Educators

You play a critical role in ensuring your students’ EarthWorks experience is successful and memorable. As a facilitator of the program, you help contribute to the EarthWorks experience by adopting our experiential learning philosophy and hands-on classroom curriculum to and effectively teach and prepare students for their unique on-site experience.

Our program provides you with:

• A flexible classroom curriculum that strengthens student background knowledge while building new skills and using open-ended questions and problem solving techniques;
• High quality lessons using research-based instructional strategies, activities and assessments that enhance student performance in the areas of math, science, and communication arts;
• Content alignment with your state and national standards;
• An opportunity to involve parents in a meaningful academic experience with their children
• Annual curriculum upgrades and enhancements

We encourage you to enroll your class in EarthWorks as early as possible. Dates are assigned on a first come, first served basis, and they fill up very quickly. Also, be sure to look into a 10% Exchange City discount and special off-season rates.

**Please see the bottom of the page for inclement weather procedures.**

Enrollment Form - Your first step should be to complete and submit the Enrollment Form online. You will receive confirmation and your school's event date from EarthWorks.

Once your event date is secured, complete and submit the following training and material pick-up date confirmations for teachers:

Teacher Training Confirmation Form or see here for Material Pick-Up dates and instructions

• What is the difference between a training and Material Pick-Up?
  All new EarthWorks teachers need to attend a three hour Teacher Training session that includes an introduction to the EarthWorks classroom curriculum, preparation details for your school’s visit, tour of the site, and introduction of experiential learning methods. Teachers new to the EarthWorks curriculum are required to attend Teacher Training. Teachers who have taught the program previously are not required to attend additional training. However, all teachers are welcome to attend training as an update opportunity. Student materials will be distributed during training. We are now offering Material Pick-Up Dates. These will be held the first Thursday of each month beginning September. Click on the above link for more information regarding reservations, dates, and times of these sessions.
  
  
• Who needs to attend? All teachers new to the program are required to attend a Teacher Training session in order to explore the site, review elements of the curriculum and become familiar with experiential learning. However, all teachers are welcome to attend training as an update opportunity.
  
  
• Does it matter when I go? Teachers must attend their Training or pick up their materials at least four to six weeks prior to their school's event date.
  
  
• How do I get the password to download the curriculum? Teachers are given their passwords during Teacher Trainings and Material Pick-Up dates. The passwords are provided with the student materials.
  
  
• When can I pick up my student materials? Student materials are available for pick up during Teacher Training and Material Pick-Up dates.
  

Program Volunteer Sign Up Form

• What is it? Without the support of volunteers, EarthWorks would not be able to provide this great experience to children. Volunteers play an important role in ensuring their child’s EarthWorks experience is all that it can be: educational, fun and memorable. Please use this form to submit your volunteer information.
  
  
• Who needs to attend? Teachers should select volunteers that can attend a 2-hour Volunteer Orientation session and can commit to the five hour EarthWorks visit. It is the teacher’s responsibility to inform volunteers of their responsibilities and training session dates.
  
  
• How many volunteers are needed? It is recommended that two volunteers assist in each habitat. Please place volunteers in different habitats than their child. Please note that if sharing the day with another school, ten volunteers should be divided amongst the schools.
  
  
• When do I need to complete this? The Volunteer Orientation Reservation Form must be submitted online at least one week prior to the training date. Please include all volunteers on one form.
  
  
• What if we are sharing the day with another school? Consult with the other school(s) to determine how the 10 volunteer jobs are divided between the schools.
  
  
• Can I sign up online? Yes, you can complete this form online.
  
  

Parent Permission/Photo Release Form

• Can the parents complete this form online? No, parents cannot complete this form online. You, the teacher, can print this form from the PDF file and make copies for the parents. EarthWorks will need an original copy of this form with the parent's signature. EarthWorks permission forms MUST be sent before day of site visit or accompany students on day of site visit.

Student Assignment List

• What is it? This is an online student job list form. It will include the name of every student participating in the actual event day.
• How do I fill out the form? Evenly distribute students amongst the scientific jobs. If sharing the day with another school, communicate with sharing school before distribution.
• What if we are sharing the day with another school? Consult with the other school(s) to determine how the scientist job openings will be divided between schools.
• When does this need to be submitted to EarthWorks? Submit this list at least one week before your EarthWorks visit.
• Can I sign up online? Yes, you can complete this form online.

Final Checklist

Before you board the school bus, double-check for the following:

1. Does each student have his/her packed ecological sack lunch?
2. Are all of the Parent Permission/Photo Release Forms signed, completed and on-hand?
3. Are you bringing payment or has it already been sent?
4. 4. Have you confirmed with the bus company your departure time from EarthWorks?

Earthworks Schools:  If in the event there is inclement weather, Earthworks typically follows the lead of the Liberty and North Kansas City School Districts.  If those two districts are closed, then Earthworks is closed.  We make the final decision by 7 am. At that time, the Program Lead or Director will contact your school and leave a message, e-mail the lead teacher, and/or make any other phone calls possible.  We will make every effort to reschedule your visit as quickly as possible.