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Media Contact:
JP O’Hare
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov

Hybrid Workshops Include Evolution and Ecology (January 29), Earth Science (March 1), and Anthropology (March 14)

The New York State Museum is excited to offer teachers three upcoming free, CTLE-eligible workshops led by its distinguished PhD-level scientists in evolution and ecology, earth science, and anthropology. Carefully designed to align with New York State Learning Standards, these workshops will provide educators with invaluable opportunities to enhance their teaching skills and classroom content. Educators can earn up to eight CTLE clock hours upon completion of the upcoming workshops. 

New York State educators holding Professional and Permanent certification must complete Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) clock hour requirements. As an approved CTLE provider, the New York State Museum offers a unique chance to engage with real-world scientific applications, access authentic research, and explore classroom-ready lessons aligned with the latest science curricula—all free of charge! Since 2001, the Museum's researchers have delivered high-quality professional development to educators across the state, helping them bring innovative, research-based content into their classrooms. 

Each workshop is offered both in-person and online, allowing educators to choose the format that best fits their needs. In-person participants will have the added benefit of tours and hands-on experiences within the Museum's Huxley Theater or Student Center. To ensure an interactive and engaging experience, in-person attendance is limited to 50 participants per workshop. 

“The New York State Museum and the New York State Education Department are proud to provide teachers with unparalleled access to leading scientific and historical resources and scholars,” said Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Michael Mastroianni. “Through these workshops, we equip educators with the tools they need to inspire the next generation of explorers and scholars while fostering their professional growth through meaningful, hands-on experiences. These workshops present a unique opportunity for teachers to engage with leading experts, explore museum collections, and integrate fresh, research-backed content into their classrooms. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your professional development, earn valuable CTLE clock hours—free of charge—and delve into fascinating topics in science and anthropology.” 

Workshop Details: 

Evolution and Ecology Teacher’s Workshop 
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (8 CTLE clock hours) 
Location: In-Person (Huxley Theater) and Virtual 
Registration: Register for the Evolution and Ecology Teacher's Workshop

The Evolution and Ecology Teacher’s Workshop offers middle and high school science teachers the opportunity to earn eight CTLE clock hours and is aligned with NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards. The workshop will focus on exploring hidden stories from the museum's collections, with discussions led by eight State Museum scientists. Participants will have access to hands-on experiences and classroom-ready resources through various engaging programs.

The workshop will cover topics such as an examination of the American Chestnut and chestnut blight; first-floor exhibit tours highlighting Ice Ages and Bird Hall, demonstrating how educators can use exhibits and educational resources to create hands-on opportunities for students; collections tours featuring insects, mollusks, and botany to illustrate how collections inform scientific research that ultimately ends up in textbooks; an innovative comparison of the Canine Contrasts exhibit, highlighting wolf and coyote differences applicable for classroom use; and a hands-on fossil exploration. This comprehensive program provides educators with valuable insights into cutting-edge scientific research while offering practical resources for immediate classroom application. 

Earth Science Teacher’s Workshop
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025 
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (8 CTLE clock hours) 
Location: In-Person (Student Center) and Virtual 
Registration: Register for the Earth Science Teacher's Workshop

The DH Cadwell Teacher’s Workshop offers middle and high school Earth Science/Physical Setting educators the opportunity to earn eight CTLE clock hours. This professional development workshop features diverse hands-on experiences aligned with the new Earth and Space Science Reference Tables (ESSRT), developed in collaboration with scientists from the New York State Museum. These sessions will be led by Museum scientists specializing in geology, earth science, and paleontology. 

Participants will engage in a fossil study focused on the fossils and facts presented in the new reference tables; a radiometric dating overview with a hands-on carbon dating activity; mineral identification exercises; a stream table demonstration to support New York State Earth Science Investigations; and tours of the State Museum’s paleontology and geology collections that showcase how collections contribute to understanding Earth’s history. Each presentation provides classroom-ready resources with practical applications for middle and high school Earth Science teachers. 

Anthropology Teacher Workshop 
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2025 
Time: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (6 CTLE clock hours) 
Location: In-Person (Huxley Theater) and Virtual 
Registration: Register for the Anthropology Teacher's Workshop 

The Anthropology Teacher Workshop will focus on New Netherland and offers teachers the opportunity to earn six CTLE clock hours. This multidisciplinary workshop will bring together a team of experts from the State Museum, New Netherland Research Center, New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation, and other distinguished researchers to provide a comprehensive exploration of 17th-century New Netherland through various perspectives. 

Programs will include an examination of Dutch maritime trade through nautical artifacts; an analysis of regional geography and climate impacts on New Netherland; a gallery tour of the State Museum’s "Fort Orange" exhibit showcasing New Netherland collections; and insights into Native-Dutch relations in what is now the Capital Region during the early 1600s. Teachers will gain hands-on experience working with historical evidence such as archaeological artifacts, period artwork, and primary source documents, along with access to free online resources and practical classroom materials, including a copy of New York State Museum Bulletin 509, "Before Albany: An Archaeology of Native-Dutch Relations in the Capital Region 1600-1664." 

About the Cultural Education Center 

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website.     

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. Visit the New York State Library website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter.  

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.     

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more. 

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.   

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