Calling all yoga enthusiasts! Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, join yoga teacher, Azra Chughtai, RYT, for a warm-up with breathwork, hatha yoga (gentle stretching exercises to wake up the body), and, of course, meditation for relaxation and de-stressing. Beginner friendly!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recharge: Energizing and Stress Relief

Did you know that there are nearly 300,000 STEM professionals at the DoW? And did you know that those DoW STEM professionals, along with partner organizations, are leveraged to provide unique STEM learning experiences for students and educators? Participants will have the opportunity to explore STEM resources and opportunities offered by the Department of War. From hands-on learning activities to paid internships and college scholarships, learn how DoW STEM can help you power the next generation of innovators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how the Department of Defense’s extensive STEM workforce and programs, ranging from hands-on activities to internships and scholarships, can provide powerful learning opportunities that inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason, Kristen McInerney

In this workshop, we will explore several phenomena-based hands-on science activities developed by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute, known as science snacks. We will apply an equity lens to draw connections from the scientific phenomena to some social phenomena. Participants will learn to make metaphorical connections between the science of perception and equitable teaching practices, which will help in science teacher professional development, science teaching, and also in public outreach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to make metaphorical connections between the science of perception and equitable teaching practices

SPEAKERS:
Eric Muller, Desiré Whitmore, Rachel Myers

NSTA’s Elementary Extravaganza is a dedicated learning and connecting space for elementary school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

NSTA’s High School Haven is a dedicated learning and connecting space for high school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and refuel with daily afternoon snacks.

NSTA’s Meet Me in the Middle is a dedicated learning and connecting space for middle school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

Discover the latest and greatest science and STEM teaching and learning resources, tools, and products available during this break in concurrent sessions.

Visit the NSTA Hub in the Expo Hall during the conference! We'll have a variety of fun activities and photo opportunities PLUS a store showcasing the latest NSTA Press books available and awesome t-shirts to make the perfect conference souvenir!

Transform your classroom into a hub of engineering innovation using everyday items! This interactive session will equip 3rd-8th grade science teachers with practical strategies and engaging activities for integrating STEM engineering challenges using readily available household items without breaking the bank. Participants will dive into hands-on activities that demonstrate how common household materials can spark critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Learn practical strategies to make engineering accessible, exciting, and highly effective, proving that impactful STEM learning is within reach for all. Join us to ignite curiosity and cultivate the next generation of innovators with resources you already have!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how to turn everyday household items into engaging STEM engineering challenges, equipping students with problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills while making hands-on, accessible STEM learning fun and effective.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon McWhorter, Allyson Sauter

Various methods of using candy for mechanical testing will be introduced: • using chocolate for hardness testing; • mini candy bars with different fillings for a 3-point test; • soft candies for strength testing and to demonstrate a material under tension. By changing the testing parameters, the results of the test may also change (speed of the force applied, temperature of the candy, etc). These results will be compared with real-world testing samples and applications. Some amateur failure analysis of photos will be done and compared to the testing samples. Various uses of failure analysis and career opportunities will be shared. Students enjoy puzzles they can try to solve, things they can break, and things they might be able to eat. These lessons are always a hit as they combine all three, giving kids a chance to learn something fun that can then be immediately applied to solve a problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Everyday words with technical definitions – hardness, strength, toughness, tension – make learning about mechanical properties confusing. Expensive testing equipment isn’t available, but candy is. Different candy is used for mechanical testing, with quantitative and qualitative results.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson, Scott Spohler

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

What does it mean to teach science in ways that honor students’ cultural identities, lived experiences, and language resources? In this session, participants will explore how culturally competent science teaching creates more meaningful and equitable opportunities for students to engage as sensemakers. Using classroom examples and instructional routines, we will examine how students’ language practices—such as sharing noticings, asking questions, and building ideas together—can be intentionally leveraged to support rigorous, phenomenon-based science learning. Participants will reflect on their own instructional choices and consider practical moves that help all students use language to make their thinking visible and see themselves as capable contributors to scientific understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with concrete approaches for designing and facilitating science instruction that values students’ cultural and linguistic assets, strengthens engagement, and supports equitable participation in classroom sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep, Rachel Myers

Need to Complete

TAKEAWAYS:
Need to Complete

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Myers

Many educators, families, and communities understand that STEM learning can lead to rewarding careers that support strong, stable futures. The question then becomes: how do we let our students know that everyone has a place in STEM? And, if everyone has a place in STEM, how do we expose all students to meaningful STEM opportunities? Together, schools and communities can create intentional pathways to make STEM opportunities available to all students. In this session, we will explore some of these strategies with a particular focus on how schools can partner with families and communities to infuse STEM into in- and out-of-school learning experiences and tap into the local STEM assets that can be found in every community if we look for them! We will also explore how to build multiple pathways into STEM that allow for students to engage from kindergarten into postsecondary pursuits into STEM careers, as well as how schools, families, and communities can embed career connections int

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how schools, families, and communities can work together to create meaningful STEM pathways, helping every student see themselves in STEM and access engaging, real-world opportunities from early childhood through postsecondary careers.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Stanley, Kristen McInerney

All metals share common properties and students can usually recite these fairly easily, but how deep is that understanding? How can those properties be manipulated? Participants will observe melting a tin-based alloy and explore a binary phase diagram, learning how these are used for heat-treating and alloy determinations. Steel is the second most common building material in the world. Two cheap examples of steel will be compared, one high-carbon, one low-carbon. A classroom activity is shared that allows students to learn about heat-treating and how it can affect the properties of the steel. Copper wire will undergo work-hardening and its properties will be compared to those of the steel samples. Each activity has real-world relevance, as well as deep chemistry connections. Crystal structures, grain boundaries and atomic dislocations, and alloy types will be explained and related to the practical engineering results of these atomic-level structural changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore how students can change a metal’s properties through alloying, heat-treating, and/or cold-working. Classroom activities that will enhance chemistry understanding of atomic structure and real world engineering relevance. Introduce & deepen understanding of binary phase diagrams.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

Discover the power of NSTA Resource Collections – curated "bundles" designed to organize your digital library with resources from NSTA and beyond. This hands-on workshop guides you through creating your own collection, a vital tool for saving time when searching for topic-specific materials. Learn how to effectively share these collections with your school or district colleagues, or make them public to benefit the wider NSTA community. Leave ready to build and leverage collections to streamline your resource management.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave knowing how to create NSTA Resource Collections, add NSTA and external materials, and manage sharing options. They will grasp the benefits of organizing, including time savings and collaboration, and gain practical skills to build and share curated resource bundles.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Jaclyn Murray

This interactive session presents a research-based Career Connected Learning (CCL) Framework and design elements to assist leaders in decision making around career-connected learning experiences and pathways. The session bridges national research, in- and out-of-school learning, and workforce demands driven by DoW priorities. We will detail the CCL Framework design process, share practical vignettes of successful CCL programs in action, and provide a roadmap for how to leverage the CCL Framework in your community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore a research-based Career Connected Learning Framework that helps leaders design effective career pathways, align learning with workforce needs, and apply practical strategies to strengthen CCL opportunities in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
John Lee, Marc Siciliano

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

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will demonstrate a wide variety of materials using free software developed by The Concord Consortium over a decade of NSF funding. Participants will explore authentic Earth science models and simulations including wildfires, earthquakes, and natural hazards and receive free curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey

o Explore integrated professional learning models that center joy, relevance, and collaboration. This session highlights innovative approaches to professional learning that bring educators across disciplines together to explore environmentally focused phenomena and connect science, mathematics, computer science, and the arts through outdoor learning. Hear firsthand from County Office educators who will share how this approach became a catalyst for reimagining professional learning in their local contexts, resulting in redesigned PL that is more engaging, collaborative, and impactful. Participating educators will engage in activities that model outdoor- and arts-connected learning and explore planning tools and supporting resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use tools that build educator confidence and deepen student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea Cochrane, Rachel Myers

Calling all yoga enthusiasts! Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, join yoga teacher, Azra Chughtai, RYT, for a warm-up with breathwork, hatha yoga (gentle stretching exercises to wake up the body), and, of course, meditation for relaxation and de-stressing. Beginner friendly!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recharge: Energizing and Stress Relief

Students must develop effective disciplinary literacy practices. They must learn the difference between reading with understanding and reading complex texts like a scientist – reading charts and graphs to make inferences about data; reading and using specialized language and text structures; and reading controversial text, to critique and refine knowledge. Students must learn how to formulate questions to be answered; design investigations to help answer those questions; observe phenomena objectively and analyze and annotate observations; apply critical thinking skills to determine effective ways to communicate findings. Disciplinary literacy, the application of knowledge, combined with analytical and critical thinking skills, should enable students to think, act and communicate as scientists. Attendees will learn how to guide and enable students to engage in this process successfully. Handouts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to help students formulate effective questions to guide their investigations, and then apply their critical thinking skills and disciplinary skills (objective observations and analysis of phenomena), to determine cause and effect and analyze results of the investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell

NSTA’s Elementary Extravaganza is a dedicated learning and connecting space for elementary school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

NSTA’s High School Haven is a dedicated learning and connecting space for high school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and refuel with daily afternoon snacks.

NSTA’s Meet Me in the Middle is a dedicated learning and connecting space for middle school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

Visit the NSTA Hub in the Expo Hall during the conference! We'll have a variety of fun activities and photo opportunities PLUS a store showcasing the latest NSTA Press books available and awesome t-shirts to make the perfect conference souvenir!

You’ve heard of NGSS-ing your instruction, but have you heard of JEDI-ing your lessons?  Join us to explore how to embed Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion into your existing instructional practices to improve accessibility for all students.  Participants will collaborate to explore learning experiences that have embedded JEDI practices and how they address the pedagogical needs of California’s various student populations. Participants will reflect on their own practices to improve accessibility, foster equitable outcomes, and adapt learning objectives for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience & explore practical ways to integrate elements of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into your learning sequence to make science relevant and meaningful to your students.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Myers

Recent reports show millions of higher-skilled jobs are going unfilled because workers don’t know what skills they need, educators don’t know what skills to educate for, and employers don’t know what skills workers have. How can we bridge STEM opportunity gaps for all learners and mitigate the STEM shortage in the near future? Let's discuss partnerships and how to leverage DoD STEM and the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) to provide hands-on STEM experiences that meet students where they are, bring the workforce into the classroom, and take students to the workrooms. Anchored in the STEM Ecosystems framework, this model demonstrates how connecting K–12, higher education, community and industry partners can strengthen pathways from classrooms to careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how strategic partnerships can close STEM opportunity gaps by connecting classrooms, communities, and industry to build clear, hands-on pathways from school to high-demand careers.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Carter, LaToya Parker, Jason Porter, Peter Branca

Be a bioengineer! Preview a free middle school curriculum module that merges engineering design with life science standards. Students learn about sensory and motor systems through multimedia and kinesthetic activities, and complete a scaffolded challenge to design, test, and improve prosthetic hand models made from common inexpensive materials. The unit was co-designed by 17 teachers from across the U.S. and the Genetic Science Learning Center, and is easily accessible from the center’s Teach.Genetics website.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to access and use a free 3-5 day curriculum module that integrates NGSS middle school standards in life science and engineering design, enabling students to describe how the nervous system responds to stimuli through motor and sensory neurons and design a solution to a bioengineering problem.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Taylor

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

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will demonstrate a wide variety of free simulation software developed by The Concord Consortium over a decade of NSF funding. Participants will explore molecular models, authentic biological simulations, physics interactives, and integrated data exploration opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey

For more than 50 years, the National Inventors Hall of Fame has celebrated inventors while advancing creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. At the heart of this work is Invention Education, a powerful approach that helps students become confident creative problem solvers and critical thinkers—guided by the stories and mindsets of Our Nation’s Greatest Innovators™. In this interactive session, participants explore how Invention Education blends design thinking, inquiry, and real‑world relevance to deepen engagement and support transdisciplinary STEAM learning. Educators experience the invention process in action, moving ideas from 2D to 3D to market. Along the way, participants examine the research behind the process, discover how Invention Education aligns with state and NGSS Standards, and leave with an Invention Portfolio kickstarted!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how Invention Education empowers students to become creative, empathetic problem solvers by integrating design thinking, inquiry, and real-world STEM practices, with tools and strategies to foster engagement and innovation across grade levels.

SPEAKERS:
Veronica Kormos

Come learn directly from California schools and districts who have successfully integrated science into their elementary programs. These schools have seen positive benefits in reading, attendance, and science scores. Engage in examples of hands-on learning that promote literacy and hear from teachers and leaders in a panel discussion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Schools can successfully integrate science in Elementary grades and have a positive impact on literacy, attendance, and test scores.

SPEAKERS:
Peter A'Hearn, Melissa Marcucci, Rachel Myers

Discover the latest and greatest science and STEM teaching and learning resources, tools, and products available during this break in concurrent sessions.

Dreamline Pathways™: From Classroom Engagement to Career Achievement showcases an equity-driven model that connects students to STEM and health careers through innovative learning experiences and long-term support. Participants will learn how Dreamline Pathways™ provides classroom kits for younger scholars, free online health-focused STEM lesson plans, and VR tools that bring science to life. The program also shares the immersive campus experiences, sustained mentorship, and pre- and post-college support that guide students through secondary education and beyond. This workshop highlights strategies that strengthen STEM identity, foster career-connected learning, and build an inclusive pathway that transforms curiosity into career success.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how Dreamline Pathways™ uses classroom kits, free STEM resources, VR, immersive experiences, and mentorship to build inclusive pathways that guide students from early engagement through college and into STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie McGrew

Explore how districts and regional offices are coordinating cross-grade PD to strengthen student science practices and data skills. Learn transformative leadership strategies that connect middle and high school teaching while maximizing PD impact for teachers and students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with actionable leadership strategies based on district case studies, student work, and impact data, showing how coordinated, equitable PD across grade bands enhances students’ data and science reasoning skills and test scores.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson, Matthew Christiansen

Growing up following the advent of smartphones and social media, Generations Z and Alpha have experienced declines in mental and emotional health relative to previous generations. In an effort to combat this trend, there are innovative, computationally driven methods for measuring and fostering social connection among groups of students. This presentation will illustrate the design, features, and practical applications of such approaches. Further, attendees will learn strategies to implement these methods within classrooms and school communities to foster healthier, better-connected learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how innovative, data-driven approaches can measure and strengthen social connection among students, helping educators foster healthier, more connected learning environments for Generations Z and Alpha.

SPEAKERS:
Linh Ho, Johnathan Chittuluru, Daniel Pena

This session will introduce participants to the CA NGSS Toolkit for Student-Centered Assessment, a compilation of tools, processes, and resources designed to support educators at the district and classroom level in developing and implementing formative and summative assessment tasks that align to the NGSS. Participants will learn about ways the toolkit has been utilized to build assessment literacy in educators and support them in creating classroom performance assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave the session with several resources to support assessment task development as well as examples of classroom ready assessment tasks developed by San Diego County educators.

SPEAKERS:
John Spiegel, Rachel Myers

This session models an equitably designed professional learning experience that reflects the instructional shifts of the NGSS. Participants will engage in strategies that promote access and deep understanding for all learners, then apply these ideas to plan how they will support implementation of best practices for upper elementary science instruction within their own local contexts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to design and implement NGSS-aligned professional learning that is equitable, actionable, and tailored to support upper elementary teachers in applying best practices within their local school contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Roy, Rachel Myers

Investigate the role of scale, quantity, and proportion during an interactive activity. Explore how to make simple, but useful, estimates of quantities that are too large to observe directly. The activity is part of a new free high school curriculum called Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit. The course provides a toolkit of cognitive strategies applied to real-world issues such as water quality, energy use, and student well-being. Students utilize scientific approaches for interpreting evidence, engaging in probabilistic reasoning, identifying sources of uncertainty, and developing iterative solutions. They develop skills in reasoning and collaboration, equipping them to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. The material is an adaptation of a University of California, Berkeley course created by Nobel Prize winner Saul Perlmutter and is being developed by the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Investigate the role of scale, quantity, and proportion during an interactive activity. Explore how to make simple, but useful, estimates of quantities that are too large to observe directly. The activity, a part of a 10-lesson unit on modeling in the context of ecology, is free for download.

SPEAKERS:
Janet Bellantoni, Sarah Metz

See how leaders can scale English Language Learner support in science through a train-the-trainer approach. Learn how coaching systems and AI (as a multiplier) help leaders build capacity, extend impact, and provide intentional instructional guidance across schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave confident in their ability to better support the science teachers they lead. They will gain three practical tools—rooted in a train-the-trainer model and strengthened by AI—that can be put to use immediately to improve instruction for multilingual learners.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Christiansen

In this session, participants will explore practices that embrace neurodiversity to transform project-based learning environments into safe, empowering spaces where every student feels seen and capable. Through hands-on activities and real classroom examples, presenters will model techniques that build self-awareness, emotional regulation, collaboration skills, and student agency. One segment of the session will focus specifically on self-awareness for both teachers and students, demonstrating how reflective routines and goal setting elevate engagement and improve project outcomes. Participants will walk away with ready to use tools, templates, and strategies that support all learners’ cognitive differences, reduce classroom stress, and ignite authentic student ownership in PBL.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore practices that embrace neurodiversity to transform project-based learning environments into safe, empowering spaces where every student feels seen and capable.

SPEAKERS:
Daniella Hubbard, Angelena Watkins, Laura Wilbanks

Investigate the role of confirmation bias in reasoning with an interactive activity. Participants evaluate evidence and engage in argumentation about the use of social media. The activity is part of a new free high school curriculum called Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit. The course provides a toolkit of cognitive strategies applied to real-world issues such as water quality, energy use, and student well-being. Students utilize scientific approaches for interpreting evidence, engaging in probabilistic reasoning, identifying sources of uncertainty, and developing iterative solutions. They develop skills in reasoning and collaboration, equipping them to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. The material is an adaptation of a University of California, Berkeley course created by Nobel Prize winner Saul Perlmutter and is being developed by the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will investigate the role of confirmation bias in reasoning as they explore evidence and engage in argumentation about the use of social media. The activity, a part of a 10-lesson unit on evaluating information in the context of biology and public health, is free for download.

SPEAKERS:
Janet Bellantoni, Sarah Metz

NSTA’s Elementary Extravaganza is a dedicated learning and connecting space for elementary school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

NSTA’s High School Haven is a dedicated learning and connecting space for high school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and refuel with daily afternoon snacks.

NSTA’s Meet Me in the Middle is a dedicated learning and connecting space for middle school educators. Explore discipline-specific sessions, relax in our community space outfitted with cell phone charging stations and connect with other educators.

From self-driving cars to smart assistants, AI is reshaping the way we live, work, and learn, and it’s opening new frontiers for STEM education. The Department of War (DoW) is leading efforts to advance AI innovation and literacy, creating opportunities for students to explore real-world STEM careers and technologies that shape our nation’s future. In this interactive session, participants will explore creative ways to use AI to inspire and engage STEM students. Together, participants will examine how AI can serve as both a tool for teaching and a topic for inquiry, helping students think critically about technology’s role in society. Participants will discover DoW STEM career pathways related to AI, explore classroom-ready AI tools that make STEM concepts come alive, and experiment with sample AI prompts to spark student curiosity and problem-solving. Participants will leave with practical strategies and classroom applications to empower students to become thoughtful creators, not just consumers, of emerging technologies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore how AI can inspire STEM learning, serve as a tool and topic for inquiry, and connect students to DoD STEM career pathways, while gaining practical strategies to help students think critically and become creators of emerging technologies.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason, Nicole Mills

Visit the NSTA Hub in the Expo Hall during the conference! We'll have a variety of fun activities and photo opportunities PLUS a store showcasing the latest NSTA Press books available and awesome t-shirts to make the perfect conference souvenir!

This workshop explores storytelling as a tool for science teaching and cross-content integration. Educators will examine strategies that bring concepts to life, reflect on how narrative fosters belonging and STEM identity, and strategize ways to integrate storytelling into their teaching contexts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand how intentional storytelling in science education can be leveraged as a powerful, integrative strategy and leave with concrete ideas for applying storytelling within their own roles and contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Smith, Rachel Myers

This session will explore practical strategies for expanding access to STEM research and competitions in schools and districts. Participants will learn how these programs can spark curiosity, build technical skills, and foster problem-solving through authentic, hands-on experiences. The discussion will highlight examples of student-driven projects, such as designing technology for space missions, and examine how these opportunities can transform classroom learning into real-world applications. Let's discuss how we can leverage resources, which include DoW STEM and the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC), to inspire the next generation of students to the wonders of STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover practical strategies to expand STEM research and competitions in schools, using hands-on, student-driven projects and resources like DoD STEM and DSEC to spark curiosity, build skills, and connect learning to real-world applications.

SPEAKERS:
Sharon Okoye

Participants will take part in a simple beam lab using weights to determine the deflection of the beam material. Groups will have different beams and varying results will help support understanding of the graphs created. The results will then be graphed as a load-deflection curve and shared. Stress is the amount loaded onto the beam (analogous to load). Strain (similar to deflection) is the amount of deformation that occurs. The resulting curve and slope (Young’s Modulus) give information about the stiffness and elasticity of the material. Different beam results will clearly demonstrate the meaning of Young’s Modulus and interpretation of stress-strain curves. Challenges of stress-strain curve understanding (both variables are dependent, for instance) will be discussed and clarified. How to use stress-strain curves with a bridge project extension will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
A hands-on beam lab produces graphs critical to understanding properties for engineering. With focus on making, interpreting, & teaching the graphs. Real-world uses & applications of stress-strain curves in engineering will be shared and help to illustrate the importance of this type of graph.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson, Scott Spohler

This session highlights California’s statewide CAL-MSCS initiative and its approach to building systemwide capacity and infrastructure through leadership-centered professional learning in science. Participants will explore strategies used to cultivate and sustain inclusive science leadership communities, examine early indicators of statewide impact, and learn from lessons emerging through CAL-MSCS Communities of Practice and the Science Leadership Series.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with practical insights into how coherent, inclusive leadership structures can strengthen professional learning systems and advance equitable, high-quality instructional improvement at scale.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Smith, Rachel Myers

Discover how to make STEM learning more comprehensible and language-rich with Bridging Language and Learning: Empowering Multilingual Learners in STEM, a toolkit developed for the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC). This hands-on resource equips educators and STEM partners with over 140 practical strategies and 130+ links to templates designed to strengthen literacy and language development for multilingual learners in STEM contexts. Participants will explore five essential practices, which are creating welcoming environments, building background knowledge, developing vocabulary, providing structured speaking and listening opportunities, and encouraging student writing, to help all learners thrive in rigorous STEM settings. Leave with ready-to-implement ideas that connect language, literacy, and STEM learning in any environment, from classrooms to community spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to strengthen STEM learning for multilingual learners using the DSEC Bridging Language and Learning toolkit, exploring practical strategies that integrate language, literacy, and STEM to help all students thrive in rigorous, engaging environments.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason, Nicole Mills

Polymers are characterized as thermoplastic or thermoset; natural or synthetic; or as being formed by addition or condensation reactions. The amount of cross-linking in polymers also affects their properties. Activities will be shared that highlight and explain the categorization of polymers. We will investigate polymer powders to infer the amount of crosslinking when they are exposed to water. PVA slime also can show crosslinking. Thermoplastics can be reshaped after heating so are recyclable. Thermosets are the result of a heat-producing chemical reaction and are non-recyclable. We will do activities with each, investigating properties and uses. Our clothing is made up of a variety of polymers, some natural, a growing percentage synthetic. We will share some observational tasks using materials to discuss the benefits of each type of polymer in clothing. The environmental impact of polymers will be discussed and activities related to biopolymers and recycling will also be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Overview of polymers - different ways of categorizing, difficulties with recycling, and the variety of properties. We will provide hands-on activities to be done in the classroom, exploring cross-linking, reactions to heat and water, and natural vs synthetic polymers in clothing to name a few.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson, Scott Spohler

The focus is on hands-on and visible building materials, but some ideas can be applied to the microscopic and used to illuminate concepts about things like crystal structures and bonding. Presenters – a chemistry and a physics teacher – provide lots of information for scaffolding the activities to fit different levels of learners. Students will have to take careful measurements and use those measurements in calculations with real-world applications. They will communicate their findings and defend their choices based on lab results. The specific activities include: cement pucks and beams and various additives; foam beams; clay tiles; simple metal alloys; and hex cell composites. Using these relatively cheap materials and just a few pieces of equipment, students make choices for design challenges and begin to see all the factors necessary to good design. They will also more easily make connections between abstract concepts from the classroom and what those vocabulary words really mean.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore STEM with cement, metal, and clay. Apply math concepts and lots of real-world examples. Engage students in learning and solving problems. They love destructive testing! There are ideas provided for all levels of the physical sciences, from basic concepts to more advanced calculations.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

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

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to engage students in hands-on electricity and magnetism lessons through a pocket flashlight design challenge, integrating digital fabrication and standards-based activities that connect circuits, creativity, and real-world STEM learning.

SPEAKERS:
Toby Bothel

Get Wild! Wildlife Ecology will introduce participants to ways to engage students in learning about, caring for, and protecting local and global wildlife. This workshop will be based on a successful original summer camp design, and will be adaptable to school-year classroom Life Sciences units. This will be an interactive workshop with resource guides, hands-on activities, and collaborative conversations. Most students love animals and want to learn how to protect them!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore their foundational experiences with wildlife, using this personal reflection to inform their teaching. They will leave with concrete ideas and resources to build engaging lessons, units, or camps that inspire students to become stewards of wildlife.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Trapanese

This session engages participants in applying the CAL-MSCS Science Equity Matrix to professional learning, making equity moves explicit, actionable, and sustainable while empowering leaders to transform beliefs into practice and foster equitable, high-impact science learning across their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a tool that guides professional learning facilitators to make explicit equity moves in their professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Simani, Rachel Myers