer break to supplement their income. If that's you, I totally understand - but make sure you take some time to recharge too! ❤️]]> 2023-07-06 00:19:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lizashby1/ukjfuw45dln2744v/wish/2639067190