The Nature Museum’s Science Teaching Network (STN) provides three or more Chicago classroom teachers (grades 4-7) from the same school a free collaborative learning experience they can take directly to their classrooms.

The program is application based and quite competitive.

Teachers have the chance to earn up to 37 CPDUs, 2 CPS Lane credits and/or two graduate credits, a $120 stipend upon completion of the program and $125 for a class field trip to the Museum.

STN consists of a three-day summer institute exploring the rich and diverse ecosystems of the Midwest. Teachers will discover how to integrate Midwest ecosystems into the classroom with hands-on activities and a place-based approach.

During the school year, Nature Museum staff will work directly with the teachers to implement the SOG! Midwest Ecosystems curriculum. Nature Museum educators will make two classroom visits, giving you the opportunity to observe your students as they learn.

Teachers can discuss the success and challenges of implementing the curriculum with Museum educators and other STN teachers at two reconvene meetings. There are also opportunities to attend guest lectures, exhibition previews, work with Museum educators to create the framework for a focused field trip to the Museum and develop an inquiry question to evaluate the impact learning science through hands-on activities has on students’ ability to learn.

A $25 registration deposit is required and returned upon completion of the program.