K-12 Partnership Summer 2020 Update

We hear you and we are here to help.  Per your survey results, we will be hosting the Summer Institute and sharing outdoor activities (below) for you to share with students and families!  

Summer Institute

We are hosting it online!  There will thrilling science talks, sessions for you to choose from and time to connect with each other and share ideas.  We are currently finalizing the schedule and speakers. 
Save the dates, June 23-25, 2020!  Event details and registration link coming soon.  The workshop will be coordinated by the summer 2020 Science Education and Outreach Fellows, Lindsey Kemmerling and Kyle Jaynes.

Outdoor activities to share with your students and families!  

1. All ages/family: KBS Nature Challenge, a series of videos hosted on Flipgrid and Facebook that you can share with families.  Or use my scripts/ideas to create your own challenges - email, Kara Haas, to have access to the planning documents. 
2. Middle/High school: Backyard Evolution activities, a curated lesson plan by Ava Garrison, KBS Science Education and Outreach Fellow

Book Study for Elementary Teachers, What's Your Evidence?

Are you looking for more training for this summer? Pierce Cedar Creek Institute will be hosting an Elementary Science Book Study group studying What’s Your Evidence? 

We will be meeting virtually on Mondays and Wednesdays from July 6 until August 3. This will be a fairly small training with other elementary science teachers. There are two time options available to choose from 2:30-4pm or 7-8:30pm. The training includes a copy of the book, 12 SCECHs, and a $200 stipend.

KBS is able to cover the cost of the book, stipend and SCECHs for 4 K-12 Partnership teachers to participate.  Please email Sara Syswerda (syswerdas@cedarcreekinstitute.org) and Kara Haas (karahaas@msu.edu) to reserve your spot by June 5, or just email Sara if you have questions. 


 

Summer 2020 Research Experiences for Teachers

We are excited to announce that 4th grade teachers, Britney Christensen and Gabe Knowles, from Ealy Elementary in Whitehall, MI will work with Dr. Doug Landis to roll out the reGrow Milkweed for Monarchs: Citizen Science Project this summer.  

Research experiences for teachers or RETs are authentic research experiences that pair a classroom teacher with a scientist.  We are so delighted that the National Science Foundation, as part of the KBS Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Program, has funded this two year project, “Harnessing disturbance to enhance monarch butterfly conservation”. 
 
Gabe and Britney are active participants in the LTER supported, KBS K-12 Partnership and first came to KBS to participate in the Teaching Science Outdoors professional development program for K-5 teachers.  They are excellent classroom teachers that have embraced the Next Generation Science Standards to challenge themselves and their students to learn more about the natural world.  Through their RET experience they will grow as scientists and teachers and be able to bring stories, lessons, experimental design and questions back to their students.  The generous funding and timeline will give them time to develop information and lessons for their classrooms.  In partnership with Kara Haas and the KBS K-12 Partnership they will serve as teachers leaders and share the lessons created and lessons learned with peers.

Gabe and Britney, have a great summer and we can't wait for you to share your experiences with us at Fall Workshop!

Covid-19 Update

In cooperation with Governor Whitmer’s executive order, and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we’ve canceled or postponed in-person events across all of KBS indefinitely.  Details on the Covid-19 Crisis from Michigan State University.

Summer will be here soon!

We miss you all and know that this has been a very difficult spring.  We are all looking forward to summer and the freedoms it brings.

Be well.

Kara, Misty, Lindsey and Kyle