Professional Learning Opportunities
Fall 2026
Course:
More Than a Hook: Teaching Toward Students' Funds of Knowledge
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
Students bring rich knowledge from home-family stories, traditions, and lived experience with the natural world- into the science classroom. This session moves beyond using that knowledge as a mere engagement hook, exploring how teachers can authentically build on it to shape instruction, deepen learning, and affirm students as knowledge holders in their own right.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades 3-8 Educator
Dates & Times:
Nov 10, 2026
9 am–12:30 pm
Grades 3-8 Educator
Nov 10, 2026
9 am–12:30 pm
Course:
This Land is Our Land
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
We sing “This land is my land,” but do our students actually know what this entails? In this session, teachers will identify ways in which Indigenous funds of knowledge can be used to inform students’ relationship to land and practices in their own environments. We will explore the Hall of North American Forests with a critical eye toward the language used to describe Indigenous agriculture and forestry, and ways of connecting our students to their urban ecosystems. We will then reimagine classroom-based strategies around how we teach/talk about agriculture and forestry and encourage a sense of ownership and accountability over our lands.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades K-12 Educator
Dates & Times:
Nov 18, 2026
10 am–3 pm
Grades K-12 Educator
Nov 18, 2026
10 am–3 pm
Course:
Taking the Scenic Route: The Benefits of 'Slow Looking' on Museum Field Trip
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
Research indicates that on average, museum visitors spend 30 seconds in front of an exhibit. In this session, teachers will participate in an immersive experience in the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation focused on helping learners slow down on Museum field trips as a means of building descriptive language, practicing empathy, and connecting with themselves and their peers.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades K-12 Educator
Dates & Times:
Dec 2, 2026
9 am–12:30 pm
Grades K-12 Educator
Dec 2, 2026
9 am–12:30 pm
Course:
Introduction to Accessibility Practices at the Museum
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
This session will discuss how we interact with accessibility on a daily basis and how the Museum addresses its commitment to accessibility. The session aims to introduce educators to the Museum’s resources and reasonable accommodations that educators can access especially when needed during field trips and pre-field trip planning, including, but not limited to: sensory resources, social narratives, audio descriptions, captioning, tactile objects, and more.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades 6-12 Educator
Dates & Times:
Dec 8, 2026
10 am–2 pm
Grades 6-12 Educator
Dec 8, 2026
10 am–2 pm
Course:
Our History is Natural: Exploring the Gender Spectrum in A Biodiverse World
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
The natural world is full of examples of things that reflect our lived experiences and identities. We will showcase and explore the gender and sexuality spectrum within our biodiverse world and histories. Teachers will engage with museum resources, conversation, and reflection to inform their classroom practices.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades K-12 Educator
Dates & Times:
Dec 9, 2026
10 am–2:30 pm
Grades K-12 Educator
Dec 9, 2026
10 am–2:30 pm
Course:
Science and Storytelling for Elementary Learners
This session will be held onsite at the American Museum of Natural History.
During this session, participants will explore the usage of literacy strategies and storytelling in an elementary science classroom and beyond. With a mix of picture books and museum dioramas, participants will engage in the stories of science and nature while considering how to apply this to their classrooms. Participants will have opportunities to build connections between science, engineering practices and literacy skills.
Please note: This session includes collaborative learning activities in small groups. We ask that attendees come prepared to participate actively in these activities to the best of their ability.
Grade Level:
Grades K-5 Educator
Dates & Times:
Dec 17, 2026
9 am–1 pm
Grades K-5 Educator
Dec 17, 2026
9 am–1 pm
The Museum’s Education Collection is generously supported by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Elysabeth Kleinhans.