Set sail on a journey through the newly released full elementary OpenSciEd curriculum—where manatees glide, dolphins echolocate, and young learners tackle real-world phenomena with brilliance and curiosity. In this session, we’ll dive into an instructional approach that supports all students in figuring out complex science ideas through coherent, phenomenon-driven storylines.

Participants will experience a taste of a third grade unit to figure out why living things live where they do —connecting you to the why and the how of 3-dimensional science teaching. Along the way, we’ll explore key features of the curriculum through classroom video and surface how classroom agreements can foster inclusive and collaborative environments. We’ll also unpack how purposeful classroom discussion helps students make sense of science, not just memorize it.

Come ready to explore, reflect, and imagine what’s possible when high-quality materials meet the brilliance of elementary learners.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Belcastro, Guy Ollison, Yanira Vazquez

Join Tuva and the NSTA Professional Learning Team for a deep dive into using local data as evidence in making sense of complex phenomena. At the start of the session, educators will pose questions about a local anchoring phenomenon and use the Tuva Tools to explore and visualize real datasets in pursuit of answers. The latter half will include a community science experience, where participants will gather and analyze their own data. Participants will leave with practical strategies for guiding students to use mathematics and science practices to uncover patterns in their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
--Develop a deeper understanding of the role of data and mathematical thinking in the process of sensemaking. --Explore authentic local data using the Tuva data, graphing, and statistics tools to make sense of local phenomena. --Develop practical strategies to help all students productively engage with data.

SPEAKERS:
Brianna Reilly Oliveira, Jocelyn Foran

Step right up to the Carnival of Collisions!

Welcome to Class CrunchLabs (CCL), a completely free, NGSS-designed (phenomena and problem-based) curriculum resource composed of short, modular units packed with videos, activities, googly eyes, and serious science sensemaking.

In this session, we'll join YouTuber Mark Rober and his unit co-hosts as they navigate the Carnival of Collisions storyline [MS-PS2-1 & MS-PS2-2]. We'll explore how to lead classroom investigations designed by the CrunchLabs toy creators, teach with interactive video assessments, track student progress with multi-unit Mission Logs (student portfolios) and reflection activities, plus more.

Curious about teacher and student supports? Our curriculum writers will host these discussions firsthand and answer your questions. We’ll also explore how to customize the curriculum to fit your classroom, all while keeping our eyes on the ultimate goal: sparking student curiosity and boosting creative confidence. Of course, we'll engage in plenty of purposeful play, which may or may not include slingshots, projectiles, and a very large stack of stuffed squirrels.

Please Note: Mark Rober will not attend this session, but he may share a video message for early adopters. Don't miss out!

TAKEAWAYS:
--Gain a clear understanding of how to implement CCL's NGSS-designed, phenomenon-based science units and promote sensemaking through hands-on investigations. --Explore effective strategies for using CCL's interactive video assessments, Mission Logs (student portfolios), and reflection activities to track and support student progress. --Discover ways to customize and adapt this playful, engaging curriculum to spark student curiosity and build creative confidence in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tommy Clayton, Sara Cooper, Tara Graham, Sarah Ridder, Spencer Martin

Every student deserves access to high-quality, meaningful science instruction designed to leverage and support students' linguistic resources. Join professional learning leaders from BSCS Science Learning and NSTA for a full-day deep dive into classroom instruction that supports multilingual learners through rich, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences.

In this immersive session, we’ll explore the specific approaches using lesson examples and video footage to see how intentional strategies and routines promote language and science understanding. You’ll learn how high-quality science curricula foster opportunities for multilingual learners to interact with the classroom community to share their ideas, deepen their ability to engage in science, and make sense of the natural world.

TAKEAWAYS:
--How intentional instructional design supports multilingual learners --Strategies that promote language-rich, collaborative science classrooms --Real-world video examples and specific strategies from classrooms

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud, Susan Gomez Zwiep

Get ready to spark your students’ curiosity and imagination with science stories that make learning come alive! In this full-day, hands-on session, Stories that Spark Science: Harnessing NSTA Kids and Award-Winning Children's Books, we will dive into a treasure trove of children’s literature perfect for connecting literacy and science.

The morning will be an inspiring journey through three engaging segments:

1. The Next Time You See Series Explore this beloved NSTA Kids series, discover strategies for using it in your classroom or program, and hear real-world examples of how these books inspire wonder and inquiry.

2. Spotlight on New and Timeless NSTA Kids™ Books From timeless favorites to exciting new releases, you’ll get a guided tour of NSTA Kids titles and supporting resources, along with practical tips for bringing them to life for your learners.

3. Award-Winning Reads: NSTA–CBC Best STEM Books & Outstanding Science Trade Books Learn about the rigorous criteria behind these celebrated titles, explore ways to engage students with them, and see how they connect to NSTA Press resources.

Along the way, we will model strategies for selecting high-quality literature, creating text sets that support diverse learners, and integrating science and literacy with ease. You’ll also have time to browse the books, share ideas with fellow educators, and discover helpful NSTA resources.

In the afternoon, roll up your sleeves and put inspiration into action! Working in grade-band groups, you will develop lesson plans and activities using the featured books, aligned to shared themes and standards. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win a free NSTA Kids™ “Text Set” to jump-start your own classroom library.

Come ready to read, collaborate, and leave with lessons, ideas, and resources you can use right away to get kids excited about science through story.

Our work with educators demonstrates that compassion can be a powerful resource for maintaining hope, connecting with purpose, and sparking joy, even in difficult times. We invite you to join this workshop to develop perspectives and learn practices for mindfulness, kindness, and compassion for self and others that support emotional regulation and overall well-being. You will also engage in activities and practices to integrate compassion into your classroom and everyday life. Anchored in teaching about climate change, this workshop is relevant to any educator who has experienced uncertainty, overwhelm, or stress.

Are you looking for better ways to design meaningful, standards-aligned classroom-based assessments that reflect your students' thinking? In this full-day workshop, we'll work together to create three-dimensional (3D) science assessments—supported by a powerful generative AI tool and guided by your teacher's expertise. Using the Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) Design Framework, we will show you how to develop 3D knowledge-in-use assessment tasks by walking through how to unpack performance expectations, craft learning performances and evidence statements, and co-create tasks responsive to your students' diverse backgrounds and learning needs. You'll learn how to write effective prompts for AI, evaluate and adapt AI-generated content, and ensure that what you create is instructionally useful and meaningful. Along the way, we'll also engage in honest, practical conversations about the ethical and appropriate uses of AI in education. This session is designed specifically for upper elementary and middle school teachers but is open to all who are interested. You will leave with ready-to-use assessment tasks, access to customizable prompts and design templates, new strategies you can apply immediately in your classroom, and knowledge of how to craft 3D assessment tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
-Learn how to design knowledge-in-use aligned with NGSS using Generative AI tools. -Gain practical experience writing prompts, generating and refining tasks, and applying a systematic design framework. -Explore ways to responsibly integrate GenAI into your work that honors student voice, local context, and teacher judgment. -Walk away with a complete prototype assessment, classroom-ready resources, and a deeper confidence in your ability to design assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Tingting Li, Joseph Krajcik, Selin Akgun