MSTA Newsletter Vol 56, I 3

MSTA Newsletter Volume 56, Issue 3

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

In this issue: Solar Eclipse, April 8, 2024 President’s Thoughts: President-elect’s Message: 2023 MSTA Conference 2023 MSTA Award Winners MSTA Member Scholarship and Grant Opportunities Eclipse Information and Activities Professional Development Opportunities Becoming an MSTA Member 2024 MSTA Conference Information MSTA Conference Sponsors

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President’s Thoughts Cindy Alsworth-Jones

As you read this newsletter, you will see that the emphasis is on the North American Eclipse of 2024.

This total eclipse will not be entirely visible in Mississippi, but if willing you could drive to Dallas, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, Paducah, Kentucky or other locations. Check out NASA’s website, https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipse/eclipse-2024 for more information.

You might wonder why this topic was chosen. Well, for one thing, we haven’t seen a total solar eclipse in a viewing area close to us since 2017, and before that, it was 1979 before a total solar eclipse touched areas close to us. What a wonderful teaching opportunity we have to share with students who may only see a few in their lifetime. We can incorporate not only science but art, history, literature, and mathematics as we study eclipses.

Have your students to explore the effect of a solar eclipse on Christopher Columbus’s voyage. Read how a solar eclipse saved the protagonist Hank Morgan in Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” Drawing or painting the myths and legends associated with countries around the world might interest your artistic students. Plotting and analyzing the path of an eclipse might interest your mathematicians.

In our hearts as teachers, we could think of Eclipses in this way: E – Emphasis on C – Challenging crucial topics for L – Learners I – in P – Positive S – Scientific E – Experiences Are we challenging our students to learn material beyond what is needed on a state test? Are we creating life-long learners? Are we doing all that we can do to raise up a generation of knowledgeable students who can think for themselves and not be led by their nose to one way of thinking? Science encompasses every aspect of life. It is up to us to provide our students with those Positive Scientific Experiences that will help them to grow and develop their minds. We need teachers to support each other, providing information on good teaching methods, laboratories, or even classroom management skills for both new teachers entering the field to the “old school” teachers to make us all better teachers and learners.

This organization, The Mississippi Science Teaching Association, needs you. We ask that if you have questions or comments for any way that we can help you please reach out to your District Directors and your MSTA Board. We are all willing to help you in any way that we can. If we don’t know the answer to your question, we will search until we find it.

Let’s get on a path to not being covered by an eclipse of things that hold us back but by letting our light shine.

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President-elect’s Message

Carl DeWitt

Fall is here and as leaves are beginning to change color and the air turns crisp, I feel inspired by the beauty of the fall season. For science teachers, this time of year also represents an opportunity to teach students about the fascinating science of temperature-dependent pigments in leaves.

Over the past few months, I have been pondering how Artificial Intelligence can help teachers in the classroom. How can we use it as a tool? When I was asked to write a brief message to be included in the newsletter, I decided to solicit some help from an AI chatbot. Here is an edited version of what I got back: As the crisp breeze of autumn sweeps through the air, let us take a moment to marvel at the enchanting spectacle unfolding before us—the breathtaking transformation of leaves into a vibrant tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows. In the midst of this seasonal symphony lies a captivating scientific journey that resonates with the profound impact you, our dedicated science educators, have on the minds of your students.

At the heart of this magical metamorphosis lies the mesmerizing dance of temperature-dependent pigments within the leaves. Chlorophyll, the mighty green guardian of photosynthesis, gracefully steps aside as temperatures drop, unveiling the hidden hues that lie dormant within. Carotenoids and anthocyanins, like artists on a canvas, paint the landscape with a kaleidoscope of colors, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Much like the leaves undergoing this transformation, your students, too, are undergoing a metamorphosis in your classrooms. Your passion for science, your commitment to nurturing curiosity, and your ability to kindle the flame of knowledge illuminate the minds of those under your guidance.

You are the catalysts that bring forth the brilliance within, helping students discover the vivid palette of possibilities that science offers.

Just as a single leaf contributes to the grandeur of a forest, each lesson you impart, each question you encourage, adds to the collective brilliance of future scientists, thinkers, and innovators. You are sculptors of intellect, shaping minds with the tools of knowledge and inspiration. Your impact extends far beyond the walls of the classroom, reaching into the future where your students, like the leaves in fall, will reveal their true colors.

As you witness the magic of autumn, let it serve as a poignant reminder of the transformative power you wield as science educators. Embrace the beauty of the changing seasons, and may it fuel your own passion for inspiring the next generation of inquisitive minds. Thank you for being the driving force behind the vibrant hues of curiosity, knowledge, and discovery.

I think the AI did a great job! Do you feel inspired to teach your students about temperature-dependent pigments?

Here are some suggestions for your classroom: SEE MORE • Take your students on a leaf-peeping hike to see the leaves changing color in person.

• Collect leaves from different trees and use them to create a leaf color chart.

• Do an experiment to separate the pigments in leaves.

• Have students research different types of deciduous trees and write reports on their findings.

• Encourage students to ask questions and to explore their own ideas about why leaves change color.

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Activity for viewing chlorophyl in leaves:

Dr. Carl Dewitt Citation: OpenAI. (2023, November 14). Inspirational Message for Science Teachers on Temperature Dependent Pigments. ChatGPT.

Share MSTA with your fellow teachers at all grade levels!

Membership is $22/year for in-service teachers and $7/year for pre-service teachers.

Stay updated on our social media: Instagram: @mississippiscienceteachers Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MSTATeachers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/172664236127055

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2023 MSTA Conference Wrap-up The 2023 MSTA Annual Conference was held October 22-24 at the Golden Nugget Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. Our theme was “Launching Science.”

Members chose from over 90 sessions to attend. These sessions spanned all grade levels and branches of science. Over 29 exhibitors were at the conference to share their information. Also, changes to the MSTA By-laws were presented and approved by the majority of the membership present. A major change was to the name of our organization. To complement the new name of NSTA (National Science Teaching Association), our organization is now the Mississippi Science Teaching Association.

Page Keeley, author of Science Formative Assessment: 75 Practical Strategies for Linking Assessment, Instruction, and Learning, was our guest speaker at the General Session. Her books are available through Corwin Press and NSTA Press. This book and her other books are also available on Amazon.

If you were not able to attend the conference, please be sure that you submit an application to renew your membership. Click here to renew your membership.

Conference Images

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Not awarded: Outstanding College Science Educator Outstanding Elementary Science Educator Consider who you should nominate next year.

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MSTA has scholarships!

R. C. Roberts: $100 for outdoor classroom/garden Otis Allen: The scholarship consists of two $800.00 awards to be used to offset the cost of attending the NSTA National convention and SHOP NOWto offset the two $350.00 awards to be used cost of attending the NSTA Regional convention.

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Click on names for more details.

Solar Eclipse 2024 Our next solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. Below is a map of the totality zone.

This means that Mississippi will experience a partial eclipse. Even though we will not experience the full solar eclipse, there is so many activities in which you and your students can participate. The Mississippi Space Grant Consortium will provide many experiences at their annual conference in January 2024. See page 7 for details on that opportunity.

The appropriate lenses for viewing the eclipse can be costly. If you don’t have available funds, then you can use leaves! The holes left in leaves after insects eat them are great small projectors!

Below is an example of what you may see using the leaves.

Of course, the safety issue is for students to NOT look at the sun. Looking at the sun damages the retina of the eyes, leading to solar retinopathy. This is the loss of vision of the central vision. There is no treatment for solar retinopathy. It is for this reason that schools may not allow students to view the eclipse.

Taking photos of the partial eclipse is NOT recommended. The intense light of the eclipse will damage the phone unless you have the appropriate filter on your phone.

Do you remember the difference in the light from the last partial eclipse? Dr. Edmund Halley (of comet fame) explained in a paper to the Royal Society in 1715 the reason for the perceived light change: “From this time the Eclipse advanced, and by Nine of the Clock was about Ten Digits, when the Face and Colour of the Sky began to change from perfect serene azure blew, to a more dusky livid Colour having an eye of Purple intermixt, and grew darker and darker till the total Immersion of the Sun….” ( https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1714.0050) Since 1715 there have been multiple experiments to explore the difference in light during a partial eclipse. Each result supports Dr. Halley’s explanation. You might have your students read exerts on the studies and discuss what to expect with the light.

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Are you ready for the 2024 eclipse?

We hope you will join us for the Mississippi Space Grant Consortium's Annual Teacher Conference. Registration is open NOW through December 7th! outreach.olemiss.edu/nasa

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Eclipse Lesson Resources My NASA Data: https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/phenomenon/solar-eclipse Solar Eclipses Explained (video by PBS): https://mpb.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac18-sci-ess-eclipsesexplain/eclipses -explained/ Model a Solar Eclipse: NASA Jet Propulsion Lab: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/model-a-solar-eclipse/ Solar and Lunar Eclipses: Lesson Plan from Generation Genius: https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GG-Solar-and-Luna r-Eclipses-LP_rev2.pdf Solar Eclipse Lesson Plan and Activity Guides: The National Solar Observatory: https://nso.edu/for-public/educators-old-page/eclipse-lessons/ Solar Eclipse: National Science Teaching Association: https://www.nsta.org/lesson-plan/solar-eclipse Eye Safety: NASA: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/ How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely: Solar Eclipse Across America: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety Eclipse Day Resources: https://sites.google.com/rps30.k12.ar.us/rpsscience /instructional-resources

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Click here for more information.

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Project Dragonfly FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Now accepting applications for 2024 Miami University’s Project Dragonfly is accepting applications for 2024 Earth Expeditions graduate courses that offer extraordinary experiences at global field sites in 15 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. http://EarthExpeditions.MiamiOH.edu Earth Expeditions can build toward the Global Field Program (GFP), a master's degree that combines summer field courses worldwide with web learning communities so that students can complete the GFP master's part-time from anywhere in the United States or abroad. Applications are now being accepted until January 28. Courses begin in May 2024. http://GFP.MiamiOH.edu Project Dragonfly also offers the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) master's degree that combines web instruction from Miami University with face-to-face experiential learning and field study through several AIP sites in the U.S. Applications for Miami's 2024 cohorts are being now being accepted until February 28, with place-based experiences provided at zoos and botanical gardens in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Jacksonville, New York, San Diego, and St. Louis. http://AIP.MiamiOH.edu Graduate tuition for all programs is greatly reduced because of support from Miami University. NEW for 2024 Applicants: To help make a Miami education more accessible and affordable, the Miami University Graduate School will waive the $50 application fee for those who attend an Information Session preceding the fee payment step of the application process. https://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/highlights-and-digital-media/informational -webinars.html Project Dragonfly reaches millions of people each year through inquiry-driven learning media, public exhibits, and graduate programs worldwide. Project Dragonfly is based in the biology department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Established as a state university in 1809, Miami is one of the eight original Public Ivies and has a distinguished record of excellence in research and teaching in science SEE MORE and science education.

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Spotlight on Informal Science Education GenSea: Working to keep Mississippi talent in Mississippi STEM careers!

It’s hard to believe GenSea is less than two years old! Administered by the University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Center for STEM education, GenSea made a name for itself almost immediately with its three-pronged approach to STEM workforce development: free field trips to training and job sites, paid summer internships for high school students, and immersive professional development experiences for educators. Go to usm-gensea.org to learn more about this program.

Mississippi has the largest outmigration of educated young people of any state in the nation, largely because they believe—erroneously—that no “good” jobs exist for them here. Meanwhile, the state’s coastal economy is thriving, largely due to jobs in marine science- and ocean engineering-related fields.

GenSea combats brain drain in Mississippi by promoting careers in the coastal “blue economy.” The Mississippi Development Authority reports that more than 4,200 companies employing more than 74,400 workers and funding over 30% of the coastal economy call Mississippi Coast home. Moreover, blue economy jobs come in a variety that appeals to just about everyone, whether working on or by the sea, developing new technology for exploration, or using computers to process data in new and interesting ways.

GenSea’s philosophy is that to dream it, students first must see it. Their team of STEM education pros takes high school STEM classes on field trips to labs and workspaces at USM and a dozen partner sites across the three coastal counties. Additionally, for the past two summers, 34 high school students worked as paid interns in aquaculture, computer modeling, fisheries ecology, ecotoxicology, hydrography, marine geology, ocean engineering, and science communication. This summer for the first time, GenSea will host internships at partner sites outside of USM, including the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point and Mississippi State University’s Coastal Resources Education Center in Biloxi.

GenSea understands that educators are the key to reaching these students and considers teachers, administrators, counselors, and career coaches full partners in sharing the good news about blue economy opportunities. Each summer the program hosts educators from across Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana to spend three packed days learning about coastal careers. Many of these educators then return to the Coast with classrooms full of students who want to see these sites and learn about these jobs, and they also recommend especially interested students to apply for summer internships in these fields.

GenSea is only one of the Center’s many STEM education outreach programs. The Center’s original STEM workforce development program, the JROTC STEM Leadership Academy is a residential summer camp that immerses JROTC students in local STEM careers. This program began in Mobile and now has sites across the country. While GenSea focuses on high school students, the STEMonDemand program provides experiment materials and instruction from a real scientist for K-8 science classes around the state—free! A new program launching in 2024, STEM on the Go, will provide teaching kits that can be checked out from the Hattiesburg campus. Finally, the Center sponsors many regional and state STEM competitions, including Science & Engineering Fair, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, and Science Olympiad. Links to all of the Center’s programs as well as to online degree options can be found at usm.edu/stem-education.

Photos: GenSea gives students and teachers behind-the-scenes tours of career sites in fields such as aquaculture, hydrography, marine science research, 12 natural resource management, and ocean engineering.

Thank you to our sponsors!

The following sponsored our annual conference. They deserve a big THANK YOU!

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