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
- K-1, 4-5, 6-8
Teachers in Grades K-1, Grades 4-5, and Grades 6-8 are invited to join the Nature Museum’s 2026 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, October, TBD).
- 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 6-9
Explore the ways trees around us affect their surroundings and change over time. Discover how other living things use structures and senses as they interact with the trees.
NGSS: K-ESS2-2, K ESS3-3, 1-LS1-1
July 13-16
What's happening in the woodland? Explore how organisms of all sizes, from fungi to frogs, get the matter and energy they need for survival.
NGSS: 4-LS1-2, 5-LS2-1, 5-PS3-1
July 27-30
Investigate the complex role of plants in their ecosystems. Explore the interactions that sustain both plants and animals, and the process plants use to cycle energy and matter into their environments.
NGSS: MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS1-6
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 1, 2026. 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.