From October 22-23, 2033, eight Alachua County middle and high school teachers participated in this paid professional development program and received classroom resources to teach concepts of macroevolution, adaptations, and climate change through museum collections.

This unique program provided enriching and accessible classroom resources and lessons to highlight key Florida learning standards about evolution, adaptations, and climate change. The program kicked off with a two-day workshop at the University of Florida main campus in Gainesville. During the workshop, selected participants heard from science experts at UF, were provided with the Chewing on Change lesson plans and classroom resources, and connected with a scientist mentor to help co-teach the lessons in the classroom later that fall. 

Alachua teachers or UF student teachers who teach at schools that receive Title I funds were given preference.

Workshop Dates & Location:

The two-day workshop took place October 22-23, 2022 on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida.  Additional virtual meetings, as well as scientist visits to classrooms, were scheduled throughout the school year.

Workshop Benefits:

Participants left the program with:

• Authentic research-related content on horse evolution and exposure to museum collections
• Access to a teacher-scientist network related to the project for continued scientific support
• A chance to collaborate with peers and scientists to co-teach lessons in the classroom
• A chance to expose students to scientist role models and careers in science
• Chance to have a scientist visit your classroom
• A $500 stipend for successful completion of the program

Workshop Components:

• Content presentations
• Lesson activities and classroom lesson kits
• Teacher-teacher and teacher-scientist collaboration
• Museum Collections and Florida Fossil Hall tours

Workshop Expectations:

To receive the $500 stipend, participants had to:

• Attend entire two-day workshop in October.
• Successfully complete the Chewing on Change lesson/scientist visit in the classroom during the 2022-2023 school year.
• Complete regular Zoom check-ins with the project team after the workshop has concluded.
• Following standard policies and procedures, participate in and complete any evaluations, assessments, and surveys required as part of the program.

Instructors

• Dr. Bruce MacFadden, University of Florida
• Dr. Julie Bokor, Alachua County Schools
• Dr. Jeanette Pirlo, Stanaislaus University
• Stephanie Killingsworth, Scientist in Every Florida School
• Brian Abramowitz, Scientist in Every Florida School

Chewing on Change Interns

Ethan Kilroy, Zoology Major & UF Teach Science Minor
Ethan is a third-year undergraduate at UF. When he graduates, he hopes to either become a high school biology teacher or work at a museum doing outreach and education.

Kaitlyn Krinsky, Geology Major
Kaitlyn, an undergraduate geology major at UF, decided to get involved in the Chewing on Change project due to her interest in learning more about Florida’s paleoenvironments.

Zaed Christie, Soil and Water Science Major, Entomology and Plant Science Minors
Zaed is a second-year undergraduate student at UF. His research interests include phytoremediation and bioremediation. In his free time, he likes to play underwater hockey. 

Divya Sharma, Anthropology Major
Divya Sharma recently graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, focusing on archaeology. She plans to continue this track and study archaeology more in-depth in graduate school. Divya has also worked in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s vertebrate paleontology lab, giving her a love and appreciation for this field.

Funding Sources