Filtering by Tag: lifelong learning

10 Fun, Free, and Easy Ways to Up Your Earth Science Game This Summer

July 06, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

While mere mortals might fritter away their precious summer weeks on frivolous pursuits like relaxing or not thinking about work, we, the esteemed purveyors of Earth and Space Science, know better. This isn't a break; it's a strategic window of opportunity to enhance our craft, all while remaining fiscally responsible. Because nothing says "summer" like a spreadsheet tracking your PD hours versus your cold drinks budget.

Here are ten absolutely riveting, budget-friendly activities designed to transform your summer into a pedagogical boot camp, with bonus tips on how to drag your unsuspecting loved ones along for the fun.

1. Embark on Online Geology Tours

Why spend money on gas and actual physical exertion when you can traverse the globe from the comfort of your own sweatpants? Online geology tours offer a truly immersive experience, minus the pesky sunburns and questionable trail mixes. You can ascend Mount Everest or descend into the Marianas Trench virtually, while meticulously mapping plate boundaries for that next year continental drift lesson. Make your significant other to look at your screen periodically and exclaim: "Wow, honey, check out this big ass rock!"

2. Curate Your Own Rock Collection

Forget those overpriced museum gift shops! The true joy of geology lies in painstakingly assembling your own rock collection from the thrilling locales of your local or regional park. Each dull grey pebble becomes a marvel, a testament to your eye for the unique. Involve your children by promising them treasure hunting, then subtly guiding them towards geologically significant specimens (i.e., anything vaguely crystalline) while they're trying to navigate puddles and mud. They’ll barely notice they're doing your fieldwork for you.

3. Apply for Teacher Science Projects

Why settle for merely free professional development when you can earn a paltry stipend while sacrificing your precious summer to actual, grueling research experiences? Imagine, spending weeks elbow-deep in sediment samples or enduring endless PowerPoints on advanced geochemical analysis, all while your peers are actually vacationing. This is your chance to really level up, even if it means forgetting what sunshine feels like. Your family will absolutely revel in your newfound exhaustion and the overly detailed dinner table lectures on the importance of watersheds.

4. Binge Free Online Earth Science Courses

Who needs summer blockbusters when you have an endless supply of free online courses on plate tectonics, atmospheric dynamics, or the intricate dance of the tides? These intellectual feasts will not only expand your mind but also fill those awkward silences at family barbecues with unsolicited facts about glacial erosion. Make your teenagers participate by calling it a screen time challenge. They'll thank you later. Or they’ll run away. Either way, it’ll be eventful.

5. Immerse Yourself in Gripping Earth Science Podcasts

Long car rides, mundane chores, existential crises – all perfect opportunities to pump your brain full of fascinating facts about seismology. Earth science podcasts are the ultimate multi-tasking tool, allowing you to relax while subtly absorbing complex scientific concepts. Pop in your earbuds during family beach trips; your loved ones will appreciate the quiet reflection as you silently judge the sedimentary layers of their sandcastle.

6. Master the Art of the Infographic

Move over, summer novels! The true literary pursuit of the discerning Earth Science teacher is crafting visually stunning, information-dense infographics. Imagine the sheer pedagogical power of distilling an entire unit on climate change into one glorious digital poster. This activity is perfect for those rainy summer days when your family is complaining about boredom; simply hand them a stack of statistics and tell them to make it pop.

7. Join Exclusive Social Media Groups

Summer is the ideal time to delve into the vibrant world of professional online communities. Instagram accounts dedicated to stunning geological formations, X (formerly Twitter) threads debating the precise density of Earth's core – it's all there, waiting for your insightful comments. Your loved ones will be utterly charmed as you spend your family evenings scrolling intently and voicing your approval for this or that channels use of satellite imagery.

8. Embark on Mind and Spirit-Nourishing Local Nature Hikes

Lace up those hiking boots and hit the trails! But don't just “enjoy nature” like some amateur. Every rock outcrop is a teaching moment. Every stream is a lesson in erosion. Point out striations, discuss fluvial processes, and marvel aloud at the wonders of deposition. Your family, craving fresh air, will reluctantly join, eventually developing an encyclopedic knowledge of local fault lines and glacial till.

9. Get Messy with Simple Household Experiments

Who needs a fancy lab when your kitchen is a veritable playground of chemical reactions and physical phenomena? From crystal growing with sugar to observing convection currents in boiling water, the possibilities are endless (and sometimes sticky). Your family will revel in the joy of sharing their living space with bubbling concoctions and the faint aroma of distilled vinegar. It’s a wonderful way to remind them that science truly is everywhere, even in their snacks.

10. Indulge in Highly Addictive Educational Online Games

End your long, hard day of summer PD with the ultimate reward: educational online games like Kahoot, Quizlet, or Gimkit. Spend hours identifying minerals, mastering plate tectonics, or answering red shift questions. Your family will understand you deserve some edutainment. Plus, it's a fantastic way to justify your screen time to yourself: “I'm not playing; I'm preparing!”

So there you have it: ten fun and relaxing ways to ensure you return to the classroom not just refreshed, but brimming with new knowledge and sharpened skills. Your students will be so impressed, they'll never suspect you haven't actually relaxed a single moment. Happy summer, my teacher brethren!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe my backyard rain stream sediment trap requires urgent attention.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! Our summer breaks are well earned, so I thought it appropriate to add some sarcasm to a post on summer PD. Below, you will find a little more serious summary of these thoughts in an infographic form. They are things that can really help, but are optional :)

BOOKS & TOOLS

EQUITY Poster

$1.50

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Introduction to Earth and Space Science - 5 Phenomenon-Based Projects

$10.00 $15.00

Sale

Back 2 School Classroom Bundle of 8 Posters

$5.00 $8.00

Anthropogenic Phenomenon Investigation

$3.00

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Earth Science: Create a Computer Simulation of an ESS Concept

$2.00 $3.00

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categories / Science, Earth Science
tags / teaching teens, parenting teens, deeper learning, independence, lifelong learning, simplicity, skills, success skills, learning, making life easier, kids

Relax and Refresh: The Teacher Guide to Balanced Summering

June 29, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

Summer Break: Where Brains Unwind (and Still Sneak in Some Smart Stuff)

Oh summer… a glorious expanse of unscheduled time, devoid of lesson plans, meetings, never-ending grading, and the enervating flickering of fluorescent lights. But what do we do with this fleeting freedom? How do we recharge our teaching batteries and stay sharp and ready for the end-of-summer onslaught?

Check out my guide to having a relaxing summer that will help you up your teaching game is a sneaky, stress-free way.

Embrace the Art of Strategic Laziness

First things first: you've earned some serious couch time. Just be careful not to let your brain turn into a Netflix-induced pile of mush. Here’s how to strategize your laziness:

Binge-Watch Documentaries aka Couch Professional Development

Forget the latest reality TV drama. Dive into a captivating documentary series. History documentaries? You're practically prepping for social studies. Science documentaries? Boom, STEM integration! Travel documentaries? Global awareness, baby! You're not just vegetating; you're absorbing information passively. Brilliant, ain’t it?

Check out Life on Our Planet on Netflix or any of the history shows on PBS.

Read for Pleasure and Sneak in Some Learning Theory

Pick up that thriller or romance you've been eyeing ‘cause no one has to know. But also grab a book on kick ass teaching, because it will help you kick ass in the classroom. No pressure to dissect it, just let intellectual osmosis take effect. If you accidentally fall asleep with it on your face, consider it a deep dive into the subconscious, as your mind processes what you’ve read while you snooze and drool on yourself.

I’ve recently enjoyed Storyworthy and Ultralearning and always come back to and learn more about how humans learn best when I revisit Brain Rules.

Master the Art of the Nap aka Cognitive Restoration

Naps aren't just for babies, sloths, and baby sloths. They’re brain power-ups. A well-timed or completely unexpected nap can clear the mental cobwebs, help you process information, and spark new ideas (like how to finally get that one student to stop picking his nose or how to get all students to happily put their phones away because they just can’t wait for what you have to say today).

Learn Something New Without Realizing You're Learning

Summer is the perfect time to explore hobbies that accidentally make you a better teacher. Here’s how to do it low key:

Take a Class That Has Nothing to Do with Education

Pottery? Stand-up comedy? Advanced interpretive dance? The more obscure, the better! You'll be honing problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and potentially developing a unique talent to share (or at least laugh about) with your future students. “Remember when I tried to sculpt a vase and it came out looking like a melted traffic cone? Epic!”

Become a Local Tourist aka Uncover Hidden Gems

Explore your own city or nearby towns or natural spaces. Visit museums, historical sites, quirky roadside attractions, or that one waterfall up north. You'll not only relax but also discover local resources and fascinating facts that can be woven into future lessons. "Did you know our town has the world's largest rubber band ball? Let's write a persuasive essay about why it should be our state's symbol!"

Conquer a New Recipe Aka Practice Measurement and Patience

Baking or cooking a complex dish requires precision, sequencing, and the ability to follow instructions (skills often lacking in students and adults). Plus, you get to eat the results! That’s some delicious professional development.

My go to is The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook, because they use science to perfect classic recipes and I’ve never made a recipe from it that wasn’t delicious.

Play With Technology

Yes, we've spent the school year glued to screens. But let’s be real: if you’re reading this, you’re on a screen. But summer tech does not have to be taxing if you choose to only play with it.

Explore Educational Apps for Fun, Not for Planning

Tinker with a few free educational apps that you've been curious about. Play around with them, see how intuitive they are, and discover their hidden features. You're not vetting them for your classroom; you're just experiencing them. If one makes you laugh or teaches you something surprising, it's a win.

Have you tried Khanmigo, Canva, or AI such as Google Gemini yet?

Listen to Podcasts While Doing Something Else

Commuting, cleaning, sunbathing – podcasts are your auditory companions. Find ones on current events, historical mysteries, or even obscure scientific breakthroughs. It's like having a fascinating lecture whispered directly into your ears; note-taking disallowed.

Hidden Brain, TED Radio Hour, Inquiring Minds, and The Jordan Harbinger Show are my faves.

Tidy Up Your Digital Life aka Reclaim Your Sanity

Delete those 7,000 unread emails. Organize your files. Back up your photos. Decluttered digital space equals a decluttered mind, leaving more room for important things, like remembering the name of that student who always wore mismatched socks (I still do!).

Check out this Digital Declutter Article and Checklist.

Prepare (Just a Little) for Next Year (Without Stressing Out)

A little bit of prep can go a long way in September, but the key is minimal effort.

Brainstorm One Big Idea

Don't plan out your entire year. Just think of one exciting new project or activity you always wanted to try. It could be a class-wide debate, a collaborative art installation, or a unit on the history of memes. Having one exciting idea bubbling will keep your creative juices flowing without overwhelming you.

Treat Yourself to Some New Supplies (Not Necessarily School-Related)

A new pair of shoes for each day of the week? A desktop toy that hypnotizes while it jiggles? A desk-size diffuser to mask the classroom must and stank? Investing in something small and fun for your workspace might create a little spark of excitement for the new year.

I use this classy-looking, inexpensive diffuser.

Reconnect with Colleagues Outside of School

Grab coffee or lunch with a fellow teacher. Or, better yet, arrange a happy hour that’s not on Friday after school to share your summer stories and commiserate about the impending return. It's a reminder that you're not alone in this noble, highly chaotic profession.

So my dear educator: embrace your summer with a relaxed mind and a low key, secret agenda of self-improvement. When September rolls around, you'll be refreshed, recharged, and possibly armed with an impressive collection of traffic cone-themed pottery and teaching strategery. Your students won't know what hit them.

What's one completely non-school-related skill you'd love to learn this summer?

Check out my shop (see top) if you need some classroom wall decor or a few thoughtful and engaging Earth and Space Science lessons. I try to keep the prices decent, but if you cannot spare the $, please email me and I’ll give you whatever you need for free.

BOOKS & TOOLS

EQUITY Poster

$1.50

Sale

Introduction to Earth and Space Science - 5 Phenomenon-Based Projects

$10.00 $15.00

Sale

Back 2 School Classroom Bundle of 8 Posters

$5.00 $8.00

Anthropogenic Phenomenon Investigation

$3.00

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Earth Science: Create a Computer Simulation of an ESS Concept

$2.00 $3.00

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Resistance to Change and the Teaching Struggle Is Real

June 22, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

I’ve been thinking a lot about this school year lately. More than usual, I have been reflecting on the school year that’s in the books now. It wasn’t easy. Honestly, it was one of the hardest years I’ve had in a while. Not because of behavior issues, which I had to some extent (though most of my students are pretty chill), or grading, which I hate with a passion (I much prefer creating learning experiences), or administrative stuff, which is what it is, but because I felt like I regressed.

Like I forgot, after 22 years of doing it, how to be a teacher.

I found myself questioning things I thought I had long figured out—especially when it comes to my understanding of students. And after 12+ years of of teaching chemistry in my current school, it was jarring to feel that way. But change, especially top-down forced change, has a way of doing that.

Last year, I transitioned from teaching upperclassmen in Chemistry—a subject I know like the back of my hand—to teaching Earth and Space Science to freshmen. That’s right. Fourteen-year-olds. Ninth graders. A totally different beast.

And wow, was I not ready.

Let’s start with the students themselves. Juniors in chemistry have a level of maturity (usually), a sense of structure and responsibility (again, usually), and at the very least, they have a clearer picture of the expectations of high school life (read: they know what not to do better than the youngins). Freshmen, on the other hand, are in the process of figuring it out. They’re bouncing between middle school habits and high school demands, trying to find their footing socially, emotionally, and academically. And I’ll admit—I struggled to meet them where they are.

Some of the struggle was internal. I resisted the change. I didn’t want to leave chemistry. It’s a subject I love and have spent years crafting lessons for, refining labs, and building strong connections with older students I taught. I even liked writing college and scholarship recommendation letters, even if I procrastinated with finishing all of them.

And being asked to teach Earth Science—a subject I hadn’t taught since the dark ages (aka my middle school days)—felt like an earthquake constantly shifting the ground beneath me.

But what really caught me off guard was how it affected my confidence in the classroom. Not on the subject matter—I have an Earth and Environmental Sciences degree and have always liked how relevant the content is—but on being a better pedagogue and mentor.

I found myself questioning my instincts. Am I being too hard on them? Not hard enough? Do they even know how to learn? Why aren’t they getting what I’m giving? Is critical thinking not very critical at this age and am I too critical of it? Too demanding? I felt myself slipping into frustration more often than I’d like to admit. And worse, I caught myself forgetting what I’ve always known: students aren’t finished products. They are works in progress, just like I am.

The last two years reminded me of something I hadn’t felt in years: the sharp learning curve new teachers climb. The feeling that you’re constantly behind, that you’re not doing right by your students, that you should know more, do more, be more. And while it was uncomfortable, in the end it proved illuminating.

I’ve come to realize struggling isn’t failing. It’s growing.

Regression first. Struggle next. In the end, recalibration. The three stages of teacher death and rebirth. Leo T. is rolling his eyes while rolling in his grave right now.

Teaching freshmen science forced me to listen more intently, observe more closely, and adapt more quickly. It challenged me to remember that good teaching isn’t just about mastery of content—it’s about connection, patience, and flexibility. But most of all, humility.

First trimester was tough, because I was failing at something I was supposed to be good at.

But then—something shifted.

In second trimester, I began to settle. I got to know the students better, and more importantly, I let them get to know me—not the perfect version of a teacher I had in my head, but the real one. I started to communicate the expectations better. In fact, I adjusted my expectations, both of students and of myself. I leaned into the chaos instead of constantly trying to control it, because I accepted that freshmen are a mess, make a mess, and, in their wake, leave a mess.

I started finding joy in small wins: when an autistic student who is always on the edge ready to jump off a one-thousand foot high cliff had a freakout free day, or when a class that used to feel like giving a TED Talk to caffeinated squirrels actually was able to hold their side conversations, shut up, and listen to the directions that did, by the way, help them be more successful in their learning, and by that I mean get a better grade of course. I stopped comparing this year to past years. I stopped wishing I was teaching something else and started teaching the kids in front of me. It made all the difference.

By third trimester, I wasn’t just surviving—I was enjoying it. I felt more relaxed, more responsive, and more in tune with what these freshmen needed. I started to see the progress they’d made—not just academically, but emotionally. I could see how they had grown, and I realized that I had too. And, we started to like each other.

I ate my humble pie, gave up trying to control what I cannot control, and grew as a result.

So if you’re a teacher who’s had a tough year or who may be shifting grade levels, changing subjects, or just going through a rough patch in the future: I see you. Change is hard. Regression happens. But so does growth. We don’t always get to choose our challenges, but we can choose how we show up for them.

Teaching is never truly mastered. Every class, every group of students, every subject comes with its own learning curve. And while it’s uncomfortable to feel like a beginner again, it’s also a powerful reminder of why we do this in the first place.

To learn and grow as human beings first, and teachers second.

We learn every year, because we choose to stay when every fiber of our being tells us to run away. We stick it out. We keep the faith.

And next year? We’ll be better—not because we go back to what was, but because we stayed in the struggle long enough to realize that while we cannot always win, we can always learn.

Here’s to the teachers who are still learning.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! I hope they help you in being more you. Check out my shop (see top) if you need thoughtful (not busy work), engaging (fun), project-based and phenomena-based (the whole NGSS thing) Earth and Space Science lessons. I try to keep the prices decent, but if you cannot spare the $, please email me and I’ll give you whatever you need for free.