Still Exploring the Resource Library? There’s More to See.
If you haven’t had a chance to dive into the new Switch Classroom Website, we hope you’ll take a look. It’s full of free, classroom-ready materials: lesson plans, labs, videos, and activities, all searchable, downloadable, and easy to adapt to your needs. Whether you’re planning next week or next unit, there’s something there to support you.
You’ll also find a growing video library featuring clear, accessible explanations of energy topics across disciplines. These are great for introducing concepts or sparking discussion among students. Be sure to use our customizable filters to find the resources that work best for your classroom!
Looking for lessons you used on the old LMS? This short guide shows where each resource now lives, with direct links to help you pick up right where you left off.
AP ES Need to Know Webinar
Join us on September 23rd from 6:00 – 7:00 PM CST for an AP Environmental Science webinar focused on need to know strategies for the exam, led by experienced AP ES teachers and readers from Switch Classroom’s Teacher Advisory Council. It’s free, practical, and open to all teachers. Click here to register.
September Resources
This month, we’re featuring two of our most-popular resources, each one a complete starter pack with a bell ringer, video, vocabulary, quiz, and cloze notes. They’re designed to make introducing key energy topics simple and flexible for your classroom.
To find the complete lessons, check out our Resources page!
Upper Elementary Alignment Guide
Our Alignment Guides were designed by our teachers, with over 250 years of combined teaching experience, to help you map Switch Classroom lessons to the standards you already teach. They offer a clear path for how each resource can fit into your existing curriculum, saving you time and supporting alignment across grade levels and subjects.
This month, we’re spotlighting the Upper Elementary Alignment Guide, a helpful tool for grades 4-5. It highlights which lessons support foundational science concepts and shows how you can integrate energy topics into your curriculum with ease.
April’s Story: Summer Institute
TAC member and high school science teacher April Thompson shares her reflections from our Summer Institute in Houston. From touring energy sites to collaborating with fellow educators, April offers an honest and inspiring look at what the experience meant to her, and how it’s already shaping her classroom this fall.
Head to the Switch Classroom Blog to read her story!
Oklahoma Grant Opportunity
Teaching in Oklahoma? The Oklahoma Geological Foundation offers quick, easy-to-apply Earth Science education grants to support teachers, classrooms, and students across the state. The application takes just a few minutes!
Get Creative for Earth Science Week!
The American Geosciences Institute is now accepting entries for its annual contests in photography, video, visual arts, and essay, all tied to this year’s Earth Science Week themes. Submissions are due on October 17th. Learn more here.
Upcoming Teacher Conferences
This fall, Switch Classroom and members of our Teacher Advisory Council will be presenting at education conferences across the U.S. and Canada. If you’ll be attending any of these events, come find us! We’d love to connect in person.
- Sept. 25: TRSA Teacher Appreciation Night (Tulsa, OK)
- Oct. 16: 10Peaks Innovation Xchange (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada)
- Oct. 23-25: BC Science Teachers’ Association Catalyst Conference
(Chilliwack, BC, Canada) - Oct. 28: NYC MfA (virtual)
- Nov. 6-7: NCSTA Conference (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Nov. 7-10: STANYS Conference (Syracuse, NY)
- Nov. 12-15: NSTA Conference (Minneapolis, MN)
Join the Team!
Calling all educators! Apply here to join our Teacher Advisory Council and get paid to advise, share, and build content.
Stay connected with the latest updates, resources, and inspiring stories in the next edition of the Switch Classroom newsletter, and don’t forget to follow us on social media! If you know a colleague who might benefit from these resources, we’d love for you to pass them along.