Lead Instructor: Jan Smith

Keywords: NGSS, earth science, STEM, astronomy

Strand Description: Discover “Earth’s Place in the Universe” through the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Participants in this strand will explore a plethora of resources including NASA-sourced lesson materials that are aligned to Idaho Science Content Standards and NGSS along with data sets that allow for interpretation of light pollution, or the lack of it. Our dark skies will provide a phenomenal context for your K-12 students’ learning of astronomy content. Pedagogy is focused on a series of hands-on 5E inquiry activities that include field experiences in local and/or portable planetariums. Participants will receive a kit of materials that can be used in multiple ways in varying classroom settings along with access to web resources developed specifically for Idaho STEM teachers.

Your kits will/may include: Participants in the strand will receive a variety of light sources along with light meters to construct models for measuring light. Additionally, multiple physical models of the sun-earth-moon will be included to explore motions and phenomena related to state science standards.

Lead Instructor: Brett Hogaboam

Keywords: drones, FAA Regulations, aerial photography, aerial cinematography, 107b Certification

Strand Description: Drones. The Sky is no longer the limit will expose participants to the exciting and evolving world of drones. There will be hands-on training and operation of personal aircraft and related camera equipment. In addition, participants will learn basic Airspace identification, FAA regulations, and safety procedures related to operating unmanned aerial vehicles for hobby and commercial use.

Your kits will/may include: DJI Mine SE Drone. Beginner aerial camera system for basic video and photography. This will expose educators to actual implementation of the skills they have learned in the strand for a real-world application of their new skills.

Lead Instructor: Jeremy Feucht

Keywords: circuits, electronics, coding, STEM

Strand Description: Participants will learn about circuits, coding, and how circuits and coding work together using various Snap Circuits kits and a Spintronics set. Participants will start by building simple circuits to learn about open/closed circuits, series/parallel circuits, diodes, resistors, capacitors, and transistors and then move into more complex circuits such as a lie detector, radio, and digital display. Participants will build mechanical circuits with a Spintronics kit, which will allow them to feel the pull of voltage, see the flow of current, and observe how resistors, switches, and capacitors work in a mechanical way. Participants will learn about mechanical coding as well as both basic block-based and text-based coding using Code.org, the Swift Playgrounds app, and the Snap Circuits Coding app. Activities in this strand are designed to help middle school students understand the foundational concepts of both circuitry and coding.

Your kits will/may include: The Snap Circuits kit contains over 60 parts (such as diodes, switches, lamps, capacitors, resistors, and transistors) that allow students to learn the fundamentals of circuitry and build exciting projects such as radios and lie detectors. The Snap Circuits Mechanical Coding Robot contains over 200 snap-together parts and is designed to inspire students to learn about mechanical engineering principles and coding basics. The Spintronics kit allows students to build mechanical circuits using mechanical batteries, resistors, switches, junctions, capacitors, chains, and more. The Snap Circuits Explore Coding kit provides students the opportunity to build circuits with over 30 electrical parts and the ability to program their circuits using a special coding app.

Lead Instructor: Jennifer Rude

Keywords: STREAM, forestry, environmental science

Strand Description: The Story of Forests will connect literacy to environmental science by using literature to introduce and build interest in ecology with a focus on forests. Topics will include forest diversity, systems and structure, interrelationships, and patterns of change. Participants will explore these topics using various strategies including collaboration, inquiry-based instruction, and reflection. Participants will experience a variety of activities covering language arts, science, visual arts, and math. The Story of Forests will use the STREAM model to increase integration across curriculum, increase creativity, and promote problem solving skills. Participants will use the Project Learning Tree Activity Guide and Picture Perfect STEM and Science guides as resources to learning.

Your kits will/may include: The Story of Forests participant kit will include the Project Learning Tree guide, Picture Perfect STEM guide, Picture Perfect Science guide, trade books supporting the guides, a set of tree cookies, and your choice of two other classroom activity/lesson items.

Lead Instructor: Melissa Stroupe
Assistant Instructor: Laurie Dominy

Keywords: STEAM, hands-on, cross-curricular

Strand Description: Get ready to piece it all together to create a deeper understanding! We are going to start small and build our way towards gaining multiple ideas for you to implement into your classroom. You will be learning how to use Lego’s in all content areas and will be given the resources you need to start using them in your classroom right away. Learn about the amazing creations, stations, and challenges that you can have your students try for rich conversations, while they are learning to solve real world problem. We will be exploring how this can work in your classroom, giving you a file of resources, creating lifelong partnership within our community, all while having a lot of fun!

Your kits will/may include: Our kit is full of LEGO brand building blocks and baseplates! There are different Lego kits, allowing for different opportunities to build. These pieces are tied to specific tasks that we do with the educators. We have a purpose behind each kit, and lessons and activities to go with each one and how they will apply them into their classroom. We also have our participants partake in each of the activities to allow for rich conversations on how to implement in our classrooms. They will have enough Lego’s to go back to their classrooms and begin using them immediately. They are able to use all the materials given year after year. As Plato has said, “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation,” and we build on this statement with our stations. We also show and explain different strategies to try with our young learners, to help create critical thinkers.

Lead Instructor: Dr. Kellie Taylor

Keywords: ready hands-on coding

Strand Description: This strand equips educators with the materials, knowledge, and tools they need to integrate coding and computer science concepts into the upper elementary classroom. Educators will learn how to teach with micro:bits and use the Idaho Content Standards for Computer Science to develop coding skills, lessons, and confidence to facilitate year-long coding and computer science lessons in the classroom. Educators will learn to connect computer science to core content instruction to maximize the use of classroom instructional time. While this course is geared toward teachers working with students in grades 3-5, it is a great resource for teachers of all grades looking to introduce students to coding, physical computing, and computer science concepts. Educators will leave with resources and knowledge to integrate and implement their own coding and computer science programs and lessons in their classrooms and schools.

Your kits will/may include: The participant will receive micro:bits, alligator clips, copper tape, LED bulbs, and a storage case to store them all in addition to a book or two.