Potomac River & Chesapeake Bay Issue Investigation:
Hands on Science in Action
Environmental Science Summer Teacher Institute
Hard Bargain Farm offers annual professional development opportunities for teachers and environmental education practitioners. During institutes and workshops, teachers become “students,” actively exploring our curriculum and field studies by participating in hands-on activities, models, and conducting in depth field study investigations amid diverse habitats on the farm and in nearby Piscataway National Park. Teachers learn and practice activities designed to investigate issues at their school and to prepare their students for an outdoor experience.
WHO: 4th to 6th grade & elementary science teachers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Priority given to teams of two or more teachers from any given school
WHAT:
- A curriculum of wonderful lesson plans, based on MVSC indicators, that can be used to enhance your instruction of scientific inquiry and environmental studies;
- Nationally recognized issue investigation methods for guiding students in the scientific inquiry of authentic investigations;
- Hands-on participation in a series of authentic field investigations to identify and investigate environmental problems;
- MSDE credits upon completion of portfolio; small stipend
- Overnight lodging available (30 minutes from Washington, D.C. and 50 minutes from Baltimore).
WHERE: The Alice Ferguson Foundation, Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center
WHEN: July 12 - 22, 2010: 9 day institute open to all teachers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Former institute particpants welcome.
FLYER: Click to Download 2010 Flyer
REGISTRATION: Registration forms will be accepted on a rolling basis and applicants will be notified after about one week regarding their registration status.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
AFF Contact
Contact: Karen Jensen Miles
Phone: (301) 292-5665
Fax: (301) 292-1070
We recently received unsolicited emails from several participants. Here are a couple of excerpts from them.
"I wanted to thank you again for such an amazing week! I can't tell you how much it changed just simple ways that I now think about things." – Teacher, Capital City Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
"I wanted to thank you and your staff once again for a wonderful experience on the farm. Before coming to Hard Bargain, nature and I was not the best of friends...however, upon leaving I have not missed one day enjoying her beauty (I've even been canoeing several times). So again, many thanks and hats off to your fantastic staff...I am so looking forward to next year!!"
– Teacher, Rosaryville Elementary School, Prince George's County, MD