Professional development  for middle school class and science teachers

This phenomenologically-based exploration into Waldorf middle school science will help Waldorf teachers approach science teaching with greater confidence. Through lecture, discussion, and demonstrations we will explore the practice of teaching science in a living way.

This weekend workshop with Gary Banks, held virtually over Zoom, includes:

• An overview of the main science topics in middle school science, grades 6-8
• Performing and observing a few key experiments from the many exciting topics in grades 6-8, thus giving participants a sense of how to create demonstrations and hands-on experiences that will serve the middle school student and to have a sense for how a topic develops over three years
• Sharing ideas about how students may record the experiences they observe in class
• Reviewing the experiences we observe together in the way a teacher would do with students, deepening the participant’s relationship to these topics and gaining confidence in how to conduct lessons in a two-day rhythm of observation and concept development
• Discussions around  the middle school student and how they are served by this method
• Sharing ideas around how a phenomenological approach may be utilized in remote learning

Gary will lead participants through the following:

• An overview of phenomenological approach drawing on many examples.
• An overview of science subjects in middle school.
• Direct experiences in physics and chemistry participants will do at home (see below), followed by a discussion of these experiences as a model for how a conversation around phenomena can happen and deepening our understanding of particular topics.

Physics

• • Color phenomena for grade 6
  • Mirror phenomena for grade 7
  • Triboelectric phenomena grade 6
  • Magnetism for grade 6
  • Electromagnetism for grade 8

Chemistry

• • Table candle phenomena for grade 7
  • Relationship of fire to air for grade 7

See the list of materials you will need to have on hand to participate in these at-home experiments.

Instructor

Gary Banks currently teaches high school math and science at the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, where he is also the high school faculty chair. Gary is also a presenter in the Teaching Sensible Science course and has taught in a number of teacher training programs and foundation studies courses. From 1993-2001, he took a class from first to eighth grade at the Denver Waldorf School, then worked as a high school science teacher at High Mowing School and a class teacher at Pine Hill Waldorf School before moving to Michigan. Gary earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering and worked as a research engineer on the NASA Space Station project before entering teaching. He completed his MEd at Antioch New England Graduate School.

Fee
$200

Discount Options

• 10% off if you are a Sunbridge program alum OR for schools sending two or more registrants
  Discount codes for Sunbridge program alumni will appear on your registration form once you identify yourself. Use discount code VOLUME if your school is sending more than one registrant; qualification for coupon use will be verified when the workshop begins. Only one discount may be applied.
• 100% off if you are a current Sunbridge program student. Please register as soon as possible, while spaces are still available, using the code provided you

REGISTER

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary.