Imagine a different kind of in-service day…

Imagine contributing to thought-provoking discussions in fascinating exhibitions, participating in hands-on lessons that you’ll be able to use in your classroom, and planning teaching strategies with your colleagues away from the workday distractions of your school building.

Full-day in-service programs which earn toward Act 48 credits can be designed to introduce the museum’s teaching resources, develop strategies to better address many of Pennsylvania’s academic standards, or plan a school-wide, cross-curriculum unit on topics ranging from biodiversity to rocks and minerals.

For more information, contact Christine Mills at 412.622.3233 or MillsC@carnegiemnh.org.

Educator Workshops

Carnegie Museum of Natural History can help you and your colleagues fulfill Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements with approved educator workshops. Participants receive a package of education materials on the day of the workshop.

Registration
Pre-registration is required. Call 412.622.3288 or ProgramRegistration@carnegiemuseums.org.

Refunds
A full refund, less a $10 handling fee per participant per session, will be granted for withdrawals made with at least one week’s notice. No refund will be granted for withdrawals made with less than one week’s notice.

Whales | Tohorā: Whale Conservation
Saturday, February 6, 2009
Center for Museum Education
9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Participating teachers earn four Act 48 hours.

There are many reasons for the decline of whales. Whale conservation involves protecting whales in the water, discovering reasons for whale strandings, and limiting the hunting of whales. Learn how whales are responding to protection efforts. Experience the Whale of a Day activities throughout the museum and then enjoy a presentation on whale conservation.

Fee
$35 per participant; $25 for those who attended both of the 2009 Whales | Tohorā workshops.

Gems, Minerals, and Geology
Saturday, March 27, 2009
Center for Museum Education
9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Participating teachers earn four Act 48 hours.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History has one of the finest mineral collections in the United States, and the most beautiful exhibition hall. Tour Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems and Wertz Gallery: Gems and Jewelry, experience rocks and minerals first-hand in our classroom, and discover activities you can take back to your learners.

Fee
$45 per participant

Songbirds
Saturday, May 15, 2009
Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA
8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Participating teachers earn five Act 48 hours.

Powdermill Nature Reserve is one of the wonders of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Visit the bird banding station at Powdermill, where more than 400,000 birds have been banded over the past fifty years. Also learn about other avian research conducted at Powdermill, such as the bioacoustical monitoring of night migratory birds. Bird banding begins at 4:00 a.m., and will still be in progress when the workshop begins. For more information and directions to Powdermill, visit www.powdermill.org.

Fee
$45 per participant

SPARKS Parent/Child Workshop
Saturday, March 6, 2010
9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The primary goal of Bronx Zoo-initiated SPARKS (Supporting Parents in Advocacy, Reform, and Knowledge in Science) is to promote parental involvement in children’s science education. During our SPARKS workshops, parents and children are divided into separate groups for the morning session, re-grouping in the afternoon. Children participate in guided museum activities while parents learn tactics to engage their children in museum exhibits, the natural world around them, and scientific exploration. Parents also learn how to design science- and nature-related activities, encourage children to ask questions, and find the answers together!

Fee
Free, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited, so register early. Recommended for children grades K–5. For more information, please contact Marie Pocasangre at 412.578.2456 or pocasangrem@carnegiemnh.org.

In-service Training via Distance Learning

Experience Distance Learning in a 30-minute introductory program, or participate with your colleagues in a series of 90-minute interactive videoconferences on a variety of natural history topics. Schools with IP- and ISDN-based videoconferencing systems can access the museum’s Distance Learning program as part of ongoing teacher training. Contact Pat McShea at 412.622.3292 or McSheaP@carnegiemnh.org for more information.

Teen Docent Volunteer Program

Attention Teens, Educators, and Group Leaders!

Are you a teen, or do you know a teen who would enjoy working with museum visitors while spending additional time with our scientific collections and educational materials? The Teen Docent program might be a perfect fit! Teen Docents explain touchable natural history objects to visitors at various stations throughout the museum. Volunteers must be teenagers who enjoy interacting with visitors of all ages and are available one Saturday per month during the school year and one day a week during the summer. For more information contact Marie Pocasangre at 412.578.2456 or PocasangreM@carnegiemnh.org, or visit the Web site at http://www.carnegiemnh.org/programs/teendocents.htm.

Deadline for applications is January 15, 2010. Training occurs on Saturdays in the Spring.