Programs for Elementary School Teachers
CSET Professional Learning for Teachers
The Center for Supporting Excellence in Teaching (CSET) offers short courses focused on the development of effective instructional practices for a variety of content areas and grade levels. Dates and topics vary but many courses are focused on STEM. See especially their Content Deepening Courses and Professional Learning Design Labs.
Design Thinking Workshops for Educators
The Stanford School of Design (d.School) K12 Lab Network offers various workshops for K-12 teachers and administrators, including Discover Design Thinking and Project Wayfinder Educator Training.
Geokids for Second Graders
Second graders from local public schools come to Stanford on a field trip to explore and experience fun and engaging activities and learn about the “work of a geologist” with hands-on educational activities focusing on minerals, rocks, fossils, and soil. There is no charge but the schedule fills up quickly.
Inspiring Future Scientists: K-12 Science Classroom Visits
This program arranges classroom visits by Chemistry graduate students to local high school and K-5 classrooms. Stanford undergraduate and graduate researchers give hour-long science lessons showcasing various scientific principles. The demonstrations will be hands-on, and the students will be actively engaged with questions posed throughout the lesson.
MRS Outreach Ambassadors
MRS Outreach Ambassadors are graduate students in the Stanford Chapter of the Materials Research Society who offer in-class demonstrations and lectures on the materials of our world, materials of the future, and careers in science and engineering. Teachers may request a school visit at no charge.
Stanford Optical Society
The Stanford Optical Society are graduate students that offer teacher training events, hands-on interactive booths for thousands of public visitors, and the development of demonstrations/optics curricula for K-12 students. Their strong base of volunteers are committed to teaching and getting students of all ages excited about light!
Please get in touch if you're interested in having the Stanford Optical Society demonstrate optics or otherwise planning events with them, email optical-society@stanford.edu
Stanford Science Penpals
Stanford Science Penpals connects 6th-12th graders across the U.S. to Stanford scientists. The goal is to expose kids to diverse scientific careers, answer science questions, and share a love of science! Penpal exchanges start in September and end in June. We encourage students to get in touch with us.