Summer Workshop Plans

Summer Workshop Agenda

This 16 hour committee is designed for TEAM mentors to look at how a workshop on focused field trips at the museum can be developed.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisites: TEAM mentors and grade 7 and 8 science teachers.

Key Opportunities:

• Share and compile ideas for museum connections.
• Explore activities to connect objects to learning across the curriculum.
• Analyze questioning techniques that connect the museum to the curriculum.
• Develop and plan two museum connections workshops for structured and advanced levels of professional development.
• Professional Development offerings for teachers Pre-K - 8.

Focus:

Participants will examine, refine, extend and plan museum connection activities.

Registration Requirements:

• 15 hours professional development.
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 10 teachers (max.) 1 teacher from each grade level Pre-K - 8.
• Attendance is required at all sessions.

Preliminary meeting: Tuesday, May 6 (4 - 7 PM).
Calendar to be developed for May and June.

The purpose of this committee is for teachers to develop 2 take home activities for each kit.

Who Should Participate?

K - 6 grade teachers who have been inserviced in the 3 kits for their grade level and have taught each of them at least once.

Key Opportunities:

• Analyze activities in each kit and select extensions related to the same science content area - Earth, Life, and Physical.
• Develop or rewrite clear and precise parent student directions.
• Develop a family journal page.
• Determine materials needed.

Focus:

The activities will be an extension of the science kit the student is using or has completed. The purpose is to reinforce content, problem solving, and process skills and to include the parent(s) in the child's science experiences.

Registration Requirements:

• 15 hours professional development hours.
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 3 teachers per grade level.

Preliminary meeting: Wednesday, June 3 (4 - 7 PM)
Calendar to be developed by each grade level for the month of July.

This 18 - 24 hour committee is designed for grade level teachers to cooperatively look at the books in the kit libraries for each grade level including new books added. This group will then compile a list of ways the books can be used as the kit is taught.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisite K-6 teachers who are inserviced in the three grade level kits and have used them in the classroom during the school year.

Key Opportunities:

• Share ideas with colleagues in a small group setting
• Analyze science and language art connections
• Have input in designing a new component for the science kit libraries
• Design a workshop to present this new component to all teachers at specific grades.

Focus:

Participants will work in grade levels to examine how books apply to the kits. As a result, the outcome will be suggestions for use and new activities. A product that can be shared will be produced.

Registration Requirements:

• 18-24 hours of professional development commitment depending on grade level.
• Attendance is required at all meetings.
• Registration: 3-5 teachers per grade level.

Preliminary meeting: Monday, June 1 (4-7 PM)
Calendar to be developed by grade level for the month of July.

The participants in this 9 hour committee will analyze student science journals.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisite: Grade K-6 teachers who have been inserviced in 3 grade level kits and have used the kits and the accompanying student journals during the school year. Grade 7 and 8 teachers who used student science journals during the school year.

Key Opportunities:

• Examine students' science journals.
• Plan how to use science journals to apply reading, writing and listening skills.
• How to implement and enhance the use of science journals in the classroom
• Determine the components of science journals for students.
• Develop a science journal workshop for teachers

Focus:

Participants will work in grade level groups to analyze samples of student science journals and to determine journal components.

Registration Requirements:

• 9 hours professional development
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 21 teachers (max.) 3 teachers from each: grade level K - 6.
• Submit samples of student journals with your application.
• Attendance is required at all sessions.

8:30 - 11:80 AM
Monday- Wednesday, July 13 - 15

The purpose of this workshop is to assist teachers in moving beyond the structured use of kits and towards incorporating inquiry in their teaching.

Who Should Participate?

Grades K-6 teachers who were inserviced in 3 grade level kits and used the kits during the past school year.

Key Opportunities:

• Participate in the process skills circus.
• Personal inquiry experience.
• Develop techniques for developing investigatable questions.
• Application of inquiry to kits.
• Develop a collegial support system.

Focus:

This workshop is a thorough introduction to the inquiry process. Upon completion teachers will feel comfortable in making inquiry a part of their teaching.

Registration Requirements:

• 18 hours summer + 18 hours follow-up during the year of professional development.
• Stipend provided.
• Attendee is required at all sessions.
• Registration: 30 teachers (max.) per session.
• Lunch provided during the summer sessions.

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday July 7, 8, and 9
or
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday July 21, 22, and 23
plus
6 mandatory follow-up workshops during the school year.

This 6 hour workshop is designed for teachers who would like to integrate the exhibits and resources of the Buffalo Museum of Science into their curriculum.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisites: Grade K-6 teachers who have been inserviced in three grade level kits and have used them in their classroom during the school year. Grade 7 and 8 science teachers.

Key Opportunities:

• Explore the Buffalo Museum of Science exhibits, collections, and programs.
• Use what you explore to formulate questions that engage students.
• Become familiar with the unique characteristics of the Buffalo Museum of Science.
• Integrate classroom and museum activities into a focused field trip.
• Integrate museum activities and exhibits into the curriculum.

Focus:

Participants will enjoy and utilize the Buffalo Museum of Science and its learning opportunities.

Registration Requirements:

• 6 professional development hours.
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 20 teachers (max.)

8:30 - 3:30
Tuesday, July 14
or
Thursday, July 16

The purpose of this 15 hour workshop is to assist teachers to create a 3-4 week unit plan which uses the contract approach to teaching the NYSTEP Energy Module.

Who Should Participate?

Grade 7 and 8 science teachers.

Key Opportunities:

• Custom design a student contract to teach energy, heat, fossil fuel, and technology.
• Participate in small group setting with colleagues.
• Develop classroom management techniques for multiple groups in your classroom.
• Develop strategies for efficient portfolio record keeping.

Focus:

Participants will customize the NYSTEP Energy Module student contract which includes 2 skills assessments and 35 portfolio points.

Registration Requirements:

• 15 hours professional development.
• Stipend provided.
• Attendance is required at all sessions.
• Registration: 25 teachers (max.)

12:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Monday - Friday, July, 6-10.

This 40 hour workshop is designed for grade level teachers to pursue an indepth study of pedagogical interests such as; making inquiry part of the classroom, effective use of science journals, cooperative learning techniques, alternative assessments, etc.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisite: Grade K-6 teachers who have been inserviced in three grade level kits and have used them in their classroom during the school year.
Grade 7 and 8 science teachers.
Teachers who apply should be interested in working on a long term project devoted to classroom pedagogy.

Key Opportunities:

• Participate in small group setting with colleagues interesting in pursuing a common topic.
• Address teaching and learning issues over a long period of time.
• Present study findings with other study groups at a sharing seminar in spring 1999.

Focus:

Over a long period of time, participants are expected to meet in their small interest groups (4-5 teachers per group), apply learnings in their classrooms and reflect with fellow group members.

Registration Requirements:

• 40 hours professional development.
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 50 teachers (max.)
• Attendance is required at all sessions.

These workshops are designed for teachers who have completed three 15 hour structured level kits on their grade level. Object Lesson Kits can be used along with TEAM 2000 kits to provide students with further opportunities for scientific investigations in life science.

Who Should Participate?

Prerequisite: Grade K-6 teachers who have been inserviced in 3 grade level kits and have used them in their classroom during the school year. Grade 7 and 8 science teachers.

Key Opportunities:

• Work with museum objects.
• Learn new teaching strategies.
• Engage in close examination of the natural world.
• Pursue your own questions.
• Work with scientists in related areas.

Focus:

• Choose to attend a workshop in either Insects, Birds, or Mammals. Participants will have the opportunity to tangibly investigate objects and keep a record of their discoveries in field journals.

• After completing the workshop you may sign-up for an object lessons kit to be used during the next school year.

• 18 hours professional development.
• Stipend provided.
• Registration: 15 teachers (max.) per object lessons (birds, insects, or mammals)
• Attendance is required at all sessions.

• Spring (Wednesday workshops will take place at the CR Drew Science Magnet School and Saturday workshops will be at Tifft Nature Preserve.)
  Wednesday, May 6 (4 - 7:30 PM)
  Saturday, May 9 (8:30 - 12:30)
  Wednesday, May 13 (4 - 7:30 PM)
  Saturday, May 16 (8:30 - 12:30)
  Wednesday, May 20 (4 - 7:30 PM)

• Workshops will take place at the CR Drew Science Magnet School and Saturday workshops will be at Tifft Nature Preserve. Monday - Friday, July 20 - 24 (8:30 - 12:00 Noon)

Off site experiences which will enrich professional growth and enhance classroom teaching.

Who Should Participate?