The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to supporting the educators that are teaching the tree stewards of the future. In addition to providing the materials and resources, the Arboretum hosts teacher workshops that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards, and when applicable Common Core State Standards. Additionally, these workshops provide CPDH credit for participating individuals.
Teachers and educators, expand your knowledge and skills with workshops and resources that foster a connection to nature and the environment for your students.
In addition to workshops and courses within our professional development framework of offerings, we also partner with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to offer ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) workshops throughout the year. For more information on these offerings, and to learn more about other ENTICE programs in your area, visit this webpage.
ENTICE: Illinois Frogs and Toads
April 11, 2026 9:00am - 3:00pm
Do toads pee when you pick them up? Can frogs turn into a prince when kissed? Hop on over to The Morton Arboretum to learn the answers to all your burning questions about Illinois' frogs and toads. Learn about these amazing creatures that hop and leap in your backyard. Discover the anuran life history, their relationships to other organisms, and adaptations for survival. This workshop is for grades PreK-4th grade but can be adapted for other grades. Supplemental classroom resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.
Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
-
NGSS Alignment:
- K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive.
- K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals and the places they live.
- 1-LS1-1: Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
- 1-LS1-2: Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.
- 4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
Illinois Early Learning & Development Standards:
- 11.A.ECa: Express wonder and curiosity about the world by asking questions, solving problems, and designing things.
- 12.A.ECa: Observe, investigate, describe, and categorize living things.
- 12.B.ECa: Describe and compare basic needs of living things.
- 12.B.ECb: Show respect for living things.
-
Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program. Learn more and register at https://www.enticeworkshops.com/
Teacher Tuesdays
Tuesdays, June 2 through September 29, 2026
Teacher Tuesdays provide free admission to current educators to explore the Arboretum to learn about its many educational resources. Classroom teachers, homeschool teachers, and pre-service student teachers from preschool through college qualify for the program.
Free Teacher Tuesday passes must be obtained in advance by filling out the interest form the week prior to the desired Teacher Tuesday. The interest form opens each Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, unless capacity has been reached. Pass availability is on a first-come, first-served basis and capacity may vary each week. Teacher passes are not available at the gatehouse.
Complete the interest form to register for the next Teacher Tuesday.
-
Free with advance registration. Registration opens June 1, 2026.
Educator Open House
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Attend an open house for educators at The Morton Arboretum to discover and explore a variety of STEM resources for teachers and students. On Tuesday, August 18, the Educator Open House will host a number of local STEM resources, museums, and organizations that can support your students’ learning this school year. Connect with other K–12 STEM professionals in DuPage, Cook, Kane, and Will counties and uncover resources to bring science education to life in your classroom.
Attendees may arrive any time between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to review resources while connecting with local experts.
Register to attend the Educator Open House. Registration opens Monday June 1, 2026.
ENTICE: Adaptive Aves
September 12, 2026 9:00am - 3:00pm
Flap your wings down to The Morton Arboretum and explore animal structures and adaptations using a variety of activities with the theme of birds. Participants will explore several examples of different birds' feathers, participate in an interactive lab that examines beak adaptations, a hands-on exploration of bird's feet, and so much more! Participants will walk away with indoor and outdoor activities related to bird adaptations. Although targeted to teachers of grades fifth through eighth grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. Supplemental classroom resources and materials will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.
Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
-
NGSS Alignment:
- 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
- 5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, and motion and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
- MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
- MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
-
Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program. Learn more and register at https://www.enticeworkshops.com/