Teacher Professional Development
Teachers netting invertebrates“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”
—Mark Van Doren

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, we regard teachers as close colleagues. The role they play in our world is simply heroic, and we thank them for their daily, unwavering commitment to creating curious, lifelong learners. To support and strengthen teachers, we offer a diversity of courses, workshops and other experiences in the summer and throughout the school year.

Our inquiry-driven programs are infused with subject matter expertise in core content areas, including botany, ecology, biology and environmental studies. Garden educators work with teachers to deepen science content knowledge and enhance science pedagogy through grant-supported, sustained teacher programming in many schools and districts across the St. Louis region. Partnerships with local informal science institutions, such as the Saint Louis Zoo, and with universities, such as Maryville University, Washington University and others enable us to stimulate teachers to connect their students with the natural world outside their classroom door.

Some schools and districts count Garden professional development toward district-required professional development units. College credit is available for select summer workshops.

For more information, please call (314) 577-5140 prompt 2 or e-mail teachertraining@mobot.org.

 

Foodology for Schools Summit
     
  July 23–24, 2013; 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

This two-day summit is designed for educators, district leaders, school food service professionals, school gardeners, parents and other stakeholders interested in working together to ensure healthier, fresher, more locally grown fruits and vegetables make their way into school gardens, cafeterias, classrooms and family kitchens. The summit will include case studies from diverse districts, a film screening, field trips to local gardens, and planning time.

To encourage collaboration within and among schools, participants are encouraged to register as a team from either the same school and/or district. A registration fee of $50 covers a school/district team of between two to five people for both days of the summit. Meals included. Only one (1) lead registrant per team is required to register. Register early as there is limited capacity.

Learn more and register online
Download the summit schedule (PDF)
  

 

Summer 2013 Institutes
BiodiverseCity Institute
Educators will be involved in an overview of some of the region’s present-day biodiversity issues and will relate those issues to resource use and sustainability-themed topics. Each day will focus on a different theme including water, air, energy, solid waste and food systems, and will include one or more guest speakers discussing historical, cultural and current issues for the St. Louis metro region. Participants will also engage in activities and field trips to related sites throughout the city. Speakers will be brought in from government, commercial, local not-for-profits and civic groups. Educators will also be given contacts and resources for more in-depth study. At the end of the week, educators will be asked to develop five lesson plans—each focusing on one of the topics from the week—to use in their classroom.

Dates/Times:
June 10–14, 2013;
9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Fee:
$250 (lunch and transportation to field trip sites included). Credits available with additional university charge.

Learn more and register online

Download a tentative schedule (PDF)

Energy Institute
In it's fifth year, the Energy Institute incorporates behind-the-scenes tours at various renewable and non-renewable power generation facilities throughout Missouri and Illinois. Participants are given first-hand access to professionals in the field at each site, in addition to lessons, activities and other resources the teachers can take back to the classroom to include or reference for their own energy studies with their students. Each session will visit different sites, so participants can take part in one or both sessions.

As a result of the Institutes, participants interested in taking the course for credit are asked to develop five lessons focusing on energy, from information they garnered throughout the weeks.

Dates/Times:
Session 1: June 19–20, 2013;
8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Session 2: July 18–19, 2013;
8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fee:
$150 for EACH two-day session (lunch and transportation to field trip sites included). Credits available with additional university charge.

Learn more and register online for:
Session 1
Session 2

Download a tentative schedule (PDF)
Inquiry Institute: Physical Science and Beyond
Actively dig into the pedagogy of inquiry using physical science activities that challenge your own thinking. Increase your skills in teaching inquiry by comparing inquiry approaches and their most effective applications for teaching different concepts in your own classroom. Participants will be given time to create their own inquiry lesson using learned approaches with a bent toward the life sciences.

Dates/Times:
July 8–12, 2013;
9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Fee:
$200 (lunch included). Two credits available with additional university charge.

Call (314) 577-5140 prompt 2 for more information or to register.

 

At Litzsinger Road Ecology Center
Additional teacher professional development workshops are offered at Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, which is managed by the Missouri Botanical Garden:

Sustainable Schoolyards
June 10–14, 2013
Building on the principles of outdoor, place-based education, workshop participants will be introduced to teaching methods for investigating the history and ecology of your school and for enhancing the schoolyard as a habitat, all with your students and in support of your curriculum. This workshop is open to teachers who have had a prior partnership with Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. Applications will be accepted from teams of two or more teachers.

Effective Outdoor Learning
June 19–21, 2013 OR July 15–17, 2013
Discover the learning opportunities in your schoolyard and community as you begin a yearlong partnership with Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. During this 3-day introduction to place-based education, you will become acquainted with outdoor learning and the unique opportunities it presents for your students to achieve curricular goals in science and across the curriculum.

What's It Like Where You Live?
July 22–26, 2013
Learn how to engage your students in active investigations of local ecosystems and then compare what it’s like in St. Louis with other areas. How are we different from a desert community like Phoenix? Why are there different plants and animals in a rainforest? By combining a study of weather and climate patterns with plant and animal adaptations, your students can build the framework for understanding places near and far.

Visit Litzsinger Road Ecology Center's website for additional details, requirements and registration instructions.

 

Quick Links
Education Outreach for Teachers

Looking for professional development opportunities? Topnotch inquiry science and inquiry assessment for K–12? Plant science for K–8?

We will come to your school or you can come to us!

Outreach costs for professional development programs are:

  • $100 for the first hour and $40 for each additional hour
  • Each teacher will be assessed a $3 materials charge
  • Mileage is $1/mile over 20 miles
  • Professional development uniquely designed for a school may incur additional planning costs

Please call (314) 577-5140 prompt 2 to discuss programming options.

 

Looking for more nature-inspired ideas?

Check out our new Education E-Scoop, a monthly resource featuring outdoor learning tips, science and literacy links, upcoming programs… and maybe even you! Throughout the year, we’ll spotlight teachers and students who are connecting with, caring for and conserving the natural world we all share.

Sign up today!