During the COVID-19 crisis, many people are looking for helpful resources to support learning away from brick-and-mortar school buildings. Engaging in safe, meaningful science learning can be done in homes, neighborhoods, and in online/virtual learning environments.

The resources below were developed by members of the Council of State Science Supervisors (CoSSS). Each resource is guided by a focus on equity and is framed through a lens of socio-emotional health. They might be useful to educators and educational leaders to help chart the course in these very uncertain times.

NEW! Long-Term Supports for Extended School Closures

• Supporting Equitable Home-Based Science Teaching and Learning During Extended School Closures
• Phenomena: Not Just for the Classroom (for Families)
• Continuing Science at Home with Science Notebooks (for Families)
• Pass the Science Please: Science Talk Moves (for Families)

Immediate Supports

• Overview:  Supporting Science Learning
• Advice for Families
• Advice for Students
• Sample Learning Menu

Additional versions of the family and student resources are available in a variety of languages (Arabic, Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalong, and Tongan) through the STEM Teaching Tools website:  http://stemteachingtools.org/news/2020/guidance-for-supporting-science-learning-during-covid-19

These resources will continue to be updated over time, and others are in active development.  Once complete, they'll be hosted on the STEM Teaching Tools website above.

The Iowa Department of Education has collected a variety of resources to support student learning during the COVID-19 crisis.  The optional linked resources are intended for use by families, educators, and/or students to support enrichment and/or continuity of learning.  Most were created and made available through sources other than the Department, and the Department does not endorse any specific curriculum or resources.  Resources linked may or may not be aligned to specific coursework.

Elementary (Grades K-5)

• Notice and Wonder Walks: Learn about the World Around You
• STEM Activities for Kids - Science Buddies
• Virtual Science Education Resources - Phenomena for NGSS

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• Celebrate Urban Birds - Cornell Lab of Orinthology - Cornell University
• PBS LearningMedia: Science
• Scientific American
• Skype a Scientist
• Virtual Science Education Resources - Phenomena for NGSS

High School (Grades 9-12)

• Festival Expo Videos - USA Science and Engineering Festival
• NSTA Daily Do - National Science Teaching Association
• Virtual Chemistry and Simulations - American Chemical Society
• What's Going on in This Graph? - Nebraska Edition - Science Literacy Initiative at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Need some suggestions for summer reading?  Look no further!  Check out the following ideas to jump-start your professional learning calendar.

Online readings (may require free sign-up):
Creating a system of professional learning that meets teachers’ needs
William R. Penuel, Philip Bell, and Tiffany Neill
April 27, 2020
via: Phi Delta Kappan

The Art of Making Science Accessible and Relevant to All Students
By Catherine Gewertz
March 5, 2020
via:  EdWeek

Book suggestions:
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen
by Dan Heath

Ambitious Science Teaching
by Mark Windschitl, Jessica Thompson, and Melissa Braaten

These online modules have been designed to help with the learning targets for years one and two of the Iowa Science Standards implementation. These modules can be used as stand-alone pieces for learning about the specific topic, or you can follow the suggested pathway to engage with all of the learning goals established for Iowa's implementation of our new science standards.

These online courses are available at no cost to Iowa district and AEA employees.

Visit https://training.aealearningonline.org/catalog.php, and click on the "Science" link under "Subjects" in the navigation menu.

It's time for the final Twitter chat of the school year!  Join us on Tuesday, May 19th at 7:30pm for focused, online professional learning and networking. Twitter chats will last 45-60 minutes and allow Iowa science teachers to connect with colleagues both in-state and nationally.

May 19 - Phenomenon-based teaching & learning, with special guest Tiffany Morgan from Iowa PBS

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium wants to share a collection of virtual field trips that NASA has compiled.  These focus on taking students inside NASA's Commercial Crew Program and can be accessed here:  https://www.nasa.gov/feature/virtual-field-trips-take-students-inside-nasa-s-commercial-crew-program/