Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring how Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids curriculum materials engage K–12 students in learning about clean, safe, and lead-free drinking water. Participants will explore a flexible range of instructional materials, from short, high-impact lessons that fit within a single class period to multi-day, project-based learning (PBL) units that support sustained inquiry. Across these materials, students investigate why water is essential, how lead can enter drinking water systems, the health risks of exposure, and actions individuals and communities can take to ensure safer water. During the session, participants will experience sample activities as facilitators highlight how these activities can function as standalone lessons or be sequenced within cohesive PBL units. Participants will leave with standards-aligned, ready-to-use resources and guidance for adapting materials to fit their instructional context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how adaptable curriculum materials, from single-day lessons to full PBL units, can engage K-12 students in real-world, data-driven learning connected to public health and community action.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Mills

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!

This session provides an overview of the RECF Aerial Drone Competition (ADC) program and its advanced progression, ADC Pro. Participants will learn how ADC serves as an entry-level program where students develop foundational drone piloting, coding, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through engaging competition experiences. The session will then explore how ADC Pro expands on these fundamentals by introducing advanced autonomous operations, mission-based challenges, air and ground robotics integration, and real-world applications inspired by industry needs. Attendees will gain insight into the competition model, competition timeline, workforce development opportunities, and how both programs create meaningful STEM pathways for students while preparing them for future education and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain insight into the competition model, competition timeline, and workforce development opportunities while learning how RECF Aerial Drone Competition and ADC Pro create meaningful STEM pathways that prepare students for future education and career success.

SPEAKERS:
Louann Cormier, Shelli Brasher, Nicole Mills

The first human beings who will ever set foot on Mars are very likely in elementary or middle school right now. Learn how you can use this fact to inspire success in both literacy and science through the speaker’s book, Max Goes to Mars, which has been read from the International Space Station (ISS) in both English and Spanish and is currently being made into a movie/planetarium show that you will be able to FREELY stream into your classrooms. This session will also introduce you to the FREE Story Time From Space program (storytimefromspace.com), in which books are read aloud from the ISS and to other ways the speaker/author can support your teaching, including through his free school visits.

TAKEAWAYS:
Inspire your students across the STEAM curriculum by thinking about the fact that some of today’s students are likely to be the first humans to visit Mars.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Bennett

This opening session will introduce current initiatives in science, computer science, AI, and STEM from the Indiana Department of Education. Participants will receive an overview of the major projects, resources, and instructional supports currently available to Indiana educators. The session will also provide a conference road map that highlights sessions, workshops, and presentations relevant to Indiana priorities so that participants can maximize their learning throughout the event. The purpose of the session is to ground attendees in the current vision for science and STEM education in Indiana and to support informed participation in the sessions that follow. This session is designed to be accessible to educators from all states who are interested in statewide implementation models and cross state alignment of STEM and science initiatives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a clear picture of current IDOE science, computer science, AI, and STEM initiatives and will receive guidance on navigating Indiana relevant sessions throughout the conference.

SPEAKERS:
Eimear Towler

This closing session will provide an opportunity to reflect on Indiana-relevant conference sessions and to consider next steps for strengthening science instruction. Attendees will examine themes that emerged across sessions connected to science, computer science, AI, and STEM. Participants will be invited to consider how the Indiana Department of Education can continue to support classroom teachers, school leaders, and districts in implementing high quality science instruction. The session will focus on actionable feedback, statewide needs, and future directions for improving coherence and alignment in science education. Educators from all states are welcome to participate in this reflection, as the process for gathering input and identifying supportive structures is applicable to any state or district context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will reflect on Indiana relevant conference sessions and provide input on how IDOE can continue to support improvements in science instruction across the state.

SPEAKERS:
Eimear Towler

This interactive session explores how hands-on, project-based STEM experiences increase student engagement, academic achievement, and workforce readiness for learners of all backgrounds. Participants will discover proven strategies for creating robust STEM learning environments that expose students to real-world STEM applications, inspire curiosity, engage learners through experiential activities, and empower them to pursue STEM pathways and careers. Drawing from STEM NOLA’s nationally recognized Cradle-to-Career Model, which has impacted more than 250,000 students across the United States and internationally, attendees will learn how vertical mentorship, industry partnerships, workforce development initiatives, and community-centered programming create sustainable pathways . The session includes practical examples, scalable models, and take-home resources that educators, administrators, and community leaders can use to expand STEM access, participation, and long-term success.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain actionable strategies and a scalable Cradle-to-Career framework that leverages hands-on STEM learning, vertical mentorship, and workforce development partnerships to increase engagement, build confidence, and create pathways to STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Mills

Have you read great articles in the NSTA journals that changed or added to the ways you and your students do science for the better? You could inspire other educators across the country in the same way by sharing your teaching ideas, activities, or lessons as an NSTA journal author!

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructions and tips on how to prepare and submit your manuscript for publication in NSTA's journals.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Lindeman

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, which builds STEM interest and confidence alongside essential life skills. During this interactive session, participants will explore how Invention Education drives a student-centered approach through real-world problem solving, hands-on exploration, and exposure to innovative role models. They will also examine how triangulating data—from third-party evaluations to program observations—accelerates continuous improvement and impact. Participants will take the driver’s seat to build momentum and design their own high-impact roadmap for empowering STEM experiences through Invention Education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will get in the fast lane as they explore how Invention Education uses real-world problem solving, hands-on STEM learning, and data insights to empower students and drive meaningful, measurable impact.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Mills

Dinosaurs are a high engagement topic for elementary students, and not only captivate imaginations but have rich scientific connections. As books on dinosaurs or featuring dinosaurs as main characters are reading available provide rich opportunities to connect literacy and STEM. During this session we will explore the overlap of literacy skills and STEM practices through the lens of dinosaurs. When students are responding to and reflecting on what they have read, they often use skills such as sequencing, comparing and contrasting, or character features. In STEM experiences, we often ask students to do the same thing – consider the sequence of cycles, identify physical features or compare and contract phenomena. This session will explore these intersections and how they can be used to support STEM and literacy instruction using a variety of children’s books on dinosaurs, fossils and geologic time.

TAKEAWAYS:
The skills students use when exploring STEM and processing what they have read intersect in several ways, and using high interest topics will support learning across STEM and literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Becky Wolfe

In this session, participants will learn about the NSTA Best STEM books and how they are selected. They will dive into the SEPs and examine how they are portrayed in the books. They will also take advantage of opportunities to examine how each book models the SEPs, improving their ability to identify and apply them throughout the book. The books selected will be from previous BSB lists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn to utilize the Best STEM Books to teach the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs).

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Kimberly Berry, Christine Anne Royce, J Carrie Launius

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!

The NSELA Pathway for Leaders is a coherent four-part series designed to build the capacity of science education leaders to facilitate inclusive, participant-focused improvement initiatives that are rooted in systems thinking, guided by the principles of improvement science, and tailored to the unique landscape of science education. Join us at each of the sessions separately, or join them all! The focus of this first session in the Pathway centers on the architecture of improvement and the application of systems thinking. You will explore three transformative leadership practices that can help you take tangible steps towards increasing phenomena-based, 3D science learning in your school or district. We will use a systems lens to analyze a case study and have you apply ideas to your own context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away concrete next steps that can be used by teachers and leaders to build capacity and increase high quality science in classrooms. They will also gain understanding and use of a systems-based framework they can share with their teams.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott, Leslie Stenger, Shannon Wachowski

Federal education policy is changing rapidly. From proposed reductions at the Department of Education to shifting priorities at NSF, AI workforce initiatives, and new approaches to career and technical education, decisions in Washington are reshaping the STEM education landscape. This session will provide an insider's briefing on the latest developments in Congress and the Administration, including the FY2027 appropriations process, emerging STEM workforce policies, and key federal funding opportunities. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how federal decisions affect classrooms, schools, districts, and state education systems—and how science educators can engage effectively in the policy process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding current federal STEM policy trends allows educators to anticipate changes, identify opportunities, and engage more effectively with policymakers.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

Experience a classroom-ready engineering challenge that integrates physical science and the Engineering Design Process. In this session, participants will investigate the wheel and axle as a simple machine by designing, building, and testing rubber band-powered cars. Through hands-on experimentation, participants will explore how wheel size influences speed, distance traveled, and motion. They will make predictions, conduct trial runs, measure distances, and collect data to identify patterns and draw evidence-based conclusions. By analyzing results and refining their designs, participants will develop an understanding of force, friction, motion, and energy transfer while strengthening their problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific reasoning skills, and increasing their fluency in using the Engineering Design Process. Attendees will leave with the knowledge, materials, and confidence to implement this hands-on STEM investigation in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will build, test, and optimize a rubber band-powered car while collecting and analyzing data to determine how wheel size affects speed and distance, leaving with a classroom-ready engineering design challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Toby Bothel, Nicole Mills

The NSELA Pathway for Leaders is a coherent four-part series designed to build the capacity of science education leaders to facilitate inclusive, participant-focused improvement initiatives that are rooted in systems thinking, guided by the principles of improvement science, and tailored to the unique landscape of science education. Join us at each of the sessions separately, or join them all! The second session in the Pathway examines how leaders intentionally use facilitation structures and collaborative protocols to move groups through differing perspectives toward coherent action. Grounded in participant-centered systems improvement, participants engage in a realistic science education leadership scenario connected to curriculum, instruction, assessment, or implementation challenges. Through team interaction, participants use consensus-building, prioritization, and dialogue strategies to develop a shared decision or action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants engage in structured, team-based decision-making processes. This module emphasizes the intentional selection of facilitation strategies that shape group thinking, surface tensions, and produce coherent outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Joshua Smith

Science educators are among the most trusted voices in education policy—but many have never been trained to advocate effectively. This highly interactive session will provide practical tools for communicating with elected officials, building coalitions, working with media, and influencing policy decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. Through real-world examples and guided exercises, participants will learn how to translate classroom expertise into policy influence and become effective champions for science and STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective advocacy is a learned skill that allows science educators to transform their expertise into meaningful policy impact.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

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

Increasingly, the most important STEM education decisions are being made in state capitals rather than Washington. State legislatures, governors, boards of education, and education agencies are driving debates over standards, accountability, curriculum, teacher workforce development, and STEM funding. This session will explore major state policy trends shaping science education in 2026 and highlight successful examples of state-level advocacy. Participants will learn how to identify key decision makers, understand state policy processes, and build effective strategies for advancing STEM priorities in their own states.

TAKEAWAYS:
State governments have become central drivers of STEM education policy, making state-level engagement essential for science education leaders.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

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

The NSELA Pathway for Leaders is a coherent four-part series designed to build the capacity of science education leaders to facilitate inclusive, participant-focused improvement initiatives that are rooted in systems thinking, guided by the principles of improvement science, and tailored to the unique landscape of science education. rooted in systems thinking, guided by the principles of improvement science, and tailored to the unique landscape of science education. Join us at each of the sessions separately, or join them all! The focus of this third session in the Pathway centers on implementation, resource alignment, and strategic action. By applying essential principles of advocacy, you can communicate your messages, align with colleagues’ values, and move your system from awareness of the issues to taking action and making change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away an advocacy and communication model they can use as they work towards enacting science education reform in their own systems, including a what-why-how communication strategy to deliver messages to colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott, Leslie Stenger, Shannon Wachowski

Speaker will actively engage attendees with explorations and discourse, and offer strategies and ideas teachers can implement, to set up Science and STEM explorations and simple engineering problems for young children that support NGSS. She will help attendees grasp the vast scientific concepts and exploration opportunities that comprise the young child’s everyday world. She will discuss the importance of nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and will offer strategies to help children develop their observation and thinking skills. She will emphasize the importance of engaging young children in manipulation of objects and materials so they can recognize the effects of their actions. She will offer strategies to help children develop their science vocabulary. She will model how instruction that starts with children’s questions and provides rich opportunities for exploration and investigation is the most engaging way to introduce and teach science concepts to young children. Handouts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies and engaging exploration ideas, to create sense-making opportunities for young children, and to inspire children’s sustained curiosities. Activities will be easy and inexpensive to replicate and will help launch a trajectory of learning for young children.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell

The NSELA Pathway for Leaders is a coherent four-part series designed to build the capacity of science education leaders to facilitate inclusive, participant-focused improvement initiatives that are rooted in systems thinking, guided by the principles of improvement science, and tailored to the unique landscape of science education. Join us at each of the sessions separately, or join them all! The fourth session engages participants in the strategic use of facilitation structures and evidence-informed reflection processes that support continuous improvement within science education systems. Grounded in leadership and systems improvement, the session examines how leaders engage with structured protocols and facilitation strategies that support meaningful use of data in collaborative settings. Participants examine how leaders present data, frame conversations, and support groups in interpreting evidence to surface insights, develop shared understanding, and inform adaptive decisions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will strategically select and use facilitation structures and evidence-informed reflection processes to support continuous improvement, strengthen shared understanding, and guide collaborative decision-making within leadership teams.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Mulkerrin, Joshua Smith

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!

Come learn about elements of a successful leadership development program that has produced 2 national and 15 state presidents plus dozens of board and committee members in science associations in North Carolina. This session will demonstrate how the program involves participants in learning experiences, guided by the NC state standards and the NGSS Framework, with the goal of producing leaders for the STEM pipeline. It will focus on how the program develops the critical skills needed for success in leadership roles at any level. Participants will engage in a sample learning experience; discuss the skills covered in the program and how they apply to leaders; and understand how the program supports state standards and the NRC Framework, which NC has adopted. The program actively seeks variety among its cohorts to help ensure diversity in future leadership for the STEM pipeline and draws applicants from all individuals interested in improving STEM education. Handouts will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain an understanding of the critical skills and format of a successful leadership development program through an overview, participation in a learning experience, discussion, and application of the program elements to the work of successful leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Pat Shane