Engaging Students with Plant Science: Seeds that Float, Fly, or Take a Ride (On-Site Teacher Professional Development Workshop)

Emily Hestness, USBG Senior Education Specialist, Lilly Andersen, USBG Family Programs Education Specialist, and Grace Anderson, USBG Science Education Specialist
Looking to engage elementary students with plant science? Join U.S. Botanic Garden educators to discover the amazing ways plants disperse their seeds. Engage in a hands-on engineering activity to build seed structures and test their ability to spread with the help of wind, water, and animals. Explore the indoor and outdoor gardens to see examples of seed dispersal mechanisms in action. Teachers will leave with a plan for engaging students in fun, standards-aligned, plant science learning experiences. Lunch will be provided. Certificates will be available for PDUs.

This program is offered in collaboration with the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, School Gardens Program. If you're interested in supporting educational programs through a donation to the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden, click here.

Emily Hestness

Senior Education Specialist

U.S. Botanic Garden

Emily Hestness is the Senior Education Specialist at the U.S. Botanic Garden, where she leads teacher professional development, program evaluation, and educational partnerships. Emily has a background in environmental education and science education, and holds...(read more)

Lilly Andersen

Family Education Specialist

U.S. Botanic Garden

Lilly Andersen is the U.S. Botanic Garden's Family Education Specialist. She works to build connections between people and plants through science education, focusing on the child/family audience.

Grace Anderson

Science Education Specialist

U.S. Botanic Garden

Grace Anderson is the USBG Science Education Specialist. She works to incorporate plant science learning into the Garden's programming for youth and adults.