Wade Institute Spring and Summer STEM PD
Alexandra Amsden
I’m excited to share upcoming Wade Institute Spring and Summer STEM professional development opportunities for educators. These immersive programs provide hands-on STEM learning experiences in collaboration with our partner organizations. Optional graduate credit opportunities are available - visit our website to learn more! https://www.wadeinstitutema.org/
Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Best,
Alex Amsden
Upcoming Spring Programs:
and designing alternative energy sources. The Challenge culminates in a redesign of the city’s resources to prevent future disaster.
Along the way, you’ll engage with the science and engineering practices, inquiry-based learning, and the integration of STEM
disciplines to inspire students in your own classroom. Join us to explore how to guide students through real-world
problem-solving while addressing critical topics in disaster preparedness, sustainability, and resilience!
Optional graduate credit opportunities are available.
🐬Animal Adaptations and Bioengineering
📅 Dates: Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 and Thursday, June 26th, 2025 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET)
📍Location: Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA
Collaborating Partners: Buttonwood Park Zoo; Franklin Park Zoo; Lloyd Center for the Environment
organization that provides this service and needs to create a prototype for a specific injured animal. Investigations include understanding prosthetics, what
they are used for, and why they are necessary; exploring animal adaptations and using new knowledge to create a new species;
researching a specific terrestrial or marine animal and creating a fact sheet for it; and the final Challenge.
The final Design Challenge requires participants to design and build a prototype prosthetic for an animal. Additionally,
engineering teams must adhere to budgetary constraints as they plan and “purchase” materials for their prototype. Teachers will
work in groups, as their students would, using the Engineering Design Process to complete both parts of the Challenge and
present their solution to the rest of the groups. During the workshop, you will participate in all elements of the Challenge and
have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators and Challenge experts.
Upcoming Summer Institutes:
🌎 Understanding Earth’s Cycles: Weather, Climate, and Seasons
📅 July 7–9, 2025 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM) | For K-5 Educators
Collaborating Partners/Locations: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Harvard Forest
Explore how seasonal changes shape ecosystems, from rivers and forests to school gardens. Learn to “read” the landscape, discover how plants and wildlife respond to weather and climate, and bring real-world science into your classroom through hands-on investigations and participatory science projects.
🌊 Research and Resiliency: Exploring the Ways Local Ecosystems are Responding to Our Changing Climate
📅 July 14–18, 2025 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM) | For 6-12 Educators
Collaborating Partners/Locations: Lloyd Center for the Environment, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Marine Biological Laboratory, Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair
Investigate how climate change is affecting Massachusetts' coastal habitats and explore conservation efforts to protect them. Use real scientific tools to collect and analyze data on rising temperatures, sea level changes, and invasive species. Discover engineering solutions to mitigate climate impacts and bring real-world environmental science into your classroom.
🐦 Songbirds, Shorebirds, and Stewardship: Engaging Your Students with the Science of Breeding, Nesting, and Tracking Migration
📅 August 13–15, 2025 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM) | For 5-8 Educators
Collaborating Partner/Location: Manomet Conservation Sciences
Explore the connection between birds and environmental change with Manomet scientists. Participate in hands-on research at Manomet’s living laboratory, including a bird banding experience to collect valuable migration data. Learn about the breeding and nesting habits of Massachusetts shorebirds and gain lesson plans, bird monitoring projects, and strategies for Phenomena-Based Learning that align with the MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework.
🔗 Register here: https://ow.ly/SXBW50VaH4m
Optional graduate credit opportunities are available.
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