Education

Teacher Programs

PHOTO: Field Trip at Plant Science Center

We invite you to enhance your knowledge, enrich your teaching techniques, and enliven your classroom while earning professional development and graduate credit. Join us for our teacher workshops offered every season:

Custom Workshops

PHOTO: Teacher Programs

Staff in the Center for Teaching and Learning can develop custom workshops to be delivered at your site. Teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers can all learn grade-appropriate techniques for integrating plant-based learning
into the curriculum. Please call (847) 835-8253 for more information about scheduling and pricing.

rave reviews

“Wonderful ideas, resources, and projects to incorporate into the classroom — great workshops.”

“I go back to school and share what I’ve learned with my students. They get so excited to learn the facts that I’ve discovered. I plan to incorporate activities where they fit in to the curriculum.”

“Inquiry based — Hands-on activities. Definitely applicable to the classroom. Relatable to what we need to teach the kids and encourage a love of science.”

upcoming programs:

Ecosystem Studies Summer Institute
Garden Camp for Teachers III
June 25 – 27 & September 15 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Monday – Wednesday & Saturday
June 28 – 29 at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Thursday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
$285 nonmember
Garden members receive a 20 percent discount
Grade level: K – 12
CPDU credit: 45, Lane credit: 3, Graduate credit: 3
An additional fee for graduate credit ($100 per credit through Aurora University and $140 per credit through National Louis University) will be collected on the first day of the workshop.

The Chicago Botanic Garden and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum are excited to offer this weeklong summer institute that focuses on the native and urban ecosystems of Illinois. Explore the interactions of native and invasive organisms in prairie, woodland, wetland, and urban ecosystems and how to incorporate the topics of biodiversity, adaptation, and interdependence in your classroom.

2012 School Gardening Conference
Learning, Moving, and Growing:
Healthy Lifestyles through School Gardening
Saturday
June 30 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$115 nonmember, Early bird before June 1
$125 nonmember, June 1 or later
Garden members receive a 20 percent discount

Grade level: PreK-12
CPDU credit: 6

School gardens offer students so many ways to learn about healthy eating, get physical activity, and understand that we are part of the environment. Join us for a day of inspiration as we showcase school garden projects that are improving our lives. Lunch and continental breakfast are included. For more information, download the Program At a Glance.

In addition to the conference, a one-day workshop will be held at the Chicago Botanic Garden on July 14, 2012 for teachers who would like to earn one graduate credit through Aurora University ($100 per credit) or one CPS Lane credit. Space is limited so call (847) 835-8253 or email to confirm your interest in receiving credit and to save a spot.