Science in the Rockies 2009 When a teacher is inspired by science, the children are inspired.
July 8
- 10, 2009
What happens when you put 150 teachers from 23 states and three countries in the same room for three days with a team of instructors who are over-the-top excited about teaching science? Enthusiasm for making science fun spreads like a virus. Concerns about test scores, curriculum changes or the ever-changing pressures of being a teacher seem to vanish. For three days, these teachers put their worries aside and focus on ways to bring wonder, discovery and exploration back into their classrooms. Here's a glimpse at what happened at Science in the Rockies this year...
"In twenty six years of teaching, I've never had a better class! The science content was excellent and your teaching style really makes learning fun. I'm still laughing about the flying potatoes."
Join
Steve Spangler and his staff of award-winning teachers for
an intensive hands-on science training that is guaranteed to change
the way you teach science...forever! This boot camp is for K-5
teachers who need creative science integration strategies... who
are tired of trying to "squeeze" science into their
already packed teaching schedule... and who want to make science
even more fun and meaningful in their classroom. Stop squeezing and
start integrating! In just two days, you'll be well on your way
to creating unforgettable learning experiences for your
students.
Take Home Tons of Materials!
Bring an empty suitcase - no kidding. You'll receive over $300 of gizmos, gadgets, hands-on learning materials, hard-to-find supplies and cool resources that accompany the Boot Camp curriculum. You'll also receive a 250-page training manual that details every aspect of your learning experience - from the detailed recipes and instructions to the in-depth explanations and real-world connections. Just in case you can't squeeze everything into your suitcase, we'll make sure the FedEx truck stops by to pick up your take-home box.
Here's
Why YOU Should Attend...
- Participate in more than 75 ready-to-use science activities that are inquiry-based, standard-related and kid-tested
- Learn how to connect great science activities with popular children's literature
- Gain a better understanding of the science concepts behind the fun activities
- Feel more confident in your approach to building real-world connections to simple concepts
- Make students want to learn more and more using active learning strategies
- Take home $300 worth of teaching materials ready to be used in your classroom... immediately.
In just a few days, you'll be well on your way to using proven strategies for creating unforgettable learning experiences for your students. You'll learn how to reinforce concepts with hands-on activities and examples of classroom applications. This science Boot Camp focuses on developing inquiry-based activities that promote exploration and strengthen critical thinking skills. You'll leave this seminar with the knowledge, presentation skills and tools to make science a favorite part of your teaching day.
Science
in the Rockies Dates
Denver, Colorado
July 8 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
July 9 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
July 10 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Hotel Information
The Sheraton Denver West Hotel is the official conference hotel for Science in the Rockies. The hotel is located just 30 minutes from Denver International Airport. A special group of $129 per room night for Science in the Rockies attendees has been set up. Please contact the hotel directly to make your reservations. Discounted rooms are limited so please be sure to make your reservations early.
Sheraton Denver West Hotel
360 Union Blvd
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
(303) 987-2000
More
than just cute ideas... we need solutions!
When Steve Spangler asked primary teachers what would be the best way to teach science, teachers responded with a no nonsense approach. "Give us easy science activities that help our students build critical thinking skills... to use the scientific method... and are so engaging that kids want to learn more on their own." Let's face it, science is already fun, but it also has to be relevant to the curriculum and to the real world. And teachers need science lessons that can be easily integrated into all areas of the curriculum. "The days of trying to squeeze science in at the last minute are over... we need something new and easy."
The Problem is Serious! Read more...
Bottom line... Steve Spangler will help you take the fear out of teaching science and become a more effective science teacher using simple and inexpensive materials... guaranteed!
Earn Graduate Level Credit
K-12
teachers may earn "graduate level credit," also known as
professional development units through our partnership with Chapman
University. These credits are not part of a degree program, but
instead are primarily used for professional advancement (such as
salary increment steps and recertification). One semester credit is
equivalent to 15 hours.
Mission Control... We Have a Serious Problem
Dr. Joanne Vasquez, member of the National Science Board, recently delivered the bad news in an open letter to the education community.
"The recently released Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003 (TIMS)-an international student assessment conducted in 15 countries and released on December 14, 2004-tells us that American fourth-graders are doing no better in science than they did in 1995. Ten years later, and still no progress has been made with our youngest learners. But why should we care if six-year olds take science or not? The answer is simple: because future innovations in science, technology, engineering, defense, national security, and a whole lot more could be at stake.
Science instruction has come to a dismal halt or been severely curtailed in far too many elementary classrooms across the United States. While we do not argue that these subjects are also important, science, like all subjects, requires a developmental building of conceptual understanding that must start in kindergarten. Yet many students reach the intermediate and middle grades with little or no science instruction, and if they receive any, it happened when the teacher could squeeze it in.
To effectively improve elementary science, schools and administrators need to value the science education they offer, and they must provide quality professional development, mentoring, and resources to our elementary teachers. This will be vital if as a nation we want to truly see students achieve in science."
The theme for teacher training workshops 20 years ago was, "Science is Fun!" Dozens of professional development workshops and institutes did everything possible to get teachers turned on to teaching science. Steve Spangler refers to this as the "arts & crafts" period of science education training. A survey of principals in the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado revealed that students were having fun doing lots of hands-on activities, but the translation from 'real fun' to 'real learning' didn't happen in most instances. "Just because kids are doing a hands-on activity doesn't mean they're learning," according to Steve Spangler. "We as teachers need to learn how to effectively use inquiry-based activities to teach our students how to better use the scientific method and to stimulate their problem-solving skills."
Yes, science is fun, but now we need creative ideas and strategies for integrating science into our curriculum. The goal of this Boot Camp is to show early childhood educators (K-5th Grade) how to use proven best practices and teaching strategies to make science more exciting, more engaging, more interactive and more meaningful in their classroom.
