Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST)
Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level." Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award. Utah State Winner 
Kirk Wright
Southwest Region Winner  Matt Affolter
To read Matt's Bio, click here.
Please make sure to update your profile on our USTA site. We have many members with old emails, addresses and phone numbers and are trying to update our members. If you know a teacher that is a member, but is not receiving this newsletter, please direct them to the website to update their email.
| | | President's Message
| Hello, I hope that your summer break was a great one with an opportunity to spend time with your family. I am confident you were able to engage in activities that rejuvenated you, making you feel an eagerness to ‘start over’ this school year. In July my husband Todd and I attended the National Congress on Science Education in Denver. After talking to science teachers and leaders from all across the US we know that Utah has the best Science Teachers in the nation! Our organization is strong and supports the science teachers of our great state.
In the summer newsletter (see utsta.org for a copy) I challenged you to identify successes last year and trials. Then I tasked you to choose one trial and create an action plan to overcome this trial making it a target. With the renewed energy and a specific plan that you now have, you will succeed! Email me and let me know of these accomplishments so that we can celebrate our successes.
Now is the time to talk to your administrator and request their assistance in attending the USTA conference in February. This is the most specific to your classroom professional development that you can receive. While you are registering for the conference log into your USTA account and update your information. We want all of you to receive the information that we send out. Some of you may have changed schools or emails. Click on Login in the top right corner. If you have forgotten your password follow the prompts. When you are logged in click on your name that will be on the top and a window will open that allows you to edit your profile.
The USTA Board is working hard organizing the conference for February 10, 2017. The theme is, The Science of Learning. We are looking for presenters and the link is open to apply. Please consider sharing your great ideas with the entire state.
We are also working on the USTA Days. Check for information on the website, this newsletter, and on Facebook. If you are not a friend yet, become one. We want to get the info out to you as fast as we can. The are many opportunities that are time sensitive that we will post there. I look forward to meeting many of you at our USTA Days and the Conference in February. Dawn Monson USTA President |
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TECH TOOLS
Preparing for back-to-school? On the hunt for a new tool? Kiddom is a personalized learning platform that helps teachers monitor student progress
Click here for info on Kiddom.
My idea with working with it is as follows: after an introduction to geology by looking at the formation of the earth after the Big Bang and the creation of Pangaea, etc. Our trajectory in our class is to study heat and its necessity on earth for life, so we cover the Big Bang, geology/geography, prevailing winds, and then weather, getting into Global Warming and the causes and effects.
Have them research (of a picture they choose) the geology of the area over long time (start of earth to now) to look at types and extent of erosion and current weather patterns and how the geography of the affects that. Have them determine a plausible reason for a teacher to choose this particular geology to look at to get practice at figuring out how scientists choose the particular projects they choose.
Janet F. Ott, Ph. D.
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| USTA would like to thank Lars Johnson, Josh Stowers, Darrin Hodges, Doug Panee, Don Bastian, Emma Smith, Adam Bennion, Ty Robinson, and Duane Merril for the amazing jobs they do as USTA Endorsement Instructors. Check back in the spring of 2017 for the next round of classes.
USTA Board Members Needed
Four positions are currently available:
Region III Representative
Region IV Representative
Region VII Representative
Elementary Representative (not region specific)
Applications for nominations must be received by Nov 15th
Click here for more information
USTA DAYS
Usta Days are events sponsored and/or endorsed by USTA for USTA members and their families. Events will be in September and October and are great opportunities to get together with other teachers and share of love of science with our teachers.
Upcoming Days
Sprial Jetty 10/1/2016
Antelope Island 9/10/2016
Trilobite Day 10/15/2016
Click here for Details
Classroom/MESA/Club
COMPETITIONS
The goal of the Bright Schools program is to create a learning experience that will help students, parents and teachers better understand the link between light, sleep and student health and performance. Through the Bright Schools competition, students in grades 6-8 will select a topic related to light and sleep and select one of three exploration options (developing a prototype, creating an awareness campaign or writing a research proposal) to create an original project.
Project Submissions Due Feb 6th, 2017
eCYBERMISSION is one of several science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives offered by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). The U.S. Army is committed to answering the nation's need for increased national STEM literacy and expanding STEM education opportunities across the country to open doors to new career paths for America’s students that lead to a brighter tomorrow.
Books of the Month
Physics for Future Presidents--Richard A Muller. This is targeted for intelligent people without a specific degree and important right now. It address why dirty bombs can't really happen, why we won't ever stop using oil (this is NOT a political piece...but chemistry for the masses.) and many more real world examples that you and all your students will use. High school students can read this.
Flu--Gina Kolada This is funny and well written, it is a great history about how a lot of 'science' really works. Again, student friendly.
Fool Me Twice-Fighting the assault on science in America--Shawn Lawrence Otto This book is well written but is better if read in sections. So much great history. It discusses how 'science was everything' and after that how 'science' became one tunnel and everything else another one...how certain religious groups specifically made up the "Wedge Strategy" to 'bring America back to God and fight scientific materialism'. | | SAVE THE DATES
USTA Convention
Feb 10, 2017 in Provo, UT
We are looking for PRESENTERS!! Something we are excited about this year is that presenters will not need to pay the registration fee for the convention. We appreciate your dedication and hard work. Please share your genius with the rest of the state. Apply today!
Please click here for the link for the presenter application.
IN TWO YEARS
we are excited to present the
Regional NSTA Convention
in Salt Lake City
October 2019
CLASSROOM RESOURCES
Informal Science Education Enhancement Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE) is a collaborative partnership between Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, The Leonardo, The Living Planet Aquarium, Red Butte Garden, Natural History Museum of Utah, HawkWatch International, Thanksgiving Point, and the Utah State Office of Education. iSEE programs serve K-12 teachers and students and are designed to spark students’ natural curiosity and sense of wonder by providing exciting opportunities to experience science, practice science skills, and gain a deeper understanding of science.
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SHARE the JOY
Yearly memberships to USTA are only:
$6 per year for elementary
$10 for secondary teachers
$5 for new or student teachers
Pass the word and make sure all of the science teachers in your school are aware of this amazing organization
.http://utsta.org/page-1668528
ARTICLE
OF THE MONTH
Updated Brain Map Identifies Nearly 100 New Regions
-New York Times
VIDEO
OF THE MONTH
| What do Zika, Ebola and SARS have in common? They’re all zoonotic viruses, which spread from animals to humans. Find out how human activities, like urbanization and wildlife encroachment, are making us more vulnerable to zoonotic disease outbreaks. Then meet the scientists tracking these viruses and discover how they are working to prevent the next epidemic. | |
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