#8181 Near and Far Science in Illinois (NFSI)
NFSI is a professional development project for K-12 teachers of science. NFSI is designed to support the teaching and learning of EArth and Space Sciences to meet the goals of the Illinois Learning Standards. NFSI is a collaborative effort involving many associations and institutions including the Illinois State Geologic Survey, Augustana College, the National Weather Service and local astronomers. The project focuses on adult learning in Astronomy, Meteorology, and Geology in Illinois and the process of scientific inquiry. The content knowledge gained is coupled with grade-level appropriate classroom materials and real world experiences. During the summer session, teachers will visit various sites in the QC to search for fossils and learn about geologic time, see meteorologists at work, view the night sky at the NFSI Star Party, and view a presentation at the Gamble Observatory at Augustana College. The program also provides a K-12 job-embedded professional development opportunity aligned to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards; has an initial focus on Science Goals 11, 12, and 13, with applications and assessment connections to mathematics, social sciences and language arts. Teachers have the opportunity to earn up to 8 semester hours of graduate credit; credit is available through Aurora University (for an additional fee) or the CPDU equivalent. Grad credit is paid for 2 credits at a time (2 credits=$150) with 2 of the 8 credits not being applied until 2009. Participating in NFSI requires a commitment to attend all summer sessions, complete all course requirements and present an action research project at our spring 2009 NFSI Showcase. Please call or see our flyer for more details. Hurry-space is limited!
Dates/Times: June 11, 5-8 PM; June 19 & 20, 8AM - 4PM; July 10 & 11, 8:30 AM - 4PM; July 24 & 25 have various times
Location: ROE Moline for all dates except June 19 & 20 which is held at Augustana College
Cost: $250
CPDUs: 120
Registration Deadline: 6/4/08

#8311 Science+Language Arts+Math=Improved Achievement
Not enough time to teach science and meet all the standards in math and language arts? Use of an interdisciplinary approach can help meet the standards, improve student learning, and bolster ISAT scores in all areas. Participants will actively sample classroom tested ideas and activities that help students retain the knowledge and skills of inquiry based science, data collection & analysis, and non-fiction reading and writing. This standards-based approach also helps students develop important critical thinking skills. Participants will receive the NSTA book "Picture Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry". One grad credit through Aurora University is also available at an additional $100.
Date: June 12 & 19, 2008
Times: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM each day
Location: WIU Moline Campus
Presenter: Dr. Laverne Logan & Carol Van DeWalle
Audience: 2nd-8th Grade Teachers
Cost: $100
CPDUs: 15
Registration Deadline: 6/5/2008

#8312 Ecology & Outdoor Education: No Child Left Inside
Allow your students to explore the outdoors; it's good for their health! Research shows kids suffer health problems, including obesity, from too much sedentary time indoors. Studies also show that enjoying nature reduces your students’ loneliness, depression, and attention problems. Join us at the Hurstville Interpretive Center for an outdoor journey into our local environment that will benefit your students. The workshop will provide experience for you in various outdoor education activities. You can deliver these lessons either in your own schoolyard or on a field trip to the Hurstville Interpretive Center. During the workshop, you will hike along the trails and through the prairie and learn how to use binoculars and spotting scopes to identify local birds. In addition, you’ll visit the wetlands, collect water samples from the pond and even go canoeing! You will want to do all of these activities with your students as well. You’ll also bring many student activities back to your classroom! Each teacher will receive Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, environmental field guides and equipment such as nets for collecting aquatic samples, insect boxes, insect nets and more! Funded by Tyson Foods the RI County ROE environmental education committee is proud to be able to offer this great opportunity to you and your students. Cost of this workshop includes breakfast, lunch, and $150 worth of materials!
Date: Mon, June 16, 2008
Times: 9:00 AM - 3:15 PM
Location: Hurstville Interpretive Center, Maquoketa, IA
Presenter: Hurtsville Environmental Educators
Audience: K-6 Grade Teachers
Cost: $25
CPDUs:6
Registration Deadline: 6/9/2008

#8313 Environmental Education Adventure with Living Lands and Waters!
Come aboard Living Lands & Waters floating classroom and work boats and enjoy a trip to “The Meeting of the Great Rivers!” While exploring one of the most ecologically and historically significant regions in the country (where the Missouri and Illinois Rivers join the Mississippi), learn about Chad Pregracke’s inspirational story of cleaning up these vast river systems. Teachers will experience an authentic, up-close river adventure to not only learn about the great work of the Living Lands & Waters crew but also to explore environmental topics including watersheds, the river as a natural resource, endangered species, water quality and much more! This two-day adventure will also include trips to view wetland restoration projects, migrating birds, and the biggest and newest lock and dam system on the Mississippi River. You’ll also get an up close (but hopefully not face to face!!!) look at the effects of invasive species, specifically the Asian carp, as they are quite populous in the St. Louis/Grafton region! Local fishermen will discuss how the exotic fish have affected their lives as commercial fishermen as well as to show a variety of fish from the Mississippi River. Enjoy a sunset hike on the bluffs of the Illinois River, campfire and dinner and explore local history as well. You will also participate in engaging classroom activities and discover many lessons to use with your students. Transportation, meals, lodging and educational materials are all included! Lodging will be provided within the beautiful Pere Marquette State Park at the Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center in Grafton, IL. The RI County ROE Environmental Education Committee brings this great opportunity to you with funding from Tyson Foods. Grant funding covers the majority of the registration fee for Rock Island County teachers. Please contact Julie Cox or Amy Sandgren for a detailed itinerary and registration form. Cost is $50 for RI County Teachers and $250 for all other teachers.
Date & Times: June 23 leave Moline at 7 AM & depart for Moline June 24, 2008 at 2 PM
Location: Grafton, IL
Presenter: Living Lands and Waters Educators
Audience: 4th-12th Grade Teachers
Cost: $50 for RI County Teachers* and $250 for all others
*Grant funds cover the remainder of the fee for RI County Teachers
CPDUs:18
Registration Deadline: 6/16/2008

#8310 Monarchs for Your Classroom!
Do you enjoy monarch butterflies? Would you like to learn how to use them to engage your students in science? If the answer is "YES!", please join us to learn about the value and process of using Monarch butterflies, the Illinois' state insect, in the classroom. Methods of raising Monarchs from eggs or larvae and tagging adults prior to their migration to Mexico will be included, as will an in-the-field demonstration of finding eggs and larvae. Handouts for raising Monarchs in the classroom will be provided, as well as sources for buying the larvae, if teachers don't choose to collect their own. Also included will be handouts listing flowers that are good for a butterfly garden at school or home. Naturalist Bob Motz, former biology teacher at Rock Island High School, recently retired 5th/6th grade teacher, Carol Van De Walle, and Regional Office of Education Science Consultant Amy Sandgren will lead the workshop. All three presenters have made extensive use of Monarchs in the classroom. Bob will show video of his experiences with Monarchs in their heir winter refuges in Mexico. Monarch Watch tagging kits will be available for teachers interested in joining the research program!
Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2008
Times: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Location: Black Hawk State Park, Main Lodge
Presenter: Bob Motz, Carol Van De Walle, and Amy Sandgren
Audience: PreK-12 Teachers
Cost: $30
CPDUs:2
Registration Deadline: 8/14/2008