Resources - Teachers

Resources for Teachers

STEM Resources

eCYBERMISSION is a web-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade teams. Your team will propose a solution to a real problem in your community and compete for State, Regional and National Awards.

2) Young Scientists Challenge

Students, grades 5-8, are invited to create a 1-2 minute video describing a new, innovative solution that could solve an everyday problem. Ten finalists will be chosen for their passion for science, spirit of innovation and ingenuity, and effective communication skills.

Thousands of students nationwide have participated in the competition and winners have gone on to do some amazing things; including speak in front of members of Congress, work with the nation's top scientists, and pursue academic careers in the sciences.

3) Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

4) K-12 Utah Innovator of the Year Competition

This competition was hosted by DivergeConverge.org, a BYU research group. In the K-12 Student Innovator of the Year competition, students competed for over $6,000 in cash prizes awarded to first, second, and third place for the high school, junior high, and elementary division. A booklet was developed to help students work through the innovation process.

5) Rube Goldberg Engineering Competition

The Rube Goldberg Engineering Competition is sponsored by the Utah Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF) and Weber State University Center for Technology Outreach. The 2018 competition included an Apprentice Division (ages 8 to 11), Division I (ages 11 to 14), and Division II (ages 14 to 18).

6) Sea Perch

Sea Perch is a program in which students build underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). As students work through the engineering design process to build their ROVs, they learn skills in mechanical and electrical engineering and apply knowledge of scientific principles. The competition requires students to maneuver their vehicles through a series of preset tasks.

Sea Perch is sponsored by the US Department of the Navy and a full range of resources is available at SeaPerch.org.

Utah Underwater Robotics is sponsored by the BYU Department of Engineering

Davis and Weber School Districts partner to host the Northern Wasatch Front Competition. For information, contact Geoff Warren.

For coverage of the 2017-2018 Sea Perch Competition, see the following:

FOX TV

Standard Examiner

For coverage of the 2016-2017 Sea Perch Competition, see the following:

Davis Front Page Stories

7) CyberPatriot

CyberPatriot is a program created by the Air Force Association. Although the focus is on cybersecurity, the competition incorporates all areas of STEM. In the competition, students act as IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. Teams are given virtual images that represent operating systems and are challenged to find the vulnerabilities within the systems.

8) Future City

Future City is a project-based learning program for students in grades 6-8. Students imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future.

Multi Disciplinary

NASA eClips

"NASA eClips™ are short, relevant educational video segments. These videos inspire and engage students, helping them see real world connections by exploring current applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, topics. The programs are produced for targeted audiences: K-5, 6-8, 9-12 and the general public.NASA eClips™ offer unlimited flexibility in the classroom for timing, sequencing and pacing instruction to meet the needs of students and classroom instructors. Educational material for this program is selected based on national curriculum standards identified by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, or NCTM, the National Science Teachers Association, or NSTA, and the International Society for Technology in Education, or ISTE. Video segments are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards in Mathematics."

How Stuff Works

The Exploratorium

PBS: The PBS Teachers STEM Education Resource Center provides selected STEM education resources. To find more, search the database of nearly 4,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics resources for grades preK-12.

RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching) This California-based site is devoted to hands-on learning in Science, Math, Social Studies, Literature, and Art and is searchable by Grade, Subject, Keyword or by Standards.

Bloomsburg University: STEM Resources for Teachers A link library from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.

Career Connections You Tube: Videos featuring employees who use math or science in exciting or unexpected ways.

AT&T - STEM Video Contest - YouTube

The Escape Classroom

Students have to work together with teams to solve math challenges in order to get the “code” to unlock the next clue and get the key out of the room. More info at http://www.theescapeclassroom.com/ The first workshop can be downloaded free for teachers. Other tasks are $15.

Science

1) Allliant Energy Kids

Kids are full of questions about energy and Alliant Energy Kids is here with answers. The Energy Zone teaches students how energy works, where it comes from, how to conserve it and how to stay safe around it. The lessons also help kids make meaningful connections between the activities they do every day, the energy they use and how it impacts their world.

2) Ask Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe connects K-8 students with researchers at Washington State University through Q&A. Students can submit science questions on the ASK page.

3) Understanding Science

From Berkeley University, Understanding Science is a collection of resources to help teachers increase student understanding of nature and process of science. Includes a self-study guide, a resource library, and a teacher's lounge with lesson plans, teaching tips, and pedagogical strategies.

4) Breathe Utah

Breathe Utah will provide classroom workshops from 40 to 60 minutes in which they teach students what air pollution is, where it comes from, how it affects the human body, and what can be done about it. Air Aware is an interactive presentation tailored to each grade level and can be delivered to individual classrooms or grade-wide assemblies. Their website also includes seven lesson plans for teachers to download and use.

5) Chem4Kids

This is an encylopedic type site that includes lots of helpful illustrations and definitions. Categories covered on this site are matter, atoms, periodic table, elements, reactions, and biochemistry. Partner sites are Biology4Kids, Cosmos4Kids, and Physics4Kids.

6) Education.com This provides many K-12 Science Activities.

7) Fun with Science Games, Smithsonian.com

Great activities for rainy days when students and teachers need a break from routine.

8) Genetics: Two sites that make genetics accessible to students just starting to learn about genetics.

https://unlockinglifescode.org/media/animations/659#660

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/

9) Live Science

LiveScience is a commerical news site covering topics in the following areas: Tech, Health, Planet Earth, Strange News, Animals, History, and Culture. Articles do not read like typical Science Journal articles and keep the reader's attention with images, infographics, and quizzes. Sister sites include Our Amazing Planet.

10) Mystery Science

"Open and go" lessons for elementary teachers.

NGSS Alignment guide.

11) NASA SPACE PLACE for elementary students (lower grades)

Lots of fun activities, images, games, and apps to teach our youngest students all about space.

NASA For Educators

12) Oobleck

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid made of cornstarch and water. It has properties of both liquids and solids. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid. The name oobleck comes from the Dr. Seuss book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” In the story, oobleck, a gooey green substance, fell from the sky and wreaked havoc in the kingdom.

Article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oobleck-bring-science-home/

Recipe: http://www.livescience.com/21536-oobleck-recipe.html

13) Outbreak

For a student challenge that applies to microorganisms and life science, try “Solve the Outbreak”. You can play it online or get an iPad app. Students must analyze data, make hypothesis, and evaluate evidence to find the source of severe outbreaks.

14) PHET Interactive Simulations

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery. For teaching tips.

15) The Science Spot

A resource for junior high science teachers and students.

16) Science Net Links

Science NetLinks is a FREE science education resource for grades K- 12 provided by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The site includes teaching tools, interactives, podcasts, and lesson plans for hands-on activities.

17) ScienceLearn.org

This is a national project funded by the New Zealand Government to make examples of New Zealand science, technology and engineering more accessible to school teachers and students. Teachers can search by topic or concept and then by activities or articles.

18) Serious Science!

The National Institute of Standards and Technology features a topic page through which you will find news on recent experiments and research as well as spotlight videos on scientists.

19) Scholastic.com

Science explorations focused on life science.

20) Strange Matter

Materials science investigations as well as a traveling exhibit.

21) Teacherstryscience

TeachersTryScience was developed to bring best practices in design-based learning to your school. Design-based learning gives you the flexibility to facilitate and enable students to synthesize skills from a variety of disciplines and integrate them into learning activities. For example, to solve a problem in environmental science, students might need to employ physics, chemistry and earth science concepts and skills. Design-based learning goes further in challenging students to engineer solutions through their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines.

22) Top Science Websites for Kids by the Spruce.com

23) Utah Materials Research Science & Engineering Center

Utah MRSEC has kits available for check out to local teachers to supplement lessons on the properties of light through fun and interactive activities.

Many concepts in the “properties of light” component of the 6th grade Utah science core curriculum can be demonstrated using lenses, different shapes cut from Jell-O and simple laser pointers. These concepts include: reflection, refraction, transmission, and absorption.

Lesson Plan and Resources:
Optics for Eyes: https://www.mrsec.utah.edu/optics-for-eyes
Jello Optics: http://www.mrsec.utah.edu/exploring-the-properties-of-light-with-jell-o-optics/

24) The Zooniverse

The Zooniverse is a platform for people-powered research including student-powered! This site brings together volunteers from around the world who come together to assist professional researchers. Its goal is to enable research that would not be possible, or practical, otherwise. Participating in Zooniverse projects does not require any specialized background or training. Students can contribute to real academic research from any computer - at home or at school. Volunteers study authentic objects of interest gathered by researchers such as images of faraway galaxies, historical records and diaries, and videos of animals in their natural habitats. Participants answer simple questions based on their observations. It's simple to get started. Just choose a project from their project page!

25) Weather STEM: A complete examination of all science related to weather. The link provided takes the user to a section connecting the water cycle to weather. There are 15 lessons in this module including experiments and math connections.

26) California State University collaborated with the Better Together California Teachers’ Summit to create this very comprehensive list of resources for teachers and schools who are implementing the NGSS.

27) Website Links from E-Cybermissions. E-cybermissions lists websites for many science related topics including the following under the heading Forces and Motion:

Ask a Scientist
This site allows you to pose questions to scientists or to read through previously asked questions.

Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics
Designed by NASA, this page explains how planes work.Forces and Motion: Basics - Simulations
Extensive simulations for various physics problems.

Khan Academy - Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion
Lessons about force and motion from Khan Academy. These are presented as videos.

Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Written lessons and explanations of physics concepts.

Motion and Forces - Simulations
A page of numerous physics-related simulations.

Physics 4 Kids
This page explains forces and motion and provides examples and videos.

Physics of Sandcastles
Learn all about the physics of sandcastles from NASA.

Physics Sites for Kids
A list of sites for students that relate to physics.

Other E-Cybermission topics: Alternative Sources of Energy; Environment; Food, Heath, and Fitness; National Security and Safety; Robotics; and Technology

28) Website Links from USU for Physics Day: Amusement Park Physics

Clarence Bakken's Physics Day Web Site: Physics/Science/Math Days at California’s Great America

NASA’s Amusement Park Physics Day Material

Amusement Park Physics This interactive site by Annenberg Learner explores how the laws of physics play a role in the design of 6 different amusement park rides. Includes a hands-on lesson for designing roller coasters.

Funderstanding: Rollercoaster Design This “game” is a simulation tool for designing a roller coaster where the user is responsible for setting the controls for the height of hill #1, hill #2, the size of the loop, the initial speed of the coaster, its mass, the gravity at work and the amount of friction on the track.

Playground Physics Classroom ActivityA lesson on gravity for students in grades 3-5.

Stephen Van Hook, Adam Lark†, Jeff Hodges, Eric Celebrezze, and Lindsey Channels, “Playground Physics: Determining the Moment of Inertia of a Merry-Go-Round,” The Physics Teacher, February 2007, Volume 45, Issue 2, pp. 85-8. -- A detailed lesson for high school/college physics on the concepts of angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, moment of inertia, and conservation of angular momentum

David Burton, Ride Extravaganza This website gives technical and historical facts on rides from throughout the world.

Duane Marden: The Roller Coaster Data Base

29) WISE from Berkeley

Wise stands for Web-based Inquiry Science Environment. This is a free supplemental digital platform supported by the National Science Foundation. The Library offers 75 projects for grades 6-8 and 9-12 in Earth science, life science, physical science, biology and chemistry. Teacher management tools are included.

30) YouTube Science Channels

Demos for Young Scientists

https://www.youtube.com/user/funsciencedemos

SciShowKids

https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowkids

Bozeman Science

Paul Anderson, a science teacher from Bozeman, Montana who has taught science for over 20 years. He has created hundreds of YouTube videos on a range of science topics including a library of videos for the NGSS.

31) Kinetic and Potential Energy: A Free Interactive Guide.

Engineering

1) Boeing: K-12 resources that focus on applying science to solve tough, real-world problems.

Boeing's Curiosity Machine

For students in grades K-12, engineering challenges in 14 areas.

"Whether you want quality learning challenges to do at home or curriculum for a classroom of eager learners, Curiosity Machine is a perfect source of inspiration to fuel curiosity, creativity, and perseverance while learning about the science and technology that will drive the future."

2) Discover Engineering

This site is devoted to organizing volunteers to support engineering activities in the community. It includes a resource section called "Cool Content and Activities" with hands-on lessons, videos, websites, games, lesson plans, and more.

3) Electrical Engineering: Little Bits

The Little Bits Education Site
An introduction to Little Bits from the Founder

4) Engineering for Good: This is a three-week, project-based learning unit for middle school science classrooms focused on developing solutions for negative impacts of plastics on the environment. In this NGSS-aligned unit, students use the engineering design process to define a problem, brainstorm solutions, develop prototypes and iterate on their designs. The project culminates with students producing videos about their solutions to share with the community.

5) Engineering: Go For It!

eGFI for Teachers
eGFI for Students

6) Engineering is Elementary (eie.org)

7) PBS

With funding from the National Science Foundation and the Bechtel Foundation, the Web site provides elementary teachers with over 100 easy-to-do engineering design projects that can be replicated either in the classroom or used as do-at-home activities for students and their parents.

Design Squad
Design Squad Teacher’s Manual
The Engineering Design Process

8) Teachengineering.org

The TeachEngineering digital library is a collaborative project between faculty, students and teachers associated with five universities, with National Science Foundation funding. TeachEngineering is a searchable, web-based digital library collection populated with standards-based engineering curricula for use by K-12 teachers and engineering faculty to make applied science and math come alive through engineering design in K-12 settings. The TeachEngineering collection provides educators with *free* access to a growing curricular resource of activities, lessons, units and living labs.

9) Tryengineering.org

Tryengineering.org is a resource for students parents, and teachers. Its goal is to help students understand better what engineering means and how an engineering career can be made part of their future.

10) University of Utah Engineering Department Lesson Plans

Artificial Heart Valves, Bottle Rockets, Building Wings, Chemical Engineering,Electronics,Exploring Engineering, Materials and Metallurgy, Paper Boats, Pop Can Hero Engine, Programming Robots, Prosthetic Leg Activity, Something That Moves, Towers and Bridges, Water Unit – Basin, Water Unit – Dams, Water Unit – Locks, Wind Turbines

11) A World in Motion by SAE International.

For students in Kindergarten through Grade 8, these activities are benchmarked to the NGSS standards. The AWIM program incorporates integrated STEM learning experiences through hands-on activities that reinforce classroom STEM learning.

12) STEM Works: A collection of articles, activities, and links on the following topics: Forensics, Robotics, Video Games, Space, Medical Innovations, The Animal Kingdom, and Under the Sea.

13) You Tube: Introduction to engineering using baseball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFAY8RwxFqc

14) Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21^st Century

This website gives background information and provides related videos for each of 14 engineering challenges.

“The National Academy of Engineering (NAE), at the request of the National Science Foundation, convened a committee of leading technical thinkers to create a list of the grand challenges and opportunities for engineering facing those born at the dawn of this new century.

15) Engineering Girl is a website/program devoted to encouraging girls to consider careers in engineering. It also provides useful information on a range of engineering careers that would be interesting to both girls and boys.

Arduino

1) Arduino Software Download Site

2) Arduino Education Site

3) Advanced projects for the Arduino

4) Arduino tutorials on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA567CE235D39FA84

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGs0VKk2DiYx6CMdOQR_hmJ2NbB4mZQn-

5) Fabulous Arduino Resources Arduino Resources Guide

6) Adafruit An all in one shop for Arduino and Robotics supplies.

7) Adafruit for educators Contains guides, videos, and kits.

8) Addicore A Utah based company offering electronic parts for makers and educators

9) Jesseybug Electronics & Arduinos Inventor's Kits Kits for learning electronics through hands-on activities including making a space invader's game. Offers kits for beginners to advanced robotics.

10) Recommended Starter's Kit

11) Satisfying STEM Education Using the Arduino Microprocessor in C Programming

12) Sparkfun The ultimate educators resource for Arduinos and programming with great educator discounts.

13) Instructables.com This website features projects submitted by hobbyists, so the quality of projects varies widely. The Arduino section features a 4-part introductory course and many of the projects are labeled for beginners.

Coding (not DSD)

CODING

Ozobots

Join the Ozobot Blog and see how other teachers use Ozobots in their classrooms.

Creator of the Month shares outstanding applications such as combining coding with writing in the English classroom.

Ozobot offers a K-12 library of STEAM lessons including the following:

Color Codes basic lessons

Ozo Blockly Basic Training

Code.org offers the following:

Free Computer Science Curriculum: Elementary to High School

Find a guest speaker for your classroom:

"Thousands of engineers and individuals passionate about computer science have signed up to volunteer as a mentor or a guest speaker. You can use our map of volunteers to contact local volunteers to visit your classroom, or search in any city to find computer science students or technical professionals who are ready to inspire your students remotely, via video chat."

Links to 3rd Party Offerings

Code.org Workshops: Computer Science Fundamentals

Click for registration page.

West High School

09-16-2017, 8:30am-4:30pm

11-11-2017, 8:30am-4:30pm

02-24-2018, 8:30am-4:30pm

04-21-2018, 8:30am-4:30pm

"This workshop is going to be fun and interactive. You will be prepared to make connections with Computer Science Basics and what you already do in your curriculum using the Code.org Curriculum and Code Studio Online Platform.

Make sure to bring a device/laptop and your class roster as this workshop involves online activities to create your students' usernames and passwords, as well as to access the online curriculum. Come early to get all set up online and meet other teachers. There will be snacks and lunch provided."

Credit available for relicensure.

Grok Learning

Subscribe as a teacher and get access to free coding programs for your students including

Frozen Fractals - Blockly Turtle

Introduction to Programming with Python

More courses are available with a paid subscription.

Edutopia - articles with links to coding programs

1) 15+ Ways of Teaching Every Student to Code by Vicki Davis including links to Tynker, Hopscotch, Kodu, Minecraft and More

2) Coding for Kids Revisited by Anna Adam and Helen Mowers including links to Run Marco and Code Studio

Tynker

Free 6 Hour Starter Course using puzzles, games, and projects

Scratch

"Your students can use Scratch to code their own interactive stories, animations, and games. In the process, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for everyone in today’s society."

For more resources and lesson plans, try out the following links.

http://scratch.ie/resources

http://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/resources/scratch-lesson-plan

http://people.cs.ksu.edu/~nhb7817/scratch

https://scratch.mit.edu/

https://pbskids.org/learn/scratchjr/

https://www.scratchjr.org/teach

GameStar Mechanic

Gamestar Mechanic is a game and online community that teaches kids how to design their own games!

Coding for the I-Pad

Cargo Bot

Move the Tutle

Cyber Degrees

Check out this site for information on college programs, training opportunities, and a full list of helpful resources.

Computational Fairy Tales:

Computational Fairy Tales is a collection of stories to introduce computer science concepts. The goal of each story is to provide an overview and illustration of a single computer science concept before presenting full technical details. The stories cover a range of topics, including data structures, algorithms, introductory programming, and practical programming tips.

For a complete list of tales and topics, choose "Stories by Level" on the website. The lessons range from beginner to advanced. The following is a partial list of lessons for beginners. These beginning level lessons can be used with students with little or no programming experience.

Basic Programming:
- Loops and Making Horseshoes (Loops)
- The Marvelous IF-ELSE Life of the King's Turtle (IF-ELSE)
- While Loops and Dizziness (Loops)
- Learning IF-ELSE the Hard Way (IF-ELSE)
- Switch/Case and the Palace Guards (Switch/Case)
- Functions and Sailing (Functions)
Basic Algorithms / Data Structures:
- The Ant and the Grasshopper: A Fable of Algorithms (Algorithms)
- Bullies, Bubble Sort, and Soccer Tickets (Bubble Sort)
- Hunting Dragons with Binary Search (Binary Search)
- Binary Searching for Cinderella (Binary Search)
- Arrays, Linked Lists, and Zed's Coffee Shop (Arrays, Linked Lists)
- Swapping Array Values and the Swimmy Friends Pet Store (Arrays

GOOGLE's Made With Code:

Made with Code is an initiative to teach middle and high school girls to code. The website features coding events for girls, videos of mentors, and coding resources for girls, parents, and educators. Below are just a few coding projects available on the website.

AVATAR: Make a 2D character with 3D personality.

GARDEN ROBOT: Help a robot with a green thumb care for its plants.

INSIDE HQ: Help Riley from Disney Pixar's Inside Out solve some of life's little problems.

Google's Computer Science First:

CS First is a free program that increases student access and exposure to computer science (CS) education through after-school, in-school, and summer programs. This site provides everything needed to begin a club to be run by teachers and/or community volunteers.

Their materials:

are completely free and available online
are targeted at students in grades 4th-8th (ages 9-14)
can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs
involve block-based coding using Scratch and are themed to attract students with varied interests

Khan Academy: Hour of Code, Intro to Drawing:

A great starting point for beginners. This hour of code will teach users to create and animate basic geometric designs. A lot of fun and allows users to keep trying until they get the desired results.

DASH: "Learn to make Awesome Websites:"

Dash teaches HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Computer Science Unplugged:

CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach computer science through engaging games and puzzles. The activities introduce students to computational thinking through concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression, separated from the distractions and technical details of having to use computers.

Scratch.mit.edu

Similar to Code.org but more challenging. A teacher who tried it says "a new and really challenging coding website. The students make their own paths and can be more creative. Try it out! Our students loved it!"

Learning Programming and Game Design: This page links to a variety of resources from articles to coding sites with tutorials and activities. The primary focus is on video games and video game elements.

LOCAL Science Education and Enhancement

iSEE

The following organizations are part of the STEM Center’s iSEE program (Informal Science Education Enhancement). As members of iSEE, each institution offers outreach programs, field trips, professional development, and teacher resources.

Clark Planetarium:

http://clarkplanetarium.org/education/field-trips/

Free Admission to Hansen Dome Theater for educational shows (no laser shows) and Science on a Sphere presentations. One free adult for every 10 students, then adults are $6 each as long they are part of the original reservation. Any last-minute adults are $7 and are NOT guaranteed a seat.
ATK IMAX Theater is $6 for all schools. Value Season Discount tickets for the ATK IMAX Theatre are $4/person during September 1st through February 28th.
801-580-3398

Discovery Gateway:

http://www.discoverygateway.org/visit-the-museum/group-visits/

$4 K-6

801-456-5437 x137

Hawkwatch:

www.hawkwatch.org

Field trip topics include predator-prey relationships, adaptations, conservation, and data collection. Also offers an outreach program for middle and high school students called “Raptor Biology Through the Seasons: Fall Migration, Winter Survival, and Spring Nesting.”

See http://www.hawkwatch.org/our-work/educational-programs/school-programs for information on outreach presentations.

801-484-6808

The Leonardo:

http://www.theleonardo.org/educators/field-trips/

Self-guided field trips last 1 ½ – 2 hours and cost $4.00 per student. Special Traveling Exhibits are not included in this ticket price, but exclusive discounted pricing may be available.

801-531-9800

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

http://www.thelivingplanet.com/2012-03-30-18-26-44/field-trips

Currently offers 14 different programs K-12 $4.95

801-495-4448

The Natural History Museum:

https://nhmu.utah.edu/educators

Free Self-guided Field Trips K-12

801-585-1832

Red Butte Garden at the University of Utah:

www.redbuttegarden.org

Field trip offers hands-on activities during a two-hour tour tailored to each grade level.

801-587-9722

Thanksgiving Point:

http://www.thanksgivingpoint.org/classesandprograms/foreducators/fieldtrips

Museum of Ancient Life (K-12); Gardens (Explorer Only); Farm Country (K-6); Museum of Natural Curiosity (K-6); Mammoth Screen Movie (K-12); Middle School Career Exploration (6-8)

Explorer: $4 Explorer Plus: $5 (Guided)

801-768-7417

SEEd, Desk, and Engineering by Design Crosswalk

Utah Science with Engineering Education Standards (SEEd)

Davis Essential Skills and Knowledge (DESK)

ITEEA Engineering by Design (EbD)

Note: Only certified and licensed Utah teachers may access Engineering by Design resources. Only certified and licensed Davis School District employees may access DESK resources.

Complete content and active links

Download the document above and then use the links provided to select the desired resource. (You can also create your own ITEEA account.) Below is a list of the strands included in each crosswalk.

6th Grade Crosswalk

Strand 6.1: STRUCTURE AND MOTION WITHIN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Strand 6.2: ENERGY AFFECTS MATTER

Strand 6.3: EARTH’S WEATHER PATTERNS AND CLIMATE

Strand 6.4: STABILITY AND CHANGE IN ECOSYSTEMS

7th Grade Crosswalk

Strand 7.1: FORCES ARE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MATTER

Strand 7.2: CHANGES TO EARTH OVER TIME

Strand 7.3: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF LIFE

Strand 7.4: REPRODUCTION AND INHERITANCE

Strand 7.5: CHANGES IN SPECIES OVER TIME

8th Grade Crosswalk

Strand 8.1: MATTER AND ENERGY INTERACT IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD

Strand 8.2: ENERGY IS STORED AND TRANSFERRED IN PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

Strand 8.3: LIFE SYSTEMS STORE AND TRANSFER MATTER AND ENERGY

Strand 8.4: INTERACTIONS WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES

Professional Organizations

There are many professional organizations that contribute to the advancement of STEM Education.

These include the following:

- the American Mathematical Society (www.ams.org)
- the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (www.ieee.org)
- the American Society of Civil Engineers (www.asce.org)
- the National Science Teachers Association (www.nsta.org)
- the Society of Women Engineers (www.swe.org)
- the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
- American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME)
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Professional organizations offer many resources for students, parents, and teachers:

1) The American Society for Engineering Education Outreach Website for Teachers. This site includes access to a magazine written especially for students, a collection of videos made just for teens, and a site for teachers with lesson plans and other resources.

2) The American Society of Mechanical Engineers promotes the art, science, and practice of interdisciplinary engineering. This educational site features high interest articles on recent advancements in engineering as well as awe-inspiring videos sure to catch your students' attention.

3) The Association for Computing Machinery offers an education outreach including posters, brochures, and videos.

4) The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers sponsors a separate website called Try Engineering. Try Engineering has a wealth of resources including the following:

Life of an Engineer: Various profiles of real-life engineers highlight what an average workday can be like.
Become an Engineer: Students can learn how to prepare for a career in engineering.
Insights from Experts: Visitors can browse answers to engineering-related question answered by an engineering undergraduate student or an engineer.
Find a university: Visitors can search for accredited engineering and engineering technology degree programs in Canada and the United States.
Play Games: Children can try virtual activities that introduce them to basic engineering concepts.
Lesson Plans: Teachers can download free lesson plans that are aligned with national U.S. education standards on a variety of topics, such as building a robot arm, electric motors, and Ohm's Law.

5) The American Society of Civil Engineers has an outreach program for teachers, parents, and students which includes hands-on activities, videos, and lesson plans in support of competitions such as bridge building and designing a future city.

University Outreach

University Outreach Offerings in STEM Education

From classroom presentations to field trips, many local universities offer outreach programs for grades K-12.

USU Extension

Agriculture in the Classroom

Farm Field Days

Classroom Presentations Grades K-2 and 3-6

USU College of Science

Science Unwrapped: Established in 2009, Science Unwrapped is a free, monthly presentation series, open to the public, hosted by Utah State University's College of Science. Inquiring minds of all ages are invited to learn about the wonders, the joys, the mishaps, the fun, the unexpected detours and the excitement of scientific discovery. Science Unwrapped presentations are held on Friday evenings at 7 pm in the Eccles Science Learning Center during the regular academic year. Slides, videos, podcasts and hand-outs from previous Science Unwrapped presentation along with suggested readings and web links are available.

Science Learning Activity Ideas are available for 12 different subjects: Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Computer Science, Ecology, Environmental Science, General Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Watershed Science, Wildlife Sciences.

USU Entomology Club Guided Insect Tours: Guided USU Insect Tours can accommodate up to 25 people per tour; large groups are be divided into smaller sections and rotated through the collection. Group leaders may want to consider visiting other campus sites like Aggie Ice Cream or the Museum of Anthropology in conjunction with the USU Insect Tours. The tours usually last about 30 minutes and are customized for the group’s age and experience level. All tours include a short presentation on General Entomology, the Oh My! Collection, and the USU Bug Zoo.

USU College of Engineering

College of Engineering Fieldtrips

The USU Engineering Ambassadors would be happy to host your students.

Contact Kristina ‘Nina’ Glaittli, Retention & Recruiting Specialist, 435-797-2705

Before scheduling a visit, gather the following information.

1. How old/what grade are these students?

2. How many students do you expect will come?

3. Do you have a day and time that you are considering?

4. How much time will you have?

5. What kind of activities are you hoping for? e.g., Facility tour? “What is Engineering” presentation? Hands on design activity? We can do one, two, or all three depending on the answers to the above questions.

Weber State University

EAST: The College of Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology

K-12 Outreach Programs include the following and more:

Engineering Websites

Lego Leagues: Lego League Jr, FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge

Parent-Daughter Engineering Day

Project Lead the Way

Summer Camps

WSU Gear UP: Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness

GEAR UP is a federally funded program designed to help students succeed in high school and successfully achieve a college graduation. The program is offered free of charge to eligible students at Clearfield, Layton, Mountain, and Roy High Schools. Student and family services include academic achievement support, financial aid awareness and assistance, college campus visits, application support, ACT preparation, FAFSA completion assistance, etc.

Gear Up Home Page

Wasatch Front North Region CTE Pathways

CTE Career Pathways

The University of Utah

Department of Physics and Astronomy

The AstronomUrs Department of Physics and Astronomy offers Star Parties, Solar Parties, Presentations, and Demonstrations:

"We can bring our scopes, demos (some are too large or fragile to transport), and presentations to your K-12 school. Another option is to have your class come to our campus where we can do the presentations and demos here. There is no limit to the size of class we can visit but the larger the class, the more time will be needed for observing through the telescopes. We do have a limit on how many can come to our campus unless we break your large group into smaller sections. We have a classroom limit of 30 and a rooftop limit of 45. If you would like to put together a star party for an after-school event, just ask!"

For more information, visit http://www.physics.utah.edu/index.php/for-the-community/

MESA schools, please use this e-mail address: mesa@physics.utah.edu

University of Utah College of Engineering

The College of Engineering offers an extensive K-12 Outreach program including the following:

Material Checkout for hands-on activities

Lesson Plans

Field Trips/Classroom Visits

Summer Camps

Yearly Programs:

Engineering Day

Meet the Inventor Night

For more information, contact Morgan Boyack, Academic Program Coordinator

Materials Science

The Materials Science Department also offers outreach including guest speakers and lesson plans. Contact the outreach coordinator Richard Otero.

Lesson plans for 6th grade investigations into "properties of light" developed in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

University of Utah College of Science

Science Day at the U

Other University STEM Resources

Wisconsin Online:

Wisconsin Online was launched in 2000 and now attracts up to 650,000 visitors a month from 208 countries. The site is a collaborative effort of 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System and was designed as a digital library of learning objects.

California Dept. of Education

STEM Resources tab inks users to CDE resources in Education Technology, Engaging Girls in STEM, Environmental Education, Mathematics, and Science as well as External resources such as the PBS STEM Teacher.

Northeastern University Center for STEM Education

The Center for STEM Education at Northeastern University seeks to build and support a community of educators, researchers, and students, with the collective goal of strengthening the K-20 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educational ecosystem.

The University of St. Thomas Center for Engineering Education

Engineering Education: Connecting STEAM to Students' Real World

Units available vary. Currently featuring "Stormwater Best Practices Management."

Berkley Understanding How Science Really Works.

Here you will find a variety of resources to help you increase student understanding of nature and process of science. To improve your own content knowledge, explore Understanding Science 101 and their resource library. To prepare yourself with lesson plans, teaching tips, and pedagogical strategies, visit a Teacher's Lounge or explore the all-level resources.

Bloomsburg The University of Pennsylvania sponsors the site STEM Resources for Teachers. This site offers a wide range of resources from cybersecurity to oceanography.

Grant Help

TIP: Start at "home" with the Davis School District Foundation Classroom Grants.

STEM Action Center Classroom Grants

The STEM Action Center awards classroom grants up to $1500.00 for teachers and administrators. The center has two windows each year when grants are accepted. For more information, visit the webpage.

Webpage: https://stem.utah.gov/programs/prek12-classroom-grant/

Use this worksheet to help gather ideas or evern write a first draft: Grant worksheet

The Utah Aerospace Education Foundation

The Utah Aerospace Education Foundation awards grants up to $500.00 for activities related to aerospace education.

Application Form

Providers of STEM related products often offer grant writing guides.

For purchase of Pearson products, see their grant writing site at https://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZuE4

Grant Writing Guide from Ozobot

For comprehensive Foundation Funding, visit The Foundation Center at http://foundationcenter.org/find-funding

Prep Specialists

Overview

STEM Prep Specialists: The primary purpose of a Prep Specialist is to provide students with additional STEM learning opportunities to aid in the development of necessary skill such as wonder, problem solving, and sense making. Prep specialists will work with students in a classroom setting for 30-50 minutes once a week. This additional STEM exposure will help students to innovate, collaborate, communicate, and prepare for a self-sustaining life. Key areas of focus for STEM Prep Specialists include: wonder, problem solving, sense making, creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

Computer Science Prep Specialists: Davis School District has systematically infused computer science (CS) into all of our 61 elementary schools. This ensures that every elementary student has access to a CS education starting in kindergarten. This is a vital area of understanding for students to be productive in the modern world. Computer science prep specialists provide students a minimum of 30 minutes CS education each week aligned to the new state CS standards. To learn more about CS in Davis, click here.

STEM Definition

Students engage in wonder, sense making, and problem solving across all content areas in a collaborative, creative, real world environment.

Important Dates:

August 24, 2020 STEM and Computer Science Prep Training (Virtual)
Monthly Virtual "Share-a-Thons" (Virtual)

Resources:

FAQ

For a list of frequently asked questions, click here.

LESSON PLAN TEMPLATES

STEM, Computer Science, Fine Arts, PE

Contact Information

MaryEllen Marx

Elementary Computer Science Supervisor

801-402-5790

macarlson@dsdmail.net

Annette Neilson

Elementary Science Specialist

801-402-5162

afonnesbeck@dsdmail.net

Check Out of STEM Supplies

STEM Materials Available for Check-Out

Engineering is Elementary Units and Materials Kits

The EiE kits available for check out are listed here. Click the link below for a calendar to see when the kits are available. Instructions for check out are listed at the end of this page.

Calendar: http://tinyurl.com/EiECalendar .

Story Design: Innovative STEAM Activities

Story Design is an exciting new student-driven, project-based interdisciplinary program that combines STEM with English Language Arts. We have 21 project-based learning lesson plans for Grades K-8. In Story Design lessons, students …

read and understand grade-level literature.
identify conflicts in the literary text.
identify a problem in the text that could have a practical, physical, or technological solution.
design and propose a solution incorporating STEM topics.
construct, test, and improve a prototype of their solution.
communicate their solution to the classroom.

For a list of books and activities, click here. We have one copy of each book available for check out to go with each STEAM activity booklet. To check out a Story Design kit, please see instructions in next section.

Stomp Rocket Launchers

These work with the EiE unit Rockets and Rovers, but they can also be used separately as a fun activity especially for students in grades 2-3 making and launching simple paper rockets. We have 4 stomp launchers.

Straw Rocket Launchers

These are manufactured by Pitsco. # Available is 2.

The Teacher Guide provides detailed directions for care and use, lesson plans, and ideas for extension lessons.

Straw Rocket Materials

This kit includes the essentials for working with the straw rocket launchers: straws, modeling clay for the noses, and index cards for the fins. These materials are available from Pitsco.com for 26.50.

LEGOS Airplane Kits

These kits consist of rectangular bricks in three different colors and sizes: 2X2, 2X4, and 2X8. In each set, there are 90 of both the 2X2’s and the 2X4’s and 45 of the 2X8’s. We have 8 sets so the class will need to be divided into at least 8 teams.

The task is for each team of students to build airplanes that follow a specific pattern in a timed interval. The challenge or problem to be solved is creating a system that will yield the best result.

You might want to create some competition between classes or even between schools! #Available is 8.

Pictured below are students at Endeavor Elementary who are very much engaged in this problem solving challenge.

To Check Out EIE, STEM Materials, or Story Design:

To check out Engineering is Elementary Kits or STEM Materials, click this link to check the calendar for availability: http://tinyurl.com/EiECalendar .

Please email Lisa Winsor the dates that you would like to check out the kits.

You will need to provide the following:

1) Your name

2) Your school

3) Your position

4) Item requested

5) How long you will need the item.

EiE Kits can be kept up to 4 weeks as it may take that long to complete a unit. Other items should be returned within a week.

You will need to pick the kits up at the District Office (Kendell Building, 2nd Floor W240)