Upcoming Teacher Workshops

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

Do you ever have a hard time explaining why the moon has phases? Can you create a model to show why the earth has seasons? What if you were in charge of traveling to another planet? Join the Academy in this tour of the solar system. Learn kinesthetic models for teaching astronomy, ways to engage your students in using books for research and see our special student planetarium show.

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

Stipends are provided for professional development requiring a time commitment of more than six hours.

Special Note: This is a three day workshop taking place on Monday July 30, Tuesday July 31, and Wednesday August 1. In order to participate, you must be able to attend both sessions.

NEW! Join us in exploring the science inquiry process by investigating the characteristics and behavior of live plants and animals. Leave with confidence and excitement to bring these simple 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.

Stipends are provided for professional development requiring a time commitment of more than six hours.

Workshop price: $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.

This workshop will be repeated in the fall.

Workshop price: $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.

This workshop will be repeated in the fall.

Workshop price: $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.

This workshop will be repeated in the fall.

Workshop price: $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.

This workshop will be repeated in the fall.

Workshop price: $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.

This workshop will be repeated in the fall.

Workshop price: $15

Discover interesting adaptations for locomotion, feeding, and the reproductive strategies of aquatic life. Leave with a comprehensive educator exhibit guide to the Water Planet exhibit in the Steinhart Aquarium to help your field trip memories last a lifetime.

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $15

NEW! Explore the Academy's new exhibit "Earthquake: Life on a Dynamic Planet" and learn how geological processes have shaped life over time. Experience the historic earthquake events of the Bay Area and leave with an educator exhibit guide that will explore these topics and help you prepare your students for future quakes at home and at school.

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $15

Enjoy the unique opportunity to explore beneath the waves of our own California Coast. Engage in activities that explore this biodiversity hot spot and leave with an educator exhibit guide that illustrates this natural wonder.

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $35
Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Wednesday September 26
  
• Wednesday October 3, and
• Wednesday October 10.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

Do you ever have a hard time explaining why the moon has phases? Can you create a model to show why the earth has seasons? What if you were in charge of traveling to another planet? Investigate our solar system in this 3-part workshop. By building planets to scale and plotting the distance of these objects from our Sun, you'll better understand the size and scale of the solar system. We'll then shift from hands-on models to kinesthetic ones. Orbit around a light source to better grasp the movement of constellations, the reason for the seasons, the phases of the Moon, the path of comets, and how rotations and revolutions relate to days and years.

Workshop price: $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 many other topics. 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 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.

Workshop price: $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 a new 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 Kit in your classroom.

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

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $15

NEW! Where do plants get their mass from and how does it enter their tissues? Come explore the role that plants play in our carbon cycle, and how they are linked to sustainability in our world. Using hands-on activities, and examining plants with microscopes we will discover the intricacies of plant life and its link to global climate change. This workshop supports curriculum taught in the Plants Student Lab for classes participating in the Rock Program, but can act as a standalone unit as well.

Workshop price: $35
Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Wednesday November 7
  
• Wednesday November 14, and
• Wednesday November 28.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! Have you been interested in using science notebooks with your students looking for some effective strategies? Join us to explore the use of notebooks with little ones and try out integration in the form of drawing, graphing, counting, and story telling.

Workshop price: $15

NEW! Understanding the living and non-living components of an ecosystem are essential for students to comprehend how food webs function. But, how does this concept relate to human food production around the world? In this workshop participants will examine how different environments are affected by food production through hands-on activities that explore patterns of energy flow. This workshop supports curriculum taught in the African Biomes Student Program for classes participating in the Rock Program, but can act as a standalone unit as well.

Workshop price: $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.

Workshop price: $35

Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Wednesday January 16,
• Wednesday January 23, and
• Wednesday January 30.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

Are you interested in learning effective ways to teach the complexity of our atmosphere? Join us for activities and discussions that will help make weather and climate relevant to you and your students. Explore Bay Area-specific examples of weather phenomema and climate patterns.  We will also address climate change and ways to approach this topic with students.

Workshop price: $35
Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Wednesday February 6
  
• Wednesday February 13, and
• Wednesday February 20.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! What is the difference between science and engineering? Join us to find out! Explore the science of sustainability and use engineering to solve problems related to conservation, while highlighting the skills involved in the engineering process.

Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Saturday March 2,
  
• Saturday March 9, and
• Saturday March 16.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! Deepen your understanding of the nature and process of science by participating in this three-day institute. Explore the Understanding Science website, created by our collaborators the University of California Museum of Paleontology, and learn how to investigate prior knowledge, identify misconceptions, introduce process skills and how science works, provide a real-world context, and explore ways of knowing.

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

Stipends are provided for professional development requiring a time commitment of more than six hours.

Workshop price: $35

Special Note: This is a three part workshop taking place on

• Wednesday March 6,
• Wednesday March 13, and
• Wednesday March 20.

In order to participate, you must be able to attend all three sessions.

NEW! What are patterns and how do they help define the world? Join us to trace and interpret patterns in nature, in art, and in data. Explore how patterns help us to see trends and develop thoughtful questions.  Offered in collaboration with the de Young Fine Arts Museum.