HOPS Teacher Institute
“Honestly one of the most useful teacher training sessions I’ve ever participated in.”
.HOPS Teacher Institute Program Description: Each day covers 8 modules designed to be informative, engaging, and fun! On the first day, teachers learn about the importance of water to all life on Earth and examine how healthy our local bodies of water are. Teachers will use microscopes to test water for its temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. They will also learn about watersheds by building their own watershed and water filter. In the afternoon, teachers will focus on learning about photosynthesis by performing plant cuttings. Teachers will also be able to see how oxygen leaves the plant and use refractometers to learn that sugar really does happen in the leaf. At the end of the day, teachers will create art using the power of the sun and make seed balls.
On the second day, teachers are able to explore nature as a kind of art. They will have a chance to settle into the quiet of the National Garden, watercolor, make sundials, and microscopically explore the tiniest of plants. Then, everyone will dissect flowers to learn more about pollination and watch our local pollinators in action. The afternoon is when will tie everything together with an investigation, during which, we explore seed dispersal, pollen identification using microscopes, learn that nectar differs from flower to flower, different flowers have different pollinators, and that soil is not dirt.
“It was interactive, fun, informative, & inspiring! Thank you!”
To learn more about how The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company supports HOPS, click here.
