K-12 Professional Development Opportunities

This resource is the brain child of the NGSS-ESS Working Group, which is a collaboration between the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA), the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The mission of this collaboration is to support Earth and space science educators in all aspects of NGSS-ESS implementation.

Use the interface below to search through professional development opportunities available for K-12 teachers across a variety of topical areas, grade levels, and formats. The webpages will be updated regularly as new opportunities come up, and old opportunities are retired.  If you are associated with a professional development opportunity that should be included in the collection, use the submission form to tell us about it.  Please contact Aida Awad, Missy Holzer, or Ed Robeck if you have questions.


Results 1 - 10 of 71 matches

STEM Teacher Leadership Academy
Join our second cohort of accomplished STEM educators as they take on deep inquiry and informal learning connections alongside engineers, researchers, and museum specialists. Be a part of a community of leaders who wish to expand upon their practice, engage in reimagined engineering challenges, and return to the classroom feeling energized and empowered.This program is designed for K-12 teachers in the National Capital Region who wish to infuse science, technology, engineering, and math into their lessons and explore interdisciplinary project design. Participants in this program will receive a ,000 stipend, educational resources for the classroom, and 40 continuing education credits. All programming occurs at the National Air and Space Museum July 29-August 2, 2024.

Content Area: Earth Science, Environmental Science, Space Science / Astronomy, Other
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free, Stipend paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Teach Earth Fellowships
As Earthwatch's flagship teacher fellowship program, Teach Earth provides selected teachers with an opportunity to field on an all-teacher Earthwatch expedition team. Fellows engage directly in scientific field research alongside leading scientists and participate in facilitated workshops to help translate their field experience into a lesson plan or community action plan for use in their own school or community.

Content Area: Earth Science, Environmental Science
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Stipend paid, Free, Expenses paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

EPI Baja Teacher Fellowship
The EPI Baja Teacher Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to assist with international conservation efforts in the Gulf of California, a World Heritage Site that's home to 39% of the world's marine mammal species.COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Complete 40 hours of professional development coursework with a focus on marine biology, desert ecology, and conservation- Snorkel with sea lions, tropical fish & whale sharks- Explore marine diversity in the Gulf of California

Content Area: Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll, Expenses paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

G-Camp
G-Camp is a 14-day field camp for 5th - 12th grade science teachers that provides first-hand experience with the principles of geology in the field, helps you develop new curriculum and virtual fieldtrips for your classroom, and makes learning fun and exciting out-of-doors. This field experience puts you on the outcrops through Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. G-Camp is only run face-to-face. CEU's are currently being developed by the Texas A&M Education department. Applications are due near the end of April and only 30 teachers will be selected to attend G-Camp, see the website for more information about the registration process, daily activities, etc.

Content Area: Environmental Science, Earth Science, Geology
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Expenses paid, Stipend paid, Free, Optional cost
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

STEM Teacher Leadership Academy 2023
Join this inaugural cohort of accomplished STEM educators as they take on deep inquiry and informal learning connections alongside engineers, researchers, and museum specialists. Be a part of a community of teacher leaders who wish to expand upon their practice, engage in reimagined engineering challenges, and return to the classroom feeling energized and empowered.This program is designed for K-12 teachers in the National Capital Region who wish to infuse science, technology, engineering, and math into their lessons and explore interdisciplinary project design. Participants in this program will receive a ,000 stipend and educational resources for their classroom.The Academy will take place on-site in Washington, D.C., and Chantilly, Virginia from Monday, July 31 - Friday, August 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Applications are due by March 15, 2023.

Content Area: Space Science / Astronomy
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Stipend paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Discover Iceland – Fire and Ice on a Mid-Ocean Ridge
This 7-day (6 night) field trip to Iceland highlights the amazing geology of this Mid-Ocean Ridge country. We will walk across a plate boundary, see recent active volcanism, climb amazing craters, walk to glaciers and so much more. Each and every turn of the road has amazing sites, waterfalls and the greenest landscapes imaginable.Iceland is an amazing place to learn about Plate Tectonics and glacial landforms.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

EPI Colorado Educator Course
This onsite Professional Development program takes place in the Colorado Rockies, a fascinating place to investigate the effects of human impacts on our environment. You'll spend seven days exploring the phenomena of an alpine ecosystem as you contribute to ongoing research projects, collaborate with fellow educators, and brush up on 3D learning techniques.Come away with phenomena-based, inquiry-driven lesson plans that will connect your students to the natural world-and change the way they see their relationship to the environment.Course Highlights:- Engage in aspen and pika research- Explore the social and ecological implications of wolves- Connect and collaborate with a community of peersInterested participants can receive 4 graduate credits through the University of Montana for participating in this course. Separate registration and tuition fee are required.

Content Area: Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only

Online Earth Science Teacher Education Content & Demonstrations
This intensive, online course will provide basic content material for teachers concerning geology, astronomy, oceanography, and meteorology. Topics include the origin of the universe and the life cycle of stars; the origin of the solar system and its components; the composition and structure of the Earth; plate tectonics; the rock cycle and water cycle, energy resources; the atmosphere, weather, and climate; and Earth's oceans. Participants will receive 6.0 CEUs for 60 clock hours. There is no cost for educators to register for this class--contact our office in order for the registration fee to be waived! cepetroleumtraining@midland.edu or 432-683-2832

Content Area: Earth Science, Geology, Space Science / Astronomy
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: January to May, September to December
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: Online only

Climate and the Earth System Teacher Workshops
Join the UCAR Center for Science Education at their 2024 Teacher Professional Development workshops aimed at ways to teach students of all ages about climate and the Earth system! Learn more and register at: https://scied.ucar.edu/.../teacher-professional-developmentVirtual workshops will take place in April and include sessions for all grade levels. In-person workshops will take place in June at the NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder, CO, and will also cover all grade levels.All teachers will receive a certificate of participation. Teachers who attend the in-person workshops in June will also have the option to receive continuing education credit through the Colorado School of Mines.

Content Area: Earth Science, Environmental Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August, January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll, Free, Optional cost
Professional Development Format: Hybrid

Discover Iceland – Fire and Ice on a Mid-Ocean Ridge
This 7-day (6 night) field trip to Iceland highlights the amazing geology of this Mid-Ocean Ridge country. We will walk across a plate boundary, see recent active volcanism, climb amazing craters, walk to glaciers and so much more. Each and every turn of the road has amazing sites, waterfalls and the greenest landscapes imaginable.Iceland is an amazing place to learn about Plate Tectonics and glacial landforms.

Content Area: Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only