Explore the World With These 100 Country Quizzes

Since 2017, the NY Times Learning Network has been publishing a five-question “Country of the Week” quiz based on The Times’s travel coverage, news reporting and photojournalism to help build students’ geography skills.

Each Monday morning during the school year they release a new quiz, and this month they published their 100th one. To mark the milestone, all the quizzes published so far are organized by continent in one index. 

NYT 2nd Annual STEM Writing Contest

The New York Times invites students to choose an issue or question in science, technology, engineering, math or health, then write an engaging 500-word explanation. 

Contest Dates: Jan. 19-March 2, 2021. 

Students ages 11-19 anywhere in the world attending middle or high school can participate.

Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources on this page.

Here is a PDF one-page announcement for students.

Science and Social Justice

I attended a PBS Learning Media Educator Peer Exchange webinar last night about Science and Social Justice and found it pretty interesting.

Here is the slide deck and I'd be happy to discuss more of it if you are interested!

Also see GBH Research

Tomorrow's Engineers Website

This is a UK site but may still have some interesting/useful things for you or your students.

FE News: New website to help inspire the next generation of diverse engineers. "brings together free advice and guidance, curated from across the engineering community, to support practitioners in providing young people with engineering careers inspiration. The website includes the latest thinking on a range of topics, from how to run virtual events and top tips for ensuring an inclusive approach, to how to survey young people and improve engaging outreach activities."

Middle School DESE/One8 Science Grant

The Department is partnering with the One8 Foundation to launch a new middle school OpenSciEd Cohort Program! 

The school grant application is due Friday, February 12. To learn more about the grant opportunity, eligibility, and expectations, see this flyer and the online application. Building off the three-year middle school pilot, DESE is working to scale the innovative middle school science curriculum to schools across the Commonwealth. As part of the new cohort, schools can apply for grants to help implement the program, access in-state training, and receive additional support and complimentary programming.

The One8 Foundation is hosting an information session and office hours to help schools complete the application. Please click on a link below to register.

• Information session: 3:00-4:00 on Wednesday, January 20
• Office hours: 8:00-9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3
• Office hours: 3:00-4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9

Citizen Science - Smithsonian Magazine

Twenty-Four Ways to Turn Outdoor Passions Into Citizen Science

By Marcello Rossi from SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
DECEMBER 29, 2020

Heading into the new year, consider collecting scientific data while skiing, hiking, surfing, biking and partaking in other adventures

We the Young People - Teen Inauguration Special

We the Young People - Teen Inauguration Special
PBS NewsHour and Student Reporting Labs presented a special for digital and broadcast distribution on January 14 highlighting the impact of young voters and exploring the change they want to see from the new administration. I watched a lot of this tonight, but it's confusing because you have to start 15 min. in! I have bookmarked the different sections for you:

Introduction

Yamiche Alcindor talks to 3 young women about representation and role models in media & politics

Student interviews a high school history teacher who says "don't take democracy for granted" & quotes from students about how they are feeling and what they want to ask.

Teen interviews 3 young elected officials

18 year old HS student who is a new voter discusses her thoughts on becoming a voter this past year with a teacher

Discussion with students who are teen MediaWise "fact checkers" about misinformation

Amna Nawaz interviews young activists who work on gun violence prevention, environmentalism, community safety & equity issues

Hope you and maybe some of your students enjoy this!

Primary Source free civics program

Primary Source is offering a free civics program next Wednesday, January 27th, 9am-3:pm offered through Primary Source.

Our Rights and Nothing Less is a one-day workshop developed in partnership with Mass Historical Society and the Collaborative for Education Services. Focusing on African Americans, women, and people with disabilities, this virtual workshop introduces content, themes, resources, and teaching strategies to foster students’ awareness of the personal sacrifices and collective efforts made in the effort to secure the right to be heard and influence the governing of this country.

Registration is free and open to the public--- please self-register here on the Primary Source website.

See below for the scheduled sessions:

• Keynote Address - Dr. John Bracey, UMass Amherst
• Teaching the Intersection of Race and Gender in Voting History - Dan Osborn, Primary Source
• Teaching the Suffrage and Anti -Suffrage Movements with Primary Sources - Elyssa Tardif and Kate Melchior, Massachusetts Historical Society
• A Failed System for 38 Million Voters with Disabilities - Rich Cairn, Collaborative for Educational Services; Lisa Schur, Rutgers University; Doug Kruse, Rutgers University

MLK Jr. Day Events

In case you are interested this weekend - I made a list of virtual MLK Jr. Day events going on locally and nationally, from Sunday through Friday, and information about MLK Jr. Day. It may help you to find ways to observe the King Holiday in a meaningful manner even though we can't gather in person. And let's be honest -- virtual events can be easier and more convenient to attend!

It includes information about the Beverly Human Rights Committee's event that is on Monday at 9am which will include a montage from Beverly students and words from a variety of people, including BPS's own Dr. André Morgan.

NY Times: Article about ELL student challenges

With Remote Learning, a 12-Year-Old Knows Her English Is Slipping Away
By Juliana Kim
Dec. 29, 2020

In New York City, 142,000 children are learning English in school. Online classes are especially challenging for them.

Museum of Science at School Signup

From the Museum of Science in Boston - some of these FREE programs may be of interest! According to DESE we have 28.9% of students who are classed as "economically disadvantaged" which means we would qualify for priority bookings that begin on January 7!

Hello Educators,

We hope you had a nice break and were able to recharge. At the Museum, we were busy putting the finishing touches on our next season of MOS at School offerings!

Starting on January 19, we'll have presentations around Earth, Space, and Life Sciences as well as special one-time offerings about climate change for high school students. These free programs are offered via Zoom webinar from our Boston, MA Museum during school hours (Eastern Standard Time).

Priority reservations for schools with free and reduced lunch participation at or above 35% and/or a population of economically disadvantaged students at or above 25% as well as Catholic Schools will be open at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7.

To book a program, call Science Central at 617-723-2500.

General reservations for all other schools will be open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 11.