Web Seminar Series

Join us for a four-part seasonal webinar pathway, scheduled on October 29, 2026, January 7, March 11, and May 13, 2027, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET, that explores how Learning in Places transforms science learning by connecting students, families, and communities through meaningful investigations of the places they know best.

Designed for K–5 educators, this interactive series provides classroom-ready strategies for outdoor learning, family engagement, and transdisciplinary instruction that centers science. Throughout the year, participants will experience Learning in Places as learners, explore resources from LearningInPlaces.org, engage in Wonder and "Should We?" discussions, and examine the Learning in Places articles from Science and Children while developing plans to bring place-based science learning into their own classrooms.

About Each Seminar:

Web Seminar 1: October 29, 2026: Discovering Learning in Places

What is Learning in Places, and how can it transform science learning? In this introductory session, participants will experience the foundations of Learning in Places while exploring how Wonder and "Should We?" questions encourage curiosity, scientific thinking, and meaningful connections among students, families, and communities. Educators will begin exploring classroom resources and identify opportunities to incorporate place-based learning into their own instruction.

Web Seminar 2: January 7, 2027: Why Learning in Places Matters

Explore the research and instructional practices that make Learning in Places a powerful approach to science education. Participants will examine how learning in and with local places supports student sensemaking, strengthens community connections, and creates authentic opportunities for students to investigate meaningful questions. The session also highlights strategies for facilitating Wonder conversations that deepen student learning throughout the school year.

Web Seminar 3: March 11, 2027: Place Matters

Spring provides the perfect opportunity to extend science learning beyond the classroom. In this session, participants will explore how local places become powerful contexts for investigation through storylines, family engagement tools, and opportunities for collecting and analyzing data. Educators will develop strategies for helping students make sense of their communities while deepening their understanding of scientific concepts.

Web Seminar 4: May 13, 2027: Reflecting, Sharing, and Inspiring Change

Celebrate a year of Learning in Places by sharing classroom experiences, successes, and lessons learned. Participants will explore additional family engagement tools and examine how place-based learning empowers students to become informed decision makers and positive changemakers within their communities. The series concludes with reflection, collaboration, and planning for continued implementation in the year ahead.

Program Dates and Times:

The four live web seminars are scheduled on Thursdays, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern time. Specific program dates are below:  

• October 29, 2026
• January 7, 2027
• March 11, 2027
• May 13, 2027

During the Topic Study Participants Have Access to:

• Digital resources and all NSTA online community tools (My Library, My Profile, Community Forums)
• All archive versions of the web seminars to watch on-demand.

Program Certificates:

Participants will receive a certificate from NSTA after each live web seminar for attending the live program AND completing the post-program survey. No certificates will be awarded for watching the recorded version of the program.

Groups of Teachers:

Science Leaders Can Sponsor Groups of Educators!  Are you a state, district, or school leader working to enhance your teachers' professional learning?  Please consider sponsoring a cohort of teachers to participate in the Learning in Places: A Seasonal Journey of Wonder, Community, and Science Topic Study!

Cost to Groups:

• $1,500 flat fee per cohort of 25 participants, regardless of their NSTA membership status. Additional participants (beyond 25) will be charged $60 per person.

If you are interested in sponsoring a group of at least 25 individuals, please contact Zoe Evans via email ([email protected]) for a quote.

Send your questions about the program to ([email protected]).

Final note: The rates below are for individual registration only and include all four web seminars in the series.