Science Teaching Network
Partner with Nature Museum educators and scientists to incorporate real-world science, authentic learning opportunities, and unique resources into your classroom instruction.
- Time of Year
- Summer
- Location
- At The Museum
- Grades
- 1-2, 3-4, 6-8
Teachers in Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, and Grades 6-8 are invited to join the Nature Museum’s 2025 Science Teaching Network, a grant-funded teacher professional development program focused on best practices in science instruction, the Next Generation Science Standards, and locally-relevant nature and science topics.
“The program truly brought out the 'science nerd' in me, and I’ve been able to pass that excitement on to my students. From hands-on experiments to engaging discussions, everything I took away from the institute has helped me create more interactive and inquiry-based lessons.”
Science Teaching Network Program Highlights
With Science Teaching Network, you’ll invest in:
- Professional learning through a Summer Institute at the Nature Museum that explores an NGSS-aligned curriculum and makes connections to local ecosystems.
- Receive an NGSS-aligned nine-lesson unit to teach in the fall with all curriculum and implementation materials included.
- Take a fully-funded field trip to the Nature Museum supported through a bus reimbursement.
- Professional learning by observing one Nature Museum educator-taught lesson in your classroom.
- Participate in three Saturday PD workshops to support curriculum implementation, reflection on science teaching practices, and teacher collaboration (September, November, January).
- Earn a stipend of up to $200 and up to 36 professional development clock hours.
"I love how we were able to connect everything we learned to real life by bringing kids here on a field trip!"
Summer Institute Choices
July 14-17
Wait, ducks don’t belong in trees! Uncover the ways that wood ducks, and other animals in and around local aquatic habitats, help their offspring survive.
NGSS: 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 2-ESS2-3
July 7-10
Frogs can freeze? Explore the unique adaptations that wood frogs use to survive Chicago’s harsh winter. Investigate the ways that this survival strategy sets wood frogs up for success.
NGSS: 3-LS4-3, 3-LS3-2, 4-LS1-1
July 28-31
Beavers are said to be engineers of ecosystems, but what do they create? Model the ways that matter and energy flow through wetland ecosystems to explore biodiversity and resilience, and the services they provide.
NGSS: MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-5
How to Apply
To participate, teachers must apply and be selected to enroll. Priority is given to teams of two or more teachers in historically under-resourced schools. Each teacher must submit a separate application. Application deadline is June 6, 2025. Click the button below to get started.
Questions? Email us at teacherprograms@naturemuseum.org
"STN helped me see that even at the kindergarten level, students can think like scientists by observing, predicting, and experimenting. Understanding NGSS better has given me more confidence in aligning my lessons with the standards while making science fun and accessible for my students!"
Experience nature and science up close with a trip to the Nature Museum.