Stay Informed with RIDE's STEM Update
The RI Department of Education distributes a STEM Update newsletter twice each month. Each edition includes STEM-related announcements from RIDE, relevant lesson resources, teacher and school opportunities, and items to pass along to students and families. You can sign up via this form and check out the latest edition in the archive, here. If you have any items to share in the STEM Update, please submit them here. Any questions can be directed to carolyn.higgins@ride.ri.gov
RIDE's Science Curriculum Frameworks
The RIDE Science Curriculum Framework provides guidance around the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), particularly as it relates to the design and use of curriculum materials, instruction, and assessment.
This comprehensive resource includes relevant resources to:
The Science Curriculum Frameworks align with RIDE’s overarching commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality curriculum and instruction that prepares students to meet their postsecondary goals.
Access the Science Curriculum Frameworks online or download a PDF version.
Direct inquiries about the Science Curriculum Frameworks to Erin.Escher@ride.ri.gov
RI Science & Engineering Fair
Do you want to engage students in authentic research projects? Are you looking for ways to engage students in Project Based Learning? The RI Science and Engineering Fair gives your students an opportunity to engage in authentic research and present their findings to professionals from academia and industry. Students become eligible for scholarships and build their resume for college applications.
If your middle or high school is interested in learning how to organize a schoolwide science & engineering fair and to provide students an opportunity to compete at the statewide science and engineering fair that is held in March, contact RISEF Director, Mark Fontaine at 401-301-1306 or risef@mindless.com to get details.
Organizational meetings are held in fall each year to start the process. More details can also be found on the RISEF Facebook page.
Be a Rhode Island Teacher at Sea!
The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) is announcing an opportunity for Rhode Island formal and informal educators to experience ocean science research at sea aboard the research vessel Endeavor. For three days (dates TBD), chosen educators will work alongside GSO scientists using oceanographic research instruments and conducting experiments in the vessel’s wet and dry labs, learning various research techniques for studying the biology, physics, chemistry, and geology of the sea. The Rhode Island Teacher At Sea (RITAS) program, funded by the State of Rhode Island, is open to all Rhode Island educators formal and informal of all disciplines; participants do not need to be science teachers. General information about the RITAS program and an application can be found here.
Safety First!
Flinn Scientific provides many safety resources, including free access to safety guides, lab safety courses, Safety Data Sheets, sample science/STEM lab safety contracts and exams, and many other resources. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) also publish safety resources for educators! Be sure to share these resources with your team to ensure that your school community has safe lab experiences this year.
NOAA’s Weather Portal
An important tool developed by the Education Development Center’s WeatherX project is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather portal in CODAP, which gives K–12 educators (and anyone with a web browser) access to large-scale weather data from NOAA. This online portal allows users to select and download hourly, daily, and monthly weather measurements from 1,783 weather stations in the United States, with records dating as far back as the mid-1800s. A blog post from the Concord Consortium, a partner in the WeatherX project, provides instructions for accessing the portal, as well as sample weather questions students can investigate with the data.
NSTA Awards and Grants
The National Science Teachers Association has many awards with a variety of categories. Many include incentives to support educators attending the National Conference or the NationalCongress in the summer. For more information see this page.