Education: Teacher Workshops—Saturday Series at the Zoo
UCSD Teacher Workshops for Professional Development at the San Diego Zoo
Every course is designed for teachers and others interested in education extension classes offered through the University of California, San Diego. They are for those who like hands-on learning for themselves and their students. Each class is 14 hours of classroom instruction/6 hours practical application) Total 20 hours All workshops start at the Zoo and are based out of the Zoo's Otto Center. We take field trips on a couple of the workshops—see details below.
Program time: Two-day sessions, four different courses, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Program fee: $385 per 2-day course for 3 units
Registration information: see individual classes below
Class I.3: Super Natural Science
Instructor: Paul Maschka
Location: San Diego Zoo (Meet at Otto Center)
Dates and time of class: Saturdays, January 10 and 17, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Number of class meetings: 2 (7 hours each)
Independent work expectations: 6 hours
Course description: Learn to captivate students’ interest in the natural world by exposing them to some of the most fun and fascinating life forms on Earth.
Participants will:
- Discover the science behind the world’s favorite confection—chocolate
- Participate in a sensory experiment that explores chocolate with varying percentages of cacao, the ingredient that makes chocolate chocolate
- Visit the Zoo's horticulture nursery with a plant expert and see the chocolate tree up close
- Explore the world of fungus and make and take your own living mushroom farm back to your classroom
- Participate in a mushroom hunt on Zoo grounds
- Take an in-depth look at carnivorous plants and how they can be effective learning tools for the classroom
- Take home all the plants and materials necessary to have your own mini-bog, along with classroom activities that will get your students hooked on plants.
- Take a look at the amazing life of honeybees and learn how bees are helping to save the African elephant (of course, we'll meet the elephants, too)!
- Get your senses ready to discover many bee-friendly products firsthand and sweeten the deal with a special honey tasting.
Class I.4: Taking Science Outdoors
Instructor: Sheri Sherman, San Diego Zoo Education Specialist
Location: San Diego Zoo (Meet at Otto Center)
Dates and time of class: Saturdays, January 31 and February 7, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Number of class meetings: 2 (7 hours each)
Independent work expectations: 6 hours
Course description: Teaching science outdoors provides students the unique opportunity to investigate the natural world. Outdoor lessons engage learners and provide fertile ground for hands-on activities that promote student inquiry. The San Diego Zoo's Education Department uses the outdoor classroom every day. In this course we will explore well-designed, field-based instructional strategies that promote cognitive learning and other outcomes for teaching success!
Participants will:
- Learn outdoor teaching strategies used by educators at the San Diego Zoo
- Experience plant- and animal-focused lessons that are transferable to a variety of outdoor locations
- Explore biodiversity and learn how easily this subject integrates a variety of subjects
- Participate in lessons aligned with California State Standards
- Learn from content experts
- Experience special encounters with animals and locations that are personalized just for this class
- Take away classroom materials and lessons ready for classroom use
- Enjoy continental breakfast and other treats
- Participate in hands-on lessons that stimulate students' curiosity and a desire to know more.
Class I.5: Explore Science through Drawing
Instructor: Judi Bowes, San Diego Zoo Education Specialist, Art Educator
Location: San Diego Zoo (Meet at Otto Center)
Dates and time of class: Saturdays, March 7 and 14, 8:30 a.m–3:30 p.m.
Number of class meetings: 2 (14 hours of instruction)
Independent work expectations: 6 hours
Course description: The experience of observation drawing, or response drawing, engages students of all ages in the process of recording their personal observations about the world around them. Under the professional guidance of teacher and artist Judi Bowes, you will learn fun and easy drawing techniques that you can use as motivational teaching tools.
Participants will:
- Participate in art experiments.
- Discover similarities between the scientific method and the creative process
- Increase your understanding of observation skills
- Explore a variety of media and techniques in a safe and friendly environment
- Experience drawing as a teachable, learnable skill that can enliven the study of life science and increase our awareness of the natural world
- Connect with the beautiful animals and plants of the San Diego Zoo
- Learn how to scaffold lessons to create enough structure for success while offering the freedom for individual creativity, discovery, and inquiry
- Take away the course materials ready to use with your students
- Enjoy continental breakfasts and a variety of other goodies.
Class I.6: School Gardens—A Multifaceted Resource for Teachers!
Instructor: Deirdre Ballou and Sheri Sherman, San Diego Zoo education specialists
Location: San Diego Zoo (Meet at Otto Center)
Dates and time of class: Saturdays, April 25 and May 2, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Number of class meetings: 2 (14 hours of instruction)
Independent work expectations: 6 hours
Course description: Discover how to plan and build a successful school garden. Then get ready to grow your knowledge of how to make the garden a sound resource for learning.
Participants will:
- Learn to design a themed children’s garden
- Create a unique learning atmosphere in a garden
- Discover how to teach with plants
- Enjoy hands-on learning opportunities
- Participate in and take home fun classroom activities aligned with California State Standards
- Experience up-close animal encounters
- Tour a partnership garden at San Diego High School.
