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The eesmarts program offers Professional Development workshops led by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) free-of-charge to K-12 formal and informal educators across the State of Connecticut. The eesmarts Summer Institute, held in July, gives educators an opportunity to attend workshops on various energy-related topics.
Why attend the eesmarts Summer Institute?
- Access free online curriculum and materials. All eesmarts lessons are fully aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards for Math & English Language Arts
- Receive $50 stipend per workshop
- Gain knowledge, confidence and skills for teaching your students about energy, energy conservation, renewable energy sources and efficient technologies
- Collaborate with peers
- Receive lesson ideas, activities, and differentiated teaching strategies
2022 eesmarts Summer Institute Workshop
All workshops will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m.
Two weeks prior to each workshop, teachers will receive detailed teleconferencing instructions Technology requirements for full course participation are:
- Laptop, desktop, or tablet computer
- Broadband Internet access
- Web browser
- Audio input/output
- Recommended: Webcam
There are a limited number of openings available for each workshop, so register today!
Please note, registration will close 48 hours prior to each workshop.
|
WORKSHOP |
DESCRIPTION |
GRADE |
NGSS PE or eesmarts lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Climate Change for Middle School |
Educators will be introduced to the natural cycles that occur on Earth and our solar system including the carbon cycle and sunspot activity, how these cycles affect populations, and how humans may affect natural cycles. Educators will examine evidence from the past through proxies such as tree rings, cherry tree blossoms, and ice core data. Topics such as the Albedo Effect; climate and ecosystems; and invasive species will be presented. |
6-8 |
MS-LS2-4 |
|
Energizing Science for Grade 2 |
Educators are introduced to activities designed to answer the questions: How do heating and cooling affect the states of matter and can plants grow without sunlight and water? Links to some e-books will be provided. |
2 |
2-PS1-1 |
|
Climate Change for High School |
Educators are introduced to activities involving Earth’s natural cycles including the carbon cycle and how Earth’s climate has changed over time. They will look at evidence from the past through the study of proxies such as foraminifera, ice core data, the Albedo Effect, and phenology. They will also consider the impact of humans on the environment, and what can be done to lessen harmful effects. |
9-12 |
HS-ESS2-2 |
|
Energizing Science for Grade K/1 |
Educators are introduced to activities designed for younger students to answer the questions: How does sunlight affect the earth? What causes day and night? What causes sound? How are images created with light and varying materials? Links to some e-books will be provided. |
K-1 |
K-ESS3-3 |
|
The Sun and the Water Cycle |
Educators are introduced to activities involving the altitude of the sun and the positioning of solar panels, creating wind in a classroom and generating electricity using wind power, and finally the water cycle. |
6-8 |
MS-PS4-2 |
|
Energizing Science for Grade 4 |
Educators are introduced to activities demonstrating various forms of energy and how energy changes from one form to another. Topics include current electricity, renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, and heat from the sun. |
4 |
4-ESS3-1 |
|
High School Solar I: Collecting and Using Solar Energy |
Educators will explore solar energy and heat, with a focus on energy transfer processes and the NGSS approach. Participants will learn how to engage students in the engineering cycle for two solar hot water heaters - one passive and one with a heat exchanger. Participants will receive a materials kit for use with their HS students, as well as specific lesson outlines. |
9-12 |
HS.ESS-CC, |
|
NEW! Escape Room and Choose Your Own Adventure Workshop (Grades 5-8) |
This workshop features two interactive experiences developed to enhance the eesmarts curriculum or as a stand-alone to support NGSS. In the Escape Room, clues must be gathered, and puzzles solved using science knowledge to successfully complete the challenge. The focus of the content in this particular activity involves the transformation of energy and its impact on the environment. In the Choose Your Own Adventure, participants have the opportunity to meaningfully engage in design challenges and are provided complete data sets for a variety of tested variables that are accessed through the choices they make throughout the adventure. The examples offered showcase the efficiency of wind turbine blade designs, the strength of a variety of electromagnets, and how different surfaces on earth (arctic, desert, ocean, etc.) are impacted by the Greenhouse Effect. These two formats provoke high student interest and engagement due to their game-like nature. Participants will practice how to build and create their own interactive slides. The use of technology lends itself very well to both in-person and remote learning. |
5-8 |
MS-PS2-3 MS-PS3-1 |
|
Energy Transformations - UPDATED for 2022! |
Educators will be introduced to activities involving electromagnetism, generators, potential and kinetic energy, and energy transformation during photosynthesis. A new addition to this workshop involves energy transformation during induction cooking. |
6-8 |
MS-PS2-3 |
|
Energizing Science for Grade 5 |
Educators are introduced to activities demonstrating various forms of energy and how energy changes from one form to another. Topics include the apparent brightness and movement of the sun, how the energy released from food was once energy from the sun (photosynthesis), and wasted energy. |
5 |
5-ESS1-1 |
|
Greenhouse Effect and Energy Efficiency |
Educators are introduced to activities involving the basic principles of the Greenhouse Effect, heat from the sun (reflection and absorption), and energy efficiency. |
6-8 |
MS-PS3-3 |
|
Energizing Science for Grade 3 |
Educators are introduced to activities demonstrating various forms of energy and how energy changes from one form to another. Topics include static electricity, magnetism, and forces and motion. |
3 |
3-PS2-1 |
|
High School Solar II: Solar Photovoltaics, Sunlight to Electricity |
Educators will explore solar energy and the physics behind photovoltaic (PV) cells. The focus will be on the engineering cycle for the realistic criteria and constraints for a PV cell’s generation of current. NGSS-based lesson ideas will also include building circuits and the power output of series and parallel circuits. Participants will receive a materials kit for use with their HS students, as well as specific lesson outlines. |
9-12 |
HS.ESS-CC, |
|
NEW! Project Learning Tree (PLT) Workshop for Grades 3-5 |
Participants are presented with activities designed to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment. The lessons develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The hands-on explorations are suitable for use in formal classrooms and informal settings, and several are particularly suited to exploring urban environments. Participants will receive a copy of the updated PLT Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide, which includes NGSS aligned lessons on topics such as: trees and forests, wildlife, water, air, energy, waste, climate change, invasive species, community planning, and more. The activities encompass the economic, ecological, and social aspects of environmental issues. https://www.plt.org/curriculum/k-8-activity-guide-explore-your-environment/ |
3-5 |
https://www.plt.org/curriculum/k-8-activity-guide-explore-your-environment/ |
|
Harnessing the Wind |
Educators will explore the nature of wind, and the physics of wind turbines, with a focus on the energy transfer processes and the NGSS approach. Participants will learn how to engage students in wind turbine blade design using KidWind kits and activities. The engineering cycle, including criteria and constraints, as well as evaluating performance, will be discussed. Participants will also be challenged to consider how turbines could affect a local community. Participants will receive a KidWind Kit for use with their HS students, as well as specific lesson outlines. |
9-12 |
HS-PS2-5 |