Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

Transform your classroom with exciting, easy-to-perform demonstrations that illustrate core chemistry and physical science concepts. This fast-paced, hands-on session emphasizes immediately usable demos that engage students and reinforce content. Handouts and door prizes provided.

SPEAKERS:
Mike Marvel, Ph.D.

As part of its STEM-on-the-Go Mobile Digital Fabrication Van Program, funded by the Defense STEM Education Consortium, TIES has developed a set of standards-based activities to engage students in Digital Fabrication-inspired Design Challenges. One of the curricula activities, focused on electric circuits, includes the design and construction of a pocket flashlight. During this workshop, participants will learn how to integrate a pocket flashlight project into their electricity and magnetism elementary science curriculum as they construct a series circuit using an LED, coin-cell battery, and copper conductive tape, and take home a functional flashlight. When this project is introduced in a school with digital fabrication machines, students will have the opportunity to design the base of the pocket flashlight and fabricate it on a laser cutter/engraver. All participants will receive a template for the pocket flashlight base and the standards-based activity guide for the project.

TAKEAWAYS:
During this workshop, participants will learn how to integrate a pocket flashlight activity into their electricity and magnetism elementary school science curriculum as they construct a series circuit using an LED, coin-cell battery, and copper conductive tape and take home a functioning flashlight.

SPEAKERS:
Toby Bothel

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

Receive a classroom ready math-based lesson in which students use electricity usage monitors and everyday household appliances to calculate electrical consumption and cost. This lesson supports students in distinguishing between watts, kilowatts, kilowatt hours, and power. Understanding how to teach students about electrical power, energy consumption, and cost is becoming increasingly important in today’s energy-conscious world. This lesson is designed for educators who want to empower students with the knowledge and tools to interpret electricity usage in their homes through the use of affordable electricity usage monitors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tools that enable students to calculate home energy use makes learning about Power (Voltage × Current) both personal and meaningful.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Oesch

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

This presentation will showcase best practices to address that “all forms of energy production” have “risks as well as benefits.” The free, online Switch Classroom provides non-partisan content in this critical area of NGSS instruction. Adaptable for grades 4-12.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

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

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon

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 Model-Based Argument Critique Tool facilitates perspective-taking by prompting students to agree/disagree with peers' conceptual claims about phenomena using evidence, to encourage engagement with different interpretations. Furthermore, the tool directs students to analyze visual representations designed by peers, specifically focusing on how they depict unseen objects or processes. By requiring critiques of varied representations within models, students must consider alternative ways of visualizing abstract concepts and evaluate their effectiveness in communicating scientific ideas. Evaluating others' representations helps students identify strengths, weaknesses, and diverse approaches, broadening their understanding of representational choices and the limitations inherent in visualizing the unseen. This structured peer feedback fosters meta-representational competence, enabling students to appreciate multiple perspectives on the phenomenon and how it can be visually communicated.

TAKEAWAYS:
Viewers will examine the layout of the critique tool, which separates conceptual claims from visual representations. The poster displays examples of preservice teachers' written critiques and drawings of different phenomena, illustrating how their feedback on peer models evolved.

SPEAKERS:
Jaclyn Murray

OpenSciEd’s 3-dimensional Middle School Science + Computer Science units help students concurrently figure out science ideas and computer science in the context of explaining phenomena. The first of these upcoming, free units, 8.1, focuses on collisions between objects. This poster emphasizes the unique pedagogical approach that leverages hardware (micro:bits and sensors) and software (Makecode block coding) to help students explain collisions and develop force measurement solutions for a wide variety of applications. The presenter can also share more information about the other upcoming CS-integrated units (6.3 Weather, Climate & Water Cycling; 6.5 Natural Hazards; 7.6 Earth's Resources & Human Impact; and 8.2 Sound Waves).

TAKEAWAYS:
Computer science can be used as a tool to help explain science phenomena and develop engineering solutions, with computer science learning integrated with science learning in true STEM fashion.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Voss

In this hands-on session, educators will experience the power of real-time data in engineering design and iteration. Building on insights gained through collaborative NIH grant development, participants will engage in a rapid prototyping challenge, using easily accessible live data to test, refine, and improve a solution within a short cycle—just as real engineers do. This interactive workshop will model data-driven decision-making, helping teachers bring NGSS-aligned, iterative engineering practices into their classrooms. By the end, participants will leave with practical strategies to integrate real-time data tools into their lessons, empowering students to make informed design choices and develop future-ready problem-solving skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate real-time data into engineering challenges, guiding students through rapid prototyping and iteration.

SPEAKERS:
Emine inci Birkan, Gillian Roehrig, Todd Hunter

As part of its STEM-on-the-Go Mobile Digital Fabrication Van Program, funded by the Defense STEM Education Consortium, TIES has developed a set of standards-based activities to engage students in Digital Fabrication-inspired Design Challenges. One of the curricula activities, focused on electric circuits, includes the design and construction of an LED Lantern. During this presentation, participants will learn how to integrate a lantern project into their high school physical science curriculum. Educators will construct a parallel circuit using an LED, coin-cell battery, and wires, and will take home a functioning lantern. When this project is introduced in a school with digital fabrication machines, students will also have the opportunity to design the lantern “housing” and fabricate it on a laser cutter/engraver. All participants will receive a template for the lantern design and the standards-based activity guide for the project.

TAKEAWAYS:
During this workshop, participants will learn how to integrate a lantern project into their high school physical science curriculum. Educators will construct a parallel circuit using an LED, coin-cell battery, and wires, and will take home a functioning lantern.

SPEAKERS:
Toby Bothel

Why do some materials feel warmer or cooler to the touch? This hands-on session guides educators through a lab experience where students measure temperature changes in various materials to explore thermal conductivity. Participants will calculate averages, compare rates of heat transfer, and discuss implications for insulation and energy efficiency. Digital graphing and collaborative whiteboard tools will be used to help students visualize and interpret their findings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain a hands-on lab and data analysis activity that helps students explore heat transfer in everyday materials and understand thermal conductivity through real measurements and visual tools.

SPEAKERS:
Mike Szydlowski

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: PhET Interactive Simulations

Be empowered with PhET Studio, PhET’s first customization tool for teachers! Learn how to create unique sim experiences that fit your lessons and inspire students like never before. Join us to see Studio in action and start a FREE trial. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity!

SPEAKERS:
Linda Stegemann

Good data begins with accurate measurements. Students often struggle with science data due to a lack of facility with the International System of Units (SI). A series of engaging, hands-on measurement activities can empower students to be successful using SI in the practices of computational thinking and arguing from evidence. A Concrete to Representational to Abstract approach is used during the exploration lab on finding volume by displacement. This technique boosts the confidence of students who may struggle with written communication. The crosscutting concept of scale, proportion, and quantity is the focus of concept development activities where students estimate values before measuring them. The series culminates in a formative lab assessment where students argue from indirect evidence they gathered regarding the density of water. Appropriate levels of scaffolding for the computational thinking required by this activity will be discussed. Walk away with 3 great measurement labs!

TAKEAWAYS:
Students need to be proficient with various measurement techniques. They also need to be adept at reading, recording, and comprehending data in System International units. Find engaging lessons that incorporate literary and computational skills into explaining phenomena with measurements.

SPEAKERS:
James Duff

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Come and participate with the author of the book, Arthur Eisenkraft, for a close-up look at a new Physical Science book. Experience a fun, take-home lab and learn more about this super curriculum from Activate Learning.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts, Arthur Eisenkraft

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Rockets zoom and race cars zip through hands-on activities that engage your middle and high school students. Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a hands-on model lesson from OpenSciEd for Middle School and discover how the Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, and safer for classroom use. Engage in the featured light box model activity from the 6.1: Light & Matter unit. Participants will walk away with valuable resources to take back to the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Meredith Currie

How can we assess the quality of sampling and variability of the data to help us in decision-making? The various metals and alloys used in the minting of the penny over the years will provide for rich explorations, which are part of the chemistry curriculum. We will highlight the important cross-disciplinary aspect, linking the science content (mass/chemical composition) to the mathematical models outlined in the NGSS section on Systems and Models to show how to use it to simulate systems and interactions. Through hands-on activities and the use of technology, participants will explore a variety of data sets and use this knowledge to better understand and use statistics to make accurate and fair arguments related to everyday topics and explore how the sample mean varies from sample to sample to get a better understanding of quality control.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use real data to develop mathematical models and learn how to test your hypothesis by performing an experiment and analyzing the results, combining chemical analysis with statistical sampling for a cross-curricular approach.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Create and test Play-Doh electrical circuits to explore conductivity, resistance, and circuit design. This fun, hands-on lab provides an engaging way to teach foundational electricity concepts and energy science, making complex ideas accessible for students of all ages.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

This session explores the Inquiry By Engineering Design (IBED) instructional model as an innovative approach to teaching STEM through climate science and sustainability topics. IBED blends inquiry-based learning with engineering design thinking, empowering students to investigate real-world environmental challenges and create solutions grounded in scientific principles. Through this model, students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while engaging in relevant, impactful learning. The session will showcase classroom-tested examples where students designed prototypes to address local climate concerns, such as hurricanes. Participants will leave with practical strategies and resources to integrate STEM using IBED in their science curriculum, aligning instruction with NGSS and sustainability goals. Join us to discover how IBED can transform your classroom into a hub for climate action and STEM innovation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating the engineering design process into the classroom mirrors the real-world practices of engineers, introducing students of all ages and educational levels to a culture of problem-solving. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for incorporating STEM into their science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Azka Kiran

This workshop aims to provide insight into how scientists answer biology's most fundamental questions, “Who is there and what are they doing?” During this workshop, participants will engage in hands-on activities to explore innovative ways to obtain this critical information through environmental DNA (eDNA). The activities presented are developed to ensure students understand how eDNA can be used to assess a species’ presence or absence through DNA barcoding. Learners will consider the possibility of sampling spiderwebs to monitor terrestrial vertebrates to demonstrate innovative methods for obtaining airborne DNA while exploring how eDNA is gathered and measured, the importance of sampling, value of multiple lines of evidence in allowing scientists to draw conclusions while acknowledging potential problems that could occur. Participants will receive access to all the materials presented and a structured framework to be modified or extended to serve their practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore how spider webs' physical properties allow them to capture airborne DNA from nearby organisms, making them a potential tool for securing eDNA to monitor biodiversity.

SPEAKERS:
Robyn Embry, Claire Lannoye-Hall, Jocelyn Miller

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

"Unleashing the Scientist Within" refers to tapping into and maximizing one's natural scientific curiosity and potential for learning and problem-solving. It encourages educators to implement teaching methods that foster inquiry, critical thinking, and emphasizing the importance of embracing scientific thinking and innovation in students. The goal is to empower students to explore the world around them. As we embark on the journey of hands-on assessments and 3D learning, prepare to get your hands dirty, use your thinking skills, and learn ways of summative assessments that can also have a formal part to it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to take an assessment given and raise it to the next level, change it to something more interesting, design it to be curiosity driven, and/or take some assessments with them already tried and proven.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Hansel

Learn about the STARBASE Minnesota, Inc. Destination Mars STEM Kits and Curriculum, a free integrated STEM unit for upper elementary students! This presentation introduces educators to curriculum that transforms students into Mars explorers, scientists, engineers, and more. In this curriculum, students engage in hands-on STEM lessons to plan a human mission to Mars. They'll conduct investigations, create models, practice coding, design a Mars base, explore topics like energy transfer and chemistry, and apply math throughout. Students track growth in STEM career skills and expand their awareness of careers through a STEM career interactive, featuring real STEM professionals. The presentation will include a demonstration of several lessons and educators implementing the program will share the positive impact of these STEM kits on their students. Participants will receive access to the free online curriculum, and Minnesota teachers can register for free sets of classroom materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to implement a standards-based integrated STEM unit that provides connections to STEM careers and engages students through an exciting storyline of a future mission to Mars.

SPEAKERS:
Charity Johnson, Aaron Stolp, Melanie Peters

This workshop focuses on how STEM learning experiences, like simulations, can be adapted to learner needs and preferences using PhET's Inclusive Features as an exemplar. These features – across audio, visuals, and various inputs – address a multitude of common access barriers for learners and empower all science learners to interact, discover, and learn with their peers. We will explore sample sims and collaboratively determine access challenges learners with disabilities may face when interacting with the sims. The presenters will introduce the work and scope of PhET’s Inclusive Design process and introduce participants to the features that are available in PhET’s suite of sims. Participants will determine how to make appropriate modifications to their lesson or activity to meet diverse needs in multiple scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on increasing learners’ interaction time with the sim and allow for both collaborative and independent self-discovery of the 3D learning targets.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain insight into PhET’s approach to inclusive design, find PhET Sims with Inclusive Features, and adapt lesson plans to leverage any or all features of PhET Sims to adapt to the needs and preferences of learners in diverse classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Brett Fiedler

Modeling activities can sometimes seem like a burden to teachers and students alike. Large phenomena, taking several days or weeks to cover, can feel abstract and disconnected. But "not all phenomena need to be phenomenal." We will show teachers how to quickly but effectively design smaller modeling activities to maximize student understanding in minimal class time. We will showcase how to select everyday phenomena and simple hands on activities. We will then help teachers in understanding the design process of the activity itself, showing that, with a little bit of prep and foresight, teachers can design incredibly impactful modeling activities. The goal is for all in attendance to leave with the ability to design short meaningful modeling activities with maximum impact to their students' learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendess will leave with the ability to design a Mini Model of their own. All attendees will learn the thought and design process behind these efficient learning activities.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Reidy, Kevin Wessler

Join the NSTA PL committee for one or all of these sessions in our Interdisciplinary Connections strand to explore the what, why and how of interdisciplinary science teaching and learning. Each session will engage participants in interactive experiences to solve problems or investigate phenomena using science while focusing on a particular pairing of interdisciplinary opportunities. Step into this immersive workshop where participants will tackle a real-world engineering challenge: designing an air-powered vehicle to reduce carbon emissions. Using the engineering design process, attendees will brainstorm, prototype, test, and revise their vehicles while documenting data, analyzing performance, and justifying design choices through Claims-Evidence-Reasoning (CER). This hands-on experience models how transdisciplinary STEM learning—combining science (energy, forces), math (cost, measurement), and engineering (constraints, iteration)—can drive student innovation and engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to engage elementary students in the engineering design process through a hands-on, transdisciplinary challenge that integrates science, math, and engineering to build and refine air-powered vehicles while applying NGSS-aligned practices and student-centered strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor, Jesse Wilcox

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Design, construct, and test a waterwheel to demonstrate the conversion of water power into mechanical power, capable of lifting several pennies. This lab will reinforce the concepts of renewable energy and energy transformation.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Dana Haine, Shannon Oesch

Join us for an engaging workshop that brings cutting-edge particle physics into your classroom. Explore how scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN tackle fundamental questions about the universe—and how their discoveries connect to high school science. Through hands-on activities from the NSF-supported QuarkNet program, you'll experience ways to integrate real data, current research, and core physics concepts into your curriculum, all aligned with national science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with examples of standards-based classroom activities that link cutting-edge physics research to core concepts taught in high school physics and physical science.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Plucinski, Shane Wood

Both charge and energy flow through electrical circuits, energy as an open system and charge as a closed system, but students arrive in physics class with poorly differentiated concepts of charge, energy, current, and voltage and pre-conceived notions involving one quantity flowing as an open system. Through a fun and engaging sequence of activities building circuits to examine evidence, walking classroom-sized circuits using nerf guns to model charge and energy, and creating and narrating claymation videos of charge and energy in circuits, workshop participants will learn how to guide students to understand that energy can enter and leave the system, and charge cannot because circuits are closed systems. The language of closed and open systems references students’ prior experience in biology and chemistry classes, enabling them to more rapidly build a better model of electric circuits. In addition to doing the activities themselves, participants will discuss sample student results.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a sequence of fun and engaging activities to help students build a model of charge and energy flow in electric circuits, and a deeper understanding of student misconceptions and the pros and cons of different instructional approaches.

SPEAKERS:
Charlotte Kelly, Matthew Greenwolfe

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

Discover high-impact demonstrations that make physical science come alive. This hands-on session covers key topics like force, motion, waves, and energy, all tied to NGSS performance expectations. Includes take-home resources to use right away.

SPEAKERS:
Jonnathan Medina Ramos, Ph.D.

So much of science is dependent upon making observations, looking for patterns, and creating predictions. In this session, we will explore 3 different puzzles in the classroom that kick start conversations about the nature of science: The Game of Science, Inquiry Cubes, and Periodic Aliens. These lessons combine challenging tasks with thoughtful connections with the nature of science and are perfect for the start of the school year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will try out and receive materials for three different activities to use in the classroom to introduce and discuss the nature of science with students

SPEAKERS:
Joe Cossette

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

For students new to describing motion, graphs of position and velocity can be difficult to interpret. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use sensors to create and discuss graphs of motion with your students. Less than 25 Words: A. Graphs of position and velocity often confuse students attempting to describe motion. In this hands-on workshop, we will create these graphs and discuss their meaning. B. Graphs of position and velocity can be confusing for students to describe. In this workshop, we will use sensors to create and explain motion graphs.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Riley

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: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Explore easy, engaging, and safe chemistry activities that guarantee a reaction in your students. Whether you’re new to chemistry or feeling out of your element, create excitement with hands-on labs, demonstrations, and Carolina’s digital content. These lab activities support 3-dimensional learning and work every time, not just periodically.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon

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

This short session will describe an interactive five day unit designed for elementary students in grades 4-5 that includes: an integration of disciplinary literacy including readings about Amelia Earhart and how paper airplanes work, with active engagement in science and engineering practices by designing, testing, and modifying paper airplanes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate science and engineering concepts with paper airplanes. They will leave with access to resources to help them bring this series of activities into their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Koomen

Both charge and energy flow through electrical circuits, energy as an open system and charge as a closed system, but students arrive in physics class with poorly differentiated concepts of charge, energy, current, and voltage and pre-conceived notions involving one quantity flowing as an open system. Through a fun and engaging sequence of activities building circuits to examine evidence, walking classroom-sized circuits using nerf guns to model charge and energy, and creating and narrating claymation videos of charge and energy in circuits, workshop participants will learn how to guide students to understand that energy can enter and leave the system, and charge cannot because circuits are closed systems. The language of closed and open systems references students’ prior experience in biology and chemistry classes, enabling them to more rapidly build a better model of electric circuits. In addition to doing the activities themselves, participants will discuss sample student results.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a sequence of fun and engaging activities to help students build a model of charge and energy flow in electric circuits, and a deeper understanding of student misconceptions and the pros and cons of different instructional approaches.

SPEAKERS:
Charlotte Kelly, Matthew Greenwolfe

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

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

How do the order of lessons shift when infusing computer science into a science storyline while maintaining student coherence? Discover what is different in a free, upcoming OpenSciEd 8th grade middle school science + computer science unit on Sound Waves, when students use computer tools and engage in computational thinking more extensively to develop disciplinary core ideas related to physical science and life science. Using the same anchoring phenomenon of loud music from a truck making a window move, students use micro:bits (pocket-sized computer) to collect and analyze data to deepen their science understanding of sound wave characteristics. Students use micro:bit devices and MakeCode block coding throughout the unit to make sense of sound waves, how our ears detect them, and design devices to detect sound waves to help people experiencing hearing loss.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student’s investigations into sound waves and hearing are enhanced through the use of computing devices which also allow for the development of computer science and engineering practices embedded throughout the unit.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Novak, Nicole Vick

An open-ended ice core 3D investigation that incorporates absolute and relative dating, patterns and anomalies, volcanoes, solar proton events, and terrestrial and supernova events. The GISP2-H 125.6-meter ice core is a record of liquid electrical conductivity (LEC) and nitrate concentrations. The LEC sequence contains signals from a number of known volcanic eruptions that provide absolute dates. Terrestrial and solar background nitrate records show seasonal and annual variations and unique events. Several nitrate anomalies within the record do not correspond to any known terrestrial or solar events, There is compelling evidence that some nitrate anomalies could be supernova events. This investigation provides participants with a better understanding of the scientific process of analyzing data from multiple sources, developing models, constructing knowledge, and defending their results. Sometimes there are no answer keys. The investigation is aligned with NGSS cross-cutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
In constructing knowledge, there is no definitive answer, only plausible conclusions based on constructing, analyzing, and comparing data and research from multiple disciplines. This investigation provides a better understanding of the scientific process of developing models and defending results.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young

Discover how to foster a classroom culture where students actively contribute to knowledge building in science learning. This session will highlight practices and strategies embedded in the OpenSciEd Electromagnetic Radiation unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain insights into facilitating discussions, promoting equitable participation, and supporting sensemaking and explore how to create an inclusive learning environment that empowers students to collaboratively engage in sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker

Sponsoring Company: PhET Interactive Simulations

What is "data science" and how can a physical science teacher, from middle school integrated sciences to high school chemistry and physics, integrate data science practices into their classroom? Join the PhET team for a series of ready-to-use lessons for in which we'll introduce data science and methods to address data science in your classroom. We'll address lessons that include "messy" data collection in PhET and show you how your students can use PhET with CODAP to capture, display, and analyze large data sets. Get ready-made lessons you can customize or immediately implement in your classroom, all for free.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Stegemann

We will go through a set of hands-on, physical and digital experiences to learn how objects vibrate and make sound, and how that sound can be turned into music. Participants will get access to free curriculum resources and digital tools created by music neuroscientist and sound artist, Victor Minces. In this workshop, participants will learn about the science of sound, waves, and vibrations, and how they relate to music. For this, we will use a series of physical hands-on activities and interactive web applications created by our team at https://listeningtowaves.com/. The applications allow users to visualize, create, and play with sound; they have an associated NGSS-aligned curriculum developed in collaboration with the San Diego Science Project at UC San Diego, and are being widely used in California and throughout the world. Children and teachers love them. The curriculum is focused on 8th grade but it can be easily adapted to other age groups. The workshop will be led by Victor M

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

SPEAKERS:
Victor Minces, Victor Minces

Ideas are presented for incorporating Earth and Space Science (ESS) into existing high school Bio/Chem/Phys (BEP) courses through the use of integrated storylines anchored by ESS phenomena. This not only satisfies the NGSS requirements for ESS performance expectations for high schools that are following the NGSS Modified Science Domains model but allows student sensemaking of the performance expectations PEs with engaging and fascinating phenomena. Dr. Michael Wysession, lead NGSS ESS author and geophysics professor, will provide useful examples of how ESS phenomena such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and climate change can inspire students in the three-dimensional sensemaking of BEP NGSS PEs. For example, the deadly 1918 Spanish Flu and all subsequent avian flu pandemics followed the climate change of Pacific La Niña events that altered atmospheric jet stream patterns that altered the migration patterns of wild birds carrying the Influenza A strains that generated new flu variants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Earth Science phenomena anchor engaging high school storylines for high school curricula that follow the NGSS Modified Science Domains model, where Earth and Space Science is integrated into existing Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses. Instructors will leave with multiple integrated examples.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Dan Voss, Haley Kalina

What if the power goes out, stores are closed, and there’s no help on the way? In this exciting, hands-on class, teach students real-world survival skills through science. They’ll purify water with solar stills, cook outdoors (solar brownies, orange peel muffins!), build fires, make charcloth, and practice wilderness first aid. Students will also create spears, atlatls, and clothing, predict weather, navigate with maps and compasses, and identify wild edibles. They'll explore microbiology to prevent illness and make all-natural chapstick, bug repellent, soap, and detergent. Fun, functional, and unforgettable—because when the world gets weird, science is survival.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the Zombie Apocalypse, or any natural disaster from tornado to hurricane, earthquake to ice storm, this workshop illustrates how many different science fields are relevant to everyday life! This workshop includes chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Carden-Jessen

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

Each day in my chemistry classroom begins with “Element of the Day”—a consistent, engaging routine that sparks curiosity and builds connections. Students learn about an element’s history, real-world applications, and common compounds, with the support of visuals, short videos, and even a few element-themed jokes. This simple structure sets a positive tone for the period and naturally transitions into the warm-up or lesson. Over time, it becomes something students look forward to and talk about outside of class. Whether it’s exploring how rare earth metals power smartphones or why sodium shows up in snacks, students begin to see chemistry in the world around them. In this session, I’ll share how I plan, structure, and implement this routine, the resources I use, and how it’s helped reinforce content, create routine, and build relationships in a meaningful, low-pressure way.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement a consistent, engaging “Element of the Day” routine that builds classroom structure, sparks curiosity, and connects chemistry content to students’ everyday lives through history, humor, real-world applications, and visual storytelling.

SPEAKERS:
James Leddy

This session explores a reimagined approach to chemistry labs that prioritizes student collaboration, creativity, and relevance. Using a group model where every student has an active role, labs become more than just data collection—they become shared, purposeful learning experiences. After completing the lab, students demonstrate their understanding through modern, student-driven products: TikTok-style videos, infographics, Canva one-pagers, flyers, or mock Instagram posts. These formats allow students to communicate their learning in ways that feel authentic and engaging. This structure has been shown to boost participation, deepen content understanding, and foster an inclusive lab environment. Attendees will learn how to implement collaborative roles, explore examples of creative student work, and see how labs can evolve to meet the interests and learning styles of today’s students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore how to design collaborative, student-centered chemistry labs with creative final products that help Gen Z students engage, reflect, and communicate their learning in authentic, meaningful ways.

SPEAKERS:
James Leddy

Engineering has been identified as an essential part of a robust science education, yet we are still developing an understanding of how elementary age students learn with an integrated science and engineering design approach. Contrary to the widely held perception that children are merely tinkering when they complete engineering design challenges, this presentation reveals that even young children are working with purpose and intention when solving an engineering design problem. We will take a look at the types of interactions children engage in during engineering design and use this information to help propel their science learning. With an improved understanding of the three main types of change that early elementary learners enact during engineering design, science education can further direct its efforts to support science learning using engineering design activities. Classroom educators can provide more targeted support to help children advance their science learning outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
To build a better understanding of the specific ways in which young children engage with materials and make changes to their designs during engineering to help educators provide more targeted support for advancing science learning outcomes when using an integrated science and engineering approach.

SPEAKERS:
Christine McGrail

Get a backstage view of a student led science demonstration show. The show "...welcomes you to join students as they share the extraordinary science of thermodynamics, kinetics, acid and bases, vacuums and high pressure. Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of rainbow liquids, vortex cannons, frothing bubbles, colorful flames and luminescent solutions." The session will share: video of numerous demonstration shows, documents and tips on how to safely engage learners, and examples of student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
See examples from 20 years of a student led science demonstration show.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Just

Learn how to use the Uncovering Student Ideas probes in an explore-before-explain instructional sequence to support a classroom where all students' ideas matter!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a new NSTA press resource for formative assessment and explore-before-explain teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown

Stars form in clouds of gas and dust in star formation regions, and follow sequences that end in their destruction. Plotting their changing physical properties on the H-R diagram shows their evolutionary progress. Plotting light curves on the H-D diagram determines instability regions as stars transition to the next stage. Stellar evolution provides the energy which drives the universe, and determines its future. Nucleosynthesis creates the elements which will enrich the next generation of protostars and planets. The resources developed by NASA are a progression from understanding astronomical images to plotting stellar transitions through instability strips on the H-R diagram, to analyzing observational data with the same JS9 tools that scientists use to determine everything from the chemical composition of supernovas to determining whether a stellar core is a white dwarf or a neutron star. The JS9 investigations include links to the original research papers, and archived data sets.

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

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young

I describe the design of a robotic kinematic apparatus and a curriculum designed to make use of its unique features to shape the inquiry process. Participants will get a chance to program the robot themselves by drawing inematic graphs on a computer and watch as the robot precisely produces the motion, providing immediate visual feedback.  A physics apparatus that provides control of error minimizes the need for teacher intervention and improves student absorption in inquiry.  The turn-around time of several minutes to analyze a mistake and test a new idea encourages students to learn from their mistakes and really think things through.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how robots can help teach kinematics in a fun, engaging and effective manner.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Greenwolfe

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

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Cassie Herndon

In today’s diverse classrooms, traditional one-size-fits-all instruction often leaves some students behind while others are left unchallenged. This workshop introduces self-paced mastery learning, a flexible, student-centered approach grounded in differentiation, formative assessment, and creative strategies like visual note-taking, cooperative learning, and student voice and choice. Drawing from my experience designing interdisciplinary projects on topics like electricity and magnetism, water pollution, cell biology, and atomic theory, you will explore how connecting content across disciplines and using real-world applications can spark engagement, deepen understanding, and promote equity. Participants will leave with tools and strategies to build a classroom where students learn at their own pace, show meaningful evidence of understanding, and make lasting cross-curricular connections that go beyond the textbook.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement self-paced mastery learning in their classrooms by using differentiation, formative assessment, and creative strategies like visual note-taking and cooperative learning. Participants will leave with tools to create a student-centered, interdisciplinary learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kingsley Ogbonna

Come and learn how you can use Coding and Computer Science to help your students master the 3 Dimensions of the NGSS with examples from CodeHS and Science Olympiad. As technology becomes more a part of students everyday lives it is important that they develop the knowledge and skills necessary to use it correctly and apply it to the right situations. Research has shown that this occurs best when these applications are placed within a context such as a science class as opposed to a computer class where they are taught in abstract. In this session, you will see different activities where computer science principles and coding are used to help students understand and apply the science content and skills that they are learning. These activities can be incorporated into your science program or be used as standalone lessons. In addition, we will discuss how these activities can be adapted to tackle other topics to support efforts to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away from this session with activities that they can use in their classrooms to teach science through computer science and coding. Additionally, these lessons can serve as examples which will allow the teachers to adapt them to tackle other topics.

SPEAKERS:
John Loehr