STEM Ed Announcement: Natural History Course for Teachers

[Morton Sternheim <mort@k12s.phast.umass.edu>]

This is not a UMass program.
Contact information is below.
================================


The Hitchcock Center for the Environment Presents

The Natural History of Massachusetts:

A Course for Elementary and Middle School Teachers


Instructor: Ted Watt, Naturalist/Environmental Educator

Dates: Saturdays: Sept. 18, Oct. 2, Nov. 13,
Dec. 4, Jan. 22, Feb. 26, Mar. 26, Apr. 9, June 11, 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Saturday: May 14, 5am-5 pm (coastal trip to Plum Island)

Wednesdays: Sept. 29, Oct. 13, May 25, June 8, 3:30-5:00 pm

(Rain Dates: Oct. 30, Mar. 5 and June 4)

(37.5 hours instructional time, times listed above include some travel times)

Cost: $450 for 35 PDPs only

$900 for 35 PDPs and 3 graduate credits through UMASS Division of
Continuing Education (awarded upon completion of course in May 2011)

Course Description:

Have you wanted to take your students outdoors but felt uncertain about
your own knowledge of what's out there?  Have you been seeking to deepen
your knowledge of plants and animals and the land?  Most elementary and
middle school students are very excited to be in nature.  Being outdoors
can be a tremendous motivator for learning in science as well as other
disciplines. In this year-round, content-based course, we will study the
natural history of western Massachusetts.

Time will be spent building a strong foundation of natural history
identification skills and knowledge of habitats and local ecology.  The
course will be held largely outdoors observing and identifying plants
and animals and keeping a record of your observations. Some of our field
time will be spent on the school grounds of participating teachers.
Participants should be prepared to spend time outdoors in a variety of
weather conditions, including light rain and the cold of January.  Each
participant will create an independent project where they explore more
deeply one aspect of local nature of their choosing.

This course is designed to be fun, engaging, and content rich. Three
graduate credits through UMASS Division of Continuing Education will be
offered in addition to 35 professional development points. There will be
a total of 37.5 hours of instructional time over the school year.

*/Ted Watt/*/ is a highly skilled naturalist and environmental educator
with over 30 years of field and classroom experience. He has worked
extensively with schools and school districts throughout the region to
strengthen science education using the outdoors.  His area of
specialization is in birds and plants of New England.  Ted has a a
degree in biology and has continued his professional development, both
informally and formally, through the New England Wild Flower Society,
Massachusetts Audubon Society, Humboldt Field Research Institute at
Eagle Hill, and the Great Smoky Mountains Wildflower Pilgrimage.  Ted
has worked at the Hitchcock Center since 1984 and, prior to that, at two
other wildlife sanctuaries of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Over
the years, he has mentored hundreds of people in their lifelong pursuit
to become a well-rounded naturalist. /

SPACE IS LIMITED

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL TED AT ted@hitchcockcenter.org

OR TO REGISTER, CALL SUSAN HEITKER AT THE HITCHCOCK CENTER AT

(413) 256-6006 BY AUGUST 6, 2010

*The Hitchcock Center for the Environment *
at the Larch Hill Conservation Area
525 South Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-6006
http://www.hitchcockcenter.org