Professional Development Courses are through ASPDP (After School Professional Development Program). “P” In-Service courses offer pedagogues’ high-quality, convenient, low-cost alternatives to college courses that may be applied to salary differential requirements and to the NYS 175 hour professional development requirement to maintain Professional Certification. Courses are designed to impact student achievement through the professional development of teachers.
Upcoming Courses
The Joy of Vegetables: Where Science Meets Nutrition
DOE Course Code: P17-257
2012 Dates: July 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18
Celebrate vegetables through exploring, planting, harvesting and eating together! This hands-on course will explore vegetables from the ground to our plates and promote a symbiosis between healthy plants and healthy people. To maximize student learning, we will connect science standards with real world applications whether in a garden or classroom window box. Participants will learn to get a jumpstart on the growing season by starting seeds indoors, learning where to purchase cheap seedlings and how to make any vegetable project financially sustainable. Teachers will plant vegetable seeds, transplant starter tomatoes, investigate plant structure, define botanical functions, conduct scientific experiments and finally produce tasty, unique veggie dishes. They will also learn how to test soils for heavy metals, defining healthy soil, and at least five ways to ameliorate poor soils. These activities use science as a conduit for non-fiction journaling, conducting library research, connecting new definitions and terms with real-world procedures and concise written summaries of procedures. All classes held at The Hort, 9am - 4:00pm
Course cost $250
NYC DOE teachers register here after 4pm on May 29, 2012: https://pci.nycenet.edu/aspdp
Also see the DOE Program policy including attendance requirements
Beyond the Lima Bean: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Plant Science
DOE Course Code: P17-236S12
2012 Dates: July 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 and August 1
This hands-on course will delve into plant parts with an innovative, interdisciplinary and sensory focus. We will connect basic botany with mathematics, art and literacy aspects of the elementary school curriculum, to maximize student learning. The science of plant parts will be the primary teaching topic as we observe stem transportation, dissect flowers (a component of which is found on the city-wide 4th grade science test), investigate seed function and analyze leaf shapes. The six main parts of a plant will then be happily united with visual, culinary and musical arts as participants photograph hairy roots, create playful "plant chants", design floral arrangements and learn how chocolate is made from cacao seeds. Additionally, educational links with practical mathematics and relevant literacy techniques will be implemented. Each session will teach strategies for delivering differentiated instruction to address some of the many types of learners, especially the auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic learners. As a culminating project, participants will create an integrated botany portfolio to use as a teaching tool in their classrooms.
All classes held at The Hort, 9am - 4:00pm
Course cost $250
NYC DOE teachers register here after 4pm on May 29, 2012: https://pci.nycenet.edu/aspdp
Also see the DOE Program policy including attendance requirements
Past Courses
Green STEM: Building with Greenwall and Greenroof Technology
DOE Course Code: P17-252
Tuesday evenings: October 25 through December 13, 2011
Explore and build with The Hort! This hands-on course will focus on how our urban environment necessitates innovative thinking about growing plants. Participants will expand their scientific knowledge through exploration of green roof and vertical gardening technologies then translate them into practical application within the unique New York City context. We will investigate the relationship between science and technology-- not only in the context of tools, but also of processes, designs and products. Participants will incorporate calculations of vertical and horizontal space to construct a wall-mounted greenwall. Starting with basic engineering skills, participants will assess an open space and evaluate photographs. Then they will measure and create a project design. We will refer to our HNSY library to research the functions of various soil substrates, then explore the properties of materials and design the ideal substrate for their green wall or green roof. Each newly created substrate will be "put to the test" by scientific measurements to determine the highest level of water retention and lowest overall weight of each participant’s soil creation. The results of our soil experiment will be combined with a careful selection of unique plants to invent a new, sustainable, urban ecosystem.
Link to DOE ASPDP site: https://pci.nycenet.edu/aspdp
Also see the DOE Program policy including attendance requirements
Conserving water with your students? Here are a few of our favorite water resources:
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
Visit the Environmental Education section for watershed bus tours for teachers, recommended books, Trout in the Classroom and hands-on activities. Also of interest is a Video on Demand called The Secrets of New York: The Sewers
Catskills Watershed Corporation
Become a Watershed advocate, learn about their grant program, sign up for their e-newsletter and print out a map of the NYC watershed.
Environmental Protection Agency
In the Environmental Kids club, visitors can participate in an animated activity called the Interactive Water Cycle. With activity books with regional specifics like Coastal North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, Hawaii's Oceans and Coastal Louisiana, this site is an amazing resource for both teachers and students.
Water Education Foundation
Information on Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and water kids. Over 30 videos appropriate for classroom viewing.
American Museum of Natural History
In their past exhibitions, check out h20=life and click on the "for educators" section for classroom activities for students of all ages!