This session proposal outlines a student-driven, guided inquiry approach to teaching molecular properties and ionic bonding using tactile models. The activity is structured into five key phases:Foundation & Model Building: Students use LEGO bricks to establish that molecular properties are rooted in composition, setting class-defined rules for using the bricks as elements. Ionic Inquiry: Through experimentation with over 15 compounds (e.g., $CaO$, $Al_{2}O_{3}$), students assign specific ions to LEGO configurations to discover unique chemical combinations. Pattern Recognition: Students map charge numbers onto a periodic table, allowing them to independently identify ionic charge patterns across groups. Application: The lesson concludes with thinking questions and traditional formula writing for compounds like sodium chloride. Extension: The framework allows for natural exploration of periodic trends and nomenclature once students have mastered formula balancing.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway of this session is a student-driven, guided inquiry approach that uses tactile LEGO models to bridge the gap between abstract chemical composition and the concrete patterns of ionic bonding and periodic trends.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Sesemann

Every time we fry food, we produce used cooking oil. Most of it gets thrown down the drain or into the trash, quietly polluting waterways, harming aquatic life and the land. But what if that waste could become something valuable? In this 3–4-week STEAM project, high school students turn hazardous waste cooking oil into real, handmade soap. Students begin by investigating the environmental impact of WCO waterways using real water quality data. They then learn the chemistry of soap-making, calculate their own ingredient ratios, choose natural colorants and scents, and design eco-friendly packaging. Along the way, they collect data from their households and use it to build a persuasive public awareness campaign for their community. This project is rooted in a real local problem, particularly in developing countries. Every decision students make, from soap formula to campaign audience, is theirs. Chemistry is the backbone, but the project asks students to think as scientists, engineers,

TAKEAWAYS:
A single topic learned at school can be the entry point for students to think across disciplines, engage with a real local problem, and produce something that actually matters to their community.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Rahmadianty

This session explores the practical and ethical implementation of AI-driven "Study Bots" to enhance student mastery in high school chemistry. We will demonstrate how to shift AI from a potential source of academic dishonesty to a powerful formative tool that delivers on-demand, targeted practice for complex topics such as stoichiometry and exam preparation. Participants will see concrete examples of how bots can be trained on specific classroom materials—such as unit tests and lab manuals—to provide personalized feedback, guide students through multi-step calculations, and help them develop strategic study plans. The session will also outline a practical rollout strategy, including student verification checklists and clear ethical guardrails, to ensure technology use remains safe, equitable, and focused on original student thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with copy-ready AI prompts and a student verification protocol they can immediately use to create custom, content-specific study bots. These tools streamline instructional planning and feedback while building the durable data-literacy skills students need for future STEM care

SPEAKERS:
Diane Vrobel

Quantum science-related career paths are rapidly increasing and reshaping curriculum needs. High school students need access now to quality quantum resources to be prepared for their future. Engage in a hands-on introduction to the PhET Interactive Simulations project’s Quantum Education Initiative, which includes a growing suite of free, research-based simulations and classroom-ready activities designed for high school physical science. Participants will engage as learners with newly updated simulations (Photoelectric Effect, Alpha & Beta Decay, Models of the Hydrogen Atom, Quantum Wave Interference, and others), then work through two model activities from the initiative database. Leave with lesson plans, student handouts, and implementation tips you can use next week. You will also learn how you can join the community for this multi-year effort.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave ready to bring quantum science into physics, chemistry, or Earth science classrooms using free, classroom-tested simulations and ready-to-use activities from PhET’s Quantum Education Initiative.

SPEAKERS:
Brett Fiedler, Katherine Perkins

How can we redesign a better school lunch to meet the nutritional needs of all students? In this workshop, participants will explore a 8-lesson high school biology unit that engages students in authentic sensemaking by connecting biochemistry, nutrition, anatomy, and engineering design to their own school meals. Built using OpenSciEd design principles, the unit launches with an anchor phenomena routine where students investigate USDA changes to school lunches and create timelines of how meals have evolved. Lessons then examine added sugars, how carbohydrates fuel the body, balancing energy from macronutrients, protein sources, and the impact of cooking on nutrition, culminating in student-designed lunch menus. Participants will engage in key routines, analyze student-generated questions, and take part in a gallery walk of student work, assessments, and redesign projects. All student-facing slides, worksheets, rubrics, and assessments will be shared as open educational resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience an OpenSciEd-inspired anchor phenomena routine and leave with a complete, freely available 8-lesson biology unit—featuring 3D assessments, student work, and strategies to adapt length and scaffolds to support all learners.

SPEAKERS:
William Baur

Step into the role of a forensic toxicologist in this hands-on workshop that bridges the gap between abstract chemical principles and real-world applications. Participants will conduct a "layered" investigation, using both digital instrumentation and wet chemistry to identify "poisons" in simulated biological fluids. We will demonstrate how to integrate conductivity, pH, and spectrophotometry (using Vernier GoDirect sensors) to screen for physical anomalies before proceeding to confirmatory chemical reagent testing. This session focuses on strengthening student sensemaking by connecting the dots among physics (light absorbance), chemistry (oxidation-reduction and acid-base reactions), and career-connected forensic science. Participants will leave with a complete "Lesson Showcase" packet that includes digital templates for data collection, scoring tools, and strategies for adapting this lab to various grade bands and resource constraints.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Integration of Instrumentation and Analysis: By synthesizing data from digital sensors with traditional chemical observations, students develop durable skills in evidence-based reasoning and adaptability. This workshop demonstrates that true scientific literacy isn't confined to a single subject

SPEAKERS:
Diane Vrobel

Interactive notebooks are powerful tools that physically relate activities to concepts which supports student construction of the lesson arc. Use of dynamic manipulatives, particularly with structured inquiry, provides more opportunities for illustrating relationships and making deep connections than static artifacts. Integrating these components in a notebook provides permanent scaffolds for content and support for continuing review and engagement with the material. Ready-to-use templates and examples, suitable for courses ranging from physical science through chemistry I and AP Chemistry will be shared. Attendees will be encouraged to make and take a variety of examples, ranging from stand alone activities to notebook-ready page layouts. All materials were created by and have been published on Chemical Education Xchange by the presenter, and are freely available for download. Student-made interactive notebook examples will also be available for review and discussion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience several mini-lessons from the student perspective using interactive notebook pages and manipulatives to explore the impact of these artifacts on the classroom experience. Participants will then be able to self-select stations to make and take manipulatives.

SPEAKERS:
Nora Walsh

Attendees will be shown various strategies and platforms for utilizing AI in the science classroom. Participants will be able to discuss strategies to address common misconceptions connected with AI use. Attendees will be shown ways AI can be used to create meaningful, critical-thinking, hands-on activities for science students. Educators will also be shown the positive and negative aspects of AI use by teachers and students. The AI policies that some school systems are adopting will also be discussed in this workshop.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will address the misconception that teachers might believe that AI is only useful for text-based tasks (essays/reports) and cannot contribute to the hands-on, experimental nature of a science lab.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Stracener

The NOAA-supported resource, “Ocean Protector,” is a free, online educational game that teaches students about the impacts of ocean acidification and solutions to address it. This decision-making game serves a full curriculum designed explicitly to bring ocean science to high school students with little or no connection to the ocean. Teachers will have a complete classroom-ready educator guide, instructional module, standards alignment and assessment tools. Students will learn about the causes and effects of ocean acidification and evaluate real world solutions. In the game, students choose a character representing specific ocean sectors (e.g. fishing boat captain) and make real-time analytical decisions and evaluate their consequences. This experience helps students construct explanations, reason effectively, and become self-directed learners of ocean science. Attendees will have ample time for informal discussion. Ocean Protector: https://outreachgames.org/OceanProtector/main.html

TAKEAWAYS:
ring the ocean inland! Use the free and classroom ready, decision-based 'Ocean Protector' game for high school students, complete with curriculum, educator guide, standards align and assessment tools.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Perotti

PhET Interactive Simulations are free, high-quality, interactive science and math simulations that are perfect for any science classroom. Whether you are new to PhET or a seasoned user, this session will help you explore and navigate the extensive PhET resources, including activities, teacher guides, teaching strategies and more. Presented by U.S. PhET Simulations Fellow Vanessa Wentzloff, attendees will walk away with a deep understanding of all that PhET has to offer. Teachers will be able to select a simulation aligned to their curriculum and begin planning an engaging lesson centered on inquiry and discovery that they can use in their classroom right away. This session is perfect for teachers looking to boost student engagement, simplify complex topics, and walk away with something practical they can use immediately.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to effectively navigate and use the full range of PhET resources, including simulations, activities, teacher guides, and instructional strategies and leave with practical ideas for integrating these tools into their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Wentzloff

This session provides a deep dive into a phenomenon-driven chemistry unit centered on climate change. Participants will experience how a full unit can be built around the question: “How do we use chemistry to help solve the climate crisis in a fair way as a global community?” The unit uses fossil fuel combustion, ice core data, and greenhouse gas chemistry phenomena to teach mole conversions. stoichiometry, limiting reactants, percent composition, and molecular structure. Participants will engage with student-facing materials, data sets, and modeling tasks that connect chemical equations to real-world climate impacts. A key focus of the session is integrating climate justice into chemistry instruction by examining how emissions, energy systems, and environmental harm are distributed unevenly across populations. Participants will leave with a fully mapped unit storyline, assessment ideas, and instructional routines for supporting student sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore how we can use molecular-level explanations to support student climate reasoning, allowing students to integrate climate justice and equity considerations into chemistry-based solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Gustafson

Do you teach multiple subjects (we do!) want an easy-to-implement tool that works for all your classes? Wish every student could explain the thinking behind their work? Do you spend way too long giving feedback that isn’t read? Need students to spend more time on areas they haven’t mastered yet? Or maybe administrators are telling you “use AI,” but you’re not sure what to do? Two tools can do just that – Snorkl and Brisk Teaching! Snorkl allows students to submit their work and gives you the option to have them verbally explain their thinking - Snorkl’s AI will provide the feedback! Brisk Boost uses an AI chatbot to question students until they’ve met their learning targets, based on an artifact (video, PDF, image, etc.) you’ve uploaded. You’ll get (A) a quick overview of what the tools do (and what they don’t that I wish they did!), (B) examples of student work from multiple disciplines, and (C) time to try activities we’ve created and to create your own to use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn to leverage Snorkl and Brisk Boost to automate meaningful feedback and deepen student reflection. You'll discover how each tool uses AI in different ways, from using student-written and verbal work to provide feedback, to using AI chatbots to ensure mastery of learning targets.

SPEAKERS:
Brandi Argentar, Andy Fitz

In this hands-on professional development workshop, teachers will use physical and conceptual models of atoms and isotopes to explore how scientists reconstruct past climates. Participants will investigate how isotopic signatures preserved in ice cores and sediments reveal information about vegetation, temperature, precipitation, and Earth’s climate history. Model-based reasoning and alignment with NGSS and Indiana science practices will be emphasized. The goal of this workshop is to support teachers in translating authentic climate science research into engaging classroom investigations. This workshop will be led by Dr. Julia Kelson, IU Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Dr. Robyn Embry, high school science teacher, Mitchell High School. This workshop was developed for Indiana University’s Educating for Environmental Change project (EfEC) project.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Educating for Environmental Change (EfEC) 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:
Julia Kelson, Adam Scribner

How can chemistry feel more relevant, coherent, and connected to the real world across an entire course? In this session, participants will explore a year-long chemistry course redesigned around Earth and Space Science phenomena anchored in NGSS storylines. Rather than treating chemistry as a sequence of isolated units, this approach uses compelling phenomena—such as climate change, stellar life-cycles, geomorphology, and water quality—as the driving narrative structure for learning. Participants will experience how chemistry content standards can be purposefully embedded into Earth and Space Science contexts to build coherence and deepen conceptual understanding. We will also examine how storylines support student sensemaking, increase engagement, and create authentic opportunities for modeling and explanation.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore how the use of Earth & Space phenomena make the abstract world of chemistry more visible and equitable for students.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Gustafson

Wondering where familiar chemistry topics like naming compounds, stoichiometry, and gas laws fit into OpenSciEd High School Chemistry? In this interactive session, participants will explore how and why these traditional topics are woven into OpenSciEd's five chemistry units in ways that maintain rigor while supporting student sensemaking. Through examples from across the course, participants will examine how concepts such as atomic structure, the Periodic Table, acids and bases, and the mole are integrated into coherent storylines that preserve students' "aha" moments. For example, students develop models of ions and polar molecules to explain phenomena such as lightning before using atomic models to explain bonding. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how OpenSciEd blends essential chemistry content with engaging, phenomenon-driven learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how "traditional" chemistry topics are incorporated into OpenSciEd High School Chemistry storylines without giving away students' aha moments and still mantaining rigor.

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

This poster describes a field-based biochemistry laboratory designed to integrate scientific inquiry with Ignatian pedagogy and the mission of Jesuit higher education. Implemented in an undergraduate biochemistry course, the multiweek experience engaged students in environmental sampling, water quality assessment, biodiversity observations, community cleanup, and proteomics-based laboratory analysis. Guided by the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and the Universal Apostolic Preferences, students connected biochemical concepts to ecological stewardship, environmental justice, and ethical discernment. Assessment through student reflections, surveys, discussions, and instructor observations suggests increased engagement, systems thinking, and awareness of the relationship between scientific knowledge and care for our common home. The project provides a replicable model for integrating experiential learning, service, and student formation within STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Field-based biochemistry laboratories can integrate scientific rigor, Ignatian pedagogy, and ecological stewardship, helping students connect molecular science to environmental responsibility, ethical discernment, and care for our common home.

SPEAKERS:
Corey Damon

A presentation of low-cost ideas for Middle School, Chemistry, and ICP lessons using low-cost materials for mini- science labs and demonstrations. Concepts discussed will be the classification of matter, identifying chemical reactions, and calculations from chemical reactions. Materials for the activities are found in Dollar Tree and Walmart. Other concepts discussed will be how to keep students' interest when tackling scientific terms, concepts, or ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see how a single lesson can be applied in various contexts across Chemistry concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Tsianina McCain

This proposal recommends science lessons for grades 6–8. Students explain the transformations of matter & energy in chemical reactions using household products like baking soda & vinegar. Teachers receive low prep lessons that develop students' thinking & cognitive engagement, promote scientific discourse, & build connections between green chemistry & real-world sustainability. Lesson 1: What Is a Chemical Reaction? — Observe phenomena & identify evidence. (Anchor Phenomenon) Lesson 2: Mass Before & After — Investigate mass conservation. Analyze data. (Matter and its Interactions- particle model) Lesson 3: Gas in a Reaction — Explore how gases are produced or used. (Energy and Matter) Building thinking classroom strategies: collaborate in random groups, use non-permanent vertical surfaces (VNPS), maintain flow by providing hints & extensions, & ask thinking questions. Evidence of Student Learning: CER responses, drawings on VNPS, & listening to student conversations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Build Thinking Science classrooms through the lens of green chemistry with low-prep, classroom-ready lessons your students will relate to.

SPEAKERS:
Aparna Chandra

In this session, we will share our motivation for adopting competency based grading and the reasons we will never go back to traditional, “average of total points,” grading. As part of the session, we will ask participants to consider what they believe grades communicate and examine their current grading practices to determine if their stated priorities match their grading practice. We will offer advice and suggestions for a smooth implementation of a competency based grading system including how to use generative AI to reduce your workload and make the writing process more efficient, and win over colleagues, administrators, and parents. Finally, we will share our standards for our chemistry and physics courses as well as examples of how our integration of the 3D NGSS standards with and have improved our classroom instructional practices, homework alignment, and assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the advantages, philosophy, and basic mechanisms of 3D, competency-based assessment and grading in the high school science classroom utilizing the NGSS and generative AI

SPEAKERS:
Gary Pritts, Amanda Horan

Choose Your Own (OA)dventure (CYOA) is an interactive platform to improve educator accessibility and inclusion of expert-curated materials on ocean acidification (OA). By providing a personalized compilation of resources, tailored to teaching needs, CYOA lowers preparation time and bolsters confidence with teaching this complex topic. Educators can navigate a comprehensive database of multimedia and curricula, building their toolkit based on criteria like topics, activity types for different learning styles, regional relevance, or age groups (K-12). This approach streamlines finding classroom-ready content through clear categories such as "Background information for educators," "Engage your students," "Hands-on learning," and "Explore and visualize data." Ultimately, the CYOA empowers teachers with the tools and assurance to foster ocean literacy and inspire students to take informed action toward OA solutions. Attendee feedback will directly improve the next version of NOAA's CYOA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Get the resources and confidence you need to bring ocean acidification (OA) science and literacy into your K-12 classroom, with NOAA’s interactive, online Choose Your Own (OA)dventure platform.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Perotti

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

Biotechnology concepts can be difficult for students to visualize and connect to real-world applications. To address this, we developed an interactive escape room that combines inquiry-based learning with gamified problem-solving. Students investigate biotechnology and fermentation concepts through challenges focused on pH, temperature, microbial metabolism, DNA, and carbon dioxide production while working to “save” a malfunctioning bioreactor. In this presentation, we will review all five stations and demonstrate how collaborative problem-solving and hands-on activities can be used to teach fermentation science, biotechnology, and industrial microbiology in an engaging and accessible way. Participants will leave with strategies for increasing student engagement, critical thinking, and real-world STEM connections in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with strategies for increasing student engagement, critical thinking, and real-world STEM/biotechnology connections in the classroom through inquiry-based learning with gamified problem-solving.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Wells

Well-designed lockbox activities are more than just games; they are powerful pedagogical tools that foster critical thinking (sensemaking), collaborative problem-solving (productive student discourse), and deep engagement with core curriculum. In this interactive session, you will transition from player to creator. We will begin by solving clues together as a large group, modeling diverse activity styles that successfully translate complex concepts into immersive challenges. Our team will share a variety of classroom-tested examples from our science-based lockbox activities. Whether you want to implement a premade lesson or build a custom experience from scratch, these resources will be immediately available for your teaching needs. All participants will receive full access to our resources, including templates and digital guides, to adapt these tools for any subject or grade level.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain full access to our premade lock box style lessons and templates, enabling them to customize these resources for any grade or subject area.

SPEAKERS:
Steven Smith

In a world where bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to traditional antibiotics, how can we empower students to think of creative solutions? This session introduces an integrated laboratory experience where students explore the biological process of bacterial competition through the lens of medicinal chemistry and soil science. Students gather soil, isolate the bacteria that live in the soil sample, and determine whether the bacteria they isolate can defeat the bacteria from another soil sample. Using concepts from chemistry, biology, and environmental science, students develop skills in systems thinking and evidence-based reasoning. Through participation in this lab, students learn to connect the history of the development of penicillin to modern innovations in medicinal chemistry, while learning how integrated science creates lasting solutions for complex, real-world problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to implement an integrated soil-to-lab investigation that bridges chemistry and biology. Full access to virtual resources and lab handouts will be provided.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Parkinson

Getting tired of the same forensics activities but don't know how to spice it up? Interested in AI but don't know how to get it to produce what you need? I got you! This presentation will show you FREE AI tools that can kick your forensics lessons in to high gear! Increase engagement and have some fun while learning how to use AI in your forensics classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers leave with several free AI tools as well as lessons created using these tools. Everything is ready to implement right away!

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Mullen

Want to introduce fun chemistry concepts into your upper elementary classroom? This session showcases a suite of physical science lessons developed by Purdue University Honors Chemistry students specifically for upper elementary educators. Participants will explore a curated collection of "kitchen chemistry" investigations that transform common household items (red cabbage, honey, and baking soda) into scientific tools. We will demonstrate how to model abstract concepts like surface tension and proton transfer through kinetic group games, and how to use student-built spectroscopes to investigate the properties of light. Participants will learn how hands-on approaches support student sensemaking and facilitate interest in science. These lessons emphasize student learning while keeping prep time and material costs at a minimum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore fun and creative “kitchen chemistry” demonstrations to use in the upper elementary classroom. Attendees will gain full access to premade lesson plans and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Starr

Uncover the secrets of the past using the power of nuclear chemistry through an engaging exploration of geochronology and absolute dating. This hands-on session demonstrates how scientists utilize radioactive isotopes to reconstruct Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, bridging the gap between physics, chemistry, and archaeology. Participants will explore the fundamental concepts of radiation and half-life, starting with the visualization of charged particles in cloud chambers and moving into simulations that model the random nature of radioactive decay. Participants will learn how to calculate decay constants and analyze carbon-14 activity. These skills are put to the test in a series of "artifact mysteries," where data is used to verify the authenticity of items. This presentation provides high school educators with classroom ready materials to help students investigate the reliability of scientific evidence and the precision of the primary tools used in modern geochronology.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand radiation and half-life through cloud chamber visualization and simulations. Learn to calculate decay constants and apply carbon-14 dating to determine the absolute age of materials. Participants will get usable lessons that can be taught in person or virtually.

SPEAKERS:
Steven Smith