Program for Inquiry and Science Instruction

The Program for Inquiry and Science Instruction (PISI) is a FREE professional development program for educators who teach, or have been asked to teach, science. PISI offers teachers learning opportunities to grow in their abilities and confidence in leading and creating hands-on activities in their classrooms.

PISI participants will receive:

Four (4) full-day learning sessions at Discovery World.
Increased understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Wisconsin Standards for Science (WSS).
Improvement in skills and abilities to teach and implement hands-on and inquiry-based activities on the topic of Energy.
Increased confidence in teaching science content.
Reimbursement for the cost of a substitute teacher for each day of the program.
Lesson plans and activities to implement back in the classroom.
Supplies and equipment to implement activities back in the classroom.

This year’s theme…Energy Everywhere!

Energy surrounds us, it moves us, it lets us experience our world. Explore how energy’s transfer and transformation helps us explain what we hear, what we see, and how we communicate.

Applications are due by January 3, 2024.

FAQs

What are the program dates?

January 17th, 2024
February 28th, 2024
April 10th, 2024
May 8th, 2024

What are the requirements for participants?

Applicants must teach at a school located in Milwaukee, Racine, or Waukesha County.
Applicants must teach 3rd-8th grade .
Each applicant must apply with another teacher from the same school (does not need to be from the same grade level) .
Applicants must commit to attending four (4) full-day sessions at Discovery World.
Applicants will be asked to participate in reading, discussion boards, and other reflective assignments between session dates.

How many spots are available?

Space is limited. Ten (10) teacher pairs will be accepted into the 2023-2024 program. Applicants will be selected by Discovery World’s selection committee.

When are applications due?

Applications are due by January 3, 2024.

How do I apply?

The application for PISI can be found below by clicking the button link below. Before proceeding, please note the following:

Each applicant must apply with a partner teacher from their school. Partner teachers must submit separate, individual applications. Each teacher will be asked to provide the name of their partner on the application.
Each applicant must complete the application individually.
Allow sufficient time to complete all application questions. The application does not allow you to save answers and revisit later. Applications must be completed at one time.
Applications must include your school and principal’s contact information and your school’s most recently published Economically Disadvantaged rating from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
- To find your school’s Economically Disadvantaged rating, please visit https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/reportcards/, select your district, then select your school. The rating number will be a decimal.
- If your school is a private/parochial school that does not report Economically Disadvantaged status to the Department of Public Instruction, please contact your administrator/board for this information.
Applicants must submit an Administrator Acknowledgement Form (see below) to demonstrate support from school administration. This form will need to be uploaded and submitted before the registration deadline.

PISI Teacher Application

Administrator Acknowledgement Form

The Program for Inquiry and Science Instruction is made possible with supporting contributions from:

MilliporeSigma
PPG
Luedke-Smith Fund
Frank L. Weyenberg Charitable Trust
GE Healthcare Foundation
Pitney Bowes

Thank you for making this program possible!

Program for Inquiry and Science Instruction

FAQs

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