SEMESTER TWO
15 – 4.29.23 – Birds Galore @ CMSP
Meeting: # 15
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, April 29, 2023 8am – 1:30pm
Contact Hours: 5.0 hours
Food: BYO lunch – ½ hour, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park
(410 JL Ranch Heights Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80926)
Presenters: Staff & Volunteers, Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Description: Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a home, even if just a temporary one, for many birds in the Pikes Peak Region. Come join us at this workshop to learn about the birds and how they interact with the local ecosystems. Explore topics including “birding 101”, a bird identification hike (roughly a mile long), raptors of Colorado presentation, information about the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and hands-on activities that can be done easily in your classroom.
14 – 4.15.23 – Exploring Research and Education at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCCS
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, April 15, 2023 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Contact Hours: 5.0 hours
Food: Hosts will provide pastries, coffee and boxed lunches ! (Thanks !)
Location: UCCS, Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Presenter(s): Linda Cummings ([email protected])
Description: Join us as we explore the teaching and research capabilities of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCCS. You will learn more about the student-centered, active learning teaching environment at this small school that prioritizes student success, and examine the undergraduate-led research the UCCS faculty are completing in the areas of analytical chemistry (whiskey flavor-profile analysis, “forever chemical” analysis in Fountain Creek), physical chemistry (nanotechnology with carbon nanotubes), and biochemistry (DNA, protein, and membrane structure analysis). Among the highlights will be tours of the technological resources available to undergrads, hands-on laboratory experiences, and one-on-one discussions with Chemistry/Biochemistry faculty and current students. Come explore how local high school teachers can benefit from collaborative interactions with UCCS.
13 – 3.15.2023 – Conversations with a Forensic Pathologist !
3.15.23 FLYER – Forensic Pathologist
Presenter: Deborah G. Johnson, MD, MS, Pikes Peak Forensics, PC
Day, Date, Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 4pm – 7pm
Location: Sand Creek High School
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Description: During the first part of the presentation, participants will learn what forensic pathology is, what an autopsy is, definitions of cause and manner of death, a look at the job description of a Coroner or Medical Examiner, how it’s determined who gets an autopsy, what is a death certificate and how it’s filled out. The second part of the presentation will focus on the opioid epidemic and its causes through a detailed look at one woman’s death in hospital despite the use of naloxone, and why, even though there is a readily available opioid antidote, so many people are still dying, especially when fentanyl is involved.
12 – 3.22.2023 – Invasive Lionfish Program: Human Impact, Ecological Impact and Engineering Design
Flyer – 3.22.23 – Lionfish Invasion
Day, Date, Time: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 4pm – 7pm
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Location: Colorado Parks and Wildlife classroom, 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Title: Lionfish Invasion. Why is this an issue? Invasive Lionfish Program: Human Impact, Ecological Impact and Engineering Design
Presenter: Hilary Penner, Education and Conservation Program Manager, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), www.REEF.org
Description:
Lionfish Invasion. Why is this an issue? Known for their show stopping appearance, venomous spines and damage to local reefs, invasive lionfish are the first non-native marine fish to become established in the Atlantic. Lionfish pose a significant threat to local marine ecosystems due to widespread predation of native species, prolific reproduction and lack of controlling predators. However, early detection and rapid removal can help control their populations and reduce their damage. REEF has been working with Federal, State, and local partners as well as divers and dive operators, public aquaria, and foreign fisheries departments to enact rapid response protocol and removals and to assist with scientific investigations related to lionfish and other non-native marine species. Join us as we explore the Invasive Lionfish Program and related REEF lessons that you can use in your classroom!
Learning Outcomes:
- Confidently access and integrate NGSS aligned REEF lessons into your existing curriculum
- Provide background information to their students on the Invasive Lionfish Program: Human Impact, Ecological Impact and Engineering Design
- Share how scientists work in the field, collect data, and use scientific and engineering design process
Topics and Agenda:
4:00 – 4:30 Welcome and light dinner, Administrivia
4:30 – 5:00 The Invasive Lionfish Project Slideshow for Background Information
5:00 – 5:45 Grades 6-8 Lesson Demonstration, Crime Fish Investigation
5:45 – 6:00 Break
6:00 – 6:45 High School Lesson Demonstration, Research Project Sample
6:45 – 7:00 Questions, Evaluations and Door Prizes
11 – 4.19.2023 – Local Water Wonders: Water Education with Colorado Springs Utilities
RESCHEDULED due to Weather !!!!
Day, Date, Time: : Wednesday, April 159, 2023 4pm – 7pm
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Location: Conservation and Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Road
Mesa Conference Room – Parking in back on the east side of building
Title: Local Water Wonders: Water Education with Colorado Springs Utilities
Presenter: Birgit Landin, Community Education Specialist, Colorado Springs Utilities
Description: Colorado Springs Utilities supplies an average of 68 million gallons of purified water to the community every day. This program will provide an overview of our complex water system, how we treat water to make it potable including advanced treatment processes for potential future water recycling purification and introduce local teachers to the water education materials and resources available from Colorado Springs Utilities. Attendees will receive a complimentary Water Activities Teacher Resource Guide, filled with activities and lesson plans that can be easily implemented in the classroom.
10 – 2.4.2023 – Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology
FLYER – 2.4.23 – Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, February 4, 2023 8am – 1 pm
Contact Hours: 5.0 hours
Location: USAFA Biology Department
Title: Creating the Future: Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology
Presenters: USAFA iGEM Team Cadets, Vicki Morrison, Dr. Kristi McElmurry, Dr. Balboni, Mel Grogger, Catherine Jarriel, Dr. Travis Tubbs, Dr.Jordan Steel and AFRL- Dr. Hung and Dr. Sanaz, Dr. Katharine Bates
Description: Through a mixture of presentations and hands-on activities by the United States Air Force Academy Biology department participants will be introduced to genetic engineering and synthetic biology.
Agenda:
| Time | Event | Activity | POC |
| 8am | Breakfast and Introduction to Genetic Engineering | Genetic engineered bracelets | USAFA iGEM Team Cadets |
| 8:30am | Biocementation engineering | Make Sand Molds/Castles | Vicki Morrison |
| 9am | Nanobody Technology/Plasmids | Start transformation | Dr. Kristi McElmurry |
| 10am | LSRC genetic engineering | Microscopes- look at algaeFinish Transformation | Dr. Balboni, Mel Grogger, Catherine Jarriel |
| 11am | Space Bioengineering (Plants and gravity) | 3D scan plants | Dr. Travis Tubbs |
| 11:30am | PFAS genetic engineering | Watch music videos | Dr. Steel and AFRL- Dr. Hung and Dr. Sanaz |
| 12pm | Lunch/ Discussion of Genetics Education | Punnett Square Olympics! | Dr. Bates |
| 1pm | End of the Workshop |
9: 1.21.22 – The Chemistry of Art and Color
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, 21 January 2023 8:15 am – 2:00 pm.
Contact Hours: [5 contact hours]
Food: BYO working lunch, light breakfast, drinks (water, soda) and snacks also provided
Location: USAFA Chemistry Department
Presenters: Dr Jennings, Dr Kelly, Dr Jefferies, Dr Furstenau, Stacey Lazelle
Description: Join us to take a closer look at the chemistry of art and color. Participants will learn about the history of paint pigments and the chemistry behind making pigments. We will learn to analyze paint samples using a Scanning Electron Microscope and/or MALDI, an advanced mass spectrometry technique. We will learn about art restoration, making crayons, and will make our own paint pigment. Like most of the Science HUB activities at the USAF Academy, we will make sure we have something for everyone, with emphasis on middle and high school teachers. We will provide activities that (1) expand participants’ knowledge base; (2) provide the opportunity to do experiments that can be used in their classrooms, either as a demonstration or as a student lab; and (3) provide the opportunity to do experiments in a research-style environment using advanced equipment.
Topics and Agenda:
0815. Meet participants on the south steps of the Cadet Field House; escort to Chemistry Conference Room (2N189)
0815-0900 Travel to Chemistry Conference Room, Refreshments
0900-0915 Introductions, admin items in Chemistry Conference Room
0915-1000 Presentation: “Chemistry of Pigments” – Dr Abby Jennings
Dr Jennings will talk about the history of paint pigments and the chemistry behind making the pigments.
1015-1015 Break, Chemistry Conference Room (2N189)
1015-1100 Laboratory Experiments #1
Group A: Analyzing Paint Samples (Dr Jennings, Dr Kelly)*
Group B: Art Restoration and Cleaning or Making Crayons (Dr Jefferies)
Group C: Making a Paint Pigment (Azurite; Dr Furstenau)
1100-1145 Laboratory Experiments #2
Group A: Art Restoration and Cleaning or Making Crayons
Group B: Making a Paint Pigment
Group C: Analyzing Paint Samples
1145-1245 Working Lunch with Presentation: “The Chemistry of Art Restoration” – Dr Jefferies or Dr Kelly
1245-1330 Laboratory Experiments #3
Group A: Making a Paint Pigment
Group B: Analyzing Paint Samples
Group C: Art Restoration and Cleaning or Making Crayons
1330-1400 Final wrap-up of the day’s events (2N189)
1400 Depart chemistry area for Cadet Field House
* (Note: “Analyzing Paint Samples” will involve the use of the Scanning Electron Microscope and/or MALDI, an advanced mass spectrometry technique. Both are really cool!)
SEMESTER ONE
8: 12.5.22 – Ute People and STEM Practices
FLYER
Day, Date, Time: Monday, December 5, 2022 4pm – 7pm
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Location: The Campus (D49) @ 6113 Constitution Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Title: Ute People and STEM Practices
Presenters: Rose Banzhaf, SE Environmental Education Leadership Council
Description: History Colorado has Take Out Programs that allow classes to use photographs and objects to explore stories, contributions, and changes of different communities and industries of Colorado in your classroom at your own pace. Their latest Take Out Program is how the Ute People used STEM practices. Come explore activities with focuses of water filtration, transportation, patterns in art, science for food, and engineering for shelter.
7: 11.30.22 – Grouper Moon Project + STEM- Conservation of an endangered species using Technology
Day, Date, Time: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 4pm – 7pm
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water, soda) also provided
Location: Colorado Parks and Wildlife classroom, 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Title: Grouper Moon Project + STEM- Conservation of an endangered species using Technology
Presenter: Hilary Penner, Education and Conservation Program Manager, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) www.REEF.org
Description: The Grouper Moon Project is a conservation science partnership between Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) with scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and Oregon State University, aimed at studying Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) – a social and ecological cornerstone of Caribbean’s coral reefs.
Learning Outcomes:
- Confidently access and integrate NGSS aligned REEF lessons into their existing curriculum
- Provide background information to their students about Grouper Moon Project
- Share how scientists work in the field, collect data, and use scientific and engineering design process
Agenda:
- 4-4:30 Welcome and light dinner, Administrivia
- 4:30- 5:00 The Grouper Moon Project Slideshow for Background Information
- 5:00-5:45 Grades 6-8 Lesson Demonstration + STEM Challenge Information
- 5:45- 6:00 Break / Raffle
- 6:00- 6:45 High School Lesson Demonstration + Live stream Event Information
- 6:45-7:00 Raffle / Questions and evaluations
6: 11.12.22 – Redesigning High School Science Investigations to make more powerful 3-D learning experiences for students
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, November 12, 2022 8:30am – 2pm
Contact Hours: 5 hours
Food: BYO lunch – ½ hour, drinks (water, soda) and snacks provided
Location: Sand Creek High School
Title: Redesigning High School Science Investigations: to make more powerful 3-D learning experiences for students
Presenters: Tim Blesse, Brandon Davis, Teacher Professional Development Consultants, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Description: With the shift to three-dimensional science teaching called for by the new state and national standards, we want our students to spend less time in class “Learning About” scientific phenomena and more time “Figuring Out” what causes them.
Using hands-on lab experiences, provides students the opportunity to use the eight practices of science and engineering to develop their own explanations for phenomena, and design their own solutions to problems. Transforming science education into a method of discovery, not only imitates what real scientists do, but it adds a sense of student agency and ownership that “cookie-cutter” labs never did. But the shift to this type of teaching has gotten ahead of the available curricular materials. In particular hands-on laboratory experiences seem to be lacking.
In this workshops you will be given opportunities to actively collaborate as you:
- Look at some currently existing lab experience model resources, already designed to be phenomenon-driven and take time to start integrating the ones you like into your current biology courses
- Collaboratively Redesign some of your existing labs. Most existing labs were intended to demonstrate a science concept or principle using a real-life phenomenon. With a little clever backward-design, we will take these labs and turn them into experiences where students design and carry out their own investigations, unpacking phenomena in order to discover basic biological principles.
- Learn some evidence-based principles about how to guide, rather than direct, student investigations. Strategies like: Questioning, Building in uncertainty, Analyzing for reliability, Recognizing different types of biological questions (e.g. comparative, Correlative) The difference between experimental and nonexperimental investigations.
5: 10.8.22 – Wild about Elk
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, October 8, 2022 2 pm – 11 pm
Contact Hours: 5 hours [actual contact time = 4pm – 9pm ]
Food: BYO sack dinner – ½ hour working dinner, drinks(water, soda) and snacks provided
Location: Mueller State Park, 21045 CO-67, Divide, CO 80814
Title: Wild about Elk
Presenters: Linda Groat (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), Martha Alvarez (Palmer High School)
Description: Elk are an important part of many ecosystems in Colorado. In this workshop, participants will learn about ecological connections elk have with their environments, including diseases that impact this animal. The workshop will conclude with a hike that allows participants the opportunity to experience elk bugling.
4: 10.1.22 – Geo Maker Institute: Mapping, Making and Storytelling
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, October 1, 2022 8am – 2pm
Contact Hours: 5 hours
Food: 1 hour lunch on your own (BYO or go out), drinks(water, soda) and snacks provided
Location: Sand Creek High School [7005 Carefree Cir N, Colorado Springs, CO 80922 ]
Title: Geo Maker Institute: Mapping, Making and Storytelling
Presenter: Heidi Ragsdale, Stem is My Future, LLC.
Description: Participants will have a clear idea of the opportunities for classroom use of Digital StoryMaps and storytelling across the curriculum. Through this deep dive into the world of StoryMaps, educators will leave the session with resources to directly implement into their curriculum no matter the grade or STEM/GIS content. The session lesson will introduce teachers to the purpose of StoryMaps, provide access to existing Science StoryMaps, and will include direct instruction on how to build their own StoryMaps to include it in their science content delivery. Mapping tools from National Geographic and ESRI will be included. Please bring a phone with QR and/or a laptop. Session is by STEM is My Future.
3: 9.17.22 – Implementing the Standards in HS Science
Day, Date, Time: Saturday; September 17, 2022 8am – 1:30pm
Contact Hours: 5 hours
Food: BYO lunch – ½ hour, drinks(water, soda) and snacks provided
Location: Sand Creek High School, 7005 N. Carefree Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Title: Implementing the Standards in HS Science
Presenters: Beth Kochevar, Andy Smith, Robin Walters, Science Teachers @ SCHS
Description: During this workshop, participants will explore a variety of classroom approaches to address science content standards and science practices. Current high school science teachers will share how they use Argument Driven Inquiry in Chemistry, Phenomenon-based Storyline in Biology, and Modeling Curriculum in Physics/Physical Science. Educators will have the opportunity to experience lessons to get a feel for the approach and gain understanding of how lessons are structured together to make connections that facilitate sense-making by learners.
2: 9.8.22 – Exploring Connections to the Standards through Local Phenomena
Day, Date, Time: Thursday; September 8, 2022 4pm – 7pm
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours – 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Food: ½ hour light dinner provided at 4 pm, drinks (water and soda) provided
Location: The Campus (D49), 6113 Constitution Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Title: Exploring Connections to the Standards through Local Phenomena
Presenters: Heather Hubbard (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) and Maya Garcia (Colorado Department of Education
Description: Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado Department of Education to learn how
you can use locally available phenomena, such as droughts and drought modeling tools, to
engage students in making sense of phenomena in their local community. During the workshop,
we will unpack CAS Science aligned instructional practices, and engage with the Colorado
Essential Skills and Science and Engineering Practices. We will discuss media resources, and
authentic data sets, and model the selection of locally relevant phenomena.
1: 8.20.22 – Dinosaur Freeways, Cretaceous Seaways, and Fossil Traces in Swampy Places
8.20.22 FLYER
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, August 20, 2022 8:00am – 5:30pm
Contact Hours: 5 hours – 10am – 3pm. [Does not include travel time or lunch.]
Food: BYO lunch, drinks(water, soda) and snacks provided
Location: Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 and The Triceratops Trail, Golden CO
Title: Dinosaur Freeways, Cretaceous Seaways, and Fossil Traces in Swampy Places
Presenters: Dinosaur Ridge Staff / Volunteers
Description: Join us on a journey to explore one of the world’s most famous dinosaur fossil localities: Dinosaur Ridge ! We will begin with a visit to the Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center and then take a bus tour where an expert guide will interpret the dinosaur tracks and bone fossils, local history, and geology seen along the Dinosaur Ridge Trail. After a byo lunch we’ll travel to Golden, CO where we’ll take a guided hike along the Triceratops Tracks trail. Triceratops Trail is a 1.5-mile, gravel hiking trail that winds between large, vertical walls of sandstone in old clay mining pits. The two guided tours/hikes include: Dinosaur Tracksite, Triceratops Tracks, Dinosaur Bone Quarry, Raptor Tracks, Geologic Overlook, Palm Fronds and Bird Tracks, Duckbills, Carnivores and Raindrops
Agenda:
- 8:00 depart CMJHS
- 10:00 arrive at the center, visit exhibits, rest rooms.
- 10:30 depart for a 90 min tour with 2 guides to Dinosaur Ridge.
- 12:00 return to center for picnic lunch and restrooms
- 12:40 leave for Golden
- 1:00 tour (with guides) the Triceratops Trail.
- 2:30 return to bus
- 2:45 stop at center for restrooms, do evaluations and door prizes
- 3:15 depart for Colorado Springs
- 5:15 arrive at CMJHS