We’re all learning all the time, as we encounter new opportunities and challenges, and envision new possibilities for ourselves and our world. Over ten years ago, the series, Climate Wisconsin offered stories of Wisconsinites’ experiences of climate change at home, at work, and at play, as a way to bring climate education from communities into classrooms. Today, PBS Wisconsin Education is rebooting the effort of that collection, but with a twist. As climate change impacts have become even more present and urgent, we’re now looking to the next generation, young people in communities across the state, to see how they are learning about what’s going on, how they are feeling about the challenges we face, and how they are taking action to get us (back) on track to a future we can look forward to. We’re making a new multimedia collection that will relate these stories to efforts with local and global impacts, engage multiple ways of knowing, and support critical cross-curricular thinking skills along the way. Join us for this preview and discussion session to help shape the project, and be in conversation with fellow educators around how this work connects with what we experience in our learning spaces.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Angler Education Program provides training and materials for adults to offer fishing programs in their schools and communities. This workshop will keep you busy with hands-on activities, and we’ll even go fishing! You’ll go home with a boatload of program materials that link fishing to science through investigations of fish and their habitat and provides opportunities for interdisciplinary unit development with social studies, language arts, fine arts and physical education. Fishing equipment and other supplies are available for loan to instructors at more than 50 tackle loaner sites run by the DNR and partners. The program has two main levels, Junior Angler for grades 4 – 8 and Hook, Line & Thinker for high school. A subset of materials appropriate for younger learners is also available. The materials are aligned to Wisconsin’s state academic standards making the program an easy fit in the classroom. Successful program models include after-school fishing clubs, summer enrichment classes, and school-family events, in addition to classroom use. [I would like this to be an all-day workshop. What are my options?]
Forest measurement is beneficial to students as they use tools, apply geometry and accounting, and begin to understand the importance of sustainable forestry and connections to healthy forests of Wisconsin. Participants will practice with a variety of tools used to measure trees and estimate density, make management decisions, and consider what products can come from a harvest. LEAF Field Lessons (grades 5-12) that incorporate measurement will be introduced. Depending on weather and proximity to trees, this workshop may go outside for part of the time. Wisconsin Science Standards connections: SCI.ESS3.A: Natural Resources SCI.ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems SCI.ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Come experience a hands-on model lesson from OpenSciEd for High School and discover how the new Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, and safer for classroom use. Participate in the featured Serengeti board game from the Biology 1 unit and walk away with valuable resources that you can take back to your classroom.
Bob is a Wisconsin lifetime science educator and has taught at the elementary, middle and high schools levels. He presently is consulting for The Smithsonian and Carolina Biological.
This program, Stress-Free Differentiation: Utilizing AI for Planning and Teaching, equips science teachers with the tools and knowledge to simplify differentiation using innovative AI solutions. Participants will explore DiffIT and Brisk AI, two user-friendly platforms designed to streamline lesson planning, instructional delivery, and assessment. By incorporating these tools, teachers can efficiently tailor their instruction to meet the diverse needs of students, aligning with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)** by promoting inquiry-based learning and real-world application.
Additionally, this program integrates MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) principles by providing strategies for differentiated instruction across all tiers, ensuring equitable access to high-quality learning experiences. Educators will learn how to create personalized tasks, scaffold instruction, and design formative assessments that address both academic and social-emotional needs. By leveraging AI, science teachers can spend less time on planning and more time fostering student engagement, growth, and success in the classroom.
