Would you like Dr. Bennett to present a talk or workshop for teachers? He has done numerous programs for primary and secondary teachers (as well as college teachers), including local programs, talks and workshops for attendees at the National Science Teachers Association and the annual Space Educators Conference in Houston, and workshops for all the state winners of the National Teacher of the Year Program at Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. With his wide ranging expertise in astronomy, astrobiology, mathematics, and pedagogy, Dr. Bennett can cover a great variety of topics for teachers at all levels. Below are just a few of the many topics he has presented at various conferences and workshops for teachers; contact Dr. Bennett to discuss potential programs, and note that teacher workshops can be incorporated along with other events under his nationwide FREE visit program.
Pathway to a Post-Global Warming Future: Teaching Climate Change With Inspiration, Not (Only) Fear
Many to most of today’s students will live beyond the year 2100, yet future impacts of global warming are often portrayed only as a choice between bleak and bleaker. This is counterproductive for teaching, since it risks scaring our students and alienating their parents, particularly those who may not yet take the threats seriously. In this presentation, I will discuss how you can teach about global warming in a scientifically honest way while providing students with inspiration, not fear. Part of the key to this lies in focusing on the fact that, if we deal with this issue successfully over the next few decades, our students could someday live in a “post-global warming world” in which the threat of global warming will have become a thing of the past. We can thereby inspire students to focus on what they envision their own roles to be in creating a world that has the potential to be far better than our world of today. This session is appropriate for educators at all grade levels. Note: This presentation covers ideas found in Dr. Bennett’s books A Global Warming Primer – Pathway to a Post-Global Warming Future (for high school and up) and The Wizard Who Saved the World (for elementary/middle school).
The Scale of the Universe
How big is the universe, how old is it, and how do we know? Astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett will discuss the remarkable scale of the universe in both space and time, so that you’ll see what it REALLY means when we say that something is “astronomical” in size. More specifically, he’ll present a broad overview of our place in both space and time, and of the evidence that supports this scientific understanding. The presentation will include many concrete ideas that should help your teaching, including the use of scale models for both space and time, a simple way to understand and explain the expansion of the universe, an explanation of why there is a horizon to our observable universe, and much more. Note: This talk includes discussion of the Voyage scale model solar system that is now a permanent exhibit on the National Mall in Washington, DC; Dr. Bennett proposed the exhibit and served as co-PI during its development.
The Race Between Education and Catastrophe
In 1920, H.G. Wells wrote: “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” Perhaps no other quote better sums up why teaching is so important, and why so many of us focus our lives on promoting education. In this talk, Dr. Bennett will discuss a few strategies, with examples, that can help us “win” this race by improving our teaching success at almost any level, and especially for the teaching of math and science. [Click here for a recent video of this talk.]
A FREE, Online, Teacher-Centered Digital Textbook for Middle School Earth and Space Science
Are you satisfied with your textbook for middle school Earth and Space Science? I didn’t think so. Now, imagine an online “textbook” that:
- contains everything you need to teach your course, including activities, assessments, and extensive Teacher Notes to help you engage your students and understand subtleties of the science;
- meets all NGSS-ESS standards;
- is fully up-to-date with the latest science, presented in an engaging and scientifically accurate manner;
- is designed for a “teacher-driven” course that can be used either in person or online;
- and it is completely FREE, posted online for you and your students to use.
- (Also suitable for many high school courses.)
Now you can stop imagining, because this “textbook” is here and ready for you to use at grade8science.com. This session will introduce you to this exciting new curriculum and provide an opportunity for Q&A with the author.
Story Time From Space — Literacy and STEM from Earth Orbit
Story Time From Space is an exciting new program in which astronauts aboard the International Space Station read science-based stories and conduct science demos for the children of Earth. Learn about the program and how you can use it in your classroom. Presentation is by the author of the first six books launched into Earth orbit for this program.
On Teaching Science — Principles and Strategies That Every Educator Should Know
What does it take to be a successful science teacher? In this presentation, Dr. Bennett will focus on the idea that the key to success lies in finding ways to get students to put in the study and effort necessary for true learning. Following a brief introduction on teaching philosophy, he’ll provide concrete examples of principles and strategies that should help in your teaching, regardless of the particular science subject, grade level, or number of students you teach. Note: This presentation follows the organization of his critically acclaimed book On Teaching Science.
I, Humanity — Understanding Our Place in the Universe
What is our place in the universe, and how do we know? Astrophysicist/author Jeff Bennett will read and discuss his critically-acclaimed children’s book, I, Humanity, which uses a first-person viewpoint to tell the story of how we have progressed from ancient conceptions of a small, flat Earth to the modern understanding that we live on one planet, orbiting one star, in a vast and amazing universe. Discussion will include some of the many ways in which you can use these ideas to inspire learning in literacy, science, mathematics, and more. Relevant to all grade levels.
“Bad at Math” — What Every Teacher Should Know
Have you ever thought of yourself as “bad at math”? Hear the author of Math for Life — winner of the 2014 Colorado Book Award — explain how to convey positive attitudes to your students, and why you should never again say you are “bad at math.”
What is Relativity? An Intuitive Introduction to Einstein’s Ideas and Why They Matter
Have you ever been curious about Einstein’s theory of relativity? Almost everyone has heard of it, but few people know much about it or realize its critical importance to our modern understanding of the universe. With 2015 marking the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s publication of his general theory of relativity, it seems time to change that. In this presentation, based on his book What is Relativity? from Columbia University Press, Dr. Bennett will introduce you to the basic ideas of relativity and why they are important to everyone. He’ll also explain why he believes we should start teaching relativity as early as elementary school, and discuss ways in which you can introduce the topic to your students, no matter what level you teach.
Beyond UFOs: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and its Astonishing Implications for Our Future
Is there really life beyond Earth? This talk, based on Dr. Bennett’s award-winning book of the same title from Princeton University Press, will focus on why the question of extraterrestrial life has become a hot topic of scientific research and on how scientists seek to answer the question. Along the way, you’ll also learn why the possibility of life beyond Earth has profound implications to the future of our species, even in the unlikely event that we are alone in the universe. This presentation should be accessible to teachers at all levels, and should be of particular interest to middle and high school teachers.
Totality! Understanding and Viewing Solar Eclipses
If you were lucky enough to experience totality during the recent (2017 and 2024) USA total solar eclipse, you know how incredible these events can be. The USA does not have another eclipse crossing the mainland until 2045, but eclipses will be occurring every year or two elsewhere around the world — and, of course, an understanding of eclipses is a key part of the K-12 science curriculum. This session will help you understand the science behind eclipses for yourself, so that you will be better able to help your students learn about them. Presentation is by the creator of the free app “Totality by Big Kid Science” and author of the related book Totality: An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science.