McDonald Observatory offers a spectacular setting for teacher workshops in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.
Workshops include telescope tours, discussions with resident researchers, and nighttime observations. Educators experience inquiry-based activities aligned with science and mathematics teaching standards, practice astronomy skills under the Observatory’s dark skies, and work with nationally recognized astronomy educators. Participants receive Continuing Professional Education credits.
Applications due February 12, 2025. Those received after the deadline will be considered for a waitlist.
For teachers of grades 8-12
20 Continuing Education Units
Cost: $100
Our universe is filled with galaxies! Explore how they form and evolve and what distant galaxies were like in the past. Learn about brand new discoveries and observations and what they are telling us about the farthest reaches of the universe. We will perform hands-on, engaging classroom activities related to galaxies, dark matter, dark energy, and cosmology to learn how scientists are attempting to answer these questions. Participants will also tour McDonald Observatory and engage in night-time observations to learn how astronomers use research telescopes to explore the universe and make ground-breaking discoveries.
This workshop is supported in part by educational endowments to McDonald Observatory. Lodging, meals, and instructional materials are covered by the modest workshop fee. Teachers are responsible for their own transportation.
Astronomy Basics
Dates: June 30-July 3, 2025
Applications due February 12, 2025. Those received after the deadline will be considered for a waitlist.
For teachers of grades K-8
20 Continuing Education Units
Cost: $100
Join us as we explore our solar system through hands-on, minds-on activities that you can use in your classroom. Learn about the Sun and Moon, their characteristics and apparent motion, including eclipses, seasons, and tides. Explore properties and motions of planets. Make and use classroom models of the night sky, the solar system, moon phases, star charts, and more. At night, observe the sky with the unaided eye and view a variety of celestial objects through telescopes. Tour McDonald Observatory and learn how astronomers use the research telescopes to explore the universe and make ground-breaking discoveries.
This workshop is supported in part by educational endowments to McDonald Observatory. Lodging, meals, and instructional materials are covered by the modest workshop fee. Teachers are responsible for their own transportation.
Worlds Beyond our Solar System
Dates: July 17-20, 2025
Applications due February 12, 2025. Those received after the deadline will be considered for a waitlist.
For teachers of grades 5-12
20 Continuing Education Units
Cost: $100
Astronomers are finding and learning about new planets around other stars all the time. What do we know about these exoplanets and how do we know what we know? Explore what these new planetary systems are telling us about themselves, and about habitability and the possibility of life in the universe. Explore properties and motions of planets, both in our solar system and beyond. Build and use classroom models of the night sky, the solar system, moon phases, star charts and more. Participants will also engage in night-time telescope observations and tour McDonald Observatory to learn how astronomers use research telescopes to explore the universe and make ground-breaking discoveries.
This workshop is supported in part by educational endowments to McDonald Observatory. Lodging, meals, and instructional materials are covered by the modest workshop fee. Teachers are responsible for their own transportation.
About Onsite Workshops
Onsite workshops take place over four days at McDonald Observatory in West Texas, beginning in the evening of the first day, and ending at noon on the last day. Participants are provided with housing, either at the Astronomers’ Lodge on Mount Locke or in other local lodging facilities. Lodging will be in single occupancy rooms. The $100 workshop fee (where applicable) covers your portion of the cost of room, meals, and workshop materials. Payment is due upon acceptance in order to reserve a place in the workshop. Teachers are responsible for their own transportation to and from McDonald Observatory.
All programs include both day and night instructional sessions, materials, daytime tours, evening observing (weather permitting), lodging and meals. Please be aware that some of the telescope observing activities will last until late hours.
