Noted for its exemplary education programs for children, QBG is proud to offer equally innovative professional development options for elementary and intermediate level teachers. 

Options for Individuals

Botany, Ecology, and Sustainability
Fall 2010 dates: September 25, October 2, 9, 23, and 30
30 hour P Credit course

Participants in this course will be engaged in learning about botany as well as current issues in environmental sustainability and environmental biology.  Participants will create science journals that incorporate literacy, math, and art into this interdisciplinary science-based course.  Observation, questioning, experimentation, and various other skills will be taught as participants engage in hands-on, inquiry based lessons.  All lessons are aligned with the NYC and State Standards as well as the scope and sequence and provide for differentiation.

$250 + $100 ASPDP fee for P Credits.
To register for P Credits, please use the ASPDP website.

For more information or registration for non-P Credit participants, please contact Marnie Rackmill.

Options for Schools/Districts

Classroom Extensions into the Garden and Garden Extensions into the Classroom

Discover how QBG’s garden spaces (and other gardening activities) can be used to teach ELA, social studies, and math.  Create and take a model of a rainforest or desert biome. Examine plants, soils, water, and more. This workshop will include adaptable classroom activities, reproducible materials, and discussion points for various grade levels.   Specific topics such as plants in society, adaptations, soil and water, etc, may be requested.

Standards: E1, E2a, E3c, S1, S2a, S4a, PS2, LE3, LE6,                              

Observations with Plants – How do Scientists Think?

Designed for elementary and middle school teachers (general education, special education, science, and literacy), this workshop model lesson begins with basic plant observations.   Participants ask questions, come up with their own hypotheses, and use literature to back up their statements.  This class extends into the garden where participants have the opportunity to further their observations.  Teachers examine various applications to literacy and science curricula and take home their own dish garden for classroom observation. 

NYC Standards: E1, E2a, E3c, M4, M5, S1, 2a, S2c, S2e, S5c, S5d, S5f, S7a, S7b, S7d, S7e, LE3, LE6

Exciting and Easy Classroom Gardening (1/2 day workshop)

Participants will plant roots, bulbs, seeds, stems, and more from around the world to help create their own classroom gardens.  Selected are easy to maintain, create specific learning opportunities, and help to create exciting classroom environment.  Classroom activities and reproducible materials will be provided in this cross-curricular workshop.

Standards: E1, E2a, E3c, S2a, S2b, S2c, S2e, LE4, LE6

The Waste Stream

Participants will examine the various paths a piece of trash from NYC can follow.  Participants will leave with an understanding of the overall waste stream, socioeconomic and cultural factors affecting waste management, and more.  Sample classroom activities will be provided. During the full 6 hr version of this workshop, participants will engage in lessons on sustainability, sustainable resources, and will tour the QBG Visitor and Administrative building (a “green building”).  During the full version of this course participants will receive classroom composting materials including a bin, a voucher for worms, and books. 

Standards: E2a, E3c, M4, M5, M6, S3d, S4

Customized Professional Development Workshops

QBG's Professional Development staff can design workshops specifically targeted to your group's needs, following the NSTA inquiry-based model.  Depending on subject, workshops can be designed as a 1-day session to over 5 days.

Past workshop titles have included:

• Plant Evolution
• Trees
• Bringing the Indoors Outdoors and the Outdoors Indoors
• Gardening and Propagation for the Elementary Classroom

Weekend Workshops

Fall and winter dates to be announced. 

Call Marnie Rackmill at 718-886-3800 ext. 371 to receive emails about teacher professional development programs. 

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