Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability

SOLD OUT! This series is also offered later in July.

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday July 1, Tuesday July 2, and Wednesday July 3. In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! How will science education be transformed by the creation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)? Dive into the Framework for K-12 Education to discover the principles underlying the NGSS. Gain experience with the scientific practices, cross-cutting themes, and disciplinary core ideas that comprise the new framework. Team up with other educators to discuss and interpret these concepts, and to brainstorm ways to integrate them into your teaching practice. You will have opportunities to work closely with teachers of your own grade level, as well as to connect with other grade levels to consider the big picture of this shift in science education.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

This workshop is sold out! We apologize for any inconvenience.  This series is also offered later in July.

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday July 8, Tuesday July 9, and Wednesday July 10. In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! Explore urban ecology and discover ways to engage your students in meaningful outdoor learning. Get to know some of San Francisco's native plants and animals and learn about our city's ecological history. Delve into activities that your middle school students can do on the schoolyard, in small urban green spaces near your school, or on field trips to larger spaces such as Golden Gate Park.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Thursday July 11 and Friday July 12. In order to participate, you must be able to attend both sessions.

NEW! Explore urban ecology and discover ways to engage your students in meaningful outdoor learning. Get to know some of San Francisco's native plants and animals and learn about our city's ecological history. Delve into activities that your upper elementary students can do on the schoolyard, in small urban green spaces near your school, or on field trips to larger spaces such as Golden Gate Park.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday July 15, Tuesday July 16, and Wednesday July 17. In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! How will science education be transformed by the creation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)? Dive into the Framework for K-12 Education to discover the principles underlying the NGSS. Gain experience with the scientific practices, cross-cutting themes, and disciplinary core ideas that comprise the new framework. Team up with other educators to discuss and interpret these concepts, and to brainstorm ways to integrate them into your teaching practice. You will have opportunities to work closely with teachers of your own grade level, as well as to connect with other grade levels to consider the big picture of this shift in science education.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

SOLD OUT!!

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday July 29, Tuesday July 30, and Wednesday July 31. In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

What exactly is scientific inquiry, and how can you integrate it into your classroom? Engage in inquiry as a learner to experience for yourself the benefits and challenges of this approach to science learning. Then explore age-appropriate strategies for doing inquiry with your preschool and lower elementary students. Leave with the confidence to bring these fun and effective scientific practices into your classroom.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

This workshop is sold out! We apologize for any inconvenience.

SOLD OUT!!

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday August 5, Tuesday August 6, and Wednesday August 7. In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

What exactly is scientific inquiry, and how can you integrate it into your classroom? Engage in inquiry as a learner to experience for yourself the benefits and challenges of this approach to science learning. Then explore age-appropriate strategies for doing inquiry with your upper elementary students. Leave with the confidence to bring these fun and effective scientific practices into your classroom.

A $35 fee is required to register. Participants will receive a $150 stipend upon completion of the series.

This workshop is sold out! We apologize for any inconvenience.

Tickets: $15

Prepare to lead your students on an exploration of tropical rainforests, one of the most fascinating ecosystems on the planet. This workshop will enhance your understanding of the structure of tropical rainforests, bird adaptations, rainforests soils, plant-animal interactions, and other topics. Explore the Academy's Rainforests of the World exhibit and discover ways to connect this unique exhibit with your classroom curriculum.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Rainforests of the World (grades K-3) Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Rainforest (K-3) Kit page.

Tickets: $15

Explore the physical properties of rocks, minerals, and sand through hands-on observation and investigation. Discover the difference between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, learn about the rock cycle, and trace the mineral resources used to manufacture objects that you use every day. While appropriate for grades 2 - 5, this kit emphasizes 4th grade science content standards.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Geology (grades 2 - 5) Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Geology (2-5) Kit page.

Tickets: $15

How can we make field trips into meaningful educational experiences? Come spend the day in our exhibits and learn about best practices in field trip facilitation. With guidance from Academy educators, you will collaborate with other middle and high school teachers to design an exciting and educational field trip for your students, including pre and post activities for your classroom. Leave with a ready-to-use plan and the confidence to lead an awesome trip.

Tickets: $15

Join us to experience hands-on activities that illuminate the hidden processes of our planet. Learn about the Earth's layers, the movement of tectonic plates, and earthquakes. Take a look back over geologic time and check out some fossils from key points in Earth's history.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Geology (grades 6-12) Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Geology (6-12) Kit page.

Tickets: $15

How can we make field trips into meaningful educational experiences? Come spend the day in our exhibits and learn about best practices in field trip facilitation. With guidance from Academy educators, you will collaborate with other third through fifth grade teachers to design an exciting and educational field trip for your students, including pre and post activities for your classroom. Leave with a ready-to-use plan and the confidence to lead an awesome trip.

Tickets: $15

Biology plays an important role in the movement of carbon in and out of the air, land and ocean through the process of photosynthesis. Plants pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and use it to power themselves and increase their mass as they grow. But how does the carbon dioxide get into a plant? Using microscopes, we will investigate stomata on the leaves of plants, pores that plants open and close to allow carbon dioxide to come in and water to get out. This workshop is a great connection to pre- and post- visit activities for the Plants of the Living Roof field trip program.

Tickets: $15

Tropical rainforests cover only about 6 percent of the world's land surface, yet are home to about 50 percent of all terrestrial plant and animal species. In this workshop, you will learn about the importance of the water cycle in the Amazon, the challenging life cycle of rainforest plants, and more. Explore the California Academy of Sciences' Rainforests of the World exhibit and discover ways to connect this unique exhibit with your classroom curriculum.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Rainforests of the World (grades 4-8) Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Rainforest (grades 4-8) Kit page.

Tickets: $15

How can we make field trips into meaningful educational experiences? Come spend the day in our exhibits and learn about best practices in field trip facilitation. With guidance from Academy educators, you will collaborate with other preschool through second grade teachers to design an exciting and educational field trip for your students, including pre and post activities for your classroom. Leave with a ready-to-use plan and the confidence to lead an awesome trip.

Tickets: $15

Dissecting owl pellets is an engaging and popular activity for all ages. In this workshop, you will practice two different dissection techniques and learn how to use a dichotomous key to identify the bones you find. Discover how to turn a simple dissection into a rich, inquiry-based experience for your students. You will also play an educational board game based on the barn owl's food web, and learn about the natural history of these remarkable birds and their prey.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Owl Pellets and Beyond Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Owl Pellets Kit page.

Tickets: $15

NEW! How do we know what we know about the solar system? Get your hands on the Academy’s brand new Astronomy Kit and find out! Explore the planet Mars and discover how our knowledge about this red planet has been built over time. Start by observing the movement of a tiny red dot across the constellations, then see how telescopes transformed our observations. Consider the benefits and challenges of using rovers to learn about distant worlds, and find out how careful planning and critical thinking play a role in space exploration.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Astronomy Kit in your classroom.

Activity descriptions and materials will be posted soon!

Tickets: $15

An animal skull can be an amazing resource for exploring natural history and practicing skills such as observation and interpretation. In this workshop, participants will investigate the skulls of seven Northern Californian mammals and learn some of the critical differences that distinguish herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. Discover the significance of eye placement and learn to infer what animals eat from the shapes of their teeth.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Skulls Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Skulls Kit page.

Tickets: $15

Dive into the world of the coral reef ecosystem through a variety of engaging, hands-on activities and games. Learn about coral polyp anatomy, the ecological importance of coral reefs, and the critical environmental conditions necessary for coral to survive. Explore the California Academy of Sciences' Philippine coral reef exhibit and discover ways to connect this vibrant exhibit with your classroom curriculum.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Coral Reefs Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Coral Reefs Kit page.

Tickets: $15

Evolution is happening all around us. Take part in a workshop that brings evolution to life. Workshop participants will engage in hands-on activities that explore genetic variation, natural selection, predation, adaptation, and other topics. Learn how to make these abstract ideas more concrete for your students, while exercising their observation and communication skills.

After taking this workshop, you will be eligible to use the Evolution Kit in your classroom.

To see activity descriptions, materials, and the science content standards covered by the kit, visit the Evolution Kit page.