2026 Anaheim National Conference

April 15-18, 2026

4/9/2026 12:00PM EST: All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in the app when you login, under your profile. Any sessions added now will also have to be added in the app.
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13 results
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NSTA's Trilogy of Guides to the Three Dimensions

Thursday, April 16 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

This session focuses on the trilogy of NSTA Press books on the Three Dimensions and is led by NSTA’s former in-house expert on science standards who recruited the lead authors of all three books. Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices provides a play-by-play understanding of the practices. Disciplinary Core Ideas: Reshaping Teaching and Learning provides an in depth perspective on the disciplinary core ideas. Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning is designed to help educators grasp the foundational issues that undergird crosscutting concepts. These books are written in clear, nontechnical language. Many of the authors contributed to the development of the Framework and NGSS. The authors also share a wealth of real-world examples drawn from their own classroom experiences to show what’s different about three-dimensional teaching and learning at all grade levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn techniques to use these three books to help educators have a deep understanding of practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts to foster better student learning in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

NSTA PRESS: It's Still Debatable: Using Socioscientific Issues to Develop Scientific Literacy, K-5

Thursday, April 16 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

The Next Generation Science Standards describe a vision of scientific literacy that emphasizes informed and participatory citizenship on issues related to science in society. Many elementary teachers, however, avoid debatable socioscientific issues such as whether we need zoos, the value of a national space program, or whether certain sports are too dangerous for children because of concerns about arguments in their classrooms and fear of broaching moral/ethical issues. During this interactive session, participants will be introduced to the theoretical framework behind the Socioscientific Issues (SSI) approach. They will then collaboratively engage in an activity from the NSTA Press book, It’s Still Debatable, during which they will model negotiation of a debatable issue while analyzing the lesson’s use of SSI, NGSS three-dimensional science learning, alignment with interdisciplinary standards, and multiple means of assessment for all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
During this interactive workshop, participants will learn an array of strategies for using debatable societal issues related to science to develop their elementary students’ scientific literacy while modeling interdisciplinary, inclusive, three-dimensional science teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Sami Kahn

Effective Techniques to Evaluate Climate Change Information for Accuracy and Validity

Thursday, April 16 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

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

Model-Based Inquiry in Biology: Three-Dimensional Instructional Units for Grades 9–12

Friday, April 17 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

We will introduce our NSTA book containing a collection of units and resources to help teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning through model-based inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about four biology model-based inquiry units for rigorous and equitable instruction. Developed with secondary science teachers, the session guides three-dimensional learning, anchoring phenomena, modeling, and scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Baird, Ron Gray

Engaging Students in Using CER to develop complex concepts: What is the Difference Between Climate and Weather?

Friday, April 17 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

Participants will experience two engaging methods to uncover student misconceptions about this foundational concept in teaching climate change. These tools can be used with any topic as teachers strive to support students in developing their understanding of complex concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding misconceptions in this component of climate change is critical prior to teaching the subject. Discover how engaging, open-ended opportunities for students to dive into their ideas and revise them as they share information with others are effective ways of teaching complex topics.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker

Model-Based Inquiry in Chemistry: Three-Dimensional Instructional Units for Grades 9–12

Friday, April 17 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

We will introduce our NSTA book containing a collection of units and resources to help teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning through model-based inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about four chemistry model-based inquiry units for rigorous and equitable instruction. Developed with secondary science teachers, the session guides three-dimensional learning, anchoring phenomena, modeling, and scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Baird, Jennifer Askew, Ron Gray

Unpacking the Crosscutting Concepts with a new NSTA Quick-Reference Guide to the Three Dimensions

Friday, April 17 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

The NGSS and other standards based on the Framework of K-12 Education are quite complicated and often tricky to interpret. What teachers need is an easy-to-use reference guide to the standards, and since its’ release in 2014, the NSTA Quick-Reference Guide has become a perennial best-seller and an essential tool for many educators across the country. This session will be hosted by Ted Willard, the editor of the Quick-Reference Guide and formerly the in-house standards expert at NSTA. Ted will review the features listed above and how educators can use the Quick-Reference Guide to unpack the standards in their work developing curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Specifically, we will spend time exploring the crosscutting concepts in the standards using the tools and other resources in the Quick-Reference Guide.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to unpack the three dimensions using the tools and resources in the Quick-Reference Guide and will gain insights into the meaning of the crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Model-Based Inquiry in Earth and Space Sciences: Three-Dimensional Instructional Units for Grades 9–12

Friday, April 17 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

We will introduce our upcoming NSTA book containing a collection of units and resources to help teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning through model-based inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about four earth and space science model-based inquiry units for rigorous and equitable instruction. Developed with secondary science teachers, the session guides three-dimensional learning, anchoring phenomena, modeling, and scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Baird, Ron Gray

NSTA Press Author Session - Exploring the Sun's Apparent Motion, Lunar Phases, Eclipses and More

Saturday, April 18 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 201 D



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Solar Science session PPT

Show Details

NSTA’s curriculum material, Solar Science, and KIDS book, When the Sun Goes Dark, provide what is needed to meet the middle school NGSS standards regarding the daily and annual motion of the sun, plus what causes lunar phases and eclipses: • Solar Motion: Students describe the patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, moon. This includes the sun appearing to rise in the east, move across the sky, and set in the west. • Lunar Phases: Students develop a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to predict the phases of the moon based on the relative positions of these bodies. • Eclipses: Using their model, students predict when a solar eclipse (Moon between Earth and Sun) or a lunar eclipse (Earth's shadow on the Moon) will occur. Come experience the various learning experiences for students that will give them the grounding they need to understand these concepts

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants have ready-to-use curriculum materials to address key middle school science standards.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Schatz

NSTA Kids Author Session: Too Much Quiet? NGSS + ELA = Help Nature Sing!

Saturday, April 18 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

The presenter/author demonstrates how to address NGSS’s three-dimensional learning in an engaging way by using the storyline in the NSTA Kids book, Too Much Quiet!. Second grader Patsy Beth has just learned about climate change at school. With the help of her teacher she convinces fellow students to take small, but inspiring, action to help slow down climate change and help nature. Teachers will recognize best practices used by Ms. Green and will discover ways to use the story conflict (change in natural habitat) as a driving phenomenon to integrate science and ELA using real Project-Based Learning. Takeaways: 1. Crosscutting concepts and science and engineering practices within life science lessons modeled in this book. 2. Using literature to engage and inspire young students to realize the importance of understanding science. 3. Best practices in teaching modeled in the book. 4. Free online resources for the primary classroom that extend the scientific teachings in this book.

TAKEAWAYS:
Second grader Patsy Beth may be a drama queen, but she has BIG IDEAS! Jump into her fictional world to explore factual life science and climate change while discussing Ms. Green’s clever teaching tactics. Combining science and ELA, Too Much Quiet! models practical science teaching strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Kottie Christie-Blick

NSTA Kids Author Session: “STEM Kids Make a Robot” by Dr. Carlotta A. Berry

Saturday, April 18 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


STRAND: Artificial Intelligence in EducationSponsored by Shell USA, Inc. Sponsored by Shell
Show Details

Abstract: Join Dr. Carlotta A. Berry, professor, engineering, researcher, advocate, NoireSTEMinist®, and children’s book author, for the launch of her latest children’s picture book, The STEM Kids Make a Robot published by NSTA kids. This engaging book follows a diverse team of fourth graders as they design a recycling robot to solve a problem in their elementary school cafeteria. Along the way, the students model teamwork through the cooperative learning cycle (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) and the engineering design process, from identifying a need, research, brainstorming a solution, prototyping, testing, evaluating results, all the way to deployment and presentation. She will also share her robotics children’s book series, There’s a Robot! for baby through 4th grade, and Robot Explorations for 1st – 5th grade at DrCarlottaABerry.com/childrensbooks. This event will celebrate the power of imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving to change the face of

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: • Understand the steps of the engineering design process as demonstrated in The STEM Kids Make a Robot. • Recognize the importance of teamwork and the cooperative learning cycle in solving complex problems. • Connect the book’s diverse characters and storylines to real-world is

SPEAKERS:
Carlotta Berry

The NSTA Atlas of the Three Dimensions

Saturday, April 18 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A


Show Details

The Atlas is a collection of 62 maps of the practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in NGSS and other Framework-based standards. The maps show how goals in science are meant to build upon each other and relate to each other over a student’s K-12 education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to read the maps and use other tools in the Atlas to understand and interpret standards and plan instructional sequences as part of their work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

NSTA Kids Author Session: “STEM Kids Make a Robot” by Dr. Carlotta A. Berry

Saturday, April 18 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Anaheim Convention Center - 202 A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Robot images can be seen at NoireSTEMinist.com/robots
In this session, I will be marketing my new NSTA publication, STEM Kids Make a Robot to be released in March 2026 and I will also be showing hands on coding and assembly of my 3d printed wheeled mobile robots for elementary kids to make a real or cardboard robot that works with a Micro:Bit and Motor:Bit. Please see the supply list for items that will be on site at the table.

STRAND: Artificial Intelligence in EducationSponsored by Shell USA, Inc. Sponsored by Shell
Show Details

Join Dr. Carlotta A. Berry, professor, engineering, researcher, advocate, NoireSTEMinist®, and children’s book author, for the launch of her latest children’s picture book, The STEM Kids Make a Robot published by NSTA kids. This engaging book follows a diverse team of fourth graders as they design a recycling robot to solve a problem in their elementary school cafeteria. Along the way, the students model teamwork through the cooperative learning cycle (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) and the engineering design process, from identifying a need, research, brainstorming a solution, prototyping, testing, evaluating results, all the way to deployment and presentation. She will also share her robotics children’s book series, There’s a Robot! for baby through 4th grade, and Robot Explorations for 1st – 5th grade at DrCarlottaABerry.com/childrensbooks. This event will celebrate the power of imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving to change the face of STEM. Dr.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: • Understand the steps of the engineering design process as demonstrated in The STEM Kids Make a Robot. • Recognize the importance of teamwork and the cooperative learning cycle in solving complex problems. • Connect the book’s diverse characters and storylines to real-world issues of representation

SPEAKERS:
Carlotta Berry

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