Integrating Authentic Research into the Classroom

Are you an educator in a Title I school looking to increase student engagement through authentic research projects?  If you want to learn how to guide your students through the process of conducting real research and designing their experiments, our team can help you integrate this into your classroom. 

Now booking sessions for Fall 2026

This program is grant-funded and would be of no cost to your school. 

 

Interest Form

Why You Should Participate: 
  • Increases Student Engagement – Engaged students lead to a more dynamic and rewarding teaching experience.
  • Aligns to Standards – Teaching authentic research supports science core ideas and science and engineering practices while also connecting to language arts and math standards.
  • Gain Practical Strategies – Educators learn proven, step-by-step methods from experts to incorporate authentic research into daily lessons effectively.
  • Receive Ongoing Support – Educators receive continuous coaching and guidance throughout the year on all aspects of authentic research, ensuring they have the resources and expertise they need.
Benefits for Students: 
  • Builds Critical Skills – Engaging in authentic research helps students develop critical thinking, data analysis, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Encourages Scientific Thinking – Students act as scientists and engineers, learning to investigate and innovate.
  • Inspires Passion for STEM – Hands-on research fosters excitement about STEM fields and potential future careers.
  • Promotes a Growth Mindset – Students learn to view failure as a stepping stone to growth and improvement.

We offer two authentic research programs, depending on the grade level you teach:

What Do We Wonder (Grades 4–8)

A structured, multi-phase program that builds student inquiry skills and teacher capacity through hands-on classroom experiences and ongoing coaching.

  • 3-day in-class experience with an Arizona Science Center facilitator (3 consecutive days)
  • Students engage in a hands-on investigation modeling the scientific process
  • Teachers implement a student engineering design project after the visit
  • Virtual student follow-up session to reflect and extend learning
  • Monthly coaching sessions to support classroom implementation
  • Flexible outcomes: student research projects, inquiry-based learning, or a science fair

 

Advancing STEM Research in High Schools (Grades 7–12)

A flexible, partnership-based program tailored to support student research and project development based on each school’s needs.

  • Virtual planning session to understand your school, students, and goals
  • Option for 1–2 in-person classroom visits to build student interest in research
  • Support in helping students develop projects using available resources
  • Ongoing virtual coaching (teacher support, whole class, or small groups)
  • Guidance on starting or strengthening a science fair program
  • Optional support with event planning, attendance, and/or judging

 

INTEREST FORM

Upcoming Workshops

Science in the Pines: Authentic Research in the Classroom

Thursday & Friday, July 16-17, 2026 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
East Flagstaff Community Library, 3000 N. Fourth Street, Suite 5, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004, with fieldwork at Fort Valley Trailhead and Lower Lake Mary

This two-day professional development immerses teachers in authentic field-based observation and data collection, followed by guided classroom practice in transforming those observations into rigorous, student-driven research projects. Participants learn how to mentor experimental design, testing strategies, and data interpretation while staying fully aligned with science fair rules, ethics, and required documentation. Teachers leave with practical tools and confidence to support high-quality student research from initial curiosity through formal presentation.

Lunch provided each day!

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Science in the Pines: Hands-On Classroom Kit

Thursday July 16, 2026 8:00 a.m.

Participants of the Science in the Pines workshop have the option to purchase a hands-on classroom kit designed to help bring authentic, field-based research experiences back to their students. The kit includes a variety of tools, materials, and resources inspired by the activities and data collection methods used during the workshop, allowing educators to recreate elements of the experience in their own classrooms or local environments. The goal of the kit is to support teachers in guiding students through real-world observation, data collection, analysis, and student-driven scientific inquiry.

Kits must be purchased in advance prior to the workshop and will be available for pickup onsite during the event.

Buy Kit

Science Fairs 101 Workshop: Empowering Educators to Guide Student Research

Friday, August 14, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

CREATE at Arizona Science Center
Ideal for Grade 5-12 Educators

Lunch Included!

Are you an educator looking to support student research in your classroom or start a science fair at your school? Join us for a hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop designed for educators new to the science fair process or looking to improve their existing program.

Buy Ticket

Questions?

Email Jennifer Petersen at petersenj@azscience.org.

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