Featured image by Mariela Pajuelo, TESI Assistant Scientist

From June 19-23, 2023 in Miami,  a cohort of 10 Miami-Dade middle and high school teachers participated in an immersive week-long summer workshop. Throughout the week, teachers participated in outdoor experiences with science content presentations, active learning, and standards-aligned lessons for the classroom that exemplify one or more Earth and environmental system(s) of local relevance. During the 2023-24 school year, the teachers will implement one of the lesson plans and invite one of the scientists to visit their classrooms.

Activity modules focused on native and nonnative tropical plants, avian biodiversity, endangered marine species and coastal ecosystems, ancient life, iNaturalist citizen science, extreme weather, global sea-level rise, and more!

Participants left the workshop with lesson plans to help their students better understand environmental issues in Florida. Throughout the year, they will have the opportunity to work with cohort members and scientists to share their progress!

This opportunity has been graciously funded by the Batchelor Foundation.

2023 – 2024 Cohort

Katherine Boronat South Miami Middle Community School	Joyce Campbell San Jorge South Miami Senior High School	Ana Cardenas Lamar Louise Curry Middle School
Oscar Flores Miami Norland Senior High School	Samoni Griffin iPrepatory Academy (Downtown Miami)	Iris Martin Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School
Nhung Hong Nguyen Devon Aire K-8 Center	Lucia Perez Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy	Samantha Shore Doral Academy Charter High
	Mackenzie Thomas Arvida Middle School

Learning Goals and Benefits:

Participants gained the following:

• Hands-on participation in the development of customizable, standards-based lesson plans and interactive activities.
• A chance to network with university researchers and like-minded teachers across the state.
• A $1,000 stipend for successful completion of the program components.
• Ability to expose students to environmental science and Earth systems science skill sets and career paths.

Workshop Components

• Monday – Garden tour of native and nonnative plants, Fairchild Gardens and Pinecrest Gardens
• Tuesday – Shark tagging at sea, Florida International University and Angari Foundation
• Wednesday – Florida bird biodiversity and migration, Bill Baggs State Park
• Thursday – NOAA lab & research tours covering hurricanes, ocean impacts, corals and water quality and sea turtle surveys, and lionfish invasive species dissections with Florida UF/IFAS Sea Grant
• Friday – Frost Museum of Science VIP tour & planetarium show

Program Collaborators:

• University of Florida-Thompson Earth Systems Institute-Scientist in Every Florida School
• Fairchild Tropical Gardens
• Xavier Cortada Foundation and Pinecrest Gardens
• ANGARI Foundation
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and the Tropical Audubon Society
• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Florida Sea Grant (UF/IFAS-Sea Grant)
• Marine Order for Research & Action Through Environmental Stewardship (MORAES)
• Frost Science Museum

Funding Sources