Professional development workshops for teachers

Join us in person at SRP’s free teacher workshops

We’re excited to offer in-person teacher training workshops, all hosted at SRP’s Tempe facilities. Here’s what you need to know to attend:

• Workshops are offered Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.
• They’re open to K–12 educators in SRP’s service and impact areas.
• Educators will receive a certificate for continuing education units for four hours for each workshop.
• All workshops are free to educators.

Free teacher workshops

Explore our professional development offerings below.

• Powering Our Future (Grades K–2): Engage in hands-on K–2 engineering experiences that focus on understanding the differences between technology and engineering and explore how to support K–2 students with engineering design challenges that incorporate the 5E instructional model. 
• Powering Our Future (Grades 3–5): Learn about the renewable and nonrenewable resources used to generate electricity through GRC (Gather, Reason, Communicate) and 5E Picture-Perfect Science lessons. We will explore how the different resources are used and the advantages and challenges of each type.
• Powering Our Future (Grades 6–8): Explore energy transfers and transformations through a phenomena-based 5E lesson and apply this knowledge through engaging in an engineering design challenge focused on kinetic and potential energy.
• Powering Our Future HS (Grades 9–12): Engage in hands-on activities to learn about solar energy, energy transformation and energy generation. This workshop features 3D-modeled instruction using both the 5E and GRC (Gather, Reason, Communicate) instructional models. 
• Electricity (Grades 3–8):  Explore electricity by engaging in a 5E lesson using investigation stations that guide students through sensemaking focused on how energy is transferred through circuits.
• Magnetism (Grades 3–8): Explore magnetism by engaging in a 5E lesson using investigation stations that guide students through sensemaking focused on magnetic force at a distance, orientation, interactions of magnets, and discovering key differences between magnetic and nonmagnetic materials. 

Cash in on a Powering Our Future grant

Here are the details:

• Grants are only available to attendees of SRP's series of Powering Our Future workshops.
• Educators can attend up to three workshops per school semester for a total of twelve professional development hours.
• Educators can apply for one grant per school year but are welcome to attend multiple years and reapply.
• Teachers must attend the workshop before applying for the grant.
• Other workshops are not eligible for the grants; however, educators will receive materials at the workshop to help teach the content.

Additional professional development opportunities

Water Solutions: Past, Present and Future STEAM Academy

SRP Partner: Arizona Project WET

This innovative program offers two-and-a-half days of focused instruction for primary and secondary educators. Each session includes exclusive tours, presentations from STEAM experts and activities from the newest edition of Project WET's world-renowned curriculum guides.

Primary educators: Grades 3–6

June 2 and 3 | 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
June 4 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Secondary educators: Grades 7–10

June 4 | 1–4 p.m.
June 5 and 6 | 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

All sessions will be held at SRP’s PERA Training and Conference Center in Tempe.

Limited spots are available. Complete your application by April 18.

Teaching Inquiry-Based STEM Science: An ASU Summer Institute for K–8 Educators

SRP Partner: ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

This year's Teaching Inquiry-Based STEM Science program will focus on eSTEM (Environmental STEM), emphasizing the unique ecology of the Sonoran Desert through hands-on environmental science activities. Educators will explore inquiry-based teaching strategies that integrate local biodiversity, conservation and sustainability topics, equipping students with the skills to investigate and address real-world environmental challenges in their own communities. Eligible participants include those teaching in Maricopa, Gila, Yavapai and Pinal counties and the towns of St. Johns and Page.

June 10–13 | 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

All sessions will be held at SRP’s PERA Training and Conference Center in Tempe.

Please use the link for more information and to start the application process:

Going 3D With GRC Science Investigations Professional Learning Series

SRP Partner: Arizona Department of Education

Participants will develop Arizona-specific science lessons, writing performance tasks and effective teaching strategies that integrate scientific concepts into the classroom setting. This opportunity is facilitated by Brett Moulding, a leading expert in science education.

All sessions will be held at SRP’s PERA Training and Conference Center in Tempe.

Please use the links below for more information and to apply:

Deeper Diving into 3-Dimensional Science Teaching and Learning for Elementary Educators
Grades K–6 | June 9–10

Deeper Diving into 3-Dimensional Science Teaching and Learning for Middle and High School Educators
Grades 6–12 | June 12 and 13

Empower K–5 Students Through Literacy in Science and STEM Academy

SRP Partner: Arizona Science Teachers Association

Learn how to empower your students through STEM, literature and discourse using a hands-on 5E model with Picture Perfect Lessons for K–5 students. There is a commitment fee of $35.

June 24–26 | 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

All sessions will be held at SRP’s PERA Training and Conference Center in Tempe.