University of Illinois Extension is hosting virtual professional development for science teachers in summer 2021. All teachers are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to teachers who live and/or work in Cook County. The facilitators for these sessions are experienced NGSS professional development providers who have worked with groups such as NextGenStorylines, NGSX, and OpenSciEd.
Each multiple-day session is designed to equip teachers with the skills to teach in an NGSS-aligned manner. Attendees will gain access to tools, supplies, and highly rated "storyline" curricula. A storyline is a coherent sequence of lessons in which each step is driven by students' questions that arise from their interactions with a scientific phenomenon.
Each 4- or 5-day session costs $100/person. Up to 20 Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) professional development hours will be provided for those who qualify. All sessions will take place in an interactive, live virtual context. Times will fall between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM Central and will include a 30- to 60-minute lunch break.
Impact on Science Education developed the following curricula to fill the gap of NGSS-designed curricula at the elementary levels. The units and professional development opportunities were developed in partnership with University of Illinois Extension STEM Educators in Cook County. These mini units are still in their development and pilot testing phase. Participants in this series will learn valuable skills to align their science practice to the NGSS as well as gain early access to materials.
Kindergarten: Plants & Their Environment
This kindergarten unit "Plants & Their Environment" addresses life science and earth and space science content areas, including the needs of living things, by answering the question, "Why does the sidewalk change over time?" Participants will engage with tree roots breaking through a sidewalk as a phenomenon and will learn how to develop questioning and modeling skills with their students.
