Jefferson Lab image by Aileen Devlin
Hampton Roads teachers are invited to meet SOL science objectives with new strategies
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the 2024-2025 Jefferson Lab Science Activities for Teachers (JSAT) program! This free after-school program, funded by the Jefferson Science Associates Initiatives Fund, is designed to enhance the skills of 5th, 6th and 8th grade middle school science teachers in the physical sciences.
Running from September 2024 to May 2025, JSAT offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes 16 sessions throughout the school year. Each session features physical science-related activities, projects and lectures by Jefferson Lab Science Education staff. Topics covered include matter, energy transfer, force and motion, magnetism and electricity, atomic structure, waves and sound, simple machines, watersheds and optics. All JSAT components address the National Science Education Standards and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).
"This program is a fantastic chance for teachers to get hands-on activities and experiments for expanded physical science knowledge and pick up practical tools to make science exciting for their students," said Carol McKisson, Jefferson Lab Science Education administrator. "We're dedicated to helping educators find new and innovative ways to teach and get kids excited about STEM."
JSAT aims to cover material that participants are currently teaching, enabling them to apply new strategies directly to their lesson plans and meet Virginia SOL science objectives. Additionally, teachers receive all necessary materials to implement these new strategies in their classrooms.
"By participating in JSAT, teachers not only improve their own skills but also have the opportunity to network and collaborate with other educators from across Hampton Roads," McKisson added.
In addition to the valuable knowledge and resources provided, teachers who attend at least 80% of the program sessions are eligible to receive a $100 stipend and up to 48 recertification points. This incentive underscores Jefferson Lab's commitment to teacher development and excellence in education.
"JSAT is an investment in our teachers and, in turn, our students," said Lisa Surles-Law, Jefferson Lab Science Education manager. "We believe that well-equipped and confident teachers are essential for inspiring young minds and fostering a lifelong love for science."
Interested teachers can submit their applications online before September 13, 2024.
The JSAT program is funded by a grant from the Jefferson Science Associates Initiatives Fund. The JSA Initiatives Fund program was established to support programs, initiatives and activities that further the scientific outreach, and promote the science, education and technology missions of Jefferson Lab in ways that complement its basic and applied research focus.
Further Reading
Videos from Jefferson Lab's Virtual Teacher Night
Contact Michelle Alvarez, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, malvarez@jlab.org