The Teacher Learning Center at BRIT inspires and supports educators in connecting children to nature through the use of outdoor classrooms, nature, and urban environments for learning.
Professional development programs model a student-centered, inquiry-based, collaborative approach to learning. Workshops are interdisciplinary and lead teachers through hands-on activities, incorporate methods for teaching in the field, and promote collegial sharing. Educators participating in our programs receive continuing education credit for the state of Texas.
Curriculum Guides have been developed for a variety of curricula to engage students in hands-on inquiry learning with activities that are easily adaptable to grade levels K-6. All curriculum materials are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and include literature connections and resource lists.
Resources for Loan include classroom kits, field study trunks, and tools for field work available for loan. Each kit and trunk contains tools, specimens, literature connections and activity ideas to help you teach Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
The Oliver G. Burk Children's Library Collection contains a unique collection of natural history literature, with approximately 3,000 titles on botany, specialized ecosystems, animals and other topics related to the environment and science. Educators can check out books, videos, and curriculum materials for use with their students.
Teachers who attend BRIT Professional Development programs and use the ideas or curriculum in their classroom are invited to share their experiences with us through the Science Teacher Award. First introduced in 2001, by former trustee Wendy Owsley Garrett, this award honors exemplary teachers for their dedication and hard work and, at the same time, solicits constructive analysis on the effectiveness of BRIT's education programs.
* All of BRIT's programs are aligned with state and national science standards. BRIT is a registered professional development provider for the Texas State Board of Educator Certification.
* BRIT's field trips for students have been temporarily discontinued. In the meantime, we invite you and your students to explore the world of Distance Learning with us!
