ED X343.98S - 2025 Environmental Science Summer Institute
Course Description
Certified elementary teachers will participate in activities designed to help them learn environmental science and the Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&C), as well as gain a deeper understanding of the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) and Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCCs) outlined by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Additionally, teachers will engage in activities that they can implement in their classrooms with their students. All activities will be aligned with NGSS disciplinary core idea ESS3 (Earth and Human Activity) or another performance expectation that includes an embedded EP&C.
Course Outline
Summer Science Institute: July 24th -July 25th and July 28th – July 30st, 2025
- Day 1-2: Overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Discuss the Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&C) including grade-level specific activities for transitional kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 5th grades. Each EP&C activity is also aligned with a science Disciplinary Core Idea (DCI) from either Life, Earth, or Physical Science.
- Day 3-5: Overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Discuss ESS3 (Earth and Human Activity) including grade level specific activities for kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades. The topics covered include natural resources, natural disasters, pollution, and global warming.
Learner Outcomes
Teachers will be prepared to teach NGSS disciplinary core ideas ESS3 and the EP&Cs. In addition, teachers will understand what students should have learned about these subjects in previous grades, as well as what they need to prepare students for in upcoming grades. Teachers will also develop a better understanding of Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) and Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCCs), as well as how to incorporate them into science activities.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Teachers will gain a better understanding of when environmental science is taught in transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms.
- Teachers will deepen their understanding of environmental science.
- Teachers will become more comfortable conducting inquiry activities in the classroom.
Prerequisites
Multiple subject teaching credential.
Notes
No text is required. All activities and handouts will be found on the South Coast Science Project Website (http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/scsp/home) or on a google drive that will be set up for the class.
The institute is a collaborative professional development opportunity funded by the South Coast Science Project (SCSP) one of the California Subject Matter Projects.