Nonfiction films featuring diverse scientists telling their own stories can do more than promote conceptual understanding. We will screen two short films, Decoding Ancestral Knowledge and CRISPR Apostle, and show preliminary results of their impact on science identity and nature of science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn about the films from the study, how to access them, and the results that suggest they not only support student learning; they can also broaden perspectives on who does science and how science is done.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Behrman

Use current environmental issues as an engaging teaching tool! View clips from Chasing the Tide, a docuseries that shows the 370-mile journey of a couple as they walk the length of Texas’s coast. Access FREE NGSS-aligned resources that guide students to explore pressing issues in coastal ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain three-dimensional teaching resources and strategies that guide your students to explore current environmental issues and identify actions they can take, no matter where they live or what resources they have access to, to support the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Marie Fayen

Engage with Conservation Nation’s unique resources featuring diverse role models in wildlife conservation. Explore topics ranging from mindful birding with leaders of Black Birders Week to innovative uses of DNA in conservation with scientists from the de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences.

TAKEAWAYS:
You can build student engagement and help more students see themselves represented in environmental spaces by bringing diverse conservation professionals and careers into your classroom via free lesson materials and resources from Conservation Nation.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Lill

Empower students to create videos about environmental challenges addressed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Discover tools and activities to build skills in inquiry, research, project organization, communication and using video technology. View samples of students’ inspiring work.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees with learn how to facilitate a problem-based learning project that employs a variety of STEAM and literacy skills to deepen their understanding of a global environmental challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth

How can we leverage digital tools to support biology learning that’s authentic and engages with science practices and cross-cutting concepts? We’ll explore “sit spot” strategies that connect students to their local context and communities through digital tools and a place-based teaching framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how implementing a “sit spot” assignment series can connect existing biology curricula to NGSS-aligned, place-based science explorations, as well as support student personal development and motivation, while overcoming the limitations of a traditional classroom experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kirstin Milks, Whitney Aragaki

This workshop will describe methods used to engage a range of learners, including neurodivergent and English Language Learners, in grades 3-5, in place-based investigations of plants and weather. Lesson descriptions and student work will be used to initiate discussion with attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop will describe methods used to engage a range of learners, including neurodivergent and English Language Learners, in grades 3-5, in place-based investigations of plants and weather. Lesson descriptions and student work will be used to initiate discussion with attendees.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Feit, Andreia Ferreira, Soraya Santana, Peter Garik

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative worktexts deliver student-centred resources: AP, NGSS & electives. Identical print and digital titles integrate to provide a rich teaching program. Use our teacher resources to plan, deliver, & assess. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

5th through 12th grade students are ready to learn about the problem with microplastics! Join a group of educators who sailed Lake Erie with scientists to study plastic pollution. Help your students become citizen scientists, collecting, organizing, and reporting data within their own community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the impacts of and solutions to tackling microplastics as well as strategies for involving their students in hands-on microplastics research along local bodies of water from educators who experienced this scientific research first-hand.

SPEAKERS:
Lara Roketenetz, Sabrina Deschamps, Kate Krischke, Brienne May

Use a lab and demo to talk about resources and the environment, using copper as an example. The labs can be used for many fields - geology, environmental science, chemistry; focus on the impact of resource acquisition; and provide resources to highlight the depth and complexity of these issues.

TAKEAWAYS:
Copper recovery from ore with two methods - these labs can be used for many fields: geology, environmental science, chemistry; they focus on the impact of resource acquisition; and they provide resources to highlight the depth and complexity of these issues.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

This workshop will incorporate the phenomena of underwater sound into science activities and investigations. Resources such as an audio gallery of underwater sounds produced by animals and people and activities challenging students to produce spectrograms and explore the science of sound.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the topic of underwater sound can be an engaging vehicle for students to explore physical science concepts and connect these fundamental principles with the undersea environment and science of sound.

SPEAKERS:
Liesl Hotaling

Problem solving? Creativity? Collaboration? Design Challenge? Learn about an instructional strategy that provides students opportunities to participate that focuses on local and state environmental issues. Join a mini design sprint and develop your own challenge before you leave.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the design sprint, an instructional strategy that provides students with a unique opportunity to participate in a challenge that focuses on local and state environmental issues. Participants will create the initial ideas for their own student design challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Martinez, Peggy Steffen

We all want students to become critical thinkers, retain & transfer learning, and have a deep understanding of science ideas. Transform your instruction so students construct their own explanations of scientific phenomena that mirrors the process scientists use to make sense of the natural world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to define, identify, and apply characteristics of sensemaking into instruction. They will also become familiar with lesson models and resources that support sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Oakley, Tina Hovance

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Why are sea levels rising? Why is it so dangerous - no matter where in the US you live? How can we address it? Using hands-on role-playing activities from NOAA, engage your students on one of the most dangerous climate impacts of our time.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen, Peggy Steffen

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

New to BioInteractive? Come investigate HHMI BioInteractive’s many free resources to support life science educators. We'll review how to navigate a website with hundreds of high-quality resources as well as how to connect with your fellow life science educators through our online community.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Moran-Johnson, Karen Lucci

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Participants will make and use alginate beads containing algae and alginate beads containing yeast. They will learn how the beads can be used to model the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Why are some coral and fish species disappearing? In this 3D lesson, biology and environmental science students use real-time data to explore how excess CO2 in water affects the pH. Using their findings, students can model how these changes impact interdependent relationships in ocean ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

Interested in bringing river ecology to your classroom? This presentation will introduce strategies to engage learners in place-based ecology on a budget. In this unit, students will research local riparian plant species, design a tank to house them, and monitor the ecosystem health over time.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students are more engaged when the learning they are doing resembles their surroundings. Viewers of this lesson can expect to encounter strategies to bring local riparian ecology into the classroom and how to adapt their lessons to reflect their local ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Tobias Kochenderfer

Learn to compare ground-based weather observations with satellite data using visible and infrared imagery. This session will provide hands-on activities with My NASA Data to help students analyze weather patterns and understand how different observations complement each other.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate ground-based observations with satellite data, using hands-on activities with My NASA Data to help students analyze and understand weather patterns from both local and global perspectives.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Smoak, Diane Ripollone

Explore how our instructional modules address the Plant Awareness Disparity by empowering high school students to connect with their botanical heritage. Our hands-on approach fosters equitable access to STEM learning through place-based exploration of personal, cultural, and community assets.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover how our modules promote equity in science education by engaging students in hands-on botanical exploration, fostering deep connections with nature, and aligning with contemporary research and educational standards.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore

Explore how to design an immersive research trip that aligns with NGSS life science standards. I will share my experience leading a trip for 40 ninth-graders to the Bahamas, where students engaged in authentic science by conducting hands-on fieldwork, and what the students learned in the end.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn what NGSS life science standards are aligned in the overseas trip that incorporates authentic field research methodologies like GIS, environmental data collection, and graphing to create meaningful, real-world science experiences for students.

SPEAKERS:
Akira Wong

Potato aquaponics is a method of growing potatoes in a symbiotic system that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). Aquaponics reduces the need for various chemical fertilizers and helps to conserve water, making it a promising for urban farming.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn what is needed to be able to successfully grow potatoes in an aquaponics system. They will also, learn about the sustainability and resource efficiency that comes with this type of farming. The information provided will help with optimal growth for the plant.

SPEAKERS:
Emery Breitbarth

Outdoor education takes many forms and focuses on promoting real-world, inquiry-based learning. Learn how schools in different states have developed camping programs including how to effectively prepare, advocate for, and organize a camp experience integrating NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Outdoor Ed aligns with NGSS to enhance learning through hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Visitors will gain strategies to create an outdoor education program that fits their school's needs, including lessons and units that foster critical thinking and problem solving.

SPEAKERS:
Myriah Leisher, Pamela Waters

Attendees will receive materials for a unit on nutrient cycling and the transfer of matter. Student examples show collection and sensemaking of their own data using iNaturalist. Students then apply data to monitor and make changes to the ecosystem model, serving as a local and current data set.

TAKEAWAYS:
Scaled ecosystem models provide opportunities for students to generate their own data. Further generations of students can collect long-term data on the model. Data can be used to propose changes to the model and make sense of larger phenomena. Students develop personal connections to the ecosystem.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Verdiguel Gillet

This poster demonstrates a series of activities using acoustic data from marine soundscapes to assess a coral reef habitat's ecological dynamics, functions, and resilience. The NGSS-aligned activities foster an interactive learning environment in all three dimensions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Ecological data, such as sound, can assess human impacts on Earth's systems and support decision-making to promote the responsible management of natural resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this unit for grades 3-5 teaches students how to understand and improve indoor air quality. Students read stories and engage in hands-on activities to explore indoor environments and take action to create healthier spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to engage grades 3-5 students in investigating indoor air quality through storytelling and challenge-based activities. This modular unit empowers students to become active problem-solvers and builds their action competence in creating healthier indoor spaces.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

Student leaders of International Student-led Arctic Monitoring and Research, a 20-year old after school science program. They will showcase 7 research groups' data and summer trip experiences including highs and lows on their science teaching and learning journey.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain a model for a science club doing authentic, novel research including concepts and lessons learned through 20 years of ISAMR. Adults will be on hand for questions, contacts and information sharing. Microbiome and permafrost depth feature heavily with some engineering and coding.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Guarraia

Simple, easy, and inexpensive methods for starting a school garden by using upcycled and free materials

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will show teachers how to begin planting using upcycled and free materials, how to reuse containers as planters, how to make biodegradable seedling planters in seconds, and how to transform desolate ground into a blooming wildflower garden with seeds and a container of air-dry clay.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson

Discover how PBS LearningMedia, a free and trusted resource for PreK-12 classrooms, utilizes media-rich resources from PBS shows like NOVA, NATURE, Weathered, and PBS Eons to spark students' curiosity, facilitate student sense-making, and support 3D learning frameworks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies for seamlessly incorporating multimedia content from PBS LearningMedia into curriculum and learn new methods to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving as students learn about and discuss challenges posed by environmental issues and the potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Merek Chang, Lori Brittain

What makes a good story? How can simple storytelling connect us to learning science? This interdisciplinary project allows students to explore science picture books and environmental children's stories while learning about science communication in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students can dive into diverse storytelling methods and explore the importance of storytelling in accessible science communication. Students will express environmental stories they care about to a community audience. AZ Standards Engaged: 1.E1U3.8, 8.W.2, 3, 4, 7

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Becker

This workshop will have participants engaging in an abbreviated version of a highly interactive and creative project that emphasizes key concepts about biodiversity and ecology while allowing for creative flexibility. Teachers involved in the life sciences are encouraged to join!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about an engaging, fun, and creative multi-day in-class project centered around key concepts related to biodiversity and ecology. Attendees will also leave with materials to seamlessly integrate this project into their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Paul Marban

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Dobrin

Integrate healthy habits of conversation into your students' learning with the civil discourse framework. Empower yourself with strategies and resources to engage students in respectful discourse when conveying their understanding of a topic related to environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Equip yourself with tools and lessons to leverage in bringing civil discourse to your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Lane, Elyse Alter

Learn strategies and try hands-on lessons to engage all students and multilingual learners in exploring the natural world through, STEM-focused content. Receive three free lesson plans with connections to NGSS, Common Core, and UN SDGs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain knowledge and materials needed to engage all students and multilingual learners in nature-based learning. Walk away ready to immediately use these strategies and materials.

SPEAKERS:
Ana Leirner, Kate Nagle

Navigate utilizing hydroponics in the classroom to inform plant science concepts to generate a product used by your school lunch program. Teach students about the dynamics from seed to harvest and the scientific practices to manage systems to help feed a growing population in their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain strategies to incorporate standards into a variety of course offerings using hydroponic systems as a view into the world of agriculture and their life science standards to support their learning. Teachers will walk away with lessons ready to implement in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Sprague, JESSICA JONES

Participants will conduct a series of hands-on activities on the properties of soil and how they relate to ecosystem health and sustainability. Teachers will also learn about additional professional development opportunities where they can participate in fieldwork with soil scientists in their area.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with concrete strategies and resources for teaching soil science concepts as they relate to a number of middle school standards. The activities foster inquiry-based learning and are intended to spark curiosity about the Earth beneath our feet.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Lindsay Mossa, Maliya Malik

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Bring molecular techniques to Ecology and Evolution units with an activity based on the work of the Duke Lemur Center. Has an extinct lemur species been found again in the wild? Test DNA with gel electrophoresis, build phylogenetic trees, and analyze authentic field data.

SPEAKERS:
Rose Chaffee-Cohen

Join us to learn how to use a place-based approach with data from NASA’s Earth System Data Explorer tool. Participants will take part in hands-on activities and pedagogical discussions to think about implementing place-based, data-rich activities using NASA resources in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access and use both primary and secondary data from NASA’s Earth System Data Explorer and other NASA resources (e.g., My NASA Data Literacy Cubes) to explore global phenomena at local scales, and reflect on instructional trade-offs for using different tools.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Salisbury, Karen Lionberger

How can you customize an OpenSciEd unit to dive into the issues that really matter to your students? This workshop aims to help teachers find and leverage community resources from outside the classroom to adapt an OpenSciEd unit (MS or HS) to include local phenomena around environmental justice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with tips and tools to help them choose local phenomena, find community partners, and integrate them into an OpenSciEd unit, all while maintaining coherence from a student’s perspective and honoring the lived experiences and resources of environmental justice communities.

SPEAKERS:
Erin McCool, Michelle Bolliger-Fyler

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte + Stroud Water Research Center

Observe aquatic macroinvertebrate specimens, conduct experiments, learn classification skills, and calculate a biotic index in this hands-on introduction to stream ecology. Come learn from a Stroud Water Research Scientist. Take-aways and door prize!

SPEAKERS:
Michael Smith

Engage with routines and text sets—including primary sources from the Library of Congress—that can be used to support civically engaged argument writing about cross-disciplinary environmental issues like space debris, fast fashion, palm oil in foods, and minting new pennies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to support students in (1) making sense of multiple perspectives and (2) contributing to ongoing civic conversations about issues of importance with the help of approaches and tools that have been developed by teachers and are freely available online.

SPEAKERS:
Trey Smith, Lisa Lapina, Javaha Ross

Explore modern livestock farming practices and their environmental impacts. Classroom activities will be shared to help students understand why plant-source and animal-source foods differ in their environmental impact as they think critically about the trade-offs involved in various food systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Animal-source foods have a larger environmental footprint than plant-source foods (per unit of food produced). Evaluating the sustainability of food production systems requires critical thinking and an evaluation of socioscience to understand factors outside of science that impact our food choices.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Gardner

Teachers rotate among stations to explore air quality activities, sensors, service projects, and games aligned with NGSS/CC standards followed by discussion. Phenomena-based lessons and assessments that address wildfires, climate change, and environmental justice will be prioritized.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers can confidently engage students with air quality topics to empower them with skills, content, and actions to protect their communities. Includes free activities from the Air & Waste Management Association, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Clean Air Partners.

SPEAKERS:
Joann Held, Madelyn Percy, Amelia Cavazos, Elizabeth Spike

NOAA Ocean Service Education offers classroom ready, standards aligned Earth science resources for teachers to immediately plug into existing curriculum, as well as opportunities to receive up to $5000 in funding to develop and carry out stewardship projects in their school or community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will receive classroom ready, standards-aligned resources so they and their students can learn about Earth science in the air, on the ground, in the ocean, how it relates to their everyday lives, and how they can receive funding to address environmental impacts to their community

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik

Visiting teachers will explore strategies and resources to start or strengthen a Green Team at their school. Two experienced advisors—one specializing in 4-5th grade teams and another in 6-8th grade teams—will provide insights and actionable tips for launching or enhancing an effective Green Team.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about options for meeting schedules, team goals, and varying levels of involvement, so they can decide what will work best for their students. Beginners and those advisors with established teams will leave inspired with actionable ideas to implement and improve their Green Team.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Metzger, Kristin Slota

This middle school oyster curriculum project uses the Eastern Oyster in Chesapeake Bay as the organizing theme through 7 lessons that incorporate the three dimensions of learning and builds issue investigation skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
The interdisciplinary lesson sequence asks students to investigate how the Eastern oyster populations and the Chesapeake Bay watershed have changed since the time of Captain John Smith, the effect of land use on water quality, and how we can rebuild oyster populations and the reef ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen

Explore the NASA Earth System Satellite Images for six variables over the course of a year and six lesson plans incorporating the My NASA Data Literacy Cubes to make sense of the mapped data.

TAKEAWAYS:
This resource uses differentiated resources to make sense of curated NASA Earth data.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Rizzi

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science has dozens of FREE resources, including entire units for teaching evolution in an engaging way. We will be giving away copies of our book, On Teaching Evolution. Become a part of a friendly teacher network that pays you to present to fellow educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers are their own best resources. Whether you are looking for resources or want to share your love of evolutionary biology with colleagues, our institute wants to help. Funded entirely by donors, we offer free professional development in all 50 US States.

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

Ethograms are tools that scientists use to study and share data about animals in nature and in managed care. This NGSS standards-informed session provides an introduction to ethograms, practical tools, resources and strategies for engaging students in their own animal behavior studies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain "start to finish" strategies, tools and resources to support student-centered animal behavior studies and inquiry using ethograms. Participants will also gain knowledge about how scientists use ethograms and behavior studies to monitor and support animal well-being.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Steinmeyer

Urban tree populations have a unique ecology that you can bring into your classroom! Join the Wade Institute for Science Education and the Forest Service’s Springfield and Philadelphia Urban Field Stations to explore storyline teaching, inquiry investigations and local phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to strategies central to storyline teaching, including phenomena-based instruction, and learn how to collect data using tools and methods to evaluate urban forest and tree health, and share that data through participatory science.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Ryack-Bell, Kathryn Atkins

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE’s platform combines digital replicas of our highly acclaimed print titles together with Presentation Slides, 3D models, and curated videos, providing powerful options for delivering high school science programs. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

Join LabXchange as we explore our latest initiative, Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Science Education (RDEISE). We will discuss how these unique, interactive student resources can be integrated into classrooms to make science more diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

TAKEAWAYS:
RDEISE learning resources can be integrated into a variety of topics including biology and environmental science, and can serve as a helpful starting point for developing course curriculum or program materials.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Sjoblom

Design standards driven, highly engaging inquiry to action units that empower students to become changemakers in their local communities? Explore using the Solutionary Framework to support student implementation of real-world solutions to issues of clean water access and quality in their communities

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how using the Solutionary Framework can improve student engagement and support teachers in designing and implementing student-led projects to address water quality and watershed health in their communities. Free materials and lesson plans.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Bertini, Angela Whittaker

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this FREE and turn-key, research-based unit empowers middle school teachers to bring climate science into their classrooms through engaging, hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use a research-backed climate science unit in their classrooms. They’ll discover practical strategies for engaging students through experiments, case studies, and design challenges, making climate science accessible, interesting, and relevant to middle school learners.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

How to incorporate climate change education into cross-curricular Problem Based Learning for K-12 students. The session emphasizes hands-on learning through solution oriented design challenge collaborative activities, where attendees collectively engage in tackling critical climate change issues.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will get the opportunity to work through several parts of different Climate Change PBLs.

SPEAKERS:
Edward Cohen, Brielle Kociolek

Discover how PBS LearningMedia, a free and trusted resource for PreK-12 classrooms, utilizes media-rich resources from PBS shows like NOVA, NATURE, Weathered, and PBS Eons to spark students' curiosity, facilitate student sense-making, and support 3D learning frameworks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies for seamlessly incorporating multimedia content from PBS LearningMedia into curriculum and learn new methods to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving as students learn about and discuss challenges posed by environmental issues and the potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Merek Chang, Lori Brittain

Explore Shared Waters, a NGSS-aligned, hands-on curriculum for grades 3-6. This 10-lesson unit empowers students to investigate local watersheds and develop action projects to protect them. Perfect for educators looking for classroom-ready resources to engage students in environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away equipped with a ready-to-use, NGSS-aligned curriculum that brings environmental science to life. They'll learn how to inspire students to explore, investigate, and protect their local watersheds through hands-on activities and impactful action projects.

SPEAKERS:
Nanette Marcum-Dietrich

Discover how GIS tools empower students to investigate their school environment, collect data, identify patterns, assess human impact on ecosystems, and suggest improvements. Topics include Urban Heat Island, ecological benefits of trees, and analysis of cellular and Wi-Fi signal strength.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, you'll be equipped to integrate GIS tools into your environmental science, biology, chemistry, and physical science classes. You'll also discover the adaptations we've made to support students with special needs.

SPEAKERS:
JODIE HURLEY, John Costanza, Kate Popejoy, PhD

Led by NSTA Early Childhood-Elementary Committee members, the session addresses the relationship between the NSTA book series and natural phenomena, providing an interactive platform for educators to discover how this series of books can support & enhance SEPs in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the integration of this series with science and engineering practices through cross-disciplinary connections and hands-on activities. Resources provided.

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Jenn Brown-Whale, Anne Lowry, Mary Lynn Hess, Jennifer Williams

In this session, participants will learn how to use data-collection technology to investigate the albedo of different surfaces. Teachers will walk away empowered to make their albedo effect lessons more relevant and engaging by using hands-on, real-world data-collection methods that connect climate

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with the confidence to integrate data-collection technology and analysis software into their classrooms. They will learn how to help students collect, analyze, and interpret real-time environmental data using graphical tools that make science more interactive and meaningful.

SPEAKERS:
Cecelia Gillam

Youth Climate Summits are a great way for teachers and students to discover their climate superpowers that can support their leadership on climate action in their schools and communities. Discover how to create your own action plan to transform your organization.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore their own superpowers and be provided tools to start developing their own climate action planning and leadership goals for their schools and communities.

SPEAKERS:
Dylan Fedell, Lauren Fosbenner, Kathryn Semmens

Explore community science with eels! This workshop engages teachers in hands-on mapping activities, eel life cycles, and migration research. Learn about fisheries conservation, data literacy, fieldwork, and access online interdisciplinary K-12 unit plans. Free estuary resources provided!

TAKEAWAYS:
Studying eels allows teachers to address science standards using data collected by students and community scientists. Educators gain practical resources to enhance classroom and field experiences with this oddly engaging animal. Eel conservation makes learning science fun and impactful!

SPEAKERS:
Roy Arezzo

The Environmental Empowerment Project is a grant funded curriculum project. Each of the NGSS aligned units in grades K-8 center locally relevant environmental issues and empower students to act on them. This presentation will describe how the units were developed and how to access them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student and community voice in curriculum are essential to maintaining and motivating student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Eric CROMWELL

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Join us for a tour of our education website and discuss how NOAA can meet your needs. We’ll show you how to navigate our educational resources on the ocean, coast, Great Lakes, weather, and climate. Bring your questions and comments on what you’d like from us. This session is for K-16 educators.

SPEAKERS:
Tami Lunsford, Michael Gutierrez

This session introduces a storybook-like scaffold that helps elementary students purposefully evaluate connections between lines of evidence and alternative explanations of phenomena to construct a deeper understanding of the topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
The scaffold encourages students to engage in science practices, literacy, and argumentation strategies to communicate basic content knowledge on climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Chantelle Renaud-Grant, Lorraine Ramirez Villarin

Join us in figuring out how to unlock the “escape box” to determine what is causing a failure at the local sewage treatment plant. You will locate hints, analyze data, and use the combined clues to solve the challenge (for a prize). Engage in serious problem solving in a fun environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to describe the biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to healthy organic waste treatment. By solving a mystery, participants will apply analytical skills to determine what disrupted the treatment process.

SPEAKERS:
Madeline Stallard, Amber Meeks, M. Gail Jones

Using a probe from the popular “Uncovering Student Misconceptions” series, the co-author will share student responses to address this foundational concept for teaching climate change. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the power of formative assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding student misconceptions in this foundational component of climate change is critical prior to teaching the subject. Discover how engaging, open-ended probes provide insight into student ideas and misconceptions while learning ways to support them in understanding the concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker

Learn about this unit of instruction that uses a GIS data explorer tool made possible by the USDA Forest Service to explore connections between forests and watersheds. You’ll have an opportunity to try out the activities (bring your computer!) and receive copies of three NGSS aligned lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to engage students in using cutting edge GIS technology in learning about natural systems and the connection between forests and the water they drink. Walk away able to use these tools immediately in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Ana Leirner, Kate Nagle

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Help your students understand complex concepts like climate and climate change through modeling. Participants will do hands on activities that can be used in the classroom to explain climate mechanisms and explore how we know climate is changing.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, will explore ideas for using the record-breaking high globally-averaged 2023-2024 temperatures and associated extreme weather events as the basis for climate-related storylines that explore the results from the IPCC AR6.

TAKEAWAYS:
The extreme weather events that have been occurring around the world (heat waves, extreme flooding, forest fires) can engage students and prepare them for assessments for the HS-ESS3-5 and HS-ESS3-5 performance expectations, covering climate forcings, feedbacks, impacts, and environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession

In this workshop, explore nationwide weather and climate data through an online graphing tool that simplifies data visualization. The tool makes it possible for students to focus on analysis and interpretation, rather than getting stuck on complex data. http://uanyc.science/pwc

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use the free AMNH Weather and Climate graphing tool with their students, and will walk away with worksheet resources that make this graphing tool even more accessible to their students.

SPEAKERS:
Jasmina Nikolov, Rachelle Travis

Sponsoring Company: Adventerra Games North America LLC

Many young people are overwhelmed by the climate crisis, so let's give them the skills & confidence to protect the planet! Adventerra's eco games engage students, achieve curricular goals, and teach STEM skills. We'll play some games & discuss how to respond when climate emotions show up in class.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn McGrath, Sue Mundell, Bryan Mundell, Ruthie Mundell

Explore how a Watershed organization partnered with a large suburban PA school district to adapt the OpenSciEd curriculum, creating engaging learning experiences that build environmental literacy through real-world, local issues. Hear from formal and non formal educators on leveraging the rich resources available.

TAKEAWAYS:
We’ll share how we set the vision for our work, planned field experiences, trained volunteers, and piloted lessons to ensure learning goals were met. Participants will engage in discussion to identify how they can utilize this process to identify partners and field experiences that fit into OpenSciEd.

SPEAKERS:
Erin McCool, Eryn Jackson

Learn how to engage students with the EN-ROADS climate simulator to explore policies that can provide solutions to climate-related problems in their communities. Leave the session with practical resources that encourage students to take local action while developing their global competence.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the EN-ROADS climate simulator by exploring policies that can provide solutions to climate-related problems in local communities. Learn how to connect these local issues to global concerns by considering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Emery, Zachary Orefice

Join the Monterey Bay Aquarium as we dive into sustainability! Use a hands-on activity to explore the complexities of sustainable fishing, examine inequities, design solutions, and discuss application in other contexts. Leave with free resources to replicate this session in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Sustainable systems are the essential path to a just and equitable world where the needs of all beings can be met. Hear who has and is currently doing the work of sustainability and explore a free engineering design resource.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Hudgens, Jerry Knaack

Want to incorporate sustainability at your school but don’t know where to start? Join us to learn how to bring hydroponic gardening, composting, and other student-led environmental projects to your school. We will also discuss funding and curriculum support available from Walking Softer Education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to start and/or grow a sustainability program at their high school with support, including project funds, teacher stipends, and scholarship opportunities, from Walking Softer Education.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Ader, Jackson Ray, Briana Diacopoulos

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Attendees will leave equipped with a student-tested wind energy lesson, incorporating hands-on activities and collaborative learning, adaptable for grades 4-12, fostering a deeper understanding of renewable energy concepts aligned with NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

This is a story of collaboration between local organizations, a school system, and AP Science and Social Studies Teachers to create equity of opportunity by investigating climate change phenomenon occurring locally and culminating with students designing solutions to promote community resiliency.

TAKEAWAYS:
This story is a potential model of professional learning, curriculum development, and student inquiry within climate change phenomena. The interdisciplinary student field investigations and data collection tools are standalone resources that will be shared to adapt to your own story.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Larney, Erin O'Neal

This workshop will delve into the critical role of soil in the sustainability of our planet, incorporating the four pillars of sustainability: economic, social, environmental, and cultural. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of human activities on soil health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using classroom-ready resources shared, participants learn about the economic benefits of healthy soil, the social implications of soil degradation, the environmental importance of soil conservation, and the cultural significance of soil in different societies.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Szulczewski, Margaret Holzer

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

NOAA Planet Stewards Educators are STEM agents of change in their schools and communities. Access professional development opportunities, education resources, and FUNDING, to increase students’ science literacy, and have them respond to real world environmental threats. Appropriate for Grades K-12!

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen

The Saint Louis Zoo is committed to helping the next generation of students foster a deeper understanding of the world through the topic of One Health. Join us as we share how we partnered with local students to create lessons and how you can utilize One Health curriculum in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how One Health as a growing topic can fit into the attendees' future curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Warshaw

Examine number & geometric patterns, learn the Fibonacci Sequence, understand Native Peoples’ symbiotic relationship with nature, use geometry to recreate a shape in plants or animals captured on the nature walk, draw a Golden Spiral and compose Fibonacci poetry, integrate literacy, math & arts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use Nature and any outdoor space as a classroom and catalyst for learning. Use the power of observation and wondering to lead to innovation. Understand history of Fibonacci & Native Peoples’ symbiotic relationship with nature. How to integrate science, mathematics, literacy, social studies and art.

SPEAKERS:
Danette Riehle

Gain strategies and tools for enhancing opportunities for computational thinking in your current high school life or physical science curriculum. Bring current lessons and leave with concrete ideas for helping students engage authentically in the SEP of Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will take home strategies and tools based on the Computational Thinking for Science Framework that they can use to enhance opportunities for CT-S in any high school science curriculum. They will receive immediate feedback on lesson modifications they can implement in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding, Eric Greenwald, Wendy Jackson

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:
Megan Sprague, JESSICA JONES

Learn how to modify and implement the NASA Data Literacy Cubes with students in a co-teaching model. Experience a lesson with combined Science and Social Studies content that provides students a unique opportunity to learn about oil and gas deposits and landforms in Ohio.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a co-taught lesson using the NASA Data Literacy Cubes. They will be provided with the opportunity to adapt the lesson to fit their own content, curriculum, and state standards. Attendees will receive copies of the lesson plan, the Data Literacy Cubes, and student materials.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Creech, Michele Lewis

Nature is a perfect lens for sparking a child's curiosity. Nature-based materials provide opportunities for children to dive into the world of scientific inquiry, asking questions, designing experiments and collecting data. Come explore some exciting nature-prompts and see where it takes you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a range of activities designed to spark science inquiry in young children through nature-based materials and explorations. They will leave with tools for using nature as a resource to provide opportunities for science inquiry with young children.

SPEAKERS:
Rina Zampieron

Reduce your planning time with one-week pacing guides. These NGSS aligned pacing guides cover cloud types, plant phenology, and solar eclipses. Each has a driving question, teacher background information, GLOBE Program data collection, and connections to NASA.

TAKEAWAYS:
These one-week pacing guides cover clouds, plant phenology, and solar eclipses in NGSS aligned sequences which include student data collection.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Rizzi

Discover interdisciplinary, role-playing activities, games and group collaboration from Population Education to explore human-environmental interactions, impacts on fragile ecosystems and paths to sustainability. Receive lessons ready to use at informal education settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Share-a-thon visitors will discover ways to incorporate hands-on activities into their programming that explore relationships between people and the environment.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth

Educators will get our free teacher-tested support materials for two participatory (citizen) science projects and explore how to increase students’ outdoor learning experiences, authentic data collection, and sensemaking in third through sixth grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with materials to engage their students in 3D learning opportunities and support sensemaking for data that students collect in their own schoolyard. The two standards-aligned participatory science projects involve daily precipitation data and searching for native ladybugs.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Scharen

'Why are wetlands important?' is the question that these series of hands-on labs answer through student-led construction, experimentation, and data collection of 3 main characteristics of wetlands: Absorption, Filtration, and Wildlife Habitats.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to facilitate construction of a reusable watershed model with removable wetlands and what materials are required. Build and test your own filter with layers of various materials in a 2L bottle! See examples of student-made field guides for your own local wetland observations.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Grant

This session describes how Hawaiian knowledge and practices were integrated with NGSS project-based curriculum. Central to the project-based curriculum are contemporary ecological and watershed challenges. Session participants will explore resources and strategies to support sustainable communities,

TAKEAWAYS:
Session participants will takeaway strategies for integrating indigenous practices into science classrooms. Session leads will provide a toolkit of practical strategies and resources that can be used to implement sustainable initiatives in their own communities.

SPEAKERS:
Shawna Nishimoto, Katrina Roseler, Lupita Ruiz-Jones, Christina Chan

Learn how to seamlessly incorporate engineering and design into your science content lessons with fun, hands-on design challenges and lessons!

TAKEAWAYS:
The activities are intended for students to develop the skills necessary to problem-solve and design solutions to well-defined challenges, but that will also only take a class period or two to complete.

SPEAKERS:
Paula Miller

Explore an extreme heat based phenomenon with the Understanding Global Change (UGC) framework’s modeling practices. Learn UGC practices and tools to help incorporate an Earth systems perspective into your curriculum and adapt existing resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience the nature and processes of science by constructing explanations about a global change phenomenon with the Understanding Global Change framework and explanatory modeling practices.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

By understanding food systems and justice, we can more effectively combat climate change. This knowledge helps us recognize how food production, distribution, and consumption impact the environment. By promoting equitable access to sustainable food sources, we can reduce waste and lower emissions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding food systems and food justice is essential for effectively addressing climate change, as it enables us to promote sustainable practices and equitable access to food, ultimately reducing environmental impact and fostering healthier communities.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Luna

Outdoor education takes many forms and focuses on promoting real-world, inquiry-based learning. We will discuss how schools in different states have developed camping programs and will share how to effectively prepare, advocate for, and organize a camp experience integrating NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway is how Outdoor Ed aligns with NGSS to enhance learning through hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Attendees will gain strategies to create an outdoor education program that fits their school's needs, including lessons and units that foster critical thinking and problem solving.

SPEAKERS:
Myriah Leisher, Pamela Waters

Come ready to wear your student hats and your teacher hats as we dive deep into how to integrate education for sustainable development (ESD) into the science classroom. Through ESD, we empower students to become advocates for environmental justice and sustainability!

TAKEAWAYS:
The major takeaway from this session is that regardless of your level of familiarity with ESD anyone can begin the process of integrating it into their classroom and that its natural ties to science content allow us as educators to promote advocacy for environmental justice and sustainability.

SPEAKERS:
Nicholas Kukla

Sponsoring Company: BFW Publishers

Interested in mastery grading? This workshop will provide some practical steps you can take to transition, including using textbook-provided resources: learning objectives, practice, and mastery check assessment The presenter will discuss experiences with AP® Environmental Science and NGSS Biology.

SPEAKERS:
Kristi Schertz, Rachel Friedman

Do you have an innovative idea for improving Science, technology, engineering and math learning in your classroom? Is your idea project based learning with measurable outcomes? What do you need to make learning STEM fun for your students? Engage with teachers who received funding!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn tangible tips on how to complete their grant application online before the October 1 annual deadline.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Stotz, Ariel Coff, John Anderson, Miz Fischer, Eddie Temistokle

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

In the age of project and lab based learning, how can we include ways to assess students on the laboratory skills that they practice? Learn strategies for including lab-based assessments that target lab skills without simply labeling diagrams. Linking lab skills to careers in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practical ways to implement assessments of lab skills in biology and biotechnology classes.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Hamilton

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Human activities lead to changes in environmental processes, including the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Join us as we use free BioInteractive resources to help students analyze authentic data and construct explanations for how changes in the environment influence wildfire dynamics.

SPEAKERS:
Lee Ferguson, Chris Monsour

Investigate the role of evidence in scientific explanations using an interactive activity! Participate in a real world-based scenario about drinking water and make a decision based on evidence. This lesson is part of a free high school curriculum developed at the University of California, Berkeley.

TAKEAWAYS:
This lesson supports students’ use of evidence in decision-making so that teachers may use this approach in their own classrooms. The activity, a part of a 10-lesson unit on evidence and iteration in the context of water quality and availability, is free for download.

SPEAKERS:
Kristina Duncan, David House, Sarah Metz

Attendees will learn strategies to engage students in designing models to make sense of a local phenomenon focused on watersheds. Attendees will practice sense making of topographical and pH data to design three dimensional models, then use said models to make predictions about future phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students build models in classes all the time; but how can we guide students to use models the way scientists do? Urban schools face the challenge of explaining natural phenomena students have not experienced. These models allow students and scientists to make sense of these phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Tobias Kochenderfer, Anna Verdiguel Gillet, Michael Bogan

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Join the National Earth Science Teachers Association to explore NOAA's resources and dive into interactive, data-rich investigations. Engage students in exploring human impacts on terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, environmental changes, and pathways to informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen, Margaret Holzer, Diane Tom-Ogata, Alexandria Gillen

PA built upon NGSS to include Environmental Literacy & Sustainability, fostering partnerships between cross-sector educators to implement the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework. Discover how MWEEs connect environmental science to STEM, enhancing authentic science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with resources that include activities to engage learners in local phenomena and promote future leaders of sustainable practices. Gain experience with this student-centered framework that includes investigation cards and the MWEE think cloud which reflect real-world science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Fredebaugh-Siller, Tamara Peffer, Ellen Schultz, Diana Potts, Maryann Molishus, Michelle Niedermeier

Science films are immersive storytelling formats that can engage students and promote conceptual understanding, while also supporting science identity formation and nature of science learning. Get a quick demo of free short films and teaching resources by the Science Communication Lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave knowing the different types of free science films and teaching resources made by the Science Communication Lab, examples of science standards they cover, and where to access them.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Behrman

Explore how zebrafish (Danio rerio), a common pet store fish and key biomedical research model, can spark students’ curiosity in science. Join 32 educators using zebrafish aquariums and their transparent embryos for hands-on experiments, providing diverse learning experiences for ALL students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning how zebrafish and low-budget pet store supplies can be used to engage diverse learners including English learners in multimodal (visual, kinesthetic) real-life science learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Kirkland, Vinita Hajeri

Are you looking for ways to make your Introductory/General Education College Science Classes more engaging for students? Join your colleagues as they share how they have put research into practice in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Put research into practice as you experience these engaging, relevant, and real approaches to teaching non-majors.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Haines, Victor Pereira

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Participants will make and use alginate beads containing algae and alginate beads containing yeast. They will learn how the beads can be used to model the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko

Participants will get free teacher-tested support materials for two participatory (citizen) science projects, engage in the projects' monthly activities, and explore how to increase students’ outdoor learning experiences, authentic data collection, and sensemaking in third through sixth grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away ready to engage their students in 3D learning opportunities as students make sense of real-world data collected in their own schoolyard involving daily precipitation data and searching for native ladybugs.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Sachs, Danielle Scharen

Attendees will participate in hands-on, inquiry-based classroom activities and demonstrations based on research involving air quality, algae, bees, flies, and macroinvertebrates. We will showcase how these activities, using flexible resources, help students build essential scientific skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be equipped with different strategies and contexts to promote students’ engagement and essential scientific practices through hands-on activities and demonstrations that focus on air quality, algae, bees, flies, and macroinvertebrates.

SPEAKERS:
Carlos Vazquez Vargas, Marisel Cherena-Martinez, Aixa López Muñoz, Michelle Borrero, Jacqueline Lopez, Wilmari Torres-Ortiz, Yajaira Torres - De Jesus, Myraida Torres Cotto, Elianid Espinosa

Explore how PBS video clips paired with free, standards-mapped support materials engage students in positive, solutions-based environmental stories that can reinforce curriculum learning, grow and flex crosscutting skills, instill hope, and inspire action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how free, solutions-based stories from PBS LearningMedia can enhance environmental science learning by instilling hope and inspiring action in your students.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Chyczewski, Tania Burchell

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

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Biology and environmental science teachers! Learn to use hands-on sensors to explore dissolved O2, pH, and conductivity with students. From chemistry basics to watershed ecology, get ideas for real-world learning and how to simulate pond water in class. Plus, try our new wireless turbidity sensor!

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Martin

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Get students engaged with innovative approaches that elevate student discourse in science! We'll model techniques aimed at increasing student participation and enthusiasm utilizing free resources like HHMI’s Beautiful Biology along with other BioInteractive resources.

SPEAKERS:
Marisa Alvarado, Brian Mason

This session will focus on engaging educators with quick, actionable insights and teaching strategies that bring the study of ancient climates into the classroom. Participants will explore classroom-ready activities such as ice core simulations and data analysis tools that align with NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Key takeaways: Understanding how Earth's climate has changed over time using proxy data. Hands-on classroom activities to engage students with real-world applications of paleoclimatology. Tools to connect paleoclimate studies with modern climate science, enhancing climate literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone

Using historical contexts, this unit considers industrialization as a catalyst for change over time. Learners analyze environmental data from newspapers and government reports.The unit ends with students contributing to the design of reclaimed 19th and 20th century buildings for 21st century uses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how historical photos, newspapers and technical reports can inspire students to imagine solutions for current challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Joy Barnes-Johnson

This session will engage participants in authentic data using dynamic, publically available interactive tools. The data tools presented empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, and human impacts on sustainable development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to construct an explanation of humans' multiple impacts on biodiversity using interactive research tools that are dynamically updated to reveal global and local species distributions and changes in human land use.

SPEAKERS:
Missie Olson, Jocelyn Miller

How to set up a long term weather journal project and what to do with the data when you are done using weather apps and sites. With long-term data (6-8 weeks) students can set up a preliminary climatograph and make some assumptions about climate regions for that season of the year.

TAKEAWAYS:
By having students choose a variety of locations globally, each can learn more about the progression of seasons in different hemispheres, day/night cycles, weather and climate to share with others in the class for enrichment of all.

SPEAKERS:
Tina Harris

Based on work by Lupi & Posavec. Gather, tabulate, then create an artistic, visually appealing graph to engage the reader. An artistic presentation of data draws readers in and encourages curiosity and questioning. Central tendencies of mean never looked more beautiful!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover that data and graphing can be presented in many ways and can be personal as well as artistic and informative. Learn how to engage students and expand their thinking in data science through art. Use graphs and data to interpret trends and make predictions.

SPEAKERS:
Nina Hipps

In order to better understand how well existing environmental science education pedagogies and approaches prepare young children to handle the complexity of climate change, this session puts forward critical methods and approaches to teaching environmental science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental education should be grounded in environmental literacy, using multiple perspectives beyond human-centric to understand the interconnections between natural systems and human activities, leading to children developing a sense of ecological citizenship.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Oyewole

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this FREE and turn-key, research-based unit empowers middle school teachers to bring climate science into their classrooms through engaging, hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use a research-backed climate science unit in their classrooms. They’ll discover practical strategies for engaging students through experiments, case studies, and design challenges, making climate science accessible, interesting, and relevant to middle school learners.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

AGI’s Teacher Field Experience (TFE) program connects geoscience professionals with K-12 educators through immersive field trips and workshops. This poster session highlights partner case studies and how professionals can enhance earth science education while inspiring future geoscientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how they will be able to join AGI's Teacher Field Experience (TFE) program, connecting with local geoscience professionals to participate in hands-on field experiences or workshops that will enhance their knowledge of specific geoscience areas.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsay Mossa, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Sequoyah McGee, Maliya Malik

This presentation offers strategies for engaging learners in place-based ecosystem studies. Students research a local plant or animal, design an infographic detailing their species, and model the flow of energy between classroom dwellers, fostering deeper understanding of ecological relationships.

TAKEAWAYS:
A flexible, adaptable lesson plan that can be customized for different ecosystems and grade levels. Strategies for promoting engagement through place-based learning and integrating science and engineering practices into ecosystem modeling.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Shepard

The student-centered activity engages students in considering global conservation challenges through mathematical thinking and data analysis. It uses up-to-date, authentic data used by scientists and policymakers alike, preparing them to meet performance expectation HS-LS2-1.

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

SPEAKERS:
Missie Olson, Jocelyn Miller

The Women In Natural Sciences Program encourages participants to advocate for themselves in their exploration for other educational and career related opportunities. Sierra Destefanis shares her capstone project on how seaweed farming can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participation in OST programs provides real word insight in STEM fields. As a student interested in pursuing animal sciences, understanding how historical dramatic climate shifts impacted animal populations provides insight to how these changes will impact existing wildlife populations.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Godfrey

In this session, we will share the transitioning of biology curriculum to field application using project-based learning activity in Introductory and Upper-level classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how project-based learning activity helped to address inequities that prevent timely progress through college and to connect to workforce and transfer opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Noyes, Beena Patel

Learn from my journey of building partnerships to creating unique, capacity building field experience for educators. Attendees will learn how I leveraged these partnerships, and statewide networks to support out of the box learning experiences for K-12 educators and leaders.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will discuss how to create and leverage relationships with environmental educators to create unique field experiences for teachers. These place-based opportunities present informal and formal educators the chance to learn alongside each other and build capacity for environmental literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Potts

Water is the major force in shaping our planet. Students use simple models to measure water outwash and soil erosion. Simple models show students how plants and plant residue play major roles in preventing water outwash and soil erosion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will be able to explain how slope, wind and precipitation affect the movement of water across soil surfaces and how soil is carried by water on a slope using terms from their geography vocabulary lists (sediments, weathering, erosion, etc.).

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Cunningham

Discover how technology and PBL can transform middle school science. This session showcases how digital tools and creative projects, like rock comic strips and interactive simulations, enhance engagement, critical thinking, and understanding, fostering a dynamic and inclusive classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how integrating technology and project-based learning (PBL) in middle school science boosts student engagement and comprehension. Using digital tools and creative projects makes complex concepts more accessible and supports diverse learning styles effectively.

SPEAKERS:
Daniella Eson

Let’s Connect! For over 40 years, educators have united through NESTA to champion excellence in Earth and space science education. Discover how our community can support your professional growth, inspire your teaching, and open doors to leadership opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NESTA supports fellow science teachers through collaboration, mentorship, and resource sharing. By fostering professional growth and enhancing teaching practices, NESTA empowers educators to inspire students and deepen their commitment to their own professional journeys.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Macke

Learn about Educating for Environmental Change, a free Indiana University project that helps educators teach the science and policy of climate change, and participate in exemplar activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Educating for Environmental Change project utilizes the following driving questions: how do we know the climate is changing; what are the impacts of these changes; how can we mitigate these changes; and how do we cultivate optimism in our students while teaching them about climate change?

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner

Addressing climate change can be challenging. Students are given tools for evaluating information then provided a series of myths about climate change. Using reputable data, they dispel the myths with accurate information and use multiple explanations to understand common misconceptions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students are provided with a checklist to determine if information is accurate on a fictional web page. Through small group discussions, students share their perceptions of accurate data and what it means, then challenged to decide if this information is valid in helping to understand climate change

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker

Interested in learning how to break down an engineering experience to support multidimensional, standards-based, relevant elementary science learning? Get ready to live the steps of the engineering design process as you imagine, plan, and begin to create anemometers to measure wind speed.

TAKEAWAYS:
With materials, methods, ideas, and reflections in hand, attendees will feel more confident planning and implementing a relevant, hands-on engineering experience that enriches elementary science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Adrien Kaye

Learn how a team of K-12 educators and community partners developed a local environmental literacy plan. The NOAA BWET funded project, addresses the 3 pillars of green schools and highlights meaningful, place-based, outdoor learning opportunities for all students and teacher development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental literacy plans prepare students to be environmentally literate citizens with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to understand locally relevant science concepts and make informed decisions that support local communities and environments.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Klingler, Christine Biggins, Ashly Wilkinson, Valerie Stone

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Build data literacy with NOAA! Learn how to access and use NOAA’s data-rich resources, lessons, and visualization tools. We will choose 3-5 data resources based on your interests and walk you through navigating the resources and offer suggestions on incorporating them into your teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Smith

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative worktexts deliver student-centred resources: AP, NGSS & electives. Identical print and digital titles integrate to provide a rich teaching program. Use our teacher resources to plan, deliver, & assess. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

Too much? Too little? Just right? What are some of the potential impacts of the quantity of water in the environment? How can we mitigate negative impacts? Join us as we investigate some of the impacts and develop potential solutions. Leave with access to these and other lessons for your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will put on their student hats and engage in 3-D NGSS lessons as they learn about interactions among the hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, human impacts on these spheres, and how science may be used to mitigate concerns. Pedagogy behind lesson development will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Martinez

Explore how episodes of the PBS program Weathered pair with free, standards-mapped support materials to reinforce your Earth science curriculum, grow and flex students' crosscutting skills, and keep your classroom's climate content current.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to integrate dynamic media from the PBS program Weathered into your science classroom through PBS LearningMedia's free resource collection.

SPEAKERS:
Merek Chang, Tania Burchell

Sponsoring Company: The NEED Project

Inquiry-based, hands-on STEM and critical thinking activities that help secondary students develop a comprehensive understanding of energy, electricity, hydropower, and emerging ocean technologies. Applicable to a CTE classroom as well and can be easily modified according to students' skill levels.

SPEAKERS:
Paula Miller, Kimberly Swan

In this activity, students use a simple classroom model to design and test solutions to bycatch in the tuna fishery. They collect and use data to optimize their design and consider how their model might look in real life.

TAKEAWAYS:
Applying the engineering design practice to a real-life environmental issue.

SPEAKERS:
Meghan Marrero

Discover how the Detroit Zoos’ Adopt-a-School program brings wildlife conservation into the classroom! Explore virtual opportunities that connect students with zoo experts, offer engaging activities, and inspire environmental stewardship. Learn how to integrate these resources into your curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to integrate the Detroit Zoos' virtual connections to engage students in wildlife conservation and integrate real-world environmental topics into their curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Sandy Ling, Thomas Benson

The CLEAN collection is the only website needed for vetted instructional resources about climate, climate change, and energy. This session will introduce participants to the collection and the resources it has to support climate change education in informal settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
When quality teaching materials to teach about climate and energy are needed for a variety of teaching scenarios, having one place to search is a game-changer, especially knowing that the resources have been reviewed by scientists and educators, and they are connected to the NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Holzer

NOAA Ocean Service Education offers classroom ready, standards aligned ocean, coastal, Earth and climate science resources to immediately plug into existing curriculum, as well as opportunities to receive up to $5000 in funding to develop and carry out stewardship projects in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will receive classroom ready, standards-aligned resources so they and their students can learn about ocean, coastal, Earth, and climate science phenomena and issues, how they apply to them, and how they can receive funding to address environmental impacts to their community.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen, Bruce Moravchik

PART OF NMEA SHARE-A-THON-- Hydrothermal vents may be several thousand meters deep, so finding new areas of vent activity can be challenging. Dive into a hands-on investigation on how to locate these unique habitats plus explore what tools ocean explorers use to find them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through hands-on investigations/activities, educators will construct explanations with evidence for how/why scientists use physical/chemical data to determine patterns that help find hydrothermal vents. Then they will analyze mission scenarios to determine the best robot technology to locate vents.

SPEAKERS:
Tami Lunsford

PART OF NMEA SHARE-A-THON

TAKEAWAYS:
Members have fabulous ideas! Come join us in NMEA at NSTA...at the Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Sherwood

National Marine Educators Association is a dedicated, influential member-based organization of teachers, informal educators, university professors, scientists, and more from around the world working together to advance the understanding and protection of our freshwater and marine ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about resources, professional development and publishing opportunities available for all educators as it pertains to aquatic and marine ecosystems and Ocean, Great Lakes and Gulf literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Lewis

From interpretive programs to teacher workshops, state park educators can assist classrooms, private groups, and you in science education. Stop by our table to try some hands-on activities from our state park specific curricula and learn about the opportunities available to you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the different programs and curricula that PA DCNR offers and how park educators can assist teachers to integrate MWEEs, PA STEELS and NGSS standards into their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Sato

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is committed to advancing environmental education, forest literacy, and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. PLT is sponsored in Pennsylvania by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

TAKEAWAYS:
Sample PLT guides will be available as well as information on finding PLT educator workshops and professional development in PA. Sample Activity: Examine tree cookies (cross-sections of trees) to determine the age of trees and to infer the environmental conditions the trees might have experienced.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen Campion

PART OF NMEA SHARE-A-THON. Stop by and chat with a marine education specialist from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to learn more about their K-12 lesson plans, digital resources, career materials, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about our FREE marine science resources for K-12 educators!

SPEAKERS:
Celia Cackowski

Teachers will use the engineering design process to identify sustainability issues, propose concrete actions and explore tools to collect data and analyze the impact of their solutions. The principles in this lesson are scalable from classrooms to communities and across grade levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to guide students to use the engineering design process to identify and solve local sustainability problems and to identify data collection methods to evaluate the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of the solution.

SPEAKERS:
Gail Dickinson

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Shortened Description (300 characters): Prepare your students for success on the AP Enviro exam with expert tips for tackling multiple-choice and free-response questions. Learn strategies to enhance critical thinking and test-taking skills, helping your students achieve their best scores.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

How can the practice of modeling help build conceptual understandings and foster dialogue among students? Join us as we explore how modeling can help students access prior knowledge, build on the ideas of others, and refine their ideas while utilizing BioInteractive’s ecology resources.

SPEAKERS:
Marisa Alvarado, Brian Mason

PA’s globally recognized new Environmental Literacy & Sustainability standards and network have led to formal and nonformal education partnerships. Leave with strategies to apply at your school.

TAKEAWAYS:
An authentic environmental literacy network structure for practitioners is essential to creating an ecosystem that supports environmental and sustainability education. Partnerships that reflect the diversity of your community best support holistic inquiry of local environmental issues and phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Niedermeier, Shannon Fredebaugh-Siller, Diana Potts, Maryann Molishus, Tamara Peffer, Ellen Schultz

Climate change is here. Come explore ways to teach about this that intersect with issues of justice and provide action for the future. This workshop will support educators in all grades and contexts, including those who can’t even say “climate change”!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with strategies for engaging in climate change and climate justice learning appropriate to grade band NGSS standards, climate and energy literacy standards, and for both school and community based learning contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell, Deb Morrison, Kelsie Fowler