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Education Workshops for Individual Teachers—Summer 2008 The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a range of courses and workshops in botany, biology, ecology, environmental studies and science education during both the school year and the summer. Some schools and districts count Garden professional development toward district-required professional development units. Download a printable brochure or a registration form for workshops held at the Garden! For more information: Call (314) 577-5147 or e-mail teachertraining@mobot.org.
At the Garden
GEMS Leadership Workshop Discover Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS), guided discovery math and science curriculum units tested and used in classrooms nationwide. Learn to involve students in hands-on experimentation by using easily obtained, inexpensive materials. “Schoolyard Ecology” which develops sampling and mapping of a school site, and related writing and math skills in students will be investigated. The kit “Environmental Detectives,” in which students consider the complexity of environmental problems, will also be taught. Butterflies, ants, bees and ladybugs will all be explored using four different kits designed for early elementary teachers. Assessment strategies and literacy connections will be covered along with a number of GEMS units. Teachers: grades K–8 In this four-day workshop, teachers will visit four sites all operated by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Learn how best to use each location for a field trip for students and discover the unique resources available at each place. Observe animal behavior at the Butterfly House, learn about testing water quality at Shaw Nature Reserve, discover ways to encourage sustainability both at home and school at EarthWays Center and explore plant adaptations at MBG. An overnight at the Dana Brown Education Center at Shaw Nature Reserve is an optional addition and a great way to end the experience. This overnight includes a guided night hike. Teachers: grades K–8 In this week-long institute, dive into inquiry, increasing both your understanding and use of inquiry-based learning. Compare different approaches to hands-on science. Learn how to guide your students in developing the thinking and reasoning skills needed to make sense of the world around them. While learning the phases of inquiry, participants will learn how to modify their own curriculum materials and lesson plans to make use of this powerful approach to learning. This program is based on the renowned San Francisco Exploratorium’s “Institute for Inquiry.” All activities are aligned to the Missouri Grade Level Expectation’s Science Strand 7 (Inquiry) as well as other various content areas. Space is limited. Reserve your spot now! Teachers: grades K–8
At Litzsinger Road Ecology Center
Introduction to St. Louis Ecology Learn more about the ecology of the St. Louis region by investigating the prairie, woodland and stream habitats at Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, located right in the middle of St. Louis. Participants will increase their understanding of local ecosystems, relate them to basic ecological concepts and gain experience in outdoor environmental investigation. Teachers: grades K–12 Turn a portion of your schoolyard into an outdoor classroom by engaging your students in the planning, development and management of a native plant habitat. This workshop is based on the Earth Partnership for Schools program developed at the University of Wisconsin, Madison Arboretum, where a number of teachers have successfully restored native plant habitats on their school grounds. The workshop is open to teams of at least two teachers from a school. Teachers: grades K–12 MAPPING THE ENVIRONMENT SERIES
The following two courses, part of the Mapping the Environment series, involve geographic information systems software. In each workshop, significant time is dedicated to developing your own curriculum project to implement in your classroom. There is no registration fee for either workshop. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Optional graduate credit is available at an additional fee. Both workshops are by application only—download application. Mapping Environmental IssuesFor teachers with some experience using a geographic information system (GIS), this advanced workshop covers how to identify local data sources and process the data for use in an environmental investigation. Participants will take home their data and an outline for a project. This workshop assumes comfort with basic computer skills, including navigating folders and downloading and unzipping files. Teachers: grades 4–12 Meet your curriculum goals while engaging your students in studies of their local community. Participants will develop a curriculum module to take back to school that uses a place-based approach to education and integrates use of geographic information system (GIS) software and other resources to support student inquiry. A school site license for the GIS software is provided to all participants. Teachers: grades 4–12
At the EarthWays Center
SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS For more information: Contact Julia Feder at (314) 577-0281 or julia.feder@mobot.org. NATURAL HISTORY TRIP Costa Rica: A Quest for Definition “Sustainability” and “service-learning” are current hot topics in education.but what do they really mean, and what value do they hold for our students? Join with other educators in a quest to define these terms for ourselves, and for our students. A special educator rate on this trip to Costa Rica (coordinated by MBG and Central American Service Expeditions) will allow you to consider these topics through first-hand experience, with the goal of preparing you to plan a future learning expedition for your own students. Learn about the flora, fauna, culture, and current issues of Costa Rica-a premier location for eco-tourism and one of the world's most diverse regions-through visits to volcano, cloud forest, pacific coast, rainforest, and agricultural regions. Trip highlights will include Manuel Antonio National Park and a multi-day stay in a sustainable rainforest community. This opportunity is appropriate for teachers of science as well as social studies and Spanish. Teachers: grades 8–College |