The Framework for K-12 Science Education urges us to promote scientific literacy among all the nation’s people as a democratic ideal worthy of focused attention, significant resources, and continuing effort. Promoting equity and justice should be approached as a never-ending, detailed pursuit of collective liberation by everyone involved in education (Bell,2019). Science is about explaining phenomena. Doing so requires knowledge and creative imagination. The Minnesota Academic Science Standards (2019) require Minnesota Students to demonstrate proficiency in the science and Engineering Practices adapted from the Framework. How can science educators, especially in Minnesota, transform these practices into justice-centered, equitable practices for all students? In this presentation, we will review some of the tools and strategies, develop our capacity, and examine our collective mindset in advocating for justice-centered science education for all students in Minnesota.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science education devoid of justice-centeredness is a misrepresentation of the essence of science

SPEAKERS:
Angela Osuji

An essential scientific and engineering practice is having students develop and use scientific models, but it can be challenging to facilitate modeling to ensure students’ effective engagement and sensemaking. This workshop will demonstrate how to model with students in different formats and for various purposes. Modeling can be utilized in the classroom to assist students in making their learning visual and communicating scientific information. Engaging in modeling can also enhance student engagement and sense-making. The modeling process can also serve as a formative or summative assessment. During the workshop, teachers will engage in various types of modeling that they can implement in their classrooms. All information presented is based on research. This is listed as a 9-12 Earth and Space Science session since most examples will be from this area. Yet, the activities and information could also be utilized in middle school and other secondary disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will experience a variety of methods of modeling to utilize in their classroom that allow student learning of science concepts to be visualized. Leave this workshop with activities and pedological moves related to modeling that you can implement in your class immediately.

SPEAKERS:
Missie Olson, Haley Kalina

Join the Jeffers Foundation to explore biological and physical events in nature and their relationship with weather and climate. This is the science of Phenology. Humans and the diverse communities of animals and plants in Minnesota have adapted to cyclical weather and climate patterns that come with the changing of seasons. Learn more about Minnesota Phenology and better understand seasonal patterns through observation, investigation, and journaling exercises. Actively participate in lessons that have been developed by Minnesota educators to provide place-based experiences and elevate science instruction connected to seasonal phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with lesson ideas and materials ready to implement with your students on your school grounds and to help you and your students to think like scientists (cross cutting concepts) while working as scientists (practices) with real-world, tangible natural phenomena and seasonal patterns.

SPEAKERS:
David Grack, Haley Kalina

Do you need some fresh ideas for stories? Join us as we share some newer/recent stories that can support your existing science curriculum and provide a means for learning outside. Gain practical ideas on how to integrate the science and engineering practices using literature as a launching point for a science lesson. Learn how having your students experience outdoor lessons can build a sense of community and the local level and beyond. No matter how much outdoor space you have access to, discover ways to use what’s available to engage students in learning and exploring. Outdoor lesson ideas that can be used no matter what month of the year it is will be shared along with practical tips for how to find success.

TAKEAWAYS:
No matter what your outdoor setting is like, you will come away with ideas to implement outdoor lessons in your classroom next week. No matter what grade or curriculum you use, learn ideas that can fit into your existing curriculum and spark engagement and benefit students.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Jensen, Kim Benton

This session will bring together ESTEP participants and instructors with the purpose of sharing experiences, strategies, resources and phenomena! Come learn more about our program, and how participants have changed their approach to be student focused!

TAKEAWAYS:
ESTEP participants are leaders in Minnesota science education - come see what they are doing and how you can do it too!

SPEAKERS:
Dana Smith, Haley Kalina

Computer science is woven into the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science through benchmarks that emphasize modeling, data analysis, and computational thinking. Participants in this session will learn practical, flexible strategies to help them bring these concepts to life—regardless of grade level, setting, or access to technology. Participants will explore a real-world classroom example, engage in collaborative planning, and leave with tools to support meaningful integration of computer science into science instruction in ways that align with the Minnesota standards and support student inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Planning tools and ideas to support integrating computer science (including modeling, programming, and data science) into your K-12 science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Carter, Haley Kalina

Participants in this session will learn more about the Minnesota Science Standards that include the contributions of Minnesota Anishinaabe and Dakota Tribes and Communities, and resources developed and released through the Indigenous Education for All Students Initiative. During the session, participants will also collaborate with other educators in the same content area to brainstorm ways to use resources developed by Tribes in their area to support standards in their grade level and content area.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will focus on the Minnesota Science Standards that integrate the Contributions of Minnesota Anishinaabe and Dakota Tribes and Communities, and resources released through the Indigenous Education for All Students Initiative that are aligned to these standards.

SPEAKERS:
Angie Kolonich, Miranda Graceffa, Haley Kalina

This interactive workshop equips educators with the knowledge and tools to design and evaluate phenomena-based assessments aligned with 3D teaching and learning. Participants will explore what makes an assessment truly 3-dimensional, analyze existing assessment tasks, and engage with other educators in hands-on activities to revise or create tasks that support students in demonstrating understanding. This session supports educators in fostering deeper learning and meeting the expectations of Minnesota Science Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore tools and resources to support development of high-quality 3D classroom assessments and collaborate with other educators on best assessment practices .

SPEAKERS:
Judi Iverson, Jim Wood, Haley Kalina, Angie Kolonich

Science teachers are comfortable with teaching and assessing the content of courses (DCIs), but struggle with the how to teach and assess the SEPs and CCCs. This presentation will offer a framework and strategy for instruction and assessment of the SEPs (what scientists do) and CCCs (how scientists think) across a unit or even a course. Using the mindsets of feedback and continuous improvement, allow student to grow over time in these important components to become a science-thinking student citizen.

TAKEAWAYS:
The SEPs (what scientists do) and CCCs (how scientists think) should be emphasized and assessed across time.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Peterson, Haley Kalina

Minnesota’s 2019 Science Standards have separate benchmarks for chemistry and physics. Sounds great - but what do you do when the NGSS instead has “physical science “ and nationally available 3-dimensional curricula (built on the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas) don’t fully match with Minnesota’s specific benchmarks? Or feature local phenomena? In this session, we will explore how to select curricula aligned with the shifts of the 2019 standards - and how that process might have different “look-fors” than past curriculum adoptions. Using a variety of examples, we will also examine some of the points where textbooks, older top-notch resources, and exemplar materials aligned with national standards are likely to require some adaptation. Finally, we will reflect on what types of modifications are most important to serve student learning of the standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Minnesota’s physics and chemistry standards provide some unique challenges, but ultimately are best served by curricula that are-student driven and centered in making sense of phenomena and problems.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Voss, Haley Kalina

Meet fellow MnSTA members for a continental breakfast and networking. Sit with teachers from your region, discipline, grade level, or affinity group (e.g. preservice teachers). Hear a panel of Presidential and MnSTA teaching award winners and finalists share teaching ideas that inspire them. Pick up resources from Minnesota non-profit educational organizations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will meet educators from their region and teaching situation, share ideas over breakfast, and be inspired by accomplished teachers who share their teaching approaches and strategies.

SPEAKERS:
John Olson, Haley Kalina

Are you looking for dynamic and engaging ways to bring science to life for your students? Harness the powerful potential of outdoor learning in Minnesota to effectively teach and reinforce core science content standards through using local, place based phenomena. This session will especially focus on MN phenomena found North of Interstate 94. Interested in phenomena for South of 94, join our other session or attend both sessions! We will move beyond the traditional classroom and delve into practical, hands-on activities that leverage the natural world to foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a genuine appreciation for science and Minnesota's natural environments. This session will provide a framework for integrating outdoor learning seamlessly into your existing curriculum and local natural or urban areas or habitats. Participants will gain practical ideas, resources, and strategies for designing and implementing outdoor science lessons that align with standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
In a digital age, connecting students to nature is vital. This session empowers educators to use Minnesota-based phenomena to boost science literacy, foster stewardship, and spark learning through engaging outdoor experiences. The phenomena in this session will be mainly from north of Interstate 94.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Meagher, Elizabeth Cakebread, Haley Kalina

Are you looking for dynamic and engaging ways to bring science to life for your students? Harness the powerful potential of outdoor learning in Minnesota to effectively teach and reinforce core science content standards through using local, place based phenomena. This session will especially focus on MN phenomena found South of Interstate 94. Interested in phenomena for North of 94, join our other session or attend both sessions! We will move beyond the traditional classroom and delve into practical, hands-on activities that leverage the natural world to foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a genuine appreciation for science and Minnesota's natural environments. This session will provide a framework for integrating outdoor learning seamlessly into your existing curriculum and local natural or urban areas or habitats. Participants will gain practical ideas, resources, and strategies for designing and implementing outdoor science lessons that align with standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
In a digital age, connecting students to nature is vital. This session empowers educators to use Minnesota-based phenomena to boost science literacy, foster stewardship, and spark learning through engaging outdoor experiences. The phenomena in this session will be mainly from South of Interstate 94.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Meagher, Raymond Heinz, Haley Kalina

Teachers are likely familiar with the Science and Engineering Practices, but what do these look like in the classroom? We will model the practice of Asking Questions, with the focus on how this plays out in the classroom, from phenomenon, to developing and processing questions, to selection of questions for student investigations. Simple (and free) tools and strategies for making this work, for both teachers and students, will be utilized .

TAKEAWAYS:
Having students develop their own phenomenon-based questions for investigations is great - but then what? Experience how to honor and utilize student investigation questions while remaining sane in the process.

SPEAKERS:
Marlene Schoeneck, Haley Kalina