Region 1

Resources

RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching) is a non-profit organization that believes hands-on teaching is the best way for teachers to teach and students to learn. They provide creative hands-on activities, educational resources, workshops, and inexpensive materials (many donated by local businesses) to enrich pre K-12 education. The goal is to assist teachers, non-profits, and community groups by providing materials and ideas for day-to-day teaching and for supporting professional growth. http://www.raftsac.org/

MASE (Math and Science Education) Center at California State University, Sacramento

The mission of the MASE Center at California State University, Sacramento, is to improve the quality of science teaching and learning in the public and private schools of the Sacramento region. The MASE Center employs the expertise of teachers, grades K-12, university and community college faculty and local industrial scientists and engineers to accomplish this mission. Implementation of the mission is provided in two distinct areas; professional development of experienced teachers and development of pre-service teachers. http://www.csus.edu/mase/

San Joaquin Valley Children's Science Museums

Science exhibits and much more are available for field trips and walk-in visitors at:
Castle Science and Tech Center, Atwater—http://www.challengersjv.org, (209) 726-0296
ImagineU Interactive Children's Museum, Visalia—http://www.imagineumuseum.org
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, Bakersfield—http://www.sharktoothhill.org
Children's Museum of the Sierra, Oakhurst, Madera County— http://www.childrensmuseumofthesierra.org, (559) 658-5656
Madera County Fossil Discovery Center, Fairmead—http://www.maderamammoths.org

Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis

The Bohart Museum, one of the largest insect collections in the United
States, welcomes classes to explore the diverse and fascinating world of
insects. Students will get the chance explore part of the vast collection,
see beautiful and unusual insects, and interact with residents of a live
insect zoo. For more information visit http://bohart.ucdavis.edu/ or call (530) 752-9555.

California Science Projects

The California Science Project (CSP) is a university-based professional development network for pre-K-16 teachers of science that utilizes highly skilled teams of educators and scientists drawn from universities and school districts across the state. This statewide network works toward the common goal of improving science education for all California students. The CSP has convenient sites across the state at campuses of the University of California, California State University, and independent colleges/universities. There are four science projects in Region 1:

Redwood Science Project—Humboldt State University, Arcata
Inland Northern California Science Project—CSU Chico
Sacramento Area Science Project—UC Davis
Delta Sierra Science Project—San Joaquin County Office of Education

Sacramento Zoo
For more information, call 916-264-5166 or go to www.saczoo.com.

Petaluma Wildlife Museum

The Petaluma Wildlife Museum is the largest student-run wildlife museum in the world. The museum is completely run by student docents who care for the dozens of live animals and hundreds of taxidermied animals, and run all of the flied trips through the museum. The museum offers summer programs for students and a limited number of weekend tours. For more information contact: Petaluma Wildlife Museum, 201 Fair Street, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 778-4787.

Events

Summer 2010
Davis, CA  

ARISE (Addiction Research and Investigation for Educators) Summer Institute

ARISE is designed to assist Central Valley 9th-12th grade EL students and teachers in science achievement. Intensively study the field of neuroscience and the science of addiction during a content-rich, week-long summer institute on the UC Davis campus with UC Davis instructors during either 2009 or 2010. From that experience, teachers will form yearlong partnerships, including three evening meetings, Dinner with a Scientist, Saturday research symposium, to help guide their students through a class research project in order to help the EL student population succeed in science. Contact: website at http://imeet.sjcoe.net/arise/Home.html or email project coordinators: Teresa Vail at tvail@sjcoe.net or Cathy Parker cparker@sjcoe.net.

June, 2010
Sacramento, CA

The Biophotonics Teacher Research Academies

Learn how you can teach required standards through the cutting-edge, interdisciplinary field of biophotonics science – the study of life with light! The Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST), funded by the National Science Foundation, brings together biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics expertise to further biomedical imaging, deepen understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms, and support development of medical and diagnostic therapeutic devices. The CBST Interdisciplinary Science Education Team offers multiple levels of professional development through summer research academies where middle and high school teachers learn about biophotonics and hands-on classroom applications for engaging diverse learners with science content and inquiry. Register at http://apply.cbst.ucdavis.edu. Location: Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology - UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento For further information, visit: http://cbst.ucdavis.edu/education/, or contact Jodie Galosy; Assistant Director, Teacher Professional Development and Evaluation, jagalosy@ucdavis.edu.
Registration Deadline: June 1, 2010

June 14-18, 2010
Stockton, CA

Force and Motion for 8th Grade Teachers

As part of a large-scale research study funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Delta Sierra Science Project and WestEd are sponsoring a summer content course for eighth grade teachers on force and motion at the middle school level. Earn a $1000 stipend and get three units of college credit for an extra cost. For more information or to register online, go to http://imeet.sjcoe.net/dssp/Force_and_Motion_Institute.html.

June 28-July 1, 2010
Stockton, CA

Teach Epidemiology: Become a Disease Detective: Grades 7-12

Delta Sierra Science Project is holding a four-day institute on the science of epidemiology. Participants will get expert instruction from an epidemiologist on uncovering, exploring, and developing enduring epidemiological understandings aligned to the national and state standards. Capture student curiosity by using inductive and deductive reasoning and epidemiological sleuthing. Increase critical thinking skills that empower students with a way to understand and explore the world in which they live. Develop strategies for scientific, mathematical, health, and media literacy and an appreciation of the scientific method. For more information or to register online, go to http://imeet.sjcoe.net/dssp/Epidemiology.html.

June 13-19, 2010
Quincy, CA
(Plumas County)

June 27-July 2, 2010
Sonora, CA
(Tuolumne County)

July 11-17, 2010
Arcata, CA
(Humboldt County)

July 18-24, 2010
Shingletown, CA
(Shasta County)

The Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT)

FIT is a multi-day residence workshop held at 4 northern California locations. FIT is intended for K-12 audiences. The goal of FIT is to provide K-12 teachers with knowledge, skills and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest resource management practices. The program brings together natural resource specialists and teachers from rural and urban settings for one week, working side by side to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interrelationship of forest ecosystems and human use of natural resources. The environment becomes the basis for integrating the learning of many subject areas, including environmental science, physical science, social science, biology, forestry, and history. Visit: http://forestryinstitute.org/. Contact: Stacey Dodge at 888-FIT-PROJ (348-7765) or email: info@forestryinstitute.org.

October 22-24, 2010
Sacramento, CA

California Science Education Conference, sponsored by CSTA. Sacramento Convention Center