VAST Center Support for Local Districts
The Science Team at Grant Wood AEA works with school districts in Eastern Iowa to help them enhance teaching and learning with the use of science best practices. Our primary services include Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment. We offer classroom & curriculum support, coaching opportunities, and professional development to ensure success for all science educators and their students. This site includes news, information, and resources related to the work we do to support science educators.
- Reach out with questions or requests for science support to Grant Wood AEA Science Consultant Maria Hasken-Averkamp (mhasken-averkamp@gwaea.org.)
- For questions or requests related to FOSS or OpenSciEd (limited availability) kit delivery and pickup, please reach out to the VAST Center at vast@gwaea.org.
- Supports for OpenSciEd implementation through scheduled professional learning experiences and in-district science consultant support are available. Find out about upcoming dates by contacting Maria Hasken-Averkamp (mhasken-averkamp@gwaea.org.)
Connect With Us!
- Check us out on Facebook
- Check out past Science Newsletters or Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Sign up for the monthly science newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education
- Read the VAST Mission
Professional Learning
- Request OpenSciEd Professional Learning customized to district requests to mhasken-averkamp@gwaea.org
- Fall 2025 FOSS Sessions: Grades K-4 on October 21, 2025 and Grades 5-8 on October 22, 2025
- Spring 2026 FOSS Sessions: TBD
Additional Resources
FOSS Resources and Supports
- FOSS for Iowa
- ThinkLink Login
- K-8 FOSS Scope and Sequence
- Plant and Animal Care sheets
- Science Notebooking in K-2
- Video- Science Centered Language Development K-2
- Science Notebooking in 3-5
- Video-Science Centered Language Development 3-5
- Science Notebooking in 6-8
- Video- Science Centered Language Development 6-8
OpenSciEd Resources and Supports
- OpenSciEd
- Check back for future professional learning for OSE
- Norms
- OpenSciEd Instructional Model
- OpenSciEd facebook
Additional Science Resources
Literacy Connection
Suggested Books from Our GWAEA Science Consultant
- Sharing Books Talking Science: Exploring Scientific Concepts with Children’s Literature
- Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning
- Ambitious Science Teaching (Available in the GWAEA Media Library!)
- Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices (Available in the GWAEA Media Library!)
- Confronting the Crisis of Engagement
Center Name
The center was named the Van Allen Science Teaching Center, in honor of Dr. James Van Allen. Want to learn more about the history? Check out this slide deck!