Purpose of this curriculum:

The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS), in partnership with BP America, are launching a new Energy Education Initiative (EEI) designed to increase young people’s energy literacy by strengthening informal science educator training and teacher professional development on the subject.

Programs for implementing the curriculum

Given that energy demand is projected to grow 37% through 2035, there is clearly a need for increased energy literacy and support for classroom teachers. The joint EEI efforts focus on helping teachers prepare today’s students to meet tomorrow’s demands. The EEI will have several major components:

● ASTC has worked with its member museums to capture effective practices for delivering teacher professional development around energy and will share this information during series of workshops to be held in science centers and museums across the United States over the course of a year. A pilot workshop was held at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on December 5, and the series will continue at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford, the Anchorage Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Discovery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this March and April.

● ASTC will assemble best practices-based, energy-focused teacher training modules that address the essential knowledge and skills museum-based informal science educators need in order to provide training to teachers and other informal science educators in their communities.

● The final component of the Energy Education Initiative includes the launch of a web platform that will provide easy access to all the materials curated by this project, including digital guides, curricula, and related energy teaching resources. This will be an essential tool for ASTC-member institutions, educators, and parents interested in leading energy literacy-related activities.

ASTC’s work in this realm reflects the wide array of energy-related programming offered in science centers and museums across the globe as well as a Memorandum of Understanding the Association signed with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. “ASTC and the science centers and museums that we represent are looking forward to providing teachers, students, and families with resources and activities that will help them to better explain, understand, and interact with energy concepts and the important role energy plays in today’s society,” said Anthony (Bud) Rock, ASTC’s president and CEO. “ASTC is excited to partner with BP America in this Energy Education Initiative to deliver these workshops and new online portal, making this material more accessible than ever before.” “Investing in STEM education, and energy literacy in particular, is important to developing a workforce with the knowledge and skills our industry will need to solve the world’s future energy challenges,” said Kathleen Martinez, BP’s senior director of national strategic relationships. “We are proud to partner with ASTC to deliver tools and resources that will help educators teach students about energy and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.” Science centers and museums are ideally suited to support teachers in creating exciting new ways to teach science to children and youth. The addition of energy literacy modules created by informal science educators will impact the quality of teacher training provided by ASTC-member institutions. About ASTC The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) is a global organization providing collective voice, professional support, and programming opportunities for science centers, museums, and related institutions, whose innovative approaches to science learning inspire people of all ages about the wonders and the meaning of science in their lives. Founded in 1973, ASTC now represents over 650 members in nearly 50 countries, including not only science centers and museums, but also nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children’s museums, as well as companies, consultants, and other organizations that share an interest in informal science education. For more information about ASTC, or to find a science center near you, visit www.astc.org. About BP For more than six decades, BP America has supported education initiatives focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Over the past three years alone, BP has invested more than $60 million in programs and activities that encourage students across the United States to pursue STEM subjects and careers. The company’s efforts are focused on teacher training and development, sponsoring student programs that inspire STEM learning, and encouraging employees to volunteer as mentors in their communities. BP was recognized for its efforts to promote careers in STEM, placing No. 1 on the 2015 list of STEM Jobs Approved Employers. Published by Victory Media, the list is the first of its kind to rate companies on their responsiveness to creating and filling high-demand, high-growth STEM occupations. ABOUT MITS MITS is a nonprofit Massachusetts-based organization providing high-quality professional development for K-12 teachers and informal educators. Through collaborations with over 100 museums, aquaria, nature centers, and other nonprofit science education organizations, MITS’ educator workshops and programs increase awareness of and improve the quality of teaching inquiry-based, minds-on, hands-on STEM education. By providing teachers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to provide effective STEM instruction, MITS’ programs increase student interest and achievement in science, technology, and engineering.

Programs for Implementing the Curriculum:

Here are some of the ways you or your district can take advantage of eesmarts:

Professional Development: Teachers receive training, curriculum, and materials to implement energy lessons with their students. The eesmarts Summer Institute offers Connecticut educators intensive one, two or three-day workshops on various energy-related topics.

Classroom Lessons: Teachers can request specific lessons for their students. Working with your school’s scheduling requirements, CREC presenters will execute an eesmarts lesson and provide materials needed to conduct the hands-on activity. Program Outreach – CREC presenters will plan an activity to meet the needs of your audience and provide a fun, educational activity for your special event – a family science night, school environmental fair, or inter-district grant program.

Student Contest: K-12 students are invited to enhance their science, writing, and technology skills with the annual eesmarts student contest. Students respond to grade level-specific prompts – a poster, a poem, an essay, a speech, and a report – on how they can save energy. High school level contest winners may receive funding to implement their energy-savings ideas in their community.

All eesmarts lessons are fully aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core Standards for Math and English/Language Arts. eesmarts workshops are interactive and cross disciplinary, providing educators with hands-on activity-based learning opportunities.

eesmarts Summer Institute
Held annually in July and August, the eesmarts Summer Institute features intensive one-day or three-day workshops for educators on various energy, weather, and recycling topics.

Benefits of attending an eesmarts workshop include:

Receive free curriculum and materials for your classroom. All eesmarts lessons fully align with NGSS, Common Core Standards for Math and English/Language Arts, and STEM
Receive lesson implementation and differentiated teaching strategies.
Conduct hands-on activities accompanying the curriculum.
Gain knowledge, confidence, and skills for teaching your students about energy, energy conservation, renewable energy sources, and efficient technologies.
Learn about EnergizeCT school tours, services & resources.