Science News and Updates
March 16, 2023
Welcome to the March 2023 edition of Science News and Updates. 

In our last issue, we reminisced about our work over the past 10 years. In this issue, we look ahead to the next 10 years. The implementation of NGSS continues as we strive to create science learning spaces that are inclusive and cultivate a sense of belonging, where curiosity is celebrated and brilliance is allowed to shine. Check out the NGSS in Action section below to see examples of students and educators engaged in phenomena-based learning events in the second half of 2022 and the early months of 2023. 

The crosscutting concepts continue to be a dimension of NGSS that can be used to support student thinking and sense-making during science instruction and beyond. 
Logo Causality
Cause and Effect (Mechanism and Explanation) and Structure and Function are two related crosscutting concepts that can be grouped together as causality. Looking for causality is essential to science. Students should have an explicit understanding that constructing explanations of the causes of phenomena are at the center of understanding the natural world and in solving engineering problems. Hence, science learning should center on students engaging in science and engineering practices that focus on making sense of the cause(s) of phenomena and/or the cause of one engineering design solution working better than another. If students can explain the causes using evidence, then they can better demonstrate their understanding of the world around them and provide explanations of how or why one engineered solution is better than another. Cause and effect, as well as structure and function relationships, should be used to initiate student reasoning. Read more on our Using the Crosscutting Concepts to Build Student Sense-Making and Reasoning Evidence-Based Practice page of the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Science Resource Center.

Want to know more about using the crosscutting concepts to support student thinking and sense-making during science instruction and beyond? Check out the recording of our Science Snippets+ webinar, located under the Winter Science Snippets tab on the SDCOE Science website.

Please share this newsletter sign-up link with others so they can receive future Science News and Updates. To connect with us between newsletters and learn more about environmental literacy, sign up to receive SDCOE's new Environmental Literacy News and Updates newsletter!

San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Science Team
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California Department of Education (CDE)
The CDE has released two one-pagers to assist educators and coordinators with the administration of the California Science Test (CAST) and the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science. The Organization of the California Science Test flyer includes a graphic that presents the six CAST segments and the student survey, a breakdown of the number of items included in each segment, and a recommendation for when to pause the test while administering the assessment over multiple sessions. The California Alternate Assessment for Science flyer includes basic details about the test, such as how the CAA for Science is aligned with the alternate achievement standards (i.e., Science Core Content Connectors), information on the four embedded performance tasks that make up the test, and the number of questions in each embedded performance task. Also included is a graphic outlining a performance task. Be sure to access these resources and others like them on the CAASPP website for a better understanding of how these tests are organized and further assistance in preparing for the administration of these tests.

California Funding Opportunities for Science Education
The current state budget includes multiple opportunities for prioritizing and funding science education. The following state funding opportunities from the 2022 Governor’s budget were identified as “priority funding opportunities'' for the support and prioritization of science education by the CAPMSE Statewide Science Leadership Coalition in Anaheim on Sept. 30. 

Please refer to the Prioritized Funding Opportunities CA document created by the California Partnership for Math and Science Education (CAPMSE) and The Exploratorium for more information about each funding opportunity. 

STEM Teaching Tools
The STEM Teaching Tools is a valuable resource for all science educators. Last year, we used the key equity projects highlighted in STEM TeachingTool Brief 71 titled, "How can you advance equity and justice through science teaching?," in each of our newsletter introductions. It is imperative that science educators continue to center student identity as they create science learning spaces that cultivate a sense of belonging for all. The three practice briefs highlighted below, leverage the best knowledge from research and practice related to race and identity. The Reflection Questions support us in being reflective of our practice and our daily interactions with students and colleagues.
  • Practice Brief 86: How do race and racism connect with science learning in early childhood and elementary classrooms? 
  • Practice Brief 88: Fostering meaningful conversations about equity grounded in teacher practice
  • Practice Brief 89: Attending to race and identity in science instruction
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SDCOE Science Professional Learning Opportunities

Science Leaders Network
The Science Leaders Network is a regular convening of science leaders across San Diego county, designed to build capacity of all educators to effectively implement NGSS in the region. Participants receive statewide and local updates, identify and share NGSS resources and best practices for implementation, and develop common messaging and advocacy for science and science support. This year, all meetings will be held in-person from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the SDCOE main campus, with a virtual attendance option available. Register to attend network meetings on April 5 and May 3.

Please reach out to us if you are interested in learning more about local educational agency support and contracting with the SDCOE Science and Environmental Literacy team. The SDCOE Science team can be reached via email: Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Starr Howe, and John Spiegel.
Additional Science Professional Learning Opportunities

UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center is now accepting applications for the eight-week 2023 Advanced Materials Research Experiences for Teachers program, which is June 26 to Aug. 18. This research program is aimed at providing K-12 and community college educators with a summer experience in a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center research lab.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2023 Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science
Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science is a free, three-day, grant-funded professional development opportunity for middle and high school science educators, based at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. Participants spend their days in intensive study in the Conservation Education Lab and their evenings at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, engaging with staff members and acquiring invaluable new skills to take back to their home campuses. Through grand funding, the residential program is free to attend and includes all meals, lodging, materials, and a $500 stipend paid upon full completion of the program to help offset travel or child care expenses. The application for the summer 2023 Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science is open through April 9. 

John Muir Laws — Nature Stewardship Through Science, Education, and Art
John Muir Laws is a resource of tools with free online nature journaling workshops and events, curriculum and lesson plans, as well as free illustrated crosscutting concept posters.

2023 California Science Education Conference — Call for Proposals
The California Association of Science Educators is seeking workshops or short courses for the 2023 California Science Education Conference in Palm Springs. Consider submitting a course focused on outdoor learning experiences, informal science education, new science teachers, or your own classroom successes! Proposals can be for a 90-minute workshop or a three-hour short course. See the call for proposals for more information and to submit. 

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Professional Learning Units 
NSTA offers short, self-paced, online courses that educators may utilize to enhance their profession, deepen students' learning, and encourage equitable participation in the classroom. Complete each course to earn an NSTA professional learning unit certificate, which can be applied towards credit hours of professional learning, anytime it is convenient for you, regardless of your schedule or location. Some NSTA professional learning units are free for NSTA members and some are free for all educators. Check out What is Sensemaking? for free. 
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This section of Science News and Updates highlights districts and schools across San Diego County focused on bringing high-quality science learning experiences to all students.

Turning Climate Science Study into Climate Change Comics

There's page-turning climate science work happening with Cindy Jenson-Eliott and her students at Carver Elementary in San Diego Unified School District. Fifth-grade students used the phenomena of wildfires to study climate change in California. Students then conducted email interviews with local people whose work affects or is affected by climate change. After obtaining information from experts in the field, student communicated their understanding by creating Climate Change comics. The comics were published and are available for purchase on lulu.com, a print-on-demand, self-publishing website. Check it out and consider empowering your students to engage in a similar project. Students even held a book signing event at Now or Never Comics.

Cindy Jenson-Eliott is a published children’s author and loves sharing her passion for nature and writing with students.
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Cover illustration of Climate Change Comic Book Project 2022
by the 5th Graders of Carver Elementary, SDUSD
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Climate Change Illustration, Comic Book Project 2022
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Fifth-Graders Become Freshwater Biologists

NGSS is definitely in action at Casita Center for Science Technology and Math in Vista Unified School District. Melanie Master is an Environmental Science teacher at Casita and was there to lead the way as 102 fifth graders became freshwater biologists in the natural wetland located at the back of their school campus. This wetland area is lovingly dubbed The Habitat, a small two-acre refuge for wildlife nestled inside a highly developed urban area. Knowing the effects of urban runoff, students wanted to investigate the quality of the water for the wildlife it serves. Not only did the students take data on abiotic factors such as pH, pesticide prevalence, and turbidity (cloudiness), but they collected and analyzed data on the actual inhabitants of the water, the aquatic macroinvertebrates living on the wetland bottom.

With guidance from UC Santa Barbara freshwater biologist, Dr. Scott Cooper, and their Environmental Science teacher, Melanie Master, the students conducted what’s called a biosurvey during the fall and winter of 2022. They recorded the different species of macroinvertebrates sampled on several different occasions for a total of 159 identifications. Each identification was categorized into three categories based on their known sensitivity to pollution. Then the students crunched numbers to analyze the data and determined that the water quality is considered poor.

Students brainstormed actions they could take to increase the water quality in The Habitat and determined the most practical actions were to pick up litter pollution from the area and remove invasive plant species to be replaced with natives. The native plants help filter the water as it runs down to the wetland, and the litter removal will prevent some pollution from affecting the aquatic food chain. In the end, students impressed themselves and felt proud after using science ideas to protect our Earth’s freshwater resources.

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Students collect a sample of water from the wetland. Pictured above: Students used sorting trays, pipettes, tweezers, and identification cards to identify and categorize the invertebrates
Raw data collected by Casita 5th graders

San Marcos Middle Recognized for Transforming Science Education

Our final NGSS in Action highlight takes us to San Marcos Unified School District where Samantha Stickley and the San Marcos Middle School (SMMS) science team were highlighted by the Knowledge Matters Campaign. SMMS was selected as a school that is transforming science education through the use of OpenSciEd curriculum. The science department at SMMS is using OpenSciEd to leverage equitable science practices and build student understanding of science concepts through the use of literacy. SMMS science teachers have built a culture of inclusion and community and it is through this community that students develop conceptual understanding. The Knowledge Matters Campaign visited all science classrooms on campus, specifically highlighting the classrooms of Samantha Stewart and Kelsey Peltzer. The campaign interviewed both teachers, their students, parents, the entire SMMS science department, and other community members to see how this transition has impacted all the learning community. Check out highlights of the visit by visiting the #WeAreSMUSD Twitter hashtag and watching the Innovate 8 story from CBS 8.
Thank you to the educators that shared their NGSS in Action stories. If you engage with Twitter, please add #sandiegoNGSS to your NGSS in Action posts.

We know amazing work is happening throughout our county. Please share with us. We’d love to showcase you and your students. If you don’t have time to complete this short Google form, then we encourage you to email Chelsea Cochrane a quick note. We can come to your school and write the story.
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California State Library Parks Pass
In partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the California State Library, State Parks is providing free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state park units operated by State Parks to library-card holders. California public library-card holders can check out the California State Library Parks Pass via their local public library. If you don’t have a library card, visit your local library to get one. Find your local public library at library.ca.gov/branches. Watch this video on how to get your pass. The pass entitles the user to a free vehicle day-use entry for one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle at over 200 participating state park units. View an interactive map with California’s public libraries and nearby participating state parks.

Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS)
Check out free, interactive virtual field trips for K-12 students to stay connected to our state's natural, cultural, and historical resources. Visit the PORTS website to browse programs by location or topic and for booking details. Designed for in-person and virtual classrooms, the programs are customizable for all grade levels and include additional teacher resources built around the program. The fall calendar includes topics such as California's indigenous cultures, towering trees, marine protected areas, immigration stories, gold rush history, and desert ecology.

CAELI Partner Portal
The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) has launched a new Partner Portal that promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of community-based partners and their products and services and fosters relationships between educators and community-based partners for increased student enrichment and engagement. The goals of the hub are to increase the visibility and access to environmental education community-based partners and be a reliable central repository for districts, schools, and teachers to identify programs that align with their local needs and meet educational standards. Learn more about our San Diego partners.

Exploring Conservation Science Field Trips
The Community Engagement team has been working since 2005 to make San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's scientific staff and facilities available to challenge, engage, and inspire students from middle school to college. Their approach provides the opportunity to share a full, in-depth look at the work of conservation biology and the many fields of study that help guide conservation decision-making.

The Community Engagement team offers a 2.5-hour lab field trip program, titled Exploring Conservation Science, to interested science teachers and their classes. This program is open to all interested middle school, high school, and undergraduate classes, and includes visits to both the Beckman Center and the adjacent San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California. For more information and to reserve a field trip, please refer to the Exploring Conservation Science site.
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The Exploratorium — The Tinkering Studio
“Tinkering is a hands-on learning approach and way to develop understanding about the world. Learning through tinkering relies on direct experiences with real phenomena, things that learners can see and touch. The Tinkering Studio believes that tinkering experiences empower both learners and educators to develop an understanding of science processes and ideas, as well as their own potential as learners.” Read more on the Our Work webpage or find activities for your classroom by visiting the Projects webpage.

Science Snacks
Science Snacks are hands-on, teacher-tested activities that bring explorations of natural phenomena into the classroom and home. Each activity uses inexpensive, easily-available materials, offers detailed instructions and images, provides a clear explanation of what's going on, and is adaptable to a wide range of curricula, content areas, grade levels, and settings.

Cal Academy — Educators Page
Whether you're looking for lesson plans, science videos, or distance learning programs, the Academy has teaching resources galore. Access them at the Teaching Resources for the Science Classroom.

National Children’s Museum
The National Children's Museum launched a second season of the children's podcast STEAM Daydream. Each of the season's eight episodes is led by a young innovator, who — with the help of content experts from across the country — solves an everyday STEAM mystery aligned to science standards and classroom content. Funded in part by the Department and developed by museum educators for classrooms grades 1-5, each 20-minute episode empowers young listeners to ask big questions about important STEAM topics.

Ten Strands — Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum
Guided by California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts, the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum consists of 85 engaging units that address core academic standards in science, history-social science, and English language arts. The California EEI Curriculum is a powerful, state board of education-approved instructional resource that helps educators teach to state standards in science and history–social science using the environment as context.

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Science Coordinator
District Advisor, Curriculum and Instruction
Environmental Literacy Coordinator
Science Administrative Assistant
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