Professional Development for Teachers

Exploratorium Teacher Institute and LEJ are joining forces to present a year-long series of teacher training at the EcoCenter!

Our "Understanding the Science of Sustainability" institute will focus on environmental awareness, stewardship, eco-literacy and sustainabilty.  This 2-day institute for teachers will be based at LEJ's new EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park.  The EcoCenter's sustainable technology and construction provides the science content foundation for our program.  We will examine the use of various technologies and strategies through hands-on activities and discussions.  Subject areas will include solar power, wastewater treatment, wetlands as filters, rainwater catchments, green building, and native plant gardening.  Sample activities include: building simple solar cells, modeling filtration systems, participating in a beach cleanup at Heron's Head Park, exploring the mathematics of rainwater catchments and calibrating the amounts of water needed for native plants.  Time will be provided during the Institute for teachers to meet in small groups to adapt to institute ideas and their own curricula in order to help teachers plan a field trip to the EcoCenter.  Teachers attending this institute (2 Saturdays) will be paid a $200 stipend.  This institute is funded through the generous support of the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation and the US Environmental Protection Agency.  Preference will be given to teachers grade 6-12 from San Francisco Unifies School District.

Half-day Saturday Follow-up Workshops will be offered during the 2010/2011 school year.  Attendance at these follow-up workshops is not required.

Click here to download the "Understanding the Science of Sustainability" application (PDF) and return it to the Exploratorium. 

For more information or questions about the Understanding the Science of Sustainability Institute, contact the EcoCenter Program Manager Tracy Zhu.

Educational Programs for School and Youth Groups

All LEJ programs are free to public school and youth groups and include the following elements:

• A project planning meeting with teachers and students
• In-class lesson(s) to contextualize the issue in focus
• Field research/investigations
• An action project
• Evaluation

• Introduction to salt marsh habitats
• Discovering biodiversity
• Ecological stewardship
• Bird identification
• Native plant identification
• Native plants propagation