This research was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of a designing and facilitating hands-on activities for K-12 students in engaging undergraduate  students to develop a deeper understanding of course learning objectives. Students in various undergraduate biology courses (BIOL-104, 202, 204, 422) participated in a once-a-semester community outreach day at the North Manchester Public Library. Prior to this event, MU students designed a 5-10-minute hands-on activity, translating their didactic material from the classroom into a level that was accessible to the general public. At the event, the MU students facilitated their activities for upwards of 45 local K-12 home school students. Following completion of their outreach project, students in this study were be given a follow-up survey to evaluate their perspectives on whether the task of conveying their didactic material to the public enhanced their understanding of course learning objectives.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will evaluate the effectiveness of a designing and facilitating hands-on activities for K-12 students in engaging undergraduate students to develop a deeper understanding of course learning objectives.

SPEAKERS:
Cassandra Gohn

Insects and other arthropods are common, affordable, and highly engaging for students across grade levels. Because of their ubiquity, rapid life cycles, and essential ecological roles, insects make excellent low-cost model organisms for exploring biological concepts and scientific practices in the classroom. In this Speed Share Session, Purdue entomologists will share NGSS aligned lesson plans and other resources, with a focus on low-prep strategies and answer questions about integrating insects and entomology into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Insects and other arthropods are among the most accessible and engaging organisms available to science teachers. This session will provide NGSS-aligned resources for integrating insects into your curriculum that are easy to implement and highly effective.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Justus

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

Science texts are filled with vocabulary that can interrupt comprehension before students reach the concept. Technical terms, academic words, and familiar words used in scientific ways can all derail reading flow, especially for multilingual learners and students who need stronger disciplinary language support. This presentation shares a predictive vocabulary routine teachers can use before reading to identify likely barriers, prioritize essential terms, and prepare students to make meaning from complex science texts. Attendees will learn how to sort vocabulary into must-know science terms, concept-supporting academic words, and words students can infer through context. The session connects vocabulary preparation to science notebooks, annotation, discussion, CER writing, and student-generated explanations. The focus is not memorizing definitions; it is helping students read, reason, and communicate like scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn a predictive vocabulary routine that prepares students to read complex science texts with stronger comprehension, discussion, and written explanation.

SPEAKERS:
Lynette Dickerson

This interactive poster session showcases Pop-Up Science Sparks, a collection of low-cost, interactive science experiences designed to encourage observation, questioning, conversation, and sensemaking in elementary and informal learning spaces. Attendees will explore examples of portable, hands-on exhibits, examine student-facing “Try This” prompts, and discuss how simple materials can support curiosity-driven science learning. The session highlights practical ways teachers can create engaging science experiences without expensive equipment while still supporting scientific practices such as noticing patterns, testing ideas, modeling, and collaborative discussion. Examples may include a human kaleidoscope, balancing ball, Newton’s cradle, magnetic field exploration, and other adaptable interactive displays for classrooms, libraries, STEM nights, and hallway learning spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with practical design principles for creating low-cost interactive science experiences that invite student exploration, talk, and sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Alexis Markavage

Family STEM nights can strengthen school-community relationships, increase STEM engagement, and help students see science and engineering as collaborative, creative, and accessible. Many educators struggle with limited budgets, staffing constraints, activity planning, and concerns about family participation. This interactive session equips educators with practical tools to plan and facilitate successful STEM nights in schools, libraries, museums, and community organizations. Participants will explore adaptable themes, low-cost activity stations aligned to NGSS, volunteer coordination strategies, accessibility considerations, assessment tools, and methods to increase family engagement across diverse communities. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use planning templates, budget examples, NGSS aligned activity ideas, and implementation strategies suitable for a variety of grade levels and settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Plan engaging, low-cost, engaging Family STEM Nights that build school connections and boost STEM interest. This interactive session provides themes, NGSS aligned activity ideas, volunteer strategies, and ready-to-use templates to support inclusive, effective events across diverse settings.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Wonnacott-Stanley, Liza Basden