Teachers’ Lounge

Do you work in an afterschool or summer program in San Francisco?

Then get connected to the Expanded Learning Collaborative’s Technical Assistance Project and:

• Receive individualized coaching for your program
• Attend workshops
• Look for, and post jobs or other resources online
• Have lunch and network with your peers!

Interested in learning more?

Visit www.sfelc.org to sign up, join the mailing list, and get started!

The purpose of the Expanded Learning Collaborative Technical Assistance Project (ELC TAP) is to improve the quality of out of school time programs across San Francisco by increasing the awareness and use of common tools, encouraging peer learning and creating coherence in approaches to quality programming. This project is made possible through the support of the San Francisco Unified School District; the SF Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families; and the Silver Giving Foundation.

How Science Works

How does the real process of science really work?

Gain a new perspective of the dynamic process of science and how it relates to you with this iTunes U course co-produced by the California Academy of Sciences and University of California Museum of Paleontology.

Designed for middle- and high-school science educators to broaden their own knowledge and understanding and to use with students, the course weaves together activities, videos, and classroom-ready materials into a primer on the process of science that includes exploration and discovery, testing ideas, community feedback and peer review, and benefits and outcomes.

Content from this course was inspired by the Understanding Science website produced by UCMP.

Click here to see course details in iTunes!

 

Teacher Feedback

“I am in the process of developing a course of my own right now. I also have been using the Earthquakes course from the Academy in my Earthquakes unit. I know I will use pieces of this course next year as well! Playing with iTunes U in this class inspired me to investigate this further.”

I enjoyed the sections that had thinking questions in them. For example, the first part “How Does Science Work?” asked students to describe in their own words… As a teacher, I appreciate things that are ready to go and include some great reflection questions!

In the Academy’s effort to help teachers link our museum to their curriculum, we have been rolling out guides to our exhibits. With these Educator Exhibit Guides, you can:

• Plan an Academy field trip around a specific exhibit.
• Learn about an exhibit’s themes and key concepts to guide your students’ experience.
• Discover Academy-written classroom and field trip activities related to the exhibit.
• Find out about the Academy’s scientific research happening behind-the-scenes.

While this is an ongoing effort, we already have guides for 4 of our exhibits. Check them out:

African Hall
Our newest addition to the educator guide collection. Journey across the African continent to explore the diverse biomes and meet some of the animals that live there. Learn about human evolution and our migration out of Africa.
 
African Hall (preK-2)
African Hall (3-5)
African Hall (6-12)

Water Planet
 
Water is life. Discover how water shapes life on Earth and the adaptations animals have for living in and out of water. Explore a variety of animals that live in water and their unique features for survival.
 
Water Planet (preK-2)
Water Planet (3-5)
Water Planet (6-12)

California Coast
 
The mix of sunshine, wind, water and geology has created one of the world’s richest temperate marine communities right here in California. Discover why our coast is special and protected.
 
California Coast (preK-2)
California Coast (3-5)
California Coast (6-12)

Earthquake
 
Earthquakes provide dramatic evidence that we live on a dynamic planet. Learn how earth processes shape Earth’s surface, affect the evolution and distribution of life on our planet, and directly
impact people’s lives.
 
Earthquake Exhibit (6-12)
Earthquake Planetarium Show (6-12)

More to come soon!

Photo Credits
Moon Jelly photo by nigham
Zebras in African Hall by Chris Picon

Hats Off to Teachers!
SCRAP’s Annual Celebration & Materials GiveAway
for SF Bay Area Teachers

August 10th
10am to 4pm
801 Toland Street, San Francisco

SCRAP is hosting a Hats Off to Teachers party and materials give-away on August 10th from 10am to 4pm! If you are an SF Bay Area teacher, come by to gather free classroom supplies.

They’ll have all kinds of materials for your classroom: pens, pencils, paper, markers, binders, paint brushes, National Geographics, sponges and much more!

If you’re not a teacher, SCRAP needs your help! Donate supplies now!

SCRAP is hoping to supply 200+ teachers for their classrooms at our Hats Off to Teachers Materials GiveAway and Celebration this August. SCRAP is currently collecting office and classroom supplies to give away to teachers. Please let them know if you would be willing to set up a donation drive at your work or in your neighborhood. They can provide you with all the materials and bins that you need, email scrap@scrap-sf.org.

In case you don’t know, SCRAP is San Francisco’s oldest and largest creative reuse nonprofit. They divert over half a million pounds of corporate and individual donations from the landfill, selling or giving them away to teachers, artists, nonprofits and individuals. The 5000 square foot warehouse holds all kinds of materials for creative reuse and the arts. You can find anything there from fabric, paper, office supplies, toys, party decorations, and boxes to plastics, woods, tiles, metals, and foam core.

Juncos are among the most common and most abundant “backyard birds” found across North America, and they are easily observable by millions of people daily. Did you know that they also tell an exciting evolutionary story?

The Ordinary Extraordinary Junco is a documentary film project designed to engage, entertain, and inspire student and adult audiences of all backgrounds. The feature-length film (88 min.) is comprised of eight shorter video modules (3 to 20 min.), or “chapters,” that highlight past and present biological research on one of the most common and abundant –yet amazing and diverse – groups of songbirds in North America, the Juncos.

Each video chapter explores key themes in animal behavior, ecology, or evolution, and conveys the process of scientific research with high school and college science standards in mind. Related educational resources are available to facilitate classroom or self-directed (e.g., homework) use.

There is also a teacher guide!

Ordinary Extraordinary Junco

What: A film highlighting research on a common yet amazing group of backyard birds, the Juncos

Run Time: 88 minutes total, but comprised of eight shorter video chapters (3 to 20 min. each)

Created for public and student audiences of all backgrounds and ages

Key themes: evolution, animal behavior, ecology, and the research process

Designed with science and biology education standards in mind (high school and college)

Produced by biologists and filmmakers from Indiana University

Funded by the National Science Foundation and Indiana University

And it’s all available for free!

Read more here