Professional Development
Content Specific Workshop Series
Content With Your Content? Are you interested in learning new ways to engage your students? Using inquiry, your students will gain the tools they need to pursue excellence and creative problem-solving that can be applied to all areas of learning. Join us on Wednesdays for topic based learning and recharge yourself with interactive ideas (and takeaways)! Classes are for all grade levels, as content will be adaptable.
| Price: | Museum Members: $25 Non-Members: $30 |
| When/Where: |
Select Wednesdays, 4:00 - 7:00pm Buffalo Museum of Science in the Connections Gallery (unless otherwise noted) |
| Credit: | Teachers receive three hours of professional development credit per class |
| RSVP: |
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED Jessica Meyers Altman; Professional Development Coordinator |
| Contact: |
716-896-5200 x 382 jmeyersaltman@sciencebuff.org |
2011-2012 School Year
OCTOBER 19, GREAT GARDEN & WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE
Join us for the unveiling of the Buffalo Museum of Science’s new GREAT (Gardening Ripens Empowerment And Togetherness) Garden! We will view the amazing movie entitled “What’s On Your Plate,” chronicling the journey taken by two New York City adolescent girls as they questioned from where their food was coming. Learn ways to incorporate garden education, the processes taken to begin, and the trials and tribulations. We will be joined by garden crusader Jean Gunner, explore the garden site, sample some of our yummy veggies, and make our own tea!
NOVEMBER 9 AND 16, INVESTIGATING FOOD SAFETY
Cost of this program will be $50/BMS member and $60/non-member (6-hour workshop over 2 days)
If there is one thing that motivates students in the classroom, it’s food. Through a dynamic inquiry based curriculum, developed by a joint relationship between the Food and Drug Administration and the National Science Teachers Association, learn about the science behind food and food safety. Participants will take part in hands-on lab activities to answer questions such as: What types of bacteria lurk in our food supply? At what temperature should you cook a hamburger? At what temperature and in what conditions do bacteria thrive? Each participant will receive Science and our Food Safety supplementary curriculum for Middle Level and High School classrooms including a DVD/VHS and Food Safety A to Z reference guide. Attendance at both sessions is mandatory, as we will be growing bacteria in the 1st session for analysis in the 2nd session.
JANUARY18, RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD
Jane Gilbride, NASA Mission to Mercury MESSENGER Educational Fellow and Starpoint Earth Science Teacher will be with us to discuss the Mercury Mission and ways to incorporate it into your curriculum. In addition, Iman Borazjani, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department SUNY, University at Buffalo will be present to discuss his research on fluid dynamics and provide useable activities.
FEBRUARY 15, GENETICS AND CSI
Entice your students with the world of DNA, it’s everywhere! We will extract DNA from foods, incorporate crime scene investigation techniques, run a gel electrophoresis, discuss ways you can take part in the research of the bacteria Wolbachia and its impact on insect populations, as well as tour the CSI: The Experience exhibit.
MARCH 21, CLARIFYING CLASSIFICATION
Dr. John Grehan, Director of Science and Research at the Buffalo Museum of Science, will join us and showcase many interesting specimens the museum has to offer and share ways to incorporate classification into your curriculum.
APRIL 25, PHASES OF MATTER SCIENCE
Explore hands-on activities with solids, liquids, and gases. As a special treat you will get to explore ways that science can be exceptionally “cool,” the science behind a liquid that wants to be a gas!
MAY 23, TIFFT EXPLORATIONS
Learn outside in class at Tifft Nature Preserve! Natural curiosity is often stifled behind the walls of our classrooms. Enjoy the outdoors and learn how to connect a walk through the woods to many facets of your curriculum. A study on tree regeneration, native animals and plants, aquatic ecology, and journaling will be the focus.
Addtional Professional Development Opportunities
We know that fitting into prescibed schedules is difficult. We can come to you for a whole day (6 hour) or a half day (3 hour) workshop! Below are some topics we have brought to various districts:
Inquiry - Genetics - Human Body - Probeware - Energy - Geology and many more!
Just ask and we can develop a workshop to fit your district's needs.
For More Information and Priceing: Contact Jessica Meyers Altman, Professional Development Coordinator, 716-896-5200 x 382 or jmeyersaltman@sciencebuff.org
Not Finding What You're Looking For?
We can customize any programming to fit your district's student and proffesional development needs! Packaged programming is available for your students as well as additional opportunities for professional development. We can combine field trips to the Museum and/or Tifft Nature Preserve with outreach to your school and/or schoolyard. Student-based programming can include Invasive Species, Urban Ecology, Forest Dynamics, and Ice Age Dig. Professional Development can be whole day (6 hours) or half day (3 hours) workshops and can include Inquiry, Genetics, Human Body, Food and Environmental Impacts, Probeware, Energy, and more! Contact Jessica Meyers Altman, Professional Development Coordinator, at (716) 896-5200 x382 or at jmeyersaltman@sciencebuff.org for more information.
