Professional Learning Partnerships
Bring your school, district, or expanded learning community together for customized, hands-on professional learning experiences.
Professional learning partnerships are designed for large groups of colleagues to take deep dives together, using science-rich phenomena to connect to standards, achieve results in ELA and math, support social-emotional learning, and integrate equitable teaching practices. Here’s what you can expect:
- a customized schedule
- no special equipment or materials required
- workshops facilitated over Zoom and resources and slides shared via Google Drive
- content applicable to in-person, hybrid, or online classroom settings
Together, you and your colleagues will
- engage as science learners and increase confidence in working with phenomena;
- drive student engagement in ELA and math;
- integrate science into social-emotional learning and equitable teaching practices; and
- make connections to NGSS-aligned science content, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts.
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Elementary Offerings
Workshop #1 | Integrating Science & English Language Arts
For K–5 educators (up to 45 per workshop)
Time: 90 minutes
The Exploratorium’s Integrating Science & ELA workshop engages K–5 teachers and science leaders in the science phenomena at the heart of the Next Generation Science Standards and new ways of thinking about the integration of science and ELA. In this workshop, we'll explore intriguing phenomena and use them as the basis for connections to reading and writing. We'll see examples of how teachers can use science in their classrooms to generate richly detailed observations and writing that relate to the K–5 Common Core text types of narrative—opinion/argument and explanatory/informative—and examine how nonfiction books serve as catalysts for exploring and deepening understanding of phenomena. And we'll identify and reflect on ways that integrating science and literacy can foster equity in the elementary classroom. Participants will leave the workshop with new ideas, classroom examples, and resources that support the integration of ELA into science instruction.
Estimated Cost: $2,250
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Workshop #2 | Integrating Science & Math
For K–5 educators (up to 45 per workshop)
Time: 90 minutes
The Exploratorium’s Integrating Science & Math workshop engages K–5 teachers and science leaders in science phenomena that feature data science, an area of mathematics highlighted in the new California Mathematics Framework. In this workshop, we'll explore key concepts of data science and how they can be incorporated and enhanced through inquiry-based science instruction. We'll also analyze and interpret data sets to explore how math supports understanding science phenomena, and use quantitative and qualitative data visualizations that are effective with even the youngest of learners. Additionally, we'll identify and reflect on ways in which attention to data science can foster equity in the elementary classroom. Participants will leave the workshop with new ideas, classroom examples, and resources that support the integration of math into science instruction.
Estimated Cost: $2,250
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Discounted Workshop Series | Integrating Science & Math + Integrating Science & ELA
For K–5 educators (up to 45 per workshop)
Time: two workshops, 90 minutes each (three hours total)
Combine the Exploratorium’s Integrating Science & ELA workshop with the Exploratorium’s Integrating Science & Math workshop and receive a discount on the standard rate—it's normally $4500—for your school, district, or region.
Estimated Cost: $4,000 (a $500 discount!)
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Deep Dive Series | California NGSS: Integrating Three-Dimensional Science Learning
For K–5 educators (up to 60 per workshop)
Time: One four-hour workshop and two two-hour follow-ups (eight hours total)
Student-centered learning is at the heart of the California NGSS. The three dimensions of the CA NGSS—Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts—support students' conceptual understanding as they explore engaging phenomena, raise questions, and develop explanations.
This Exploratorium workshop series highlights the key student-centered features of the CA NGSS and supports K–5 teachers in integrating them into their practice. Teachers will
- engage in three-dimensional learning experiences that model how the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts work together to support learners in explaining phenomena;
- examine how science can be integrated with ELA, how phenomena can be catalysts for writing related to the Common Core, and how the new California Mathematics Framework provides opportunities for incorporating math into science instruction;
- experience video examples of classrooms engaged in using the Science and Engineering Practices; and
- plan for implementing workshop experiences and ideas with colleagues.
This workshop includes a four-hour immersive session and two two-hour follow-ups focused on planning and implementation.
Estimated Cost: $8,500
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Secondary Offerings
For grade 6–12 teachers, science coaches or specialists, leaders, and more.
Workshop #3 | Connecting Physical or Life Science Standards to the Phenomena of Seeing
For 6–12th grade educators (up to 30 per workshop)
Time: two hours per workshop
These Exploratorium workshops are interactive, online science professional learning opportunities for secondary teachers and leaders to connect science standards with the widely accessible phenomena of seeing and perceiving light. Working together, educators will collect and analyze shared data and build their understanding of life science or physical science concepts through the science practices of asking questions, carrying out investigations, and analyzing data. Educators can then use these activities to engage their students in inquiry-based learning, either online or in person.
Option A
Using Life Science Phenomena to Explore the Structure and Function of the Eye and How We See
Engage in hands-on activities that focus on life science phenomena to explore the structure, function, and adaptations of our visual system.
Option B
Using Physical Science Phenomena to Explore Waves, Light, and Vision
Engage in hands-on activities that focus on physical science phenomena to explore waves, electromagnetic radiation, light, and vision.
Estimated Cost: $2,250 per content workshop or $4000 for both (a $500 discount!)
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Deep Dive Series | Connecting Equity and Inclusion to the Secondary Science Classroom
For 6–12th grade educators (up to 30 per workshop)
Time: two workshops of two hours each (four hours total)
The Exploratorium’s Connecting Equity and Inclusion to the Secondary Science Classroom is a two-part series for secondary teachers and science leaders interested in approaches to building scientific learning communities through inclusive and equitable practices. Educators will engage as learners in science activities focusing on facilitation techniques and protocols and increasing representation in STEM. Additionally, participants will have opportunities to reflect, share, and determine how to integrate these practices and activities into their classrooms or leadership work.
Estimated Cost: $4,500
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Expanded Learning Offerings
For afterschool, STEAM hubs, 21st-century community learning centers, and more.
Workshop Series | Engaging in Hands-On Science
For expanded educators (up to 60 per workshop)
Time: up to six 90-minute workshops
Enrich your expanded learning program with engaging, hands-on experiences from the Exploratorium! Workshops for expanded learning providers model science activities they can use immediately in their work with students, and include science phenomena that enhance learner engagement and support learning recovery. The collaborative exploration and culture of sharing built into hands-on science address students’ social and emotional learning needs.
Choose from a repertoire of highly interactive workshops that feature
- engaging activities with accessible hands-on materials;
- meaning-making discussions that promote reflection and communication practices; and
- supporting resources and scaffolds that can be used for in-person, hybrid, or online settings.
Example workshop topics include:
Exploring Afterimages (90 minutes)
You won’t believe your eyes! Join us for an exploration of the surprising visual phenomenon of colored afterimages. Participants will experience rich science talk as they engage in the practices of observation and developing models.
Exploring Pendulums (90 minutes)
Get in the swing of things with an exploration of pendulums! Together we’ll use everyday materials to create our own pendulums and raise questions about the different variables that influence the way they swing.
Exploring Shadows (90 minutes)
Shadows can be an illuminating science phenomenon! We’ll use the everyday experience of light and shadow to spark participants’ curiosity to ask questions about why shadows change shape, size, and direction.
Exploring Balance (90 minutes)
Want to tip the balance toward learner engagement in science? Participants will use simple, everyday materials to explore different ways to balance a system of multiple weights.
Exploring Ramps and Rollers (90 minutes)
Get student engagement rolling! We’ll use a simple materials setup to observe phenomena, record data, compare observations, and explore how small changes can lead to big differences in how objects roll.
Bite-Sized Science Activities (90 minutes)
Looking for a collection of engaging science experiences for learners in an informal setting? Join us for a workshop made up of activities based on Exploratorium exhibits. This workshop will equip participants with everything they need to engage learners in a series of quick, accessible science activities that explore phenomena like sound, color, motion, and more! These activities can be completed in under 30 minutes each and will be supported by online resources.
Estimated Cost: $2,250 per 90-minute workshop (or $2,000 each for three or more)
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