The school year is almost over, but we are already looking to next year! Take a look at what is on the horizon! There are also various training opportunities sponsored by other organizations over the summer. To learn more, read on!
Teacher and Student Summer Opportunities
Middle Level (Grades 4-8) Teacher Workshop
Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP) Workshop for Middle Level Teachers June 17, 2015 Ferguson Middle School, Pine Grove Mills, PA
The PA Department of Environmental Protection invites middle school teachers (4-8), administrators and facility managers to attend a free Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP) workshop that will focus on teaching and tracking energy efficiency in school buildings. Through presentations, a building tour, and hands-on activities, workshop participants will learn about energy basics, conservation, efficiency, student energy teams, benchmarking using Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and using the building as a teaching tool. Sustainability initiatives at the host school will also be discussed.
Participating teachers will receive standards-based curricular materials and energy conservation kits containing multimeters, a light meter, and a Kill-A-Watt meter (kit valued at $75). Teachers also will be eligible for 6.5 Act 48 credit hours. Space is limited, so register early! Registration deadline is June 10th.
Student Contest from National Geographic The 2015 Engineering Exploration Challenge Submissions due August 1, 2015
Challenge your students to get creative this summer! The Engineering Exploration Challenge is back! National Geographic wants students to solve up to three big challenges that explorers often face when they are out in the field by using your own robot-like design. Their solution must collect information about its immediate environment and use that information to decide an action to take, the way a robot might. The resulting action can be as big or as small as you can imagine! Students can choose from one of three topics: Animal Migrations, Telling the Story, and Extreme Environments. Click below for more information.
FREE Online Course from National Geographic FLOW Education: Facilitating Education through Outdoor Watershed Education
Middle Level Teacher Training This course is designed for classroom educators (grades 4-8) to learn about watersheds and outdoor education using the Chesapeake Bay watershed as an example. The course introduces technologies for investigating watersheds and helps you plan and implement outdoor experiences.
Two session options: June 17 - July 29, 2015 Sept 16 - Oct 28, 2015
Our roving Giant Map of PA was the feature of our first Homeschool Map Day, held in the middle of May. Approximately fifty homeschoolers and their families came to Shippensburg University and learned about Pennsylvania geography using our Giant Map. There were activities for all ages, and families enjoyed snacks produced right here in PA. Look for more homeschool workshops in the future!
Interested in bringing the Giant Map of PA to your school or group? Request it here!
Interested in teaching your students how to explore their natural environment? Become a part of our BioBlitz program over the next school year! Details forthcoming, so stay tuned!
Giant Map Tour The Giant Traveling Map of PA May Be Coming to Your Area! Learn how you can use the Giant Map in your classroom or group!
The PA Alliance will be hosting Giant Map Workshops throughout PA over the next school year. Have fun, earn Act 48 credit, and learn how to use this amazing resource at your school. More information coming...
New Educational Resources
New PA Alliance Digital Resource The Story of Pennsylvania Online Lessons about PA History and Geography
We are happy to provide a new resource to help in the instruction of PA History and Geography. The Story of Pennsylvania, an online course powered by Versal, takes students on a tour through PA history, beginning with its earliest inhabitants. Each lesson includes a short video, visual tools, and an activity. These lessons may be used in the classroom or as a supplementary resource or homework assignment. In order to use the lessons, you must create a Versal account (free), then log in to access the course. New lessons are being added each week, and the complete course will be available by the beginning of next school year. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the story of our state!
Did you know that as a PA Alliance Member you can join the National Council on Geographic Education for only $50? That is a drastic reduction of their regular membership cost. To learn more about this great opportunity, visit NCGE's website.
Professional Development for Geography Educators NCGE Annual Conference August 6-8, 2015 Washington, DC
Connect with education leaders from around the world by attending the 2015 National Conference on Geographic Education, August 6-9 at the JW Marriott in downtown Washington DC. Each year hundreds of educators (K-12 & University) attend the NCGE annual meeting to exchange ideas, research, resources, and best practices in geography education. This year we also celebrate 100 years of the National Council for Geographic Education working to support and enhance geographic literacy across the country. Visit www.ncge.org for more information or to enroll today. And don't forget that as a PA Alliance member you can join NCGE for just $50!Join today!
