The University of Pennsylvania is hosting several science teacher workshops this spring. To register for a workshop and for further details, including cost, directions to locations, agendas, what to bring, etc, please contact pennsti@sas.upenn.edu       Beyond Darwin’s Finches: Structure and Function Through Biodiversity The relationship between structure and function will be explored within the context of biodiversity. The content is appropriate for students in grades 7-10. Topics will include: proteins, histology, and correlating evolutionary adaptations to biodiversity. Assessment probes to identify and remediate misconceptions, inquiry-based lab activities and technological applications will be used to address individual learning styles. Presenters – Beth Gillard, Jeff Maddock Penn Faculty Partner:  Dr. Ingrid Waldron Saturday, April 14, 2012, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Rm  2000 – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia. PA POGIL POGIL is a student-centered and engaging teaching strategy. High school science teachers will learn how to effectively implement POGIL in their classroom, building collaboration, teamwork, and student understanding of science.  Participants will be able to use take home materials to utilize POGIL lessons in their own classrooms. Participants will have an understanding of the students’ and teacher’s roles in POGIL lessons, in which students act as self-managed teams and classroom teachers act as facilitators. Presenters: Carolyn Doherty, Elizabeth Harvey, Pat Munter, Sheila MacIntyre, Musa Mugambi, Susan Wanjir Saturday, April 21, 2012, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia, PA “Identifying” CSI Chemistry: Drugs, DNA, and Fingerprints Engage your students in learning chemistry and biochemistry through the use of a crime scene.  Unknown over the counter drugs will be analyzed and identified using presumptive color tests.  Gel electrophoresis will be utilized to teach the chemistry behind DNA fingerprinting identification.  Fingerprints can be visualized using various chemical techniques.  Enjoy a day of hands-on exploration and take home a CD of practical lesson plans and handouts ready for use in your classroom. Presenters:  Alexis Bizzaro, Diane Welsch, Chrissy Wilson Date:  Saturday, April 21, 2012, 9 am – 4:30 pm Location:  Ridley High School 901 Morton Avenue, Folsom, PA Environmental Science  PLT:  Training for K12 teachers from American Forest Foundation to use environmental education to integrate complex environmental issues into the Science Core curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia.  PLT offers a service-learning program called Green Schools with grants and resources to evaluate and CHANGE the footprint or impact of a school. Delaware Estuary Program:  Provides educators with resources and educational opportunities to discover the many differences between urban and rural watersheds.  This program leads to collaborative and creative efforts to protect and enhance the Delaware Estuary and its tributaries for current and future generations. Presenters: Michelle Greenberg, Ayana Griffin, Isabel Pilling, Michelle Thornton Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9 am – 3:30 pm Location:  John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia,   Using Technology in the Classroom Clickers   This course for grades 6-12 teachers will explore the use of clickers in the classroom.  Participants will learn how to set up the software/clicker system, engage in sample lessons, interact with Mobile Interactive Whiteboards, using Exam View for formal assessment, and get a chance to “play” with the clickers.  A complete classroom clicker set ($1200 value) and a Mobile Interactive Whiteboard ($400 value) will be given at the end of the session as a door prize to two of the participants. Presenters: – Justin Barry, Chris Warner Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Location:  New Foundations Charter School 8001 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia. PA Probeware   This professional development will focus on the use of probeware for data acquisition and analysis in the science laboratory setting. Topics will include an introduction to probeware, how to collect and analyze data, a sample experiment, and journaling results. PASCO and Vernier data logging systems will be on hand and time will be allotted for the audience to get hands on experience using the equipment. There will also be a brief discussion on the usefulness and importance of probeware as a pedagogical tool. Presenters: Maureen Huhman,  Tom Loschiavo,  Jim Navins Penn Faculty Partner:  Dr.  Jenine  Maeyer Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000 –  231 S. 34^th St., Philadelphia, PA Food Chemistry Grab students’ attention by using food to teach chemistry.  Put a different perspective on your next meal, learn the difference between a potato chip and a potato crisp, explore ionic bonding via formation of gummy worms.  A brief background of food science, including microbiology, food engineering, and sensory science, will be discussed.  Participants will explore concepts using food-related activities, such as emulsions by creating the perfect salad dressing.  Other topics include:  types of mixtures, acids and bases, functionality of ingredients, and career paths in the food industry. Presenter:  Heather Erney Date:  Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9 am– 3:00 pm   Location:  U of P Chemistry Building/Vagelos Room 2000  – 231 S. 34^th St. , Philadelphia, PA Earth Science Plate tectonics is a unifying theme across Earth Science. It is what makes Earth unique within our universe, explains the restless Earth on which we live and helps to shape its surface.  In this course, teachers will use real data to draw connections between scientific evidence and plate tectonics. Throughout this course, teachers will identify their own misconceptions, as well as possible student misconceptions, as they deepen their content understanding of plate tectonics.  Teachers will work collaboratively as they trace the unique qualities of our dynamic Earth and its formation within the context of the universe. Participants will leave with stronger content knowledge and hands-on activities to use in the classroom.   This workshop is supported both financially and academically by Penn State and we are extremely grateful. Presenters:  Lauren Beal, Joy Bryson, Kathy Nolen, Kathy Tait Monday, June 25, 2012, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Location:  Franklin Institute 222 N. 20^th Street, Philadelphia, PA