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Dear Subscriber,
The Teach About US Team is happy to announce that we have secured funding for a continuation of this project through summer 2018 and we are busy planning upcoming events and projects for the upcoming school year. In this newsletter, we would like to provide you with a glimpse at what we are working on, give a big shout out to our Going Green participants, invite you to this year’s U.S. Embassy Teacher Academy, and share an invitation to the 'Green Academy' by our friends at the German-American Institute Freiburg.
Yours,
Joannis Kaliampos
on behalf of the Teach About US Team and Partners
 Joannis Kaliampos
Leuphana Universität | Scharnhorststr. 1 | 21335 Lüneburg
Fon +49 (0)4131.677-1662 | E-Mail | Web
This newsletter’s topics at a glance:
Going Green: We are counting on you!
A small but highly engaged group of participants is currently working on Going Green. Over 20 courses in Germany and the U.S. are investigating sustainability measures in their schools and communities as part of the project.
Would you like to participate, too? It is not too late – you can still register online! For more information see here.
To all those who are already on board: We highly encourage you to develop and submit your sustainability action plan or an extended version of your students’ eco-challenges. We are interested in your projects! This semester’s deadline is June 2, 2017. Contact us directly if you need assistance with this (Joannis.Kaliampos@leuphana.de).
Instead of concluding student conferences, we will invite competition winners to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin if they are in the vicinity – or a Teach About US representative will visit you at your school.
What we are working on: Going Green meets STEM - Connecting the American studies and science classrooms
We are currently in the process of updating and expanding the Going Green teaching modules. We are also developing new teaching materials for a Going Green ‘project week’ that will address the issue of renewable energies and thus incorporate a stronger focus on STEM school subjects.
Past student projects in Going Green have vividly shown that 21st century challenges exceed national borders. But more importantly, they also transcend the limits of individual school subjects and encourage interdisciplinary cooperation. We are collaborating with sustainability educators at Leuphana University and external partners to develop a project week asking students to investigate the energy infrastructure in their communities, understand the science behind renewable energies, and develop a concept for their communities’ future energy supply.
Our intention is that English teachers partner up with their science colleagues in a transdisciplinary project approach. We plan to introduce this approach and discuss it with you at the upcoming U.S. Embassy Teacher Academy this September (see below).
Register now for the U.S. Embassy Teacher Academy 2017
This year’s Teacher Academy will take place on September 21-24 in Nürnberg and address the topic “A Divided Country? Rural America Today”. The U.S. Embassy is organizing the event together with our colleagues at the German American Institute Nürnberg and invites teachers in Sekundarstufe II from all Bundesländer as well as multipliers from the fields of social sciences and, particularly, young teachers and ReferendarInnen to participate.
(Click here for more details, the invitation and registration form.)
The conference will begin on Thursday, September 21, at 4 p.m. (registration starts at 3 p.m.) and end after breakfast on Sunday, September 24.
Conference hotel: Park Plaza Nürnberg, Bahnhofstr. 5, 90402 Nürnberg.
Speakers include U.S. experts on the topic of A Divided Country? Rural America Today:
In addition, Prof. Dr. Torben Schmidt and the Teach About US Team will organize a joint session with colleagues from Schubart Gymnasium Aalen (Ms. Bettina Schönherr and her colleagues) to give an update on the Going Green project and discuss best practices from our participant schools. A preview on the upcoming STEM-focused project week on renewable energies will be introduced together with sustainability sciences colleagues from Leuphana University (more details tba).
The costs for the presenters and accommodations/meals at the conference facility are covered by the U.S. Embassy. Participants are asked to cover their own travel expenses and contribute a conference fee of EUR 140 (day guests EUR 70 – limited spaces).
Please register soon – the final registration deadline is June 30. Address:
via email: sekretariat@dai-nuernberg.de
subject: “Teacher Academy 2017”
via fax: (0911) 230 69 – 23
via mail: Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Nürnberg
Stichwort: "Teacher Academy 2017"
Gleißbühlstraße 9, 90402 Nürnberg
Please use the registration form here.
In past years, registrations have exceeded available spots; please do not make any travel preparations until you have received a participation confirmation via email.
Green Academy - a project organized by the Carl-Schurz-Haus in Freiburg
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to an exciting event organized by our friends at the Carl-Schurz-Haus (German-American Institute) in Freiburg - the annual Green Academy.
For more information and registration, visit the Carl-Schurz-Haus Website.
Contact: Uta-Beate Schroeder, M.A., Carl-Schurz-Haus Freiburg / Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut e.V., Tel.: 0761. 55 65 27 14, schroeder@carl-schurz-haus.de
Love nature and the environment? Want to learn English? Focused on Sustainability?
Then the “Green Academy – Learn and Live Green” at the Carl-Schurz-Haus in Freiburg is just for you!
This is your opportunity to learn English in a relaxing atmosphere in the heart of the Black Forest, close to France and Switzerland. A chance to enjoy nature and the environment, and to learn a lot about sustainability. Participants are taught in different groups, all of which are led by experienced teachers who are all native speakers. Environmental protection and sustainability are not the only focus here at the Carl-Schurz-Haus. We also look at the individual needs of the participants. Immersion is of paramount importance, especially among the younger participants. Observing and participating with all the senses deepens the lasting impact of learning a new language. Learning with all of your senses helps the language to become alive. For ages 12 to 18.
Possible Activities:
- Visit the Solar Factory
- Visit to the Ökostation (a charming environmental education center)
- Nature trail (to be explored with all your senses)
- Heliotrope (the first revolving solar house!)
- Rappenecker hut (Europe’s first solar-powered restaurant
... and many more exciting activities in and around Freiburg!
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