K-12 Professional Development Opportunities

This resource is the brain child of the NGSS-ESS Working Group, which is a collaboration between the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA), the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The mission of this collaboration is to support Earth and space science educators in all aspects of NGSS-ESS implementation.

Use the interface below to search through professional development opportunities available for K-12 teachers across a variety of topical areas, grade levels, and formats. The webpages will be updated regularly as new opportunities come up, and old opportunities are retired.  If you are associated with a professional development opportunity that should be included in the collection, use the submission form to tell us about it.  Please contact Aida Awad, Missy Holzer, or Ed Robeck if you have questions.


Results 1 - 10 of 71 matches

STEM Teacher Leadership Academy
Join our second cohort of accomplished STEM educators as they take on deep inquiry and informal learning connections alongside engineers, researchers, and museum specialists. Be a part of a community of leaders who wish to expand upon their practice, engage in reimagined engineering challenges, and return to the classroom feeling energized and empowered.This program is designed for K-12 teachers in the National Capital Region who wish to infuse science, technology, engineering, and math into their lessons and explore interdisciplinary project design. Participants in this program will receive a ,000 stipend, educational resources for the classroom, and 40 continuing education credits. All programming occurs at the National Air and Space Museum July 29-August 2, 2024.

Content Area: Earth Science, Environmental Science, Space Science / Astronomy, Other
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free, Stipend paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Climate and the Earth System Teacher Workshops
Join the UCAR Center for Science Education at their 2024 Teacher Professional Development workshops aimed at ways to teach students of all ages about climate and the Earth system! Learn more and register at: https://scied.ucar.edu/.../teacher-professional-developmentVirtual workshops will take place in April and include sessions for all grade levels. In-person workshops will take place in June at the NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder, CO, and will also cover all grade levels.All teachers will receive a certificate of participation. Teachers who attend the in-person workshops in June will also have the option to receive continuing education credit through the Colorado School of Mines.

Content Area: Earth Science, Environmental Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August, January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll, Free, Optional cost
Professional Development Format: Hybrid

Students Discovering Climate Solutions
The objective is to share current resources and activities that educators can use to support their students in thinking, and acting on, potential climate change solutions in their communities. This PD provides 1 hour of CEUs and is virtual.

Content Area: Environmental Science
Grade Level: Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: September to December
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: Online only

ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers - Wisconsin Lutheran High School - July 10-14
ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers is a free, week-long, idea-generating workshop introducing teachers to methods that make math and core science principles more enticing and relevant to their middle and high school students. Materials topics are great motivators in any engineering, technology or science course as students learn concepts that are reflected in their everyday lives.Participants are eligible to receive four (4) Continuing Education Units(CEUs) and can opt for two (2) graduate level credits.LocationWisconsin Lutheran High School 330 Glenview Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53213

Content Area: Other
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Galapagos Islands and Ecuador Andes Mountains
This nine-day (8 night) field trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands will expand your knowledge of plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and volcanic hazards by visiting two textbook settings. The group will visit a volcanic site high in the Andes Mountains before flying together to spend 7 days in the Galapagos Islands. This trip will provide up close and hands-on exploration of volcanic features on three islands across the chain. Sites will include the rim of a shield volcano, lava tunnels in the tropical highlands, lava flows along the seashore, and snorkeling to see submerged features.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Discover Iceland – Fire and Ice on a Mid-Ocean Ridge
This 7-day (6 night) field trip to Iceland highlights the amazing geology of this Mid-Ocean Ridge country. We will walk across a plate boundary, see recent active volcanism, climb amazing craters, walk to glaciers and so much more. Each and every turn of the road has amazing sites, waterfalls and the greenest landscapes imaginable.Iceland is an amazing place to learn about Plate Tectonics and glacial landforms.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

EPI Galapagos Islands Educator Course
This intensive 10-day professional development program will give you the opportunity to work with some of the world's most fascinating wildlife. Through EPI's partnership with the Ecuadorian nonprofit ECOS, you'll leave the touristic sites behind to collect meaningful data and contribute to broad conservation efforts. Engage with astonishing phenomena and collaborate with other educators to develop lessons that drive student inquiry. Come away from the course equipped to connect your students to the wonders that inspired Darwin through your own storylines and insights. COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Monitor giant Galapagos tortoises- Explore 3-dimensional learning- Join a community of science professionals

Content Area: Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Introducing the Earth Science of the Northeastern US on Earth@Home
Rich with interactive content about Earth and its life, climate, energy, geology, paleontology, and the ways in which Earth systems interact, PRI's website, Earth@Home is your home for learning and teaching Earth systems science.Visit the site at: https://earthathome.org/hoe/Join us to learn about this free and growing set of resources for you and your students.Earth@Home includes a new and growing collection of online interactive textbooks, virtual field guides, 3D models of specimens, virtual laboratory and fieldwork activities, and more.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: September to December
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: Online only

ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers - SAIT(Southern Alberta IT)- July 31-August 4
ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers is a free, week-long, idea-generating workshop introducing teachers to methods that make math and core science principles more enticing and relevant to their middle and high school students. Materials topics are great motivators in any engineering, technology or science course as students learn concepts that are reflected in their everyday lives.Participants are eligible to receive four (4) Continuing Education Units(CEUs) and can opt for two (2) graduate level credits.LocationSouthern Alberta Institute of Technology 1301 16 Avenue Northwest Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 Canada

Content Area: Other
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Our Glacial Heritage – New England
Have you ever wondered what tangible evidence you can find for the ice ages in our area? Have you thought about how you might be able to use that evidence in your classroom? Have you considered what activities you could use with your students to explain how glacial features form?Then come and join an enthusiastic group of Earth Science and Geography teachers as we learn how glaciers shaped our landscape, examine evidence, and go through some classroom activities.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only