Education – Professional Development
Professional development workshops promote The Magic House philosophy of combining hands-on learning and fun! Educators can enjoy the camaraderie of fellow teaching professionals while learning activities that are easily integrated into classroom curricula. Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees provides elementary teachers with economic education resources, as well as field trips for their classes. A Math-magical Workshop for Teachers makes early math instruction as simple as 1-2-3. A Taste of Science serves up a sampling of hands-on science experiences for early childhood educators, while Storytime Science and Math blends children’s literature and storytelling to bring simple science and math concepts into the preschool classroom. Two programs help educators introduce hands-on science. Force, Motion and Simple Machines offers an interactive approach to understanding Newton’s basic laws of motion, while Going Green, an environmental awareness program, provides tips on teaching kids how to preserve our planet and its natural resources. New this year is a workshop designed to help teachers build a word rich environment in the classroom.
For further information or to make a reservation, please contact the Education Department: educationinfo@magichouse.org.
Professional Development Workshops
| NEW! Growing Student STEM Vocabulary |
Kindergarten to 5th grade |
This new teacher workshop designed to support the development of word rich classroom environments, incorporates interactive activities and games that enable students to acquire and retain crucial vocabulary in all subject areas including STEM. Teachers will gain knowledge and experience to assist in:
- establishing vocabulary routines in their classrooms
- implementing every-pupil response techniques for authentic practice
- engaging students with hands-on and cooperative, interactive games for word play.
The average school-age child should learn about 3,000 new words a year. How can we help your students achieve vocabulary success now?
GLEs Communication Arts: R1E, R3A, IL1A
CC Language Arts: L.K-5.4, L.K-5.5, L.K-5.6
Workshop Cost: $250 per session
Workshop Length: Two hours
Size Limit: Maximum 50 teachers
| Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees | 2nd to 3rd grade |
This workshop is designed to assist teachers in preparing students to participate in the Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees financial literacy field trip tour and provide ideas on integrating economic education into classroom curricula. Attendance at the FREE teacher workshop is a prerequisite for teachers new to the Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees program and grants each teacher a FREE field trip! The workshops are held at The Magic House.
Workshop Dates
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 from 6 to 8 pm
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 from 6 to 8 pm
GLEs Social Studies 2-3: Econmic Principles 4A Mathematics 2-3: Measurement 1D
Thanks to a generous grant from Wells Fargo Advisors, a limited number of qualifying teachers will participate in this program free of charge.
| A Math-magical Workshop | Preschool to 3rd grade |
It all adds up in this workshop for teachers of kindergarten through 3rd grade! Join museum educators from The Magic House to explore innovative ideas and hands-on teaching techniques that support Missouri and Illinois’ early learning standards for math. Topics include number recognition, measurement, estimation, geometry, fractions and more. This workshop makes early math instruction as simple as 1-2-3!
Workshop Cost: $250 per session
Workshop Length: Two hours
Size Limit: Maximum 50 teachers
GLEs Mathematics K-3: Number and Operations 1B, 3A; Geometry 2A; Measurement 1A
| Storytime Science and Math | Preschool to 2nd grade |
Once upon a time, educators participated in a workshop on how to bring science, math and literature connections into the early childhood classroom. Employing favorite children’s books as a springboard, teachers will gather new ideas on using storytime to integrate basic hands-on science and math activities into the early childhoodl curriculum.
Workshop Cost: $250 per session
Workshop Length: Two hours
Size Limit: Maximum 50 teachers
GLEs Mathematics K-2: Number and Operations 1A, 1B, 2A Communications Arts K-2: Reading 2B, 2C, 3C Science K-2: Matter and Energy 1Aa-c
Thanks to a generous grant from the PNC Foundation, a limited number of teachers from qualifying schools will participate in this program free of charge.
| A Taste of Science | Preschool to 2nd grade |
This popular workshop is designed to “whet your appetite” for making hands-on science an important component of the early childhood and primary classroom. The workshop examines four thematic units in depth: the environment, kitchen chemistry, the scientific process and the five senses. Teachers gain hands-on experience while exploring activities that emphasize science process skills and focus on active learning and sensory experiences that are easily integrated into your present classroom curriculum.
Workshop Cost: $250 per session
Workshop Length: Two hours
Size Limit: Maximum 50 teachers
GLEs Science K-2: Matter and Energy 1Aa-c; Ecosystems 1Aa-b; Scientific Inquiry 1Aa-b
| Force, Motion and Simple Machines | 3rd to 5th grade |
With little effort teachers will grasp an understanding of Newton’s basic laws of motion and the effect they have on the world around us. This hands-on approach will cover the basics of balanced and unbalanced forces, the effects of friction and gravity and how force and motion play a part in the workings of simple machines.
Workshop Cost: $250 per session
Workshop Length: Two hours
Size Limit: Maximum 50 teachers
GLEs Science 3-5: Force and Motion 2Aa-d, 2Fa-c