Minnesota Children's Museum

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Professional Development Workshops

WORKSHOPS AT MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

The Intentional Provider - Educator Series

The Intentional Provider is a unique, advanced; four session workshop series that offers you an opportunity to identify and reflect on your own early childhood practices, strategies, and techniques in a deep and sustainable way. Participants earn 15 in-service hours. Click here to learn more.

Dates: February 18, March 10, March 31, 2012.
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cost: $200 - includes organizational portfolio and classroom gift.
For more information, please call 651-225-6111.

Preschool Math Institute

The Preschool Math Institute is a highly interactive, fun, in-depth, hands-on, and practical way for educators of preschool children to learn how to effectively highlight mathematics in their early childhood settings. Click here to learn more.

Dates: April 26-27, 2012
Time: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $150 - Includes classroom gift.
For more information, please call 651-225-6111.

Specialty Workshops

February 25, 2012
Pint-size Science 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Children's innate interest, inquiry and imagination are the first steps for science exploration. In this workshop, discover how to recognize the simple science already happening in your early childhood setting and how to capitalize on it. You will explore and experiment with activities designed around motion, sound, change and matter. See just how simple, fun, and ever-changing physical science can be by taking ordinary items and turning them into extraordinary activities.

NEW! Hands-on Health 12:30 - 3 p.m.
As adults there are many things we do to keep children healthy and safe. However, children should be aware of important choices they need to make in order to keep themselves healthy and safe as well. This workshop shares ideas to use with young children that promote healthy bodies, foods, habits and minds.

April 21, 2012
Bound to Read: Early Literacy 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Discover the vital role literacy plays during the early childhood years, which helps create successful writers and readers later in life. Learn about stimulating, literacy-rich environments, enhancing pre-literacy skills, and teaching techniques that foster literacy growth and development. From listening and speaking, to writing and reading, valuable information and numerous hands-on, active and fun activity ideas that promote literacy success will be shared.

Nurturing Nature 12:30 - 3 p.m.
Learn many ways to incorporate natural science themes into your classroom setting that children are sure to enjoy. This workshop provides information on how to celebrate the outdoors as well as ideas on how to bring the outdoors inside through songs, games, large group activities, recipes and creative art projects. This class will give you many ideas to choose from as you begin showcasing nature and all its beauty to young children.

WORKSHOPS AT YOUR SITE

The Workshops at Your Site are available in many different topics, including new, Hands-on Health. All convenient, two-hour educators' workshops come to your location.

Class size: Minimum 20; maximum 35
Cost: Individualized based on needs.
Workshop Topics: Museum staff will work with you to select a date and time that fits your schedule.
For more information, please call Nichole Polifka at 651-225-6111.

Workshop Topics

NEW! Hands-on Health
As adults there are many things we do to keep children healthy and safe. However, children should be aware of important choices they need to make in order to keep themselves healthy and safe as well. This workshop shares ideas to use with young children that promote healthy bodies, foods, habits and minds.

Bound to Read: Early Literacy
Discover the vital role literacy plays during the early childhood years, which helps create successful writers and readers later in life. Learn about stimulating, literacy-rich environments, enhancing pre-literacy skills, and teaching techniques that foster literacy growth and development. From listening and speaking, to writing and reading, valuable information and numerous hands-on, active and fun activity ideas that promote literacy success will be shared.

Music and Movement Play
Music and movement are powerful tools that foster children's physical and educational development. Get ready to sing, share and move as we discuss how music and movement promote children's physical and educational development. Get ideas for incorporating music and musical play into every part of your daily routine as well as into your environment.

Nurturing Nature: Environmental Education for Young Children
Learn many ways to incorporate natural science themes into your classroom setting that children are sure to enjoy. This workshop provides information on how to celebrate the outdoors as well as ideas on how to bring the outdoors inside through songs, games, large group activities, recipes and creative art projects. This class will give you many ideas to choose from as you begin showcasing nature and all its beauty to young children.

Pint-size Science
Children's innate interest, inquiry and imagination are the first steps for science exploration. In this workshop, discover how to recognize the simple science already happening in your early childhood setting and how to capitalize on it. You will explore and experiment with activities designed around motion, sound, change and matter. See just how simple, fun, and ever-changing physical science can be by taking ordinary items and turning them into extraordinary activities.

Math Everywhere
Basic mathematical concepts need to be explored early in the lives of children to help assure mathematical success later in the school years. Discover the joy of mathematics in the early childhood setting and see how easily it applies to everyday life. In this workshop, you will learn to recognize math concepts already happening throughout the day, how to create inviting, stand-alone math activities, and highlight math through literacy and other areas of learning.