The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

SPEAKERS:
Ali Main

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

Stop in and take a peek at our mobile manufacturing lab! Learning Undefeated staff will show you around, answer questions, and share how you can bring this unique experience to your classroom.

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

Navigate your first National NSTA Conference with ease! Join our session for an orientation to the conference, tips on selecting sessions, and an opportunity to meet other first-time attendees. We will share a few insider tips from experienced conference attendees and give an overview of the conference app. This session is structured so you can learn why you belong at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get the most out of your conference experience in addition to becoming an engaged learner.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Luft

Navigate your first National NSTA Conference with ease! Join our session for an orientation to the conference, tips on selecting sessions, and an opportunity to meet other first-time attendees. We will share a few insider tips from experienced conference attendees and give an overview of the conference app. This session is structured so you can learn why you belong at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get the most out of your conference experience in addition to becoming an engaged learner.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Luft

We will introduce our NSTA book containing a collection of units and resources to help teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning through model-based inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about four chemistry model-based inquiry units for rigorous and equitable instruction. Developed with secondary science teachers, the session guides three-dimensional learning, anchoring phenomena, modeling, and scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Baird, Ron Gray

Nonfiction films featuring diverse scientists telling their own stories can do more than promote conceptual understanding. We will screen two short films, Decoding Ancestral Knowledge and CRISPR Apostle, and show preliminary results of their impact on science identity and nature of science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn about the films from the study, how to access them, and the results that suggest they not only support student learning; they can also broaden perspectives on who does science and how science is done.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Behrman

How can science teachers leverage their expertise as master practitioners to drive positive systemic change in the classroom and beyond? Explore how we can serve as catalysts for 21st-century STEM education reforms by fostering meaningful partnerships with the community and industry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will discover practical ways to tap into their inner leadership potential and become leaders, advocates, and ambassadors for STEM education at the local, state, and national levels.

SPEAKERS:
Patty Mannion, Dianna Gobler, Yishan Lee

Launch your STEM program into orbit with @DoDSTEM resources! Discover hands-on learning, paid internships, and scholarships for future innovators. Join us to create your "All Systems Are Go" plan leveraging DoD STEM resources and opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the wealth of STEM resources and opportunities offered by the Department of Defense. From hands-on learning activities to paid internships and college scholarships, learn how DoD STEM can help you power the next generation of innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Stanley, Jennifer Preston

Led by members of NSTA Early Childhood-Elementary Committee, this session addresses the relationship between science education & children’s literature by providing an interactive platform for educators to discover how literature can support & enhance science and engineering practices in classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the integration of science and engineering practices and children’s literature through cross disciplinary connections and hands-on activities. Resources provided.

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Jennifer Williams, Melissa Parks

This session will explore how a Texas school district implements dual-language instruction in science for PK-8 students. With a focus on fostering biliteracy and bilingualism, we'll be sharing practical strategies to integrate language bridging into science lessons in both English and Spanish.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation offers educators a framework for integrating dual-language instruction into science, based on research and practical strategies from a proven dual-language model. Attendees will gain actionable insights and tools to foster bilingualism and content mastery in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Merium Valdez, Magda Esparza, Gisella Calejo

Use current environmental issues as an engaging teaching tool! View clips from Chasing the Tide, a docuseries that shows the 370-mile journey of a couple as they walk the length of Texas’s coast. Access FREE NGSS-aligned resources that guide students to explore pressing issues in coastal ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain three-dimensional teaching resources and strategies that guide your students to explore current environmental issues and identify actions they can take, no matter where they live or what resources they have access to, to support the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Marie Fayen

The session focuses on designing, building, and using 3-dimensional performance science assessment tasks. Analogous phenomena are used to develop novel K-12 tasks requiring the application of DCIs and CCCs to make sense of phenomena. A pool of items aligned to NGSS and STEELS standards is shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
The session will provide participants the strategies and insights into how analogous phenomena are used to develop summative assessment tasks for writing performance tasks for each of the NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Juan-Carlos Aguilar, Brett Moulding

Teachers spend about 7-12 hours per week searching for & creating instructional materials. In this session we’ll hear from teachers about how using vetted, high quality materials as a starting point opened up new possibilities and helped them to be the teacher they always wanted to be.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how using high-quality instructional materials in your classroom can shift your role as teacher from "creator" to "innovator" and allow more time for supporting students and improving outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys

By 2025, it’s estimated that 463 exabytes of data will be created daily; that’s like 212,765,957 DVDs/day! How can our students know if the information they receive is credible? Generation Skeptics teaches the necessary skills with lessons and guest speakers. (www.generationskeptics.org)

TAKEAWAYS:
Generation Skeptics arms educators with free resources to instill skepticism in students. Recognizing the proliferation of misinformation, GenSkeps seeks to equip the next generation with the enduring principles of the scientific method and the importance of substantiating claims with evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

Empower students to create videos about environmental challenges addressed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Discover tools and activities to build skills in inquiry, research, project organization, communication and using video technology. View samples of students’ inspiring work.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees with learn how to facilitate a problem-based learning project that employs a variety of STEAM and literacy skills to deepen their understanding of a global environmental challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth

How can we leverage digital tools to support biology learning that’s authentic and engages with science practices and cross-cutting concepts? We’ll explore “sit spot” strategies that connect students to their local context and communities through digital tools and a place-based teaching framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how implementing a “sit spot” assignment series can connect existing biology curricula to NGSS-aligned, place-based science explorations, as well as support student personal development and motivation, while overcoming the limitations of a traditional classroom experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kirstin Milks, Whitney Aragaki

Move beyond passively visiting a museum to connect with curators & have your students take on the role of a teacher at a community event sponsored by the museum. Learn how to connect with local institutions, see samples of student work and leave with access to the full PBL project plan and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to organize, integrate and evaluate a long term PBL assessment into your curriculum. Leave with rubrics, a project plan and research template.

SPEAKERS:
Ilana Saxe

Geoheritage is a new construct in the US, but one well-established abroad. Integrating geoscience, history, economics, and aesthetic value of a place embeds students’ experiences in the landscape that surrounds them. This presentation will demonstrate how local geohertage narratives are generated.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science is embedded in the social and historical context in which it is generated and implemented. Geoheritage as a unifying construct enriches the relevance of a local site by illustrating how humans affect and are affected by that local landscape over time, promoting cross-curricular instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Pyle

Many high-quality curricula use transfer tasks, phenomenon-based assessments where students demonstrate their three dimensional understanding while exploring a novel scenario. In this session, educators will work through an example of a transfer task and an activity structure that helps students learn.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with an understanding of what transfer tasks are and an activity structure to use with students learning how to engage in this assessment practice.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson, William Penuel, Melissa Campanella

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby

Build a deep understanding of what STEM means by creating opportunities to fully engage students in science learning. Participants will engage in hands-on STEM and learn how to incorporate it in the everyday science classroom. Learn how STEM integration increases students’ desire to learn science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain practical strategies for engaging all students in science learning using STEM integration. Walk away with a deeper understanding of what “doing STEM” means and how STEM integration offers an engaging, effective way for students to learn science.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Drager, Courtney Heikkila, Amy Monahan

Discover ways to strengthen NGSS practices through interdisciplinary practices with children's literature, beginning with Ada Twist and Rosie Revere.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Hesson

This session is designed to support participants in the practice of development and use of models. The goal of this workshop is for educators to learn ways to engage students in the use of models to predict and explain phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with a clear understanding of what models are and how they can be used throughout the lesson and unit, the awareness that one size does not fit all when it comes to models and enhanced formative assessment capabilities by using models to reveal student misconceptions and connections.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Suter, Kerry Hammon, Peter McLaren

Join award-winning science educator Griff Jones and members of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center to explore a sample of engaging demos and video-supported, inquiry-based activities from the IIHS’s free, online “Crash Science in the Classroom” program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see a selection of discrepant events and learn how to access other classroom-tested lessons plans, teacher/student tips videos, lab sheets, and answer keys to teach crash-related science and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Pini Kalnite, Joe Young, Griff Jones

NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports your personalized professional learning. Just in time, just enough, and just for you! Learn about NSTA’s professional Learning tools. NSTA staff will answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about the plethora of digital resources available at NSTA’s, about the live events, and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and manage their personalized professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

This presentation provides a window into students’ thinking and reasoning as they propose, develop, and test engineering design solutions in small groups. We focus on how students use STEM content knowledge and the design context to make engineering decisions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the different ways students engage in the process of engineering in small groups and how to better support student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Muhammad Purwanto, Gillian Roehrig

Transdisciplinary learning that positions students in the context of real-life scenarios to problem solve authentic issues can increase conceptual understanding of content area knowledge, inspire community connections, and increase student engagement, while also building transformative SEL skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover how transdisciplinary education and transformative social and emotional learning can be facilitated in their classrooms and educational communities.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway

In this session, participants will explore digital notebooks and journals - a means for transferring student learning, practice, and reflection into a multi-media digital environment that allows for differentiation and student choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to enhance classroom engagement using multimedia resources organized into digital notebooks or journals. Strategies and examples will show how students can and have participated using mini-notebooks, unit notebooks and journals.

SPEAKERS:
Mridula Bajaj, Shefali Mehta

Students often see science as a static body of knowledge instead of a dynamic human endeavor. Join the author of Notable Notebooks, Exemplary Evidence, and the newly published Wild Wonderings to learn how these books (and the stories of the scientists in them) can illuminate the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the lives and work of historical and contemporary scientists, why telling these stories is an important strategy for helping students understand the nature of science, and how they might use these books in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Fries-Gaither

Why can mammals survive the first few weeks or months of life by only ingesting milk? But, what happens when someone is lactose intolerant? Why can lactose-intolerant people tolerate some dairy products? Explore the answers to these questions in a new unit storyline on MILK.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this new storyline on milk students construct an explanation based on evidence for why dairy is an important source of food energy. Human babies double their weight during the first 6 months of life, yet some lose the ability to digest lactose. Fermentation is one way to solve this problem.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Embry Mohr

Engage your science classroom with Project Based Learning aligned to NGSS. Explore how AI streamlines creating PBL experiences, build a PBL unit with an AI-powered platform, and refine it with collaborative feedback for actionable classroom ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use AI to create Project Based Learning experiences that are aligned with the 3 Dimensions of NGSS

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

We will introduce our NSTA book containing a collection of units and resources to help teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning through model-based inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about four biology model-based inquiry units for rigorous and equitable instruction. Developed with secondary science teachers, the session guides three-dimensional learning, anchoring phenomena, modeling, and scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Baird, Ron Gray

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive it.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney, Matt Krehbiel

Gain practical knowledge to provide accessible STEM experiences for all students. Participants will analyze scenarios and brainstorm ways to create a more authentic experience for students. Participants will have the opportunity to apply these new strategies using provided STEM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with ideas and actionable strategies to engage all students in learning STEM at appropriately challenging levels.

SPEAKERS:
Beverly Berekian, Jessica Minton

How can we bring STEM to life by weaving in history? Explore exciting activities that link groundbreaking discoveries and innovations with historical events, helping students connect STEM to the real world and see its role in shaping our past, present, and future!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover fresh, innovative ways to fuse history with science! Attendees will explore hands-on, interdisciplinary activities that bring science lessons to life, deepening student engagement and making complex concepts more relatable by linking them to historical breakthroughs and events.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Verdeflor, Yishan Lee

Integrate healthy habits of conversation into your students' learning with the civil discourse framework. Empower yourself with strategies and resources to engage students in respectful discourse when conveying their understanding of a topic related to environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Equip yourself with tools and lessons to leverage in bringing civil discourse to your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Lane, Elyse Alter

Reading comprehension is central to sense-making in science. Hands-on investigation provides context and curiosity to motivate students in active reading. The session provides science education leaders and teachers with tools and strategies for using exact readings in scientific investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants receive a set of strategies for using effective readings within scientific investigations and a set of over 400 lessons aligned to the NGSS and STEELS standards. The lessons have hands-on investigations with exact readings to support learning core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Brett Moulding, Sarah Sleasman

Building a strong foundation in working with data is key to students’ long term science interest and success. However, it can be hard to find ways to best help students make sense of data. We will share a research-backed developmental sequence and grade-leveled rubrics for student data literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a developmental sequence for developing data literacy for students across grades K-12, with particular focus on how to use it for instructional and assessment development for late elementary school.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Jabot, Kristin Hunter-Thomson

Looking to design well-scaffolded, standards-based, clustered assessments but not sure where to begin? Learn about available tools and resources to help kickstart your 2D and 3D assessment design. Develop a system for constructing performance assessments that are relative and meaningful for all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will evaluate existing 2D & 3D assessments, gain access to assessment design checklists, learn how to develop questions, distinguish between scenario and data-based prompts and begin to construct their own scaffolded performance-based assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Burns, Jessica Mintz

In science, differentiation supports inquiry-based instruction and learning. When the teacher takes students' needs into account, investigations and explorations become more engaging and authentic for students as they explore the natural and designed worlds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with strategies for differentiating instruction by aptitude, outcome, feedback, and resources, including things they can do before, during, and after instruction to meet the needs of each student where they are.

SPEAKERS:
Hilary Kahn, Kelly Gooden

Neurodivergent students often think differently - aren’t we lucky they do? We will share best teaching practices that involve inclusive innovation. Learn to engage students in STEAM learning where they create authentic maker space products that build their self-confidence.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain ideas for maker space projects that utilize laser cutting, 3D printing, stop motion videos, and coding. These can help students demonstrate their understanding of earth science, physics, and life science, as they build on students’ strengths and creativity.

SPEAKERS:
Brianna Surette, Megan Saunders

Join us for an engaging session with the Chief Science Officer (CSO) state coordinator, a high school mentor, and students as they lead a panel on this transformative initiative. Discover how this hands-on program builds workplace skills, amplifies student voices, and shapes future advocates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to foster student empowerment through the CSO program, support advocacy, and explore its statewide impact. Discover how the program prepares future STEM leaders and change advocates while strengthening your science community, and learn how to bring it to your district!

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Schwab, Dylan Fedell

Learn strategies and try hands-on lessons to engage all students and multilingual learners in exploring the natural world through, STEM-focused content. Receive three free lesson plans with connections to NGSS, Common Core, and UN SDGs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain knowledge and materials needed to engage all students and multilingual learners in nature-based learning. Walk away ready to immediately use these strategies and materials.

SPEAKERS:
Ana Leirner, Kate Nagle

Join experienced inclusion teachers as they share practical strategies for supporting ALL students in chemistry classsroom. It will include a short, NGSS-aligned, phenomenon-based lesson, demonstrating how to adapt instruction for diverse student needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with concrete strategies for supporting neurodivergent students,

SPEAKERS:
Cathy Zavacki, Anjana Iyer

Why is data science important? How can I integrate it in my classroom? The High School 2 Health Care project will share engaging data science content for teacher professional development. Join our interactive session to gain confidence to teach real-world data science and inspire your students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The High School 2 Health Care project aligns with the NSTA’s Position on Data Science that all students should have knowledge of data science and ethical use of data. Data science modules will be provided and results showing our modules increased teachers’ data science knowledge and self-efficacy.

SPEAKERS:
Simpfronia Taylor, Rebecca Reynolds

This session will dive into how projects like a leaf pack ecology lab can turn students into citizen scientists and increase engagement in a high school biology classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a better understanding of ways they can help develop their students into citizen scientists through a leaf pack lab or other methods - the opportunities are endless!

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Aguiar

Climate change affects us all, but not equally; the worst impacts are felt by marginalized communities. This is everyone’s problem to solve! We’ll explore real examples of kids coming together to make a meaningful change, and the role you as a teacher can take to support students in taking action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore issues affecting their local communities and discuss ideas for curriculum around said issues. They will also develop skills for facilitating discussions with students and supporting children’s ideas for creating change.

SPEAKERS:
Rina Zampieron

This presentation would cover 2025 trends developing in state-level education policy and their potential to impact science education and science teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Be an informed science educator on the big policy issues that could impact your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Alex Molinich, James Brown

Discover incredible opportunities in STEM education with a range of NSTA-administered K-12 opportunities that engage through innovative programming and recognize achievement with amazing awards. We’ll explore programs and awards that are sure to ignite a passion for discovery and innovation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Empower your teaching with dynamic STEM programs and awards administered by NSTA as you learn about innovative opportunities to boost engagement and enthusiasm for K-12 students and teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Amanda Upton, Sue Whitsett, Brian Kutsch

The EarthX team has developed a 5+1 model to integrate earth science in biology, chemistry, and physics curricula. Attention to three-dimensional teaching, phenomena driven units, student-centered learning, and responsive teaching for all students are paramount to this model.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the 5+1 model for Earth science integrated instruction, participants will analyze units and lessons in biology, chemistry, and physics for the presence of key components designed to differentiate instruction for all students with a focus on diverse learners.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Hood, Kevin Garner, Alan Berkowitz, Cassidy Johnson, Edmund Mitzel, Jr., Ph.D., Kyle Gregory, Nina Groseclose

Ethograms are tools that scientists use to study and share data about animals in nature and in managed care. This NGSS standards-informed session provides an introduction to ethograms, practical tools, resources and strategies for engaging students in their own animal behavior studies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain "start to finish" strategies, tools and resources to support student-centered animal behavior studies and inquiry using ethograms. Participants will also gain knowledge about how scientists use ethograms and behavior studies to monitor and support animal well-being.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Steinmeyer

Discover how to design and use rubrics that help create assessments that build and practice science skills. Learn how cognitive demand theory can elevate assessments and engage students in deeper learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using universal backwards design and rubrics can help to create assessments that not only assess content knowledge but also promote critical thinking, skill mastery, and deeper learning by integrating cognitive demand principles into science skill building.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Stindt

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

Many schools have common planning time or PLCs but sometimes they can feel more like a chore than a benefit. Why can’t you just have more personal prep time? In this session, we will share resources for CPT or PLCs that make them feel worthwhile, productive, and even enjoyable.

TAKEAWAYS:
Common planning time or PLCs are more effective when teachers are working with strong curricular materials. Well-designed and ready to use tools and structures for CPT/PLCs can support teachers to deepen their understanding of the materials and effectively prepare for future lessons they will teach.

SPEAKERS:
Benjamin Lowell, Renee Affolter

Join us to explore strategies for providing feedback to science teachers utilizing framework aligned standards and the Danielson Framework. Participants will engage in authentic practice and will leave with resources to implement these strategies in their schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies for providing feedback to the teachers they supervise.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Weatherhead, Kammas Kersch

Design standards driven, highly engaging inquiry to action units that empower students to become changemakers in their local communities? Explore using the Solutionary Framework to support student implementation of real-world solutions to issues of clean water access and quality in their communities

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how using the Solutionary Framework can improve student engagement and support teachers in designing and implementing student-led projects to address water quality and watershed health in their communities. Free materials and lesson plans.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Bertini, Angela Whittaker

How might a single microbe curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and invasive species? Join us to discuss the implementation of student-driven research programs and contribution of meaningful data to the scientific community. Together, let’s unravel the biodiversity of this fascinating microbe!

TAKEAWAYS:
Course-based research experiences (CREs) develop workforce-ready skills, build confidence and expertise to pursue postsecondary STEM education, and, most importantly, allow students to envision themselves as scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Rosensteel, Meghan Kanski, Sarah Bordenstein

In today’s diverse classrooms, student engagement and a sense of belonging are essential to academic success. This session explores the value and implementation of high-quality instructional practices that foster both active engagement and a deeper sense of belonging among students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies in collaborative learning, tech integration, and culturally responsive instruction which they can implement immediately to enhance student motivation, class cohesion, and overall academic achievement.

SPEAKERS:
Tanya MacMartin, Ed.D.

Do you want your high school students figuring out how the world around them works?  Do you want them to build the skills needed to enter careers of their choice, including (but not limited to) STEM careers? Take a deep dive into the science and engineering practices and learn how you can support your students' engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will analyze the elements of the science and engineering practices and discuss what a classroom will look, sound, and feel like when students are engaged in them. They will then see how the SEPs are integrated into and assessed in an OpenSciEd phenomena-based unit.

SPEAKERS:
Caitlin Matyas, Erin McCool

This session will equip educators with practical strategies to lead project-based learning (PBL) activities that align with state standards, engage students in real-world problem-solving, and foster a collaborative school culture, ultimately preparing students for future success.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to effectively implement and lead project-based learning (PBL) activities that align with educational goals, enhance student engagement, and foster essential skills like critical thinking and collaboration, ultimately transforming school culture and improving student outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Oktay Ince

This session will provide an overview of the major national policy trends relative to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education going into 2025. We will discuss what we can expect from the recent 2024 Election results and their implications for the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning what is brewing at the national level in STEM education and that trends you can expect in federal education policy in 2025.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

Don't miss this informative presentation on integrating Minecraft into science education. Discover innovative strategies to enhance student engagement, promote collaboration, and inspire critical thinking. Leave with actionable strategies to bring the power of Minecraft into your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with ideas to empower students to explore scientific concepts creatively through Minecraft, enhancing engagement and fostering a deeper understanding of the material.

SPEAKERS:
Erik Wade

We will be discussing the use of modeling in the chemistry classroom. Using modeling students are able to develop questioning and reasoning skills to explain complex, real world lab data analysis, chemistry articles and readings, and various phenomena on a molecular "Zoomed In" level.

TAKEAWAYS:
By utilizing modeling students are able to organize thoughts, justify conclusions, and rationalize arguments. Modeling can easily be used to explain concepts from Coulomb's law to intermolecular forces and how certain concepts explain complex chemical interactions.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Reidy, Kevin Wessler

Sensemaking is essential to science learning. Reading, writing, and student discourse can foster sensemaking as students figure out phenomena in order to articulate their ideas when they write and talk. This doesn’t happen by accident and teachers need to plan opportunities for sensemaking to occur.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will see classroom examples of elementary students engaging in sensemaking through paired reading, focused writing tasks and prompted student discourse as well as develop their own prompts for sensemaking through reading, writing and student talk.

SPEAKERS:
Edwin Emmer

Discover how GIS tools empower students to investigate their school environment, collect data, identify patterns, assess human impact on ecosystems, and suggest improvements. Topics include Urban Heat Island, ecological benefits of trees, and analysis of cellular and Wi-Fi signal strength.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, you'll be equipped to integrate GIS tools into your environmental science, biology, chemistry, and physical science classes. You'll also discover the adaptations we've made to support students with special needs.

SPEAKERS:
JODIE HURLEY, John Costanza, Kate Popejoy, PhD

Invention Education supercharges STEM for all K-12 students! Learn how invention meets the needs of all learners and become an inventor yourself! Through one of our invention activities you will transform ordinary items into extraordinary inventions, igniting creativity and problem-solving skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience the power of creative problem solving through an innovation activity to help educators prepare students to become inventors. Learn how invention becomes a vehicle for connecting your students with their community. The session will connect educators with free resources too!

SPEAKERS:
Denise Henggeler, Christine Lawlor-King

Commonwealth Charter Academy is leading the way for workforce development through our innovative Works Programs. Our career readiness programs align with the PA STEELS standards. K-12 educators/administrators are welcome to learn how we are changing the landscape in TechWorks, AgWorks and MedWorks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about CCA's innovative workforce development programs

SPEAKERS:
Debbie Reynolds

Led by NSTA Early Childhood-Elementary Committee members, the session addresses the relationship between the NSTA book series and natural phenomena, providing an interactive platform for educators to discover how this series of books can support & enhance SEPs in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the integration of this series with science and engineering practices through cross-disciplinary connections and hands-on activities. Resources provided.

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance, Jenn Brown-Whale, Anne Lowry, Mary Lynn Hess, Jennifer Williams

Cognitive science has identified flexible and often counterintuitive cognitive strategies that boost learning across diverse groups of students . Teachers will learn how to implement these techniques within their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to apply multiple practical, flexible, and research-based cognitive strategies, including retrieving information from memory, distributing practice across time, scaffolding, and mixing together different examples, within their own classrooms to improve student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Tullis

Participants will analyze “example data” of different schools and physics classes, and discuss students' pathways to physics and implicit structural barriers. Come to learn about identifying hidden obstacles to students' success and upcoming professional learning opportunities with STEP UP program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many factors influence which students take which classes in your school. Reflecting on those influences, examining the make-up of your physics classes, and considering how they may change to better reflect your school at large are the first steps towards improving access to physics for all.

SPEAKERS:
Pooneh Sabouri

Explore how NSTA's formative assessment probes from the popular Uncovering Student Ideas series are used in an instructional sequence to understand the ideas your K-5 students bring to their learning, inform next steps for responsive instruction, and build a powerful thinking classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
A key takeaway is how to use formative assessment probes to uncover and understand the prior knowledge that K-5 students bring to their learning in order to tailor next steps where student thinking is valued, misconceptions are addressed, and deeper conceptual understanding is cultivated.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley

How do beginning STEM teachers develop as teacher leaders? We share how teachers have engaged in practitioner inquiry and written personal “stories of teacher leadership” over the past 10 years. We explore what we all can learn from the stories about what it’s like to become a teacher leader.

TAKEAWAYS:
Recognize key themes about teacher leadership from the stories, compare to your own experiences with teacher leadership, and identify teacher leadership actions you can bring to your school based on ideas from the stories.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Rozelle, Roseanne Rostock

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

There is no shortage of jaw-dropping discoveries made from meteorites. Known as the “poor man’s space probe” most meteorites come from the asteroid belt, but now that we have actual material from a known asteroid, we better sharpen up about meteorite science because we’re going to need it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will how to teach about the exciting history and evolution of meteorites science through falls and discoveries. From 500 years ago to recent meteoritic events, the science just keeps advancing as we are showered by these enigmatic rocks from space.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Horejsi

This session will share strategies for scaffolding work products and instructional materials in a sheltered Biology classroom using storylines with students with limited English proficiency. We will also discuss effective collaboration using the co-teaching model to maximize student success.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will equip participants with strategies to attend to the diverse needs of learners using high-quality instructional materials. All students have the opportunity to access these materials and engage in sensemaking using a relevant phenomenon to better understand key science ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Chatoria Franklin

In this interactive session, teachers will share how they designed and implemented BioSTEM: a curriculum that immerses all students in real-world science practices and connects them to jobs of the future. Hands-on demos and program data will show how the curriculum benefits teachers and students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with insights from and access to a free, teacher-developed biotechnology curriculum. With these tools, they will be equipped to incorporate more project-based learning and community involvement in their classes, including scaffolding content for struggling learners.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Comer-Jensen, Ben Gold

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

Inspire your students to think like scientists and engineers with this hands-on STEM approach. Test variables, make predictions, and design the perfect plane—a new twist on straw rockets! Engage in reverse engineering to analyze existing designs. Get resources to elevate your STEM lessons today!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn hands-on strategies to help students develop measurement, data collection, and analysis skills they can apply in engineering design lessons. You will learn methods to differentiate this in any K-12 setting and leave with free resources to implement this in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Stormer, Christina Davis

In this presentation, Dr. Whitecraft will draw upon the works of Hammond, Gorski and Hebb to demonstrate how experiences that are intense, prolonged or repeated will physically change the anatomy and the chemistry of the brain.

TAKEAWAYS:
Per Parker Palmer: academics ignore all the research-based knowledge we have on the role of emotions in learning largely because embracing the implications of that knowledge would take them out of their emotional comfort zones! It is enough to make one’s head spin.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Whitecraft

With a declining workforce population, NSF & others have PreK12 opportunities to promote STEM identity and potential future careers in a growing national STEM workforce. Tap into large-scale grants that bring authentic pK12 STEM experiences to a learning setting near you through NSF Broader Impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants explore the "Ah Ha" insights that a "retired" 35-year STEM teacher learned in an encore career as a Broader Impacts professional at an R1 research institution. Get an inside scoop on taking PreK-12 students on paid authentic STEM journeys! The ultimate STEM opportunity playbook!

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Remington

NSTA provides in-person, online, and blended personalized professional learning experiences for cohorts of K–12 educators. All programs engage educators with digital resources, virtual experiences, the larger online community, and expert staff. Learn how your groups of teachers can participate.

TAKEAWAYS:
District and school leaders will learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA offers, delivered in-person, online, and blended that give their teachers the power to personalize their learning as well as the ability to learn with their peers.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

This presentation highlights how the DoD STEM Ambassador program serves as a model for fostering collaboration between industry, non-profit, academia, and government to empower educators and amplify the impact of STEM education and opportunities for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how unique approaches to educator programs and professional development can meaningfully advance STEM outreach and access for students.

SPEAKERS:
Kia Thomas, Darci Kimball, Topaz Navarro, Eric Moore

Today, teachers face challenges around engagement, widening achievement gaps, and the need to prepare students for an ever evolving future. Game-Based Learning (GBL) paired with multimodal instruction provides an innovative solution, fostering engagement, deeper understanding, and long-term success.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how teachers are able to provide a captivating experience for students to acquire knowledge, develop essential skills, and apply their understanding in meaningful contexts through this pairing of methodologies.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Gerlach

Join us as we share how OpenSciEd transformed classrooms in Roselle Public Schools, NJ, with seven elementary teachers (from five schools) leading the pilot. Through real teacher experiences, learn how this NGSS-aligned curriculum fosters student-led inquiry, collaboration, and critical thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will hear firsthand from practitioners about how OpenSciEd fosters student autonomy and deep thinking, helping educators create equitable, student-centered classrooms that inspire curiosity and meet NGSS goals.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Cunningham, Phaldynia Satchell

The Environmental Empowerment Project is a grant funded curriculum project. Each of the NGSS aligned units in grades K-8 center locally relevant environmental issues and empower students to act on them. This presentation will describe how the units were developed and how to access them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student and community voice in curriculum are essential to maintaining and motivating student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Eric CROMWELL

More teachers are taking on leadership in professional development, sharing their expertise. In this session, we’ll explore facilitation principles that equip teachers to recognize and elevate all learners' ideas, fostering professional communities where every educator feels valued and can thrive.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to apply facilitation principles, mindsets, and behaviors to create PD experiences that are more meaningful, equitable, and relevant to colleagues while keeping student learning at the center of the work.

SPEAKERS:
Anthony Stetzenmeyer, Laura Shafer, PhD

Reading proficiency is tied to academic success. Teaching various reading and testing strategies while using high quality instructional materials (HQIM) and innovative technology can help students overcome their challenges with comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use reading strategies coupled with technology to help all students develop ways to navigate grade-level, challenging text. How creating a classroom culture can cultivate an environment conducive for welcoming and increasing literacy in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie White-Keuchler

Bring Jenga, Bounce-off, Ker-Plunk, and other kinetic games into the classroom for use as a phenomena-based assessment of Forces, Energy, or Newton's Laws of Motion (MS-PS2&3). Engaging and rigorous assessment through observing, writing, diagraming, and modeling of moving objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive lesson or assessment frameworks for using a wide-variety of kinetic and dexterity tabletop games to describe relative motion, forces that cause motion, energy transfer, or Newton's Laws. Attendees will also discuss opportunities for differentiation and cross cutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Skinner

This session will unveil NSTA's new position statement on science teacher pay and will discuss the public policy issues it raises for state, local, and federal government policymakers.

TAKEAWAYS:
NSTA speaks to the issue of how our nation's schools should pay science teachers in a competitive economic environment.

SPEAKERS:
Jim Wyckoff, Dr. Alicia Conerly, James Brown

Join us in figuring out how to unlock the “escape box” to determine what is causing a failure at the local sewage treatment plant. You will locate hints, analyze data, and use the combined clues to solve the challenge (for a prize). Engage in serious problem solving in a fun environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to describe the biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to healthy organic waste treatment. By solving a mystery, participants will apply analytical skills to determine what disrupted the treatment process.

SPEAKERS:
Madeline Stallard, Amber Meeks, M. Gail Jones

Want to hear from a high school biology, chemistry, physics, and E/S teacher on how their transition to the new standards went last school year? This presentation will reflect on their year of teaching STEELS and offer action steps to make the transition easier for other educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Main takeaways will be the positives, challenges, and action steps that PA educators can use to navigate the transition to the new STEELS standards in a high school biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science class.

SPEAKERS:
Katelyn Daggan, Thomas Densmore, Ruth Henderson, Anthony Prinzo

Win up to $20,000! Are you making a difference in your school and community with STEM? If you teach K–12, come join us to begin your application for one of three programs sponsored by Shell USA, Inc. We’ll guide you through the application process step by step, starting your application live!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn key tips regarding how to complete a strong application for the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton

Using a probe from the popular “Uncovering Student Misconceptions” series, the co-author will share student responses to address this foundational concept for teaching climate change. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the power of formative assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding student misconceptions in this foundational component of climate change is critical prior to teaching the subject. Discover how engaging, open-ended probes provide insight into student ideas and misconceptions while learning ways to support them in understanding the concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, will explore ideas for using the record-breaking high globally-averaged 2023-2024 temperatures and associated extreme weather events as the basis for climate-related storylines that explore the results from the IPCC AR6.

TAKEAWAYS:
The extreme weather events that have been occurring around the world (heat waves, extreme flooding, forest fires) can engage students and prepare them for assessments for the HS-ESS3-5 and HS-ESS3-5 performance expectations, covering climate forcings, feedbacks, impacts, and environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession

In urban low-resourced districts, there's often a focus on literacy and math, what happens to science? Every student, regardless of race, gender, or zip code, deserves high-quality science learning. We will explore the role in elevating science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with actionable steps to make science instruction a priority in their districts, ensuring every student has the opportunity to think, explore, and engage with the world scientifically.

SPEAKERS:
Tyrone McNichols, J Carrie Launius

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

2025 is the 100th anniversary of the infamous Scopes trial and the 20thanniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, which took place in Harrisburg, PA. We will examine the lessons for science educators today that can be drawn from the similarities and differences between these trials.

TAKEAWAYS:
The motivations, strategies, and tactics of science denial have changed little in the 100 years following the Scopes “Monkey” trial. I will review today’s threats to evolution education and will suggest strategies that educators can use today to defend the integrity of science in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller

Transform your STEM programs through powerful community partnerships. Learn proven strategies to identify and engage partners from businesses to universities. Get practical tools for establishing sustainable collaborations that support project-based learning and create authentic career connections.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how to transform your STEM program through strategic partnerships. Learn to identify potential collaborators, define partnership roles, and develop a mindset that opens doors to enriched learning experiences. Walk away with practical tools to build/sustain meaningful community connections.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Nilvo, Lisa Blank, Heather Overkamp

This session offers simple, practical activities to explicitly teach the Nature of Science (NOS), promoting scientific literacy and understanding. Participants will leave with ready-to-use resources that foster student engagement with NOS concepts in accessible and meaningful ways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use straightforward activities to teach NOS explicitly, making science accessible to all students and promoting critical understanding of scientific inquiry and literacy in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore

This session focuses on designing, building, and, using three-dimensional performance tasks to assess learning of science. The session will feature ways to find analogous phenomena to use in assessment three-dimensional science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain an understanding of effective three-dimensional science assessment practices for grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 and a pool of three-dimensional assessment tasks for each of the NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Brett Moulding, Juan-Carlos Aguilar

Through discussions and workshopping, participants consider ways to leverage the curriculum adoption process, including setting an instructional vision, developing criteria, and evaluating materials, to develop teacher understanding of rigorous science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies for using K-12 curriculum adoptions to support deep professional learning around the NGSS/Framework, particularly sensemaking with the three-dimensions and phenomenon and problem based instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski

Explore how a Watershed organization partnered with a large suburban PA school district to adapt the OpenSciEd curriculum, creating engaging learning experiences that build environmental literacy through real-world, local issues. Hear from formal and non formal educators on leveraging the rich resources available.

TAKEAWAYS:
We’ll share how we set the vision for our work, planned field experiences, trained volunteers, and piloted lessons to ensure learning goals were met. Participants will engage in discussion to identify how they can utilize this process to identify partners and field experiences that fit into OpenSciEd.

SPEAKERS:
Erin McCool, Eryn Jackson

Early STEM activities capitalize on young children’s interest, curiosity, and prior knowledge during indoor and outdoor cooperative play-based activities. As a metacognitive approach, Thinking Maps helps educators understand and document children’s naïve theories, sensemaking, and problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science and engineering rely on a range of communication modalities, practices, and languages to support sensemaking and problem-solving efforts. Discourse tools and artifacts like Thinking Maps are fundamental mediational tools helping children to externalize and develop their observations and reasoning.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry, Chaoyun Yan, Wenming Zhang, Shelly Counsell

This session will showcase NSTA's outstanding science trade books and lessons that can support and strengthen K-5 elementary science programs. Information will be shared about the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching and the impacts that it can have professionally and personally.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will get lessons for NSTA’s outstanding trade books from nationally recognized elementary educators. Members from the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees (SEPA) will share about the PAEMST application process and the benefits that come from networking with this learning community.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Brown, Katie Stevenson

Attention diverse and experienced educators making a meaningful impact! Join us to learn how you can win up to $10,000 through the Shell-sponsored teacher awards. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your contributions and enhance your teaching initiatives!

TAKEAWAYS:
During the session, you’ll learn about the different award categories, eligibility criteria, and tips for crafting a compelling application. You’ll connect with fellow educators, share ideas, and learn best practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your work and make an even greater impact!

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton

The presentation seeks to revolutionize science education by providing students with a dynamic platform to document, reflect on, and showcase their scientific learning experiences using diverse array of multimedia artifacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will help the attendees with startegies to enhance student engagement, improve digital literacy, take ownership of their scientific journeys and prepare learners for future educational and career opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Himani Nigam

Benefits of Flipped Classroom models to foster Student-Centered Learning in Middle and Upper School Life Sciences courses. Learn about tools, strategies, implementations, and resources to use when creating a course using Flipped Classroom models. Use literacy content and skills as enrichments tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn to use a Flipped Classroom model and Literacy tools to foster a more robust Student-Centered learning experience. Attendees will also be able to brainstorm the design of a lesson using flipped classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Fernando Azcona

Want to incorporate sustainability at your school but don’t know where to start? Join us to learn how to bring hydroponic gardening, composting, and other student-led environmental projects to your school. We will also discuss funding and curriculum support available from Walking Softer Education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to start and/or grow a sustainability program at their high school with support, including project funds, teacher stipends, and scholarship opportunities, from Walking Softer Education.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Ader, Jackson Ray, Briana Diacopoulos

Learn about a Science Education Fellowship program that helps science teachers become leaders without leaving the classroom. The SEF program has transformed the lives of hundreds of Fellows and thousands of students. The collaborative effort includes teachers, science coordinators, and administrators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about how to foster K-12 vertical articulation of science curriculum, an in-depth means to learn about science and engineering practices and how to be a teacher leader without leaving the classroom. Teacher leadership can lead to school district transformation.

SPEAKERS:
Arthur Eisenkraft

Mentor teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators must go beyond burnout to address the impact of demoralization and exploitation. This session addresses specific causes, symptoms, and, most importantly, strategic, no-cost remedies to increase educator efficacy, satisfaction, and longevity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the difference in causes and treatments for burnout, demoralization, and exploitation from individual and organizational perspectives.

SPEAKERS:
Jess Cleeves

This is a story of collaboration between local organizations, a school system, and AP Science and Social Studies Teachers to create equity of opportunity by investigating climate change phenomenon occurring locally and culminating with students designing solutions to promote community resiliency.

TAKEAWAYS:
This story is a potential model of professional learning, curriculum development, and student inquiry within climate change phenomena. The interdisciplinary student field investigations and data collection tools are standalone resources that will be shared to adapt to your own story.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Larney, Erin O'Neal

With the goal of assisting science educators embed bioscience workplace competencies into curricula, inspiring students to pursue meaningful careers, and enthusing them to earn the national Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE) credential, UF Biotility has launched a free badging system.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how these eight bite-sized accomplishments serve as motivators and indicators of capabilities to employers, plus provide valuable teacher feedback. Attendees will also learn about industry careers, and aligning standards included on the BACE.

SPEAKERS:
Tamara Mandell

Inquiry based lessons aligned with NGSS will be reviewed with a particular emphasis on low cost activities involving rocketry. Supported through a USAF grant experimentation, 5E model and Project Based Learning activities focused around topics launch, descent and reconnaissance are covered.

TAKEAWAYS:
That many rocketry based science concepts (e.g., Laws of Motion) can be taught on a "shoe string" budget.

SPEAKERS:
William Sumrall

Come learn about “language-expansive noticing” - a practice that enables teachers to recognize multilingual students’ brilliant ideas in addition to the various ways these students might draw from linguistic and multimodal resources to develop and communicate their scientific sensemaking!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will understand why developing their practice of language-expansive noticing is critical for ensuring equitable science learning experiences for multilingual students. They will leave with strategies and resources to help them continue to develop and use this practice in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Sage Andersen, María González-Howard

Explore the range of needs of urban science educators. Interactive rotating discussions and networking will focus on instructional strategies, professional development opportunities, school environment challenges, technology integration, equity and inclusion issues, and collaborative partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Urban science educators gain a deeper understanding of their specific needs and develop practical strategies to enhance their teaching practices, access resources, address equity and inclusion challenges, and build partnerships within their urban school environments.

SPEAKERS:
Selene Verhofstad, Elizabeth Spike

Innovation Configuration maps help educators focus on concrete aspects of teacher and student actions that lead to deep conceptual science understanding. Participants will analyze classroom videos, using the maps to practice reflecting on classroom actions and set goals for continuous improvement.

TAKEAWAYS:
IC Maps—frameworks of effective teaching and learning strategies and evidence-based practices—can be used as part of reflective practice and continuous improvement by allowing educators to identify where their current practice falls in the map and set actionable goals to move their practice forward.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Ewing

In Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula, a teacher leadership model has enabled an effective system of teacher-led elementary science support where teachers learn from and support one another. Learn from two teacher leaders who have helped develop a sustainable professional learning community!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how a teacher leadership model can benefit schools by ensuring high quality science learning for all elementary students and providing professional development for teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin St. Onge, Megan Dell, Jessica Krueger

With NE, classroom texts are the context for engineering design problems with characters acting as clients and finding characters’ problems, identifying design constraints and criteria through close reading of the text, and then designing and building physical solutions to selected problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
The session will include an introduction, examples of K-8 student work, how to put students’ ideas are at the forefront as they work on ELA and engineering, and several short Novel Engineering introductory activities in which audience members can participate to give them first-hand experience.

SPEAKERS:
Elissa Milto

The Saint Louis Zoo is committed to helping the next generation of students foster a deeper understanding of the world through the topic of One Health. Join us as we share how we partnered with local students to create lessons and how you can utilize One Health curriculum in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how One Health as a growing topic can fit into the attendees' future curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Warshaw

Pre-service teachers (currently student teaching) had some hands-on experience preparing and presenting an environmentally themed field trip for high school students. Challenges faced included sudden change of venue and preparing for the unexpected when doing field trips.

TAKEAWAYS:
Field trips should continue to be a FEATURE of any science curriculum, but the messaging must be clear.

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Jones, Jalen Steiner

Come see how you can make a shift to storylines in your classroom where students make sense of phenomena and see how this motivates them to engage in science and engineering practices and learn disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will appreciate how having students make sense of phenomena leads to greater engagement and better understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard

Join us for an engaging session where participants will gain practical strategies to enhance their leadership presence, foster community through networking, and maximize professional learning for career growth.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will receive practical strategies to strengthen their leadership presence and advance career development in science and STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Camille Sanders, Dr. Alicia Conerly, Leena McLean, Kevin Niemi, Karen Hays, Adam Fagen

Come learn about the resources that zoos, science centers, out of school time programs, government agencies, and other Informal Learning partners provide that can help you improve your students’ learning beyond just field trips or joining the program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about resources and opportunities that zoos, science centers, out of school time programs, government agencies and other Informal Learning partners, offer classroom teachers to expand their students’ knowledge, borrow classroom resources, or develop themselves.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsay Milner, Karen Hays, John Loehr

How can we fit student-centered science instruction into the varied schedules of K-5 classrooms? Experience and explore how OpenSciEd Elementary’s free high-quality units are designed to support teachers in making time to engage their students in 3D science.

TAKEAWAYS:
OpenSciEd Elementary lessons are organized in four components: Navigate, Explore, Connect, and Synthesize. These components support teachers in understanding the purpose of each part of a lesson, allow for more flexible timing, and can be implemented in various parts of the school day.

SPEAKERS:
Guy Ollison, Gail Housman

Calling all informal science educators! Join members of NSTA’s Informal Science Committee to participate in their efforts to define a set of key skills and abilities designed to create an equitable foundation for practitioners and ensure quality experiences for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The core competencies will help to define what it means to be an informal science educator within NSTA and provide clearer and more equitable opportunities for professional learning in the future.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Eisla, Rosie Arnold

Techniques such as CRISPR, mitochondrial transfer, and mRNA therapeutics have opened new possibilities for genetic manipulation of plants, animals, and the humas genome, bringing with them new opportunities to energize the biology curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to high interest case studies/phenomena that will engage their students in biology, demonstrating that biology is both dynamic and relevant to their lives.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller

This session describes how Hawaiian knowledge and practices were integrated with NGSS project-based curriculum. Central to the project-based curriculum are contemporary ecological and watershed challenges. Session participants will explore resources and strategies to support sustainable communities,

TAKEAWAYS:
Session participants will takeaway strategies for integrating indigenous practices into science classrooms. Session leads will provide a toolkit of practical strategies and resources that can be used to implement sustainable initiatives in their own communities.

SPEAKERS:
Shawna Nishimoto, Katrina Roseler, Lupita Ruiz-Jones, Christina Chan

Learn effective ways to help students formulate effective questions, design investigations to answer their questions, apply analytical and critical thinking skills, collect and interpret data, and determine effective ways to communicate their findings and the concepts they have learned. 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

By understanding food systems and justice, we can more effectively combat climate change. This knowledge helps us recognize how food production, distribution, and consumption impact the environment. By promoting equitable access to sustainable food sources, we can reduce waste and lower emissions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding food systems and food justice is essential for effectively addressing climate change, as it enables us to promote sustainable practices and equitable access to food, ultimately reducing environmental impact and fostering healthier communities.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Luna

Outdoor education takes many forms and focuses on promoting real-world, inquiry-based learning. We will discuss how schools in different states have developed camping programs and will share how to effectively prepare, advocate for, and organize a camp experience integrating NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway is how Outdoor Ed aligns with NGSS to enhance learning through hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Attendees will gain strategies to create an outdoor education program that fits their school's needs, including lessons and units that foster critical thinking and problem solving.

SPEAKERS:
Myriah Leisher, Pamela Waters

See your labs–and your students–in a new light: teach students to develop their own testable questions. Experience the Question Formulation Technique, a step by step process that supports students to articulate what they are curious about and then turn those ideas into testable scientific inquiries.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the Question Formulation Technique by experiencing the process for themselves. They will be able to immediately replicate the strategy in their own classroom to spur student questioning that drives more effective lab investigations and advances other science learning goals.

SPEAKERS:
RACHEL RIEMER, Katy Connolly

Attend this ‘short course’ - with highlights from the full four-day workshop in Detroit! – to discover how you too can use real-world challenges, community assets, and history to create dynamic interdisciplinary units for students with PBL³ and Library of Congress primary sources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to leverage primary sources and community issues to foster interdisciplinary problem-solving and creativity, and discover how Project-, Problem-, and Place-Based Learning can elevate STEAM units in ways that foster creativity, critical thinking, and student agency.

SPEAKERS:
Trey Smith, June Teisan

Come unpack practical strategies for creating vibrant K12 STEM classrooms that foster student engagement and promote academic risk-taking. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to elevate their teaching pedagogy, inspire creativity, and cultivate a student-centered learning environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about seven essential pedagogical skills of "rockstar" STEM teachers - what they are, why they are so important, and how to learn to do them well. Attendees will receive immediately actionable resources to employ in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Girtain, Carolyn Kielma, Anthony Grisillo, Kristen Record

This session explores how integrating executive functioning strategies and gamification in science promotes student autonomy, engagement, and resilience. Learn how leveled assessments provide differentiated challenges, empowering students to choose their learning path and showcase their strengths.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate executive functioning strategies and gamification into science instruction, using leveled assessments to provide differentiated challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Casey Kleiman, Kris Tidball

Join us on the Sensemaking journey! During this session, participants will have an opportunity the explore the pillars of the Sensemaking Framework. We will engage in authentic learning experiences that will bring the 3 Dimensions of science to life for teachers AND students as we figure stuff out!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the pillars of 'Sensemaking' as well as useful strategies for engaging students in 'figuring-out' phenomena as they experience authentic science.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Murdock

Atom is an AI-powered assistant trained on NSTA's extensive content, products, services, and educational programs. As our most educated team member, Atom can quickly and efficiently address all your association-related inquiries—whether you need help with membership, tracking orders, want suggestions for NSTA lesson plans, or more!

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, you’ll discover how Atom, NSTA’s AI-powered assistant, is transforming the way science educators access information and resources. You’ll learn how Atom can streamline your interactions with NSTA, providing instant support for membership inquiries, order tracking, etc.

SPEAKERS:
Tia Embke, Chip Flater

Do you have an innovative idea for improving Science, technology, engineering and math learning in your classroom? Is your idea project based learning with measurable outcomes? What do you need to make learning STEM fun for your students? Engage with teachers who received funding!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn tangible tips on how to complete their grant application online before the October 1 annual deadline.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Stotz, Ariel Coff, John Anderson, Miz Fischer, Eddie Temistokle

This session will shed light on how partnerships between STEM organizations and K12 educators amplify impact, break down silos, and empower students. Participants will hear from successful collaborations that bridge gaps and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn best-practices and strategies in forging impactful partnerships with STEM education organizations.

SPEAKERS:
Caitlin Hayes, Jessica Kesler, Jason Morgan, Kim Alvin De Lara, Eric Moore, Jillian Blair

A discussion of philosophy and experiences of reshaping teaching and learning of conceptual physics at a small technical college. The presentation will detail the use of a portfolio assessment approach instead of traditional high-stakes exams, and the effects on student performance and attitudes.

TAKEAWAYS:
The use of a portfolio assessment strategy allows students the chance to learn and apply physics through doing, rather than memorizing and applying formulas. A draft based approach encourages students to continually revise and improve their understanding of difficult concepts over the semester.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Romanovich

Expanding early college programs can enhance student success, retention, and graduation rates. Learn the key aspects of planning, including addressing state-specific challenges, FERPA compliance, equitable access, and structured advising, that help ensure effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain practical strategies for implementing effective early college programs with robust student support systems. Get an overview of early college programs, including success data and state-specific insights, and understand key considerations such as federal privacy law and equitable access.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Finch, Kari Espada, Cyrus Sadeghian

In the age of project and lab based learning, how can we include ways to assess students on the laboratory skills that they practice? Learn strategies for including lab-based assessments that target lab skills without simply labeling diagrams. Linking lab skills to careers in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practical ways to implement assessments of lab skills in biology and biotechnology classes.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Hamilton

A critical component of any science lesson is the opportunity for students to make sense of their experiences. After a brief hands on lesson, engage in sensemaking yourself and leave with clear strategies to use in your classroom on Monday. Sensemaking norms posters link is included!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn strategies for providing sensemaking discussions through discourse in the elementary science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Lausten

This session advocates for biographical read-alouds as a key part of K-8 STEM education. Attendees will learn to prioritize equity using STEM role models, review biographies that can be used as an entrance to inquiry, exploration, and engineering, and inspire all students to see themselves in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using STEM read-alouds in K-8 education promotes equity by engaging diverse learners—including multilingual, female, and students of color—in STEM content and careers, framing STEM education as a commitment to social justice and a field that all can enter.

SPEAKERS:
Geoff O'Brien, Nicole Glen

AI has taken the education world by storm, reshaping and transforming traditional teaching methods at a breakneck pace. As it evolves, the question for educators, students, and institutions becomes clear: Will you survive the chaos, thrive in this new era, or strive to adapt and remain relevant?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will better understand transformative AI tools in the current education landscape.

SPEAKERS:
Charles English, David Barnes, Christine Anne Royce

The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) immerses students and educators at all levels for free in STEM programming. Through competitions, summer camps, and comprehensive professional development, AEOP stands at the forefront of educational innovation, preparing participants to excel in life.

TAKEAWAYS:
You’ll discover how AEOP spans a variety of educational stages, offering tailored programs that empower both students and teachers to thrive in STEM. We’ll cover how these initiatives equip participants with crucial skills and experiences, setting the stage for personal and professional success.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Brian Kutsch

How can silo-disciplined teachers facilitate transdisciplinary lessons? As a grade level, we learned what it can look like to converge disciplines so that students could see the interdependent nature of our classes. I would love to share these lessons and lessons learned with you!

TAKEAWAYS:
In this presentation I will share a set of lessons where a phenomenon, or problem, directed student learning in science, math, social studies, reading, and English language arts and where students had to work collaboratively across these classes to construct explanations and solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Abi NeSmith

Explore how NSTA's formative assessment probes from the popular Uncovering Student Ideas series are used in an instructional sequence to understand the ideas your Grades 6-12 students bring to their learning, inform next steps for responsive instruction, and build a powerful thinking classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
A key takeaway is how to use formative assessment probes to uncover and understand the prior knowledge that grades 6-12 students bring to their learning in order to tailor next steps where student thinking is valued, misconceptions are addressed, and deeper conceptual understanding is cultivated.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley

Grading that supports student sensemaking doesn't have to keep you at school all night. Learn approaches to grading that prioritize 3D sensemaking and utilize technology, collaboration, and existing resources so you have can your evenings back.

TAKEAWAYS:
The process of giving feedback and assigning grades is easier when there are strong materials and assessments to build from and technology can help make it faster without decreasing effectiveness for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney

Join this workshop: “A Chemical Inquiry: Let’s Learn Equilibrium!” and participate in a “hands on” activity to help students overcome common chemical equilibrium misconceptions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use Inquiry to overcome student misconceptions about chemical equilibrium.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Dodd

Discover how simple adjustments in activity order can supercharge your students' knowledge construction and seamlessly integrate the NGSS into your teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, Instructional Sequence Matters will empower you with both the rationale and tangible, real-world examples to revamp your hands-on teaching methods.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown

The Breakout Box: Manufacturing Challenge takes participants on a 20-minute immersive adventure where they apply critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and manufacturing skills to successfully run an eyewear manufacturing facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to understand the manufacturing process, the importance of teamwork and its relevance in the real world.

This session will focus on helping all physics students communicate their knowledge. AP Physics Course Leads will share strategies for incorporating Science Practices into all physics classrooms, with a focus on preparing students to communicate their understanding on the new AP Physics FRQ types.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the skills assessed on each of the four free response questions and strategies for how they can prepare students for success on the AP Physics Exams. Time will be reserved for questions and discussion.

SPEAKERS:
Dee Dee Messer

Conversations on climate change and sustainability can be challenging. Join state and national leaders on climate change and sustainability education as they share newly published findings and help you plan for navigating these difficult conversations in your own community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with tools and resources to engage productively in conversations and generate strategic communications for their own context. They will rehearse facilitating a difficult conversation with a specific interest-holder from their community and leave practiced and confident.

SPEAKERS:
Lori Henrickson, Shannon Wachowski, Carol ODonnell