MnSTA Fall 2014 Newsletter

MnSTA

Newsletter Volume 51 No. 1 A Quarterly Publication of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association Inc.

R.T. Rybak to Keynote the 2015 MnCOSE

R.T. Rybak will be the keynote speaker at the Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnCOSE) that will be held on Feb. 20-21, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Mankato.

R.T. Rybak began serving as the executive director of Generation Next in early January 2014. R.T. served as mayor of Minneapolis from 2002 - 2013.

During his tenure as mayor, R.T. led efforts to make Minneapolis a national leader in innovative, cradle-to-career approaches to youth development, and worked to highlight the crisis of our region’s achievement gap and advance effective strategies for ending it.

Mr. Rybak will speak about the achievement gap crisis in our region, what is being done and where we still need to go.

Fall 2014

MnCOSE Saturday Workshop to Feature Creator of Bozeman Science

Paul Andersen has been teaching science in Montana for the last twenty years. He spent the first half of his career teaching all the science classes at a small rural school in northern Montana. Paul is currently a science teacher at Bozeman High School.

Paul has created hundreds of YouTube science tutorials that have been viewed millions of times by students around the world. Paul was the Montana Teacher of the Year and he was a finalist for National Teacher of the Year.

Paul will be conducting a workshop for secondary teachers on creating a blended classroom focusing on Next Generation Science Standards

President’s Address by Lee Schmitt

Department of Conservation by Ed Hessler

Welcome to a new and exciting school year of exceptional science education for Minnesota students.

As your new MnSTA president, I want to thank you for your passion for science teaching and for all your hard work on behalf of our students. You are the reason Minnesota is a leader in science education.

Thank you for your MnSTA membership.

As a former science teacher, I learned early on that science education was much bigger than what I did in the classroom. We have a responsibility to be engaged in the “big picture” of science teaching and learning. Every professional needs to be part of their professional organization to network, share resources and contribute to the effort to improve the quality and quantity of science experiences for all students.

As your president, my job is to lead a 30-member board of dedicated science educators working to support you in the classroom by providing professional development opportunities, legislative advocacy, networking and resources. I urge you to contact me lschmitt@hamline.edu or your Regional and Discipline Representative with questions and suggestions for MnSTA and plan ahead to attend MnSTA’s Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnCOSE), February 20-21, 2015, in Mankato.

This year is MnSTA’s 50th anniversary! On Presidents message....continued on page 4

Conserving Great Places About 20 years ago, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) launched a large and ambitious initiative designed to save “The Last Great Places”—mostly intact ecosystems.

The New Yorker (May 12, 2014) published an essay by D. T. Max about Mark Tercek, who heads the Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Peter Kareiva, its chief scientist, which describes their approach on saving natural areas and the controversy that has followed. Tercek, a former partner at Goldman Sachs became its head in 2008.

The new approach championed by Tercek and Kareiva clash with the TNC tradition of purchasing and securing places. The newer tactics are sciencebased and place an emphasis on working with the people directly involved, considering benefits both to them as well as nature. It is a shadowy territory between nature and culture.

Tercek emphasizes that both approaches are needed and are being practiced by TNC. But not all agree. A number of conservation biologists who are sometimes described as “old school” view the new tactics as “surrender to development.” Tercek’s approach has been described as eco-pragmatism, one based on financial thinking, i.e. nature can be monetized and viewed as a market.

The New Yorker article, “Green is Good” by writer D. T. Max is available only to subscribers but the first paragraph provides a useful summary. ( < http://www.newyorker.com/ reporting/2014/05/12/140512fa_fact_max >) Department of Conservation...continuted on page 3

The MnSTA Newsletter is published four times each year by the Minnesota Science Teachers Association, Inc. Articles, opinions, book reviews and other information pertinent to Minnesota teachers are welcome. Please limit submission to 1 typed page, e-mail preferred (text file please).

Deadlines for submission of articles are: Fall ............... August 1st Winter ............. November 1st Spring ........... February 1st Summer....................April 1st Send all correspondence regarding the newsletter to: Jerry Wenzel 22002 100th Ave Randall, MN 56475 e-mail: jerrywenzel@brainerd.net The MnSTA Newsletter is an exempt program service provided to the membership. A membership form is found on the back page.

Materials found in the newsletter may be reprinted without charge.

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MnSTA, Inc. is an IRS 501 (c) (3) Charitable Educational Corpora-tion, incorporated as a tax exempt, non-profit organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Donations and dues are tax deductible charitable contributions for itemized deductions on IRS form 1040 Schedule A. The newsletter is an exempt program service provided to the membership. A membership form is found on the last page.

MnSTA Newsletter

In Medias Res by Edward Hessler (Mis)Appropriation of Scientific Ideas Lessons in science are also lessons in language since the sciences have their own specialized languages. This technical language is what many students of another generation think of as science: dictionaries to be remembered for the exam...useful for crossword puzzles. However, since standards and research on how people learn, this has changed.

What has been learned is that technical vocabulary can save a lot of words but that sometimes plain language works as well. Robert Recorde when he invented the equal sign, wrote in The Whetstone of Witte (1557), that he did this “to avoide the tedious repetition of these words “:is equalle to:”. So, if a term or idea is to be referred to often or if it will add to a students’ “useful scientific vocabulary” (Project 2061) or if it will save lots of words, then the technical term (a word, a symbol) makes sense.

But in all cases, these should follow experience and understanding. Experience then the carefully chosen terms.

There is another side to science’s specialized ways of talking and writing: “technical term creep”.

These are words and ideas with specialized and restricted meaning in science which are used incorrectly in everyday life. No doubt you have a list of technical terms that you want students to understand and use correctly. Recently, Annalee Newitz of io9 wrote an essay titled “10 Scientific Ideas That Scientists Wish You Would Stop Misusing”. ( < http:// io9.com/10-scientific-ideas-that-scientists-wish-youwould-stop-1591309822 >).

The purpose of this list, which was not developed systematically, is not to replace ideas on your list(s) but to provide context or a different way of thinking or a new insight on the misused scientific idea/ concept and to let you know that you are not alone in your concern. The responses are from individual scientists, one of whom is Marlene Zuk, an evolutionary biologist in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the University of Minnesota-TC. ( < http://www.cbs.umn.edu/explore/departments/eeb/faculty-research/directory/marlene-zuk >)

In 1994, TNC commissioned a book of 30 splendid essays, Heart of the Land about natural places that were likely to disappear unless protected ( < http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Of-The-Land-Essays/ dp/0679755012 >). Each is, in heart and spirit, romantic. (Old school?)

Barry Lopez writes in the forward that the essays are about “the protection of natures other than our own,” which require is to “reimagine our lives.”

These essays are about a different kind of bookkeeping, using a much different balance sheet than one based in financial accounting. Terry Tempest Williams refers to this as re-engaging us in “the rhythm of the year.”

Great places, large and small, face many challenges. As islands, their boundaries do not protect them from human activities and economic interests as well as to invasions and habitat changes. They are subject to nonlinear, continual change and sometimes disequilbrium. There is also a dynamic relationship between them and their surrounding systems.

Some very important great but sometimes small places in Minnesota are SNAs, Scientific and Natural Areas. ( < http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/index. html >). A presentation about them is a reminder of another profound challenge to conserving nature at all scales, from small to large: climate change/global warming. ( < http://sfec.cfans.umn.edu/prod/groups/ cfans/@pub/@cfans/@sfec/documents/article/cfans_ article_376207.pdf >) Hessler is Executive Secretary of MnSTA

Department of Conservation.......Cont from page 2

A response to Max’s essay by Tercek and Kareiva in ConservancyTalk may be found here. ( < http://blog.nature.org/conservancy/2014/05/05/ green-science-conservation-tercek-kareiva-newyorker-max/ >)

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Department of Education Providing Evidence of Student Learning

Districts and charter schools are gearing up for the Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) systems which begin this year. Since all TDE plans are required to include classroom observations, teachers should have conversations with their John Olson is the science specialist for the Department evaluator about what of Education. He will keep to look for in quality us updated on science educa- science instruction. tion in the MnSTA newsletter. The Frameworks for Mathematics and Science Standards website is a great resource with its classroom vignettes and sections for administrators.

Thirty five percent of the evaluation score must be based on student performance data. Teachers will identify student learning goals and assessments that measure student growth. The science MCA will not be helpful for this purpose. The 5th and 8th grade exams address a band of grades. The high school exam is primarily life science and has no pre-test component for evaluating growth. Some districts have commercial exams that might be helpful.

It is important that the assessments used for student learning goals truly measure concepts and skills, rather than not just facts. Teachers that teach the same grade or subject area in their school, district or region should work together to develop common assessments that can be used as pre- and post- tests.

Since many important concepts and skills are not well assessed on written exams, consider including performance assessments such as portfolios and projects in the assessment mix. For more suggestions, see the science assessment resources at the MN Frameworks website. A good source for items assessing concepts is the AAAS Project 2061 Assessments: http://assessment.aaas.org. These items are based on common misconceptions.

The MDE Science Assessment Specialists, Jim Wood and Dawn Cameron, along with Doug Paulson, STEM Specialist and I will be presenting workshops on developing common assessments and we

are able to come to districts to assist with this work.

Another assessment note: At this time the MCA Benchmark Analysis graphs are not available for the 2014 assessment. We will send an announcement if and when they become accessible.

Presidents message contined from page 2

October 17, 1964, MnSTA held its first board meeting launching a statewide educational organization devoted to fostering excellence in science education for all. The legacy of the many teacher leaders who gave their time and talent to MnSTA continues today in our mission. We celebrate 50 years of supporting science teachers and science education.

Now is the time to grow our membership. An action we can all take in our 50th year is to talk to your colleagues! Direct them to www.mnsta.org to become a member! Our organization is only as strong as its membership. We need everyone to participate.

Thank you in advance for supporting MnSTA; for taking action to contact your board representatives; for attending our 50th anniversary celebration at MnCOSE on February 20-21, 2015; for expanding our membership by talking to your colleagues about MnSTA; and for your energy and expertise in providing Minnesota students the essential science knowledge and skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world.

Mark your calendars: MnSTA Science Sessions and Booth at Education Minnesota Conference, October 18, 2014, River Centre, St. Paul.

MnSTA 50th Anniversary Conference on Science Education, February 20-21, 2015, Mankato.

NSTA STEM Forum, May 20-23, 2015, Minneapolis.

NSTA Regional Conference, October 27-29, 2016, Minneapolis.

Why Don’t More Men Go Into Teaching?

“Why don’t more men go into teaching” is the big question asked by New York Times education writer Motoko Rich, in a September 6 column. Noting that more than 80% of elementary and middle school teachers are women, Rich writes, “Educators, advocates and lawmakers fight bitterly about tenure, academic standards and the prevalence of testing, but one thing most sides tend to agree on is the importance of raising the status of teaching so the profession will attract the best candidates...

A change in the gender imbalance could sway the way teaching is regarded. Jobs dominated by women pay less on average than those with higher proportions of men, and studies have shown that these careers tend to enjoy less prestige as well.”

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MnSTA Newsletter

Opportunities-Department of Education New MN website for STEM resources: mnstem.com

Mn-STEM was re-launched at STEM Day at the Minnesota State Fair. It contains information and a host of links intended to engage parents, families, educators and young people and provide quick access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) resources, including high-quality STEM learning opportunities in-school and out-ofschool. http://mn-stem.com

Minnesota Green Schools Tour

The U.S. Department of Education is conducting tours of schools and districts with exemplary practices in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving the health and wellness of students and staff, and providing quality environmental education.

The tours will be engaging and will feature facilities, food service, recycling, student projects, school gardens, outdoor learning spaces and much more.

You are welcome to join any part of the tour. To register go to the Registration Survey. More information, addresses and updates are at the MDE Green Schools website.

Tuesday, September 23rd 8:30 a.m Event Introduction and Tour: School of Environmental Studies, Apple Valley 10:30 a.m.

Tour: Garlough Elementary School, West St Paul, 11:30 a.m.

Lunch: Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul 1:00 p.m.

Tour: Heritage E-STEM Middle School, West St. Paul Wednesday, September 24th 8:15 a.m.

Tour: Waconia Public Schools, 11:00 a.m.

Tour: Jeffers Pond Elementary School, Prior Lake, 12:00 p.m.

Lunch: Jeffers Pond Elementary School, Prior Lake 1:30 p.m.

Tour: Five Hawks Elementary School, Prior Lake 3:00 p.m.

Discussion Session: Prior LakeSavage Area Schools,

Safety Alert: Methanol Explosions

Several youth and children have been severely burned by methanol fires in the past couple years.

A few examples are a “smoke tornado” at a science museum in Reno, a “rainbow demonstration” in New York City and a “whoosh bottle” demonstration in Minnesota. These accidents involved reloading the demonstration from a supply bottle when the ap-

paratus was still hot or had an invisible flame. Here are a few cautions. Only use a small container for the fluid and it keep capped and far from the demo.

Never refill the demo. Use a fume hood or safety shield (many sources recommend that methanol not be used on an open bench since the vapors are heavier than air and can spread among viewers).

Use a less volatile fluid such as ethanol. See these alerts from the American Chemical Society http:// cen.acs.org/articles/92/i11/Safety-Alert-RainbowDemonstration.html and Flinn Scientific http://www. flinnsci.com/cla3.

Explosive Self-reactive Organic peroxide

Teacher Events and Workshops

GO4ST8 Physics, Sep. 13, Minnetonka

The meeting will revolve around circular and rotational kinematics and dynamics. These topics are on the new AP Physics 1 exam. They will be approached in ways that are appropriate for a variety of student groups. Saturday, 9 am – noon at Minnetonka High School. Free attendance. Bring a friend. Ask about the GO4ST8 entry in the Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat Race. Click for more information: https://sites.google.com/site/go4st8physics/ home

Magnet Schools of MN STEM Network Meeting, Sep. 25, Apple Valley

Please join us for the fall K-12 Magnet School STEM Network Meeting on September 25th, 8:30 – 10:00 at Valley Middle School of STEM for a special morning with STEM educators. Review information on STEM program design, practical tips for STEM integration, and STEM educational resources. Please register for this no-cost event by emailing Cathy Kindem cathy.kindem@district196.org, Magnet Schools of MN – STEM Network Coordinator.

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Opportunities-Department of Education This event is co-sponsored by The Magnet Schools of Minnesota and the Minnesota STEM Network.

Nobel Conference: 50th Anniversary Event, Oct. 7 & 8, St. Peter

This is the 50th anniversary of the Gustavus Adolphus College event. Presenters include: Steven Chu, Steven Weinberg, Freeman Dyson, Sir Harold Kroto, W. Gary Ernst, Harry B. Gray, Svante Paabo, Sean B. Carroll, Jennifer West, Patricia Smith Churchland, and Antonio Damasio. That is a pretty amazing list.

Bring your students. The Gustavus Adolphus website has materials teachers can use with their students to provide some background for the event. Check the website: https://gustavus.edu/events/nobelconference/2014/ for more information, including live streaming.

Earth Science Week, Oct. 12 - 18

“Earth’s Connected Systems,” the theme of Earth Science Week 2014, engages young people and others in exploring the ways that geoscience illuminates natural change processes. By deepening our understanding of interactions of Earth systems -- geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere -- Earth science helps us manage our greatest challenges and make the most of vital opportunities. Information and a toolkit are available from the the American Geosciences Insitute at the Earth Science Week website; http://www.earthsciweek.org/about-esw

Science Sessions at Education MN Professional Conference, Oct. 16, St. Paul

MnSTA is presenting a strand of science sessions at the great Minnesota teacher get-together. All sessions are free. Click for the Conference Information: http://www.educationminnesota.org/events. aspx#professional-conference *It’s not Magic, It’s Science: Hands-on Science for Teachers *Integrating K-6 Science Learning through the Outdoors, Notebooks, and Word Walls *Writing and Using Good Common Assessments in Science *DIY (Do it Yourself) NANO! The Minn. Pollution Control Agency will present a session on Green Chemistry followed by a workshop at the end of the day. The presenters are seeking input for presenting Green Chemistry materials. Please complete this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mgcfeducatorpoll.

EdCamp Math & Science Minnesota, Oct. 17, Eden Prairie

EdCamp is an “unconference”, which is educator driven and educator led. Participants on the day of the conference determine what sessions are offered and are free to travel from session to session based on interests. This Edcamp from 9 am – 3 pm is focused on Math and Science and is offered in conjunction with the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and the Minnesota Science Teachers Association). See the event website: https://sites.google.com/a/apps.hopkinsschools.org/ edcamp-science-math/home: for more information about Edcamps and this event in particular. Tweet about the conference at #EdcampMSMN!

The Wild Face of Climate Change, Nov. 22, Apple Valley

The Minnesota Zoo and the Will Steger Foundation join forces to: • Discuss the basic science of climate change and the effects on all living systems on Earth.

• Explain several (broad impacts of climate change including how each is caused, what the current situation and level of impact is, and how it is expected to unfold in the future.

• Give an example of a wildlife species that is clearly affected by each of the highlighted impacts of climate change.

• Lead a discussion, activity, or project with students focused on the impacts of climate change on wildlife in specific habitats around the world.

This workshop for Middle School educators is at the Minnesota Zoo, 8:00 – 4:30. The fee is $60. Click for information and registration: https://thriva.activenetwork.com/Reg4/ (S(koookgntzuew1k554ywvt055))/Form.aspx?reg key=RpYOYPxE378wNjTYCkFkMw%3d%3d&q id=63635.

Geology Lectures, University of Minnesota

The Geological Society of Minnesota offers free public lectures on local and national geology topics about twice per month. These are given by local experts and delivered at the amateur geologist level of technicality. The topics and calendar are posted at the Society Website: http://www.gsmn.org.

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MnSTA Newsletter

Opportunities-Department of Education “Hold the Date” for these upcoming conferences

More information will come in future Science Updates • Excellence in Elementary Engineering Education (E4), Nov. 17, St. Paul • Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnSTA), February 20-21, Mankato • National Conference on Science Education (NSTA), March 12-15, Chicago • NSTA STEM Forum and Expo, May 2023, Minneapolis (presenter proposals soon)

Teacher and School Awards and Opportunities Einstein Fellows

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program provides a unique professional development opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend eleven months working in a Federal agency or in a U.S. Congressional office, bringing their extensive knowledge and experience in the classroom to education program and/or education policy efforts.

For Information: http://science.energy.gov/wdts/ einstein/

Target Field Trip Grants

Target stores award grants to K-12 schools nationwide enabling schools to send a classroom on a field trip to museums, historical sites and other cultural destinations. Each grant is valued up to $700.

Funds may be used to cover field trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, resource materials and supplies. Other criteria for selection of grant recipients include the field trip’s tie-in to the school’s curriculum and the number of students involved. Grants are accepted until noon on September 30. Learn more at https://corporate.target.com/ corporate-responsibility/grants/field-trip-grants

Science Museum of Minnesota Opportunities

The Science Museum is distributing weekly email communications for schools and teachers announcing teacher previews, bus scholarships, grant opportunities, etc. To participate go to www.ssm. org/teachers

Student Awards, Competitions and Programs eCYBERMISSION

eCYBERMISSION is a free, online collaborative learning competition for students in grades six through nine offered by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program. The competition challenges students to think about real-world applications of STEM by working in teams to identify a problem in their community and use the scientific practices or the engineering design process to find a solution. Students compete for state, regional and national awards, with potential winning of up to $8,000 in U.S. savings bonds.

Students registered by November 5th will receive a Free STEM Research Kit. All registered teachers will receive an eCYBERMISSION Starter Kit, which includes lessons, resources and tools available to introduce the competition in the classroom. Mini-grants are available for supplies and/or professional development for schools with at least 50 participants by contacting Chris Campbell, ccampbell@eCYBERMISSION.com for information. Registration: http://www.ecybermission.com

Real World Design Challenge

The Real World Design Challenge is an annual aviation design competition for teams of high school students. The Challenge is FREE for students and teachers. Each teacher that signs up a team will receive professional engineering software as well as access to mentors from industry, government, and academia. Teams can register at http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org.The team’s teacher/coach should complete the registration form.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

ExploraVision is a competition that encourages K-12 students to create and explore a vision of a future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Teams of two to four students research scientific principles and current technologies as the basis for designing innovative technologies that could exist in 20 years. Students compete for up to $240,000 in savings bonds for college and cool gifts from Toshiba. First- and second-place teams also receive an expenses-paid trip with their families, mentor and coach to Washington, D.C. for a gala awards weekend in June 2015. For information visit the competition http://www.exploravision.org.

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Opportunities-Department of Education National Climate Assessment Resources for Educators

The National Climate Assessment offers a wealth of actionable science about the causes, effects, risks and possible responses to human-caused climate change. NOAA, USGCRP NCAnet Education Affinity Group http://ncanet.usgcrp.gov/partners/ affinity-groups/education and members of the CLEAN Network have developed a series of guides for educators that focus on the regional chapters of the Assessment Report, helping to unpack the key messages of each region and point to related, high-quality online resources.

The NCA also contains information that will help educators and students gain a deeper understanding of climate science through the Our Changing Climate section and Climate Science Supplement. The content in the NCA is useful and relevant for integration of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into science education. In these new standards, educators are asked to integrate engineering design into the structure of science education by raising engineering design to the same level as scientific inquiry when teaching science disciplines at all levels.

For example, throughout the NCA, particularly in the Adaptation and Infrastructure sections, educators can find information on climate-related problems and solutions, including those that draw on engineering design. Finally, the Decision Support Section provides information on how decision makers across the country are using climate information to prepare for the impacts of climate change that affect where they work and live

Health and Climate film and Educational Materials for 6-8th Graders

The Minnesota Department of Health developed a film, Health and Climate, which provides an overview of the major climate changes in Minnesota and how these changes are impacting human health. The film describes ways people can adapt to and mitigate climate change. The 27-minute film can be found on MDH’s website, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ climatechange/climate101.html.

MDH also developed teaching resources to promote the exploration of climate change and public health impacts in more depth. The resources include a climate change vocabulary list and a student study guide; a vocabulary slap game (also called “flyswatter game”); a slide set describing climate change and health effects and a student handout; a computer lab project that explores health datasets related to climate

change; a trivia game; a create your own “doodle” or artistic rendering of climate change game; and a discussion guide. The materials are posted on the above. For more information, contact Kristin Raab. kristin.raab@state.mn.us.

FIRST LEGO League

High Tech Kids has scholarships available for next year’s “World Class” FIRST LEGO League season for rookie teams. FIRST LEGO League is for students age 9 to 14. Teams will be studying how we learn and will be presenting how students want and need to learn, as well as building and programming a LEGO Mindstorm robot to complete their chosen missions. Preference is given to teams in rural or urban areas, all girls teams, or teams with students of color and/or poverty.

Scholarship covers the cost of a new robot ($449) or FIRST Registration ($225). Applications are available on their website, http://www.hightechkids.org.

FIRST Tech Challenge

High Tech Kids has scholarships available for the 2014-2015 FIRST Tech Challenge, for students in 7th through 12th grade. Students build a robot for the challenge that will be released on September 7th. Students learn how to program a LEGO Mindstorm robot in Robot C or Labview.

Preference is given to teams in rural or urban areas, all girls teams, or teams with students of color and/or poverty. Scholarship covers the cost of two items (FIRST Registration, LEGO Mindstorm NXT or Tetrix Building Kit) valued between $415 and $665. Applications are available on their website, http://www.hightechkids.org.

Shell Science Lab Challenge

The Shell Science Lab Challenge, sponsored

by Shell Oil Company and administered by NSTA, encourages teachers (grades 6-12) in the U.S. and Canada, who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win up to $93,000 in prizes, including a grand prize school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000. For more information about the Challenge or to download an application, http://www.nsta.org/shellsciencelab/.

2015 Donaldson Science Award

Do you know a student of color that deserves recognition for their efforts and accomplishments in STEM? The Science Museum is partnering with Don-

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MnSTA Newsletter

Opportunities-Department of Education aldson Company Inc. to provide the Donaldson Science Award for students of color who are passionate about STEM. Award Finalists will receive up to $500.00, a one-year membership to the Science Museum of Minnesota, and recognition at a Science Fusion honors brunch.

Nomination forms can be found online and are due by Monday, November 10th: http://www.smm. org/sciencefusion/nomination Direct questions to: cmartinez@smm.org

MDE Contacts:

John Olson, Science Content Specialist, Dawn Cameron, Science Assessment Specialist, Jim Wood, Science Assessment Specialist, Doug Paulson, STEM Integration Specialist, Send submissions for the Science Update to John Olson Other Minnesota Connections: Minn. Dept. of Education Website Minn. Science Teachers Association Minn. Frameworks for Science and Mathematics Standards Get – STEM Connections between schools and businesses Mn-STEM STEM programs and resources for families, schools and community Environmental Education resources Minnesota Academy of Science:

Education Minnesota

MnSTA Strand of Science Workshops at the 2014 Education Minnesota Professional Development Conference on Thursday, Oct. 16th, 2014

Session 1 It’s Not Magic, It’s Science: Hands-on Science for Teachers Join wacky professor Jerry Wenzel for an intensive one-hour training workshop that will enhance the way you teach science. This fast-moving workshop is aimed at teachers looking for creative ways to integrate science into their already-packed curriculum. Learn new perspectives that will help you get your students hooked on science.

Presenter: Jerry Wenzel, retired science teacher Session 2 Integrating K-6 Science Learning through the Outdoors, Notebooks, and Word Walls Discover how to integrate your science learning

Fall 2014

across the curriculum K-5 and introduce your students to the inquiry process through the use of Science Notebooks and “Mother Nature”. Also great ideas will be shared on the use of word walls in classrooms to help with literacy connections. Handouts included!

Presenters: Laurie Arnason, South Point Elementary Teacher, East Grand Forks Polly Saatzer, Garlough Environmental Magnet School Teacher, West St. Paul Kari Dombrovski, Talahi Community School Teacher, St. Cloud Session 3 Writing and Using Good Common Assessments in Science Assessments that teachers write together are valuable for evaluating learning and improving teaching.

They can form the basis of teacher discussions (PLC’s) and individual teacher reflection. Common assessments could also become a component of teacher evaluation systems. Learn how to write good questions and activities for both formative and summative purposes.

Presenters: Dawn Cameron, Science Assessment Specialist, MDE John Olson, Science Content Specialist, MDE Doug Paulson, STEM Specialist, MDE Jim Wood, Science Assessment Specialist, MDE education.state.mn.us Session 4 DIY (Do It Yourself) NANO! Nano is all around us—in nature and technology—and nanotechnology has the potential to change the way we live and learn. Through demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and online resources from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, this workshop will give you the opportunity to explore the world at the nanoscale and walk away with ideas and activities you can implement in your classroom to engage your students in the “science of the small.”

Presenters: Danni Dancer, School Partnership Coordinator, The Bakken, Minneapolis www.thebakken.org Note: All four sessions are offered in partnership with the Minnesota Science Teachers Association.

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Opportunities-MnCOSE

Help us celebrate our 50 years as a leader in Minnesota science education by attending our annual conference MNCOSE February 20 & 21 2015 Mankato, MN

Highlights of our 50th Anniversary Celebration • Networking with science education from across Minnesota • Presenters sharing new ideas for your classroom • Speakers with the latest research/info on science eduation • Exhibitors displahing their lastest products

For conference information go to www.mnsta.org

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MnSTA Newsletter

Opportunities-MnCOSE Workshops Understanding Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents

Information regarding the most commonly diagnosed areas of mental illness in children, and how parents and teachers can work together to support their students. This workshop meets the continuing education requirement for Minnesota teachers.

Presenter: Ginny Nimmo has her M.S. in Education, and Specialist Certification and National Certification in school psychology, and has been a school psychologist in Minnesota and Montana. Since 1987 she has been a school psychologist in the Mankato Public Schools.

She has been honored as the 1994 Minnesota School Psychologist of the Year and the 2013 Ysseldyke Distinguised Best Practices Award. She has served on the state board of the Minnesota School Psychologists Association, and was president of that organization.

Ginny is active in working with staff, parents, and community members in the areas of positive behavioral interventions, Judicious Discipline, parenting ideas, crisis response, mental health needs and various other topics.

Matt Bobrowsky

Phenomenon-Based Learning: Fun, Handson, Cooperative Learning

Experience the kind of learning that propelled Finland to international leadership in science education—learning not by memorizing facts, but by exploration and discovery. Matt Bobrowski combines the most effective aspects of Finnish te aching along with project-based learning, collaborative learning, responsive teaching, and handson experiments, we present “Phenomenon-based Learning” (PBL). With registration you’ll be able to buy a copy of the PBL Gadgets & Gizmos book for your grade level — full of hands-on explorations that support the PBL approach — and also purchase a gadget that evokes curiosity and inspires the desire to explore and learn.

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Opportunities

12 MnSTA Newsletter

Opportunities Using Technology, through Digital Photography and GPS, to Document Animal Behavior Steve Maanum – Award-winning Educator/Writer/Photographer/Storyteller Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a wood duck nesting box?

Have you ever seen a loon with an antenna?

We will see footage of egg laying, incubating, and hatching of wood ducks from inside the nesting box. I’ll demonstrate practical S.T.E.M. activities in which science and math are brought together through the technology of trail cameras, nesting box cameras, and time lapse cameras. This opens up the possibility of students being involved with classroom projects, community service projects, or citizen science projects related to filming and documenting the habits and behavior of a local wildlife species.

GPS units were surgically implanted inside a small number of loons in order to track them during migration. I’ll discuss the steps involved in capturing and tagging our state bird and explain what information researchers are learning from their work.

For details and availability contact me at steve.maanum@gmail.com or 218-280-6659

MnSTA Presidential Election – A call for nominations

Greetings, MnSTA Members! As your Past President, my honor to help us find our next President!

Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague to run for the Presidency of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association. A nominee must agree to serve and must be a Member of MnSTA before the candidate’s name may be submitted for nomination. Nominees who have been members for over 3 year and who have attended at least one Minnesota Conference on Science Education are preferred. The term to serve will begin as the President Elect on July 1st of 2015 and run for 4 years, with the first year as President Elect, then 2 years as President, finishing the fourth year as Past President. The election will be in March, so nominations are needed by February 1st.

Fall 2014

Please send your nomination(s) to my email at Walvig@thebakken.org by February 1st. I highly recommend this experience! My term has been a wonderful professional and personal journey!

Also, if you know of a science teacher who is not a current member of MnSTA, please encourage them to join now! You can do this all on-line on our new website, www.mnsta.org.

Thank you, Steven Walvig,, Past President

Happy 50th Anniversary MnSTA!

Read the history of MnSTA and view the list of presidents who have served us for the past 50 years.

Pages 18-19

13

Opportunities Take a Fun Break!

NanoSpace Word Search

Have a little fun on your lunch break or in between classes by locating the words that are all part of the NanoSpace® experience! Whether it’s a scientific principle, state of matter or just plain fun, you can learn all about the world of atoms and molecules in NanoSpace®.

Thanks for teaching our kids about science. Good luck and have a great school year!

DNA MICROLAB FUN

D Z R S E L U C E L O M

GAS ATOMS MATTER

M O L G T C A R B O N L

I R E A M N S E L Y A A

C T C S O D E I I M M T

BUILD `EM ELECTRONZ MOVIE

R C R E T T A M N E E O

O E I G N E B A E D D M

L L E N U F I N I L L A

ATOMATIC MOLECULES CARBON

A E W A T O E V C I I T

B C A R B Z A I O U U I

M X P A T O M S K M B C

We invite you to explore the more than 25 fun, interactive and educational games at http://nanospace.molecularium.com. The Molecularium® Project, offers additional resources for parents and teachers at www.molecularium.com/ educators.html.

14

MnSTA Newsletter

Teacher Feature The featured teacher for this issue of the MnSTA newsletter is Tim Chase. Tim teaches at Murray Middle School, St. Paul where he has been since 1994.

He received his national certification in 2002 in early adolescence science.

Tim’s love of the outdoors is exemplified in his teaching style. He states, “anytime a student can be outside, they will be learning something about the world we live in.” He states that for him, teaching is a calling or a vocation, not a job. “I really find myself dedicated to my students and want to do the best I can for them. I can’t stop thinking about what and how I teach science.”

Twenty years ago, Tim envisioned a curriculum that is the heart of his classroom today. While at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (WRELC) with his students he was asked, “What would be your dream class to teach?” At that point, he never looked back.

This was the start of Environmental Inquiry Immersion, a Wolf Ridge Elective (e2). Initially, fellow staff members at Murray were suspicious of his grandiose plan and it took years before the opportunity presented itself. With the support from Wolf Ridge, U.S. Forest Service, and the St. Anthony Park Community Foundation, he was provided the staff, expertise and financial support needed to reach the students who are not given access to dreaming about careers in science in the natural setting of Minnesota.

Frustrated with the achievement gap and disenfranchised students, he had many discussions with Wolf Ridge staff and his principal who were key in allowing him to create an elective. His dream class was launched!

Throughout the school year he accompanies his 8th grade students to Wolf Ridge to help them understand how to be a scientist. Lesson plans designed by the Wolf Ridge staff include serious scientific data collection activities mixed with fun activities that get students to feel part of a team. The science is real and the team building is crucial as students get ready for a serious two-week adventure during the summer when these students are provided a world-class experience that will change their lives. At least this is what he hopes the outcomes will be. He has asked the St Paul Public School District to do more than hope. Together they are examining what these students are doing at high school, by comparing their GPA and course selections with students who have similar demographics but were not enrolled in e2. He states, “we need to see if this course and the investment is making a difference in closing the achievement gap by providing an engaging opportunity.

That opportunity started in the classroom for those eighth graders. Minnesota’s Changing Climate, a curriculum package from the Will Steger Foundation available free online, has been one of the building block for the new environmental elective. The lessons found in this resource are presented in a sequence that allows him to build between the lessons with the curriculum he felt dug deep into the process of science and into content that the students found most interesting. Focusing on the biomes of Minnesota in the beginning stayed in his students’ brains through out the year as they moved through various units on chemistry, acid rain, car emissions, biofuels, to birds and invertebrates. Lesson #1 and #2 were done in January where he made a map of Minnesota on the classroom floor and students explored some of the videos and content on the Minnesota’s Changing Climate Online Classroom. It was that point that students started their own observations of the biome outside of their school and found an area that worked for them. The Como Woodlands Outdoor Classroom (CWOC) in St. Paul’s Como Park was the site of choice for the outdoor learning.

Murray Junior High School students work at the CWOC in their Environmental Inquiry Immersion (EII or e2) class every month from January to June.

They learn what abiotic and biotic factors can be measured in the forest, and worked toward doing individual inquiry projects on these factors at Wolf Ridge later in the summer. The students continued to make additional measurements, for instance, they measured and made sketches of the buds as they start to swell, burst, and grow throughout spring. By keeping track of the dates, he can have students in the future years compare the timing of spring events. Later in the spring they do invertebrate surveys. The students will put all of their data in permanent binders in the classroom as we measure the spring greening up of Como Park. He keeps the file/binders in the classroom to keep a permanent record of things like soil temperatures, bud sketches, cloud measurements, and snow depth data recorded throughout the year. They will be available for following years to compare. The students will be able to compare this year’s winter and spring bud burst, bird counts, invertebrate counts, soil and air temperature measurements, with the winters and springs yet to come as this will be a permanent record in the classroom.

But it was the lessons from Minnesota’s Chang-

Fall 2014

15

Teacher Feature-Continued

Safety

ing Climate from the Will Steger Foundation that showed itself again at the end of the year when he was taking the students out to another potential outdoor classroom closer to their school, that he saw how much his students had learned this year.

He was really thinking out loud and asking questions as to whether this new outdoor space would offer the same functionality as the CWOC space had done all year. The students continually offered insight as to how it could be used. They made observations such as “It has areas that represent most of the different biomes of Minnesota, that would be great for future students to see.” and “there would be less CO2 emissions if you had the students walk here instead of riding a bus to CWOC.” I saw the students applying their understanding and taking ownership of the dream.

Principal Stacy Thelen-Collins states, “Tim Chase exemplifies what is needed in education today for connecting ALL students with a love for learning science. Mr Chase has a unique ability to connect with the most disenfranchised learners and instill a love for learning. He does that through persistence, relationship development and holding all learners to high levels of academic, social and behavioral expectations. It is a pleasure watching him work, seeing the students benefit from his hard work and established partnerships with the community. When learners that are in high school and beyond are reaching out to communicate their love for science that started in Tim Chase’s classroom, you know you have a committed, talented teacher on the team.”

Methane Safety

Mr. Chase working with students on rain garden design projects for the school grounds.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Issues Statement on Discovery Museum Science Demo Gone Awry On September 3, a flash fire at the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum (The Discovery) in Reno, Nevada, during a science demonstration injured a number of people, mostly children. Read the statement, http://www.idevmail.net/message. aspx?d=86&m=1463&e=gina.friedman@dem. ri.gov&r=8479069 issued by the Chair of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board Warning Against Use of Methanol During Laboratory and Classroom Combustion Demonstrations.

In the statement, CSB Chairperson Rafael MoureEraso writes, “Today I am calling on all schools, museums, and science educators to discontinue any use of bulk methanol—or other similar flammables— in lab demonstrations that involve combustion, open flames, or ignition sources. There are safer alternative ways to demonstrate the same scientific phenomena, and many teachers are already using them. Any use of methanol or other flammables should be either avoided completely or restricted to minimal amounts, which have been safely dispensed at remote locations. Bulk containers of flammable liquids must never be positioned or handled near viewing audiences, especially when there are potential ignition sources present.”

Read about the accident, http://abcnews.go.com/ US/mom-caught-childrens-museum-explosion-fire/ story?id=25239485.

NASA Recommends Discontinuation of Student Rocket Activity In 2012, an air pressurized paper rocket launcher being used by an educator failed. This launcher is described in NASA’s Rockets Educator Guide, publications EG-2011-11-223-KSC, pp. 86-90 and EG2008-05-060-KSC, pp. 86-90. NASA completed an engineering investigation into the failure and determined that the launcher, or design equivalents, should not be used. NASA has removed the launcher design from its website and its education curriculum. Individuals and organizations should immediately discontinue use of the launcher published in the referenced NASA publications. The point of contact for additional information is Diane DeTroye, NASA Office of Education, at nasaedpartners@nasa.gov. We request that your organization assist NASA in disseminating this information as widely as possible throughout the education community. This is posted on http://www.nasa.gov/ audience/foreducators/#.VBgr2Ui7nNU

16 MnSTA Newsletter

Publication No. 11176

Introduction to GHS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pictograms

Acutely toxic

Oxidizer

Gas under pressure

Burns skin Damages eyes Corrosive to metals

Explosive Self-reactive Organic peroxide

Acutely toxic (harmful), Irritant to skin, eyes or respiratory tract, Skin sensitizer

Carcinogen, Mutagen, Reproductive toxin, Respiratory sensitizer, Toxic to target organs, Toxic if aspirated

Toxic to aquatic life (optional)

Flammable, Self-reactive, Pyrophoric, Self-heating, Emits flammable gas, Organic peroxide

11176

Fall 2014 17 083012 î &#x2026; SAFETY-FAX . . .makes science teaching easier.

MnSTA History MTSA>MSTA>MnSTA – 50th Birthday on 1023-2014

By Fred Riehm, MSTA/MnSTA Member since 1964, Life Member 1990; Retired Science-Math Teacher 1991/37 years; with info from Ted Molitor, an MSTA Founder and Long-time Member.

In 1953, the Minnesota Teachers of Science Association (MTSA) was formed by Science Education professors at University of Minnesota and others and adopted a constitution. It soon died.

In summer 1963, a group of Science Teachers met for 3 days at Chuck Anderson’s lake cottage near Grand Rapids MN. They were Chuck, NorwoodYoung America; Newell Smeby, Worthington; Denny Dvergsten & Ted Molitor, Roseville; Walt Larson & Dick Myshak, MN Academy of Science (MAS); MN State Science Consultant Bob Collins; and, probably, John Lokensgaard, Hopkins. They made a Science presentation at the Fall Teachers’ Conferences that October. They met further during the 1963-64 school year and drew up a MN Science Teachers Assn (MSTA) Constitution and ByLaws.

On Friday, October 23, 1964, science teachers from throughout the State of Minnesota met and adopted a constitution forming the Minnesota Science Teachers Association. It was affiliated with the Minnesota Academy of Science, shared office space with MAS at 3100 38th Avenue South, Minneapolis, and, in fact, was a “division” of MAS. MSTA’s interim President during organization was Newell Smeby, Rochester; with Denneth Dvergsten, Roseville, 1st President; John R Crocker, Mpls, Executive Secretary; Robert Collins, MN State Science Consultant, also TC Region Rep; along with Region Reps for Central, Northern, Southwest, Southeast, plus Western in 1966.

By the way, the MN State Science Consultant is the only individual specified to be on the MSTA/ MnSTA Board, starting from the original Constitution/ ByLaws through the current one!

Region meetings were set for fall 1965 and a state-wide meeting for fall 1966.

The first full-scale MSTA Convention was held Friday, October 21, 1966, at Cooper High School, New Hope MN, 8:00-4:00. The luncheon included 1/4 chicken or fresh shrimp creole, oven brown roasted potatoes, carrots & peas, fresh dinner roll, cole slaw cup, devil’s food cake, and milk or coffee (price $2.75).

There were 3 tours ($1/tour) available from 2:004:00 pm, and a Mobile Science Laboratory Display

was available for viewing from 8:00-4:00. Four quarterly Newsletters were mailed to every Science Teacher on record in the state that school year. No dues for membership.

Bob Collins resigned as State Science Consultant in August 1967. Dick (Richard) Clark succeeded him in 1968. M.I. (Buzz) Harrigan became MAS Executive Director in 1968. He was also MSTA Executive Secretary, 1967-1987. During that time, MSTA used MAS’s same 8 Regions.

MAS collected dues for, paid expenses for, and published & mailed the MSTA Newsletter.

In 1986, MSTA’s membership had significantly exceeded MAS’s, so it was suggested that MSTA incorporate separately (a friendly spinoff).

A new Constitution was adopted May 13, 1987. MSTA incorporated as a non-profit, taxexempt corporation with the MN Secretary of State July 10, 1987, and received 501(c)(6), non-profit “professional association”, status by IRS in January, 1988. Doris Johnson was the first Executive Secretary of the newly independent MSTA, effective September, 1987.

In 1995, Medtronic Foundation gave MnSTA a $10,000 grant to be used for MnSTA Teacher of the Year (TOY) Awards. for 3 Outstanding Science Teachers: Elementary, Middle School and High School. The Medtronic Grant would allow the TOY Awards to be given for 3 years. About $3,333 per year would give each TOY a $1,000 Grant for use in her/his classroom and a plaque.

The 3-year Grant has been renewed many times by Medtronic, allowing for a continuing TOY Awards Program for MnSTA. The High School Award has been named for Doris Johnson.

When Executive Director Ed Hessler and Treasurer Fred Riehm found by talking to an IRS non-profit consultant in January, 1997, that the “Objects” in our Constitution were “self-serving” (and had been since 1953 and 1964), the Constitution was “re-stated” to its present form and adopted by the MSTA Board in April, 1997. “Restated” papers were filed with MN Secretary of State on May 9, 1997. Based on IRS Guidelines and Form 1023 filed in July 1997, IRS gave MSTA a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, Educational, Charitable classification effective August 4, 1997; so, dues, donations, registrations and other expenses became tax-deductible.

The MSTA Membership at the Fall Conference/ Annual Meeting, October 17, 1997, approved the “Restated” Constitution. The acronym became

18 MnSTA Newsletter

MnSTA History MnSTA in Summer 1998, since MN is 1 of 8 “M” states.

The MnSTA ByLaws were amended September 27, 2000, to have the President-Elect serve a 1-year term, then become President for a 2-year term and serve as Past-President for a 1-year term.

Also, MnSTA adopted the MEEP Regional Cooperative system setup used by the MN Department of Education for its Regional configuration, which included 11 Regions, with Regions 6/8 having 1 Regional Rep for the 2 Regions. In 2010, it was decided to combine Regions 1/2 to make a new “North” Region (actually NW) and enlarge NE Region 3 west to include the NE and NC areas of MN. The MnSTA ByLaws were amended in 2010, to allow for electronic voting for the biennial election of the President-Elect.

The first MSTA Spring Conference was held at Arrowwood Lodge, Alexandria MN, April 26-28, 1981, and, continued there until April 12-13, 1991, because Arrowwood could no longer handle the crowd. It was decided to have the Spring Conferences in various parts of outstate MN on a rotating basis, starting with Cragon’s, Nisswa MN, April 10-11, 1992; Rochester, May 6-8, 1993; Duluth, February 24-26, 1994; Willmar, March 30-April 1, 1995; Cragon’s, March 14-16, 1996; Mankato, March 13-15, 1997; Bemidji, March 1214, 1998; St Cloud, March 18-20, 1999; Rochester, April 13-15, 2000; Duluth, March 15-17, 2001; Willmar, April 18-20, 2002; St Cloud, April 17-19, 2003; Mankato, April16-17, 2004; April 14-16, 2005 Moorhead; March 16-18, 2006, Winona; April 19-21, 2007, Brainerd; March 27-29, 2008, Duluth; March 26-28, 2009, Rochester; (April 15-17, 2010, Willmar). They had varying degrees of success, with 300 to 1000 attendees, until 2010, when it was cancelled due to low pre-registration.

It was decided to converge the separate Subject Area Conferences held at Science Museum MN from December through April (Elementary, Biology /Life Science, Physics/Chem), MnTOPS, and discontinue the Annual Fall Conference in October, into one multifaceted mega-conference in late winter/early spring called MnCOSE (Mn Conference On Science Education) March 31-April 2, 2011, in Mankato; March 1-3, 2012, in Duluth; February 22-23, 2013, in Duluth; and, February 21-22, 2014, in Mankato.

Past Presidents of MnSTA Newell Smeby - Interim President 1964 Rochester Denneth C Dvergsten 1964-66 Frank B Kellogg Sr High - Roseville Glenn W Erickson 1966-68 Northwestern College - Roseville Ray C Weidner 1968-70 Hopkins Sr High Joseph B Michel 1970-72 Richfield Sr High Robert E Lindesmith 1972-73 Carl Sandburg School Sr Sharon Gondek 1973-74 Derham Hall High Eugene Gennaro 1974-75 University of MN E William Anderson 1975-76 Mound-Westonka High Eugene Gennaro 1976-77 University of MN Lyle Bradley 1977-78 Anoka-Hennepin Schools Theodore Molitor 1978-79 Alexander Ramsey High Gary A Greening 1979-80 Jefferson High - Bloomington Sr Lucy Knoll 1980-81 St Joseph’s Administration Ctr Charles W Anderson 1981-82 Central High - Norwood-Young America Joseph Premo 1982-83 Minneapolis Public Schools Doris E Johnson 1983-85 St Louis Park Senior High Steve Ethen 1985-86 Burnsville High Elizabeth Thornton 1986-87 Wayzata Senior High Irene Tlach 1987-88 Theodore Roosevelt High - Mpls Keith Wright 1988-89 Science Education Consultant Lois Fruen 1989-90 Breck School - Golden Valley Aletha Halcomb 1990-91 Minneapolis North High Jack Netland 1991-92 Osseo High

Kenneth Jeddeloh 1992-93 Minneapolis Public Schools David Arlander 1993-94 John Adams Junior High Rochester Karen Mason 1994-95 Lake Elmo Elementary Don Pascoe 1995-96 Osseo School District Jeff Miller 1996-97 St Peter MN High Karen Kraemer 1997-98 Willmar High Bob Shaw 1998-2000 Waseca High Jean Tushie 2000-02 Eden Prairie High Jerry Wenzel 2002-04 Central Middle School East Grand Forks John Olson 2004-06 Metropolitan State University - St Paul Marlene Schoeneck 2006-08 Parkers Prairie High School Holly Knudson 2008-10 Marshall High School Mary Colson 2010-12 Moorehead Horizon Mdl Schl Steven Walvig 2012-2014 The Bakken Museum Lee Schmitt Hamlin Univ. 2014-16

Fall 2014 19

MnSTA Board Directory

MnSTA Phone# (651)-523-2945

Below, you will find information about your MnSTA Board Members. The listing includes the board memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school (or organization), mailing address, work phone, FAX number, and e-mail address. The board wishes to make itself as accessible as possible for our members. Please feel free to contact your discipline representative, regional representative, or executive board members if you have ideas, concerns, or wish to help with the mission or operation of MnSTA. We are always looking for members who wish to serve MnSTA as Board Members, Non-Board Service Chairs or Members, and as Committee Chairs or Members.

Executive Board: Exec. Secretary

Ed Hessler

Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave. MS-A1760,

W: 651-523-2945

F: 651-523-3041

e: ehessler01@hamline.edu

St. Paul, MN 55104

President

Lee Schmitt

Hamline University

1536 Hewitt Ave. MS-A1760,

St. Paul, MN 55104

651-523-2562 lschmitt@hamline.edu Past President

Steve Walvig

W-612-926-3837X202

The Bakken

Treasurer

Joe Reymann

Retired

e: joereymann@comcast.net

DOE Science Specialist

John Olson

Dept.of Education

john.c.olson@state.mn.us 651-582-8673

F: 612-927-7265

3537 Zenith Ave. S

Minneapolis, MN 55416

e:walvig@thebakken.org

Discipline Directors: Biology

Nancy Orr-Johnson

Humboldt Secondary 30 E. Baker St.

St. Paul, MN 55107

W:763-242-4649 nancy.orr@spps.org Chemistry

Carolyn Fruin

Eastview High School

612-801-0384 cfruin65@gmail.com

Earth Science

Kate Rosok

612-280-245 kate.rosok@mpls.k12.mn.us

Minneapolis Public Schools

Elementary/Greater MN Nicole Christofferson-Weston Menahga Public Schools

216 Aspen Ave;

Menahga, MN 56464

218-564-4141X477 e:nchristofferson@menahga.k12.mn.us Elementary/Metro

Polly Saatzer Garlough Environmental Magnet 1740 Charlton St. W:651-552-0094 paulette.saatzer@isd197.org

Higher Ed

Dr. Melanie Reap Winona State University 152 Gildemeister Hall Winona, MN 55987 507-313-9114 mreap@winona.edu

Informal Ed

Larry Thomas

SMM

West St. Paul, MN 55118

120 W. Kellogg Blvd

St. Paul, MN 55102

W: 651-221-4507

e: lthomas@smm.org

Newsletter

Jerry Wenzel

Retired

e: jerrywenzel@brainerd.net

Physics

Paul Lulai

St. Anthony Village High School 3303 33rd Ave

St. Anthony, MN 55418

W:612-964-5374 plulai@stanthony.12.mn.us Private Schools

Carolyn Ocampo

612-300-4321 cpfocampo@gmail.com

Webmaster

Eric Koser 507-387-3461 x 322

Mankato West H.S. F: 507-345-1502

1351 S. Riverfront Dr. e: ekoser@chartermi.net

Mankato, MN 56001 W:

Region Representatives: Region 1&2: North

Josh Tharaldson

Marshall County Central HS

310 W. Minnesota Ave.

Newfolden, MN 56738

218-874-7225 e:jtharaldson@mccfreeze.org Region 1&2: North

Michael Urban

Bemidji State University

1500 Birchmont Dr.

Bemidji, MN 56601

218-775-3782 murban@bemidjistate.edu Region 3: Northeast

Elizabeth Kersting-Peterson Piedomont Elementary 2827 Chambersburg Ave.

W:218-336-8950 X 2759

F:218-336-8954

Region 4: Westcentral TJ Schmitt

Duluth, MN 55811

supersciencefriday@gmail.com 302 3rd St. SE

Barnsville, MN 56514

701-388-3901 e:tschmitt@barnesville.k12.mn.us

20

MnSTA Newsletter

Region 5: Northcentral Marie Zettel

Aitkin High School

306 2nd St. SW

W 218-927-2115 X 3313

Region 6: Southcentral Mary Morgan

Aitkin, MN 56431

e:mariezettel@yahoo.com

Minnesota Valley Learning Center1313 E. Black Oak Ave.

Montevideo, MN 56365

320-269-7131 mmorgan@montevideoschools.org Region 7: Eastcentral

Kari Dombrovski

W:320-251-7551X5127 Region 8: Southcentral Mary Morgan

Talahi Community School 1321 University Dr. SE F:320-529-4339

St. Cloud, MN 56304

kari.dombrovski@isd742.org

Minnesota Valley Learning Center1313 E. Black Oak Ave.

Montevideo, MN 56365

320-269-7131 mmorgan@montevideoschools.org Region 9: South

Dana Smith W:507-232-3461X4114

Nicolette Public School 1 Pine St. e: dana.smith@isd507.k12.mn.us

Nicollet, MN 56047

Region 10: Southeast

Sharie Furst

Kasson-Mantorville Elemementary 604 16th St. NE

Kasson, MN 55944

507-319-4781 s.furst@komets.k12.mn.us

Region 11: Metro

Betsey Stretch

612-240-9120 elizabeth.stretch@mpls.k12.mn.us

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 Broadway

Minneapolis, MN 55411

Ancillary Positions: Database

Mark Lex 55416

Benilde-St. Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2501 Hwy 100 S W: 952-927-4176 F: 952-920-8889

Historian/Parlimentarian Fred Riehm

Retired â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;91

NSTA Dist. IX Director

Horizon MS

Mary Colson

St. Louis Park, MN e: marklex@umn.edu

frriehm@centurylink.net 3601 12th Ave. So.

Moorhead, MN 56560

W: 218-284-7300 mcolson@moorhead.k12.mn.us Conference Coordinator Jean Tushie

Eden Prairie High School

F 952-975-8020

W 952-975-4347

17185 Valley View Rd Eden Prairie, N 55346

e jtushie@edenpr.org

jtushie@comcast.net

Events Calendar If you have events you want placed on the calendar, send them to the editor - see page 2 for deadlines, address, etc.

Conferences / Workshops Minnesota Conference, October 18, 2014, River Centre, St. Paul.

MnCOSE Minnesota Conference on Science Education Feb. 20-21, 2015 Verizon Center in Mankato NSTA STEM Forum, May 20-23, 2015, Minneapolis.

NSTA Regional Conference, October 27-29, 2016, Minneapolis.

Fall 2014

21

9

Minnesota Science Teachers Association, Inc. Hamline University MS MS-A1760 1536 Hewitt Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104

Non-Porfit Org U.S. Postage PAID

Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 4197

MnSTA Regions

MnSTA Membership Application Form

Join the Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA), the professional organization whose primary goal is the advancement of science education. Mail this form along with your check to: MnSTA, Hamline University MS - A1760, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Home

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q New Member

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Rates (Check one): q Basic Membership ...................... $25 q First Year Teacher ...................... $15 q Retired Teacher .......................... $15 q Pre-service Student .................... $10 q Life Membership: to age 35 ..... $400 age 36-50 ... $300 over 50 ........ $200

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Indicate the grade level you work with: level: q Elementary (K-6) q College/University q Middle/Jr. High School (6-9) q Informal Ed q High School (9-12) Choose up to three discipline mailing lists: q Elementary q Earth Science q Life Science q Physical Science

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