Overview
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Science is an inquiry process used to investigate natural phenomena, resulting in the formation of theories verified by directed observations. Inquiry challenges students to solve problems by observing and collecting data and constructing inferences from those data. In doing so, students acquire knowledge and develop a rich understanding of concepts, principles, models, and theories. (National Science Education Standards, 2004, p.214) Inquiry requires the use of scientific thinking skills to address open-ended problems through non-prescriptive procedures and allows students to construct their own knowledge of the specific concepts. This validates different ways of gathering, synthesizing and communicating knowledge. This site provides information and resources that support the teaching and learning of science for all students. |
Current News
7/3/09
Education and Outreach Mini-Grants: These $1500 grants provide opportunities to fund local education and outreach efforts that address water quality issues. General Criteria The application MUST contain the following information to be considered: Description of how the project addresses either nonpoint source pollution or water quality issues Description of how the project will successfully focus on one education and/or outreach activity Address how the project fits into larger watershed efforts in the region Description of collaborating partners: who they are and how they will contribute Must indicate where the 40% match will come from Applications for the first round of mini-grants are due at DEQ by the end of business on July 1st, 2009.
Department of Enivornmental Quality has two separate grant opportunities open for solicitation!
Laboratory Analysis Support: DEQ support for local groups will focus on surface water sampling to monitor the effectiveness of project implementation, trend monitoring, and TMDL follow-up to refine sources and targets. Applications will be accepted all year and complete applications will be awarded on a first come-first serve basis. With approximately $15,000 available, each group will have a maximum amount of $2,000 for laboratory analyses for up to a one-year period.
The application should include the specific parameters you intend to sample for, the sampling sites, and the number of times you intend to sample at those sites. You will also need to describe why you are sampling for each parameter. Each group will have a DEQ-approved Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) prior to submitting samples to the contracted lab. The samples will be based on the parameters defined in the volunteer monitoring suite. Funding is only available for the fixed parameters listed in the volunteer monitoring suite and must go through the DEQ contracted lab. The specific parameters and costs should be outlined in your budget. Applications for the lab analysis support will be accepted all year and complete applications will be awarded on a first come-first serve basis.More information on the Mini-Grants: 2010 Call for mini-grants document and Mini-grant application form More information on the Laboratory Analysis Support: Laboratory Support Opportunity for Volunteer Monitoring Groups and VM application form
Please contact Kristy Zhinin, kzhinin@mt.gov, 406-444-7425 prior to submittal to ensure your application is complete.
Year of Science 2009 The goal of the Year of Science 2009 (YOS 2009) is to engage the public in science by showcasing how science works, who scientists are, and why science matters in our communities and everyday lives. Visit www.yearofscience2009.org for information about engaging resources and highlights free events connected to the monthly theme such as science cafes, festivals, open houses, blogs, podcasts, and school visits by scientists to share their work.
NASA's Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience (INSPIRE) This program encourages the next generation of explorers from the 9th through 12th grade to pursue an education and career in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The centerpiece of INSPIRE is the Online Learning Community (OLC) where students can interact with peers, NASA experts and education specialists. It also provides grade-level educational activities, chats and a discussion board, allowing students and their families to explore the many careers and opportunities at NASA. As a member of the OLC, students may compete for the following years' summer STEM experiences. INSPIRE will be accepting applications through June 30, 2009. www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE
State Content Standards & Assessment
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Montana Science Content Standards and Performance Descriptors |
Science Essential Learning Expectations: PDF version  Excel version |
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Science Content Standards Glossary |
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Montana Standards Based Framework for Teaching and Learning |
For professional development on the Montana Science Content Standards please view the Professional Development tab.
Science CRT
Science CRT Test Specifications
Science CRT Released Items 2007 and 2008 – View & download released items, answer keys, and example student answers from constructed response questions.
Highlights for Montana Science Educators
• Indian Education for All
• Governor and First Lady's Math & Science Initiative
• Museum of the Rockies 
• Zoo Montana
• Exploration Works-
• spectrUM Inquiry Museum at UM- Missoula
• Big Sky Science Partnership
• Montana Natural Heritage Program
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks- Education
• Science Saturdays at MSU- Bozeman
• NanoDays at MSU- Bozeman
• Glacier National Park Traveling Trunks
• Montana Learning Center
• Montana Outdoor Science School
Safety in the Science Classroom
• Science and Safety: It's Elementary – An Elementary Safety Guide
• Science and Safety: Making the Connection – A Secondary Safety Guide
• EPA Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3)
• General Safety Checklist
• General Lab Safety Recommendations
• National Science Teacher's Association Position Paper on Laboratory Investigations
• Flinn Scientific
• The Laboratory Safety Institute
Science as Inquiry
• During the 2008-2009 school year, the Office of Public Instruction distributed an inquiry-based reference to all Montana public schools. The reference is titled Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards. This book is a follow-up book to the National Science Education Standards and was written by the National Research Council. The book explains and illustrates how inquiry-based education helps students learn science content, master how to do science, and truly understand the nature of science. Important questions about structure, guidance, and assessment are addressed, including administrative support, communication with parents, and appropriate teacher evaluation. This reference was distributed to schools in a variety of ways (i.e. 2008 MEA-MFT conference, via county superintendents, delivery by OPI staff). If you are unable to locate this reference in your school library please contact Katie Burke, OPI Science Curriculum Specialist, for information about the specific delivery method to your school.
• Inquiry Continuum - This continuum describes the variations in the amount of structure, guidance and coaching the teacher provides for students engaged in inquiry, broken out for the five essential features on inquiry-based learning. Student should have opportunities to participate in all types of inquiries in the course of their science learning, with the end goal of having students working in situations that are more learner self-directed.
• Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory: Science Inquiry
• Center for Inquiry-Based Learning – What is Inquiry
• Center for Inquiry-Based Learning – Inquiry Exercises
• WISE: Web-based Inquiry Science Environment
• Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry The scientific process of asking questions and seeking answers serves as the foundation of the Institute for Inquiry®. The Institute provides a variety of workshops, forums, and resources to support an international community of scientists and educators dedicated to developing innovation and leadership in science education. Facilitator Guides for professional development workshops are available for FREE download- Please check these out as they also have a plethora of information about inquiry-based teaching and learning.
Science Education Resources
• 21st Century Skills Map for Science http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/21stcskillsmap_science.pdf
The map provides educators with teacher-created models of how 21st century skills can be infused into classroom instruction and highlights the critical connections between science and specific core skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication.
• Exploratorium l Online since 1993, the Exploratorium was one of the first science museums to build a site on the World Wide Web. The site now contains over 18 thousand award winning Web pages exploring hundreds of different topics. Resources include experiments, online exhibits, webcasts and podcasts all with a focus on investigating the science behind the ordinary subjects and experiences of people's lives.
• National Science Resources Center Established by the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies, the center offers resources for educators and administrators.
• National Science Digital Library created by the National Science Foundation to provide educators with organized access to high quality resources and tools that support teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
• Teachers Domain - Provides multimedia classroom resources and professional development courses through the use of public television content. The resources provided consist of lesson plans, Quick Time videos, interactive tutorials, and animations. Teachers and students can create their own accounts which allow them to organize resources into folders.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence - organizes links to over 1500 federally supported teaching and learning resources.
• Project 2061 - The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) founded Project 2061 in 1985 to help all Americans become literate in science, mathematics, and technology. Its work has earned the project a reputation as the "single most visible attempt at science education reform in American history"
• National Science Education Standards - national standards for science teaching, professional development, assessment, content, systems and programs.
• Curriculum Topic Study - a systematic approach to utilizing national and state standards to improve teaching and learning in science and math.
• PRISMS: Phenomena and Representations for Instruction of Science in Middle School - Resources are evaluated for how well they support learning goals in Science for All Americans, Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards and are grouped in the main menu by categories used in the Science Curriculum Topic Study.
• ENSI: Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute While focused towards biology teachers, this site provides excellent lessons on teaching the nature of science, an integral topic in any science classroom.
• Big6 Checklists Assist students in research using the Big6 Process, site has a Checklist for Evaluating a Science Fair Project
• Science Notebooks in K-12 Classrooms - contains example student notebooks, classroom tools, teacher resources and more all focused on integration of science notebooks into curriculum and assessment.
Student Competitions
• Montana State Science Fair
• Department of Energy National Science Bowl
Register for the MT –WY Regional Competition at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center February 6-7, 2009
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• Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
This competition is for student teams from sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, to identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution.The application deadline is March 15, 2009.
• Toshiba/Exploravision Awards
K-12 students of all interest,skill and ability levels are encouraged to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science.The deadline for the 2009 competition is January 28, 2009
• Junior Science and Humanities Symposia
This program invites high school students to conduct an original research investigation in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics, and to participate in a regional symposium sponsored by universities or other academic institutions. Montana students can compete regionally at the Intermountain Competition hosted by the University of Utah.
• Intel Science & Math Competitions
Intel supports science and math education through two student competitions: Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and the Intel Science Talent Search.
• Montana Science Olympiad
• USA Biology Olympiad
• Research Science Institute
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
• Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowships
• NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project
• Society for Science and the Public Fellows Program
• Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Apply online
• ARMADA Project- Research and Mentoring Experiences for Teachers
• Toyota Tapestry Grants for Science Teachers
• Vernier/NSTA Innovative Use of Data-Collection Technology.
• Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Montana State Coordinator
Professional Development
National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) New Teacher Academy
NSTA announces that it is accepting applications for the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a year-long professional development program intended for science educators entering their second or third year of teaching. The Academy is designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.
For this academic year, NSTA will select 185 teachers to participate as fellows in the 2009 Academy. NSTA Fellows chosen for the program receive a comprehensive membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each NSTA Fellow receives financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education, taking place in Philadelphia, March 17-21, 2010.
Science teachers located throughout the country, who will be entering their second or third year of teaching and whose schedule is a minimum of 51 percent middle or high school science, are encouraged to apply for the program. Applications must be submitted no later than June 30, 2009 to be considered.
New Montana Science Content Standards and Performance Descriptors: Level 1 Workshop
The Office of Public Instruction is working in collaboration with the Montana Educational Service Areas to provide K-12 science educators with professional development that focuses on the revised Montana Science Content Standards and Performance Descriptors. The workshop utilizes group discussions and an inquiry-based activity to provide educators with an introduction and orientation to the revised science standards. The workshops are referred to as Level 1 because they are the first step in a long-term plan of professional development opportunities focused on the science standards and their implementation in the classroom.
If you would like to have a facilitator conduct a workshop for educators in your district and/or if you are interested in becoming a workshop facilitator please contact the regional service area nearest to you or Katie Burke, Science Curriculum Specialist, kburke@mt.gov or (406) 444-3557.
Montana Educational Service Areas:
Western Montana CSPD (WM-CSPD):
Nancy Marks
406.728.2400 Ext 1088
Montana North Central Education Service Region (MNCESR):
Diana Knudson
406.788.2962
Southern Montana Alliance for Resources and Training (SMART):
Bobbie Larson
406.657.2908
National Teachers Enhancement Network
Offers online, graduate-level science courses from a world-class public research university. NTEN was one of the first online professional development programs for K-12 teachers, and has offered courses since 1993. NTEN is a program of Extended University at Montana State University and was created with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Master of Science in Science Education through Montana State University
American Museum of Natural History’s Seminars on Science Program
Designed for K–12 educators, the seminars consist of a six-week course led by an experienced classroom teacher and a research scientist. In-depth readings and assignments paired with rich web-based discussions assure that educators come away from each class with a deeper understanding of both the science and the tools of scientific inquiry. Each participant receives a CD of course resources suitable for classroom use. Graduate and professional development credit are available.
Katie Burke, Science Curriculum Specialist
406.444.3557
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