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STEM News and Events
Greetings!
From the Bay Area Science Festival to Cirque Des Science at Berkeley Labs, the fall is booming with STEM events in our region. Don't forget to review our calendar at for updates. Check out the STEM contests, resources, and programs for students and educators.
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California joins 19 other states in developing the Next Generation of Science Standards
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Recently, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that California had been chosen as one of 20 states to lead a nationwide effort to develop the next generation of science standards for public schools.
"From our universities to our laboratories, California has always led the way in science and technology, so it's only fitting that we help craft the next generation of science lessons for students," Torlakson said. "Having a hand in shaping these standards will give other states the benefit of our success as a technology leader, and give California's education system and our own students a leg up in preparing for their futures in a science and tech-savvy world."
The 20 lead-state partners selected to develop the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. NGSS will clearly articulate the science standards, defined as the educational content and practices students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school.
For more information about the NGSS, please visit the Achieve website.
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Student Resources, Events, and Competitions
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Berkeley Lab's Cirque Des Sciences Open House
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, step right up to experience amazing feats of cutting-edge science at Cirque Des Sciences, Berkeley Lab's Open House on Saturday, October 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A three-ring circus under the big top, surrounded by nearly an acre of booths, will feature exhibits on nanotechnology, energy efficiency and conservation, climate change, solar cells, biofuels, batteries, physics, chemistry, and much more. Costumed stilt walkers and jugglers will roam the grounds to delight and entertain guests. The event also includes tours, hands-on learning activities, lectures, entertainment, food, and henna-hand painters. The event is free, but registration is required. All visitors will need a printout of their registration confirmation in order to enter the event.
Visit the Open House website for more information and to register.
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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest
Participating students (grades 5-12) can work alone or in groups, of up to four members, to create an essay about one of three possible imaging targets (Saturn's moons: Hyperion; Rhea & Titan; or Saturn). The 500-word-maximum essay must justify their choice as to which would potentially yield the best science. Winners are invited to participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists and engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and winning essays are posted on NASA's Cassini website. The contest meets national science and English education standards. All entrants receive a certificate of participation. The contest deadline is noon (pacific time) October 26, 2011.
For more information, visit the contest's website.
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Free Math Contest
A free math contest for Contra Costa County schools is being offered on the Sumdog website from Oct 17 to Oct 27.
To review a recorded informational webinar session, visit this website.
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The 2012 Northern California Western Nevada
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
High school students, teachers, and parents are invited to participate in the Regional Symposium, which will be held March 8-10, 2012, hosted by the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey.
Participants will:
- Hear nationally renowned scientists speak on their work
- Visit university, corporate and government research facilities
- Meet informally with university students and research scientists
- Talk with peers who have the same interests
- Hear research presentations by other students
It is not necessary for a school or family group to have a student presenter to attend and participate in the symposium and all activities! Lodging, meals, and symposium activities will be provided for all participants for a one time group registration fee of $100. All meals and activities including the student paper presentations will be held at the hotel.
If you think you might be interested in participating and/or would like to learn more about the Symposium, please download and submit the Indication of Interest Form.
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The Reel Math Challenge
The Reel Math Challenge is a new online competition for students in grades 6-8 that encourages student innovation as they create and star in their own math videos. This free competition, sponsored by MATHCOUNTS and the Department of Defense, is designed to excite students about math, while allowing them to hone their creativity and communication skills.
To participate in this free competition, students form teams of four and must utilize technology to create videos based on one of the math problems included in the MATHCOUNTS School Handbook.
The videos will be posted to the Reel Math Challenge website, and the top videos will win prizes, e.g., electronic gadgets, scholarships, and all-expenses paid trips to Orlando. Videos will be judged on a variety of criteria: creativity, originality, mathematical accuracy, and adherence to time guidelines.
Video submissions are due by February 1. Visit their website, for more details.
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The Inaugural Northern California Solar Regatta
All middle and high schools in Northern California (north of Fresno) are invited to participate in this special event, which will be held on May 18, at the Lake at the Rancho Seco Recreational Area.
The Northern Solar Regatta (NCSR) is a water race where 7-12 grade student teams design, build, and compete with solar-powered boats. This event is being sponsored by Sacramento Municipal Utilities District's (SMUD) Energy and Technology Center, Community Solar Program and is also supported by the San Joaquin Office of Education.
During the school year leading up to the event, students will utilize SMUD-loaned solar modules to design and build the solar boats. On race day, students will compete in sprint, distance, and slalom races as well as be eligible for other awards which will judged on creativity, design and efficiency.
To enroll and request a copy of the rules and regulations, please contact Suzette Bienvenue DelBono at (916) 532-0084.
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Bay Area Science Festival: Unleash Your Inner Scientist
More than 200 science, technology, and engineering organizations from across the Bay Area will present the fun and excitement of science, through hands-on and interactive exhibits, science-themed performances and demonstrations, and family-oriented entertainment. The Bay Area Science Festival will also be offering three Discovery Days events (10/29, at Cal State East Bay-Hayward; 11/05, at Infineon Raceway; and Festival Finale 11/06, at AT&T Park).
For more information, visit their website.
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Teacher Events, Curriculum. and Professional Development
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The International Reading Association (IRA) Award for Technology and Reading
The award honors educators in grades K-12 who are making an outstanding and innovative contribution to the use of technology in reading education. There will be one grand-prize winner, seven U.S. regional winners, one Canadian, and one international winner. All entrants must be educators who work directly with students ages 5-18 for all or part of the working day. The submission deadline is November 15
For more information and to apply, visit their website.
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The Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME) Summer Fellowship Program
This program places K-16 teachers of all subjects into high-performance work sites for the summer. Teachers complete a project for their sponsors and are paid $8,200 for their work. Teachers also spend time focusing on ways to transfer their Summer Fellowship experience back to their students and colleagues. In the past 27 years, IISME has offered 2,970 Summer Fellowships to teachers from 650 schools in 122 districts.
Applications for the 2012 Summer Fellowship Program will be available in November. Please their website for more information.
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Get Biotech Smart
In its ongoing efforts to educate the public on issues and concerns facing the agricultural marketplace, United Soybean Board has produced the Get Biotech Smart website to provide biotechnology information and tools to teachers and students (grades 6-12). This web portal is designed to address the questions around biotechnology and generate corresponding discussions through video podcasts, e-learning modules, a teacher forum, and other e-resources.
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Podcasts, Webinars, and other STEM Resources
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This award-winning-online publication dedicated to children 9-14, their parents, and their teachers. Science News for Kids offers timely, interesting news stories and features, accompanied by suggestions for hands-on activities, books, articles, and web resources.
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On-line texts for Grades 6-College
CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit seeking to reduce the cost of textbook materials for K-12 education. Check out the extensive library of open-content, web-based FlexBooks. Topics include, math, science, SAT prep, and engineering.
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The CCCOE STEM enews is published regularly, highlighting news, events, and resources that enhance STEM education for all students. If you received the STEM enews from a colleague, please join our mailing list to continue receiving updates. This publication does not signify the Contra Costa County Office of Education endorses the event or program mentioned.
For more information regarding CCCOE STEM, please visit our website.
Sincerely,
Hilary Haugen Dito
CCCOE STEM Coordinator
Associate Superintendent, Pamela Comfort, Ed.D.
925-942-3358
STEM Coordinator, Hilary Haugen Dito
925-942-3396
Published by the Communications Office of the Contra Costa County Office of Education
Layout/Design, Diane Morrell; Web Developer, Robin Wood;
Writer/Media Relations, Jonathan Lance
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