ACEE Workshops for Teachers
Upcoming Workshops
Hand-in-Hand: Working Together Toward a Sustainable Calgary
A Two-Day Environmental Symposium at Calgary City Teachers' Convention
There's something exciting going on in the city of Calgary and we’d love you and your students to be a part of it! Join us and many of our environmental education partners for this exciting two-day symposium as we explore the many ways that teachers and their students can learn more ABOUT, FOR and IN the environment while delivering on the curriculum. We"ll also explore how Calgary schools can contribute to our city's own strategies and initiatives, and, optionally, become part of Calgary’s growing EcoSchools community.
Twelve exciting sessions will cover a range of topics including the EcoSchools certification program, biodiversity, water management, waste management, climate change and Indigenous perspectives. Each session will feature hands-on curriculum-linked activities and resources co-presented by a member of Calgary's vibrant environmental education community and a City of Calgary expert. To better meet your teaching needs, sessions are divided into an elementary and a secondary stream. Join us for one, several, or all of the exciting sessions we have lined up!
Preparing Students for Their Energy Future
Energy. We use it every day, but we don't really understand it very well. We try to teach students about energy, but it is not easy. We’ll show you how you can deliver on your curriculum while helping your students deepen their understanding of Alberta's evolving energy system, compare the impacts of existing and emerging energy sources, and assess the benefits and costs of our energy choices on ourselves, our community, and our environment. In this hands-on session you'll use simple technology to generate real data for electricity use - a great way to pique your students' curiosity, and engage their investigative and critical thinking skills. You’ll ‘learn by doing’ some of our favourite curriculum-linked energy activities geared specifically for grades 4 to 9 students, and review some key resources you can use in your classroom. Please bring a laptop or mobile device to access the internet.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: Endless Skies Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 11, 10:20 - 11:20 a.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Let's Get Climate Active! - Engaging Elementary Students in Climate Education and Action
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues we face. Research shows that engaging with this challenging topic - rather than avoiding it - is the best way to replace fear with curiosity and instill hope for the future. 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, systems, wellness, citizenship, or change.
In this highly engaging session, we will demonstrate how to explore the topic of climate change with younger students in an age-appropriate manner, identify curriculum connections, highlight quality resources - and most importantly, 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 I and Division II teachers.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: North Central Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 4, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Calgary: Calgary City Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 12, 10:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 9 - 10 a.m.
Action Begets Hope! - Unpacking and Tackling Climate Change with Secondary Students
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues we face. And yet, a recent national study from Lakehead University showed that climate literacy in Alberta was the lowest compared to other provinces. 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.
In this highly engaging session, we will demonstrate how to explore the topic of climate change with your students, identify curriculum connections, highlight quality resources - and most importantly, 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.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: North Central Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 5, 9:15-10:45 a.m.
Calgary: Calgary City Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 11, 2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
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 the future of Alberta’s oil and gas industry. 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 an overwhelming amount of - often conflicting - information. 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, respect, and evidence-based critical thinking - without becoming part of the controversy.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: Endless Skies Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 11, 2:20 - 3:20 p.m.
Edmonton: North Central Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 5, 12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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. 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 literacy skills.
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 explore how Indigenous perspectives and outdoor learning can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and Mother Earth.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: Endless Skies Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 11, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Edmonton: North Central Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
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. 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.
This workshop will demonstrate how to use the outdoor learning environment to provide authentic and rich opportunities to develop a range of numeracy skills. We’ll also explore how Indigenous perspectives and outdoor learning can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and Mother Earth. Join us for this hands-on session where we’ll have fun demonstrating activities and expanding your learning environments.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Edmonton: Endless Skies Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 12, 11:40 - 12:40 p.m.
Edmonton: North Central Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 4, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 9 - 10 a.m.
Science and Well-being in Your Schoolyard: Exploring Science Concepts Through Fun Outdoor Activities
According to environmental educator Juliet Roberson, “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 of living things, connectedness, systems, seasons, the water cycle, temperature, and more.
In this action-packed session, we will demonstrate how to use the outdoors to bring elementary science concepts to life and fully engage students in their learning. We’ll also demonstrate how outdoor learning and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives can promote your students’ well-being by fostering a sense of place and helping them feel connected to themselves, their classmates, and nature.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Exploring Sustainability Through An Indigenous Lens: Getting Started with Elementary Students
The Alberta Teacher Quality Standard calls on teachers to provide opportunities for all students to develop a knowledge and understanding of, and respect for Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing. The study of environmental sustainability, which can be linked to the curriculum across all subjects and subject areas, offers a wonderful opportunity to do just this. If this idea sounds interesting to you but also fills you with trepidation, then this workshop is for you.
In this session, we'll demonstrate how you don’t need to be an expert to start your journey into Indigenous knowledge systems but rather, an open mind and heart - and a willingness to explore new ideas with your students. Drawing on authentic resources, we’ll also show you how you can weave Indigenous perspectives in your everyday practice and deliver on the curriculum in a way that engages students and fosters deep learning. This workshop will target specifically Division I and II teachers.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Calgary: Calgary City Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 12, 9 - 10 a.m.
Calgary: Palliser District Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 11 - 12:45 p.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 9 - 10:15 a.m.
Exploring Sustainability Through An Indigenous Lens: Getting Started with Secondary Students
The Alberta Teacher Quality Standard calls on teachers to provide opportunities for all students to develop a knowledge and understanding of, and respect for Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing. The study of environmental sustainability, which can be linked to the curriculum across all subjects and subject areas, offers a wonderful opportunity to do just this. If this idea sounds interesting to you but also fills you with trepidation, then this workshop is for you.
In this session, we’ll demonstrate how you don’t need to be an expert to start your journey into Indigenous knowledge systems but rather, a willingness to explore new ideas with your students. Drawing on authentic Indigenous resources, we’ll show you how you can deliver on the curriculum in a way that encourages deep learning around the concepts of connectedness, reciprocity with Mother Earth, and the seven sacred teachings. This workshop will target specifically Division III and IV teachers.
Edmonton: Greater Edmonton Teachers' Convention - February 25-26, 2021 (exact date and time TBD)
Calgary: Calgary City Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 11, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Calgary: Palliser District Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 9 - 10:45 a.m.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lethbridge: Southwest Alberta Teachers' Convention - Friday, February 19, 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
‘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.
Red Deer: Central Alberta Teachers' Convention - Thursday, February 18, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
General Workshop Offerings
ACEE staff have 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). Whether you’re interested in fun environmental activities to do in your schoolyard or engaging students in learning about energy and climate change, we have something for everyone AND every grade level. 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@abcee.org if you are interested in any of our workshops or if you have a request for a specific workshop topic not represented here.