Past Events

November 4, 2008
L-SILL 2 Program Overview & Site Visit, Belgrade Central School, ME

The staff of the Belgrade Central School was introduced to the benefits and opportunities of the L-SILL grant. Staff took part in sample activity that highlighted the science-literacy connection and various classroom teachers were interviewed and visited by L-SILL project staff to assess and determine the focus of L-SILL work over the next three years.

October 22, 2008
Science Inquiry Workshop & Site Visit, Greenville, ME

Teachers investigated the unique characteristics of science inquiry while engaging in hands-on activities with links to language literacy including scientists' notebooks.

October 10, 2008
Children's Literature and Tradebooks, MSTA Conference, Gardiner, ME

K-4 teachers explored the role of children's literature and tradebooks in supporting science inquiry with many examples of books that could be used in the area of earth and space, physical, and life science.

September - December 2008
Fall Learning Labs, MMSA office, Augusta, ME

Elementary teachers explored the physics of Magnets (October 9) and Force and Motion (October 30) during two Learning Labs. Teachers participated in hands-on ready-to-use lessons, received classroom materials and a children's book related to key concepts at each session.

September 24, 2008
L-SILL 2 Orientation Meeting, Holiday Inn, Waterville, ME

Thirty-two teachers and administrators from the L-SILL 2 schools across Maine became familiar with the L-SILL program and were introduced to a sampling of science inquiry resources with language literacy connections.

June 25-27, 2008
Linking Science, Inquiry, and Language Literacy Enhancement Summer Teacher Academy, Lord Camden Inn, Camden, ME

The focus of this three day institute was on a key strategy of the science-language literacy link: scientists' notebooks. Teams of teachers from 10 schools across Maine engaged in inquiry-based activities using scientists' notebooks throughout the investigations. Teams submitted an implementation plan for their schools using scientists' notebooks.

March 30, 2008
Linking Science, Inquiry, and Language Literacy NSTA Presentation, Boston, MA

Workshop participants were introduced to the L-SILL program including its benefits, responsibilities, key strategies, and details of participation.

March 20, 2008
Toys in Space, Jefferson Village School

Teachers engaged in activities that used toys as a vehicle for teaching key concepts in force and motion. These toys featured in the workshop were selected by NASA and used to explore they physics of force and motion in a microgravity environment about the space shuttle.

February 12, 2008
Visual Literacy in Science, Abromson Center, South Portland, ME

Participants learned how children's drawings can be used to develop, gauge, and communicate understanding in science. Teachers were introduced to strategies that illustrate the importance of using drawing to communicate science ideas.

January 14-February 15, 2008
Online Workshop More Picture Perfect Science: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry

The NSTA publication More Picture Perfect Science (MPPS): Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry K-4 was the centerpiece of a 5 week online workshop that included discussion of: the essential elements of inquiry, examined how children's books can be used to guide scientific inquiry, and discussed the benefits and cautions in using children's books in science inquiry.