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

Join our design workshop to develop Check and Connect assessments (reimagined exit tickets) that support equitable sensemaking and 3D science learning for use in your classroom. These short formative assessments offer a meaningful way to build a caring culture around assessment, provide actionable information for you AND your learners, and support learners in developing their skill to transfer learning to new phenomena. You will walk away with some draft Check and Connects to assess students’ 3D learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gathering evidence about learners and their experiences through short, well-designed assessment opportunities builds meaningful relationships with learners and provides rich evidence to inform instructional moves.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner, Dawn Novak

Join us to learn about the new OpenSciEd program for elementary grades coming soon to a classroom near you. Learn how this instructional approach supports all students in figuring out complex science issues in their world through a coherent storyline. During the session, we’ll engage participants in a common, immersive curriculum-based professional learning experience, provide opportunities to explore key aspects of the instructional materials through video and consider how the OpenSciEd Elementary classroom agreements can support an inclusive classroom culture. 

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how the OpenSciEd Elementary instructional design supports three-dimensional science learning for all students and how classroom agreements can be used to support student belonging and sensemaking in science.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Janna Mahfoud, Yanira Vazquez

At OpenSciEd, our teams of experts work tirelessly to design materials for the latest research and we know YOU can make them even better. Our materials are released in editable formats because we value teacher experience and expertise. In this session you will work with some of our experts to “get under the hood” of OpenSciEd middle school units so you are better prepared to customize these materials for your classroom, building, or district. 

We will map your customization “why” to a customization “what” and “how.” Reasons for customizations may include better supporting relevance, engagement, equity, pacing, or standards alignment--and sometimes it's just about making it fit for you as an educator. Customizing lessons and units while keeping your eye on the learning goals, keeping student sensemaking at the center, and adjusting for how that change impacts other lessons and units; however, can get overwhelming. And sometimes the right changes to make aren't readily apparent.

We’ll share tools for helping you to clarify for yourself the reason a lesson or a unit needs customization, work through strategies for figuring out what the right customizations are to make to address this reason, and then dive in to making these customizations together with a community of like-minded collaborators. 

There will be additional support sessions throughout the conference to continue to work on the customizations that we start together during the Professional Learning Institute.

We've got the materials, you bring your brilliance, and we'll make magic!

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys, Renee Affolter, Austin Moore

Come join us to see how OpenSciEd’s materials can help you build science learning experiences anchored in compelling phenomena and in important community and global problems. This professional learning institute (PLI) will simultaneously prepare you to teach the first unit in the OpenSciEd biology course and provide the support you need to advance your practice so that learning is both driven by student questions and helps them develop proficiency with targeted three-dimensional science standards in life sciences and Earth and space science. To achieve this goal, this session will put teachers in “student hat” so they can feel what it’s like to be a student whose thoughts and questions help drive learning forward in the unit. We actually do science together with the facilitator acting as teacher and reflect on coherence in the unit by unpacking the storyline for the unit. We will open up and explore the structure of units for all three courses of OpenSciEd–biology, chemistry, and physics–and discuss the routines and resources to promote equitable science learning in high school. Follow-up sessions you can attend throughout the conference will dig deeper into other courses in OpenSciEd and provide practical strategies for implementing OpenSciEd in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson, Bill Penuel

District X educators will get together for fun, fellowship, and to to discuss what is needed in to move forward in science education for students as well as themselves.

Join us at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for an opening reception to mark the start of NSTA NOLA24! We’ll keep it casual—enjoy beverages and small bites while networking with old and new friends. The event is complimentary and open to all registered conference attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
NA

Educator, published author, and master storyteller Dr. Tommie Mabry will kick off the conference by sharing his inspiring journey—one full of hardship, self-realization, and redemption—from troubled youth to a renowned international speaker with attendees. His insightful session will provide attendees with a better understanding of why we are all dealing with so many students who are at risk, as well as specific strategies to engage ALL learners. Participants will learn how effective relationship building with children is fundamental for student and school success. Understanding the reason we teach, with special emphasis on the student, is the central theme of his presentation. Dr. Mabry will offer participants a refreshing look into the eyes of the students from his own experience as an at-risk student, as well as from being an educator.

SPEAKERS:
Tommie Mabry

Yoga lovers, join instructor Azra Chughtai for a session catering to all levels. Enjoy a gentle warm-up, vinyāsa-style yoga, deep stretching, and meditation. Beginner-friendly!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recharge: Energizing and Stress Relief

Navigate your first National NSTA Conference with ease! Join our session for an orientation to the conference, tips on selecting sessions, and an opportunity to meet other first-time attendees. We will share a few insider tips from experienced conference attendees and give an overview of the conference app. This session is structured so you can learn why you belong at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get the most out of your conference experience in addition to becoming an engaged learner.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Luft

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

Use A-I to create a fictional planet in order for students to make connections between settling on a foreign planet and early American civilization of Jamestown. How will you choose where to settle? How will your colony be sustainable? How do you ethically interact with native species?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees are going to learn how to utilize A-I by exploring settlement on a fictional planet mirroring Jamestown addressing sustainability, ethical interaction with natives, citizen science, robotics, and lessons for Earth's care.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wren, Lisa Robinson

The present-day Gulf of Mexico has long been known for its amazing diversity of sharks, rays, and skates. Join the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to learn a little known fact: Alabama leads the nation in extinct and extant shark species! Learn about and "dig" through coastal Alabama's geologic history!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about the paleontological history of northern Gulf of Mexico sharks, and why Alabama is a hot bed of past and present shark species, while giving attendees a chance to be amateur paleontologists by sieving their own northern Gulf coastal sands for evidence of this diversity.

SPEAKERS:
Greg Graeber

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

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

Discover BIOZONE’s new platform that combines digital replicas of our highly acclaimed print titles together with Presentation Slides , 3D models, and curated videos - thereby providing powerful options for delivering your high school science programs. Attendees each receive a FREE 1-year licence.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Allan

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

This session provides 5 lessons for 4th and 5th grade classrooms that supports students' awareness and making sense of lived experiences with climate change and climate change disasters toward development of 3D understanding of standards-aligned science knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to apply NGSS (and other standards frameworks) for a student-centered approach to science learning about local climate change hazards, solutions and concerns, while supporting conversations about community resilience.

SPEAKERS:
Ayca Fackler, Julie Luft

Experience a variety of engaging STEM activities that can be done in any science content class in 45 minutes or less.

TAKEAWAYS:
Expose your students to STEM skills through short, easy, and engaging STEM activities that can be completed in a single class period.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Posnanski, Jessica Kohout

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

This session is the first of a series of four - join for one or more - focused on early childhood science and language arts integration. Engage with concrete examples of interdisciplinary connections focused on life science. Part of the NSTA Early Childhood/Lower Elementary Science Pathway.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to plan and implement instruction that integrates early childhood life science and language arts learning targets with fidelity.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale

In this interactive lesson, participants become health advocates, analyzing and interpreting scientific research to propose effective solutions for barriers to prenatal care access.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will use scientific research to uncover how socioeconomic factors and policies impact healthcare while developing a deeper appreciation for the intersection of science and society and the role of scientific knowledge in addressing societal needs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Burkart

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

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Experience a hands-on model lesson from OpenSciEd for High School & discover how the Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, & safer for classroom use. Participate in the Serengeti board game from the Biology 1 unit.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort, Chris Coots

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: Edvotek

Explore the world of forensic science with these fun and exciting escape room activities! Try forensic blood detection and agarose gel electrophoresis experiments, decipher clues, and solve puzzles. Learn to design your own escape room to have students unravel the evidence and free the innocent.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Brian Ell

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

Immerse yourself in two intermediate grade units on Weathering & Erosion and Earth's Systems which integrate algorithmic thinking and student-generated models using block coding. Project {FUTURE} has co-designed CS-integrated curriculum units with teachers in CT and WI, available as OER.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our CS and Science integrated units are ready to use and benefit student learning in both areas. By building algorithms and programs, students model Earth System relationships in novel ways. Likewise, applying CS concepts in the context of science enhances meaning, rigor, and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Scianni, Christine Thorp, Darcy Ronan

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

Come to this engaging, hands-on session where we will use science activities to demonstrate effective professional learning practices! If you present at NSTA, facilitate professional learning, or just want to learn, this session is for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn specific practices they can incorporate into their NSTA presentations or professional learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott, Deanna Taylor, Leah Litz, Jesse Wilcox

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

The first step toward a cleaner tomorrow is to raise awareness about the plastic waste crisis, and small-scale recycling is a possible solution. Learn how IN MOCEAN and its Recycling Fleet are collaborating with others on a local level to set up micro recycling workspaces around the world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about IN MOCEANs global project and of the possibilities and potential of small scale recycling. With information about the process of plastic recycling and how anyone can get involved, one might be interested in setting up a recycling workspace in a school or community.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Zaidlicz Everett

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: LEGO Education

Learn how to inspire elementary and middle school students to see themselves in STEM careers. We’ll explore STEM professionals’ stories and share classroom resources co-created with experts in racing and ocean advocacy to bring hands-on, playful learning to life.

SPEAKERS:
Fumi Akimaru

Participants will engage in dynamic, hands-on science and technology activities, merging STEM concepts with popular children's books. Discover how interactive STEM and literacy activities can support and encourage the development of STEM career pathways in young learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will connect impactful STEM activities with children’s literature. They will be shown ways to strengthen equitable learning outcomes and foster excitement for career exploration. Educators will have the opportunity to explore lessons and will leave with materials for their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman

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

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby

Participants are invited to attend this session to engage in problem-posing, STEM-infused, standards-aligned mathematics and science activities. Learn strategies for helping students make real-world math and science connections, promote positive identities, and relate to real-life situations.

TAKEAWAYS:
The purpose of this session is to provide participants with an opportunity to learn strategies for purposefully infusing STEM in math and science instruction. Participants will explore standards-aligned activities and resources that promote the SEPS, the SMPS, and cross-curricular connections.

SPEAKERS:
Latrenda Knighten

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

Students must use discourse to engage with the Science and Engineering Practices, but what if students do not speak the language of instruction? Learn specific strategies and supports to create a welcoming environment for student language use and acquisition in inquiry-based science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the instructional practices designed to support language use for newcomer students in inquiry-based science. They will leave with ready-to-use strategies to implement in their classroom or district to support students who do not speak the language of instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kori Milroy, Chantell Windham, Niranjani Prabhakar, Sarah Millette

Let’s discuss how to incorporate problem-based learning and build female student’s academic self-efficacy in online STEM learning. Presenters will share barriers to implementing problem-based learning and the factors that relate to female student’s academic self-efficacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with practical applications for incorporating problem-based learning and building students’ academic self-efficacy in online learning to improve engagement and retention in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Lemster

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

This workshop addresses the NGSS by showcasing how designated ELD standards are embedded in an 8th grade integrated course and a 9th grade Physics in the Universe course. Both NGSS and ELD standards are in the model provided to the participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Long term English Language Learners are marginalized as they are denied elective courses by being placed in an ELD class. Research also shows that language is better acquired through experience, of which an NGSS class is the perfect setting for both science and language.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Shay Fairchild

Explore tailored strategies for secondary science teachers to differentiate instruction effectively for emergent bilinguals. Engage in hands-on activities and collaborative planning to enhance student comprehension and engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Differentiation strategies for emergent bilingual students in secondary science

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Borunda, Katherine Meraz

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

No curriculum is perfect out of the box. Explore how one district utilized a local frog expert to enhance a newly adopted curriculum. Let hands-on lessons inspire you to find your own Frog Guy, place student inquiry at the center, and go beyond a guest speaker. Extend your storyline and engagement!

TAKEAWAYS:
After a learner-lens experience with frogs, participants will gain insights in identifying areas within a unit storyline and developing customizations aligned to the NGSS and teaching practices to reach all learners. Participants will then have time to apply this process to their own organization.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Perrelli

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

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to facilitate deeper student understanding of mole ratios, stoichiometry, and limiting reactants. This hands-on activity uses common household chemicals to simplify setup and a Wireless Pressure Sensor to support live data collection and immediate data analysis.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

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

Investigating the motion of a pendulum will help your students understand gravity's effect on an object and Newton's First Law of Motion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to relate pendulums to Newton's first law of motion and determine how the motion of the pendulum is related to its length.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Diane Smith

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

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

How do forensic scientists find evidence in invisible ink? Students must think like both detectives AND scientists to find out! By capturing spectra of ink samples, students investigate electromagnetic radiation, explore light-matter interactions, and use mathematical models to calculate energy.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

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

Are you an educator eager to use podcasts in your classroom but aren’t sure where to start? Tinkercast will present practical tips on why and how to include podcasts in your science curriculum, including an introduction to TinkerClass, our FREE, easy-to-use NGSS-aligned Project-based learning tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how and why podcasts are so engaging, to ask questions about using podcasts in the classroom, and to leave the session feeling empowered to incorporate podcast learning into their classrooms right away.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Caban

Take a journey through the history of electromagnetic discovery. Learn how your class can recreate the experiments of some of history’s greatest scientists in your classroom as they discover the force of electromagnetism. Free MagLab Souvenir for every teacher!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how different scientists throughout history have contributed to our understanding of electromagnetism over the past 200 years and how the National Magnet Lab uses these breakthroughs to operate the world's strongest magnets.

SPEAKERS:
Carlos Villa

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

Science is for everyone. It forms the foundation for understanding the world around us, solving our most pressing global challenges, and shaping a brighter future. Explore the transformative power of investigating complex phenomena, solving real-world problems that matter to students, celebrating the brilliance of all our students, and exploring ways to create caring learning environments where it can happen.

SPEAKERS:
K. Renae Pullen

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: Edvotek

Unleash the power of gene editing with your students using REAL CRISPR-Cas technology to knock out colorful genes in E. coli. Identify successful knockout based on the color of the cells. Experiment by switching RNA templates and analyzing results, letting your students prove the specificity of CRIS

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Brian Ell

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: Activate Learning

Classroom communities make sense of what’s being investigated through discussions; it’s key to ensuring all students’ ideas are shared and valued. This session focuses on discussion types used to help draw out student ideas, negotiate and refine them, and support communicating in scientific ways.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft, Tracy Marmolejo, Vanessa Evans

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

Please join us for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the exhibit hall, featuring companies with services, support, and resources for science educators.

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: miniPCR bio

Molly the Labradoodle has surprise puppies. Students use Punnett squares and DNA gel electrophoresis to track the furnishings trait and determine the father. Mendelian genetics has never been this cute!

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, PhD

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

Discover the latest and greatest science and STEM teaching and learning resources, tools, and products available during this break in concurrent sessions.

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

Explore the storyline of the newly released OpenSciEd Unit 5.1 How does a nurse log help other things live and grow? and see how students leverage connections to ELA and math as they investigate and make sense of ecosystems and matter cycling.

TAKEAWAYS:
OpenSciEd Elementary units provide significant opportunities for students to explicitly connect with grade-level mathematics, reading, writing, speaking & listening, and language standards in service of their science sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Gen Zoufal, Cathery Yeh, Gail Housman, Amy Belcastro

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

Far too often, equity efforts are relegated to the sidelines instead of being embedded in core curriculum leadership tasks. Join us to consider how anchoring science leadership in equity principles can remove barriers to science teaching and learning through curriculum implementation efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
The implementation of HQIM can lead to more equitable systems when barriers to equity are confronted and removed. The process of confronting barriers includes collaborating for justice, taking small actions to learn, and continual reflection and revision of implementation plans based on data.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Jenine Cotton-Proby, Janna Mahfoud

The H-S-R Model anchors regular lessons with a multifaceted phenomenon (hub) from which all concepts (spokes) both derive and refer in the dynamic of comprehensive learning (rim). Representing a bicycle tire, the model uses “centripetal force” to contextually relate all spoke-concepts to the hub.

TAKEAWAYS:
Relating concepts back to a single phenomenon in the H-S-M Model provides continually meaningful context for the diverse topics of a genetics course and results in overall improved course coverage and knowledge retention.

SPEAKERS:
John Doucet

It is powerful to connect science instruction to local phenomena and community priorities—but it is challenging work! Join us to explore benefits and cautions of adapting OpenSciEd instructional materials to local contexts and to learn multiple strategies for localization of resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with practical strategies and resources to adapt OpenSciEd effectively, making science education more culturally relevant, engaging, and impactful for their students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson, William Penuel

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

In this session, participants will explore ecology, conservation, and the cultural significance of the diamondback terrapin in the Chesapeake Region through an integrated Indigenous and Western scientific curricular framework that was designed for, and tested in, science education methods courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating Indigenous Knowledges into science teacher education reframes science and science education to highlight scientific practices that prioritize ecocentrism, ethics, and interconnectedness and fosters culturally responsive and inclusive environmental literacies among science teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Green

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

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards, especially if they vary significantly from the NGSS. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, and adapting Storylines units. Come to this session to apply a BSCS design tool that can be used for adaptation.

Please note: space is limited.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack and compare target standards by clarifying key ideas, listing prerequisites and challenges, and considering what students should “figure out” and not just “learn about." Consider and share how to apply tools and processes for adapting HQIM in your local context.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Klein, Jean Flanagan

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

This session is the second of a series of four - join for one or more - focused on early childhood science and language arts integration. Engage with concrete examples of interdisciplinary connections focused on Earth and space science. Part of NSTA Early Childhood/Lower Elementary Science Pathway.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to plan and implement instruction that integrates early childhood Earth and space science and language arts learning targets with fidelity.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale

The Question Formulation Technique (QFT), created by the Right Question Institute, will be explored in a hands-on, multidisciplinary, teacher-to-teacher training session exploring “How can we work together on creating more opportunities for all students to ask their own questions?”

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will give educators a proven and novel instructional strategy, and teachers who participate in the session will understand the mechanics of the QFT strategy, have experience practicing the QFT strategy, and obtain concrete examples of how to use the QFT strategy in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Connolly, Maureen McGrail

Have you ever been to an escape room? Want to turn your classroom into the same experience and not just have kids open envelopes? This session will show you an escape room designed for the Physics classroom and tools to help build your own on a concept of your choosing in any Science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will help you see the actual thought behind the puzzle making for a meaningful escape room and how it transforms the learning and engagement of students when you bring the room to life. This style of assessment has proved to have the best engagement of any strategy we have used.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Brown

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

How do scientists study Earth’s historical climate? Are ice cores the only source of data? The fossil record can provide insight into cyclical changes in Earth’s climate. Teamwork, data analysis, and more scientific skills are used to analyze fossil data to study ocean temperature and level changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will receive hands-on activities that use fossil evidence which indicates changes in ocean temperatures and levels, showing fluctuations in Earth’s climate over time. Activities can be easily modified based on the needs of the teacher and grade level.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Ewald

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Come along as we undergo a rigorous student experience to work through a complex investigation. Throughout the course of the session, participants will discover the importance of fostering an environment that encourages challenge where students can struggle in a safe space.

SPEAKERS:
Koi Beard, Nicole Harvey

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

Discover innovative strategies for creating inclusive, problem-driven learning environments in science education, leveraging antibias principles for student empowerment that integrates students' life experiences into the curriculum, fostering representation and ensuring all voices are valued.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effectively incorporate antibias education strategies into STEM curricula to create more inclusive, engaging, and representative learning environments that empower all students.

SPEAKERS:
Neotha Williams, Jennifer Munoz

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

Department of Defense scientists and engineers are the bedrock of our nation’s most advanced technology and research breakthroughs, including virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and more! Join us as we explore multiple STEM career pathways supported by DoD STEM’s network of partners in academia, i

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use career resources on DoD STEM’s website to support students in envisioning themselves as future STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason, Dr. Whitney White, Rebecca Stanley

This presentation will explore the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into secondary education curricula, aiming to provide educators and administrators with actionable strategies, demonstrate the potential benefits, and discuss the necessary frameworks for implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to effectively integrate AI tools into secondary curricula, equipped with practical steps, proven strategies, and a network of resources to begin their own implementation processes.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby

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

Photons of electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths are collected by telescopes and processed using computers. Scientists use image analysis software to analyze the data and construct unique models of the data, including stars and galaxies, while maintaining the integrity of the underlying data.

TAKEAWAYS:
All our knowledge of stars and galaxies is determined by spectroscopy - the analysis of radiation emissions, including radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, gamma and X-ray. Knowledge of spectroscopy is essential to understanding the processes producing the individual wavelengths.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young

Elementary-age children come to science learning with expansive resources that we must leverage for sensemaking. If you are considering adapting or creating your own instructional materials, join us as we learn to frame investigations from students lived experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many curriculum materials minimize elevating students’ brilliance with teacher directed, pre-designed activities. COESEE envisions classrooms where students’ ideas are foregrounded andn learning is centered in students’ lived experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Starr, Carla Zembal-Saul, Miranda Fitzgerald

Space Rocks! Making heads and tails of rocks in space. Comets, meteors, asteroids? What’s the difference? We will use high-engagement strategies to help our students understand the difference between these windows to our galactic past.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will depart with tested lessons, prepared background information, and complete resources for hands-on labs, and three engineering-based STEM projects that incorporate Earth's place in space and human-created systems to make predictions and establish patterns.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Walker

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

Elementary teaching can be very busy. This session will have engaging activities and practical strategies for making time for elementary. We will provide examples of long-term investigations, how science can be a foundation for math/literacy, how teachers can utilize science station work, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn practical strategies and see examples of making time for science in elementary.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott, Deanna Taylor, Leah Litz, Jesse Wilcox

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

Learn how one educator used cross-curricular PBL units to help students understand the effects of climate change while staying solution focused. In one unit students wrote and proposed climate driven migration legislation. The other explored ocean acidification through science fiction writing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with two ready to use units developing climate literacy as well as real life examples of how to use PBL in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Plowman

Humans’ arms race with pathogens shaped history and influences life today. Understanding the evolutionary ecology of diseases, including H1N1 flu, COVID and HIV, that infect two or more species is vital to understanding current and future threats to individual and public health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use our fascinating relationships with infectious disease in demonstrating the importance of evolutionary and ecological concepts in medical practice, public health, and students’ lives.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine

Research has shown that real-world performance is how students learn best. Using Performance Assessments allow teachers to genuinely assess students with a task that closely mirrors the responsibilities of a scientist and elevates the learning to higher-order thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Speakers will identify the goals of performance-based assessments, provide structure and examples for development, and discuss the real-classroom applications. Participants will work to develop a performance assessment that can be used in the classroom of the core sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Judd

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

Louisiana's 9-12 CTE aligned STEM pathways for both college & non-college bound students. After 7 years innovations, data, student course choices, & programs are emerging. Computing , Pre-health & Pre-veterinary , Pre-Engineering, Digital Design & Emergent Media, & Enviro Protection/Sustainability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will get research data on the success of 5 CTE/STEM pathways, take-aways on using state/federal funds, ideas for curriculum, and models for schools to implement vetted Louisiana curriculum. Participants will learn how to maximize their resources to offer a pathway.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Mixon

Join a STEM Town Hall Meeting session leveraging two decades of data to explore sustainable strategies for fostering teachers' growth. Discover evidence-based approaches applicable across schools, districts, and states, with a particular focus on culturally relevant and responsive teaching in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
This event promises to equip you with actionable insights drawn from research, offering valuable guidance for advancing teaching practices and promoting equitable access to quality STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Luria Young, Katrin Smith

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

Learn how the Central Indiana Educational Service Center provided Indiana educators an opportunity to elevate their teaching and ignite their creativity with Teacher Industry Experiences in Indiana (TIE-IN), an exclusive initiative designed to bridge the classroom with the dynamic world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain insights into how they can create their own teacher industry experiences in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Hilton

Racism is prevalent in our society. Participants will examine resources for engaging students in respectful and productive activity that contrast the social construct of race with scientific understandings of genetics. Examples of how science education can be a form of social justice will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Anti-racism work in science education is difficult. Resources to support teachers in engaging in controversial topics will be examined and used by participants to rehearse effective pedagogical moves in engaging in classroom discussions of racism and science. Curricular resources will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler, Michal Robinson, Jeanne Chowning

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

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, such as designing a hand pollinator, students will not only see how to unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Get classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera, Melissa Rogers, Chris Coots

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

Restorative circles as a cornerstone of classroom culture builds safe, equitable spaces for students to thrive. After a short introduction we will participate in several circles and see how easy it can be to make this a part of your pedagogy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Restorative circles as a cornerstone of classroom culture builds safe, equitable spaces for students to thrive. Atendees will particpate in circles and leave with a list of prompts to use in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Mallory

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

Bring your computers and join this workshop to explore innovative approaches to enhance science instruction and support teacher effectiveness through personalized learning and AI technology. Develop and share practical examples and leave empowered to transform your science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to integrate personalized learning and AI technology into science instruction. Through hands-on exploration of personalized curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment practices, educators will leave equipped to transform their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Bonnie Diehl

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

What happens when you cook an egg? Is it possible to un-cook it? Investigate the characteristics of amino acids, the levels (and rules!) of protein folding, and how denaturing a protein alters its function in an engaging investigation of the Amino Acid Starter Kit.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt

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

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Why are some coral and fish species disappearing? In this 3D lesson, students investigate how climate change impacts interdependent relationships in aquatic ecosystems. Help your students ask questions, define problems, and use sensors to investigate how excess CO2 affects ocean and freshwater pH.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, will explore ideas for using recent NASA and NOAA data for recent extreme-weather-related phenomena, such as heat domes and severe flooding, to anchor storylines that make climate science relevant and engaging for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The 2023-2024 severe weather events, analyzed with NASA and NOAA data, can drive climate-related storylines that can engage students and prepare them for assessments for the HS-ESS2-4 and HS-ESS3-1&5 performance expectations, covering climate systems, natural disasters, and environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession

Switch Classroom is a great resource to use in agriculture courses whether the topic is biofuels, land use, or transportation. Incorporating videos, print resources, and activities on Switch Classroom, agriscience teachers can access the latest accurate unbiased energy information.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the wide variety of topics and curricular materials available on Switch Classroom to supplement their agriscience courses. Interactive lessons, videos, and activities that bring unbiased and accurate information on energy use and demand in ag will be demonstrated.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Daniels

Learn how to engage your students with the rich phenomena of a runner that fails to maintain homeostasis, using an open-source NGSS-driven unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will deepen their understanding of how to use phenomena-driven three-dimensional instruction to attend to student interest and relevance, develop a clear vision for how to use modeling to teach homeostasis, and will learn how to access, use, and a use, and adapt a free EQuIP-reviewed unit.

SPEAKERS:
Devin Foschi, Joy Otibu

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

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Use gel electrophoresis to investigate if someone was wrongfully convicted. Based on the principles from the FBI’s CODIS system, this forensics investigation allows your students to make connections between DNA analysis and its uses in the criminal justice system. Inspired by the Innocence Project.

SPEAKERS:
Rose Chaffee-Cohen

Are you an NSTA member that resides in District VII (Arkansas, Louisiana, or Mississippi)? If so, we invite you to attend this gathering to meet the District VII Director and hear what initiatives are taking place throughout the district. Come network with other passionate educators and feel free to share various highlights from your career with the group.

In the United States, 9.34% of African Americans earn science degrees compared to other ethnicities. As a result, African Americans are not adding to scientific innovation or global competitiveness. Underrepresentation in science fields has been a challenge for African Americans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Parent knowledge about science is critical to increasing the number of African American scientists in the United States. According to the lived experiences of this study's participants, the parent component was the most influential factor in African Americans becoming scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Charlese Brown, Ed.D.

We will explore expansive ways we can notice students’ sensemaking assets and use those ideas to engage students in deeper learning. This session supports educators who are exploring modification or creation of instructional materials to better serve all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore the expanded ways of communicating and negotiating meaning children use as they engage in sensemaking at all ages. Work with us as we share ways to becoming more attuned to the multiple ways children engage in meaning making

SPEAKERS:
Mary Starr, Miranda Fitzgerald

Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Graham, Hannah Meyer, Kristina Stensaas

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

Want to complete rigorous experiments with your multilingual learners? Learn about successful strategies, scaffolds, and structures which can be used for all levels of learners, increasing accessibility and creating an environment where hands-on learning is not only possible, but preferred!

TAKEAWAYS:
English Learners are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. However, access to quality training in how to teach our ELs is limited. Through this session, educators will explore strategies and structures that can be used to better assist ther ELs in the scientific process.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Salonga

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

Want to create an environment where students see themselves as scientists and create independent capable scientific researchers, while exploring real-world scientific problems AND maintain your commitment to rigor? The bioplastics investigation and other projects shared here might be your answer.

TAKEAWAYS:
It is possible to increase student engagement with project-based chemistry explorations while still maintaining content and rigor. Tackling real-world chemistry problems can create a model environment for students and faculty to learn alongside one another while fostering key 21st-century skills.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Sullivan

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Help students investigate properties of common kitchen chemicals using pH and CO2 sensors and explain differences using evidence. Using what they discover, students design their own baking powder and test it against commercial products.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

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

Sponsoring Company: Adventerra Games

Come play Global Warning, a cooperative board game from Adventerra Games. Learn how to work together to solve local and global climate problems, and learn strategies to mitigate climate change. Workshop includes results from a new Michigan State study of learning gains associated with this game.

SPEAKERS:
Bryan Mundell, Peter White, Sue Mundell

Discover practical strategies for integrating AI in education in this workshop and explore innovative lesson designs to engage students interactively. Resources, tips, and bad puns will be provided to all attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
Artificial intelligence is here to stay. By experiencing an AI-focussed lesson from the student perspective, educators will leave with a better sense of the potential for this incredible new tool in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby, Jessica Dobrin