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******* August 26, 2017 *******
Click here to view or download the PALS Flyer_August_2017 . Please share with your colleagues.
August 26, 2017 (Saturday) 8am – 12pm
Sand Creek High School (7005 Carefree Cir N, Colorado Springs, CO 80922)
How Do You Know What They Know? Formative Assessment Strategies
In “student mode”, participants will conduct a lab, design their own inquiry experiment based on the lab, analyze their data, and communicate their understanding using a variety of formative assessment strategies along the way. In “teacher mode,” participants will discuss the specific “how-tos” for the different strategies introduced and brainstorm ways the strategies might be used in their classes.
Presenter: Robin Walters, Biology Teacher, CBTA Treasurer
******* September 23, 2017 *******
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Click here to view or download the 23 Sept 2017 Hub Flyer. Please share with your colleagues.
September 23, 2017 (Saturday) 8 am – 4 pm
Meet at CMJHS (Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School) at 7:45 am. We will travel together by bus.
Geology as seen in Building Stones, Monuments, and Mountains in Colorado Springs
Peter Modreski, Geologist
Please join us for a day of exploring “Geology as seen in Building Stones, Monuments, and Mountains in Colorado Springs” on Saturday, Sept 23. Peter J. Modreski, Research Geochemist/Communications Specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey, will present a study of building materials used in familiar monuments and buildings in Colorado Springs. The day will include visits to Rampart Park, Monument Valley Park, Downtown Colorado Springs including – City Hall, U.S. Post Office, Antlers Hotel, Old County Courthouse and other building, and Evergreen Cemetery
Participants will use Garmin GPS devices to navigate to the locations. Please bring one if you can. We will have some available to use.
An architectural tour of the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse, now the Pioneers Museum, will also be provided by Matt Mayberry, Museum Director.
******* October 14, 2017 *******
October 14, 2017 (Saturday) 7:30 am – 5 pm (includes travel time)
Meet at CMJHS (Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School) at 7:15 am. We will travel together by bus to Catamount Center for Environmental Education.
Inside the Outdoor Classroom – Pikes Peak Environmental Education Workshop
Turn your classroom INSIDE out! Discover effective strategies and powerful content for the natural integration of Environmental Education in K-12 classes! FREE lunch, doorprizes, and lessons!
Join environmental education leaders from Colorado’s Southeast region to learn pedagogy, content, and resources you can use both OUTdoors and IN your class. Come learn the benefits of environmental education, ways to engage students in learning experiences designed to explore the environment, build knowledge, develop skills, apply STEM skills all while incorporating Colorado Academic Standards. Explore the interactive, unique setting of the Catamount Center located on the north slope of Pikes Peak in Woodland Park. Select your own experiences with lessons to bring into your own classes. Participants will select several sessions to attend. Available sessions may include:
- Macroinvertebrates (Pond Studies) – Explore environmental health of a pond by studying its macroinvertebrates
- Medicinal Plants – Try your hand at identifying local edible and medicinal plants
- Biomimicry – Innovations with Biomimicry (STEM in nature- Nature Thought of It First)
- Ornithology – Birdology (more than ornithology, it’s STEMology as well)
- Fire Ecology – Explore burning issues like the fire triangle, HOT experiments and lessons after the burn
- School Gardening
- Our Changing Climate
- Hiking the Ecosystems
- Environthon – (National HS environmental science competition)
- Forest Succession/Population Dynamics
- Overview of EE Careers & Pathways
- STREEAM (integrating EE into all content areas)
- Nature in Math
- Administrators -Bringing EE into your school – Invite administrators from your building for a special session about the importance of EE their buildings
- Tips and tricks for managing students in outdoor settings
- Meet and discuss EE with area experts and get resource specific to the Pikes Peak and SE region
Why Environmental Education? Not only is EE a huge motivator for student engagement but the benefits continue long after the experience. It increases student awareness of environment-related challenges, provides opportunities to apply new knowledge and experiment with solutions and hooks students to want to learn more. Research shows that outdoor education enriches children’s lives in fundamental ways including significant improvements in cognitive development, behavior, self-discipline, creativity, language skills, STEM thinking and social interactions. Come join us as we explore the great outdoors and all the benefits, skills, knowledge, and lessons you can bring into YOUR class!
*This workshop is brought to you by the Southeast Regional Environmental Education Leadership Council of CAEE in conjunction with PALS, EleSTEMary, and CAST. It is open to science educators preK-12. The workshop will be held at Catamount Center 3168 CO Rd 28, Woodland Park, CO 80863 (http://www.catamountinstitute.org/).
[Note: CAEE is the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, Colorado Dept of Education, and Department of Natural Resources. Check out their web-site, full of resources, at www.caee.org. This workshop is meeting the goals of the CEEP (Colorado Environmental Education Plan), a document of Colorado Department of Education and Department of Natural Resources.
******* November 4, 2017 *******
November 4, 2017 (Saturday) 8am – 4:15 pm
Sand Creek High School (7005 Carefree Cir N, Colorado Springs, CO 80922 )
Introduction to Brain-Based Education
Understanding some of the exciting new advances in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology research provide an opportunity for teachers to unlock more of how the brain actually learns. Join the teacher professional development staff from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for an all-day workshop where we will learn practical applications of this research and translate it for the classroom. The DMNS staff will model many of these research-based best practices to empower you and your students through meaningful and fun hands-on experiences. We’ll focus on the power of manageable strategies, small shifts that can improve cognitive mastery and classroom culture. Topics include Neuroplasticity, Movement and Working Memory.
Presenters: Tim Blesse & Robert Payo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
| Time | Activity |
| 8-8:15 | Welcome, Introductions |
| 8:15-9:00 | Introduction to Brain-Based Learning and Neuroplasticity |
| 9:00-10:00 | Brain Anatomy 101 |
| 10-11:00 | Physical Movement & Learning ( Why should I get the kids moving?) |
| 11:00-12:00 | Implementing Movement to strengthen Cognition & Classroom Culture ( How Do I get the kids moving?) |
| 12:00-12:45 | Lunch |
| 12:45- 1:15 | Introduction to Memory Systems |
| 1:15-1:30 | Integration Walk |
| 1:30-3:00 | Working Memory In The Classroom |
| 3:00-3:30 | Working Memory Case Studies |
| 3:30-4:15 | Wrap Up/ Reflection Activity / Museum Resources |
******* December 2, 2017 *******
FINAL PALS Flyer December 2 2017 FINAL (1)
December 4, 2017 (Saturday) 8am – 2pm – 5:30 pm (includes travel time for afternoon session)
8 – 2 pm Colorado Parks & Wildlife at 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
after 2 pm Cactus Flat Shooting Range at 4612 Co Rd 123, Penrose, CO 81240
Firearms Science and Archery
Do machines fascinate you? Have you ever wanted to know more about the science of projectiles? This workshop will introduce fundamental physics concepts via archery and the study of firearms. To begin, Tracy Predmore, the Southeast Region Education Coordinator for Colorado Parks & Wildlife, will present on the Colorado Archery in the Schools program which promotes international-style target archery as part of in-school curriculum to improve educational performance and participation in the shooting sports among students in grades 4-12. Not only will teachers will have a chance to learn about the CASP curriculum, but they will also learn some basic archery skills and have a chance to shoot a bow. Then participants will expand their exploration of projectiles with a study of firearms science. The intersection of technology and science is evident in the design and use of firearms in our modern world. Understanding basic physics principles will help you understand the components and actions of various firearms and appreciate the connection between form and function. The workshop will utilize models of inquiry and provide a chance to learn some simple physics principles in relation to projectiles in general and firearms specifically. Participants will receive 5.5 contact hours for the session at Colorado Parks and Wildlife and may choose to travel to local shooting range for 2 more contact hours where you will get to see demonstrations of firearms science in action.
Presenters:
Tracy Predmore, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Southeast Region Education Coordinator
John MacFarlane, Physics Teacher, Rampart High School and Firearms Instructor
******** February 13, 2018 ********
February 13, 2018 (Tuesday) 4 pm – 8 pm
Discovery Canyon Campus (1810 North Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921)
Intro to Amateur Ham Radio
Intro to Amateur Radio will outline the requirements needed to pass the FCC Element 2 exam (Technician Class) by focusing on properties of radio signals, electricity, magnetism, circuits, antennas, signal propagation, radio equipment, safety, and licensing regulations with the intention of using these skills in a voluntary position during a local or national emergency.
Presenter: Jonathan Bluff, Science Teacher, Discovery Canyon High School