Educators, join us for Pollinator Week and explore how scientific collections support conservation, biodiversity research, and the process of doing science. Designed for 6–8th grade educators, this hands-on workshop features pollinating insects, specimen mounting and preservation practices, and inquiry-driven strategies that highlight how collections preserve the evidence scientists use to study our changing world.

Participants will:

Explore how scientific collections preserve evidence used to study biodiversity, environmental change, and conservation over time.
Engage in authentic scientific practices through pollinator specimen observation, mounting, preservation, and inquiry-driven investigation.
Discover classroom-ready strategies that connect pollinators, community science, and NGSS-aligned “doing science” experiences for students.

Educators who complete the workshop will receive 4 hours of Illinois Professional Development Credit (CPDUs)

Collections Digitization Lab

Explore this topic through the content here and the halls of the Museum.