Online resources for science and global content
The DuPont Challenge has two primary objectives: to help increase science literacy among students and to motivate them to excel in communicating ideas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students may write a 700 to 1,000-word essay that addresses a topic of their interest within our four categories of challenges. We invite and encourage you to take part by bringing The DuPont Challenge into your classroom, and giving your students the opportunity to benefit from this experience. This is another national competition that is less class time intensive and can have more of a global feel to it than the Exploravision. There are 4 areas that student can write essays: Food, Energy, Protection and Innovation.
National Geographic is a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. Working to inspire, illuminate and teach, National Geographic reaches more than 700 million people a month through its media platforms, products, events and experiences.
Each year, the Society funds more than 300 research, conservation and exploration projects around the globe. This is a resource that is current and up to date on current events and happening around the world. I like that they address a wide range of topics and bring a wealth of cultural views to my classroom.
National Geographic focuses on:
• Our Human Story: Exploring where we came from, how we live today and where we may find ourselves tomorrow;
• Critical Species: Revealing, celebrating and helping protect the diverse creatures that share our world;
• Our Living Planet: Understanding the intricate and interconnected systems of our changing world;
• New Frontiers: Searching for the “new” and the “next” — using the latest technology and science to visit places no one has ever been and find answers no one has ever found.
Each year, the Society funds more than 300 research, conservation and exploration projects around the globe. This is a resource that is current and up to date on current events and happening around the world. I like that they address a wide range of topics and bring a wealth of cultural views to my classroom.
National Geographic focuses on:
• Our Human Story: Exploring where we came from, how we live today and where we may find ourselves tomorrow;
• Critical Species: Revealing, celebrating and helping protect the diverse creatures that share our world;
• Our Living Planet: Understanding the intricate and interconnected systems of our changing world;
• New Frontiers: Searching for the “new” and the “next” — using the latest technology and science to visit places no one has ever been and find answers no one has ever found.
Natural Disasters: Cause and Effect
One of the best ways to use non fiction texts is with current events. Natural Disasters always seem to be engaging and (sadly) can often be found in world current events. ReadWriteThink.org has excellent resources and lessons plans. This lesson on Cause and Effect by Exploring Natural Disasters caught my eye because writing about cause and effect can be difficult for any learner. Even organizing sequential events and writing paragraphs can be tough! When using this lesson, the teacher-author provides plenty of titles and books about natural disasters; for a global ed spin, try to discuss a recent natural disaster that is occurring (or recently occurred) in another part of the world. You may even have students with connections to this country or region! Not sure where to look for recent natural disasters, Recent Natural Disasters has an interactive map that is updated regularly with events worldwide.
One of the best ways to use non fiction texts is with current events. Natural Disasters always seem to be engaging and (sadly) can often be found in world current events. ReadWriteThink.org has excellent resources and lessons plans. This lesson on Cause and Effect by Exploring Natural Disasters caught my eye because writing about cause and effect can be difficult for any learner. Even organizing sequential events and writing paragraphs can be tough! When using this lesson, the teacher-author provides plenty of titles and books about natural disasters; for a global ed spin, try to discuss a recent natural disaster that is occurring (or recently occurred) in another part of the world. You may even have students with connections to this country or region! Not sure where to look for recent natural disasters, Recent Natural Disasters has an interactive map that is updated regularly with events worldwide.
What is ExploraVision?
The ExploraVision competition for K-12 students engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology.
ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. A teacher will sponsor and lead his/her students as they work in groups of 2 – 4 to simulate real research and development. A teacher will guide his or her students as they pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. Past winners have envisioned technologies ranging from a hand-held food allergen detector to a new device to help people who have lost limbs regain movement in real time. To download an ExploraVision brochure, please click here.
Who can participate?ExploraVision is designed for K – 12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels. The competition is open to students enrolled in public, private or home school in the United States and Canada. See our full eligibility requirements here.
- See more at: http://www.exploravision.org/what-exploravision#sthash.7Dm0adc0.dpuf. I for one have encouraged my science students to compete. It does take time and some preparation on your part but the rewards are well worth it. This is a great opportunity for science student to look at the world in which they live and look for ways to make change. If you approach this competition with the focus on a global issue or global technology you will help you student to think outside of the world that the live in and start thinking about the world and maybe how to solve some to the issues that we are facing.
The ExploraVision competition for K-12 students engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology.
ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. A teacher will sponsor and lead his/her students as they work in groups of 2 – 4 to simulate real research and development. A teacher will guide his or her students as they pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. Past winners have envisioned technologies ranging from a hand-held food allergen detector to a new device to help people who have lost limbs regain movement in real time. To download an ExploraVision brochure, please click here.
Who can participate?ExploraVision is designed for K – 12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels. The competition is open to students enrolled in public, private or home school in the United States and Canada. See our full eligibility requirements here.
- See more at: http://www.exploravision.org/what-exploravision#sthash.7Dm0adc0.dpuf. I for one have encouraged my science students to compete. It does take time and some preparation on your part but the rewards are well worth it. This is a great opportunity for science student to look at the world in which they live and look for ways to make change. If you approach this competition with the focus on a global issue or global technology you will help you student to think outside of the world that the live in and start thinking about the world and maybe how to solve some to the issues that we are facing.
How Teachers Can Help Send Their Students to Mars
As new reports of water on Mars continue to unfold, NASA also reminded us that they’re working toward conducting the first manned mission to the red planet by 2030. Assuming NASA stays on track, and going off the average age of astronauts in the organization’s history, plus the four-year travel time it would take to reach the surface of our little galactic neighbor, that means that the future Mars explorer could very well be…a high school sophomore. See for more information https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars
As new reports of water on Mars continue to unfold, NASA also reminded us that they’re working toward conducting the first manned mission to the red planet by 2030. Assuming NASA stays on track, and going off the average age of astronauts in the organization’s history, plus the four-year travel time it would take to reach the surface of our little galactic neighbor, that means that the future Mars explorer could very well be…a high school sophomore. See for more information https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars
Asia Society-- in collaboration with EdSteps and NEA-- have produced a series of matrices to measure global competence in each content area. The document below starts with Asia Society's General Global Ed matrix, but then goes through each major content area. The matrix for science can be found on page 6. You can also read their document online here. This is a great resource to use to measure student level of involvement in global education in each of the content areas.
Juniata College has been working with its faculty to create a uniform grading rubric that can be used to assess how students have been able to make connections between the area/region in which they live and the world around them. This rubric allows teachers to justify in writing the knowledge, attitude and skills that students have gained over the course of a lesson or even over a year long class. It can also be used to measure the growth of students throughout their high school career.
OXFAM is aimed at teachers in all subjects, and across all age groups, they have recently updated and revamped global citizenship guides introduce the key elements of Oxfam's Curriculum for Global Citizenship, as well as providing case studies outlining best practice in the classroom, activities that can be adapted for use in many curriculum areas, and resources for further reading. The OXFAM site is geared to help teachers focus on global issues and help students build qualities necessary to be global citizens. Along with this there are assessment tool for the classroom to help measure student growth and understanding.
Global Education Unit Plan
As part of my coursework for the TGC program, I had to create a unit plan for my students and school. My unit focuses connecting students with their family history and the prevalence of genetic diseases based on the country of origin. In this unit student will focus on finding genetic diseases that are likely to be passed on from one generation to the next. The will search for genetic disease that are common to their ethnic background and look for possible cures/treatments for the diseases. Students will share with the class what they have discovered and make a public service announcement to share the other members of their family what they have learned and the possible dangers they may face.
Below is the Understanding by Design (UbD) unit plan and accompanying lesson plan.
Below is the Understanding by Design (UbD) unit plan and accompanying lesson plan.
unit_1_cap_stone_combination.docx | |
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