How can we use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to design more equitable systems? Join us to consider how leaders rally interest and build internal capacity for the selection and effective implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Work with other leaders to consider strategies to make the case for change toward more equitable systems that support all learners in the system and the role of HQIM in leading ongoing science improvement efforts.
Ticketed event - register here: https://my.nsta.org/event/2024NEW_LEADERSHIP

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider how high-quality instructional materials can be used to design more equitable systems. Discuss how to share the vision, support implementation, and build internal capacity for ongoing support for curriculum implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud, Susan Gomez Zwiep, Jody Bintz, Jim Short, Bianca Deliberto, Jenine Cotton-Proby

Student discourse needs to be carefully orchestrated to provide teachers with meaningful information about all students. We will share a discourse routine as a powerful formative assessment tool that simultaneously supports students’ science sensemaking and expansion of their linguistic toolkit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience a Collect and Display discourse routine as learners and acquire strategies for integrating it into any instructional sequence to elicit and support 3D sensemaking and expand students’ linguistic repertoires.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Wertheim, Lauren Stoll

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Link physical science concepts like circuits and charged particles to the essential biotech method gel electrophoresis. Build a reusable gel electrophoresis system with the Bandit STEM Electrophoresis Kit, and use it to separate colorful dyes. Also, add the A to STEAM with creative pipetting art!

SPEAKERS:
Rose Chaffee-Cohen

This workshop looks at Newton’s Laws of Motion in the movement of everyday objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with immediate lessons and activities for their classrooms that can be adjusted to their grade level needs.

SPEAKERS:
Krystal Swain, Dawn Perret

Science education has a key role to play in supporting a just transition to the climate crisis. Participants will learn about 20 priority areas associated with climate and environmental justice—and explore educational approaches, resources, and groups related to these areas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Working towards climate justice involves a multifaceted set of issues and priorities. Teachers will identify which priority areas relate to their goals and context and learn about related resources. A climate justice framework will help teachers learn about different dimensions of climate justice.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell, Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler, Nancy Price

The AREN Project provides NASA technology tools to educators, learners, and citizen scientists who want to collect local earth science data. Lesson plans and equipment are made available to investigate phenomena like the Urban Heat Island Effect, and how land use affects flooding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience various methods of using remote sensing and in-situ measurement with common scientific tools and NASA-developed educational platforms. Participants will be invited to join upcoming virtual professional learning opportunities that provide training and materials at no cost.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Ogiemwonyi

Science is a social endeavor! Gain strategies to transform your classroom into a community of learners in which students and teachers actively try to make sense of the natural and built worlds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave this session with strategies for developing classroom norms in collaboration with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

The DQB is an essential tool used throughout OSE units to generate, keep track of, and revisit student questions around the anchoring and related phenomenon. Join the collaborative fun finding ideas for developing, maintaining, and revisiting this exciting representation of students’ learning.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft, Tracy Marmolejo, Vanessa Evans

The workshop focuses on best practices in which virtual reality PD program teachers will share what they learn while acting as student participants. Teachers then used the best practices learned and discussed in the PD with their own students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to incorporate virtual reality and AI to make engaging STEM lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Nikita LaCour, Rochelle Darville

Teachers spend about 7-12 hours per week searching for & creating instructional materials. In this session we’ll hear from teachers about how using vetted, high quality materials as a starting point opened up new possibilities and helped them to be the teacher they always wanted to be.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using high-quality instructional materials in your classroom can shift your role as teacher from "creator" to "innovator" and allow more time for supporting students and improving outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys, Matt Krehbiel

The NGSS requires students work with big datasets. Yet time constraints limit trials during the hands-on labs that excite our students. You needn’t sacrifice one for the other! Join me to generate a robust dataset from a collaborative lab and to craft prompts about it that foster data literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the importance of having students interact with more robust datasets, how to efficiently pool student-collected data, and how to prompt students to practice skills needed by STEM professionals, such as questioning, describing variability, and identifying relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran

Do you feel like you are doing all the talking in class? This sessions follows Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) format and will support you in your journey to make your classroom student-led. We will explore strategies to cultivate student agency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave this session inspired and with the tools needed to give their students voice and choice. Though these strategies relate to my content, life science, they can transfer to any content and grade level.

SPEAKERS:
Alisha Salgado

Physical computing allows students to design and create interactive objects that encourage inquiry investigations and emphasize computational thinking skills. Participants will engage in activities designed for middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Microcontrollers are small computers that come with several integrated sensors making them useful for both investigations and engineering projects. Participants will learn about and experience hands-on various microcontrollers & their use in inquiry investigation tasks & student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bowen

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive deep into water's secrets! while harnessing the power of physical 3D models to unravel states of matter, polar covalent bonding, and beyond in an immersive journey from atoms to oceans.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Energize your science classroom and foster deep scientific thinking! Through exemplar activities and teacher moves, discover actionable strategies for fostering a classroom culture that celebrates student thinking, promotes risk taking, and cultivates student growth.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Cross

Claims regarding NGSS alignment are prevalent in science materials. This session will focus on how to identify phenomena, problems, and sensemaking in K-12 lessons and materials, to support participants to make informed decisions on using and adapting materials to best meet students' needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain an understanding of the characteristics of phenomena/problems and sensemaking opportunities and how to identify them in materials. With example lessons, they will use tools to evaluate materials for NGSS-aligned instruction in order to effectively identify aspects of quality.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski

In this hands-on workshop, middle school teachers become the students, participating in a shelter design activity that connects their background knowledge and Indigenous ingenuity of America's first people.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the workshop, teachers will be equipped to engage students in hands-on, culturally relevant engineering activities that align to NGSS and SEPs, while fostering critical thinking and an appreciation for Indigenous ingenuity.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Felchle, Jacie Jeffers, Kim Busch

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Take a tour through the mammalian heart and trace the path of a blood cell on its journey to oxygenation. Participants take blood pressure readings. Then dissect a preserved sheep heart to model blood flow and connect BP to heart anatomy. Don’t skip a beat - it’s going to be hands-on fun!

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau, Alexandra Felts

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Learn to promote interest and engagement while helping students achieve specific learning objectives with games. Join us as you learn simple and valuable ways to gamify your lessons. We will be sharing a few creative game ideas for building relationships and reviewing and learning content.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar

Experience the impact of science instruction that directly engages and affirms the student scientists in your classroom. Learn how to ground daily lessons in meaningful community issues without overhauling your curriculum. Enable all students to advocate and create changes in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
We'll share two strategies for grounding lessons in relevant contexts: (1) Anchor the lesson in a question and (2) Connect daily lessons to meaningful community issues using a three-step process. Participants practice both strategies and leave with an adapted meaningful lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell, Amber Woods

This hands-on session explores innovative techniques to incorporate data visualization tools into science curriculum. From artistic graphs to creative infographics, participants will learn fun ways to unleash the power of data, fostering critical thinking and inquiry-based learning among students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will gain confidence in designing data visualizations activities that ignite curiosity and deepen understanding of scientific concepts, and walk away with a toolkit of resources that can be modified to fit a wide range of classes and topics.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack

Explore the NSTA website with us and learn how to maximize your member benefits! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about their member benefits, the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events, and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips, Flavio Mendez

Our innovative approach to science and STEM engages students through hands-on and minds-on physical computing. Through this approach you can enable students to leverage Computer Science to investigate, develop models and ultimately enact local and global change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to effectively bring Computer Science and programming into the middle school classroom, based on curriculum add on units developed by Schoolwide Labs at the University of Colorado Boulder. Our place-based focus is a powerful promoter of equity for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson, Greg Benedis-Grab

An NGSS classroom promises Science for All, but sometimes students have different needs. See how classroom teachers build a culture of choice, create differentiated literacy and assessment products, and help students meet differentiated goals for 3D learning within an inclusive classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with ideas and routines for fostering a differentiated classroom culture, samples of high-quality, scaffolded guides for scientific readings and assessments, and strategies to allow students to set their own goals for meeting or exceeding standards.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre, Chris Geerer

Sponsoring Company: Retro Report

Discern how to use short-form documentary films in the Environmental Science classroom to drive the inquiry process. Explore Retro Report’s free, high quality instructional resources. Retro Report is an independent, nonprofit, non-partisan news organization.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Wang, Derek Dubossi, Filiz Yargici

Participants will explore the BioEd Online website’s free STEM+M (medicine) classroom learning resources created and/or curated by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach, engage in activities from a student lens, then complete a scavenger hunt to identify/organize resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore BioEd Online and leave with free STEM+M (medicine) learning resources ready to be implemented into their classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jimmie Thomas

Are you looking to get your entire school excited about STEM? In this session, Mr. Mike French and his AMAZING PRESENTATION STUDENTS will share a high-energy and engaging video presentation of twelve practical STEM projects that can be incorporated into any classroom setting, K-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to see real examples and step-by-step details of 12 STEM projects that will change your school and get students excited about learning. Attendees will also see how to modify these projects to fit any grade level and classroom setting K-12.

SPEAKERS:
Mike French

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about creating a culture and instructional strategies to support all students and the assets they bring into the classroom through science sensemaking discourse and notebooking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will first experience an anchor from OpenSciEd 6.4 unit to create their model to describe their thinking in a notebook and then use the discussion diamond to come to a consensus and revise. Educators will review different student samples and discuss how these support all students' ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Christy Krenek

Participants will collaboratively engage in a series of model activities to increase discourse in middle school science classrooms. These strategies will help foster regular talk opportunities that honor student voice and increase student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding and internalize discourse strategies that enhance student talk to increase engagement and instill ownership in their science learning. These strategies can be easily adapted for any content area and topic.

SPEAKERS:
Ryan Gracia, Amy Brady

When students encounter intriguing phenomena, their innate instincts to question and explore are activated. To truly grasp this concept, you have to experience it! We're going to go through a set of learning experiences (shortened for time) that are based on a phenomenon.

TAKEAWAYS:
This immersive journey into the heart of science education, where phenomena are the gateway to deeper understanding and lifelong curiosity, can be integrated into any science classroom. Invaluable phenomena resources will be shared to enrich lessons and foster a culture of inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Tolman

ARISS provides a once in a lifetime educational opportunity for youth by enabling them to conduct a 10-minute interview directly with astronauts on-board ISS. This presentation will provide hints for educators to develop an ARISS contact proposal that will positively impact their youth.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will provide many hints and tips for educators on how to develop a winning ARISS contact proposal that will positively impact their youth through inspiring, engaging and educational STEM activities.

SPEAKERS:
Tanya Anderson

Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) immerses students and educators at all levels in the thrilling world of STEM. Through rewarding competitions, enriching summer camps, and comprehensive professional development, AEOP stands at the forefront of educational innovation, preparing participants to

TAKEAWAYS:
You’ll discover how AEOP spans a variety of educational stages, offering tailored programs that empower both students and teachers to thrive in STEM. We’ll cover how these initiatives equip participants with crucial skills and experiences, setting the stage for personal and professional success.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Brian Kutsch

This new version of the Quick-Reference Guide (aka The Purple Book) is a must-have reference tool for working with NGSS and other Framework-based, 3D standards. This session will review the features of the book and show how to use the tools and resources in it to unpack the crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to unpack the three dimensions using the tools and resources in the Quick-Reference Guide and will gain insights into the meaning of the crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and practical applications of using Native Plant Gardens and Vegetable Gardens in educational settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify advantages of incorporating different gardens in teaching for middle or high school. Explain how using different gardens can enhance student student engagement and learning outcomes. How gardens align with standards. Ways to include various departments through out the school.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Scott

Do you want a quick and easy activity to foster invention education in your classroom? SCAMPER is a great way to engage learners of all ages (K-12) and encourage creative thinking. Come join us for innovative ways to learn with every day objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with a fun, easy to use, relevant lesson you can teach the next day. This lesson is easily adaptable to any age group.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lawlor-King, Denise Henggeler

The sky belongs to everyone - including middle-school age youth. Learn how to join the YouthAstroNet program of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, where students practice sense-making by telling their own star stories using images they capture from real robotic telescopes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn YouthAstroNet’s strategies for engaging students from culturally diverse backgrounds in exploring their place in the cosmos through sense-making of astronomical images and find out how to join the YouthAstroNet community, supported by the National Science Foundation.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Dussault, Erika Wright

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we ensure the science instructional materials we’re using will lead to learning gains? Get practical tips and ‘look fors’ when evaluating whether or not your science instructional materials will have a positive impact on student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger, Suzanna Loper

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Experience the power of hands-on, inquiry-based learning with lessons that engage students and inspire STEAM careers. Explore how Science integrates with Computer Science and STEAM skills through real-world challenges, making it easy to bring science and engineering to life in the classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Engage students in a real-world engineering challenge! Learn how students can design and test crash barriers with live collision data to explore the link between momentum and impact forces. Analyze the resulting data to improve upon further design iterations.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges with race cars and rockets. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau, Alexandra Felts

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Exploring by The Seat of Your Pants, a non-profit digital educator, and Wild Hope, a movement highlighting conservation success stories, invite you to discover how to host free, virtual events with top scientists who will get your students exploring the world without ever leaving their desks.

SPEAKERS:
Jessie Hildebrand

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Get started with Vernier! Explore sensors for chemistry, biology & physics and learn how to integrate them in your curriculum to support 3D science learning. Found a box of sensors in your classroom? We’ll help you navigate how to assess and use them, too. Walk away with resources and experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

Sponsoring Company: Class CrunchLabs

Join us for an exciting dive into Mark Rober's Class CrunchLabs! We'll explore our innovative instructional model with hands-on walkthroughs of cool example lessons. Plus, you'll get to share your thoughts, helping us make sure this model rocks for ALL students and supercharges learning!

SPEAKERS:
Spencer Martin

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive into modeling the movement of ions and nutrients across membranes. Help your students connect theory with the results from popular homeostasis labs.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson

Sponsoring Company: Science Bits

Learn to double student learning gains by increasing fidelity to the 5E instructional model in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Charlene Wetzel

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join our session to learn how to harness the power of three-dimensional Performance Assessments! Beyond evaluating learning, these assessments offer students a meaningful context to demonstrate understanding. Explore the role of performance assessments in teaching core science concepts effectively.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar

Wondering how to customize your curriculum to help more students share and build on others’ ideas? Using examples from OpenSciEd as a context, we’ll share tools & strategies for customizing curriculum to elevate student voice and perspective. Come ready to work! 90 minute session

TAKEAWAYS:
If curriculum enactment pairs great materials with support for teachers to make those materials even better, amazing things can happen. Customizing curriculum to encourage student voice repositions students as knowledge makers and support their science identity and motivation and values.

SPEAKERS:
Austin Moore, Matt Krehbiel, Erika Palys, Renee Affolter

Finding authentic, relevant & engaging phenomena that requires students to use key science ideas to explain them is challenging & timely. Step into prompt engineering to discover how to use AI to help find phenomena to redesign/adapt learning experiences to increase equity & student interest.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use a new phenomenon heuristic and AI to generate ideas of phenomena for your classroom and learn some strategies to help learners use both the phenomenon heuristic and AI as tools for their sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper, Kelley Turner, Dawn Novak

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Unlock the cosmos for your classroom with our tailored workshop for teachers! Discover teaching methods, explore resources, and delve into the latest astronomical discoveries. Gain confidence and tools to ignite students' curiosity about the wonders of the universe, fostering a passion for science.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

How can we equip students with future-ready skills in a world of evolving technology? This hands-on session with LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime shows how students can analyze data, find patterns, and build evidence-based conclusions to tackle real-world challenges and excel in their future careers.

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Join us to participate in providing educators with the skills and knowledge needed to create authentic and engaging assessments that truly measure student understanding of the 3-D science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will utilize the NGSS standards, the Louisiana Achievement Level Descriptors, and high-quality curriculum items to develop and evaluate 3-dimensional assessment items.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Shirley, Sheena Prelow, Paula Callender, Jessie Church

Take a deep dive into the practice of developing and using models! We’ll explore how creating and using models help students build science ideas and can support students’ in developing and writing explanations. Experience the power of building science ideas together as part of a learning community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Developing models individually, in groups and as a class makes all students essential members of the knowledge-building community.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker

This workshop delves into the environmental consequences of flooding. Participants will explore resources and activities that highlight the chain reaction of events triggered by floods, including soil erosion, the spread of pollutants, and the effects of these on overall soil health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore resources to understand that floods disrupt the delicate balance in soil impacting soil health and structure.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lindsay Mossa

Creating Regionally Relevant Lessons engage students on a personal level allowing for greater insight into where they fit and their role in their community as well as how they can impact the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with plenty of ideas of how to connect what they're teaching in the classroom to their own local resources and, how bundling performance expectations can be a great way to start!

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Rockwood

Educating students in science and engineering requires awareness of our practices and beliefs. What tools exist to keep these reflections in mind throughout the year? Learn about protocols that focus on classroom conditions for student belonging, identity development, and scientific sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will deepen their understanding of learning conditions necessary for student identity development, safety, engagement, and scientific sense-making. Participants will experience a ready-to-use reflective protocol to guide strategic planning for cultivating these learning conditions.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Stults, Kayla Cherry

Climate literacy and data literacy go hand-in-hand. Variability in data often throws our students off. To truly understand the causes and effects of climate change, students must be adept at cutting across the noise in complex data to look for climate signals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhance your students' ability to analyze and interpret variable climate data effectively by implementing strategies to get students to focus on trends instead of individual data points.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran

In this workshop, you will learn about our "Students as Scientists" unit, the science process, & how to help your student's questions get off the ground. Asking testable questions will help your students launch interesting, relevant, & achievable investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to help their students think like a scientist and move from a curious question into a testable question that will launch a student-led investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join us for an interactive session where engineering meets speed dating! Experience hands-on challenges inspired by TCI's science programs. Attendees will participate in engineering-focused "speed dates," uncovering valuable insights.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar

Our ecosystems are changing. We need to nurture climate-resilient learners through a transdisciplinary approach. By reconnecting with nature in urban areas we can leverage existing resources to discover new strategies for all educators that are not only actionable, but are inclusive.

TAKEAWAYS:
This interactive workshop emphasizes the importance of rebuilding relationships with nature in urban settings, and teaches strategies to leverage existing resources to build sustainable schools. It aims to provide educators with strategies to support students in addressing climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Kelleigh Huey, Jessa Goldner

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP

Dive into the engineering process and the role of brainstorming. Unleash creativity, problem-solving, and innovation through hands-on learning and digital technology to bring real-world experiences to the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Rillieux, Sara Classen

Explore free existing K12 resources and contribute to the development of new resources through collaborative engagement with three US NSF-funded facilities. Experiment with activities on electromagnetism, light and wave interference.

TAKEAWAYS:
Resources from NSF facilities are useful in connecting the NGSS aligned K-12 classroom to current, cutting-edge science efforts that are implementing Science and Engineering practices in real-time.

SPEAKERS:
Carlos Villa, Robert Sparks, William Katzman

Sponsoring Company: Pets in the Classroom

Learn about new STEM tools teachers are using for innovative standards based instruction by engaging students with a classroom pet. 98% of teachers reporting see increase in student responsibility and student engagement. Grants are available to help teachers with pet expenses.

SPEAKERS:
Melinda Thomas

Reading and writing skills are best developed when students are able to practice these skills across all content areas. Come hear from an experienced science and special education teacher about how to easily add literacy activities to your science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with multiple examples of in class activities that can help students develop reading comprehension and writing skills within the science content areas. These activities are easy to implement, are low cost, and supported by current research.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Zito

Trauma affects a significant portion of the student population and can manifest in various ways. This session focuses on the application of trauma-informed practices within the science classroom and its potential to enhance student engagement, facilitate learning, and promote emotional resilience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drawing upon research and practical strategies, this session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments that empower students to thrive academically and emotionally.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl Robertson

Come engage in activities (elementary, middle, and high school) to experience how to embed social-emotional learning alongside the NGSS! We will explore teaching strategies that can be used in any lesson, connect with the 3 dimensions, and embed essential SEL skills along the way.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn strategies to embed SEL instruction into existing NGSS lessons in ways that engage students with both content and social-emotional growth.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Borton

Join Louisiana teacher leaders in empowering educators to effectively utilize high-quality instructional materials while addressing common challenges related to classroom assessment. Participants will engage collaboratively with resources designed to support educators with this goal.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with resources and strategies to assist with addressing some common challenges with curriculum-integrated assessment opportunties including analyzing and interpreting information provided in these assessment moments in an efficient and effective manner.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Jimenez, Loren Klein, Lauren Waguespack, Kylie Martin

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Discover how PASCO's innovative equipment seamlessly integrates with OpenSciEd's standards-based curriculum. Engage in hands-on Middle School investigations. See how sensor-based data transforms traditional labs into dynamic learning experiences, empowering students to think like scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how to enhance students’ overall communication in and out of the science classroom throughout their learning. Delve deeper into topics that include listening using classroom norms, strategies that help students with short response, and how to enhance students’ use of CER.

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Mintz, Vanessa Evans

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Assume the role of a crime scene investigator to solve a realistic crime scenario. Students use fingerprint, hair analysis, tire track impressions, blood typing, forensic entomology, and a police log review to identify a primary suspect from a pool of 6 alleged perpetrators.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon, Alexandra Felts

The Atlas is a collection of 62 maps of the practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in NGSS and other Framework-based standards. The maps show how goals in science are meant to build upon each other and relate to each other over a student’s K-12 education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to read the maps and use other tools in the Atlas to understand and interpret standards and plan instructional sequences as part of their work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Bring inquiry into your classroom with food science! Learn how to extract dyes from candy to analyze using agarose gel electrophoresis and paper chromatography. Students use the simple techniques as a starting point to design experiments, test hypotheses, and use STEM techniques to analyze results.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Brian Ell

Assessing student sensemaking can be time-consuming, and applying standards-based grading can seem overly vague. In this session we’ll analyze 3D assessment scenarios to uncover their scaffolded structure, and use that structure to develop leveling rubrics that quickly convert to traditional grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with samples of high-quality, scaffolded three-dimensional assessment scenarios, and strategies to make standards-based grading quick and consistent.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre, Chris Geerer

Remix CER to drive inquiry-based learning with the Question, Evidence, Claim, Reasoning (QECR) approach! Use science skills, like analyzing data and arguing with evidence, to solve a mystery in a sample lesson, and access more samples, student work, tools, and resources to design your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
A comprehensive toolkit including digital sample lessons, student samples, editable templates, and tips and tricks for QECR lessons that integrate phenomena, SEPs, science ideas, and students’ ideas and critical thinking in engaging and hands-on ways.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack, Elissa Griffin

Educators of all levels will learn how to create equitable STEM opportunities for girls of urban backgrounds. In addition, suggestions will be given on how ensure that urban girls sustain an interest in STEM which will results in them choosing STEM related college/university majors and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of representation and how to reverse the narrative when it comes to teaching STEM to African American girls.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Neely

In my session, I'll discuss how my students used lacto-fermentation to tackle food insecurity by making pickles, hot sauce, and salsa. Using the Design Cycle and STEM, they refined their recipes and techniques.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the science behind lacto-fermentation and how to incorporate it in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Bishko

The Learning Progression Model is a flexible, equitable assessment strategy to provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report achievement. Attendees leave knowing how they can implement this in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand how the Learning Progression Model keeps students engaged and accountable, how learning progressions are used to develop/assess skills and knowledge aligned with NGSS, and how to integrate this approach into the traditional grading system.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore

This 60-minute workshop presents a new NSF-funded Middle School science storyline curriculum unit called Build it Green! (BIG!). BIG! addresses human impacts of energy systems through a green building engineering design process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Workshop participants will learn about our 14-lesson unit, the standards it addresses, and its unique use of digital tools, architectural design, and hands-on learning. Participants have a chance to engage with a new digital design tool that was made for BIG! using authentic architectural data.

SPEAKERS:
Caiden Webb, Rebekah Snyder

Three-dimensional learning is the vision of the NGSS. Engaging our students in three-dimensional learning by integrating problem-based learning, technology, and engineering while connecting them to STEM careers will prepare them for the future.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to provide students with the opportunity to learn the DCI, CCC, and SEP and make connections with technology and engineering. They will also learn how to integrate 3-D to make sense of phenomena or design solutions to real-world problems, which is a focus of STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Clarke-Mayers

This presentation delves into the journey of a two-year program designed to elevate teacher leadership practices and foster a supportive and reflective community of practice. Throughout this session, we will explore the program's objectives, methodologies, and the impact it has on individuals.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation offers an overview of a two-year professional learning program dedicated to empowering educators, enhancing leadership capacity, and fostering a vibrant collegial community through a blend of theory, practical application, and reflective practice.

SPEAKERS:
Taissa Lau

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join us for an interactive session where engineering meets speed dating! Experience hands-on challenges inspired by TCI's science programs. Attendees will participate in engineering-focused "speed dates," uncovering valuable insights.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar

Learn about Educating for Environmental Change, a free Indiana University program that helps educators teach the science and policy of climate change and participate in exemplar activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop will introduce Indiana University's Educating for Environmental Change (EfEC) project and provide information on how teachers can get involved. The presenter will also facilitate hands-on, exemplar scientific argumentation activities from the EfEC project.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner

Students explore Newton’s Laws of Motion as a member of an automotive engineering team preparing for the Egg Dash. These collaborative engineers investigate speed and velocity while thinking critically and creatively to design and optimize a model race car capable of beating a rival team’s racer.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session will present a micro- and macro-look at a dynamic, 21-Century unit in collaborative science. This STEM unit encourages students to communicate their findings, think both critically and creatively, and collaborate to produce a successful racer in a final performance assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Meehan, Gregory Snoke

Explore the complexities of the electric grid by building series and parallel circuits! This hands-on workshop will provide educators with tools and strategies to help students grasp circuity and energy-related concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on, standards-aligned workshop will show the influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement a similar lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani, Tess Hooper

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Discover how the Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, and safer for classroom use. Participate in the featured light box model activity from 6.1: Light & Matter unit and walk away with valuable resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort, Chris Coots

Discover how the concept of wing loading influences the physics of airplane flight, bird wings, and wind-dispersed seeds. From aerodynamics to ecological adaptations, this hands-on lesson will explore the interconnectedness of flight across diverse organisms and systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to calculate and apply the concept of wing loading to the flight dynamics of airplanes, birds, and wind-dispersed seeds. Life science and physical science teachers will leave with lesson plans and resources to take back to their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew McVay

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Model how DNA is transcribed into mRNA and how mRNA is translated into a protein - the final stages of the flow of genetic information.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson

Feeling burned out by unmotivated students? Join us to reveal motivational gems hidden in your class. Attendees will gain strategies to provide SEL support, including methods allowing students to share their input and assessment practices to increase participation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover how things they may already be doing can be adapted to boost student motivation and build confidence. Walk away with strategies to implement tomorrow!

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards

Learn how to support students in the use of surface temperature data to pinpoint places in their own communities where small-scale mitigation strategies can have the greatest impact on protecting the people and places they care about from the effects of extreme heat.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore strategies to engage students in investigations of temperature variation in the area surrounding your school, in the use of data to identify and support neighborhoods at risk, and in the evaluation of the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Experience hands-on STEAM learning with LEGO® Education! In this session, you'll explore cause-and-effect, model real-world phenomena, and analyze data to solve problems. Discover how our solutions help students understand force, motion, and energy while bringing learning to life through play.

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Unleash their potential! Middle School is an exciting time for trial and error! Students are beginning emerge into the leaders they will one day become. This session is designed to explore teaching moves to improve classroom collaboration and develop future leaders!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with a few new teaching moves for improving collaboration and discourse among students in the science classroom. The use of these moves will tap into the leadership potential inside each of your learners.

SPEAKERS:
Kat Chamberlain

AI is changing the world around us, but how can it help with making 3-dimensional assessments? In this session, we will explore the opportunities and challenges with using AI in all phases of creating and refining assessments in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
AI is not a silver bullet for developing assessments, but a powerful tool if a teacher understands the principles of 3-dimensional assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Loren Klein

Come learn about the NSTA press books addressing the three dimensions: Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas: Reshaping Teaching and Learning, and Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthen Science and Engineering Learning

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn techniques to use these three books to help educators have a deep understanding of practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts to foster better student learning in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Talk is fundamental to learning. This workshop engages participants in a variety of talk strategies specifically designed for improving classroom equity while engaging in STEM learning experiences. Many supporting resources are shared that teachers can learn from and directly use with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The goal of this session is to support teachers in understanding how best to meet the needs of all learners by starting from where students are at and drawing on their intuitive ideas and real world experiences to inform instruction. All strategies are framed as equitable 3D formative assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler

Engaging middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
PEEPs impact student engagement resulting in increased proficiency results in science and engineering assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Carri Wissman, Pascale Pinner

How do you know if you are effectively implementing the science and engineering practices (SEPs)? What should teachers and students be doing? We will assist teachers in reflecting on their classroom activities and learn new approaches to practices, specifically questioning and engaging in arguments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with immediately applicable strategies and ideas for evaluating their practices in alignment with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth, Augustine Owusu Achiaw

During this interactive hour long hybrid between a professional development and research presentation participants will learn about and ideate on how to make STEM learning spaces more equitable through simple changes to classroom organization.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with strategies and resources on how to organize and decorate their classrooms to promote equity and belonging in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Novelli

Explore a unit of instruction developed in partnership with researchers from UC San Diego. From experiencing and analyzing the unit, you will identify design principles that promote specific pedagogical routines for teachers. You will leave with specific strategies for collaborating with researche

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience science curriculum design principles based on equity design centered instructional frameworks. Learn and apply a protocol for partnering with researchers to generate curriculum resources that support both teacher and student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Learn how to facilitate simple hands-on photosynthesis experiments with wireless sensors. Help students collect and analyze carbon exchange data from plant leaves in real-time! Dispel student doubts in their understanding of photosynthesis and respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

What is the connection between coherent instructional sequences from the students’ perspective and equitable access to science learning? Learn how coherent storyline units support students’ genuine engagement and perseverance as they work to explain a complex phenomenon over the course of a unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Storyline unit Instructional routines provide a coherent path from students’ questions about a phenomenon to the explanation or model of that phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Hereau

You have a coherent phenomenon-based learning plan for your students, and midway through, you get sick or jury duty - now what?!? This session will highlight approaches to substitute plans that are flexible, easy to implement, and support student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
When students are tasked with sensemaking and figuring out day in and day out, it is easier to have that happen without the teacher present. Utilizing a quality curriculum that supports student coherence and phenomenon-based learning is the best tool to make that a reality.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel, Sarah Delaney

TeachEngineering will lead STEM educators through a hands-on activity that integrates engineering with science learning. Utilizing the seven steps of the engineering design process, participants see how they can combine engineering design to enhance their students' learning of scientific concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the seamless integration of design and design-thinking with science learning as they use the engineering design process to ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve their own wind-powered sail cars!

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha, Ellen Sukovich

Sponsoring Company: Lessi AI

Lessi AI helps science teachers find and customize high-quality open science resources. This workshop will help participants learn to build, extend, and adapt freely available NGSS-aligned lessons and assessments to meet the needs of all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Marcotte

Sensemaking with the three dimensions is the focal construct we want to measure in science assessments - not just the phenomenon or problem or the three-dimensions. Join us for a deep dive into how we center sensemaking in 3D assessment design for more equitable learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with examples of 3D sensemaking in assessment tasks and tools for building better assessments that elicit student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak, Sara Cooper, Kelley Turner

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

LEGO® Education offers hands-on learning for all abilities and language backgrounds, promoting collaboration, communication, and STEM skills through play. Discover how our solutions empower every K-8 learner to succeed in science and engineering, regardless of language differences.

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Learn how the STEM Observation Protocol – a tool that highlights integrated STEM practices – can be used for creating curricula, instructional coaching, and formative assessment on practice. This workshop will address observing lessons, modeling coaching conversations, and reflecting on practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a better understanding of how to bring integrated STEM education into their current science classrooms. Resources – including access to a set of online learning modules – will be provided to support teacher growth and practice beyond the workshop.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Dare

As long as there have been CER templates, there have been students who struggle. What’s the difference between evidence and reasoning, or an explanation and an argument, exactly? Our Mi-STAR CER lesson and templates help answer these questions and they are open to all - join us to learn more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with clear and concise definitions of reasoning, explanations, and argumentation, along with a lesson plan, activities, and templates to help students define and construct all three in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Geerer

3-dimensional transfer task assessments require students to apply learning to related phenomena, demonstrate deep levels of understanding, and engage in new learning. Learn how to tailor existing transfer tasks and support students in completing them from 2 teachers who do this in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will examine revised and customized transfer task assessments, effective strategies and supports, and hear student testimonials to help guide and assist their students through the often challenging transfer task assessment process.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bolduc

Discover how VR can transform the way you teach & your students learn. In this session, you'll explore the benefits of incorporating VR into your classroom, including: increased student engagement, improved retention of complex concepts, and opportunities for immersive experiential learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating VR into the science classroom can create immersive and engaging learning experiences that deepen students' understanding of scientific concepts and foster their creativity and curiosity. This leads to better engagement and improved performances on formal and informal assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Lakiesha Domingue

Keep your pets safe from being left in hot cars by using automatic sensors to design an alarm that could save their lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Solve a real-world problem with coding and engineering design; no prior experience needed.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux, Jessica Kohout

Dive into a hands-on ball drop activity integrating computational thinking and computer science with physics. This session explores research-driven methods showing how incorporating computer science boosts student engagement and creative problem-solving, aligned with CSTA and NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to effectively integrate computer science and physics in middle school curricula, using technology to enhance real-world problem-solving and interdisciplinary student engagement while aligning to CSTA and NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Hanna, Ian Collins

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how Scientists Circles support equitable and meaningful classroom discussions. Create opportunities in your lessons in which all students’ thinking, experiences, and ideas for further exploration can be leveraged for building a culture where students are positioned as knowers and thinkers.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft, Tracy Marmolejo, Vanessa Evans

Participants will build a fan cart to explore Newton's 3rd Law of Motion which would be appropriate for middle school and high school physical science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn a deeper understanding of the physical phenomena of Newton's 3rd Law with action-reaction pairs as it occurs with building their own small fan cart.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Crook

This presentation dives into the dynamic world of podcasting as a powerful tool for science education. Discover how podcasts captivate students' interest, deliver diverse scientific perspectives, and foster active learning. Join us on an auditory adventure, where education meets innovation!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn practical strategies for seamlessly integrating podcasts with the use of English Language Arts instructional strategies into your curriculum, and explore real-life success stories.

SPEAKERS:
Nichole Anders, Courtney Moore

Culturally responsive teaching practices are essential in science. You will leave this workshop with NGSS based lessons to help students make sense of identity mapping and positionality in the classroom. Come and design models where identities are atoms and collective identities are molecules.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a set of identity based and NGSS aligned lessons that can be implemented upon return home.

SPEAKERS:
Autumn Burton, Kathleen Boucher-Lavigne

Students in diverse groups designed a 3D car to travel fast and far using the engineering design process. This collaborative approach, tailored to their interests and abilities, boosted their interest, learning, and sense of science identity, supported by self-discovery and teacher recognition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Implementing the Engineering Design Process equitably, collaborating in diverse groups based on skills and interests, with teacher recognition, enhances student interest, engagement, learning, and science identity, fostering a sense of belonging and competence in scientific activities.

SPEAKERS:
Massa Mafi

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Learn to promote interest and engagement while helping students achieve specific learning objectives with games. Join us as you learn simple and valuable ways to gamify your lessons. We will be sharing a few creative game ideas for building relationships and reviewing and learning content.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar

This session will center on cohorts of educators who participated in a series of learning cycles. It will showcase the purpose and outcomes of the learning cycles, which empower teachers to refine their pedagogical approaches to directly address the diverse needs of their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing learning cycle protocols, teachers refine their pedagogical approaches to better meet the diverse needs of their students. Data collection and reflection processes further enhance instructional strategies, leading to continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Taissa Lau

Researchers at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have been collecting data through repetitive photographs since the 1970's to evaluate the change in the ecosystem over time. Participants will identify habitat changes in reef monitoring images and infer potential causes of those changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental monitoring is a challenging activity, especially underwater. This activity will introduce students to the methods used for evaluating underwater habitats and the kinds of information that can be learned from those efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Taylor Galaviz, Sandra Metoyer

One goal of science HQIM is to engage students in the science and engineering practices in relevant ways. Participants will explore ways to increase student engagement and meet the needs of diverse learners by creating meaningful outdoor learning experiences and integrating them into HQIM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to implement standard aligned lessons that engage students with HQIMs and outdoor learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Jimenez, Kylie Martin, Lindsay Duet, Jenni Frick

Come engage in an earth science activity about geologic time periods (MS-ESS1-4) and a biology activity about cell membranes (MS-LS1-2) to explore how to make science relevant for their students. We will also demonstrate and discuss strategies for increasing the relevance of any NGSS lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience two examples of how we make science relevant for our students. We will also discuss tips and strategies for increasing relevance in any lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Alexa Clements, Jesse Wilcox

Join award-winning science educator Griff Jones and members of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center to explore engaging demos, behind-the-scenes tours of crash tests, and video-supported, inquiry-based activities from the IIHS’s web-based “Crash Science in the Classroom” program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover STEM design challenges (Crash Cushions, Egg-Carrying Paper Car Crashes, Project Pedestrian) and other classroom-tested lessons plans, teacher/student tips videos, lab sheets, and answer keys to teach crash-related science and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Pini Kalnite, Griff Jones

Transform your assessment tool into a powerful instrument for enhancing learning. Designed for educators from K-16, with an aim to streamline the grading process, make rubrics strengths-based, differentiable across all levels, and centered on developing transferable skills. Bring your own rubric!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with their own revised rubric that not only simplifies grading but also fosters student engagement and achievement. They will discover ways to provide constructive, actionable feedback that drives improvement and facilitates student growth.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore

After a year of diving into the implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum, learn about our experience. We will share reflections on the experience in implementing OpenSciEd through a curriculum-based professional learning model to foster collective efficacy and curriculum implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn pros and cons, and strategies for a “ripping off the Band-Aid” approach to curriculum implementation, including analysis of curriculum-based professional learning for student and teacher growth; partnership and coaching for ongoing implementation support.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Wlodarczyk, Julie Christianson

We will go through a set of hands-on, physical and digital experiences to learn how objects vibrate and make sound, and how that sound can be turned into music. Participants will get access to free curriculum resources and digital tools created by music neuroscientist and sound artist, Victor Minces

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to use everyday objects and free digital tools to explore the science of sound and music. You will create beats and sound compositions, and tune an orchestra made with beakers and water as an anchoring phenomenon to bring to your students.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

We will be sharing activities for a 6-8 aligned unit on force and motion. The activities will include: a hands-on activity with technology to collect and analyze data that will aid in calculating speed and a hands-on activity using technology to graph motion in real time.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience physics fun for 6-8 Science as they apply to the new standards. We will use Hot Wheels to collect data to calculate speed and create motion graphs using hands-on technology.

SPEAKERS:
Becky Walker, Amy Rush

During this session, participants will discuss the significance of artificial intelligence, belonging and culture in STEAM learning. Additionally, participants will obtain and practice using a tool to include culturally inclusive practices in STEAM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Why are culturally inclusive strategies important in STEAM classrooms? How can you use AI and belonging strategies that challenge and engage a diverse group of learners? In this session, we will reveal a planning tool that you can use to support learner success in STEAM classroom settings.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor

Sponsoring Company: PlayVS

Exploring the integration of esports and well-being - delves into how integrating esports in school can enhance student engagement, foster teamwork, and cultivate strategic thinking and a sense of belonging for the digital generation.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Tam

Serious game and simulations provide an engaging strategy for digital students to make decisions about planning for the future in spite of the uncertainties of climate change and extreme weather. Learn ways to use environmental game design as an instructional strategy in any classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn about where to find accurate science-based games and simulations online through national science agencies like NOAA. They will also learn about strategies and resources to help them develop new games with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen

Let’s work together to figure out how to Problematize phenomena in ways that pose productive uncertainties that motivate students toward productive sensemaking throughout a task. Walk away with strategies, example problematized tasks, and tools to use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Analyze multiple tasks to understand what it means for a task to be problematized. Reflect on how this leads to increased engagement and opportunities for more equitable access for all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak, Sara Cooper, Kelley Turner

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive the learning.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel

This session will provide a conceptual framework for transdisciplinary learning and share a template for designing project-based learning tasks, in which students assume a role to create a product for an authentic audience and in response to a real-life question or problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to create a transdisciplinary task that can be tailored to meet diverse students' interests and needs, utilized in practice with students, and shared with colleagues in their school building.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

How can we equip students with future-ready skills in a world of evolving technology? This hands-on session with LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime shows how students can analyze data, find patterns, and build evidence-based conclusions to tackle real-world challenges and excel in their future careers.

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Want to better understand your standards? In this session, we walk through the process of breaking down a standard using a learning progression protocol. This will result in teachers involved having an intensive understanding of their standards and a list of scaffolded student "skill" statements.

TAKEAWAYS:
A process and resources for walking through the process from standards/big ideas through scaffolded student skill statements.

SPEAKERS:
Delsey Olds

We will be sharing activities for a 6 & 8 Force, Motion, and Energy aligned unit using hands-on laboratory investigations, simulations and technology to compare the characteristics of amplitude, frequency, and wavelength in transverse and longitudinal waves, including the electromagnetic spectrum.

TAKEAWAYS:
The activities the participants will experience will include: a hands-on activity with technology to collect and analyze data by comparing the characteristics of amplitude, frequency, and wavelength in transverse and longitudinal waves, including the electromagnetic spectrum.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Rush, Becky Walker

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

"Dive into Earth's wonders! Our Earth Science workshop for teachers offers hands-on activities, expert insights, and teaching strategies to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding. Join us in exploring the dynamic systems of our planet!" Geology, Meteorology, Climate, Physical Geography!

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman

Immerse yourself in the power of explore-before-explain, even during "notes" days! Discover the magic of student-driven learning as we guide you through a sample lesson featuring an AI chat space and innovative note-making strategies. Transform direct instruction into dynamic, active learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
Toolkit with engaging strategies, intentional chunking, and AI tools, enhancing student sensemaking, particularly during direct instruction. Gain access to digital sample lessons, templates, and implementation tips for maximum impact and effectiveness.

SPEAKERS:
Elissa Griffin, Laurie Jack

Climate change is here. Come explore ways to teach about this that intersect with issues of justice and provide action for the future. This workshop will support educators in all grades and contexts, including those who can’t even say “climate change”!

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies for engaging in climate change and climate justice learning appropriate to grade band NGSS standards, climate and energy literacy standards, and for both school and community based learning contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell, Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler

Explorations provide a strategic and clear to engage students in learning science regardless of the curriculum implemented. Explorations create a framework for student learning and formative assessment that provide streamlined and effective opportunities for scaffolding and student-driven learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the components of the Exploration framework, examine its efficacy, and act as students moving through the exploration framework to learn about its ability to transform classroom learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Miller, Jennifer Miller

Calling all educators passionate about interdisciplinary learning! Dive deep into the rich waters of Rhode Island's quahogging and fishing industries as we explore the intricate web of stakeholders and its impact on coastal communities and the fragile marine ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to facilitate cross-curricular connections by learning how to design interdisciplinary units that integrate content from various subjects to foster deeper understanding and engagement and how to create student investment by focusing on local environmental issues.

SPEAKERS:
Yulie Lee, Caitlin Smith

Sensemaking is actively trying to figure out how the world works (science) or how to design solutions to problems (engineering). Students do science and engineering through the science and engineering practices. Engaging in these practices necessitates students be part of a learning community to be able to share ideas, evaluate competing ideas, give and receive critique, and reach consensus. Learn how to guide your own learning community and build an understanding of sensemaking with your team.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build an understanding of sensemaking and receive a toolkit to lead the session with other educators.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive deep into water's secrets! while harnessing the power of physical 3D models to unravel states of matter, polar covalent bonding, and beyond in an immersive journey from atoms to oceans.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt

Empower educators to inspire and support female students in STEM fields by showcasing women who have made significant contributions. Learn about their achievements, impact, and pathways to success to gain valuable insights and resources for guiding female students toward successful STEM careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain valuable insights and resources to inspire and support female students in STEM. By learning about the achievements, impact, and pathways to success of prominent women in STEM, educators will be equipped to encourage and guide their female students toward successful STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Harding

Create large scale models and diagrams on a wide variety of subjects in open spaces both on inside floors and outdoors. Learn how to get the most out of your school building spaces and engage your students’ interests using inexpensive materials and kinesthetic activities!

TAKEAWAYS:
You and your students will learn how to make and use large scale models to explore many scientific topics. Using materials like electrical tape, sidewalk chalk, rope and other simple materials, we will make and use large scale models of an ellipse, heart and body systems, cells, water cycle.

SPEAKERS:
David Ebersole

The session will cover culturally sustaining pedagogy and how to implement relevant teaching strategies within the science classroom to increase science identity in the urban classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to leverage pedagogy to help your students actualize themselves as scientists in the urban science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tasha Jordan

Attendees use acoustic data from marine soundscapes to assess the ecological dynamics, functions, and resilience of coral reef ecosystems. The activities incorporate concepts from physics, technology, and biology enabling learners to address conservation challenges using authentic data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sounds can be analyzed by frequency and amplitude - measures that serve as a “fingerprint” of a sound’s source including species identification and behavior. Because ecosystem health is entwined with biodiversity, bioacoustic monitoring is especially effective in marine environments.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller

Looking for ways to enhance a high-quality curriculum? This session provides teacher-tested strategies that can be used to augment a curriculum without adding more to a teacher’s plate. Come experience these practical, engaging strategies that help bring a curriculum to life!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a variety of classroom-tested strategies that can expand the menu of options for student-centered learning while covering the same material required within the curriculum used to teach standards.

SPEAKERS:
Missy Wooley, Cathi Cox-Boniol

Sponsoring Company: Science Bits

Learn why pre-assessment, summative assessment and formative assessments should form part of your lessons and how to make DQs, retrieval practice and formative assessment work for you and your students. This workshop includes roleplay and an internet enabled device is required.

SPEAKERS:
Paul Banti

In this session teachers will focus on implementing anchor charts into instruction to develop deeper scientific reasoning skills for students. Participants will create and modify anchor charts to show the progression of student learning and the deepening of scientific reasoning during learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Anchor charts can increase student scientific reasoning skills and teachers ability to assess student learning when used effectively. This session will demonstrate how to use anchor charts to increase student scientific reasoning skills.

SPEAKERS:
Morgan Dallas

This session will introduce teachers to a variety of note-booking techniques that will increase student engagement and excitement for learning. Students will take pride in their notebooks and therefore increase the level of effort they put into their work.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide teachers and administrators with various strategies to differentiate learning for English Language Learners, Special Education Students, and General Education Students, and accurately assess student learning through note-booking by tracking student thinking/understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells, Karen Ziminski

Gulf Shores City Schools teachers will share how we teach science to students through a district program called Science by the Shore. This program is an innovative approach to science instruction that inspires students to develop a love for our natural resources through outdoor place based learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how we use our school and surrounding community as a science lab and integrate social, emotional, and cognitive well being into teaching outdoors. We will share strategies and ideas for using their own school grounds as outdoor classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Sampley, Anthony Schaff, Krista Fleming

Teacher Leaders are the superheroes of education. In this session participants will investigate the Domain I of the Teacher Leader Model Standards. In this deep dive, modeling effective skills in listening, presenting ideas and leading discussions among colleagues will be addressed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of the Teacher Leader Model Standards, as well as ways to collaborate and support colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Jenne VandePanne, Jessica Wagenmaker

Come see how you can make a shift to storylines in your classroom where students make sense of phenomena, see how this motivates them to engage in science and engineering practices, and learn disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
How having students make sense of phenomena leads to greater engagement and better understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Whether you are brand new in education or just not as experienced with teaching science, this workshop is for you. Lifelong educators and science textbook authors Dr. Zipporah Miller and Dr. Mike Padilla will show you how you can be successful teaching Elementary or Middle School Science and love it

SPEAKERS:
Michael Padilla, Zipporah Miller

Dialogues are a conversation among two students. There are a number of ways dialogues can be presented. This session will show how dialogues can be used to find student preconceptions, misconceptions, introduce environmental issues, bring in historical events, and introduce concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the different types of dialogues and how to use them in the classroom from introducing a topic or as an assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ray Scolavino

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

A decomposing corpse is found in a field. Four possible missing persons fit the description. But who is it? Using clues near the scene will help determine identity. Forensic anthropologist Diane France helped to develop this free middle school and high school forensic science lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Erick Archer

How do we know which students of our students are figuring things out that they care about? Which students are contributing to knowledge-building in small groups? Join us to learn about a simple approach to using data from exit tickets with research-based strategies to promote more equitable partici

TAKEAWAYS:
Making formative use of exit ticket data on student experience can help all students experience instruction as more relevant and coherent from the student perspective. Key to improvement is testing research-based strategies for promoting more equitable participation in class.

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel, Melissa Campanella

Unleash student curiosity and transdisciplinary learning with Artificial Intelligence! Educators will discover practical strategies to ignite student interest in real-world responsible problem-solving leveraging the power of AI. Join us & empower the next generation of STEM innovators!

TAKEAWAYS:
STEM classrooms + AI = Empowered problem-solvers! Learn how educators can harness AI for research, analysis & design thinking, fostering responsible AI use in future innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Moni Singh

Participants will learn how to break down 3-dimensional standards for their grade level/content into the crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas and what mastery of the standard looks and sounds like in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of internalizing and breaking down 3-dimensional standards so that they can be more intentional when planning their lessons. Intentionally teaching the 3-dimensions leads to students getting more “at bats” doing science, which helps builds joy and investment.

SPEAKERS:
Melvenia Martin, Rachel Thomas-Little, Carlin Czerniak

Learn how to craft content language objectives (CLOs) that seamlessly blend the 3D of NGSS with the four elements of a language objective, providing insight into structuring targeted support.

TAKEAWAYS:
CLOs are a practical solution to the pressing challenge of addressing language proficiency as students access and engage with complex scientific concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Rowe

Students collaborate in small groups to design and develop a sustainable island with a universal theme utilizing various subject areas, seamlessly integrating STEAM standards. It fosters cross-curricular learning and real-world applications through project-based learning activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees learn how to implement project-based learning, cross curricular concepts, and real-world scenarios to actively engage and assess students throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Katharine Kintz

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Engage students in a real-world engineering challenge! Learn how students can design and test crash barriers with live collision data to explore the link between momentum and impact forces. Analyze the resulting data to improve upon further design iterations.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Add excitement to your class with live organisms! Explore how organisms find food and interact. Discuss how these two hands-on activities can be applied to younger students: How creatures find food, and to older students: Social behavior and inter-species interactions.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon, Alexandra Felts