FMC celebrates teachers

PHILADELPHIA – For the first time, the Philadelphia Science Festival will celebrate teachers with free professional development workshops, resources and a teachers' lounge at its Science Carnival on the Parkway. FMC Corp. is sponsoring these activities through its $100,000 "Teaching the Science of Curiosity" grant.

On Saturday, April 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., teachers can see non-stop experiments, interactive activities and a packed line-up of live entertainment at the Science Carnival on the Parkway. All regional teachers are invited to visit the Science Carnival teachers' lounge for free classroom resources, to meet scientists, and register to win a school supplies gift card or a teacher trip to an FMC research lab.

Also beginning on April 20 and continuing through April 25, teachers can attend Act 48-accredited workshops with a wealth of resources and approaches for the classroom, from lesson plans and streaming documentaries to candy models that illustrate the sequencing of genomes. For more details and registration, visit www.philasciencefestival.org.

Teachers can also use the code "EDUCATE" when registering for additional Science Festival programs and receive a 10 percent discount on ticket prices and special educator seating.

Through its "Teaching the Science of Curiosity" grant, FMC is sponsoring free Summer Science Institute courses for Philadelphia School District teachers. An FMC scientist will visit these courses, which cover introduction to chemistry, astronomy, landforms, sound, and restless earth. Information for enrolling in the Summer Science Institute will also be available at the Carnival.

"By connecting teachers with real scientists and giving them training and resources, they will be better equipped to engage students and spark their interest in future job opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math," says Barbara Del Duke, FMC's senior manager of public affairs and community relations. "Students can turn today's curiosity into tomorrow's innovation."