Teacher Workshops

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.

 

Upcoming Workshops

The Sun/Earth/Moon Connection

  • Dates: October 10-12, 2025
    • Applications due September 15, 2025
    • Participants will be notified by September 23, 2025
  • For teachers of grades K-8
  • 10-12 Continuing Education Units
  • Cost: This workshop is supported by grants and endowments that cover lodging, meals, and workshop materials. The only expense for participants is their travel.

Day and night, phases of the Moon, changing seasons, high and low tides: all of these are connected to life on Earth through the interactions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Join us as we explore these connections with activities that you can take back to your classrooms. Tour research telescopes at McDonald Observatory and view the night sky through telescopes located at the Visitors Center.

The first day of the workshop - which begins with dinner at the Observatory's Astronomers Lodge at 5 p.m. on Friday October 10 - will include a short activity where we learn our way around the night sky and entry to a public Star Party in the evening. On Saturday October 11, we’ll begin with a tour of one of the research telescopes, and the day will be filled with classroom activities and telescope visits, culminating with a special Star Party in the evening, weather permitting. We’ll wrap up the weekend on Sunday morning by sharing ideas and best practices, a few more short classroom activities, and be on our way home by noon.


 

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.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please send an inquiry to teachers@mcdonaldobservatory.org

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K-12 Education Program Support

 
We are grateful to the following organizations for their support of 2024 K-12 Education programs
  • The Alfred S. Gage Foundation
  • The Fash Foundation
  • The George and Cynthia Mitchell Foundation Educational Endowment
  • The Keenan and Gaines Educational Endowment for McDonald Observatory
  • The Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation
  • Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway McDonald Observatory Outreach and Education Excellence Fund
  • Mary Ann Rankin Endowment for McDonald Observatory for UTeach Workshops
  • Friends of McDonald Observatory 
You can help support our programs through a contribution to our Education and Outreach Intiatives, a Friends Membership, or planned gift.