The Alaska Partnership for Teacher Enhancement is proud to present the Summer 2005 Institutes.

These standards-based institutes have been developed as highly interactive so educators may explore new and different ways to develop curriculum and instruction that address real life Alaskan issues while improving leadership and teaching behaviors so that all students can achieve academic excellence.

The focus of the 2005 Science Institute is the blending of western science with Yup’ik knowledge of the natural world. It takes place in Akiachak, a traditional village on the Kuskokwim River in western Alaska. Topics covered include medicinal plants, the tundra ecosystem, wildlife, fishing and fisheries management, weather, navigation and survival and wildfire and its importance in Alaska habitats. We will compare ideas generated by modern science with ideas grounded in the traditional knowledge system and life experiences in Yup’ik society about these topics.

As a participant, you will be introduced to 3 curricula commonly used by Alaska teachers to teach about the ecosystems and natural phenomena unique to our state. We will also be involved in local subsistence activities including fishing and berry picking. Fieldwork will involve learning to identify the signs of Alaskan wildlife, observation of weather and other natural phenomena and use of native plants for nutritional, medicinal, and utilitarian purposes.

On completion of the institute participants should be able to develop science units that are culturally sensitive and meet the Alaska Science Standards.

The following is a list of equipment suggested for your village experience.

Host Community: Akiachak, Alaska
Akiachak is located on the west bank of the Kuskokwim River, 18 miles northeast of Bethel, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. This area was originally used as a seasonal subsistence site by Yup'ik Eskimos, and has since become an Eskimo village with a strong traditional community. First incorporated as a second-class city in 1974, Akiachak is the first city in Alaska to dissolve its city government (1987) in favor of the Native village government.

The majority of year-round employment in Akiachak is in education or other public services.

Akiachak within the Yupiit School District is the host for Alaska Partnership for Teacher Enhancement Summer Science Institute.

Information from the Alaska Dept. of Community & Economic Development-Alaska Community Database Online.

Whether camping on the tundra, working in a fish camp, listening to elders' stories about the history of their village and native traditions or learning about stellar navigation and subsistence cycles, the institutes promise to provide unique learning experiences that are enriching and enlightening for all who attend. All content institutes will be hosted in Alaska villages, based on the Alaska state content standards and taught through a variety of innovative classroom and practical experiences.

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