North Carolina Aquarium Scholars Grants Available Application Deadline is September 6, 2024– Apply Now!

 Bring the SEA to your STUDENTS!

 Are you ready to transform your students’ learning experience with immersive STEM programs from the North Carolina Aquariums or Jennette’s Pier – all at little to no cost to your school?

Aquarium Scholars is an innovative partnership between the NC Aquariums, NC public schools, and the NC Aquarium Society. Thanks to generous private donors, Title I eligible schools across the state can access exciting Aquarium education programs that elevate students’ understanding and appreciation of our aquatic environments. From the mountains to the shore, there is a program tailored to the needs of every classroom.

Teachers from Title I eligible schools can apply to receive a grant for:

•  Class Visit/Field Trip – Transport your students to get “face to fin” with incredible marine life during a visit to one of the three NC Aquariums (Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island, Fort Fisher) or Jennette’s Pier, creating connections they will never forget.
• Outreach Program – Aquarium educators will travel to your classroom to bring the “beach within reach” through hands-on activities and ambassador animal encounters.
• Distance Learning – Students will “dive in” from their desks to a live, virtual program led by an Aquarium educator where they can meet amazing animals and explore aquatic habitats.

The Application Period is OPEN NOW and closes Sept. 6, 2024. Don’t let this opportunity swim by!

K-8 educators in this cohort receive lesson plan materials, personalized support from water education coaches, and connect with other educators across the state during monthly online Zoom calls!

 Anyone can use the NC Stream Watch tool to share their observations of nearby streams.

We look forward to forming our next cohort with passionate and curious participants! No prior experience necessary- our goal is to support you and your interest in learning about water resources, water resource management, and water quality.  Participants will be selected based on their need for water education support, interest in utilizing Stream Watch activities, and ability to utilize the NC Stream Watch tool on a monthly basis.

You do NOT need a stream on your campus, but it is helpful to at least be able to walk out to a drainage ditch or retention pond (because there are some good learning opportunities going on there, too!).

What kind of time commitment is expected?

• We will offer monthly live webinars after school, usually from 3:30-4:30.
• Participants will be expected to try out a couple of NC Stream Watch lessons & activities and offer written reflections to the group.
• Between webinars, participants will be provided with a homework assignment and reflection offered through Canvas, an online LMS. This usually takes about 1 hour to complete.
• Participants will be strongly encouraged to join NC Stream Watch (which anyone can do) by creating an “NC Stream Watch Group”, claiming a stream, and sharing observations of that stream throughout the cohort.

Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to having you apply! Feel free to reach out to me (lauren.daniel@deq.nc.gov) directly with any questions.

Teacher-Student Initiative 

Economic Sustainability: Empowering the Next Generation of Global Problem-Solvers

For NC High School and Early College Educators

In-Person and Virtual Program | $1000 Stipend

The Teacher-Student Initiative is a program designed for North Carolina high school and early college teachers who are interested in infusing their classrooms with global learning. During the 2024-2025 program, educators from diverse subject areas, from pre-calculus and history to fine arts and foods, will work with UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Arv Malhotra (Kenan-Flagler Business School) to strengthen their understanding of Economic Sustainability: Empowering the Next Generation of Global Problem-Solvers and make connections to educators’ STEAM specialties. This year's theme will provide students with the opportunity to study economic sustainability in Kenya and work together with others to take steps to solve problems.

Educators will connect this research with their STEAM specialties and work alongside the TSI assistant director, faculty, and peers to design a lesson plan that puts that learning into action in their classrooms. UNC World View Students Day will allow students to engage directly with Prof. Arv Malhotra virtually. 

Educators will also receive one-on-one coaching with the Assistant Director for the Teacher-Student Initiative, professional development and UNC resources, a stipend of $1000, and up to 3.0 CEUS or 30 PDCH.

Applications close September 12, 2024.

UNC World View K-12 Global Education Symposium

Opening Classrooms to the World

For K-12 and Early College Educators

October 10 | 8:30 AM-4:30 PM ET | Friday Conference Center, Chapel Hill, NC

The 2024 K-12 Global Education Symposium, Opening Classrooms to the World, will set a foundation for interdisciplinary global learning in schools and districts across North Carolina and beyond. To prepare students to thrive in our interconnected world, plenary talks and smaller sessions will spark innovation, examine global issues, and build global competencies in educators.

The program will support classroom teachers, support personnel, and school and district administrators as they develop or advance global education in their schools and districts. Participants will gain new knowledge, strategies, and resources that support curricula and global programs that open classrooms to the world. All educators are encouraged to come with a team and enjoy a great day of learning and networking!

A limited number of registration scholarships are available. Contact worldview@unc.edu to request a scholarship.

It might be back-to-school time, but at least that means it’s time for our annual Educator Open House! Come celebrate eleven years of our fantastic SciREN Triangle partnership with us on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 6:00-8:30pm. Free pizza and beverages is on us!

Join us for this special information exchange night just for educators! This live, in-person event will feature local scientists, Museum educators and partner organizations showcasing their lesson plans and resources/opportunities in a relaxed environment. Learn about new programs and field trips, outreach and virtual programs and professional development opportunities. Through a partnership with SciREN (Scientific Research and Education Network), meet local scientists ready to distribute curriculum-centered lessons based on their current research! This is an excellent way to rejuvenate teaching methods, integrate relevant and real science into student learning, and reach out into the community.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Free: Lily’s pizza dinner and beverages
• Free: curriculum-correlated K–12 lesson plans related to NC based scientific research! (including digital access)
• Opportunities to talk 1:1 with scientists (and have them come to your classrooms)
• Information about program offerings from the Museum and other partner organizations
• Take a tour of the Museum’s galleries and exhibits
• Learn about upcoming professional development opportunities.
• Enter your name in raffles for amazing prizes!

EVENT INFORMATION

FREE, but registration is required.

Location: NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Nature Exploration Center —  Directions and Parking (parking is free!)

Are you ready for this year’s NASA TechRise Student challenge? From researching Earth’s environment to designing experiments for space exploration, schools are invited to join NASA in its mission to inspire the world through discovery. If you are in sixth to 12th grade at a U.S. public, private, or charter school – including those in U.S. territories – your challenge is to team up with your schoolmates and develop a science or technology experiment idea for this year’s NASA TechRise flight vehicle – the high-altitude balloon!

The High-Altitude Balloon will offer approximately four to eight hours of flight time at approximately 70,000 to 95,000 feet and exposure to Earth’s atmosphere, high-altitude radiation, and perspective views of our planet.

A total of 60 winning teams will be selected to build their proposed experiment. Each winning team will be awarded:

• $1,500 to build their experiment
• A flight box in which to build it
• An assigned spot to test their experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight
• Technical support during the experiment build phase from Future Engineers' advisors, who will help students learn the skills they need to turn their experiment idea into reality.

Note that no experience is necessary to participate in the NASA TechRise Challenge!