Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

This authentic case study analyzes microbial DNA from the International Space Station. Available as a hands-on gel electrophoresis experiment or a free virtual lab. This session will also feature Genes in Space, a free experimental design competition that sends student experiments to space!

SPEAKERS:
Emily Gleason

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

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

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Join us to explore the OpenSciEd Certified PASCO version Grade 6 curriculum. First discover a unit's storyline through a tour of PASCO Portal, our online platform for organizing and distributing teacher and student OpenSciEd resources. Then dive into the unit's first lesson to experience the anchoring phenomenon, used to elicit student questions that they'll work to answer throughout the unit. Finally participate in a hands-on activity from a subsequent lesson, using PASCO technology to develop an evidence-based response to one of those student questions. In this lesson, you will use our One-Way Mirror Model and Wireless Light and Color Sensor to measure the amount of light transmitted and reflected by a one-way mirror.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

Place-based education enhances learning when students have purposeful activities to engage them. From the school playground to exploring the neighborhood to botanical gardens to zoos to environmental learning centers, nature offers opportunities for teaching and learning. Come hear about a variety of activities and experiences and receive handouts you can adapt for your elementary students as they learn about life science topics such as needs for survival, growth and development, life cycles, food webs and chains, and interconnectedness of living and nonliving materials . Learn how to maximize student focus and attention through observations, hands on activities, and explorations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to identify and apply engaging activities for students to help them learn about life sciences in natural environments.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Boulden

This session invites participants to explore before, during, and after reading strategies and computational thinking opportunities to enhance sensemaking in the middle school science classroom. Attendees will construct an argument and make a claim based on evidence from an investigation and use writing strategies to strengthen their understanding while communicating scientific information.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leverage the science of reading and computational thinking strategies to boost sensemaking in science.

SPEAKERS:
Madison Weary, Dina Dormer

Explore how leaders can use the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model to support teachers in creating learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL cycles of inquiry and sensemaking culminate in student agency! The BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and utilizes authentic phenomena/problems to anchor multiple cycles of inquiry and sensemaking, culminating with student explanations/design solutions. The research-based AIL model emphasizes coherence from students’ perspective. In this session, participants will consider how AIL integrates elements of the 5E instructional model, NextGen Science storylines, and problem-based learning instructional models, the role of an instructional model in high quality instructional materials, and their own education contexts and how they can apply AIL to design meaningful learning experiences to support their teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es as the basis for implementing HQIM. Leaders leverage this model to support teachers in developing a shared vision of effective science teaching and learning and creating a student-centered classroom for all.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay

What happens when general biology students choose the lens through which they learn biology? In this session, we present a flexible, phenomenon-based curriculum where learners explore core biology concepts through themed “lenses” such as medical, sustainability, animal science, and forensics. These lenses give context to content, deepen engagement, and empower students to drive their own learning. Rooted in NGSS and sensemaking strategies, the curriculum uses anchoring phenomena, real-world problems, and student inquiry to connect life science to future careers and personal interests. We’ll share classroom-tested units, student work, and tools that support choice, equity, and relevance in the biology classroom. Participants will leave with ready-to-use resources and ideas for integrating themed pathways that shift the focus from memorization to meaning-making.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students engage deeply in biology by choosing a personalized pathway through themed lenses—medical, sustainability, animal science, or forensics. This lens-based approach supports sensemaking, increases relevance, and empowers student-driven, inquiry-based learning.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Milne

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Be one of the first to experience the power of inquiry-based, hands-on learning through our new and innovative LEGO® Education Science solution! We will explore a lesson designed to promote engagement, collaboration, and solution diversity in the classroom and inspire students to see themselves in science. Participants will explore how state standards come to life by developing and using models to explore authentic, real-world phenomena. Engaging in science and engineering through hands-on learning has never been so easy or fun!

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Use PCR to perform genetic testing for cystic fibrosis. Make connections across the biology curriculum, from genes and proteins to human health and genetic disease. This robust experiment makes it easy to bring PCR to your classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Emily Gleason

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Wildlife conservators often return captive-bred animals to their native habitats to rewild the area. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the use of RFLP analysis and phylogenetics in conservation biology to analyze the DNA samples of two lions. Can we return them to their ancestral home?

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Transform your science instruction into an engaging, student-centered experience with the power of hands-on learning! In this interactive workshop, discover how to maximize engagement and deepen understanding in Grades 3–5 science using LEGO® Education Science. Explore how tactile, inquiry-based lessons support three-dimensional learning and help educators bring abstract science concepts to life. Join us to learn how hands-on learning experiences can boost student curiosity, retention, and collaboration—making every science minute meaningful.

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Join us to explore the OpenSciEd Certified PASCO version Grade 7 curriculum. First discover a unit's storyline through a tour of PASCO Portal, our online platform for organizing and distributing teacher and student OpenSciEd resources. Then dive into the unit's first lesson to experience the anchoring phenomenon, used to elicit student questions that they'll work to answer throughout the unit. Finally participate in a hands-on activity from a subsequent lesson, using PASCO technology to develop an evidence-based response to one of those student questions. In this lesson, you will use our Wireless CO₂ and Oxygen Gas Sensors to produce data showing the relationship between carbon dioxide and water in the air surrounding plant leaves exposed to light.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

The OSF STEAM Medical Career Immersion Program offered high school seniors a unique, hands-on introduction to diverse health care careers through mentorship, real-world experiences, and direct collaboration with professionals. Students explored clinical and innovation roles, deepened their understanding of medical pathways, and built confidence in their future career choices. By combining education with immersive practice, the program helped bridge gaps in exposure and access—empowering students from all backgrounds to envision and pursue meaningful roles in health care. This model serves as a scalable blueprint for cultivating future scientists and health leaders.

TAKEAWAYS:
The OSF STEAM Medical Career Immersion Program gave high school seniors hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to diverse health careers—building confidence and creating a scalable model for inspiring future health leaders and innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Egli, Katherine Smith

This poster details a ready-to-implement curriculum and comprehensive teacher guide that empowers middle school students to be scientists. Students are introduced to moths (Lepidoptera) and, through a scaffolded process, develop their own original scientific questions about moths in their local habitats. They then design and build moth traps, collect authentic field data, and analyze their results to answer their research questions. The MothEd experience can be implemented fully offline using printable, paper-based lessons, or enhanced through an online platform called CLUE (Collaborative Learning User Environment). All materials are linked to NGSS performance expectations. The MothEd experience was co-developed with teachers and tested over four years across multiple states. This curriculum offers a low-cost, high-impact way to engage students in real-world ecological science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers can easily implement a curriculum that empowers students to ask authentic scientific questions about their local environments—and to experience the full process of being scientists, from discovery to data analysis.

SPEAKERS:
Peter White

There is a critical shortage of professionals in the healthcare industry. This shortage has increased efforts to educate and attract students to the field. With this presentation, we share exemplar lessons and encourage teachers’ involvement in a professional development program aimed at cultivating the next generation of cancer researchers.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session provides attendees with in-depth content and engaging pedagogy related to inquiry-based biomedical career education. This is conveyed through exemplar classroom-ready, hands-on lessons for the middle school classroom that align with actual cancer research and the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Gayle Buck

Human DNA is more alike than different, so how do we find the differences? Restriction enzymes are proteins that recognize and cut specific DNA sequences. These can be used to determine whether a particular DNA sequence is present and to see differences between samples from different individuals – a DNA Fingerprint. This technique is called Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), and it was the first way detectives analyzed DNA at a crime scene. In this activity, participants will use agarose gel electrophoresis to compare three DNA samples and “solve” an art heist. This lab is great to teach about restriction enzymes and agarose gel electrophoresis in a fun and hands-on way – perfect for life science, biology, and forensics classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Digesting DNA with restriction enzymes yields a “DNA Fingerprint” that can help investigators identify suspects at a crime scene. In this lab we will use digested DNA and agarose gel electrophoresis to “solve” an art heist.

SPEAKERS:
Arie Kaz, Kelsie Anson

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Explore CRISPR-Cas gene editing in our hands-on electrophoresis workshop! The Nobel-winning biotechnology breakthrough is making dramatic changes to human health TODAY. Dive into CRISPR biology with quick experiments modeling cures for genetic diseases like Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Explore how genetic testing can assess hereditary cancer risk. Students use gel electrophoresis and pedigree analysis to test family members for Lynch syndrome. Plus, engage with the medical and bioethical implications of genetic testing through a role-play activity!

SPEAKERS:
Alexandra Dainis

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Join us to explore the OpenSciEd Certified PASCO version Grade 8 curriculum. First discover a unit's storyline through a tour of PASCO Portal, our online platform for organizing and distributing teacher and student OpenSciEd resources. Then dive into the unit's first lesson to experience the anchoring phenomenon, used to elicit student questions that they'll work to answer throughout the unit. Finally participate in a hands-on activity from a subsequent lesson, using PASCO technology to develop an evidence-based response to one of those student questions. In this lesson, you will use our Smart Cart with its built-in force and position sensors to graph the relationship between applied force and deformation for different materials.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Middle school learners benefit from science instruction that is hands-on, visual, and rooted in real-world exploration. In this interactive workshop for grades 6–8 educators, participants will engage in activities that guide students through the modeling cycle: building physical representations of phenomena, creating annotated diagrams to explain systems and interactions, and collecting and visualizing data to refine their models. Educators will leave with practical ideas on how to use LEGO Education Science to make abstract ideas tangible and inquiry-driven learning accessible for all students.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Track the inheritance of the sickle cell allele in a fictional family using gel electrophoresis. Available as a hands-on lab or virtual simulation, this case study teaches Mendelian genetics, inheritance patterns, and the molecular basis of sickle cell disease.

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang

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

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) empowers middle school educators to teach evolution with confidence by providing free, standards-aligned resources and professional development opportunities. In this session, educators will experience hands-on activities, NGSS-aligned lessons, and online tools designed to clarify key concepts such as natural selection, common ancestry, and biodiversity. Participants will explore the TIES website, test out interactive classroom activities, and receive a complete evolution unit ready for immediate use. TIES has hosted over 350 workshops nationwide and continues to support teachers through webinars and direct communication with evolutionary scientists. Whether you're new to teaching evolution or looking to enrich your instruction, this session will leave you with practical tools and expert-backed content to meet your curriculum needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain access to free, NGSS-aligned resources—including a complete unit with materials, engaging classroom activities, and effective strategies—to teach evolution confidently and meet science standards.

SPEAKERS:
James Finch, Alison Peterson

Hands-on neuroscience demonstrations facilitate connections between education and neuroscience research. This session will explore hands-on learning experiences in K-12 communities; although ideally suited for high school classes, many of the demos can be adapted to other grade levels. During this presentation, we will engage in neuroscience activities using a variety of resources available from online educational materials. Some examples include electroencephalograms, super tasters/genetic exploration, electrical stimulators, and a range of other devices and techniques. We can show educators how to apply what they learn in class to advancements in neuroscience. These demonstrations in classrooms will help students bridge classroom knowledge with real-world experiences. By the end of the session, educators will gain insight into the various resources available for engagement in education and explore the fundamentals of neuroscience as related to the devices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using affordable demonstrations, participants will explore how to bring hands-on neuroscience into K-12 classrooms, primarily suited for grades 9-12. The session focuses on engagement, allowing educators to connect classroom knowledge, use the tools, and expand to the community if they desire.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Steiner

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Learn how educators are using LEGO® Education to deliver science learning while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in students. This session explores innovative approaches from early adopters who have successfully integrated LEGO® Education solutions into their curricula. Whether you are an educator seeking fresh ideas, a school administrator aiming to improve science achievement scores, or simply passionate about science education, this session will provide valuable insights and inspiration.

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

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

SPEAKERS:
David Grack, Haley Kalina

Explore how middle school students can integrate life science, computer science, and social studies to design sustainable hydroponic systems informed by both data and Indigenous knowledge. In this hands-on workshop, participants will program micro:bits to collect environmental data (light, temperature, humidity) and analyze how these variables influence plant growth. They’ll also examine how cultural perspectives on land and agriculture can inform innovative, equity-centered STEM instruction. Using a classroom-friendly HydroBitBucket system, attendees will participate in activities modeled from an NGSS-aligned unit and walk away with replicable strategies, sample student work, and access to lesson materials that emphasize transdisciplinary problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore how to implement an NGSS- and CSTA-aligned unit that integrates computer science, data analysis, and Indigenous knowledge to engage students in solving real-world agricultural challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Tom Cozzolino, Justin Cannady

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Ann Guglielmo, Brianna Reilly Oliveira

Sponsoring Company: PLTW

Elementary educators shouldn’t have to choose between science, math, and literacy. In this hands-on session, you’ll explore how PLTW Launch helps students master science standards while reinforcing key literacy and math skills. Participate in a classroom-tested activity from the “Light Exploration” module, where students investigate how light behaves with different materials—while building vocabulary, reasoning, and data skills. You’ll also see how Launch’s 42 NGSS-aligned modules support cross-curricular integration and engage students in real-world problem solving. With strong ties to Common Core and ELA goals, Launch offers a flexible, teacher-friendly approach that works across varied classroom models. Walk away with strategies to strengthen science instruction without sacrificing core academic time.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Sarbacker

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Unlock biology's mysteries with model organisms! Learn to culture and study C. elegans in your classroom laboratory. Explore chemotaxis with a simple locomotion assay. Integrate STEM concepts, data collection, and statistics for an enriching learning experience. Meets standards for AP Bio Lab 11.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

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

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Transforming bacteria with vibrant colored proteins is an unforgettable way to teach the central dogma of molecular biology. Take it further by creating bio-art with your students! In this workshop, we’ll share transformation tips, explore microbial creativity, and even award our favorite designs!

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

How can you engage learners in creating projects to share their ideas and observations in motivating and meaningful ways? Join us to make an interactive animation or mini-game featuring an animal in nature that interests you. Experience how you and your students can create projects with OctoStudio, a free creative coding app from MIT that bridges physical and digital making. Access new open-educational resources you can use and adapt for 3D learning and sensemaking, developed by National Geographic Society in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how they can engage learners in creating interactive projects to share their ideas and observations about the natural world, using an engaging set of open-educational resources created by National Geographic and the creators of OctoStudio and Scratch at the MIT Media Lab.

SPEAKERS:
Teo Xisto, Audrey Everett

Explore a hands-on lesson answering utilization of soil, water, and land use data to make decisions. Put on your student hat and see how they will analyze data to construct a solution for a relevant land use concern. Then, switch over to teacher mode and discuss ways to apply in our classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with experience in a versatile lesson that can be applied as an assessment tool, an engagement tool, or both. These tools are phenomenon based and use science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
JESSICA JONES, Megan Sprague

Introduce your students to biotechnology through expression and purification of Taq DNA polymerase in this hands-on 60-minute workshop. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique for copying DNA, lets scientists produce billions of copies of a target DNA segment. PCR can be used to analyze genetic information, test for the presence of pathogens, identify species, prepare DNA for engineering applications, and much more. The PCR reaction happens using cycles of heating and cooling, requiring a special heat-tolerant enzyme for DNA replication – from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus (Taq). In this workshop session, participants will be introduced to the Taq DNA polymerase enzyme and will purify the enzyme – that they can take back to school with them! Educators will also learn how to test and use the newly-purified enzymes, as well as a few fun labs students can do using the PCR reaction – from engineering to human evolution and migration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Purify Taq DNA polymerase from bacteria that you can use for PCR reactions in the classroom. Leave with your own enzyme sample and ideas for fun PCR labs you can do to explore human biology or taxonomic identification with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Arie Kaz, Kelsie Anson

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Connect purposeful play with the Kindergarten Science and STEM Skills with LEGO® Education Science, a solution built to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and encourage learning through play. In this dynamic presentation, we'll delve into science lessons designed specifically for young minds, leveraging the versatility of LEGO bricks to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Participants will get hands on with our inquiry-based lessons... Be prepared to have fun as we learn together!

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Jill Jensen, Kim Benton

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Tired of textbook diagrams showing DNA to RNA to protein? Bring the central dogma to life with a hands-on experiment to visualize transcription and translation using low-cost tools. Or dive into a virtual activity to explore real gene expression data, with no lab needed.

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Explore quorum sensing and cell signaling pathways in this hands-on workshop. Investigate bioluminescence in Vibrio campbellii through engaging, classroom-ready experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Marisol Gabriel

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

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Bring inquiry into your lab with food science! Start by extracting food dyes from candy to analyze using gel electrophoresis and paper chromatography. From there, expand the exploration to different foods, encouraging students to design and test hypotheses, and use STEM techniques to analyze data.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

In 1483, two English princes vanished; now, their remains may have been found! Students use DNA analysis based on the FBI CODIS system to determine if the remains might belong to the lost princes. This gel electrophoresis activity makes it easy to add hands-on DNA analysis to your forensics class!

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang

Sponsoring Company: Anatomy in Clay

In this workshop, attendees will build replicas of human anatomy using clay and a specially designed skeletal model in a classroom setting. Educators will learn how to implement a unique curriculum system which helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy. They will acquire the knowledge to engage science students with immediate, hands-on learning using a proven method that is nationally recognized to increase student retention and test scores. This workshop will emphasize directional terms, planes, cavities and landmarks on the skeletal model and then build several skeletal muscles. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to teach with the learning system and how to fund your class sets.

SPEAKERS:
John-Paul Theriault

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Puppies are born to Molly the Labradoodle, and students must use genetics to solve the paternity mystery. Use Punnett squares and DNA gel electrophoresis to track the inheritance of a single trait across the litter. Then decide who’s the daddy: Zeus the Poodle or Otto the Labradoodle?

SPEAKERS:
Alexandra Dainis

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

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Some people call it the Central Dogma of molecular biology. But we prefer to call it the Flow of Genetic Information – from DNA to RNA to Protein. Whatever you call it, it is a foundational concept in the molecular biosciences. 3D Molecular Designs has created a hands-on modeling kit that will allow your students to explore the molecular logic of living systems by creating physical models of the three phases of this process -- from DNA replication to RNA transcription to Protein Synthesis (Translation). This workshop will focus on last phase of this flow of genetic information process – Protein Synthesis. This Flow of Genetic Information kit will allow your students to feed mRNA through a ribosome – 3 nucleotides at a time – while the ribosome decodes the triplet codons into a specific sequence of amino acids that are joined together to make a protein. This modeling kit will help your students make sense of all those words you have been using to explain how the process works.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek, Inc.

Want to learn more about disease detection? If so, join us to explore the use of wastewater testing in public health. Students use PCR and electrophoresis to test simulated water samples, gaining real-world insight into how this innovative technique helps monitor pathogens and protect communities.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Dayton

Discover how the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Discover Nature Schools program brings outdoor and place-based learning to life with the free middle school curriculum, Nature Unhooked, a free NGSS-aligned middle school curriculum available as a digital resource. This session spotlights three recently revised lessons—Schoolyard Topography, Aquatic Invertebrate Sampling, and Using Chemical Tests to Measure Water Quality—that engage students in authentic scientific investigations rooted in local landscapes. Participants will explore how students use two free online tools - ArcGIS MapViewer and CODAP (Common Online Data Analysis Platform) - to map, analyze, and compare schoolyard and stream data to student data from Missouri Stream Team #5221. Attendees will leave with practical tools and instructional strategies that promote 3D learning, data literacy, and environmental stewardship through the lens of their own communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to use free tools, ArcGIS and CODAP, with the free Discover Nature Schools Nature Unhooked curriculum to support place-based watershed investigations, analyze real data, explore land use impacts, and build NGSS-aligned STEM skills.

SPEAKERS:
Gwendolyn Parrett

Experience NGSS-aligned, hands-on ecology activities designed to engage diverse learners through inquiry and collaboration. In this 60-minute session, participants will explore interactive activities, including constructing food webs to analyze energy flow and ecosystem stability, conducting a biodiversity hunt to collect data on ecological phenomena and population dynamics, and investigating sustainable practices by creating eco-friendly toothpaste while connecting human impact to ecological health. Participants will also receive bonus ecological instructional materials and resources created by the presenter. Through these activities, educators will gain tools to inspire critical thinking, foster collaboration, and build real-world connections, promoting environmental stewardship and making ecology concepts accessible for every learner.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive instructional materials ready for immediate implementation, along with editable versions and differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learners. This will ensure flexibility and accessibility in bringing NGSS-aligned ecology activities to their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Ann Palencia

Uncertainty motivates sensemaking at all ages – from toddlers learning how to use new toys to scientists deep in their fields. Yet, it is often removed from school science investigations, limiting opportunities for students to engage in science practices like argumentation, investigation, and explanation. Drawing from our recently published book, Productive Uncertainty in Science Education, we will engage participants in a elementary school science investigation designed to strategically incorporate uncertainty. Participants will reflect on their experience and explore tools they can use to elicit, work with, and help students benefit from uncertainty in science investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategically incorporating uncertainty using design strategies and talk tools can help students engage more meaningfully in science practices and make conceptual progress on big science ideas through investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Eve Manz

This outdoor learning session will be great for educators of any grade level and location. Whether you're new to outdoor learning or a seasoned pro and if you teach in a classroom or an informal learning space, this session is for you! Naturalists from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota will guide educators through different practices and ways of thinking about outdoor learning that will change their outdoor learning mindset. From there, practical ideas will be shared and explored that can be implemented in classes the following week!

TAKEAWAYS:
For outdoor learning to be successful, educators need to be able to say 'Yes! And...' to whatever comes their way. Educators will learn how to use nature as their co-teacher and embrace the spontaneity that comes with outdoor learning.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Pavlisich, Joseph Walewski, Emily Pavlisich

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

In this hands-on workshop, explore how vaping affects the human body at the molecular and genetic levels. Learn how ELISA is used to detect biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress and how gel electrophoresis can be used to examine genetic predispositions to vaping-related harm. Analyze real-world case studies and get some fresh ideas for bringing health science into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Marisol Gabriel

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Get your students talking about evolution by starting day one with the phenomenon of superbugs. In this session, participants will model the development of antibiotic resistance in a population of bacteria. This activity is an engaging launch point for an evolution unit with memorable connections to an immediate and dangerous problem faced by modern medicine. This lesson provides excellent opportunities for students to develop their skills in both the practice of modeling and analyzing and interpreting data and targets some common misconceptions around the evidence for the Theory of Evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Virginia Rehberg

Sponsoring Company: Animalearn

Come to this workshop to experience hands-on opportunities to dissect a variety of non-animal teaching resources that can be used in place of animal specimens. We encourage teachers to rethink the traditional anatomy lab and explore innovative non-animal methods which can oftentimes create negative emotional and physical reactions from students that can in turn discourage active learning. This session will allow teachers to dissect the newly developed Kind Frog, a synthetic model that is not only realistic but also economical! Other learning stations will be presented so that teachers can experience AR/VR tech tools, like the Merge Cube! The assortment of resources presented at this session will both amaze and engage your students! Stay until the end for giveaways from all of our partner companies.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Green

How can science learning experiences help students develop ecological caring approaches to the living world? Come explore educational approaches to multispecies justice with us! Expanding how students connect to and care for the living world around them is vital at this time of climate crisis. We will draw on resources from STEM Teaching Tools (www.stemteachingtools.org) and Learning in Places (learninginplaces.org) to support these experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
People’s relationships to nature are culturally and historically rooted and are embedded in approaches to science teaching and learning. Science can be used to guide ecological caring responses and support the thriving of people and ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsie Fowler, Nancy Price, Philip Bell

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Explore real CRISPR technology with a hands-on DNA experiment. Program Cas9 to cut DNA, make predictions using sequence analysis, and verify results with gel electrophoresis. This activity is an engaging way to show how CRISPR works and why it’s such a groundbreaking tool for genome editing!

SPEAKERS:
Alexandra Dainis

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

Make middle school science unforgettable with engaging, standards-based activities that cover physical, life, and earth sciences. This interactive session features labs and demos designed for the NGSS classroom. Handouts included.

SPEAKERS:
Jonnathan Medina Ramos, Ph.D.

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Life happens in water – and therefore many teachers consider water to be the first molecule of life. But there are four other small molecules that make up the major constituents of a living cell. These other molecules include (i) amino acids – which become proteins, (ii) phospholipids – which become membranes, (iii) carbohydrates – which become cell walls and food, and (iv) nucleotides – which become DNA and RNA. This workshop will explore physical models of these molecules of life and how they can be used to introduce your students to the molecular basis of life. This session will present teacher-tested suggestions for how these Molecules of Life can be used to introduce virtually any topic in a high school biology curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Join our workshop to explore Ozempic's dual action on diabetes and weight loss. Learn about semaglutide's role in blood sugar and appetite regulation through hands-on ELISA simulations.

SPEAKERS:
Marisol Gabriel

Come discover how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all three dimensions of the NGSS to your physics, physical science and chemistry teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science Practices. Bring a device to this interactive session and 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 simulation software for data exploration and science investigation developed by The Concord Consortium across decades of NSF funding. Participants will explore molecular models, biology models, earth science models, data exploration tools and more, and learn how they can be used to enhance use of three-dimensional learning in the classroom. Examples and hands-on interaction will engage participants in using models and simulations for powerful NGSS-aligned teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore a wide variety of free, authentic models and simulations 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 and Engineering Practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey

As inquiry and data literacy become increasingly emphasized in K-12 science education, accessible, authentic research opportunities for students are critical. This session explores how to introduce students to the inquiry process via ecological investigations with arthropods and environmental factors. Teachers will learn how to leverage place-based ecological phenomena to guide students through creating testable questions, designing and carrying out experiments, and selecting appropriate analyses to process, visualize, and interpret data. Specifically, teachers will explore a lesson that opens with a reading from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and continues with a “wonder wander” activity to spark curiosity and connect learning to place. Participants will also learn ways to support students with arthropod sampling and identification and data analysis tools and methods in order to link student-collected arthropod data to local environmental variables.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will explore fostering inquiry and data literacy in secondary life science education through authentic, ecological investigations using arthropods and environmental factors.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Retterath

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

OpenSciEd is an amazing curriculum that can be really challenging to introduce to students who have never done inquiry-based, low-lecture science instruction before. I've developed some strategies for implementing OSE 7.5 Ecosystem Dynamics unit in my 7th grade classroom that eased the transition into OSE-style learning, made my students excited to dig into the content, and ultimately led to a very successful grasp of ecology topics for my students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how I integrated an OpenSciEd unit with more traditional classroom methods, lab activities, and ecological examples relevant to my students in their home environments.

SPEAKERS:
Anneliese Johnson

Naturalists from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota will be sharing their go-to resources and activities to either get educators started in outdoor learning or to help those that have already been incorporating outdoor learning some new skills. Wolf Ridge naturalists with expertise in pedagogy, botany, lichens, and the Lake Superior watershed will be ready to answer questions and help provide resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
To get started with outdoor learning in your classroom, you have to start somewhere. Wolf Ridge naturalists can help provide a starting point for new educators and new ideas for those already on their way.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Pavlisich, Joseph Walewski, Emily Pavlisich

Looking for high-quality instructional materials that are NGSS-aligned, engaging, and FREE? Khan Academy’s hands-on science activities are the solution! Our activities guide students to conduct investigations, develop models, analyze data, and more. Each activity is anchored in a compelling real-world phenomenon and requires only accessible, low-cost materials. We offer middle school activities in life, physical, and Earth and space science, and high school activities in biology, chemistry, and physics. In this workshop, you’ll step into the role of a student as you try a middle school Khan Academy science activity. Together, we’ll explore both the student and teacher guides and see how the activities support the three dimensions of the NGSS. You’ll learn practical strategies for classroom implementation, and learn how to access the diverse collection of activities we offer. Join us to explore how these free, high-quality resources can bring out the joy in your science classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how free, phenomenon-driven science activities from Khan Academy make 3D learning accessible and engaging with practical, ready-to-use classroom tools.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Cizmas, Iman Brodsky, Molly Sauder, Katherine Capp, Megan Cohn, Donna Figenshu, Timothy Williams

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Explore quorum sensing and cell signaling pathways in this hands-on workshop. Investigate bioluminescence in Vibrio campbellii through engaging, classroom-ready experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Marisol Gabriel

Come discover how free, NSF-funded tools for data exploration and AI from The Concord Consortium can enhance your NGSS 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 hands-on session will demonstrate how teachers can enhance existing lessons using free, open source software for data exploration and science investigation developed by The Concord Consortium over a decade of NSF funding. With a particular emphasis on use of the Science and Engineering Practices, examples and hands-on interaction will engage participants in exploring data, integrating AI tools, and using models and simulations for powerful NGSS-aligned teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use free, NSF-funded tools for data exploration and AI from The Concord Consortium to enhance their NGSS teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science and Engineering Practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Learn how to facilitate simple hands-on photosynthesis experiments with wireless sensors. Help students collect and analyze carbon exchange data from plant leaves in real-time! Dispel student doubts in their understanding of photosynthesis and respiration. (256 ch.)

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Words of uncertainty — things like "likely" and "maybe" — are critical to accurately communicating science. This session will discuss the importance of getting students comfortable with these words in order to increase lifelong trust in science.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandra Dainis

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Experience an easy-to-implement genetic engineering lab with simple teacher prep - no starter cultures or incubator required! This robust lab allows students to visualize the transformation of bacteria from white to bright blue using a protocol that can be completed in a 45-minute class period.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandra Dainis

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

The T4 bacteriophage is a fantastical E. coli killing machine. It has evolved – over several billion years – the ability to walk around in the tall grass that covers the outside surface of an E. coli cell until it finds its specific receptor protein embedded in the E. coli outer membrane. This binding the long, spindly legs of the T4 phage with its receptor then triggers the subsequent events that results in the efficient infection of the E. coli cell. Once the T4 phage has injected its DNA into E. coli, it begins choreographing the many processes that lead to the replication of hundreds of new T4 phage particles. In the last phase of the T4 phage infection cycle, the infected E. coli bursts open releasing hundreds of new phage particles. This session will introduce a physical model of a T4 phage that students can use to explore all phases the phage’s life cycle. This model is enhanced by a digital exploration of a molecular landscape of the T4 Life Cycle by David Goodsell.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman

The word Phenomena is used 276 times in the current MN Science Standards. NGSS emphasizes that students need to be able to observe, explain, and interpret phenomena. Nature provides limitless opportunities for students to observe phenomena and pursue authentic investigations to help explain and interpret that phenomena, yet very few teachers feel comfortable teaching their students outside. After a brief review of fundamentals in classroom management for teaching students outdoors, we will dive into how to structure authentic, nature-based science investigations even in the hard scape of an urban environment. Teachers will learn how to prepare their students for authentic, outdoor, nature-based investigations, and will weave culturally responsive teaching techniques throughout their outdoor teaching practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to prepare their students for authentic, outdoor, nature-based investigations - even within the hard scape of an urban environment. We will weave culturally responsive teaching techniques throughout our outdoor teaching practice. You will spend most of the time outdoors.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Leonard

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

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Experience CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing experiments designed for your students' learning! In this hands-on workshop edit a chromosomal gene, complete with essential experimental controls, using the same cut-and-repair technology used in medicinal and agricultural applications.

SPEAKERS:
Marisol Gabriel

Come learn about assessments designed to assess 3D learning related to middle school life, earth, and physical science NGSS PEs. Key features of each assessment will be highlighted to help participants understand where each PE dimension is addressed, how to help students navigate the prompts, and how to use this information to work with assessments in your own curriculum, or to design your own. We will also examine a sample that integrates an engineering PE as an example of a “bundled” assessment. The items being used are summative, designed to function as a bridge between the formative classroom assessments embedded in specific curricula and large-scale state assessments. Participants will also explore addressing equity issues in using assessments, and will leave with knowledge about how to help your students navigate and respond to 3D assessments within and outside of the context of whatever curriculum you are using.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn about key features for summative, benchmark 3D assessments designed to be used in any NGSS-aligned middle school classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding

Neuroscience is a rapidly progressing field that captivates student interest and creates a model environment for students and faculty to learn alongside one another. The purpose of this workshop is to share the resources used in a newly established neuroscience course to help other schools that might be interested in developing their own program. Hopefully sharing resources and experiences can streamline the development process and bring this “of the moment” topic to more students. Neuroscience topics covered in the curriculum include brain structure and function, learning and memory, sleep, neural signaling (action potentials and synapses), the special senses, neuropathology, neuropharmacology, and neural prosthesis. Several hands-on laboratory experiences accompany each unit. By the final weeks of the course, students used their knowledge and expertise to conduct an independent project. Time is also allotted for cross-curricular experiences with our social studies department.

TAKEAWAYS:
Neuroscience is a rapidly progressing field that captivates student interest and can create a model environment for students and faculty to learn alongside one another while fostering 21st-century skills including experimental design, scientific research, and interdisciplinary investigations.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Sullivan

Join us for an interactive workshop where you’ll experience dynamic, student-centered teaching aligned with the latest science and ELA standards. Learn how to integrate literacy practices, such as reading, writing, and speaking, into your science instruction to create a rich, 3D learning environment. Participate in a hands-on science investigation about an Elk reintroduction project in Virginia, engaging with complex scientific ideas while strengthening literacy skills. Through small-group activities, discover strategies to support students' sensemaking and deepen their thinking. Walk away with practical tools to: • Integrate literacy into science lessons for cross-disciplinary learning • Foster collaboration through reading, writing, and speaking activities • Use real-world phenomena to deepen student engagement • Provide timely support to challenge all learners Transform your science instruction and inspire your students with engaging, hands-on experiences!

TAKEAWAYS:
Student sense-making and development of important literacy skills are enhanced when a learning experience requires students to read, write, talk, and listen with the goal of obtaining and communicating new information and evaluating what they figured out.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Engage in real-world, museum-based investigations guided by scientists using Research Quest, a free suite of online instructional materials developed by the Natural History Museum of Utah. These phenomenon-based investigations are designed to support three-dimensional learning by integrating science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. Participants will explore how these digital tools promote authentic inquiry, data analysis, and evidence-based reasoning. Through hands-on activities and collaborative lesson design, educators will learn to integrate Research Quest with ELA, digital literacy, and environmental literacy standards. The session emphasizes formative assessment strategies and provides classroom-ready lessons that support critical thinking, collaboration, and student-led problem solving using the practices of scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use exemplar resources that support 3D learning, as outlined in NGSS, that effectively promote critical thinking, data analysis, and collaboration. They will examine strategies for facilitating inquiry-based, student-led investigations using real-world science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Madlyn Larson

How do we care for plants? How do plants care for us? Using this simple pre- and post-assessment, we can see how student thinking about their relationship with plants changes in response to learning that includes Indigenous knowledge. In this session, we reflect on the opportunities and tensions we consider as white educators working to incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing (IWK) into our science teaching. We share a variety of strategies we have used to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and voices into teaching about plants and place, focusing especially on inquiry about the phenology and cultural significance of milkweed plants and on seed adaptations relevant to restoring plant communities. Indoor and outdoor activities have been used with learners from elementary through post-secondary. We present evidence about how learners’ thinking changes in response to the activities, and we reflect on continued opportunities for growth, both in ourselves as educators, and for our learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn and evaluate a variety of strategies for incorporating Indigenous Ways of Knowing into teaching and learning about plants and their significance in both social and ecological communities.

SPEAKERS:
Kara Baldwin, Emily Mohl

In this workshop, science teachers will learn the applications of action research and storytelling to transform classroom practices and deepen students’ learning. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, participants will determine classroom problems, design research-based interventions, and analyze data to refine instructional strategies. Elements of storytelling will be used to document the teaching and learning process and fostering culture of reflection for continuous improvement. Teachers will learn to integrate real-world phenomena, science and engineering practices, and the 5Es instructional framework to promote the pillars of sensemaking. Through hands-on collaboration, data-driven inquiry, and creative documentation, teachers will walk away with action plans to promote success of their students for life.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to enhance science teaching through the pillars of sensemaking by using the PDSA cycle and storytelling to design, implement, and evaluate classroom practices for continuous instructional improvement.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Holman

Come see practical ways to help students make sense of phenomena and how to authentically integrate phenomena into your curriculum! Using phenomena to explore scientific ideas has been an increasing trend in science education. While many teachers are finding phenomena to engage students, helping students connect phenomena to science can be more challenging. This session will explore numerous ways teachers can transition from a phenomenon to 3D learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies for helping students make sense of phenomena without giving them phenomenon fatigue.

SPEAKERS:
Emma Breheny, Jesse Wilcox

Using authentic data in the classroom helps students make meaningful connections to complex topics and supports their development as informed decision-makers in real-world contexts. Finding and using real data to create engaging learning experiences may be easier than expected—and it can boost both teacher and student confidence in science. In this session, participants will explore a ready-to-use curriculum featuring a case study on the moose and wolf populations of Isle Royale, based on one of the world’s longest-running predator-prey research projects. Additional data sources and classroom-ready materials will also be shared with attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using real data in the classroom builds teacher and learner confidence and interest in science.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller, Claire Lannoye-Hall

Can students become real-world scientists by investigating the ecological communities in their own neighborhoods? In this session, participants will explore MothEd, a modular, NGSS-informed curriculum that engages students in authentic, place-based scientific inquiry. Students are supported in developing their own research questions about local moth populations. They then build DIY moth traps, collect and analyze moth data from nearby habitats, and share their findings through an online platform. MothEd fosters three-dimensional learning, biodiversity literacy, and a deeper connection to local environments. It also incorporates engineering practices as students design and build their own traps using low-cost, accessible materials. This session will highlight the MothEd Teacher Guide, which includes a full suite of paper-based and technology-enhanced resources. Participants will leave with free access to the curriculum and tools to support authentic, community-based ecological research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage students in authentic, place-based science by investigating local moth communities, developing research questions, collecting and analyzing field data, and building connections to their own ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Peter White

Join fellow IB Biology educators for a collaborative roundtable discussion on the new 2025 curriculum for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). This session will focus on navigating the thematic structure, integrating content across levels, aligning assessments with command terms, and making the most of internal assessment updates. Participants are encouraged to share strategies, questions, and resources as we explore how to build engaging, student-centered instruction within the new framework. Whether you’re just starting to plan or are already deep into implementation, this is a space to connect with others, reflect on challenges, and walk away with actionable ideas for your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the 2025 IB Biology curriculum changes and leave with shared strategies, insights, and planning ideas for effectively teaching and assessing SL and HL content within the new thematic framework.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Peterson

Naturalists from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center will be discussing naturalist practices that can be incorporated into any outdoor learning lesson. Whether you're just starting out with outdoor learning or have already been implementing it in your classroom, these practices can be implemented with your students right away.

TAKEAWAYS:
Outdoor learning requires educators and students to slow down, notice their surroundings, gather information, and share with others.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Pavlisich, Joseph Walewski, Emily Pavlisich

This presentation highlights a collaboration between a small liberal arts college and a high school environmental science program centered on an apiary. Students collect and analyze real-time data from hives, monitoring temperature, humidity, bee activity, and weight, developing skills in data analytics and scientific methods. The project enhances attitudes toward pollinators, shifting perceptions of bees from fear to understanding their ecological importance. Students gain knowledge in entomology, ecology, and environmental science, while developing communication skills through oral and written presentations. A key component is curriculum development, integrating environmental science, data analysis, and honey bee management. This collaborative approach empowers students to become advocates for pollinator conservation and prepares them for future academic and career success in a data-driven world.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation showcases a collaborative project between a small liberal arts college and a high school environmental science program, focusing on hands-on learning in an apiary, data analysis, curriculum development, and fostering a deeper understanding and advocacy for pollinators.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Krantz

This session showcases outdoor learning experiences that connect students to the natural world. Attendees will explore how educators can design and implement NGSS-aligned outdoor learning experiences that are equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant through place-based learning on local environmental issues. Learning activities will focus on outdoor experiences with opportunities for student data collection along with information on increasing community involvement to enhance students' connections to local environments. Classroom examples of student work will be provided demonstrating how students can use the data they collect in their communities to construct pieces of evidence. Environmental issues discussed in this session include: elevated nitrates in waterways, changes in biodiversity, and alterations to local ecosystems. Attendees will leave with a variety of outdoor lessons that support three-dimensional learning and promote science inquiry in authentic, local contexts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Overall, attendees will leave with a variety of data, resources, and lesson ideas focused on student engagement with local environmental issues as well as tips and tricks on how to involve local community members to enhance students' learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Hoenig

This session highlights a school gardening program developed in collaboration with the local Hmong community, integrating traditional agricultural knowledge with modern farming practices and science education. The program deepens student understanding of life sciences, sustainability, and Hmong cultural traditions through hands-on experiences rooted in both scientific inquiry and cultural relevance. The session will share practical strategies for building respectful community partnerships, designing culturally responsive lessons, and using gardening as a powerful, place-based tool to support science instruction, environmental stewardship, and cross-cultural understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Culturally responsive partnerships, like those with the Hmong community, can transform school gardening programs into rich, place-based science learning experiences that honor traditional knowledge while advancing environmental and scientific literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Mieras

Explore a playful, project-based STEM lesson where students use Play-Doh and plastic cutting boards to model root systems with maximum surface area. Surface area is a fundamental concept across the sciences—from plant biology and nutrient absorption to chemical reactions, human physiology, and materials engineering. This activity introduces the idea through a hands-on design challenge embedded within a 7-week garden-based curriculum for grades 3–6. Throughout the unit, students plan, plant, care for, and measure crops, applying scientific and mathematical reasoning to real-world problems. The experience culminates in a community tostada party, where students harvest their garden produce and reflect on their learning. Developed from an NSF-funded study, the curriculum promotes inquiry, collaboration, and discourse—especially for multilingual learners—while fostering deep connections between science, culture, and place-based education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement a hands-on activity where students model root systems with Play-Doh to explore how plants maximize surface area for nutrient absorption, connecting a key scientific concept to real-world garden-based learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Rillero, Peter Rillero

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

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 will unlock the mysteries of the genetic code with engaging and innovative strategies! We will delve into practical, hands on methods for teaching genetic code. Participants will experience a dynamic approach that moves beyond rote memorization, and foster a deeper understanding of how DNA sequences translate into the building blocks of life. Discover how to transform the abstract world or codons and amino acids into an interactive learning experience. This presentation will showcase a classroom-tested game using a "Codon Wheel" to actively involve students in deciphering the genetic code. Participants will witness the the genetic code wheel in action, explore adaptable variations of how to modify the game for differentiation, gain practical strategies for demystifying complex concepts and connect genetic code to real world applications.

TAKEAWAYS:
Unlock the genetic code with engaging, practical strategies. Learn new perspectives to empower them to confidently "speak" the language of life.

SPEAKERS:
Maureen Collazo-Rodriguez

Students thrive when their learning is grounded in real-world, meaningful experiences. Animal science provides a rich opportunity to make science come alive—combining academic rigor with hands-on interaction and emotional connection. Through the lens of an animal science program, students don’t just memorize facts; they observe, question, hypothesize, and develop a deep respect for the living world around them.

This session highlights the Country Day World School PK–8 Animal Science Program, a model that integrates life science standards with daily interactions and long-term care of animals. Participants will explore how younger students build foundational skills by observing behavior, tracking changes over time, and developing vocabulary through direct experience. Older students apply advanced thinking as they engage with genetics—hypothesizing genotypes, predicting inheritance patterns, and analyzing real-world data from the school's barn.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies that foster both scientific inquiry and compassion—two outcomes that grow naturally when students are invited to care, question, and think deeply.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Onusko

We’ll share design details, sample student work, and assessment results from a pilot study of using AI as support for project-based learning. Two classes of students were assigned to teach other students about a global ecosystem by creating a virtual field trip, including information about climate, food webs, and human impact (5-LS2, ESS3.D). During creation, all students engaged in a design thinking cycle of peer feedback and iteration. One class used AI to help generate their trip and give their peers feedback. Initial test results show that the AI experience improved students’ ideas about AI as a constructive tool for learning and that students in the AI class demonstrated more nuanced understandings of ecosystem features. We’ll share how these results align with features of the student work. Lesson materials including the student assignment, instructional slides, student worksheets, and AI feedback tool will be shared so that you can take this experience back to the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about one way to use AI for facilitating design thinking and creative production. Lesson materials including the student assignment, instructional slides, student worksheets, and AI feedback tool will be shared so that you can take this experience back to the classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Williams-Habibi, Shannon Cone, Rachel Wolf

Join naturalists from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota to discuss outdoor learning pedagogy. Participants will share what they're already doing with outdoor learning, what they would like to be doing, and where they are struggling with getting their students outdoors. Wolf Ridge naturalists will facilitate discussions and build a network of educators to help strengthen educators outdoor learning skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in discussions around outdoor learning with naturalists from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Pavlisich, Joseph Walewski, Emily Pavlisich

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 workshop engages participants in an activity from a newly available free curriculum for high school students called Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit. The material is an adaptation of a University of California, Berkeley course created in part by Nobel Prize winner Saul Perlmutter. The course utilizes scientific approaches for interpreting evidence, engaging in probabilistic reasoning, identifying sources of uncertainty, and developing iterative solutions. Participants will assess everyday cause-and-effect claims using factors such as timing, association, and mechanism. They use the following questions to investigate the claims: (1) How often do X and Y happen together? (2) Does X happen before Y? (3) How could a change in X lead to a change in Y? and (4) How likely was the change in Y caused by something other than X? They will apply these questions to correlation graphs to determine what the association can and cannot reveal about causation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Investigate cause-and-effect relationships with an interactive activity! Explore causal reasoning by evaluating everyday claims shown in simple cartoons. Then apply your skills to correlation graphs. Part of a free high school curriculum from the University of California, Berkeley.

SPEAKERS:
Ben Koo

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Meagher, Elizabeth Cakebread, Haley Kalina

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Meagher, Raymond Heinz, Haley Kalina

Think about genetics, evolution, and biotechnology through the lens of lactose digestion. Participants investigate how genetic variation and cultural practices shaped the ability to digest lactose in adulthood. They then model industrial lactose removal by creating enzyme "beads" with sodium alginate and using them in a bioreactor. They will monitor the chemical reaction by testing for buildup of one of its products - glucose. The activity reinforces concepts of enzyme-substrate interaction, gene expression, and evolution through a testable reaction that can easily be done in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This activity connects genetics, evolution, and biotechnology by exploring how lactose digestion varies among individuals, and by modeling enzyme function in a hands-on experiment that demonstrates enzyme-substrate interaction and bioreactors.

SPEAKERS:
Arie Kaz, Kelsie Anson

Virtual field trips (VFTs) blend active and place-based learning, connecting STEM content and skills to immersive digital places. Come sample three VFTs, each featuring 360° media from real field sites. 1. Play U.S. Climate Zone BINGO: explore seven locations across the U.S. while critically reasoning about the relationships between abiotic and biotic factors (ESS2.D, ESS3.D). 2. Tour the Carbon Cycle: breathe in as the forests photosynthesize, listen in as doggos use cellular respiration for energy, see how camping connects to combustion, and experience how changes in the carbon cycle impact our world’s oceans (HS-LS2-5). 3. Observation and Inference! Practice your science skills as you tour the world with a lens of human impacts on Earth’s systems (ESS3.D). After engaging in the VFTs, participants will brainstorm around how they might use VFTs and supporting materials in their own learning contexts. All related instructor and student materials will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session participants will engage with three new instructional experiences they can bring back to their learners. Participants will not only immerse themselves in 360° spaces, but also experience different pedagogies by which diverse learners can engage in virtual interactive field sites.

SPEAKERS:
Kyla Cook, Sherri Calhoun, Rachel Wolf

Are you ready to transform your classroom? Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on three-dimensional (3D) instruction. In this session, you'll not only learn what 3D instruction is, but also experience it firsthand with an example. Through engaging, small-group activities, you'll discover how 3D instruction integrates DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to create meaningful learning experiences. Here’s what you can expect: • Understanding 3D Instruction (10 min): Discover the essential features of 3D science teaching and what it is (and isn’t). • Experience a 3D Lesson (40 min): Engage in a hands-on lesson that incorporates all three dimensions to explore matter and energy in living systems. • Q&A and Next Steps (10 min): Reflect on your learning and access resources for further exploration. This workshop is designed to equip you with practical tools and strategies for making science instruction truly unforgettable. Don't miss out on the opportunity to bring 3D teaching to your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Three-dimensional instruction creates unforgettable classroom experiences that helps students learn how to use the three dimensions of science to figure out phenomenon in the world around them.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Puzzling Anatomy will have participants examine the anatomical differences between animals for anatomical differences and similarities. After creating a data table to show these comparisons, they will develop a hypothesis on how these attributes help the animal carry out its daily life functions. This is a fun way for students to develop their critical thinking and analytical/reasoning skills. All participants in this workshop will receive instruction, have the opportunity to conduct the lesson and materials so they can carry out the lesson in their own classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Puzzling anatomy is a fun way for students to develop their critical thinking and analytical/reasoning skills through the use of puzzles.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Bryan

Teachers often face questions from students such as "Why should we learn this?" "When will we ever use this?" "How many points is this assignment?" In order to get students more involved in the process of doing science, it is imperative that we make science relatable by addressing issues from our local community. By connecting student learning to local issues, current issues, and controversies, we can enhance student interest in science. In this workshop, participants will examine the case of the Kennewick Man, an ancient Native American's remains which were found on the banks of the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. We will learn about the interest of the scientific community from forensic anthropologists to the evolutionary history of the DNA remains, the proper way of honoring ancient human remains, the crucial role of courts in controversial cases, and understanding NAGPRA to help students navigate such debates in classroom settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the example of the Kennewick Man - The Ancient Native American whose skeletal remains were accidentally found by two college students, participants will learn how to create a case study based on a local issue of interest and relate it to the scientific concepts being taught in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Rama Devagupta

In this workshop, discover how middle school students at the UVA/CCS Innovation Hub combine life science and engineering to solve real-world problems through biomimicry. Participants will dive into a project-based learning (PBL) experience where students design, build, and code Biobots, small robots inspired by animal adaptations, using Hummingbird robotics kits and MakeCode. This session will walk through the project's driving question, timeline, and assessment strategies while offering a hands-on chance to explore a scaled-down version of the challenge. Attendees will leave with classroom-ready materials, student work samples, and practical tools for integrating life science, coding, and engineering in an engaging and standards-aligned way.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to implement a nature-inspired robotics PBL that integrates life science, biomimicry, and computer science in a middle school classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Forrester, Tonya Coffey

In today’s world, false information spreads faster than ever—thanks in part to powerful artificial intelligence tools that make it easy to create and share fake content. From wild health claims to viral conspiracy theories, students are wading through a convoluted information environment. It’s more important than ever to help young people build sharp critical thinking and disciplinary literacy skills, so they can sort fact from fiction and take better care of themselves and their communities. In this hands-on session, you’ll explore The News Literacy Project’s free resources, including the Checkology® platform, dive into the “Evaluating Science-Based Claims” lesson, and try out the FLOATER toolkit — a fun, easy way to test the credibility of health and science claims. Then we’ll put the toolkit to the test on some buzzworthy but sketchy health trends. Are these trends helpful or hype? You get to decide!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how to help students build the critical thinking skills they need to make sense of science-based claims in today’s confusing, AI-powered information world. Explore NLP’s free resources, like the Checkology® virtual classroom, while digging into popular—but questionable—health claims.

SPEAKERS:
Brittney Smith