EdVenture Children’s Museum to Host Fourth Annual Hands-On, Minds-On! Institute

April 14, 2009

Educational Sessions Employ Interactive Methods to Help State’s Teachers Improve Science Curriculum

COLUMBIA, SC – April 13, 2009 – It’s the opportunity of the year for South Carolina teachers itching to get their teaching style down to a science. EdVenture Children’s Museum, along with support from the South Carolina Department of Education, announces the fourth annual Hands-On, Minds-On! Summer Institute for public elementary school teachers across the state. Geared toward teachers in kindergarten through fifth grades, the summer program enables educators to select from one of three sessions held June 22-25, July 13-16, and July 27-30. All sessions will be held at the museum in Columbia.

Each four-day session provides educators with experiences designed to increase understanding of key science content, curriculum integration c oncepts and a hands-on approach to teaching science. The professional development institute focuses on building educators’ confidence about seamlessly integrating science into regular curriculum while arming them with the latest instructional methods and interactive practices to foster student academic growth and development in core competencies. Adopting these methods into instructional style will ultimately lead to higher PACT scores and better student performance levels.

Hands-On, Minds-On! is dedicated to making science fun and accessible in the classroom by providing state elementary educators with innovative tools and techniques designed to cultivate students’ interest and inspire academic achievement, says Catherine Wilson Horne, president and CEO of EdVenture. By integrating these methods into the curriculum, we can positively influence standardized test scores and school performance levels, ultimately increasing South Carolina’s national ranking.

 This year’s four-day Institute i ncludes sessions on:

  • Incorporating the joy of science into your classroom;
  • Discovering new and creative ways to weave science into your daily curriculum;
  • Understanding how to successfully cultivate the love of science in your students; and
  • Sharing your enthusiasm with your students.

At the end of the Hands-On, Minds-On! Institute, educators will have secured solid knowledge of science content dictated by state curriculum standards. Participants also will receive $400 in take-away science materials, valuable resource manuals, cutting-edge instructional techniques, leadership skills and more. Participants interested in20obtaining recertification or graduate credit may elect to take Hands-On, Minds-On! as a three-hour course at no additional cost and will be required to attend two extra seven-hour Saturday classes in August and October.

Registration for the Hands-On, Minds-On! Institute is $150. Registration plus shared overnight accommodations is $390. Registration plus private overnight accommodations is $500. Teachers can register by calling (803) 400-1139.

For more information about the Hands-On, Minds-On! Institute or EdVenture Children’s Museum, visit www.edventure.org. The mission of EdVenture Children’s Museum is to inspire children to experience the joy of learning.