Summer 2026 California Classroom Science – Vol. 38 Issue 4
President's Message
Cell-ebrations!
As summer begins and classrooms across California quiet for a well-earned break, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible momentum, collaboration, and accomplishments that defined this past school year. This issue’s theme, “Cell-ebrations!,” could not be more fitting for the work happening across our science education community.
FYI
Observing and Celebrating the Solstice, June 21, 2026
This year’s June Solstice is on Sunday, June 21, 2026. In most locations north of Equator, the longest day of the year is on or around this date. In San Francisco, this day’s daylight time is 14 hours and 47 minutes - 5 hours and 14 minutes longer than the daylight time of the December Solstice. This year, the solstice occurs at 1:24 am PDT in San…
Learning the Ways of the JEDI: Centering Equity in Lesson Design
Small groups leaned in over clear cups filled with pennies soaking in different solutions. A faint smell of vinegar mixed with excited chatter as students noticed the pennies slowly changing color.
Advocacy in Action: When You Willingly Join The Group Chat
At its May meeting, the State Board of Education (SBE) took up several topics critical to the future of science education in California, and the CASE Advocacy committee put out a call for help. The SBE meeting coincided with the Cal-MSCS state Community of Practice (CoP) meeting, where this year’s participants were gathered around Snoopy‘s hometown…
Cell-ebrating What We Notice: From Classroom Wins to Collective Growth
As the school year winds down, many middle school science teachers find themselves thinking about what they didn't quite get to: the unit they had to shorten, the investigation that needed one more day, or the assessment they wanted to revise but were never quite happy with. You know the drill. Teaching has a way of leaving us with a mental "next…
California Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Partnership (CAL-MSCS)
The California Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Partnership (CAL-MSCS) is a statewide initiative designed to strengthen STEM professional learning across local and statewide systems. The 2025-26 program year has marked many celebrations of impact and the amplification of professional learning opportunities in science education.
A Toast to Science Educators
As the school year ends for most of us, I offer a toast to all the teachers and educators tackling the barriers and making science accessible to all students. I wonder, what does science and teaching science look like where you work? As I close my classroom for the last time, I find myself looking back at how I have taught, or not taught, science…
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California Classroom Science
CASE's signature publication, is an electronic publication that is produced quarterly. The publication consists of mostly original content produced by CASE members and provides information of interest to California science educators.
CCS is packed with information, news, resources, ideas, and activities of current interest to science educators. CCS is delivered to CASE members electronically via e-mail and is available on our website for all to enjoy.
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Thumbnail images and artwork on our homepage come from a variety of sources, including iStock (purchased by our association), free image sites, author contributions, and original designs by our graphics department. All rights remain with their respective creators.
- President's Message - Photo by Vardan Papikyan on Unsplash
- Sky Highlights - Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash
- Avoiding Burnout - Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
- Reframing AI in Science - Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
