Welcome to Steve Spangler Science. Skip directly to: main content, navigation, search box.

Boot Camp Tour 2008 Learn How to Make Science Even More Meaningful and Fun!

Steve Spangler's Hands-on Science Secrets™ training is guaranteed to provide you with a whole new perspective on teaching science. It is complete with techniques that will move the effectiveness of your teaching to a whole new level. You'll leave with all the tools you need to make you the best science teacher possible.

Steve's 2008 Workshop Tour

It's a Hands-on Science Boot Camp for Teachers

Join Steve Spangler for an intensive one-day, training that is guaranteed to change the way you teach science... forever! This fast-moving seminar is for pre-k and elementary 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!

  • Develop inquiry-based activities that strengthen critical thinking skills and challenge students to ask the important "Why?" questions
  • Use elements of the story line in popular pieces of children's literature to teach and reinforce fundamental building blocks of your science curriculum
  • Discover ways to use attention-grabbing science experiments as daily writing prompts
  • Develop classroom safety procedures to protect yourself and students against common accidents
  • Turn ordinary science activities into unforgettable learning experiences

In just one day, you'll be well on your way to using Steve's 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. Hands-on Science Secrets 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.

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... use the scientific method... and make them 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." Steve Spangler's Hands-on Science Secrets is different than any other workshop you have ever experienced.

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!

About the Hands-on Science Curriculum

This seminar is designed to meet the practical needs of busy elementary school teachers who want to make science more exciting, stimulating and meaningful. The curriculum covers themes such as air, color, light, magnets, weather, states of matter, chemistry, force and motion and Steve's ooey, gooey supermarket science. You'll participate in more than 30 eye-catching demonstrations and hands-on activities that help children pursue the why-factor of wonder, discovery, and exploration. Explore a number of great science ideas that encourage children to "play with a purpose." By the end of the day, your head will be filled with creative ideas that you can put to use immediately. You'll leave this seminar with the knowledge, presentation skills, and tools to make science the favorite part of your teaching day.

Take-Home Materials and Learning Resources

You'll receive a take-home "Survival Kit" filled with gizmos, gadgets and learning tools the moment you walk through the door. This is not your ordinary sit-and-watch lecture. Be prepared to perform dozens of amazing science activities and take-home all of the necessary materials to get your students excited about science the very next day.

Registration Information

The cost of the full-day training with Steve Spangler is $189 per person.

This workshop is designed for teachers. If you're not a teacher please contact Carly in our office for details of the most appropriate workshop for you.

All of our workshops have an early bird price of $179 per person. Early bird registration expires four (4) weeks prior to the workshop date. Payment is required in advance of the workshop date to confirm your registration.

Pay by Credit Card - Register by credit card with our secure online system.

Paying by Purchase Order? - Purchase orders can be faxed with your printed confirmation to 303-795-9936. Payment must be received 4 weeks prior to guarantee your Early Bird Pricing and your space at the workshop.

The registration fee includes attendance at the seminar, take-home materials, master handout, and morning refreshments. Verification of participation hours will be provided for continuing education or recertification requirements. One semester unit of graduate elective credit is available for an additional fee - complete enrollment details are provided at the seminar.

Register Today

Register early and receive a discount.

On-line - Registering on-line is the fastest and most convenient way to reserve your space at this event. It's easy to register multiple participants and even pre-order additional learning resources and hands-on teaching tools. Register Now!

By Phone - Just call our toll free number at (800) 223-9080 and let a customer service representative know which workshop location you would like to attend. You're on and off the phone in 5 minutes! We'll send you a confirmation packet in the mail along with everything you need to attend the workshop.

Cancellation Policy

To receive a full refund, cancellations must be made two (2) weeks prior to event. Due to planning purposes any cancellation made after the two (2) week deadline will be eligible for a 50% refund. Workshop kits are not mailed to registrants who are unable to attend.

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.

You can register for the credits while attending the workshop.

Here's What Past Participants Say...

The 'Hands-on - Minds-on' approach is a wonderful example of how children and teachers should experience science education. I continue to support your innovative approach that is setting the standard for inquiry-based teacher training."

"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."

"A course that allows you to learn and work with other teachers makes so much sense. I keep coming back to Steve's workshops for not only a boost of energy but also real-world applications."

"Beware! These people are mad about science. This is more than just another summer workshop... it's an experience that changed my whole way of teaching."

"The chance to learn the science concepts and activities and then put them into practice is like nothing else I've ever experienced. This workshop enabled us to take some risks...and develop our own presentation skills and curriculum connections."

"When I walked through the front door, my own children expected me to perform a science magic show in the living room. The next thing I knew we were knee deep in experiments and my kitchen looked like a lab. My children were begging me to teach them science. How weird is this?

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 (pre-K to 3) how to use proven best practices and teaching strategies to make science more exciting, more engaging, more interactive and more meaningful in their classroom.

About the Instructor

One teacher writes, "Watch-out! Steve Spangler's enthusiasm for learning is contagious. They will undoubtedly rekindle your spirit for teaching science in a manner that is uniquely their own. This is more than just another summer workshop... it's an experience that changed my whole way of teaching."

Chances are you've already witnessed Steve Spangler's crazy antics on television or maybe in person at a recent educational conference. As a leading expert in early childhood science education and inquiry-based learning, Steve Spangler is the catalyst that drives the ever-changing curriculum at the Institute. He teaches people of all ages he importance of building connections between educational concepts, hands-on experiences, and real-world applications.

Steve Spangler is nationally known as a teacher's teacher who shares his passion for learning in the classroom, on the platform, and through the airwaves. Over the last ten years, Steve has made over 240 network television appearances as an authority on hands-on science. His eye-catching science demonstrations and kid-focused activities earned him an Emmy as the science host of NBC television's News for Kids in 1997. Steve continues to use the airwaves as his classroom to reach over a million viewers each week as the "science guy" on 9NEWS - KUSA-TV in Denver. (See the Videos)

Steve serves as the Director of the National Hands-on Science Institute in Denver where he coordinates the staff development training for 850 teachers nationwide. Visit www.nhosi.com for more information. With twelve years experience in the classroom, Steve continues to share his creative learning strategies and inquiry research as a consultant for the Littleton Public Schools in Colorado.

What is Steve doing right now? He's probably making some gadget ooze, bubble, fizz, bounce, smoke, or maybe he's creating a new idea to get another human being turned on to life's small wonders.

Join Steve Spangler for an unforgettable learning experience.

(Register Now!)

Registration Information

Early Bird Registration

Up to 4 Weeks Prior $179 General Registration $189

Register On-Line


Register By Phone
(800) 223-9080

Register By Fax
(866) 795-9936

Register By Mail
Steve Spangler Science
4400 South Federal Blvd Englewood CO 80110

Download Registration Form for 2008 Seminars Tour

Download Registration Form

Steve's 2008
Boot Camp Tour

Join Steve Spangler for a full day of hands on science activities and best practices for getting your students excited about learning science.

Help Desk
for Questions?

Help Desk
Phone: (800) 223-9080
Fax: (866) 795-9936
Send an email to Help Desk