ENTICE Classes - Your first workshop is on us!

Flap your wings to the Morton Arboretum and explore animal structures and adaptations using a variety of activities with the theme of birds. Participants will explore several examples of different birds' feathers, participate in an interactive lab that examines beak adaptations, a hands-on exploration of bird's feet, and so much more! Participants will walk away with indoor and outdoor activities relatable to bird adaptations. Although targeted to teachers of grades fifth through eighth grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

One fish and two fishes! Explore fish biology, habitats, and adaptations as we delve into the wet world they live in. Discover the watery world of Illinois fishes by catching your own fish to study. Come dressed for the weather and bring a hat. We will explore the fishes of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River and look at the impact invasive species are having on them. This workshop is for educators in K-12. Supplemental classroom resources and materials will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

They buzz, flutter, and crawl and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems. Educators of grades kindergarten through eight are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the importance of pollinators, the identification of Illinois pollinators, and the challenges they face today. Educators will take a walk through the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's demonstration prairie to think about the ways that native ecosystems support these valuable pollinators. Correlations between the information presented and Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards and Next Generation Science Standards will be addressed. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate.

What are fungi and how do they live? Explore the complex lives of fungi of Illinois. Found all over Illinois, they are diverse and fascinating. Explore the different types of fungi in Illinois, the life cycle, importance in the environment, and a few of the animals that live among them. If weather permits, we will take a fungus walk to see what we can find!

What is weather and climate, and how does it relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected? Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate some citizen science in your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. Targeted for grades PreK-12.

Explore the biological tapestry of the Lake Michigan dune ecosystem and understand what biological session is about. How does something take root on the sand and become stable? How do animals survive in this area? How does change happen over time? Learn more about biological session what is happening on the beach at Lake Michigan. This area is the only dune and swale topography in Illinois.

Birds are all around us and provide a gateway to learning about the natural world. This workshop for educators of 5th-12th grade provides an introduction to bird biology, identification, and conservation. Dress for spending time in the forest and prairie at Tawny Oaks Field Station. 

Fall is a great season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in fall. We?ll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We'll be incorporating several topics. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through three, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

Explore early French Fur Trapping History of Illinois. This interdisciplinary teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight focuses on early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography of early Illinois and compares trapping from the past to the present. Both Illinois science and social studies standards are covered. The activities and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history and science instruction and includes the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. Also highlighted is the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate.

The world is full of objects built by animals to help them survive. Attend this workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through five and learn about beaver dams, spider webs, bird nests and so many other amazing objects constructed by animals in our local environment. Challenge the engineering skills of your students to create similar structures by using the resources provided and activities presented at the workshop. All educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

Discover how to bring the fascinating world of Illinois mammals into your early childhood classroom! This hands-on workshop, designed specifically for early childhood educators, will explore ways to connect young learners with local wildlife through observation, play, and exploration. Participants will learn about common mammals found in Illinois, their tracks and signs, and seasonal behaviors. We'll spend time outdoors investigating habitats and modeling activities you can easily replicate with your students.

They dive, screech, and soar! Take a deep dive into the world of raptors as we learn about the hawks, owls, vultures, falcons, and eagles of Illinois. Explore the life history, biology, and habits of these magnificent birds. Learn tricks and tips for identifying different birds of prey. Staff from the Illinois Raptor Center will have live raptors to observe, too. You'll participate in educational activities related to raptors and will receive many resources to incorporate the topic into your curriculum. This workshop is for grades pre-K to 8th, but can be adapted to other grades. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

Temperatures below freezing and snow on the ground might mean warm hot chocolate by the fire for us, but what about the animals that call Illinois home? Have you thought about where the animals go in winter and how they survive the cold? Explore the amazing ways that animals survive in winter, what adaptations they have, and where they are hiding. Discover which animals stay and which ones go! This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

You may know that the white-tailed deer is the state mammal, but did you know it is Illinois' largest herbivore?  But what does it eat, and how does it survive the winter? Discover the answers to these questions and many more as we spend a year with a deer. Explore the life history and biology of this ungulate, hoofed mammal in Illinois. Join us as we discuss deer hunting and population management, and challenges faced by deer, including various diseases. This workshop is for grades 6-12, but can be adapted to other grades. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

Have you ever wondered about keeping a collection and how to use one in your teaching? For more than 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has been assembling and maintaining a variety of natural history specimens and collections. Teachers of grades PreK-8 can learn about the collections of the Museum and how they can be used to learn more about the past and present of local ecosystems. We will discuss how the museum builds and maintains our collections, and provide guidelines for collecting natural materials and using living and preserved specimens in the classroom. 

Discover the beauty and importance of prairie ecosystems in this engaging, hands-on workshop designed for K–5 educators. Participants will explore the plants, animals, and natural processes that make prairies one of our most valuable native habitats. Educators will learn about pollinators, biodiversity, fire, roots, and seasonal changes while investigating ways to connect these topics to learning standards. The workshop will include a guided hike to observe prairie habitat features firsthand, along with interactive activities and inquiry-based lessons that can be adapted for K-5th grade students. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Dive into the watery world of these beautiful, blue-billed diving ducks. Take part in scientific research while helping to band lesser scaup and other diving ducks during the spring migration at the Forbes Biological Station on the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the many long-term datasets involved in the management of ducks, from estimating populations, harvest, and hunter numbers, to utilizing banding data.  See how these datasets can be adapted for use in the classroom. Explore the life history of lesser scaup, challenges they face, and what research is being done on this species. This workshop is for grades 6-12 but can be adapted for other grades. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

What is weather and climate, and how does it relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected?  Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate citizen science into your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Bay lynx, wildcat, bobcat oh my!  And found in Illinois, too! How do scientists study this elusive native feline and its growing population? Once listed as a threatened species, their numbers have rebounded and increased, allowing them to be delisted and recovered. Learn about bobcat ecology and behavior, and what lead to the bobcat flourishing.  Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying bobcats in Illinois, including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of students in grades 6th-12th, but can be adapted for other grades. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Longer days and warmer weather mean trees are waking up after their winter dormancy. Trees like the flowering dogwood, serviceberry, and redbud are starting to bloom. Others, like the white oak and sycamore, are starting to leaf out. Explore tree life cycles and the role they play in the southern Illinois forest ecosystem. Learn about springtime tree identification and how dendrology can be used in your classroom. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

This engaging workshop uses the legend of Bigfoot and other cryptids as a gateway to teaching real scientific concepts. Educators will explore how folklore, eyewitness claims, and media stories can spark student curiosity while reinforcing critical thinking, evidence evaluation, ecology, and wildlife biology. Participants will learn strategies for guiding discussions on scientific methods, habitat suitability, and species identification - turning

From the birds flying overhead to the insects flitting about the weeds growing in the cracks of a sidewalk, nature persists all around us, even in highly developed urban areas. You can learn about plants, animals, and fungi right in your own backyard or even in a parking lot. Kindergarten through 12th grade educators will learn how to examine nature and natural phenomena right outside their front door, learn how to contribute to community science and participate in projects like the City Nature Challenge, to better understand the life cycles and adaptations of the lifeforms around us, and to look for patterns in nature.  Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

When does spring start? When do the flowers bloom? How does nature know when to start a different time of year? It's all about phenology, or nature's timing. Learn about this concept and how you can bring it to your students in your classroom. Phenology is also a great way for students to explore the changes happening in nature due to climate change.  Explore different ways to collect data with students of all ages, connect it to common core math you are already doing in your classroom, and help students understand nature in new ways. Discover the art of nature journaling to document nature and the connections to language arts and writing. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Mosquitoes and ticks are often looked at as the scourge of summer. These fascinating creatures fill an important niche. Explore how they live, the various types and diseases they carry, and where they are found. Participants will see how scientists sample and study them with hands-on fieldwork.  Other hands-on activities will be conducted, and you'll receive supplemental educational resources. Educators of all grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop, but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Shorebirds in Illinois? Yes! On the shores of Lake Michigan, many different species of shore birds can be found, from plovers to sandpipers and yellowlegs. Join us as we investigate the world of Lake Michigan shorebirds, learning what makes them different from other birds, their life history, and how to identify different species.  Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

There are around 500 species of native bees in Illinois ranging from small, metallic sweat bees to large, fluffy bumble bees. Kindergarten through 8th grade educators will investigate native bee identification and life histories, their interactions with native plants, and the challenges they face. Educators will take a walk to observe native bees and learn about initiatives at the Chicago Botanic Garden in native bee and pollinator conservation, including Rethinking Lawns and Pollinators Living in Urban Gardens, and how to create pollinator friendly spaces in your Neighborhood. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

Take a closer look at birds and bring the biodiversity of Illinois birds into your classroom.  See how birds use their physical characteristics to adapt to the environment and how each species has a unique niche in the ecosystem. Get hands-on field experience banding birds with the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders (LLABB). Discover why scientists track and band birds as we join LLABB for a walk on the prairie, identifying birds in their natural habitat. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

When all the lights go out, and you have gone to bed, who comes out at Night? How many mosquitoes do bats eat in a night? Do flying squirrels really fly? What is a trash panda? Discover the answers to these and many more questions about some of the amazing nocturnal creatures that call Illinois home. Explore the importance of dark skies for plants as well as animals. Pack a red light flashlight and join us as we head out into the night for a hike or two. You never know what we might find as we explore what goes bump in the night. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Please note that the time of this workshop is 4:00-10:00 p.m. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

When all the lights go out, and you have gone to bed, who comes out at Night? How many mosquitoes do bats eat in a night? Do flying squirrels really fly? What is a trash panda? Discover the answers to these and many more questions about some of the amazing nocturnal creatures that call Illinois home. Explore the importance of dark skies for plants as well as animals. Pack a red light flashlight and join us as we head out into the night for a hike or two. You never know what we might find as we explore what goes bump in the night. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Please note that the time of this workshop is 4:00-10:00 p.m. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Nature Boardwalk will serve as a living laboratory for an exploration of native Illinois plants and their pollinators. This lush garden space is modeled after prairie, wetland, and oak savanna ecosystems, and it welcomes a variety of wildlife in the heart of Chicago. Educators will learn about the interactions of plants and animals in this space and hear from experts who manage the Nature Boardwalk flora to keep this space thriving.  Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

What is all the buzz about? Native bees are where it's at, and there are lots of them in Illinois. Almost 500, to be exact. From small, metallic sweat bees to large, fluffy bumble bees, learn all about the amazing bees that call Illinois home.  Explore bee taxonomy, bees versus other pollinators, mimics, native versus nonnative bees, behavior, and reproduction. Discuss the challenges they face and discover ways to help native bees with human-enhanced nesting structures, pollinator gardens, and more.  Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. 

What are weather and climate, and how do they relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected?  Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate citizen science into your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

When all the lights go out, and you have gone to bed, who comes out at Night? How many mosquitoes do bats eat in a night? Do flying squirrels really fly? What is a trash panda? Discover the answers to these and many more questions about some of the amazing nocturnal creatures that call Illinois home. Explore the importance of dark skies for plants as well as animals. Pack a red light flashlight and join us as we head out into the night for a hike or two. You never know what we might find as we explore what goes bump in the night. This workshop is for grades PreK-12. Please note that the time of this workshop is 4:00-10:00 p.m. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

Chirp, hiss, buzz, whirr are the sounds of the noisy nighttime insect symphony from cicadas, crickets, katydids, and more. But what about the silent moths and flickering fireflies? Join us as we dive into the mysterious world of nocturnal insects. Learn about the biodiversity of insects found at night, why their populations are declining, and how that affects other animal populations. We will use nets to sweep for specimens as well as set up UV lights to draw in and observe insects.  This workshop is for all grades. Supplemental classroom materials provided.  Professional Development Hours are available. 

Buzz on to The Morton Arboretum to learn about pollinators on the prairie, how plants and animals have adapted to survive in this harsh ecosystem, collect data in the field and analyze it to determine how humans impact the ecosystem’s balance, and see how bees see when learning about energy and how it is transferred within the prairie. Although targeted to teachers of grades fourth through eighth, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You’ll take away several resources to use in your classroom!  Professional Development Hours are available.

Bison are a keystone species of tallgrass prairie ecosystems, with intimate ties to Indigenous cultures. After more than 200 years' absence, bison have returned to Kane County prairie. As part of a three-way partnership between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the American Indian Center of Chicago, and Ruhter Bison, a bison herd now thrives at Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve. Explore the incredible diversity of a tallgrass prairie ecosystem at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, then travel to Burlington Prairie to experience bison ecology firsthand. Learn about the crucial role that bison play in a healthy grassland.

What do a northern cottonmouth, rough green snake, ring-necked snake, and an eastern copperhead all have in common? All are snakes you might see as you trek down Snake Road. Join the Department of Natural Resources, State Herpetologist Scott Ballard, as he leads a group of adventurers into the LaRue-Pine Hill Natural Area for the fall snake migration from LaRue Swamp to the limestone cliffs. Explore the life history and migration of common southern Illinois snakes. Get up close to snakes as they move from their summer to winter grounds. How many species can you find? This workshop will include walking the entire Snake Road. The road is 2.5 miles one way and/or 5 miles round trip of moderate walking. Supplemental classroom materials provided.