Resources for Science
Table of Contents
Science Newsletter
Science Newsletter The Ohio Science Education newsletter provides timely information to science educators regarding important news from the Ohio Department of Education professional development opportunities and classroom resources.
Sign up to receive the Ohio Science Education newsletter.
The resources in the newsletters are free and are reviewed using the Department’s Science resource filter against established criteria. Copies of the completed filter forms are available upon request. Inclusion in this newsletter does not represent a recommendation to use a resource. Many quality resources are available beyond those included here. Educators should use their professional expertise to determine the suitability of any particular resources for use in their districts, schools or classrooms.
This series is developed for new to science teachers, those who want a refresher and individuals who support new science teachers. The intention is to provide an overview of science curriculum and instruction in Ohio, as well as create a cohort of support and resources for new teachers of science.
Meetups will occur on the 3
rd Tuesday of each month from 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. with the exception of December, which will occur on December 13, 2022.
Tentative Meetup topics are listed, but are subject to change based on the needs of the cohort members.
October 18, 2022 -
Standards 101- A Walk Through the Document
November 15, 2022 -
Engaging in The Nature of Science
December 13, 2022 -
The Power of Student Discourse
January 17, 2023 -
Instructional Frameworks
February 21, 2023 -
Assessing for Understanding
March 21, 2023 -
What about NGSS?
April 18, 2023 -
Looking Ahead – Planning for Next Year
Certificates will be given for participation during the live sessions only.
For Virtual Meetups for other content areas on the
Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies Virtual Meetup Page.
High Quality Materials, Instruction and Assessment.
Please see the recordings and resources from this series.
Video recordings and resources; including powerpoint presentations and supplemental materials for each of the Nature of Science series may be found by clicking the links below. Districts are encouraged to use these with their Science faculty as part of their professional learning during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Districts and other educational organizations utilizing this material in their facilitation, please provide your feedback by completing this Evauation Form.
*Districts interested in conducting a live Q & A session for faculty with the Science Team upon completion of the video series, please contact Robin Deems.
Science Explorations To Do at Home
These investigations are designed to be completed in a home setting and are specifically targeted to each of
Ohio’s Learning Standards for Science. These activities use easy to find, familiar household items. The projects are intended to be used by parents to supplement instruction in the classroom or for teachers to assign during remote learning, particularly for students who do not have access to online resources. Be sure to follow pertinent safety considerations.
Safety During At-Home Science Explorations
Resources Created by Outside Organizations
These resources were created by other professional organizations, many of which are outside Ohio, and are not guaranteed to fully align to the
Ohio Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Science. When reviewing these resources, educators may use the standards, content elaborations and expectations for learning contained in the Model Curriculum to help make determinations on whether to use the materials with their instruction. Resources mentioned on this page have been reviewed using the
Science Resource Filter
- cK-12 - The cK-12 Foundation provides a library of free online textbooks, videos, exercises, flashcards, and real world applications for over 5000 concepts from arithmetic to anatomy. cK12 integrates with many Learning Management Systems including Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas and Edmodo
- Concord Consortium – Virtual guided STEM lessons to engage students in scientifically accurate models and activities.
- The Cornell Lab – Citizen Science Projects to connect students to the world of birds.
- Ohio Department of Education STEM Resources - Resources and activities for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math integration
- Ohio Division of Wildlife - Part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, this Ohio agency provides current information and data on Ohio's wildlife species, as well as classroom resources for teaching about Ohio wildlife; including activity guides, field guides, guidance on developing a WILDSchool Site, Project WILD Curriculum Resources, Project Based Learning resources, and their Chat with a Biologist program.
- NSTA has created a collection of at-home activities titled the Daily Do. These Daily Do activities are useful for classroom teachers as well as parents to keep their students engaged in meaningful science lessons and experimentation. NSTA members have unlimited access to the Daily Do activities. Non-members of NSTA are also granted access to these activities, however individuals are limited in the number of times they may access within each month.
- STEM Teaching Tools hosts instructional tools and open education resources for professional development to help teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Each tool is focused on a specific issue and leverages the best knowledge from research and practice. Several of the tools for science education are also translated into Spanish. Check out the STEM Teaching Tools translated into Spanish.
- Estamos trabajando para traducir las STEM Teaching Tools en español. Hagan click aquí para leer las STEM Teaching Tools (STT) que han sido traducidas.
- Understanding Science – The University of Berkeley provides resources to understand the nature of science.
Science Laboratory Safety
As Ohio students return to school for the 2020-2021 school year, it is imperative to ensure that student safety and well-being are accounted for in all learning environments. The Ohio Learning Standards for Science recognize the importance of providing opportunities for students to engage in inquiry-based activities, which focus on the science and engineering practices and the nature of science. These opportunities provide equitable learning experiences that enhance student performance. To provide for opportunities for students to engage in these activities in a safe manner, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued guidance and suggested protocols pertaining to
laboratory safety for science classrooms. This document details a risk assessment, as well as protocols for social distancing in the science classroom, student and staff hygiene and appropriate disinfection of equipment and work stations. This guidance is also congruent with what is necessary for Ohio science classrooms and educators to provide safe spaces for students to engage in scientific inquiry and investigations as well.
NSTA has also created a
science classroom safety page which includes a position statement on the liability of classroom teachers, a position statement on safety and school science instructions, and other resources for science classrooms.
Speaking Up for Elementary Social Studies and Science, YouTube presentation by Nell Duke, Universtiy of Michigan, about the importance of teaching Social Studies and Science in the elementary grades.
Choice boards
To learn more about Choice Boards and explore how the faculty at Genoa Area Local Schools have successfully utilized Choice Boards in their K-12 curriculum, access the Recording of the Ohio Department of Education's Virtual Meetup for Science: Choice Boards. Examine the templates and slides offered by Genoa Area Local teachers, to inspire your efforts to incorporate choice boards into your classroom curriculum. There are many examples provided for implementation across the curriculum and in all grade levels.
Vertical Alignment Example
The vertical alignment document provides one example of an overview of the K-8 progression within each topic area. This document is a high-level view and cannot serve as a substitute for the breadth of information provided in Ohio's Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Science. The information provided is not sufficient to adequately plan instructional details of lessons or units. Please refer to the intended uses in the introduction to this document.
Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO)
Science Education Council (SECO)
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
Last Modified: 9/2/2022 2:49:05 PM