Cool Science Experiments for Kids

There are a bunch of really cool science experiment websites for kids these days.  One site called The Dad Lab, posted a video on Facebook that I thought was worth sharing.  It is a walking water science experiment that is a fun and easy way to engage children to learn.  It shows them how capillary action works and the results are immediate.  It’s such a fun way to teach kids STEAM, and with Valentine’s Day coming up, why not make it a heart shaped experiment. Grow the LOVE of Science with this colorful and fun experiment that everyone will enjoy!

Not on Facebook,  try these website that have similar walking water experiments for kids. 

funlearningforkids.com       

www.thebestideasforkids.com      

scienceexplorers.com  

coolscienceexperimentshq.com        

www.scientificamerican.com

www.craftymorning.com      

www.pbs.org

PESI PD Committee Feb. 6, 2021 Meeting Update

The PESI PD Committee will be meeting Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 1:00 – 3:45 PM at the Reid Park Zoo.  The committee will be working on proposal writing for TUSD Summer PD Science Workshops.  Contact Caryl Crowell  at carylc49@comcast.net to add your name to the list of PESI PD proposal writing participants.  Interested participants can also attend virtually through a Zoom link, but will need a regular Zoom license (a current TUSD member) to set up a Zoom session for the group.

In person attendees must wear a mask.  Please plan to arrive at the front gate of the zoo by 12:55 PM to check in with Caryl.  Michaela, our zoo contact person, will meet everyone at the gate at 1:00 PM to take the PESI group to the CLC – Conservation Learning Classroom which is the upper floor of the newer building in the back near the flamingos.  PESI has the room from 1:00 – 3:45 PM.  PESI PD Committee participants will have access to roam the zoo for free if we finish early. The zoo closes at 4:00 PM.

There were lots of great ideas submitted.  We hope the following compilations honor everyone’s input.  Please come prepared to write proposals for the topics listed below.  We’ll plan for in-person workshops, and adapt to virtual if necessary.

  1. Cross-cutting Concepts for Grade Level Bands, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 (three distinct workshops) – we would use investigations from FOSS modules to illustrate the Cross Cutting Concepts

  2. Science and Engineering Practices for Grade Level Bands, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 (three distinct workshops) we would use investigations from FOSS modules to illustrate the practices

  3. Integrating Science and Literacy in Grade ____ (a separate workshop for each grade level K-5). We would pull investigations from new FOSS modules if those are not being addressed by FOSS representatives, or use the old FOSS modules that have significant gaps that we can help fill.

“We the People” Virtual UofA Summer Institute Opportunity for K-12 Educators

We the People: Migrant Waves in the Making of America, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a two-week live online virtual professional opportunity for K-12 educators, hosted by the University of Arizona and Worlds of Worlds Center of Global Literacies and Literatures (wowlit.org). Through children’s, young adult, and adult literature, historical records, artifacts and film, participants will explore the stories, histories and contributions of underrepresented groups to U.S history. Participants will also interact with visiting scholars and children’s and young adult authors to learn from their processes of research. We will study Arizona to understand the influence of continuous waves of migrants on the making of America. By engaging in humanities research within this case study and then applying these strategies to their own states, participants will gain knowledge and experiences to support curricular planning for their own educational contexts. 
The institute will be held virtually June 21-July 2, 2020 and participants will receive a $2,200 stipend, 10 books and other curricular materials. If you have any questions, contact us by email at NEH2021@email.arizona.edu. Please see our website (https://wethepeople.coe.arizona.edu/) for more information and to apply. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021, and the institute directors are Drs. Carol Brochin, Leah Durán and Kathy Short.