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Product News and Updates

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom

New Resources for Smithsonian Science for the Classroom:

Teacher Instructional Slides

Teacher Instructional Slides are now available for all Smithsonian Science for the Classroom modules (1st edition) and for the available modules (2nd edition). Additional 2nd Edition modules will be added as they are released. Teachers will find instructional slides at both the module and lesson level in a very intuitive manner in both English and Spanish:

New Digital Resource Layout

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom on CSO features an enhanced digital resource layout for easier navigation. Teachers can now locate digital resources (videos, images, digital files) more efficiently within modules and lessons. Lesson digital resources are conveniently found at Point of Use in the Materials and Preparation, Procedure, and Extension tabs.
Furthermore, some Student Notebook and Activity Sheets have been separated, allowing teachers to assign them individually as needed.

New 'Save State' Feature

Teachers can now save their work on digital resources in Carolina Science Online!
Now you can open a resource, such as a Lesson Activity Sheet, add information, and save it with a unique name like Observation 1. This is called a “Save State.” Then when you want to access it again, all your information will have been saved!
 
Watch this video to learn more:

STEM Career Vision Board Activity

Students explore STEM careers and model themselves in a career they choose with this free, engaging, hands-on activity. Visit our See Yourself in Science page and download this activity and more.

The STEM career vision board activity includes:

  • A comprehensive teacher guide equipped with easy-to-follow instructions as well as recommended resources.
  • An engaging worksheet that explores a multitude of STEM careers and motivates students to establish career goals.
 

STCMS® Product Updates

Important Update! New Water Test Kit for STCMS Ecosystems

To simplify investigations for teachers and students, Carolina has developed a new Water Test Kit for STCMS Ecosystems (Lessons 1,7). The pond water testing is more user-friendly, and students will be able to follow the step-by-step instructions included on the new card set (image below) with confidence.

New water test kits will begin shipping mid-December 2024. This includes any kits, refurbishments or line-item sales.

You will also find the Update Set on CarolinaScienceOnline within the Ecosystems module. To navigate to the update set on CSO: Unit Overview > Unit Resources > Digital Resources > Categories > Update Set >  

Replacement Item Numbers:

Item 513681 – ECOSYS WATER TEST KIT, 1-CLASS (replaced 513605) 

Item 513682 – WATER TEST KIT, ECO, REFILL (replaced 513606) 

Item 513683 – WATER TEST KIT, ECO, ADD-ON (replaced 513607) 
 
Item 513682U5 – WATER TEST KIT, ECO, 5-CLASS REFILL 
(includes the Water Test Kit Refill 513682 and the 4-class add-on 513683) 

New Resources for STCMS:

Teacher Instructional Slides

Teacher Instructional Slides are now available for all STCMS units. Teachers can download and easily edit in Google Slides.

CarolinaScienceOnline:

Select Unit > Select Unit Resources > Find Instructional slides links

Select Lesson > Lesson Resources > Categories > Instructional Slides > Find Instructional slides link

Watch this video to learn more: STCMS Instructional Slides Demo

Test Banks

Test Banks are now available for all STCMS units. Only lessons that require assessment will include a test bank – so not all lessons will have a test bank. Teachers can download and easily create their own tests using the bank of multi-dimensional questions provided. These are not meant to be test-ready when downloaded.

CarolinaScienceOnline:

Select Unit > Select Lesson > Lesson Resources > Teacher Test Bank > Download > Edit and Save

 

Watch this video to learn more: STCMS Test Bank Demo

Smithsonian Science Product Updates


How Do Living Things Stay Safe and Grow? SSftC Grade 1
Item #115113 Fur, Craft Sheets (4) are no longer needed in this kit  
How Can We Send a Message Using Sound? SSftC Grade 1
Rubber Synthetic Sheets are now a pack of 20, not 15 (New Item# is 516339 and replaces #972276)
Tuning Fork item number has been updated (New Item# is 972263 and replaces #516322)
How Can We Predict Patterns of Motion? SSftC Grade 3
Magnet, Alnico Bar item number has been updated (New Item# is 517015 and replaces #758400)
Support Ring Cast Iron has been updated to Support Ring, Closed w/Clamp
(New Item# is 517014 and replaces #707242 )
What Is Our Evidence that We Live on a Changing Earth? SSftC Grade 4
Stir Stick Plastic, Pack of 250 has been replaced with Coffee Stirrer, Pack of 1000 (New Item# is 517317 and replaces #519032)
Smithsonian Science for the Classroom™: How Can We Change Solids and Liquids?
Item 972151 Cup, 1-1/4 oz, with Lid, Pack of 45 has been replaced by item 933110 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 48.
Smithsonian Science for the Classroom™: How Can We Identify Materials Based on Their Properties?
Item 972151 Cup, 1-1/4 oz, with Lid, Pack of 45 has been replaced by item 933110 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 48.

#114005A Lightbulb, 72W, Soft White, Pack of 2 has been replaced by Item #518713 LIGHT BULB,100W 120V T8 CLR EA. This change affects the following Smithsonian modules.

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom

How Can We Be Ready for Weather?
How Can We Stay Cool in the Sun?
How Can We Provide Energy to People’s Homes?

STCMS

Weather & Climate Systems
Electricity, Waves, and Information Transfer

STC Secondary (6-8)

Investigating Circuit Design
Discovering Electrical Systems
Researching the Sun-Earth-Moon System
Understanding Weather & Climate

Ecosystems and Their Interactions STC Grades 6-8
674753 Brine Shrimp Flakes (Limited Quantity Available) Will be replaced by Item #972432 Frog Bites, 1.2oz.
STC Program™: Chemical Tests
Item 972151 Cup, 1-1/4 oz, with Lid, Pack of 45 has been replaced by
Item 933110 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 48.
STC-Secondary™: Exploring Plate Tectonics
Item 972151 Cup, 1-1/4 oz, with Lid, Pack of 45 has been replaced by
item 933110 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 48.
Item 971471 Glue, White, 128oz has been replaced by item 865442 Glue, White, 1 gallon
STC Program™: Organisms—From Macro to Micro (Replacement Parts)
Item 974852 Cup with Lid, Plastic Clear, 1-1/4 oz, Pack of 15 has been replaced by
Item 514507 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 18.
STC-Secondary™: Investigating Biodiversity and Interdependence
Item 974852 Cup with Lid, Plastic Clear, 1-1/4 oz, Pack of 15 has been replaced by
Item 514507 Cup, Plastic, 1 oz, with Lid, Pack of 18.
STC Program™ – Exploring Planetary Systems
Item 971471 Glue, White, 128oz has been replaced by item 865442 Glue, White, 1 gallon
STC Program™ – Solids and Liquids
Item 971471 Glue, White, 128oz has been replaced by item 865442 Glue, White, 1 gallon
STC Program™ – Earth’s Dynamic Systems
Item 971471 Glue, White, 128oz has been replaced by item 865442 Glue, White, 1 gallon

STCMS™: Structure and Function
There has been a shortage of 4–5” Plain Frogs. As a substitution, 5”+ frogs will be sent in their place.
This substitution affects:

  • Structure and Function 1-class kits: you will still receive 1 bucket of 16 frogs that are 5”+
  • Structure and Function 5-class kits: you will now receive 4 buckets of 20 5”+ frogs, in leu of the previous 2 buckets containing 40 frogs.

If you purchase the individual line items for the 4-5” frog buckets, substitutions are as follows:
When item 513427 FROGS, Perfect Solution, 4-5″ PLAIN, BKT/16 is not available, it will be substituted by
Item 513431 FROGS, Perfect Solution, 5”+ PLAIN, BKT/16
When item 513428 Frogs, Perfect Solution, 4–5” PLAIN, BKT/40 is not available, it will be substituted
by item 513432 FROGS, Perfect Solution, 5”+, BKT/20, QTY of 2.

Grade 1 Life Science: How Do Living Things Stay Safe and Grow?
Lesson 2: In the event of a shortage of banana plants, use the provided Update Set with instructions for completing lesson 2.
Grade 4 Earth Science: What Is Our Evidence That We Live on a Changing Earth?
National Geographic moved videos that were associated with Lessons 5 and 6. The digital resources, including the digital teacher guide instructions, will be updated on Carolina Science Online as well as the on the Smithsonian’s webpage: https://ssec.si.edu/earthevidence
• Lesson 5: Shake It Up
  • Earthquake Shaking
    • For Lesson 5, show the first 34 seconds of this video which shows shaking during a 30 November 2018 earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska. The earthquake’s focus was 46.7 km under the surface of Earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjvpk2Fe6UQ
• For Lesson 6, show three video clips.
  • 1:00-1:23 of this video (shown in Lesson 5) which shows shaking during a 30 November 2018 earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska. The earthquake’s focus was 46.7 km under the surface of Earth.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjvpk2Fe6UQ
  • 00:23-00:57 of this video which shows shaking during a 14 February 2016 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. The earthquake’s focus was 15 km under the surface of Earth. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-35572717
  • The first 50 seconds of this video which shows shaking during a 05 July 2019 earthquake in Ridgecrest, California. The earthquake’s focus was 8 km under the surface of Earth. https://youtu.be/ZjtpldwveGA
New for Smithsonian Science for the Classroom:
  • Smithsonian Science for the Classroom kindergarten modules—All Kindergarten modules now available including all digital resources and teacher resource videos!
See the Modules
  • SS@HOME—Kindergarten now available! All resources for remote teaching and learning are available on CarolinaScienceOnline.com for grades K–5.
  • Get Ready! Professional Learning—On-demand professional learning opportunities when you want them, where you are.
Smithsonian Science for the Classroom on CarolinaScienceOnline.com:
  • Teacher Resource Videos for Kindergarten have been added! Videos for grades K–5 have been added and can be easily accessed on a module’s Digital Resources tab by selecting “Video” under the Categories filter.
  • Digital files for all titles are now on the Digital Resources tab and found with each lesson’s Digital Resources icon. The digital files also are still available on the Smithsonian webpage.
  • Access the grade 2 How Can We Change Solids and Liquids? Ada Asks videos on the module’s Digital Resources tab.
  • Card sets for grades 1–5 modules have been digitized and can be easily accessed on a module’s Digital Resources tab by selecting “Card Set” under the Categories filter.
  • Share to Google® is now available for all student resources.
New for Smithsonian’s STCMS:
  • STCMS@HOME—Resources for remote teaching and learning are available for all units on CarolinaScienceOnline.com
  • Get Ready! Professional Learning—On-demand professional learning opportunities when you want them, where you are.
Smithsonian’s STCMS on CarolinaScienceOnline.com:
  • Card sets have been digitized and can be found by selecting “Card Set” under the Categories filter.
  • Exit Slips and Reflecting on What You’ve Done resources have been digitized and can be found by selecting either option under the Categories filter.
  • Student Investigation Sheet PDFs are now posted individually by lesson.

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