Educator Workshops

The new STEELS standards shift away from memorization of facts to productive participation in scientific practice with the goal of deeper understanding. In this workshop, we’ll work together to model the new standards using fossils and paleontology as an example of how to work through this process. Participants will have time to explore the exhibitions Dinosaurs in Their Time and Benedum Hall of Geology with guidance from museum experts to investigate how the study of fossils helps us understand Ancient Earth. This workshop is a hands-on opportunity to practice the STEELS standards with fellow educators and build out resources to help with the transition.

We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.

If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.

When: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

With environmental literacy and sustainability prominent in the new STEELS standards, this workshop will explore ways hands-on design challenges and future-thinking scenarios can be deployed in classrooms to meet these goals. Using a museum program called Life in the Extremes as a model, we’ll guide discussions on how to investigate and explore topics including life in extreme environments, adaptations of plants and animals in harsh conditions, and the use of biomimicry to create sustainable solutions. This is an opportunity to collaborate and design learner-led activities that allow space for questions, making connections, and thoughtful exploration.

We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.

When: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

This workshop takes place at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, PA

Understanding scientific research and how to apply it is an important part of a learner’s process and will be a critical component of the new STEELS standards. Join us at Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental research center in Rector, PA for this new workshop focused on incorporating scientific research into curriculum and informal learning programs. Using the new STEELS standards as guidance, Powdermill educators and experts will discuss how we apply ecological research and how to make it understandable and accessible to learners.

We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.

If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.

When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA

Conversations about human-induced climate change can be overwhelming, however the topic provides a unique opportunity to weave together subjects such as evolution and adaptation, space, technology, environmental justice, and more. Join us for a collaborative effort to plan discussions and build resources to help learners better understand climate change. Meet with other formal and informal educators to develop activities that focus on design thinking, offer possible solutions that can be implemented in your area, and help learners find and use existing climate data in a meaningful way. We’ll use the new STEELS standards to guide discussions and practice project-based learning techniques.

This workshop welcomes educators from all subject areas and grade levels.

If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.

Invasive species of plants and animals can cause large-scale changes to biodiversity in ecosystems and economic harm. Let’s explore the science of invasive species and the challenges of communicating about the issue, including how associated terminology can be problematic or even xenophobic. Meet with other formal and informal educators to develop new approaches to presenting the topic, understanding the threat, and formulating possible solutions. The demands of the STEELS standards will guide workshop discussions aimed at developing project-based learning techniques.

We encourage formal and informal educators from all disciplines to join us for this great opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.

This workshop welcomes educators from all subject areas and grade levels.

If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.

Registration is closed.

Using the exhibition Life in One Cubic Foot as inspiration, explore activities and lessons to teach learners about the dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystems. We’ll visit the exhibition to discover what a cubic foot of land or water reveals about the diversity of life on the planet with the help of “biocubes”, one-cubic-foot frames used to survey animals and plants living in an ecosystem. Meet with other formal and informal educators to think about ways we can support each other in planning for the new STEELS standards and their focus on project-based learning.

Life in One Cubic Foot is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

This workshop welcomes educators from all subject areas and grade levels.

If more than 50% of your students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, your school or organization will be eligible for a scholarship towards a museum field trip after the workshop.

Funding is available to reimburse your school or district for substitute teacher costs on the day that you attend this workshop.