This federally funded competitive grant program provides funds to support school and/or district teams to engage in professional development (PD) to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to instruction. This opportunity will give teams tools to use service-learning to weave together instruction in science, social emotional learning (SEL), and other content areas, where appropriate.
Research from a randomized controlled trial in 2017-2018 showed that Connect Science Energy:
- Improved teacher science instructional practices,
- Boosted student science achievement,
- Improved student attitudes and beliefs about energy, and
- If used well, enhanced social skills.
This grant is designed to support teachers' science instruction, boost students' collaborative skills, and spark students' interest in future civic work. Participants will implement Connect Science Energy and/or develop one or more additional units (with existing vetted science materials) that use service-learning to integrate SEL, science and civics education.
Funded applicants will engage school/district teams to participate in one or both of the following professional development institutes during FY20 and, pending appropriation and meeting of continuation grant requirements FY21:
- Connect Science Energy (Fourth Grade) — FY20: Participants will learn about and implement the Connect Science Energy curricula, a 12-week project-based learning unit through which fourth graders explore the topics of energy and natural resources in depth and engage in science through service-learning. The program prepares students to be knowledgeable and engaged citizens who can collaborate with others to solve community problems. Participating fourth grade teachers will implement the standards aligned unit with their students in Spring 2020.
- Connect Science Design (Third – Fifth Grade) — FY20 and FY21: Teams will engage in professional development to design and plan standards aligned units of study that use Connect Science's interdisciplinary service-learning approach for new grades (third through fifth) and topics, and that includes explicit teaching and deeper learning related to social and emotional competencies. These units will build upon the district's existing science curricular materials and/or other vetted materials.
Competitive priority will be given to districts designated as requiring assistance or intervention, as well as districts in receivership.
None is available.
Funds must be used to support school and/or district team's participation in the Connect Science Institutes, and the development and implementation of Connect Science units. Fund use may include but is not limited to: stipends for team members' participation in professional development (Connect Science Institutes), stipends for planning, substitutes, travel and other costs associated with participation.
Applicants must send a team of up to five that includes fourth grade teachers and a curriculum coordinator/director to the Connect Science: Energy Institute (5-days total)