Welcome to back to school night!

Contact info:

• tdardis@Edgemont.org
• x1520
• room A8
• Extra help:
• Wednesdays after school and Mondays before school 7:40, room A8

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Resources:

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SWAG ORDER FORM: email tdardis@edgemont.org with selections!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zcbVJmmWOZTvrQQ4hut8YERAyA8suAojpQ7VBueKJvQ/edit

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Science Research

https://sites.google.com/edgemont.org/science-scholars/home

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(science scholars) PARENT CONTACT FORM- please complete!

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AP Environmental Science

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off to a great start!

10^th graders

10^th grade: the “get it all planned” year

• Home experiment (model the procedure on a small scale)
• Secure mentor- map out summer plans
• Introduction to reading journal articles
• Vocabulary practice
• Literature review
• SOMERS: research proposal project competition and STEAM Fair
• Edgemont Symposium
• Attend area competitions (JSHS, Tri-County, WESEF) as a team support!
• Optional-but-fun weekend activities
• any lab pre-forms/ medical forms! Research PLAN
• Volunteer with WRMSSEF

How parents can help:

• mentor networks are EVERYTHING!
• Volunteer as a Judge!
• Support their passions!
• Be clear on what is realistic over the summer transportation wise!

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11^th graders

• Summer of 11^th grade: work in lab with mentor to collect phase 1 data
• 11^th grade: the “in the thick of it all” year
• Write up research paper
• Create poster based on paper (foundation for WESEF)
• Compete! WESEF , Genius Olympiad, Tri County
• Continue adding to lit review and vocab work
• Help 10^th graders
• Promote excitement in the school about our team!
• how parents can help:
• make sure your scholar can clearly explain to you the problem they are collecting data about and how that data will answer a question.
• let them present to you a million times!
• mentor networks are EVERYTHING!
• Volunteer as a Judge!
• give them confidence: be their biggest cheerleader (besides me!) !

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12^th graders

• Summer of 12^th grade: work in lab with mentor to collect phase 2 data
• (can be in a new direction, or an EXPANSION of phase 1 with NEW data collection)
• 12^th grade: the “perfect it “year!
• Write up research paper (foundation for STS/ WESEF/ )
• Create poster based on paper (foundation for WESEF)
• Create slides based on paper (foundation for JSHS)
• Continue adding to lit review and vocab work
• Judge at SOMERS
• Compete at JSHS, Tri-County Science and Technology Fair, WESEF, STS
• Help 10^th and 11^th graders
• Organize our end of year symposium
• Pump up the team!
• How parents can help: Help edit STS essays, check in on them, let them vent, let them present to you a million times!, give them down time, give them confidence: be their biggest cheerleader! Judge, help us build mentor network!

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Our rubrics & bi-weekly meeting goal sheets

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Df0NA87CNLKlf_l19CBldi8B2GB8B85G/view?usp=sharing

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Basically our work follows a pattern:

scholars are either working on

• background prep (reading, contacting mentors, practicing presentations)

or

• creating/ editing/ peer reviewing their deliverables (paper, poster, power points)

Whatever needs to get done in the next two weeks become our goals

Goals are flexible- if a rough week happens, or things are accomplished really fast- goals change!

Mentor Role

• Pre-summer work - help student create researchable question tied to a problem or “gap” in their chosen field
• Recommend journal articles
• Work with your student (in lab) or sending data virtually for about 100 hours over the 10th to 11th grade summer

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• Post-summer, help student use data to find answer to the research question (statistics, analysis)
• Provide recommendations for the applications in fall
• double check paper, cheer them on!

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• can continue the relationship over 11th grade summer, too- or students may move on with new mentor

• Approximate deadline – December (by November to give time to the important revision process!)
• 9^th (judges are 12^th graders)
• Poster format
• Individual or Teams (up to 3 students)
• Projects must have been done within 16 months of the fair
• Required materials:
• All ISEF forms
• (1, 1A, 1B, Research Plan, additional forms)
• Paper
• Abstract
• Poster

Link to find your regional fair and more information:�https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/affiliated-fair-network/

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• Approximate deadline – Mid. November
• 12^th graders/ 11th grade
• PowerPoint format (Google Slides may be allowed)
• Individual projects suggested. Teams may be allowed to have the “team leader” present. Teams may be allowed to present via poster for local prizes.
• Projects could have been done at any time during high school or over an extended period of time (multiple years)
• Potentially Required forms:
• Paper
• Scientist Certification
• Student Certification
• Teacher Certification
• Abstract

Link for more information:�https://www.jshs.org/

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• Only winners at a regional or state, ISEF-affiliated fair can progress onto the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Link for more information:�https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/affiliated-fair-network/

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• November 6th
• 12^th graders
• Paper format
• Individual projects only. No teams
• Projects could have been done at any time during high school or over an extended period of time (multiple years)
• Required materials:
• Application
• Paper and Abstract
• Personal Essays
• Transcript and Standardized Test Scores
• Teacher Reco.
• Guidance Reco./School Report
• Mentor Reco.

Link for more information:�https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/

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• Approximate deadline – Late February/Early March
• 9^th - 12^th graders
• Poster format
• Individual or Teams (up to 2 students)
• Projects could have been done at any time during high school or over an extended period of time (multiple years)
• Required materials:
• Paper
• Abstract

Link for more information:

www.GeniusOlympiad.org

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Optional but fun Weekend Activity!

October: movie night

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November:???

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December: Untermyer Illuminations Volunteer event, scavenger hunt and guided tour

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AP Environmental Science!

• Learning about the interconnectedness and services Ecosystems provide
• Understanding human alterations to natural systems
• Finding the solutions to create a sustainable future for the world
• Becoming environmental stewards and environmental justice leaders

Class set up

Mini lesson

Hands on Activity (observations/ discussions/ readings)

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larger background projects

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Tests

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• All aligned with the CED for the AP exam.
• All using real-life examples/ data

Our Topics:

• The Living World: Ecosystems Is any living thing truly self-sufficient?
• The Living World: Biodiversity Will earth always bounce back?
• Populations Are we really in this all together?
• Earth Systems and Resources Is change the only thing that never changes?
• Land and Water Use Is it human nature to be environmental stewards or environmental consumers?
• Energy Resources and Consumption Is technology worth the cost? Have we gone too far or not far enough?
• Atmospheric Pollution Has the industrial revolution been worth the cost of global warming?
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution How much of the earth is it ok to make unusable?
• Global Change Do we all have the capability to change the world? Do we all have the duty to try?

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How can parents help?

Check in about vocab!

Ask them the aim question- they should be able to give you a concise, clear answer!

Also, the special readings can provide a great topic for debate or discussion about a pressing environmental issue in the news!