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Teacher WorkshopsLearn about the latest tips, tricks, and tools for engaging your students in STEM education!
Teacher Workshops

Professional Development Workshops for Alabama Teachers

McWane Science Center can help you infuse your teaching with innovative ideas and strategies to engage students in science learning. These in-depth, interactive workshops may be held at your school or McWane Science Center. We also have a “teacher’s day in” field trip experience for pre-service teachers. Browse our currently available subjects and programs below!

Professional Development

McWane Science Center’s Education Team is excited to offer professional development workshops for local teachers and educators working in PreK to 8th grade. These 1.5-hour workshops are hosted at your school or organization facilitated by a McWane Educator. McWane Science Center is an AMSTI affiliate, and PowerSchool credit is given for all workshops. Registration for each workshop is $150. Scholarships may be available for teachers in Title 1 schools.

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Pieces of STEM: Exploring STEM through Loose-Parts Play

GradesPreK - 2nd

Have you ever watched a child use a familiar object in an unusual way? Through loose-parts play, children form connections to objects based on shape, color, texture, function, and space. In other words, children are building critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills just by being their playful, curious selves! In this educator workshop, learn how to pair educational concepts with loose-parts play to enrich your lessons and encourage early exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

McWane Summer Science Institute COMING SUMMER 2024

Grades2nd – 5th

Come learn with us at McWane Science Center during our multi-day professional development workshop, focused on turning science concepts into hands-on opportunities for 2nd–5th-grade students. Join the education team and invited presenters for this engaging and interactive program.

Design Challenge in the Classroom

Grades3rd – 8th

The Engineering Design Process is an essential skill for creative problem-solving. In this workshop, we will discuss how to run successful and relatable Design Challenges in your classroom—activities that use the engineering process to guide students through how to critically approach solutions to real-world problems.

STEM Kits

Chemistry and Conservation of Mass

Grades5 & 8
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.4; 8.5, 8.6

This kit includes enough chemicals, laboratory equipment, and other materials to accommodate one class of 32. There are 3 activities in total. One demonstrating the Law of Conservation of Mass for physical changes (takes up to 30 minutes to complete) and two demonstrating the Law of Conservation of Mass for chemical changes (each takes up to 45 minutes to complete).

Light and Sound
Grades1, 4, & 8
Standards1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4; 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 8.17, 8.18, 8.19

This kit includes prisms, lenses, color filters, turning forks, and other materials for 6 lessons, each taking between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.

Water Testing

Grades5 & 6
Standards2.1, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 6.15, 6.16; 8.2

This kit includes laboratory plasticware, refractometers, pH/nitrate testing strips, dissolved oxygen testing kits, household chemicals, and working to accommodate 30 students. There are materials for 5 activities, each taking approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Natural Selection

Grades3, 4, 5, & 7
Standards3.7, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11; 4.9, 5.11; 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.10, 7.18

This kit provides enough materials for a class containing 32 students. This will include seeds, worksheets, forceps, and artificial fur. There are four different activities, covering the heredity of traits and natural selection, which will take approximately three hours to complete.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

If you’re ready to schedule a professional development workshop at your school or right here at McWane, reach out to Abby Gwinn to start a conversation.

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