ACEE staff have decades of experience in delivering professional development workshops, from one-hour workshops to multi-day sessions. We’ve presented at ATA conventions, conferences, and professional development learning days, and have also designed our own professional learning opportunities (conferences, leadership clinics, Alberta Green Schools, etc). We love working with teachers, and we’ll work with master teachers to co-present the workshops below whenever possible.
Please contact Marie Tremblay - marie[at]abcee.org if you are interested in any of the workshops listed below.
Upcoming Scheduled Workshops:
North Central Teachers' Convention - February 7-8, 2020:
Numeracy and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Exploring Math Concepts Through Fun Outdoor Activities
What do numeracy and well-being have to do with each other? Everything! Studies show that children, especially those with the most challenging behaviours, feel more relaxed outside and are therefore more open to deep learning. This workshop will demonstrate how to use the outdoor learning environment to provide authentic and rich opportunities to develop a range of numeracy skills. Whether you’re teaching basic operations, estimation, magnitude, measurement, patterns, shapes, or space, it’s more fun and meaningful to do this outside where students will naturally be happier and more engaged. Join us for this hands-on session where we’ll have fun demonstrating activities and expanding your learning environments. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
North Central Teachers' Convention, February 7, 2020 - 9:00-10:30 a.m., Chateau Lacombe, Strathcona Room
Literacy and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Fun with Words in the Outdoors
Whether your schoolyard resembles a nature paradise or a concrete jungle, it can be an endless source of inspiration and wonder for your students. In this engaging session, we’ll show you how outdoor learning can boost your students’ literacy skills by helping them make meaning of words and unleashing their creative minds as they explore and express what they see, hear, touch, smell, and feel. We’ll also demonstrate how learning outside can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and to nature. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
North Central Teachers' Convention, February 7, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Chateau Lacombe, Strathcona Room
Calgary City Teachers' Convention - February 13-14, 2020:
All-day Symposium: Action Begets Hope - How to Engage your Students in Climate Solutions
Climate change is widely viewed as the most serious and pressing issue of our time, not only radically altering our environment but posing an unprecedented threat to humanity itself. Calgarians are feeling first-hand the effects of climate change as floods, extreme weather events, and smoke from wildfires become part of our new reality. In recognition of the seriousness and urgency of climate change, the City of Calgary’s city council unanimously adopted, in 2018, the Calgary Climate Resilience Strategy - a blueprint for reducing city-wide greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to changing conditions created by climate change. But what does this all mean for teachers and students - and how do we address this topic with success in a city and a province where our prosperity is linked to our oil and gas industry?
Join us for all or part of this all-day symposium as we explore what climate change means for Calgarians and especially, how you can unpack this complex issue with your students while delivering on your curriculum. In particular, we’ll equip you with information, techniques, and resources to confidently explore climate change with your students in a way that is evidence-based and invites open dialogue and critical thinking. We will also unveil Climate Schools for Climate Action - an exciting new opportunity for the school community to engage in student-led climate actions that support the Calgary’s Climate Resilience Strategy. You are welcome to join one, several, or all of the four exciting sessions we have lined up for the day.
This symposium is specifically designed to help you:
- Better understand the science of climate change specifically within the Calgary context;
- Understand what the City of Calgary is doing to address this challenge, and how teachers and students can be part of the solution;
- Learn how to talk about climate change with your students in a depolarizing way;
- Develop strategies for engaging students in climate education and action in a way that links to the curriculum and is age-appropriate;
- Learn about programs, materials, and resources to support climate education and action for all ages.
Symposium Session # 1: Panel discussion - Climate change here and now: making sense of it all
Join us for what promises to be a highly engaging conversation about what climate change means for Calgarians and why it matters. We’ll also discuss the need for advancing climate literacy in K-12 schools and how teachers can do this while delivering on the curriculum. We’ll start this session by a series of short presentations from a variety of local experts who will each offer a unique perspective on this complex topic. This will be followed by a question and answer period. You will then have an opportunity to unpack what you’ve heard through a facilitated table discussion with your teaching peers, grouped by subject and grade.
Moderator: Dr. Marie Tremblay - Senior Education Advisor, Alberta Council for Environmental Education Panelists:
Dr. Andria Dawson - Assistant Professor, Mount Royal University: What does climate change look like in Alberta?
Dr. Aida Nciri, Senior Lead, Quest Canada (Smart Energy Communities): Climate solutions: a glimpse into low carbon transitions
City of Calgary: Climate action in Calgary
Alberta Council for Environmental Education: Climate literacy in K-12 schools: current status and path forward
Alberta Youth Leaders on Environmental and Energy Education: Student perspective on climate education and action
Symposium Session #2: Let's talk about it: exploring climate change with your students
Climate change is part of the Alberta curriculum and is one of the most pressing issues we face. Yet, many teachers are reluctant to ‘go there’ with their students - citing a lack of support from colleagues, administrators or parents, the challenge of deciphering fact from misinformation, and most importantly, concern over adding more angst to students who may already be anxious or even depressed about their future.
Research shows, however, that engaging with this challenging topic - rather than avoiding it - is the best way to replace fear with curiosity and instill hope and positive attitudes in our students. Whether you teach elementary or secondary, understanding what climate change means for you and your students provides a rich, real, and engaging opportunity to practice critical thinking skills through an exploration of the scientific and social dimensions of this important and timely topic.
In this interactive session, we’ll share the latest findings of the Alberta Narratives Project and preliminary insights from the follow-up Youth Narratives Project and a provincial youth poll - all of which shed light on students’ attitudes toward climate change and how best to broach this complex topic with them. We will also model and practice specific techniques that can be used with students of all ages to advance literacy around climate change while delivering on your curriculum.
Symposium Session #3: Let's do something about it: Calgary Schools for Climate Action
As Joan Baez famously said, “Action is the antidote to despair”. In this spirit, we invite you to learn more about the exciting new Calgary Schools for Climate Action initiative and discover how you can help your students develop and implement climate action plans that directly support the City of Calgary’s Climate Resilience Strategy.
In this interactive session, we’ll explore the main themes of climate mitigation and adaptation and demonstrate how schools can be key players in the climate solution through effective collective action that builds community pride and instills hope for the future. We’ll also unveil our brand-new Calgary Schools for Climate Action initiative, which invites Calgary's school community to join the City of Calgary in climate solutions. We'll also show you how student-led climate actions can qualify schools for EcoSchools Canada’s environmental certification program - coming soon to Alberta.
Symposium Session #4: Support for teachers: climate education resources
Whether you’re an old hand at engaging in climate education and action with your students or just starting down this path, don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the many excellent programs and resources that are available to Calgary teachers to support climate education and action. This session will follow a quick-paced ‘share fair’ format, beginning with a series of 2-min pitches by environmental education providers outlining key elements of their various offerings. Teachers will then rotate around to different tables to learn more about programs of interest.
Moderated by the Alberta Council for Environmental Education, this session will feature a host of excellent educational programs supporting climate education and action, including:
- Alberta Tomorrow - The Alberta Tomorrow simulator is an educational tool that helps students understand the impact of climate change on land-uses such as agriculture, oil and gas, and forestry and the ecological integrity of ecosystems.
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) - Climate-related programs including Climate Connect,CPAWS Action Challenge, and Energize.
- Calgary Schools for Climate Action- A joint initiative by the Alberta Council for Environmental Education and the City of Calgary to engage K-12 students in the development of student-led climate actions plans that support the city’s new Climate Resilience Strategy.
- Ever Active Schools- Employs Green Communities Canada's School Travel Planning toolkit to implement active school travel projects in schools across Alberta.
- Green Calgary - Energy Revolution Fair, Citizen Science, and other programs designed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
- King’s Centre for Visualization in Science - To tackle the grand challenge of understanding and responding to climate change, we will demonstrate www.explainingclimatechange.com, and our recently released interactive “Design our Climate” simulation, which your students can use to design the climate future for our planet, and explore how reductions in greenhouse gases can be achieved through a mosaic of mitigation solutions.
- Inside Education - Youth summits, teacher professional development programs, classroom programs, learning resources, and grants to help you and your students better understand the science, technology, and issues related to our environment and natural resources.
- Nature’s Ride - Works in partnership with Sustainable Energy Development Master’s students from the University of Calgary to engage elementary and junior high students in action on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
- People for Environmental and Energy Education (PEEL) - Resources, lesson plans and educator training sessions to equip today's educators with the science, the teaching tools and the support they need to ensure Alberta students are fluent in climate change science, clean energy technologies, and sustainability principles.
- GreenLearning – Innovative, solutions-focused free, online programs and resources on climate change for grades 3-12 that brings the issue down to a local level, enabling students to investigate the impacts in their own communities, while coming up with actionable ideas for mitigation and adaption.
Energy Heroes: Engaging Elementary Students in Climate-friendly Energy Solutions
It’s never too early to instill good energy habits in our students and this workshop will show you how to do that, and connect to your curriculum, in a fun and engaging way - whether you’re teaching kindergarten or grade 6. We’ll show you how to help your students deepen their understanding of core concepts like energy, systems, connectedness, and citizenship as we explore how energy is generated, transported and used. We’ll also show you how your students can become true energy (and climate) champions by using energy metering technology to conduct an energy audit and develop a plan to be more energy efficient, conserve energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You’ll ‘learn by doing’ some of our favourite energy activities geared specifically for elementary students and review some key resources you can use in your classroom. This workshop targets Division I and II teachers. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to be able to access the internet.
Energy Champions: Engaging Secondary Students in Climate-friendly Energy Solutions
Are you struggling to make energy a fun and engaging topic for your students? If you are, then this workshop is for you! Using real data and an investigative and critical thinking approach, we’ll show you how to help your students deepen their understanding of our evolving energy system, compare the impacts of existing and emerging energy sources including renewables, and assess the implications of our own energy use for climate change. We’ll also show you how you can work with your students to use energy metering technology to conduct an energy audit and develop and implement a plan to be more energy efficient, conserve energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This workshop is designed specifically for Division III and IV teachers. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to be able to access the internet.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention, February 27, 2020 - 9-10 a.m. - Archbishop O'Leary, Room 106
Numeracy, Literacy and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Feeding Brains AND Souls in the Outdoors
What do learning, well-being, and the outdoors have to do with each other? Everything! Studies show that children, especially those with the most challenging behaviours, feel more relaxed outside and are therefore more open to deep learning. In this highly active session, we’ll show you how outdoor learning can help your students make deeper meaning of words and math concepts as they explore what they see, hear, touch, smell, and feel in an engaging and meaningful context. We’ll also demonstrate how learning outside can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and to nature. This session will be held outside so please dress appropriately.
Science and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Exploring Science Concepts Through Fun Outdoor Activities
According to environmental educator Juliet Robertson, “If you consider your own time at school, chances are that your strongest memories will be about your time outdoors.” We agree! In this session we’ll show you how spending time outside with your students is a fantastic way to engage your students in deepening their understanding of key concepts within the K-6 science curriculum such as the diversity and needs of living things, connectedness, systems, seasons, the water cycle, temperature, and spatial and temporal change. We’ll also demonstrate how outdoor learning can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and nature. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 27-28, 2020:
Energy Champions: Engaging Secondary Students in Climate-friendly Energy Solutions
Are you struggling to make energy a fun and engaging topic for your students? If you are, then this workshop is for you! Using real data and an investigative and critical thinking approach, we’ll show you how to help your students deepen their understanding of our evolving energy system, compare the impacts of existing and emerging energy sources including renewables, and assess the implications of our own energy use for climate change. We’ll also show you how you can work with your students to use energy metering technology to conduct an energy audit and develop and implement a plan to be more energy efficient, conserve energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This workshop is designed specifically for Division III and IV teachers. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to be able to access the internet.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention, February 27, 2020 - 9-10 a.m. - Archbishop O'Leary, Room 106
Literacy and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Fun with Words in the Outdoors
Whether your schoolyard resembles a nature paradise or a concrete jungle, it can be an endless source of inspiration and wonder for your students. In this engaging session, we’ll show you how outdoor learning can boost your students’ literacy skills by helping them make meaning of words and unleashing their creative minds as they explore and express what they see, hear, touch, smell, and feel. We’ll also demonstrate how learning outside can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and to nature. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention, February 13, 2020 - 9-10 a.m. - Bennett Centre.
Numeracy and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Exploring Math Concepts Through Fun Outdoor Activities
What do numeracy, well-being and the outdoors have to do with each other? Everything! Studies show that children, especially those with the most challenging behaviours, feel more relaxed outside and are therefore more open to deep learning. This workshop will demonstrate how to use the outdoor learning environment to provide authentic and rich opportunities to develop a range of numeracy skills. Whether you’re teaching basic operations, estimation, magnitude, measurement, patterns, shapes, or space, it’s more fun and meaningful to do this outside where students will naturally be happier and more engaged. Join us for this hands-on session where we’ll have fun demonstrating activities and expanding your learning environments. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention, February 13, 2020 - 10:15-11:15 a.m. - Bennett Centre.
Science and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Exploring Science Concepts Through Fun Outdoor Activities
According to environmental educator Juliet Robertson, “If you consider your own time at school, chances are that your strongest memories will be about your time outdoors.” We agree! In this session we’ll show you how spending time outside with your students is a fantastic way to engage your students in deepening their understanding of key concepts within the K-6 science curriculum such as the diversity and needs of living things, connectedness, systems, seasons, the water cycle, temperature, and spatial and temporal change. We’ll also demonstrate how outdoor learning can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and nature. Weather and venue permitting, we will strive to hold this session outside so please dress appropriately.
Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention, February 13, 2020 - 2:15 - 3 p.m. - Bennett Centre.
Let's Get Climate Active! - Engaging Elementary Students in Climate Education and Action
Climate change is part of the Alberta curriculum and is one of the most pressing issues we face. Yet, some teachers are reluctant to ‘go there’ with their students citing a lack of support from colleagues, administrators or parents, the challenge of deciphering fact from misinformation and, most importantly, concern over adding more angst to students who may already be anxious or even depressed about their future.
Research shows, however, that engaging with this challenging topic - rather than avoiding it - is the best way to replace fear with curiosity and instill hope and positive attitudes in our students. Whether you teach grade 1 or grade 6, understanding what climate change means for you and your students provides a rich, real, and authentic opportunity to develop understanding around core concepts like connectedness, reciprocity, systems, wellness, citizenship, or change.
Although climate change impacts all of us, it is also something we can all do something about. As long-time environmental educator David Orr so aptly puts it, “Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up”. So, roll up your sleeves and join us for this highly engaging session that will increase your foundational knowledge of climate change, identify curriculum connections, highlight quality resources - and show you how to get ‘climate active’ with your students and give them hope for their future. This workshop is designed specifically for Division I and II teachers. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to be able to access the internet.
Action Begets Hope! - Unpacking AND Tackling the Climate Change Issue with Secondary Students
Climate change is part of the Alberta curriculum and is one of the most pressing issues we face. Yet, many teachers are reluctant to ‘go there’ with their students citing a lack of support from colleagues, administrators or parents, the challenge of deciphering fact from misinformation, and most importantly, concern over adding more angst to students who may already be anxious or even depressed about their future.
Research shows, however, that engaging with this challenging topic - rather than avoiding it - is the best way to replace fear with curiosity and instill hope and positive attitudes in our students. Whether you teach junior or senior high school, understanding what climate change means for you and your students provides a rich, real, and authentic opportunity to practice critical thinking skills through an exploration of the scientific and social dimensions of this important and timely topic.
As Joan Baez famously said “Action is the antidote to despair”. In this spirit we invite you to join us for this highly engaging session that will increase your foundational knowledge of climate change, identify curriculum connections, highlight quality resources - and show you how to engage your students in meaningful and positive actions that give them hope for the future. This workshop is designed specifically for Division III and IV teachers. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to be able to access the internet.
How to Teach Controversial Energy or Environmental Issues in Your Classroom
Students hear a lot about the issues of our day such as climate change, or getting Alberta oil to tidewater. Teachers know the power of connecting student learning to current events for engaging students and practicing critical thinking skills. But such topics can be daunting as there are often many perspectives to consider. And what to do when the issue you've chosen is controversial and might upset some parents? In this workshop, we'll review and practice ‘safe and effective’ strategies for unpacking with your students the scientific and social dimensions of complex issues using open-mindedness, curiosity, and respect. We’ll also share with you great teaching resources to help you 'go there' with your students - without becoming part of the controversy.
Other Workshops:
Climate Curiosity: What You've Always Wanted to Know About Climate Change But Were Afraid to Ask
Does the topic of climate change make you uncomfortable? Are you confused by all the conflicting information you hear in the news or in conversations around you? Have you ever wondered what the debate is really about and why it is so polarizing? In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your most burning questions about the scientific or social aspects of climate change. We will then draw on the latest scientific and social research to address these questions and practice critical thinking at the same time - and send you out the door with some curriculum-tied resources you can use in your classroom. The aim of this session is to equip you with strong foundational knowledge so you can feel confident discussing this important topic with those around you - including your students.
Energy Transition in Alberta - Experience the Shift!
Come and experience the energy shift! The energy system in Alberta is a complex system of companies, non-governmental organizations, governments, and stakeholders. This unique simulation activity will allow you to experience the energy system, and the transition that is underway, from a different set of eyes...and have some fun at the same time!
During this session, we will guide participants through the Energy Transition Game and play it together. You will then learn how to bring the game into your classroom and will be provided the resources to do so. This integrative activity allows students to see the interplay between the science of energy, and corporate and government decision making; we’ve designed it to connect to both Grade 9 Social Studies and Science curricula, with the potential to be adapted to other Grade levels as well. The game helps students develop skills for evaluating different forms of energy production from both renewable and non-renewable sources, requiring them to consider the efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental impact of different energy sources, all while negotiating with other stakeholders and considering social and economic dimensions.
This game is brought to you by the Alberta Council for Environmental Education, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that works collaboratively to advance energy and environmental education in Alberta.
We’d like to acknowledge that an earlier version of this game was developed as a training tool by Suncor Energy; the team there has given us permission to modify this game based on teacher feedback so that it supports our mission - and, more importantly, supports student learning.
Greening your Curriculum: How to Weave Environment into Your Teaching
Teaching students about the environment and how to take care of it has never been more important! In this hands on workshop you will 'learn by doing' as many dynamic and engaging activities as possible. The Alberta curriculum is full of wonderful opportunities to help students learn about how the environment works, and how to take care of it! Come experience our world-famous State of the planet quiz, considering what would happened if the earth were only a few feet in diameter, find out about a superb $50 conference, and fill up your teaching toolbox with a treasure trove of our favourite games and activities, which exemplify best practices in teachings and we think you'll be able to use in any classroom. We'll also discuss how you can weave together environment, citizenship, and experiential learning through action projects that give students hope for the future as they make a difference in their schools and their communities. All attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Delivering on Your Curriculum - and Increasing Environmental and Energy Literacy - Through Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Our promise: you'll leave this workshop with some good ideas - and perhaps a good plan! - to do as the title suggests. We'll review the tenets of PBL, discuss what 'increasing environmental, energy, and climate literacy' means, explore some superb projects created by teachers just like you, and help identify relevant community resources and programs - and of course we'll model best PBL instruction as we do so! Then we'll use the remaining half of the workshop to facilitate small working groups in which your colleagues will help you begin or refine your plan to deliver your curriculum using PBL.
‘Leap into Action’ – A Free Teacher’s Guide to Environmental Action
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll help you identify links between your curriculum and action, and then do several activities from ‘Leap into Action,’ a free teacher activity guide that you’ll receive in this workshop. This guide was created for teachers and is full of lesson plans to help you prepare, inspire and support your students in conducting age-appropriate environmental action projects, including skill-building activities and tools, and real-life case studies.