The Physics Department at the University of Kentucky has received a small grant from the Division of Condensed Matter Physics of the American Institute of Physics that will pay for roundtrip shipping (by UPS) so that the Physics Petting Zoo can visit classrooms in Eastern and Central Kentucky. We invite you to apply for this.

We will be most interested in the venues that do some of these things:

• put the Physics Petting Zoo in front of a lot of interested people, by having many classroom groups visit it, possibly in several schools;
• use it as part of a Science Fun Night;
• use it as the basis for a classroom learning experience that extends over several days.

The Physics Petting Zoo can visit your area for up to two weeks. There is no charge for this.

For information about the Physics Petting Zoo, please visit

https://www.pa.uky.edu/sciworks/travelzoo/ .

The application form and instructions for this program are at

http://www.pa.uky.edu/sciworks/travelzoo/application.docx

The Physics Petting Zoo set up in a school library. A scene at a Science Fun Night, In a classroom

APPLICATION FORM FOR THE VISITING PHYSICS PETTING ZOO

The Visiting Physics Petting Zoo is described at https://www.pa.uky.edu/sciworks/travelzoo/ .

Name:

email address:

telephone number:

School:

Mailing address:

Please explain how you plan to use the Physics Petting Zoo: the nature of the events and likely number of participants.

If there are specific dates, please specify these.

Please return this form to Joe Straley ( jstraley@uky.edu ) with the subject line “Physics Petting Zoo Application.” If you have questions, write to jstraley@uky.edu .

Conditions: There is no charge for this; the round trip is prepaid. It is understood that things break or go missing; however, please try to take care of the Physics Petting Zoo. Please return it “within two weeks” or on an agreed schedule.

USER AGREEMENT for the VISITING PHYSICS PETTING ZOO

1. There is no charge for this; the round trip is prepaid.

2. We will agree how long the Visiting Physics Petting Zoo visits your school. You will return the Zoo on

time.

3. The Visiting Physics Petting Zoo will always have adult supervision. It’s pretty hard to hurt yourself

with items in the Zoo, but kids will try.

4. Please try to take care of the Visiting Physics Petting Zoo.

Looking for low-cost, engaging ways to bring hands-on engineering to your elementary students and families? Physical copies of Family Engineering: An Activity and Event Planning Guide are currently being made available to educators, STEM specialists, and informal learning coordinators completely free of charge -- including free shipping (while supplies last).

Modeled after Family Math and Family Science, this guide was developed by Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering, ASEE, and the Foundation for Family Science & Engineering under a grant from the National Science Foundation. It contains turnkey, budget-friendly activities designed to build 21st-century inquiry, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through family STEM nights, after-school programs, or classroom use.

• Cost: 100% Free (Books + Shipping covered)

• Eligible: Teachers, STEM Directors, After-school/Informal Educators, Museum Staff, and Outreach Coordinators.

• Quantities: Individual classroom copies or bulk sets for schools/districts are available while supply lasts (2,500 total copies).

Sample Resources:

• Family Engineering Blast Off Challenge Card
• Family Engineering Blast Off Sample Activity

How to Request:

Fill out the brief request form via the following link to secure your copy:

Request your free Family Engineering Guidebook

My name is Lauren, I am the Founder of Let's Go Compost, a national nonprofit focused on soil science education through hands-on STEM learning! We currently work with 250+ public schools and youth programs across 29 states.

 

I am reaching out to STEM-related and nature-based organizations as Let’s Go Compost is providing free indoor worm composting farm kits to qualifying public schools, public libraries, and environmental education-related nonprofits (like museums and gardens) in the United States for leading up to Earth Month 2026! We are focused on expanding our offerings in your area, so I wanted to reach out in case your organization is interested or if you know of any other organizations in your area who may be interested in participating.

 

Each kit includes:

1. One small indoor worm compost bin (Materials provided will not handle more than 0.5-1.0 lb of food waste each week. These systems are designed for small-scale educational use only. They are not intended to process ongoing food waste or public drop-off materials.)
2. A certificate for 500 composting worms
3. 3 hours of virtual support
4. Five one-hour STEM activity guides 
5. One copy of The Wild West of Waste children's picture book

 

Let’s Go Compost provides initial materials and educational support for setup and curriculum integration. Ongoing maintenance, care of the worms, and replacement of materials (such as bedding or food) would be the responsibility of the participating organization. 

 

After the program concludes, participating organizations are encouraged to continue using their worm farm for ongoing STEM education. A digital Worm Care Guide and optional follow-up session are available to participants to support long-term success. Participants choosing not to continue must responsibly rehome the worms to a local gardener, composter, or community garden rather than disposing of them. Let's Go Compost can assist in rehoming, if needed!

 

If you know of a school or library that may interested, here is a link to learn more and to apply:

www.letsgocompost.org/schools

www.letsgocompost.org/libraries

 

We do not have a dedicated page (yet) for environmental nonprofits, museums, and gardens, and ask them to email us directly if interested.

 

It is a rolling deadline with applications being processed in the order they are received. This said, we are hoping to have all materials shipped for the Spring 2026 semester by the end of January.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration! I hope you have a wonderful New Year.

 

"Worm" wishes,

 

LAUREN CLICK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has partnered with research contractor HumRRO (Human Resources Research Organization), which is conducting a survey among Kentucky teachers, principals and district staff who provide or oversee science instruction. Individuals currently in one of these roles are encouraged to complete the survey.

All responses will be used as part of a study exploring the alignment between science instruction and the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) in Kentucky. Please note that participation is voluntary and, to respect privacy, all responses will remain anonymous. The results of the survey will be analyzed and reported in the findings.

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, Jan. 23. Participation in this important research effort is encouraged.

For questions regarding participation in this study, please contact Emily Dickinson at edickinson@humrro.org. 

Are you a high school biology teacher (or science teacher that teaches environmental science concepts)? Are you looking for an energizing professional learning experience this summer? Would you like to learn more about urban ecological research while working with an actual biologist as an apprentice in a professional working environment? Are you curious about ways to infuse your curriculum with immediately relevant environmental justice issues?

 

The University of Louisville is accepting applications for a paid fellowship (roughly $9,000) funded by the National Science Foundation that begins in June 2026. 

 

Additional information about the project can be found via the project website (https://education.louisville.edu/research/bio-rets-urban-ecology-research-and-environmental-justice).

The project application can be found at:Register with Education and Training Application (ETAP) (Personal information, demographic information, etc.) and submit your application at: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/6304/opportunity/11386

 

Further questions can be directed to Dr. Justin McFadden (justin.mcfadden@louisville.edu).

Six Kentucky teachers have received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), representing the highest honor bestowed by the United States government for K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics teaching.

The Kentucky teachers among the 336 teachers and mentors from around the nation selected for the awards are:

• Miranda Messer, Jefferson County;
• Benjamin Molberger, Jefferson County;
• Hillary McWhorter, Fayette County (KSTA Board Member)
• Nova Pleman, Fayette County;
• Marcus Blakeney, Jefferson County; and
• Matthew Bryant, Warren County.

A national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics and science education researchers, district level personnel and classroom teachers recommend up to 110 teachers each year to receive PAEMST awards. The nomination is given to up to two teachers in mathematics and/or science from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories, along with schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity in the U.S. and overseas. 

Teachers who are selected as PAEMST awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a presidential certificate and join an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who can influence state/jurisdiction and national STEM teaching.

The awards program is administered by the NSF on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

https://pimser.org/science-professional-learning-opportunities/

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is inviting high school teachers to become Health DataWell Ambassadors during the 2025-26 academic year. Ambassadors will implement the Health DataWell High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in their classrooms and help to amplify the reach and impact of these materials – both locally and nationally. NSTA Professional Learning experts will lead Ambassadors through various virtual professional learning experiences throughout the year, preparing them for presentations at NSTA’s Spring National Conference in Anaheim, CA, April 15-18, 2026.

Please read this flyer for more information. The application deadline is August 8, 2025.

Happy Friday!

Just wanted to let you know that teachers can now sign up for Adopt A Cow for next school year! Here is our message to them and anyone who wants to join. Feel free to spread the word!

 

Over 1.7M students joined Adopt a Cow last year—now it’s your turn!  
 Perfect for any classroom 
 Live farm tours & virtual chats 
 Common Core-aligned 
 Totally FREE 
 Enroll by Sept. 15: discoverdairy.com/adopt