Amazing teacher trips (get packing!) Here's our advance list of unforgettable summer adventures just for you.Calling all ocean explorers, amateur historians, and language lovers. For teachers, that's all of us! Get ready to embark on a world adventure that will feel like a vacation, while enriching your teaching in new and surprising ways. Best of all, along with those souvenir salt-shakers, in many cases, you'll bring home professional development credits. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SNORKEL snorkel, tube through which a submarine or diver can draw air while underwater. When in use, the top of the snorkel tube extends above the water surface into the air. WITH THE FISHES The Island School, Bahamas WHAT IT IS: Located on Cape Eleuthera, The Island School is an educational oasis, where during the school year, children learn about the life sciences firsthand. And every summer, educators too are invited to visit the Island School's sand-swept shores--in a weeklong Teachers' Conference that includes courses ranging from marine life to scuba diving scuba diving Swimming done underwater with a self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus (scuba), as opposed to skin diving, which requires only a snorkel, goggles, and flippers. Scuba gear was invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan in 1943. . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DATES: August 5-12 COST: $900 (plus travel expenses) TO LEARN MORE: www.islandschool.org WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Discover sea urchins, coral reefs coral reefs, limestone formations produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters. In most reefs, the predominant organisms are stony corals, colonial cnidarians that secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate (limestone). , and life underwater. Now is your chance--the Island School is offering full scholarships to two Instructor readers. To apply, write a letter explaining why The Island School should choose you. E-mail it to teacher conference@islandschool.org. Include your teaching history and contact info. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GO ON A SAFARI GLOBE Training, Kenya WHAT IT IS: GLOBE Training, a special program for teachers offered through Holbrook Education, is a unique opportunity to learn about Africa firsthand. You'll gaze out on the Kenyan landscape on safari On Safari was a children's game show series set in the jungle that was produced by Television South, and aired on the ITV network for 4 seasons from 1982 until 1985. , and meet local community members who will teach you about their traditions, arts, and foods, as well as about the complex issues of sustainable development Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfilment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union . DATES: June 15-29 COST: $3,797 (includes airfare between London and Nairobi). TO LEARN MORE: www.holbrooktravel.com/pages/educationExpeditions WHY YOU SHOULD GO: After seeing elephants and giraffes in the wild, imagine how much learning and excitement you'll bring back to your own students. ADVENTURE FOR FREE The Earthwatch Institute, Worldwide WHAT IT IS: Earthwatch Institute offers educators fully-funded fellowships for the ultimate hands-on learning. You'll work with scientists doing field research in conservation on one of 130 projects around the world. When the Earthwatch acceptance comes in, you'll be even more glad you're a teacher. DATES: Year-round COST: FREE (Some travel expenses) TO LEARN MORE: Visit www.earthwatch.org to learn about Earthwatch projects or download an application. Deadlines are rolling, but submitting an application before March 1st should improve your chances. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: It's the chance of a lifetime! You might find yourself tracking peccaries in Brazil's Pantanel wetland, or digging up ancient relics in Spain. Plus, professional development credits are available through Bank Street College. CALLING ALL INDIANA JONESES Archaelogical Dig, Alabama WHAT IT IS: The University of Alabama The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as 'Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship campus of the University of Alabama System. Museum Expedition offers weeklong expeditions to an archaeological excavation at Moundville, a Mississippian Indian site. DATES: June 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29 COST: $400 per session TO LEARN MORE: Visit www.amnh.ua.edu, call (205) 348-7550, or e-mail museum.expedition@ua.edu to register. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Your unit on dinosaurs, Native-American prehistory prehistory, period of human evolution before writing was invented and records kept. The term was coined by Daniel Wilson in 1851. It is followed by protohistory, the period for which we have some records but must still rely largely on archaeological evidence to , or the pharaohs of Egypt will spring to life once you've had the chance to work on an archaeological dig of your own. GIVE YOUR KIDS THE MOON McDonald Observatory McDonald Observatory, astronomical observatory located on Mt. Locke, near Fort Davis, Tex.; founded in 1932, sponsored by the Univ. of Texas in cooperation with the Univ. of Chicago. Its equipment includes 107-in. (272-cm), 82-in. (208-cm), 32-in. (81-cm), and 30-in. , Texas WHAT IT IS: The McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas in Austin offers five 20-hour accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. courses designed for teachers at every grade level. The observatory is located in the beautiful Davis Mountains Davis Mountains, W Tex., SE of El Paso. Old Baldy, 8,382 ft (2,555 m), is the highest peak. Forested slopes, springs, and deep canyons attract tourists. On the summit of Mt. Locke, 6,791 ft (2,070 m) high, is the Univ. of Texas McDonald Observatory (est. in West Texas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DATES: June 18-July 29 COST: FREE TO LEARN MORE: www.mcdonaldobservatory.org WHY YOU SHOULD GO: To take hands-on courses in science and mathematics (aligned with the standards)--then practice your newly acquired talents under the Observatory's dark skies Dark Skies is an American sci-fi/drama television series which aired during the 1996-1997 season for 20 episodes. The success of The X-Files on the FOX Network proved there was an audience for genre shows, resulting in the NBC Network commissioning this proposed . Nationally recognized experts in astronomy will lead the way. And thanks to NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. , enticing courses such as "Deciphering Stars" and "White Dwarfs and the Age of our Galaxy" are free of charge! HIKE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Acadia National Park, 48,419 acres (19,603 hectares), SE Maine, on the Atlantic coast; est. 1919. The park occupies a major portion of Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut and several smaller islands, and the southern tip of Schoodic Peninsula. College of the Atlantic Curriculum The school's curriculum is based on human ecology, and every freshman is required to take an introductory core course in human ecology during their first term. , Maine WHAT IT IS: Few summer professional development courses beat those at College of the Atlantic near Bar Harbor Bar Harbor, town (1990 pop. 2,768), SE Maine, on Mount Desert Island and on Frenchman Bay; settled 1763, inc. 1796. It was a famed New England resort during the 19th cent. Bar Harbor is a port of entry, with ferry connections to Yarmouth, N.S., during the summer. , which balance fieldwork, seminar discussion, and fun in a gorgeous setting on the Maine coast. Choose from a variety of courses in the life sciences and environmental studies, including several that merge science, writing, and art. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DATES: June 24-July 31 (One or two-week sessions available) COST: One-week sessions start at $680. TO LEARN MORE: www.coa.edu/html/summer programs WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Educators who have been to College of the Atlantic say it's "an amazing summer camp for teachers." You'll explore new subject material and add to your teaching tool kit, all while making new teacher friends from all across the country and enjoying those great Maine lobsters. Your work will be well rewarded with up to four graduate credits offered through College of the Atlantic. REVAMP YOUR WRITING WORKSHOP The National Writing Project, USA WHAT IT IS: The National Writing Project has sites all over the country where teachers come together for professional development activities and programs that foster improvements in teaching and learning of writing. It's the premier effort at improving writing programs in America's schools. At their local summer institute, participants examine their classroom practice, conduct research, and develop their own writing skills. DATES: July 5-31 COST: FREE fellowships available TO LEARN MORE: Go to www.writingproject.org to find a project near you! WHY YOU SHOULD GO: You'll rediscover poetry, you'll learn new and innovative ways to integrate technology into writing, such as blogs, hypertext stories, and more. You'll tap into a network of extraordinary writing teachers. SEE THE GIANT TORTOISES Giant tortoises Three living groups of tortoise can be considered 'giants': Galapagos tortoises Chelonoidis (nigra) species Seychelles giant tortoises Dipsochelys species African spurred tortoise Centrochelys sulcata Save the Rainforest, Galapagos WHAT IT IS: The nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. Save the Rainforest offers high-quality educational trips for students to the Galapagos, Costa Rica, and other tropical forest destinations. Teachers who lead an expedition travel free. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DATES: Year-round COST: FREE TO LEARN MORE: Visit www.saverfn.org or email saverfn@cybermesa.com. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: It's the Galapagos! Your journey will not only be an invaluable learning experience, but an opportunity to contribute to the preservation of our rainforests. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SPANISH Guatemala Experience, Antigua WHAT IT IS: At this summer program hosted by the University of Washington, teachers live with Guatemalan families while improving or perfecting Spanish language skills, and learning about Guatemalan culture and history. DATES: July 23-August 9 COST: $1,899 (plus travel expenses) TO LEARN MORE: www.outreach.washington.edu/k12/spanish WHY YOU SHOULD GO: You'll visit local museums, Mayan and colonial ruins, and traditional festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. all organized through the program. Study abroad isn't just for students anymore! |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion