Elementary, middle and high school teachers are encouraged to have their students participate in the annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest, an integral part of the seventh annual national Endangered Species Day, celebrated on May 18, 2012.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous conservation organizations will observe Endangered Species Day to recognize conservation efforts underway across the nation aimed at helping America’s imperiled species.

Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day is a celebration of the nation’s rarest plant and animal species. The Youth Art Contest provides students from kindergarten to high school with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. Young artists who are home schooled and participate in youth groups are also eligible to submit their art. Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2012.

The Youth Art Contest will be judged by a prestigious panel of artists, photographers and conservationists. Winners will be chosen in four categories: K-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12, and will receive plaques and art supply gift packs. In addition, one grand prize winner will be honored with their name engraved on a special trophy and receive a round-trip flight to Washington, D.C. with one guardian to attend a reception in May. The grand prize winner will also receive a special art lesson (via Skype) from well-known artist Wyland.

The Youth Art Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans.

For more information, including judging criteria and an entry form, visit www.endangeredspeciesday.org

Many of the Service’s field and regional offices will be hosting events in their communities and providing unique programs to visitors on endangered species conservation in celebration of Endangered Species Day. For more information on how you can find an event near you, please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ESDay/2012.html.

America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To learn more about the Service’s Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ where you can download podcasts and find links to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq.

Trip Includes:

• Airfare & Ground Transportation plus baggage fees
• 7 nights lodging
• All admissions and participation fees
• All necessary equipment, supplies and instruction for activities
• Six meals, including an end-of-the-week feast
• Geo-Journal, journaling supplies, and magnifying lens
• Pre-trip educational opportunities organized by the Schiele Museum

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. To reserve a spot on this trip, please contact Tony Pasour at the Schiele Museum by email tonyp@cityofgastonia.com or phone at 704-866-6919.

Tuesday July 17^th, 1PM – 5:00PM

Wednesday, July 18^th, 9AM-5:00PM

Thursday July 19^th, 9AM-4:00PM

At the North Carolina Botanical Garden

UNC-Chapel Hill

This two and ½ day teacher professional development institute will provide participants with opportunities to hear energy experts at UNC address the energy realities of the 21st century – what is in store regarding our future use of coal? natural gas? nuclear? wind? solar? Participants will interact with curricula and receive inquiry based instructional materials aligned with the NC Standard Course of Study along with classroom supplies. Possible field trips include: UNC’s co-generation plant, the NC Botanical Garden’s new visitor center, the Harris Energy and Environment Center and UNC’s Energy Frontier Research Center. This workshop is sponsored by UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment with funding provided by Progress Energy. Read More

I did this workshop last summer and it was great.

Supports teachers in their efforts to promote excitement for science and mathematics in the classroom.

• Open to all public K-12 North Carolina teachers.
• Provides up to $3000 to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and supplies to implement hands-on science and mathematics curriculum in the classroom.
• Provides up to an additional $1500 for training and professional development related to the implementation of the new materials.

BWF is offering three rounds of funding with upcoming deadlines of March 5, 2012, and September 5, 2012.

See details and requirements at The PRISM Award.

Register Today!!

Sessions Include:

Don’t Look at the Duck: Engaging Students in Science with Lance Rougeux

What’s the one thing our classrooms have in common today? They are all very different. Students with many different learning styles. Different interests. Different backgrounds. And, different gadgets. How do we address the needs of today’s learners? This session will draw upon real-life examples (including a legendary school duck) as we explore ways that we can use media and other technologies to get students interested in the content and engaged in meaningful learning experiences.

Flipping the Classroom with Dr. Lodge McCammon

Ask any adult to name their favorite teacher and receive the profile of a person who inspired learning and became a legend in the mind of their students. But how can we teach someone to be engaging?
Well, we need to give them the ideas and tools that allow engagement to occur by creating super- transparent classrooms that highlight exciting and authentic teacher and student work. There’s a new way of teaching that is taking all the 21st century elements that people talk about, and is putting them into action. Video recording, Web 2.0, online publishing and interactive curriculum are the wave of the future—and the method of teaching that will bring our teachers, students and classrooms there is called FIZZ.

“Sounds” Like a 21st Century Lesson with Patti Duncan

Grab your backpack and join us in the Discovery Education Techbook Traveling Classroom for a lesson on sound, vibration and pitch. Experience a typical student centered lesson infused with media and hands-on activities that is sure to increase engagement and understanding.

What’s the GIST? Bridging Literacy and Science with Brad Fountain

Promoting literacy in the classroom is no longer JUST part of the reading lesson. The importance of developing the literate learner falls on all educators and is taught during all lessons. By using digital media in conjunction with traditional reading strategies, we can address the science and literacy standards, differentiate for students, and address the Shifts in Common Core. This session will provide concrete literacy examples that can be scaffolded to meet the needs of students across any grade level and readily integrated into your science lesson on Monday morning.

Register now as seats are very limited!!

“This one of a kind project is currently being tested right here in NC! The new solar double cropping project in Pittsboro, NC is an experiment designed to show that you can have a solar photovoltaic system and grow sustainable crops that thrive in partial shade at the same time!” more

There are so many awesome things to do with foldables in the classroom at any age and with any curriculum area. Here are my top five reasons why.

1. Once the kids learn how to make one style, it can be used a hundred times in a hundred different ways.

2. They automatically allow for differentiation.

3. They can be made with whatever kind of paper or materials that I have handy at the moment.

4. They are a meaningful “back pocket” activity, meaning that when you have to change things up at the last minute, you can always go to a foldable.

5. They work even when the copy machine does not.

Here are a few resources on foldables that I have pulled together.

My Pinterest Foldable Board

Awesome Foldables Wiki

Get in the Fold! blog

Catawba County Schools Foldables Ideas Page

Reading and Study Skills Foldables

Check out the EdCamp NC Facebook page or Twitter feed to keep up with the latest news.

Registration for EdCamp NC is now open and it’s FREE! Register HERE