For Teachers

Education Activities At the Park & Teacher Blogs

The National Park is partnering with local teachers in a program called Park Research that allows teachers and students to go deeper in strengthening their connection with their public lands and community through curriculum based learning. Check back for photos, stories, curriculum, and more!

Welcome all Educators!

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park's strong partnerships with education professionals are critical to the success of its commitment to "Explore innovative approaches to place-based stewardship education." 

To create new and strengthen existing partnerships, we offer a full spectrum of opportunities for teachers to work with park staff and resource specialists to create meaningful learning experiences for their students.

The shared goals of these partnerships are to help students:     

·    Gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their community; 
·    Discover the connection between classroom learning and real-world application; and 
·    Become informed, skilled, and engaged citizens.    

The park's primary means for developing and supporting long-term, educator partnerships is through the award-winning A Forest for Every Classroom (FFEC) program. The impact of this professional development program is best described by FFEC alumni in the following reflections:

 

As We Are Taught
by Rob Hanson

Finally a Classroom that Works
by Debra Pelkey

Lurking Just Outside the School's Backdoor
by Steven Glazer

Making Sense of Place: How my Experience as a Learner in the Forest for Every Classroom Program Changed my Perspective on Teaching. by Marybeth Morrissey
FFEC Reflection
by Kathy Rossman

In addition to FFEC and other professional development opportunities, the park works with educators to plan field trips that fit with their curricular goals and  most effectively use the wealth of park historical, cultural and/or natural resources to reach their learning objectives.

The park also offers access to curriculum materials created by FFEC and/or other teacher partners to provide ideas for lesson planning.

As part of the ongoing effort to meet teacher needs, the park is a member of the Place-based Education Evaluation Collaborative (PEEC), a regional effort to develop best practices in place-based education. PEEC research contributes to the enhancement of the member programs, and to the development of evaluation techniques for place-based education.

It also supports the Promise of Place website to share lessons learned through FFEC and to provide additional place-based education tools, resources, and curriculum.