Note: Last fall my students & I attended an Optics workshop put on by Graham Lea and it was brilliant!  It was accessible for all age levels with lots of hands on activities.  I left many good ideas & activities that I took directly into my classroom.  Below are the pro-d details that Graham sent me for a week long summer workshop.

SPEED

Science Pro-D for Elementary Educators

Simon Fraser University is very interested in presenting a week-long workshop, specially designed to cover topics contained in the Physical Science Grade K-8 PLO’s. Topics will include motion, forces and simple machines, electricity and magnetism, light and sound waves, optics and astronomy.

The emphasis will be on understanding the physical concepts underlying these phenomena through the use of hands–on inquiry methods. Best practices in delivering and evaluating this material in a K-8 classroom setting will be introduced.  The participants will have the opportunity to conduct laboratory exercises which will both illustrate the concepts learned throughout the workshop and model inquiry–led activities that can be used to teach physical science to K-8 students. The participants will also be given the opportunity to begin development of their own teaching units.

Outline for the 5-day hands-on SPEED Workshop

Day 1: Motion and Forces
Day 2: Simple Machines and Magnetic Forces
Day 3: Electricity and Electric Circuits
Day 4: Waves: Light and Sound
Day 5: Optics and Astronomy

Date:  July 4-8, 2011
Time:  9:00 am – 3:00 pm (1 hour lunch break)
Location:  SFU Surrey campus

Registration fee:  $300*

Preregister at: http://websurvey.sfu.ca/survey/81679898

To help us determine if such a course is feasible, we would like to get an expression of interest from potential attendees. To do so, please fill out the online pre-registration survey listed above. The more people who express interest, the greater the chance that we will be able to offer this exciting workshop, so please feel free to pass this on to colleagues who may be interested. For more information please contact Dr. Sarah Johnson (sjohnson@sfu.ca).

 *Bursaries are available and no participant will be excluded on the basis of financial need.