These stories are a collection of educator professional learning experiences and opportunities provided by ESD, CBO and Tribal School partners.
IslandWoodโs teacher professional development opportunities are designed to support powerful learning experiences that connect to studentsโ lives and communities. In this time of increasing awareness and activism, IslandWood is joining with teachers in working to address the vast racial, economic, and environmental disparities in our communities and classrooms.
On February 29th, educators gathered at the Environmental Learning Center right next to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, to explore the subject of Urban Water Systems. This beautiful building is home to high school students from SAMi (Science and Math Institute), and...
On February 22, educators gathered at Brownsville Elementary School for another great NGSS workshop. Along with two facilitators, the group explored the schoolyard and considered how students might work to address problems right there in their local community spaces...
On February 8, educators gathered at the Tacoma Professional Development Center to learn about Community Asset Mapping and how it can be used to connect both teachers and students to place. By using online mapping tools and naturalist observation skills, participants...
On February 1, educators gathered at Poulsbo Elementary School on the Kitsap Peninsula. Over the course of the day, groups brainstormed various ways to lead students on a journey through the scientific phenomena in their schoolyards. The workshop began with some free...
On January 18, educators gathered at the Tacoma Professional Development Center to integrate an understanding of NGSS Engineering Practices into their work with students. Focusing on a puddle at the site, facilitators led the group through an Engineering Design...
On Saturday, January 11, educators gathered at the Tacoma Professional Development Center to dig into NGSS and apply the Science and Engineering Practices to their local environments. After investigating the "schoolyard" for events and processes that might pique...
Wake up and smell theโฆ wastewater? On Saturday, November 2nd 2019, nine teachers and educators met up at the Renton's King County South Treatment Plant to discuss how we build, use, and care for our water urban systems. Along with 2 facilitators, participants had the...
Early on Saturday, November 9th, at Sartori Elementary, 5 teachers and 2 IslandWood staff explored how mapping neighborhood assets, opportunities, and problems can engage students more deeply in science and engineering. Together, we deepened our knowledge on how...
On a crisp autumn Saturday at the Brightwater Treatment Plant, 12 teachers and educators dove head-first into dialogue surrounding urban water issues and solutions. Together, we learned how climate change will effect our regional wastewater and other stormwater...