Join us to explore how to teach climate change from a human centered perspective; engaging students in place-based, equity-centered science education that inspires and engages beyond the science classroom. Using Climate Generation’s resources, we will discover how climate education can build connections between classrooms, communities and the environment, and inspire sustainable thinking and action. Attendees will be introduced to activities from two multi-lesson units, Climate Generation’s newly revised Next Generation Climate and Experience Energy curricula, that integrate NGSS-aligned climate education with culturally sustaining teaching practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to identify age-appropriate ways to engage students in climate change education, describe strategies for connecting climate learning experiences to community-centered and national current events, and use Climate Generation’s resources to explore and practice climate education.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Hefferan

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

Join us for this interactive, student-perspective workshop that immerses participants in an interdisciplinary placemaking unit taught in a 4th-grade New Orleans science and art classroom. Rooted in the realities of climate change and water pollution, this NGSS-aligned session models how to integrate science, art, literacy, social studies, and engineering to explore local environmental issues driven by climate change. Participants will engage with student drawings of local lakes, read and discuss excerpts from our comic Monsters in the Lake, and build simple water filters inspired by NASA’s design process to simulate hands-on engineering investigations. Through this experiential session, educators will reflect on strategies for integrating climate literacy in ways that are locally grounded and linguistically relevant, connecting to students’ diverse ways of being and knowing. Leave with adaptable curriculum resources and renewed inspiration to make climate change instruction empowering.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to design and implement interdisciplinary, place-based climate change lessons that integrate science, art, literacy, social studies, and engineering while honoring students’ cultural and linguistic assets to make learning personally meaningful and locally relevant.

SPEAKERS:
Andree Champagne, Ayca Fackler

How can we discuss difficult environmental realities with children in ways that are honest and empowering? This session presents the research-based 5Es of Eco-Action, a framework to support environmental action by fostering agency and solution-focused thinking. The climate emotion and environmental stewardship experiences of 6-11-year-old children are often overlooked. We undertook research focused on this group to understand how eco-anxiety affects motivation for pro-environmental behaviours. From this we developed the 5Es of Eco-Action framework that supports environmental learning while helping children process their emotions. In this session, attendees will be introduced to the framework and participate in hands-on activities. Practical tools and real-world examples will be explored. Educators will leave with fresh insights and ready-to-use strategies to support children in becoming confident, caring environmental stewards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with an understanding of the 5Es of Eco-Action (Empathy, Education, Excitement, Environmental Stewardship, Empowerment) and how this framework can be applied in the classroom to support children in becoming confident, caring environmental stewards.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Doyle

This session explores the pivotal role teacher beliefs play in shaping students' attitudes, understanding, and actions related to climate change mitigation. Drawing on current research and classroom practice, we will examine how educators' personal and professional beliefs about climate science, environmental responsibility, and pedagogical approaches can directly influence student engagement, critical thinking, and climate-positive behaviors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whether you're a classroom teacher, curriculum developer, or education leader, this session will provide insights into how cultivating informed and reflective teaching practices can inspire the next generation of climate stewards.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Luna

This interdisciplinary session will focus on putting climate science in a social perspective, first by examining the trends over the past 200 years that correlate to climate change (population growth, fossil fuel use and changing land use) and then by examining the relative vulnerability of different countries to climate change impacts (sea level rise, severe weather and agricultural loss) After a brief introduction, participants will engage in a global simulation activity to determine how countries differ in terms of amount of carbon emitted and vulnerability to several climate-related risks. Small groups will then analyze sets of visual data (graphs, infographics, articles and satellite imagery) to identify relationships between human activities, greenhouse gas emissions, temperature rise, ice melt and sea level rise. The group will discuss paths to a sustainable future. Participants will receive lesson plans aligned to NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to create and implement interdisciplinary lesson plans that explore how climate trends relate to human activities, and how climate change is affecting different communities, and paths to a sustainable future.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Buttles

The National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) is partnering with NOAA to provide educator resources for formal and informal education audiences to build environmental literacy. Learn about a wide array of resources to help middle and high school teachers use data-rich resources for investigations in the physical, Earth and biological sciences, providing pathways for students to become informed planetary citizens. Find out how to engage your students in discovering the natural world and make informed decisions regarding environmental issues. Learn about virtual reality simulations, resources that use archived and real data and student tutorials in sea level rise, coral reefs, GPS, tides, ocean currents and estuaries.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive a wide variety of resources with links to online resources.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen

I am incorporating the assessment "Better Bioreactors" to a unit called "What is killing life in the Gulf?" Students are determining what is causing dead zones and then adding bioreactors will help students to think about solutions to the problem. This gathers student thinking and ends with students modeling their learning and thoughts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will discover that having students investigate the phenomenon by scaffolding with real-world problems leads to higher engagement and deeper thinking for the students.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Wiedrich

This presentation will explore the intersection of 3D learning applied to support sense-making around climate science and global change, emphasizing how integrated, hands-on approaches can enhance understanding of human and non-human influences on complex environmental systems. It will highlight crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas within the context of climate-change and related global change phenomena. Through models and real-world data, the presentation will demonstrate how students can engage in evidence-based reasoning about global change, climate impacts, and sustainability solutions. The goal is to foster critical thinking and informed action on pressing environmental challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Understanding Global Change conceptual framework uses 3D learning to empower student sense-making around climate change, global change, and sustainability, by connecting scientific practices, core ideas, and real-world data to inform critical thinking and evidence-based action.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine

This session empowers educators to teach climate change through children’s literature that inspires hope, resilience, and action. By integrating emotionally engaging stories with climate science, we help young learners understand environmental challenges while fostering a proactive, optimistic mindset. Participants will explore curated resources—including book lists, lesson plans, and activities—that connect scientific concepts with relatable narratives and emphasize individual and collective agency. The session also offers guidance on navigating difficult topics in age-appropriate ways and encouraging community engagement projects that extend learning beyond the classroom. Through collaboration, we are building a network of educators, authors, and advocates committed to cultivating a generation of informed, compassionate climate stewards. Join us in reimagining climate education as a hopeful, action-oriented journey for children.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use children’s literature to teach climate change in developmentally appropriate ways that foster hope, resilience, and student agency, while accessing ready-to-use resources that connect science concepts with meaningful storytelling and community action.

SPEAKERS:
Lorianne Donovan, Carissa Haug

Utilize updated computer modeling with students to test assumptions, play, and build an intuition of how complex earth and human systems interact. Pair this with a lesson sequence that explores published fiction using a simple journaling and class discussion technique. The sequence results in students creating dispatches from these futures to meld their climate understandings with creative narratives. These students will go on to build the future - they should have some practice creating better ones.

TAKEAWAYS:
Build confidence in helping students personalize what climate modeling means for their own life.

SPEAKERS:
Luke Gliddon

My Taiwan Fulbright-Hays experience inspired me to incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all my courses (Environmental Science, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology). The SDGs help to teach our students through the lens of interdisciplinary challenges that are part of all our lives. This session will include examples of how I have integrated the SDGs and Climate Action into the standard curriculum for grades 9-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Examples will be provided as to how to incorporate the UN SDGs into a high school science class, including elective courses (Environmental Science, Anatomy & Physiology) as well as core science classes with a more stringent curriculum (Biology, Anatomy & Physiology).

SPEAKERS:
Kristina Hayda

Use demos to talk about resources and environmental sustainability, with copper as a specific example and a focus on the impact of resource acquisition and resources to highlight the depth and complexity of these issues. Participants will observe a copper vein set up they could use in class. This single replacement reaction has some interesting steps and the chemistry that occurs will be discussed. Then the decomposition of malachite will be discussed along with extracting copper by smelting and an analysis of energy used. These reactions give an opportunity to discuss chemistry, geology and environmental science. The idea of the “rock footprint” and how much raw material is needed will be explored. The Berkeley Pit (in Butte) will be one reference point. Resources provided will help students understand the challenges faced when balancing competing interests. The timeline and impact of mining in various areas will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental impacts of mining from raw material acquisition to processing energy to site clean-up, with an emphasis on the chemistry and sustainability of current practices. Leave with several labs, a classroom activity to highlight the physical impacts of mining, and enthusiasm for recycling.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

Come discover how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all three dimensions of the NGSS to your earth and environmental science teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science and Engineering Practices. Take away free tips and resources that you can use immediately to bring NGSS to life in your classroom! This session will demonstrate a wide variety of materials using free simulations and resources developed by The Concord Consortium over decades of NSF funding. Participants will explore free, open source interactive earth and environmental models and learn how they can be used to enhance use of three-dimensional learning in the classroom, with a particular emphasis on use of the Science Practices. Examples and hands-on interaction will engage participants in using models and simulations for powerful NGSS-aligned teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all three dimensions of the NGSS to their earth and environmental science teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science and Engineering Practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey

[Note: I can modify this into a keynote aligned with NSTA/NMEA ocean literacy position statement if you’d prefer.] Teach the Hope is an ocean/environmental literacy strategy every teacher around the country can employ. First, I introduce environmental literature specifically written for children and youth. These books address climate change, plastic marine debris, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and endangered species. But these books also introduce worthy mentors – mentors who are the hope because they serve as civic role models, respecting their connection to nature. Students identify with them because they are often young and begin alone with little or no money, blazing a trail through unchartered territory. These mentors help students appreciate their role in nature. Next, participants test a variety of experiments, demonstrations, and activities integrating STEM and literacy designed not only to teach environmental science, but to offer hope to our students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Today’s media tends to focus on depressing environmental headlines because bad news sells. And our students are listening. In this workshop, I help educators recognize hope and share it with their students to empower rather than paralyze. All activities free for participants’ classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Newman

This session offers a detailed look at using virtual reality to help middle school students explore real-world water challenges. We examine the rationale behind VR-based learning—why immersing students in digital environments can deepen their understanding and empathy regarding climate change and water scarcity. Next, we discuss the necessary classroom setup, including device options, low-cost alternatives, and troubleshooting tips to ensure smooth implementation. We then walk through the main features of a VR-centered unit, highlighting how to align activities with curriculum standards, scaffold student inquiry, and connect these lessons to sustainability issues. We share observations about student engagement, project pacing, and safety considerations along the way. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for planning VR lessons, practical solutions for managing technology, and strategies to help students feel responsible for addressing critical environmental issues.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain knowledge of VR-based lessons tackling environmental issues, meet curricular goals, and use technology to transfer these skills to other areas or science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Constance Leung, Yujiro Fujiwara

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that increases global warming. Agriculture is the top source of methane emissions, and enteric methane production from livestock accounts for a significant amount of agricultural methane. The objective of this study is to identify plants that could be added as feed additives in a cow’s diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. There is an effect on methane emissions with plants containing compounds like lipids, polyphenols, and tannins. One part of the study was running in vitro trials to determine how much total gas and methane is produced. The other part was running sequential fibers to determine the digestibility of these plants. We found that some plants reduce methane production, and others do not. White willow and peanut skins were the most effective in reducing enteric methane. With further testing and trials, the most effective plants in this in vitro study could be used as dietary supplements and help reduce methane emissions from dairy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issue of methane emissions from enteric fermentation process of dairy animals and discuss ways to reduce them through dietary supplements and feed additives made from locally available plant sources. These supplements also help keep the animals healthy.

SPEAKERS:
Ivanka Sonkusare

Youth need opportunities to learn about green colonialism and how Native Science and Indigenous sovereignty are fundamental to addressing the climate emergency. Workshop participants will engage in talk activities designed to support non-Indigenous youth in learning and processing these topics.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will support educators in understanding that climate experts across the globe are calling for the broad recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and climate expertise as fundamental to mitigating climate change and building a just future.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler, Philip Bell

Come along as we explore extreme weather and avalanches. We know avalanches are inevitable, but how can we limit their impact on forests and people? This session is built around an NGSS-designed lesson sequence targeting 3-LS3-2, with an emphasis on student modeling, explanation, and collaboration. Attendees will create and test their model to immerse themselves in a performance assessment. Discussion of other possible formative assessment strategies, rubrics, and how to support student explanations using evidence.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be engaged in an immersive Next Generation Science experience where attendees will step into the learner’s shoes in a high-quality, hands-on, inquisitive experience. Attendees will also participate in a performance based assessment. One real-world strategy used to mitigate avalanche.

SPEAKERS:
Greer Clark, Teresa Merager

Although wildfires can be caused by natural events and provide many valuable ecological services, changes in the environment related to climate change are fueling the growth of large, destructive megafires. In this workshop, participants will explore how the HHMI Resources The Science of Climate Change film and the activity The Impacts of Wildfires can help students understand these changes. This fast-paced workshop will provide a complete lesson to teach about the science of climate change using a variety of pedagogical strategies and stressing science and engineering practices such as Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, and Designing Solutions. Participants will use three different scientific studies, including data in graphs, that help explain patterns in wildfire data. We will use small group work and a jigsaw strategy to compile all the evidence from the data to develop a Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) to explain patterns in wildfire

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover how to use phenomena to engage students in the science of climate change, explore evidence to support human causes of climate change, and develop a scientific claim supported by evidence and reasoning for why recent wildfires are burning more forest area.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Fassler

Heat stress is the major cause of weather-related morbidity and mortality in the U.S. In a changing climate, all learners, teachers, schools and communities must be attentive to risks posed by increased heat and humidity. Workshop participants will engage with the "Earth and Human Body Systems" unit developed and implemented with science, math, ELA and SPED middle school teachers in the Linking Science, Mathematics and Literacy for All Learners program (https://scienceandliteracy.missouri.edu/). This unit incorporates NGSS, CCSS-ELA-RST and CCSS-Math standards, complex informational texts adapted from recent peer-reviewed literature, generative AI and computer-assisted simulations of future climate conditions and potential risks and mitigation approaches. Data collected over multiple years indicates that with appropriate content and instructional scaffolds, diverse learners strengthen shared NGSS and CCSS-ELA/Math practices for claim-evidence-reasoning and science argumentation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away evidence-based resources and instructional practices for diverse learners, addressing human risk, mitigation and resilience to heat stress in a changing climate.

SPEAKERS:
John Lannin, William Folk

FieldScope is a collaborative platform empowering communities to visualize and analyze environmental data that fosters a deeper understanding of science. This workshop introduces you to a tool transforming how participants engage with citizen science, moving beyond data collection to meaningful interpretation and storytelling. FieldScope is a common portal for collecting, sharing, and analyzing diverse data, a tool to help participants create place-based stories using data, and support for making sense of environmental information. Experience hands-on exploration of FieldScope tools, examination of partner projects featuring intergenerational collaborations, school/park partnerships, and public health initiatives, and guidance for integrating data storytelling into community programs. Join us if you want to enhance your programs with data-driven approaches or engage communities in participatory science. You'll leave with concrete steps for implementing data explorations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with the next steps for planning data explorations in existing or future projects, examples of how to learn with data generated by participatory science projects, particularly in middle and high school settings, and how to host your own project data.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Noll

Food waste is more than an environmental issue—it's a matter of equity and justice. This session delves into the intersection of waste management, food systems, and climate justice, emphasizing how addressing food waste can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting social and environmental equity. Participants will explore the systemic causes of food waste, from production to consumption, and examine how waste disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and practical strategies, this session will highlight how schools, communities, and individuals can implement sustainable waste practices that support both planetary health and social justice.

TAKEAWAYS:
By connecting waste reduction to broader movements for climate and food justice, this session empowers educators, activists, and community leaders to drive meaningful change—transforming waste into a pathway for equity and sustainability.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Luna

Learn how to leverage the power of social media to break down student misconceptions, rather than build them. Teachers will engage in an activity finding and combatting fake news on social media, then discussing how adapt the activity for their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience an engaging activity designed to help students directly confront misinformation they encounter on social media. By having students confront their own misconceptions about hot topics, we empower them to be more responsible consumers of information in the future.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Dobrin

Educators need supports to create climate learning for their students. Now is the time to explore how to broaden climate learning across your school, district, region, or state. This session will provide pragmatic tools and design advice on how to best engage in this work for your specific context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away from this session with an action plan and the tools they need to begin to collaboratively design systemic climate learning efforts in their own contexts, sensitive to their particular local phenomena, socio-political norms, and educator capacities.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Talarico-Wolff, Deb Morrison

This workshop shares a curriculum that empowers students to become 21st century energy leaders. Participants will engage in a climate action simulation as different stakeholder groups and explore how their decision impact global temperature change, as well as the social impacts of these actions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the climate action simulation to engage their students in understanding climate action from an individual and global perspective.

SPEAKERS:
Gillian Roehrig

Dive into Earth's climate history through the lens of paleoclimatology and proxy data in this hands-on workshop designed for middle and high school STEM educators. Participants will explore evidence of climate change while engaging in authentic explorations of data, engineering design challenges, and strategies for sharing scientific thinking that will easily translate to a variety of classroom settings. We will model oxygen isotope fluctuation, simulate ice core extraction, engineer solutions for core transport, and synthesize data from a wide range of sources to build a compelling case about Earth's past climates and the current rate of climate change. With skills developed in this workshop, educators will help students understand that scientific claims become stronger when supported by multiple lines of evidence, just as no single piece of evidence proves a case in a courtroom, the convergence of many climate indicators provides confidence in our understanding of climate history.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore how scientists develop an understanding of prehistoric and modern climate change by analyzing proxy data from multiple sources in a hands-on, interactive workshop for middle and high school STEM educators.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Kos, Sarah Slack

Explore the intersection of climate and energy while learning about microgrids and their role in fostering energy resilience. During this hands-on session, participants will make models of a microgrid that includes solar power and battery storage and learn how microgrids supported community resilience during Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. We’ll discuss opportunities to integrate this topic into instruction to offer a relevant context for learning about electricity and energy resilience to climate impacts as well as engaging students in learning that mirrors the work of professionals in the energy sector.

TAKEAWAYS:
Updating instruction to include learning about and modeling microgrids introduces students to a real-world energy challenge, a timely and relevant solution, and related career opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Haine, Shannon Oesch

This session will engage participants in authentic conservation decision-making practices to empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, human impacts, and a detailed framework for student communication, consensus, and peer review. Workshop attendees will participate in a hands-on mapping design challenge using authentic data to make data-driven. These evidence-based biodiversity conservation decisions reflect current efforts in science and policy. Using large data sets and visual maps, learners are challenged to consider current land use, the conservation status and range of vertebrate species, and the distribution of cities, agriculture, and protected areas. Finally, participants will apply the data to identify the best places to preserve biodiversity while ensuring humans can thrive. Balancing human and ecological needs reflects real-world conservation decisions and practices and challenges learners to reflect, debate, and dig into the evidence.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to access and use publicly available data to evaluate human impacts on Earth's systems and develop solutions to maintain biodiversity through responsible management practices.

SPEAKERS:
Missie Olson, Jocelyn Miller

NSTA has revised and updated its position 2018 position statement on climate science, strengthening its commitment to high quality education on the teaching of the science of climate change. This presentation outlines the changes to the position statement and the rationale for the changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become equipped with the rationale and tools necessary for teaching the science of climate change, as well as the talking points necessary for engaging with the range of constituencies that have voice in or impact upon science education in general.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Pyle

Since late 1990s, scientists have increasingly expressed alarm about the increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere induced by anthropogenic impact. In its "State of the Global Climate 2024" report (March 2025), the World Meteorological Organization has expressed concern that record greenhouse gas concentrations and other factors led to record heat and rising sea levels in 2024. In its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all the United Nations members in 2015, the UN department of Economic & Social Affairs shared a blueprint. "SDG 13: Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts" is one these Sustainable Development Goals. In this workshop, attendees will learn to use the En-Roads Climate Solutions Simulator (co-developed by Climate Interactive and MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative) work on strategies to test their approaches on global temperatures in real time, and take it back to their classroom to empower their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive workshop, educators will learn about climate change mitigation strategies, how to use En-Roads Climate Simulator, see the impact of suggested changes in real time, and walk away with renewed confidence on empowering students to find solutions to climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Rama Devagupta

Localized climate change learning positively impacts students’ climate change knowledge and their sense of agency. Designing a localized climate curriculum can be challenging. Participants in this workshop will get to know an NGSS-aligned climate change unit storyline and curriculum materials designed for teachers to localize. These materials were developed for teachers to create a local anchoring phenomenon to motivate the unit and a local culminating task at the closure of the unit. Participants will use design tools to start planning their own localized unit for their students and community. These tools make storyline lesson design accessible as participants outline a local anchoring phenomenon and generate ideas for a local culminating task. Participants will break into small groups to do focused design work together. All materials and design tools are freely available to participants for use beyond the workshop.

TAKEAWAYS:
Localized climate change learning is impactful for students. Existing curriculum and design tools can help teachers create localized climate change learning experiences to make learning meaningful and consequential to students.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Guy-Gaytán, Lindsey Mohan

This session will explore how nature education can be enriched by leveraging effective community partnerships and innovative lesson planning that reflects the unique cultural and ecological landscapes of New Mexico. Attendees will gain insight into how Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum collaborates with local agricultural experts, conservation organizations, and local school districts can enhance outdoor learning experiences for children. Through these partnerships, educators can access resources, knowledge, and support to create hands-on outdoor learning opportunities, such as acequia restoration projects and sustainable desert farming practices, fostering a deep connection to land and stewardship among students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage with, examine, and apply place-based lessons to engage students in the intersection of STEM and agriculture.

SPEAKERS:
Dixie Cooper

Without local data it is impossible to fully understand community environmental and climate problems and their effects on different groups. Attendees will explore different environmental and climate data sets and learn how to use these with students to create well-informed solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participatory methods for collecting and acting upon environmental and climate data is more important now than ever, yet students are not taught about this data or how to use it. Throughout the workshop, resources and examples for supporting youth in collecting and using data to create real community will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsie Fowler, Deb Morrison

How can educators adapt nationally-written science lessons to reflect local contexts while maintaining rigorous 3D learning? Nebraska's NASELI Leadership Institute has developed "connection cover sheets" that seamlessly integrate regional agricultural phenomena into existing high-quality instructional materials. This session showcases our approach using "Corn, Sugar Beets, and Ice: A Nebraska Chemistry Lesson on Freezing Points" as an exemplar. Participants will examine how we transform generic freezing point investigations by incorporating Nebraska's corn and sugar beet industries, creating authentic local connections without compromising the lesson's crosscutting concepts, disciplinary core ideas, or science practices. This session will invite reflection on how teacher choices shape student sensemaking by analyzing specifically the HHMI Better Bioreactors assessment. This session will explore how intentional teacher facilitation impacts the overall depth and direction of student reasoning. Together we will analyze student responses from the HHMI Better Bioreactors formative assessment and discuss how choice can either be a support or limit in connecting key STEM principles. A goal of this session will be to reflect on providing the opportunity for the development of a students scientific thinking processes through discussion and formative feedback. What do cow burps, climate change, and media literacy have in common? In this STEM-integrated agriculture lesson, students investigate the dairy industry’s environmental impact—tracing methane from microbes in a cow’s rumen to the atmosphere, busting misleading media claims, and using real data and computer modeling to uncover the truth. By merging hands-on animal science with climate modeling, students learn to think critically, argue with evidence, and solve complex, real-world problems at the intersection of agriculture and the environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with a framework for adapting existing high-quality science lessons using local agricultural phenomena that preserve NGSS alignment while increasing student engagement. Participants will gain strategies for effective evidence collection in STEM implementation in order to leave with a clear understanding of how intentional teaching can enhance our students learning, not only in the task at hand, but with all science instruction. Participants will gain tools to engage students in evidence-based discussions about the dairy industry while integrating media literacy, computer modeling and real-world data. Receive an NGSS aligned unit which is at the intersection of agriculture and the environment.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Jones, Angelica Tesch, Kelley Tuel

Looking for an engaging way to bring climate education to life? Join this session to learn how New York City Public Schools launched Climate Action Days—four themed days each year that inspire creativity, learning, and sustainability across school communities. Designed for educators and school leaders, this workshop will explore how Climate Action Days were developed, how they’ve been supported citywide, and how you can adapt the model for your own district. Whether you’re just beginning your climate education journey or looking to expand current efforts, this session offers a flexible, community-driven approach to meaningful action. We’ll share ready-to-use resources, reflect on impact, and brainstorm ideas tailored to your students and context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators and school leaders will explore how to bring Climate Action Days to life in their own communities, using NYC’s model to spark student engagement, creativity, and climate action.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack

What happens when students lead global climate and biodiversity education? In this session, discover how high school students created the National Biodiversity Teach-In, a student-run webinar series reaching 120,000+ participants in over 40 countries. Aligned with the NGSS and the Framework’s vision of student agency, this project empowers students to investigate real-world environmental issues, collaborate with scientists, and produce professional-level public outreach. Students manage logistics, interview scientists, co-create presentations on topics like Arctic warming and plastic pollution, and inspire local and global action. The model fosters 3D learning, civic engagement, and sustainability literacy. Attendees will explore classroom strategies, student artifacts, and ready-to-use resources to launch similar programs in their own schools amplifying youth voices in climate and biodiversity education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how students can lead powerful, real-world climate and biodiversity education by organizing global webinars with scientists. Walk away with tools, resources, and inspiration to launch student-driven initiatives that foster agency, 3D learning, and sustainability action.

SPEAKERS:
Frankie Valenzia, Vincent Fosco, Brittney Mallen, Deborah McMullen

"Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth", investigates the relationship between the ocean, weather and climate on global to local scales. This workshop introduces ten hands-on activities for upper ES and MS students to reinforce Earth science concepts related to oceanography, meteorology and climate. The short videos provide a spark of interest and briefly introduce the main focus of further investigation. They are intended to be used with classroom activities that provide learning strategies to translate complex earth science interactions into a format that is understandable to upper elementary and middle school students. The educator guides focus on up-to-date graphs, visualizations, hands-on labs and data that will help students understand the concepts and to engage in sense-making through-out the lessons. The main focus of each lesson was developed by a teacher team who provided guidance and advice on the best ways to help student understanding of Earth, atmosphere, and ocean systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will sample the range of activities that incorporate graphing, data analysis, visualizations and sense-making to introduce Earth/atmosphere/climate connections on local and global scales.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen

Climate change education is impactful when students can see themselves as part of the solution. Global Warning is a cooperative and competitive board game designed to immerse players in the challenges of climate action, requiring both collaboration and strategic decision-making to avoid global disaster. We conducted a classroom-based study with post-secondary students to evaluate the game’s educational impact. Students who played Global Warning showed a measurable shift in their perceptions of climate change as an immediate and existential threat, increased the range of actionable solutions they identified, and demonstrated greater critical thinking about sustainability challenges. In this speed session, we will briefly introduce the gameplay structure, summarize our research findings, and share practical strategies for using climate-themed board games to foster systems thinking, agency, and deeper engagement among high school and college-aged students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Playing Global Warning can meaningfully shift students’ perceptions of climate change, broaden their understanding of actionable solutions, and foster critical thinking and agency, making it a powerful tool for high school and post-secondary climate education.

SPEAKERS:
Peter White

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that increases global warming. Agriculture is the top source of methane emissions, and enteric methane production from livestock accounts for a significant amount of agricultural methane. The objective of this study is to identify plants that could be added as feed additives in a cow’s diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. There is an effect on methane emissions with plants containing compounds like lipids, polyphenols, and tannins. One part of the study was running in vitro trials to determine how much total gas and methane is produced. The other part was running sequential fibers to determine the digestibility of these plants. We found that some plants reduce methane production, and others do not. White willow and peanut skins were the most effective in reducing enteric methane. With further testing and trials, the most effective plants in this in vitro study could be used as dietary supplements and help reduce methane emissions from dairy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issue of methane emissions from enteric fermentation process of dairy animals and discuss ways to reduce them through dietary supplements and feed additives made from locally available plant sources. These supplements also help keep the animals healthy.

SPEAKERS:
Ivanka Sonkusare

Climate change is one of the most important scientific topics of our time—and students are eager to learn about it. SubjectToClimate is an innovative and free online platform that provides teachers with a suite of engaging and interactive climate change teaching resources and lesson plans that are aligned to NGSS standards. In this 10-minute presentation, Ben will introduce SubjectToClimate's science resources and demonstrate how they can be used to enhance climate change education. We will walk through the platform's features, including lesson plans by teachers, news for students, teaching guides, and more. Attendees will leave this presentation suite of free resources they can immediately access to effectively teach climate change, no matter their grade level or subject. Join us to learn how SubjectToClimate can help you educate and inspire the next generation of climate leaders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how SubjectToClimate’s free, NGSS-aligned resources can help you confidently teach climate change across any grade level or subject, and inspire your students to become climate leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Benjamin Charles

Explore a COP30 teaching guide designed to help educators bring real-world climate discussions into the classroom. Aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this guide features NGSS aligned science lessons and resources. Attendees can preview classroom-ready activities and scan QR codes to access the full lessons and complete guide.

TAKEAWAYS:
This poster introduces a COP30 teaching guide (still being developed) that connects real-world climate topics with NGSS and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, giving educators immediate access to engaging, standards-aligned lessons, resources, and teaching tips.

SPEAKERS:
Benjamin Charles

This poster will illustrate how students in a high school marine science class investigated the effects of changing climate on local marine invertebrates in the kelp forest and sandy beach ecosystems by modeling projects conducted by scientists at the University of California - Santa Barbara. By experimenting with dietary preferences of the purple sea urchin and beach hopper, students developed explanations for how changing ocean temperatures could impact the survival of these organisms based on food availability, and considered the potential effects on the ecosystem if these food sources were to change. There are many challenges associated with bringing university research to the high school classroom; however, students learned to utilize a review of scientific literature to develop procedures, exercise creativity in the experimental design process, and collaborate with other student groups.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips for modeling university-level research in the high school classroom: utilizing a review of scientific literature to develop procedures, cultivating student creativity in experimental design, and fostering collaboration between student groups and classes.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Moore

Teachers have expressed a desire to incorporate authentic climate data into their curricula, but struggle to find accessible and meaningful datasets that can be easily integrated into modern teaching practices. In response to this problem, climate scientists and instructional specialists from the University of Colorado Boulder have collaborated to create "Data Puzzles", a free resource that utilizes instructional practices as outlined by Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) to engage students in data analysis in the context of important scientific research. Data Puzzles challenge students to analyze and interpret climate datasets to construct explanatory models for important questions like, "What is causing the megadrought in the Colorado River Basin?” and "Why might the Arctic be warming faster than. the rest of the world?".

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced with AST practices and authentic climate datasets in the context of the Data Puzzle resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Griffith

This poster presentation will focus on how to deliver captivating science via zoom and maintain student engagement. We will share our lessons, our experiences and our successes as we navigate this novel form of science instruction with very young students. Lessons are delivered via Zoom for 30 minutes, once per week. Our sample lessons will show an age-appropriate mix of visual and audio media as well as substantial time spent in hands-on activities. Assessment is informal with students reporting what they learned to the on-site school director and other adults, and formal with the presentation by a panel of “expert” students whose knowledge is documented via video and shared within the School Community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Visitors to our presentation will take away the steps we followed to create this successful science curriculum for 4K students.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Trinker-Peot, Susan (Cee Cee) Cohen

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that increases global warming. Agriculture is the top source of methane emissions, and enteric methane production from livestock accounts for a significant amount of agricultural methane. The objective of this study is to identify plants that could be added as feed additives in a cow’s diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. There is an effect on methane emissions with plants containing compounds like lipids, polyphenols, and tannins. One part of the study was running in vitro trials to determine how much total gas and methane is produced. The other part was running sequential fibers to determine the digestibility of these plants. We found that some plants reduce methane production, and others do not. White willow and peanut skins were the most effective in reducing enteric methane. With further testing and trials, the most effective plants in this in vitro study could be used as dietary supplements and help reduce methane emissions from dairy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issue of methane emissions from enteric fermentation process of dairy animals and discuss ways to reduce them through dietary supplements and feed additives made from locally available plant sources. These supplements also help keep the animals healthy.

SPEAKERS:
Ivanka Sonkusare

This poster presents a framework of seven guideposts for effectively integrating agricultural concepts across K-12 science education. Agriculture provides an ideal context for teaching core scientific concepts through tangible, relevant experiences that connect directly to standards. The seven guideposts—agriculture's evolution, modern agricultural systems, seeds, soil health, food access, ecological connections, and technological innovations—offer science teachers practical entry points for incorporating agricultural literacy without adding separate courses. Each guidepost maps to multiple science standards while cultivating knowledge crucial for addressing sustainability challenges. Garden-based learning approaches further enhance this framework, providing hands-on experiences that deepen understanding of scientific processes from DNA to ecosystems. Research shows students engaged in agricultural contexts demonstrate improved science performance and environmental stewardship attitude

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn a practical seven-guidepost framework for integrating agriculture into science teaching, providing tangible contexts that enhance student understanding while building agricultural literacy for addressing sustainability challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Rillero, Peter Rillero

The student-centered activity engages learners in considering global conservation challenges through mathematical thinking and data analysis. It uses up-to-date, authentic data used by scientists, conservation organizations, and policymakers worldwide.. The activities empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, and human impacts and provide teachers with a detailed framework to guide student communication, consensus, and peer review. Learners will better understand the science that drives decision-making and appreciate how conservation targets, like Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), can be monitored and measured. Visitors to the poster will receive access to all materials, online tools, and data to support successful classroom implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Data science is integral to studying, conserving, and managing ecosystems worldwide.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller

Upon witnessing poverty in South Africa 14 years ago and wanting to make an impact, the idea of storing "Sunshine in a Jar" was developed. Currently, this solar lantern project is designed to cover the NGSS Physics Standards as well as the NRC Framework Standards for Matter, Energy, and Human Impacts while addressing the needs of those in energy poverty. These lanterns will continue to be developed with the aspiration of providing photovoltaics for underprivileged communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear the story about the collective work of teachers, engineers, and social entrepreneurs working towards alleviating energy poverty, one lantern at a time.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Ulicny

Imagining and working toward positive futures is vital for students' senses of wellbeing, community, and partnership between themselves and the natural world. This poster will present educators with research, resources, and real experiences of a high school science teacher who shifted their mindset from a problem-based mindset to one of optimism and engagement. The poster will feature snapshots of various approaches to education, such as constructive hope, joyful education, and appreciative inquiry, that can be incorporated into any science classroom. Additionally, links to projects, slideshows, and other resources will be shared with others so that they have jumping-off points for their own journey into climate optimism.

TAKEAWAYS:
This poster will leave educators feeling excited about instructional approaches that foster climate optimism, hope, and collaboration amongst students, and help them understand the importance of climate positivity for student engagement and wellbeing.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Torkelson-Regan

This poster session shows an implementation of virtual reality experiences that connect middle school students with water challenges issues. The display features step-by-step guidance for classroom VR integration, including budget-friendly alternatives and essential setup requirements. Visual aids illustrate our curriculum alignment strategy, student safety protocols, and documented engagement outcomes. Attendees can collect ready-to-use resources, including lesson sequences, troubleshooting guides, and student reflection templates. The showcase includes pre-lesson preparation steps and post-VR activities reinforcing environmental stewardship concepts. Stop by to explore practical solutions for bringing immersive water conservation education to your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how virtual reality transforms middle school water conservation education by immersing students in applicable challenges, leading to deeper environmental understanding and actionable solutions—all with practical, budget-conscious implementation strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Yujiro Fujiwara, Constance Leung

Understanding how to constructively respond to the diverse emotions youth express and experience as they engage in climate learning is essential work for educators. We will explore approaches for responding to youths’ eco-emotions, and how these can help students make better sense of the world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate anxiety is a sign of the times. This session gives attendees conceptual ideas as well as practical instructional activities to engage and channel student’s emotions. We will model teaching strategies and how to use students’ eco-emotions for furthering their scientific thinking and action.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsie Fowler, Deb Morrison

UNCW's MarineQuest program has been working with students of all ages for over 45 years, immersing them in relevant marine science experiences both in the lab and out in the field. During this exciting workshop, participants will join the MarineQuest team to explore innovative ways to engage students in water quality investigations with a focus on salinity science. Before things get messy, participants will discover an online treasure trove of water quality data from estuarine reserves around the country and use the system to automatically generate graphs to evaluate current and historic data trends and visualize the impacts of hurricanes on ecosystem health. Participants will then learn how to engage their students with hands-on investigations by utilizing sensor technology to carry out several salinity-based experiments, emphasizing water quality, the global water crisis, and climate science. Don’t miss out on this thrilling workshop, it is your DENSITY, I mean destiny!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away with a better understanding of the tools, technology, and engaging hands-on investigations available to increase salinity-based water quality comprehension and climate literacy for students in upper elementary-high school classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Moran, Harris Muhlstein

Engaging place-based Midwest-centered storylines are presented that allow students to develop a deep understanding of up-to-date, research-driven climate science and how it relates to their home communities. For example, the timing of the settling of Midwestern states was directly result impacted by global and regional climate changes that included the Little Ice Age (creating a demand for animal furs for coats and hats) and the giant 1815 eruption of the Indonesian volcano Tambora (which caused the famines of the “year without a summer” and drove large numbers of easterners westward into the Midwest. Examining regional Midwest geology (such as glacial deposits and bedrock limestone layers) can foster student sensemaking of the cycles of climate change that can occur on longer time scales. Analyzing the evidence of past climate changes and its impacts on humans and other life will help students carry out the processes of sensemaking to better understand current climate trends.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students effectively develop sensemaking of NGSS performance expectations concerning weather and climate using place-based storylines anchored by Midwest regional phenomena. Instructors will leave with multiple ideas for incorporating the latest climate science into their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession

In this session, participants will engage in a localized climate change storyline unit designed for Minnesota high school students. The storyline unit is anchored in the phenomenon of wild rice decline and struggles with wild rice production in the state. Participants will experience, in student hat, the anchoring phenomenon. They will also preview the full localized storyline for the unit. This includes a local culminating task with students investigating wild rice restoration strategies with the option of implementing a wild rice restoration project. Participants will have access to a set of curriculum materials to implement in their classrooms and resources to create their own localized climate change storyline units.

TAKEAWAYS:
One way to make climate change learning relevant for students is to anchor learning in local issues and solutions. This session shares an example of a locally meaningful learning experience for Minnesota students.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Guy-Gaytán, Carmen Gavin Vanegas, Lindsey Mohan

Forest and energy topics add up to powerful climate learning opportunities for students! Learn how solar energy, building efficiency, carbon cycling, urban tree canopy and sustainable forest management lessons work together to help students make sense of the big picture of climate change, while also addressing MS NGSS Performance Expectations for Matter and Energy, Human Impact, and Earth’s Systems. We will use the green space around the Convention Center for hands-on activities, modeling how school grounds in any setting, even dense urban settings, can be used to give ALL students outdoor education experiences. We will also explore how the issue of equitable access to renewable energy sources, healthy buildings and green spaces help students understand climate justice. This session will give participants practice with free and easily accessible ready-to-use lessons and activities that are connected to standards and include assessment strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate change offers a powerful lens for helping students make sense of NGSS standards for Matter and Energy, Human Impact, and Earth’s Systems in an interconnected and relevant way, while also addressing environmental justice issues and giving ALL students hands-on experiences outdoors.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Stelzer, Stephen Schmidt

This workshop combines cutting-edge bird ID technology with outdoor exploration to create connections to place, engage in participatory science, and contribute to conservation efforts. We will use the Merlin Bird ID app to discover which birds share our land from season to season. The app uses billions of eBird observations shared by participatory scientists to generate a list of birds based on your location & date. These data combined with AI technology enable users to identify birds by sight, sound, or using a photo. We will explore 4 clues to bird ID, research local birds, draw a focus bird, & take a 1-mile eBird walk (round trip) to practice using these tools. We will walk from the Conference Center to the Loring Park Pond, birding along the way using eBird to track our progress, record birds, and collect data used to make conservation decisions. Before the workshop, download the Merlin app & install the US: Midwest and your local bird packs. Bring your binoculars too, if you have them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Birds are a year-round phenomenon that help students connect to their local environment and contribute data to conservation projects. Use the Merlin Bird ID app and eBird participatory science project for value-added technology that help your students be successful birders and contributors right away!

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher

In this workshop, we will explore threats to biodiversity (HIPPCO) using HHMI Biointeractive resources, including Designing Solutions to Preserve Biodiversity and Wild Hope short films. We will also model solution-design strategies that consider personal values and social, cultural, and environmental impacts. Using NGSS three dimensional design, this workshop will focus on what students need to know, how they process that knowledge, and how that knowledge guides the design of solutions. Participants will use the jigsaw approach, a cooperative learning strategy in which “expert groups” familiarize themselves with a specific concept, then recombine into “jigsaw groups” to share and synthesize knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use HHMI Biointeractive Wildhope Videos to assist students in identifying the key threats to biodiversity loss and learn instructional strategies for designing and analyzing evidence-based solutions to these threats.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Norton, Amy Fassler

Where does your food come from and how does it connect to climate change? In this interactive 60-minute workshop, participants will step into their students’ shoes to experience part of SubjectToClimate’s middle school lesson on food systems and climate change. This NGSS aligned lesson engages students in examining the origins of their favorite meals, investigating the global food system, and making predictions about how climate change intersects with food production. Attendees will engage in turn-and-talks and guided research using global ingredient maps. We’ll also discuss classroom applications, adaptations, and differentiation strategies. Walk away with a classroom-ready lesson and ideas on how to implement climate change in what you’re teaching now.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how a lesson on food systems using our Inquire, Investigate, Inspire framework can make climate change science relevant, engaging, and actionable for middle school learners, using tools you can bring to your classroom right away.

SPEAKERS:
Benjamin Charles

Learn about making art as a way of understanding and engaging climate and environmental justice issues happening in our world today. We will engage the current science related to climate change and produce art to creatively explore and communicate just responses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away understanding of how climate science can be engaged and represented through various artistic forms—and the pedagogical power of art pedagogy. People will use supplies in this workshop to make their own creations during the session.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Price, Philip Bell

Uncertainty in science is ever present but often feared by teachers, students, and even the public. This fear often prevents the inclusion of messy, uncertain data in the classroom, even though it reflects real science that all students use to make decisions. It is important for all students to grapple with and make sense of data like this to build tenacity, awareness, and critical thinking, while engaging in SEPs and CCCs like stability and change. For climate science, it’s important to help interpret big data and connect human impacts, Earth’s systems, and uncertainty in models. In this session, a teacher-researcher team shares how they brought big, messy, uncertain climate model data into a high school classroom supporting learners. Attendees will experience the activities as learners, engaging with data and framing presented to students. They will compare their thinking with student responses and collaborate ways to bring messy data into their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore an example case providing access points to messy, uncertain data and consider practices to support all students’ engagement and perseverance with the data. They will leave with ideas to help students engage authentically with climate data that balances student accessibility.

SPEAKERS:
Martha Inouye, Chelsea Lund

Come explore ways to engage students in community centered collaborative climate action now and on into the future. This workshop will engage participants in frank conversations about avoiding indoctrination, designing for varied forms of action, and building community collaborations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain skills in how to weave different forms of climate action into their current learning resources as well as design new lessons that center locally contextualized and appropriate collective action efforts; such work can be framed for the goals of any educational environment.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Kirkland, Deb Morrison

An introductory overview of key topics in polar science, such as descriptions of the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets, the ice albedo feedback mechanism, sea ice trends in the Arctic and Antarctic, and climate data focusing on ice cores. An example cut plan for ice cores will be used to show how ice core scientists investigate specific physical and chemical properties of the core, including the air bubbles trapped within, to understand past climate. We will examine the direct and proxy paleoclimate measurements we can make using ice cores, with a focus on measuring gas concentrations and performing isotope analysis, as well as looking at dust and volcanic ash present in the ice. The session will help educators form a clearer picture of the motivations behind the Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX) scientific goals. Additionally, an overview of teacher professional development opportunities on weather and climate with the American Meteorological Society will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will help educators understand the role of ice core analysis in telling the story of how Earth’s climate has changed over time, including what it was like before human impacts.

SPEAKERS:
Brooks Binau

STEM educators who recently traveled to Norway, which boasts the world’s highest adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), will share what they learned by modeling an activity in which students examine the complex EV “ecosystem” through the lens of sustainability. Students explore the pros and cons of the many facets of this energy system including the mining of raw materials for batteries, manufacturing and recycling of batteries, driving of EVs, and building of new electric infrastructure like charging stations. This activity will help students gain a deeper appreciation of the nuances involved in evaluating technological solutions to today’s environmental challenges and enable students to critically evaluate the zero in “zero” emissions vehicles.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be guided through an activity that invites students to explore the economical, environmental, and social impacts of an EV ecosystem and in the process learn a framework for evaluating the sustainability of low carbon solutions that address climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Weinhoeft-Renfro, Dana Haine

In today’s rapidly changing world, integrating innovation and sustainability into science education is more important than ever. This session will showcase effective strategies for embedding sustainability into STEAM programs through project-based learning and student-led research. With our nationally recognized, award-winning initiatives like an AI-powered hydroponic garden program, student-led local forest research on climate change, and a weather station tracking air quality, we will explore how schools can equip students to lead as changemakers and innovators in sustainability. Practical strategies, effective resources, and inspiring examples will help educators launch impactful, student-centered sustainability programs in their schools and support leaders in cultivating a new generation of changemakers through innovative STEAM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn practical strategies to integrate sustainability into STEAM education through hands-on, student-led projects that support innovation, real-world problem solving, and leadership in environmental stewardship.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Garetto, Donna Zagotta, Kenny Bae

Students at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN, partner with NASA’s MN Space Grant Consortium weather ballooning team at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Together, they develop payloads equipped with sensors and cameras. These payloads are sent on weather balloon missions into the stratosphere to conduct experiments and learn about the atmosphere and “near-space” conditions. In this presentation, you will learn about one teacher’s experiences with this exceptionally engaging, spaceflight-related activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away with experiential knowledge about using high-altitude ballooning to give students experience with science in a place that they cannot reach.

SPEAKERS:
James Flaten, Eric Colchin

Much of the globe is experiencing a green energy revolution and people are rightfully excited about a more sustainable future. But sustainable energy technologies, like many of the modern technologies we enjoy, require more mineral inputs and, therefore, more mining. Stereotypically, people do not associate mining with sustainability, but mining is a vital component to the nation's economic and general well-being. In this workshop, teachers will experience five inquiry-based stations, closely aligned with the CCSS in Mathematics and performance expectations from all four disciplines of the NGSS. These hands-on activities illuminate some of the science and engineering concepts underpinning the modern sustainable mineral resources and mining industries.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will develop a more sophisticated understanding of how metal ores get to where we find them, geological exploration, how mining engineers design mines to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts, the chemistry of metal ore processing, and ecological reclamation.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Earnest, Joshua Page, Dan Moreno

Elementary science educators face barriers like limited funding, reduced instructional time, insufficient materials, and inconsistent teacher preparation. In response, I developed a 5th grade Earth and Space Science unit grounded solely in pedagogical and content knowledge. This session highlights how meaningful, standards-aligned curriculum can be created without commercial resources. Attendees will explore the design process, instructional strategies for supporting diverse learners, and tools for building teacher content knowledge. The unit emphasizes inquiry-based learning and equitable access for all students. Participants will leave with insights into creating adaptable, student-driven science units for their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how an elementary classroom teacher designed an inquiry-based, equitable 5th grade science unit using only content and pedagogical knowledge, proving that rich, student-centered science instruction is possible even without extensive resources.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Bentivoglio

Current global environmental challenges necessitate the development of future generations through training that enables them to create meaningful impacts. Through hands-on projects the Environmental Club at Kennedy Middle School develops student leadership capabilities and environmental advocacy among participants. The research investigates the improvement of students' environmental science comprehension along with their leadership abilities and sustainability advocacy skills as a result of their involvement in the club. Environmental scientists will use this research to evaluate outcomes which include higher recycling rates alongside energy-saving efforts and heightened environmental consciousness. This project will establish a replicable environmental program framework for schools and motivate future leaders to pursue sustainable development via student-led programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student-led environmental advocacy groups such as Kennedy Middle School's Environmental Club help advance sustainability, leadership development, and environmental awareness. This session will demonstrate a successful approach to cultivating environmental advocates through school education.

SPEAKERS:
Princess Margaret Paz

This session explores practical strategies for integrating culturally relevant teaching, scientific inquiry, and data literacy into a unit storyline. Participants will learn how to design inquiry-based and discussion-based lessons that connect with students' cultural backgrounds and lived experiences, fostering a deeper level of understanding and relevance for our students. This session will highlight real-world examples where students investigate the scientific research that their teacher completed and community-centered issues through interpreting scientific articles and authentic data sets. Attendees will leave with adaptable tools, lesson frameworks, and resources to create equitable and engaging science classroom experiences that empower our students to be critical thinkers and informed citizens.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will explore how to engage students in inquiry, data literacy, Indigenous perspectives, and how to apply cultural relevancy to situations occurring in other areas of the world.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Gunder, Rachel Rigenhagen

Anxiety is at record high levels among students and can significantly interfere with academic functioning. Students are particularly vulnerable to experience anxiety when learning about topics that give rise to thoughts about unpredictability and uncertainty. Student anxiety is an issue faced by most science educators, especially when teaching about anxiety-producing topics such as climate change. Anxiety may make it difficult for children and adolescents to engage in learning without excessive worry, rumination or avoidance. They may avoid topics that are reminders of problems without complete solutions. Incorporating perspectives from psychologists, educators and students, this session will address the following questions: 1) How can student anxiety interfere in science learning? 2) How can brief, anxiety reducing strategies be integrated in the classroom to facilitate learning and engagement? Methods will be presented that can decrease anxiety and optimize learning for all.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn evidence-based strategies for decreasing student anxiety to facilitate engagement and learning about topics such as climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Otis, Ava Guiney, Julia Skabeev, Dr. Donna Pincus, Delia Comer

Climate Science: How, as a teacher, do you equip students to break through pervasive rhetoric and misinformation? This session presents one teacher’s foray into answering this question. Using frameworks of place-based learning, project-based learning, and design thinking, middle-school student-scientists used data to explore questions around their local climate and connections to their community (ESS2.D, ESS3.D). Students generated and revised hypotheses, researched background information, and gathered and analyzed local data. Finally, students shared their findings by creating virtual field trips to explain their understanding. Interactive elements like images, voice-overs, and videos gave students of all levels the ability to independently share their process and conclusions, honing their skills as researchers, data analysts, and science communicators - often with observable learning gains. Come hear about Climate in My Backyard and learn how to facilitate it in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore Climate in My Backyard! In this activity, students learn to define a research topic and to gather and investigate relevant data. Most importantly, they become the teachers and share their findings. CIMB promotes agentic learning and develops critical thinking and data analysis skills.

SPEAKERS:
Sherri Calhoun, Rachel Wolf

Teaching Science in Middle School with new purpose and vigor. Students who learn through experiential learning have a greater chance at retaining the information by way of using multiple learning styles concurrently.  This presentation gives examples of science demonstrations and activities that the students perform and give their observations and hypothesis about. Then, they are guided toward the lesson from there. This session will define Experiential Learning, compare it to traditional learning, and provide the audience with several hands-on activities and demonstrations to see what it feels like to be the student exploring phenomenon to open discussions about science topics.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway is how students learn through experiential learning by having attendies be in the student role.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Galiano

This session presents the Highlight and Reflect strategy as a quick and equitable tool for teaching climate science in South Carolina 8th grade classrooms. After a 3D-aligned quick check, students use the strategy to indicate their confidence, giving teachers real-time insight into understanding. This data is used to form small groups for differentiated instruction. While this session highlights South Carolina-specific examples and standards, the Highlight and Reflect strategy and accompanying resources are adaptable for use in classrooms across all states. Participants will explore how this approach fosters metacognition, identifies climate misconceptions, and connects students to local environmental issues. Equity is built in by amplifying student voice and supporting culturally responsive grouping.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with ready-to-use templates, activity ideas, and examples of how this strategy enhances climate literacy and sustainability instruction through meaningful, student-centered learning.

SPEAKERS:
Mikaela Schaller

Teaching about climate change is increasingly essential in today’s classrooms. Despite rising climate anxiety, students are eager to learn more. Integrating climate education doesn’t require an entire unit or course. Brief, purposeful connections can be just as impactful. In this 30-minute panel, experienced educators and education program leaders will share how they've brought climate change into their teaching. Panelists will discuss how place-based storytelling, free online resources, and cross-disciplinary approaches can work together to help educators meaningfully integrate climate topics across grade levels and subject areas. Attendees will leave with practical tools and inspiration to meet the urgent demand for climate education in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective climate education is built from presenting relevant information and accessible tools. Educators will leave with ideas and tools for seamless implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Kirkland, Benjamin Charles, Deb Morrison

This session will introduce participants to NSTA’s Elementary climate science lessons designed using our Sensemaking approach. Investigating engaging and relevant climate phenomena drives student learning and inspires them to examine critical climate issues in their own communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students with opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Emily Mathews, Kerri Wingert

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to travel deep into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest as part of the Educator Academy in the Amazon, a transformative professional learning experience through the Morpho Institute. While there, I developed rich, student-centered units and lessons focused on biodiversity, climate change, and the vibrant cultures of the Indigenous communities who call the rainforest home. In this session, I’ll share practical strategies, resources, and hands-on ideas to help you bring the AWEsome Amazon into your own classroom—no passport required! You'll also learn how you can apply to join the Educator Academy in the Amazon yourself in 2026. Come get inspired, explore one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, and walk away with tools to make global learning come alive for your students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join me as I share lessons and experiences from the Amazon Rainforest through the Morpho Institute’s Educator Academy. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for teaching biodiversity, climate change, and Indigenous cultures—plus info on how you can join the 2026 expedition!

SPEAKERS:
Sandy Elsberry, Mallory Wills

To support Minnesota science educators in culturally responsive science teaching that includes Indigenous Science knowledge, we hosted a series of professional development workshops. We then offered continued support through the academic year with culturally responsive science curricula, opportunities for field-based learning, and cohort-style professional learning community meetings. By explicitly integrating Indigenous and western sciences, we provided science educators with a more holistic knowledge base. A key component of our approach is reciprocal partnerships that create opportunities for shared learning. Cultivating these opportunities has been a primary objective of our program model, coupled with providing opportunities for science educators to build their capacity as culturally responsive instructors. We will highlight the overarching goals and successes in our program thus far and the opportunities for growth and improvement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating Indigenous and western sciences into science teaching and learning provides a holistic approach to sustainability education that supports culturally sustaining science frameworks and equitable learning opportunities for students.

SPEAKERS:
Seth Thompson

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that increases global warming. Agriculture is the top source of methane emissions, and enteric methane production from livestock accounts for a significant amount of agricultural methane. The objective of this study is to identify plants that could be added as feed additives in a cow’s diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. There is an effect on methane emissions with plants containing compounds like lipids, polyphenols, and tannins. One part of the study was running in vitro trials to determine how much total gas and methane is produced. The other part was running sequential fibers to determine the digestibility of these plants. We found that some plants reduce methane production, and others do not. White willow and peanut skins were the most effective in reducing enteric methane. With further testing and trials, the most effective plants in this in vitro study could be used as dietary supplements and help reduce methane emissions from dairy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issue of methane emissions from enteric fermentation process of dairy animals and discuss ways to reduce them through dietary supplements and feed additives made from locally available plant sources. These supplements also help keep the animals healthy.

SPEAKERS:
Ivanka Sonkusare

With growing emphasis on relevance in science education and alignment with the NGSS, systems thinking offers a powerful lens for exploring climate change, sustainability, and environmental challenges. This session reframes systems thinking not as an additional task, but as an essential strategy for supporting 3D learning and helping students understand the complexity of real-world phenomena. By helping students explore the underlying causes of complex environmental issues, this approach supports instruction that builds climate literacy and empowers learners to think critically about long-term impacts and potential solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how systems thinking can be used to support 3D instruction that deepens students’ understanding of climate and sustainability issues by helping them uncover root causes, explore complex relationships, and connect local actions to global impacts.

SPEAKERS:
Azka Kiran

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the demand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills has never been greater. As technological advancements continue to shape every aspect of our lives, it has become crucial for the next generation to be equipped with the tools and knowledge to thrive in these fields. This presentation will explore the importance of integrating STEM education into school curricula and its myriad benefits for students, educators, and society. We will explore how STEM education fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills by engaging students in hands-on learning experiences. By embracing project-based and inquiry-driven methods, students gain a deeper understanding of core subjects and develop a passion for learning. STEM education opens the door to high-demand careers in industries such as engineering, technology, and data science, preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, attendees will understand why STEM education is essential for the future and how schools can play a pivotal role in preparing students to be innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders in the 21st century.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Garza

The goal of this program is to engage students in grades K-8 with hands-on experiences that focus on sustainable design. Students will learn about urban planning, fashion and climate change, ecological footprints, and waste audits. The curriculum is ready-made for teachers to implement within their classroom if they wish to provide this experience for students during the summer or even throughout the school year as a stand alone unit of study. We understand the demanding workload that educators often must bear on a daily basis. This program aims to alleviate that pressure by providing teachers with fully developed and ready to use lesson plans. Each lesson also includes detailed instruction for implementation, suggested prep-work, and potential adjustments. The curriculum itself provides lesson plans for Monday through Wednesday along with a recommended experiential learning opportunity (field day) on Thursdays.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be provided with access to the "Energy & Climate for Every Classroom" curriculum which they can use to implement into their classrooms. The curriculum contains lesson plans, recommended prep-work, suggested climate action field days, and potential adjustments.

SPEAKERS:
Sean McFadden, Annycardeli Lopez

This session will introduce participants to NSTA’s Secondary climate science lessons designed using our Sensemaking approach. Investigating engaging and relevant climate phenomena drives student learning and inspires them to examine critical climate issues in their own communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons, and units provide students with opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta, Kerri Wingert

This session is for all educators hoping to get their foot in the door for incorporating equity into the classroom through a scientific lens. This a chance to engage in discourse with other educators around overcoming barriers and preparing a ready-to-implement lesson for when they return home!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to engage with and educate around the historic weaponization of science. They will be able to build a lesson around this topic and create a dialogue geared toward middle school aged learners.

SPEAKERS:
Andi Twiss

Are you interested in teaching about climate change, sustainability or the environment? Come explore open educational resources and design practices from a variety of organizations with expertise in these areas! These include professional learning, curriculum, and pedagogical resources!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to interact with experts in climate change and sustainability instruction and walk away with free resources and design advice to support their own teaching practice.

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

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that increases global warming. Agriculture is the top source of methane emissions, and enteric methane production from livestock accounts for a significant amount of agricultural methane. The objective of this study is to identify plants that could be added as feed additives in a cow’s diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. There is an effect on methane emissions with plants containing compounds like lipids, polyphenols, and tannins. One part of the study was running in vitro trials to determine how much total gas and methane is produced. The other part was running sequential fibers to determine the digestibility of these plants. We found that some plants reduce methane production, and others do not. White willow and peanut skins were the most effective in reducing enteric methane. With further testing and trials, the most effective plants in this in vitro study could be used as dietary supplements and help reduce methane emissions from dairy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issue of methane emissions from enteric fermentation process of dairy animals and discuss ways to reduce them through dietary supplements and feed additives made from locally available plant sources. These supplements also help keep the animals healthy.

SPEAKERS:
Ivanka Sonkusare

Help your students connect science learning to the real-world environmental challenges facing their local communities with the Watershed Game. In this hands-on workshop, you'll play a large-format game that engages students in solving complex issues around water quality, land use, and flood resilience, bringing environmental science to life. The game aligns with NGSS and state-specific standards and is available free for loan. Designed for middle and high school classrooms, the Watershed Game allows students to take on the roles of community leaders and use prevention tools, practices, and policies to reduce water pollution and increase flood resilience while considering equity. Supportive lesson plans and teacher support materials will allow you to explore local environmental challenges, and engage students in local stewardship and citizen science projects. Participants will leave ready to play the Watershed Game with their classrooms and engage students in their local watershed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with a deep understanding of how the Watershed Game works, how it fosters STEM and encourages local watershed stewardship, and how to integrate it into science and interdisciplinary curricula for middle and high school students.

SPEAKERS:
Tina Miller-Way, Maggie Karschnia

Teaching about climate change today is doubly challenging; the interdisciplinary science is complex, and the sheer volume of misconceptions, misinformation, and disinformation is staggering. Misconceptions often arise from gaps in basic knowledge, while misinformation and disinformation arise from intentional distortion for political, economic, or ideological reasons. To address these issues, we must guide students through 3D learning practices aimed at cultivating functional scientific literacy: the ability to understand and apply scientific concepts in everyday life. This goal requires equipping students with the ability to evaluate sources, interpret data, and recognize logical fallacies or manipulative rhetoric. Along the way, we must integrate critical thinking, sense-making, and media analysis with solid, factual information. We should also encourage students to question dubious claims, seek credible sources, and make scientifically-informed decisions aimed at sustainable goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhancing functional climate science literacy empowers individuals to recognize and reject climate misinformation by using 3D learning to foster critical thinking, source evaluation, and a deeper understanding of scientific evidence, aimed at encouraging sustainable solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine

We will share a multi-faceted instructional model for assessing climate literacy through stories and science that disarm defenses, challenge assumptions, and motivate change. Innovative and research-based, the model can be adapted for use as a curriculum-embedded interim or formative assessment or a performance-based learning evaluation to enhance student engagement with critical topics related to climate change and to assess their understanding of them. An assessment template will be shared, explaining ways to teach climate science through the lens of fictional narrative. Templates follow a seven-part approach that includes the following focus areas: Part One: Narrative Contexts Part Two: Data Connections Part Three: Self-Reflection/Perspective Part Four: Literary Focus Part Five: Exploring Predictive Data Part Six: Investigating and Evaluating Solutions Part Seven: Performance-based Culminating Task

TAKEAWAYS:
Sharing an interdisciplinary approach for fostering climate literacy, we consider the important role of storytelling in educating young people about scientific phenomena related to climate change. Participants will be invited to pilot an adaptable resource.

SPEAKERS:
Mary-Alice Corliss, Mary Kate Clauson, Rebecca Young

This workshop will present an innovative approach to developing scientific argumentation skills in pre-service elementary teachers through pairing the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) framework within a real-world socio-scientific issue (SSI) role play lesson. This lesson was part of a semester long, undergraduate science methods course at a Midwestern University. This workshop will present details about the SSI Role Play lesson, the incorporation of the CER framework into the SSI Role Play lesson, and the shared perspectives of the pre-service elementary teachers as they navigated the experience of the SSI Role Play lesson with the CER framework. Additionally, the presenters will share their insights about the design, delivery, and assessment of the CER with a SSI Role Play lesson and its implications as a more equitable, inclusive approach to developing scientific argumentation in pre-service elementary teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave this workshop with basic knowledge of how to implement an SSI role play paired with the CER within a science methods course that effectively promotes the scientific argumentation of pre-service elementary teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Sanderson, David Kimori, Trish Arnold

The concepts covered in a general chemistry II course are designed to teach students concepts applicable to future chemical studies. However, these seemingly disconnected concepts can be frustrating and confusing for students without understanding how they are relevant in a real-world situation. This presentation will discuss the use of ocean acidification (OA) as an over-arching research project designed to tie concepts discussed in general chemistry II course to a current environmental issue. Using case studies, guided inquiry experimentation, scientific literature, and real-world data, students will learn how chemical equilibrium, acid/base chemistry, solubility, and other concepts addressed in general chemistry apply to the study of OA. This presentation will provide educators with resources on OA and an example of utilizing them in the general chemistry classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate ocean acidification, a climate change topic, into a post-secondary general chemistry course by linking it to content already discussed in the course.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Haslag

Students build their understanding of abiotic and biotic factors, food webs, predator-prey dynamics, and keystone species by exploring either the phenomena of sea otter population decline in the Aleutian Island Archipelago or wildebeest migration in the Serengeti. They also evaluate and develop long-term plans for ecosystem restoration and stability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Dive into real-life scenarios to uncover the ecosystem dynamics that have led to the decline of sea otter populations and the changes in wildebeest populations, then apply what you’ve learned to develop and evaluate conservation efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Anneliese Johnson

Explore an NGSS-aligned, phenomenon-based curriculum designed to prepare students for evaluating the science behind the H2 Innovation Experience—a first-of-its-kind, working renewable hydrogen microgrid in Southern California. This flexible, adaptable curriculum helps students understand clean hydrogen energy through engaging lessons focused on energy transformations, chemical reactions, and climate solutions. Whether students attend the tour in person or engage virtually, they explore and apply science and engineering practices through multimedia, experiments, interactive activities, and real-world data. This session highlights how digital tools and local STEM infrastructure can empower students to critically engage with climate and energy solutions—wherever they are.

TAKEAWAYS:
This NGSS-aligned curriculum rooted in real-world clean energy projects—like the H2 Innovation Experience—can empower students to engage deeply with complex energy systems and envision their role in building a sustainable future for themselves and their community through hydrogen technology.

SPEAKERS:
Cassie Herndon