Hosting a STEM Science Fair promotes engagement with the scientific method and CER. It allows students to investigate areas of science that interest them. Learn the logistics of hosting a STEM science fair at your school and the benefits it can bring to your building.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hosting a Science Fair allows students to be active scientists as they study, experiment, and share their knowledge of an in-depth topic of their interest.

SPEAKERS:
Stacie Hopple (8th grade science teacher: New Lexington, OH)

Participants will use the engineering design process to imagine and build challenges that link with popular rhymes. Lively learning activities will integrate NGSS, math, literacy, and SEL, supporting research that science and engineering should be included for early elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineering activities can be effectively utilized with early primary students, supporting their growth not only in science, but also in math, ELA, and SEL. Participants will experience engineering exercises that can be readily integrated into their classroom practice.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Nolan-Beasley (Elementary STEM Teacher, Consultant and Science Teacher Trainer: Walla Walla, WA)

Increase knowledge aligning SEPs with science DCIs. Will students Plan/Conduct investigations using Inquiry lessons, or will they define simple design problems practicing STEM protocols? Design/build Paper Helicopters and Huff & Puff Vehicles practicing both ways of doing science. FACTs included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away two classroom models (Paper Helicopters & Huff/Puff Vehicles) and experience firsthand how to engage students in collaborative, inclusive groups to solve problems and build community. Try to constrain yourselves as you set up your criteria for success! FACTs modeled, too!

SPEAKERS:
Tina Harris (Bedford North Lawrence High School: Bedford, IN), Carolyn Mohr (University Center of Lake County: Grayslake, IL)

Get ready to Rise to the Challenge in this Workshop series based on our Massachusetts STEM Week Challenges. From extreme weather to deserted islands, and zoo makeovers, there’s a challenge for everyone! You’ll experience hands-on, inquiry and phenomena-based investigations. Receive the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore STEM Design Challenges funded by the MA DHE and run during MA STEM Week. They will explore using a design challenge in their classroom that addresses the Science and Engineering Standards and the engineering design process, and will experience using phenomena-based units.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Stronach (Lloyd Center for the Environment: Dartmouth, MA), Kathryn Atkins (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

Engage in activities that show how to connect your current science lessons to cutting edge engineering research and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. Receive access to K-5 NGSS aligned resources that immerse students in scenario based tasks using data from current STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to enhance student engagement, and promote STEM college and career pathways by connecting classroom learning to current engineering research at URI and UCONN. Leave with access to video and instructional resources aligned to NGSS and connected to the research.

SPEAKERS:
John Koziatek (University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Christopher Cochran (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi (University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI), Zachary Orefice (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: Narragansett, RI)

Sponsoring Company: Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC)

This session explores a unique approach to integrated STEM. The approach places curricular units that focus on engineering and computer science directly into the core curriculum for every student, PreK-12.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds (Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC): Boston, MA)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Discover the synergy of engineering and science in your classroom! Merge hands-on learning and digital tech to bridge content and practice. Ignite creativity, foster problem-solving, and bring real-world experiences to your students through the power of brainstorming.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Bonville (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Come along as we undergo a rigorous student experience to work through a complex investigation. Throughout the course of the session, participants will discover the importance of fostering an environment that encourages challenge where students can struggle in a safe space.

SPEAKERS:
Madeline Cronk (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO

Get hands-on experience with sensors, demonstrators, and software for graphing motion. For students new to describing motion, position and velocity graphs can be challenging to interpret. Learn accessible methods to help your students solidify their motion graphing skills and comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Guzules (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join our dynamic workshop, blending engineering and speed dating! Experience hands-on challenges inspired by TCI's K-8 science programs. Engage in "speed dates" with engineering activities, gaining valuable lessons and insights. Don't miss this innovative session!

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar (TCI: Mountain View, CA)

In this share a thon session, participants will see how early childhood students investigate the structure and function of different tree parts using common materials

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see how hands on activities makes concepts more concrete for young students, and get ideas for ways they can create hands on activities

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV)

How to create hands on science and engineering activities using simple supplies of just paper, tape and scissors. Effective for grades K-8

TAKEAWAYS:
Remove the expense factor that often hinders the inclusion of STEAM projects

SPEAKERS:
Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries / Skill Mill NYC: New York, NY)

Come build a wildlife crossing! Combine the science behind reconstructing a fragmented ecosystem and the engineering behind building a wildlife crossing into a relevant project-based learning opportunity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Young students will investigate how to be powerful problem solvers in their community. Through hands-on experiences, they will learn the engineering of bridge building combined with the science behind reconnecting a fragmented ecosystem.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Nordstrom (Ladera STARS Academy: Thousand Oaks, CA)

Early grades students are the most curious, uninhibited learners. They are ready and eager to share their ideas. How do we support them in developing accurate science understandings about complex phenomenon?

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore complex phenomenon that support the NGSS K-5 standards, developing not only their own understandings, but considering how they can support students in group sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Ananda Weigand-Sheerer (teacher leader: Rochester, NY), Kelly Peason (Associate Director of Science Education Outreach: Rochester, NY), Michael Occhino (The Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development: Rochester, NY), Kimberly Fluet (Associate Director of Science Education Outreach: Rochester, NY)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive into modeling the movement of ions and nutrients across membranes. Help your students connect theory with the results from popular homeostasis labs.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges with race cars and rockets. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

Discover engaging phenomena and relevant content (sensor technology, medicine, and the environment) to promote equity in your classroom by engaging ALL students in nanotechnology and scientific learning to help improve our world and the human experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Nature-inspired solutions are needed to solve real problems and nanotechnology provides the tools to develop innovation solutions and engage students in learning; identify the locations of nano NGSS-aligned activities, resources, and virtual experiences for your classroom in any STEM subject area.

SPEAKERS:
Daniella Duran (Stanford University: Stanford, CA)

By 2050, 9.7 billion humans may be living on Earth. If current trends continue, food production will need to increase 60-100%. In this storyline, students design solutions to feed this growing population while building space spacing food production systems (ie-hydroponics, vertical garden).

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a new storyline that engages students in designing and evaluating solutions for how to solve the issue of feeding the world’s growing human population based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.

SPEAKERS:
Shane Cullian (Whitewater High School: Whitewater, WI)

NASA's Next Gen STEM SPARX (Sparking Participation and Real-world eXperiences in STEM) offers an exciting entry-level opportunity for K-2 educators to access standards-aligned activities and resources that follow evidence-based practices to equip their students with the skills to thrive in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the educator benefits of NASA SPARX and how this evidence-based model was selected, and will try their hands at some of the curated engineering design activities from the K-2 Educator Guide.

SPEAKERS:
Steven Smith (Education Specialist II), Miranda Fike (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: Huntsville, AL)

After trying several K-12 solutions-based design challenges, choose one to customize for your students and environment. Adapt and leave ready to teach the entire QUEST (Question-Uncover-Explore-Solve-Teach). Written for Guam, these empower students to design projects that solve local problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will begin customizing one student-relevant purposeful design challenge QUEST, have access to many more, and will recognize the benefits of purposeful design challenges being part of a larger QUEST unit that requires intentional learning of STEM concepts and practices.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Arndt (Global GreenSTEM: Franktown, CO)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO

Experience the best way to teach basic circuits! Support student investigations of current, voltage, resistance, and series and parallel circuits with modular components that look identical to schematic drawings. Learn how to skip the tangled wires that confuse students and focus on the physics.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Guzules (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Come and explore ways to integrate materials science across your science curriculum with the University of Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Take sample science kits and access to plans and resources to support students exploration of the materials that improve our lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create sample kits to take to your classrooms, access virtual resources and talk with MRSEC staff about the awesomeness of materials science!

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Grandell (Assistant Director of Education and Outreach: Madison, WI)

eCYBERMISSION’s virtual STEM competition for 6th-9th graders promotes self-discovery as teams compete for awards while also supporting teachers with a wealth of resources. eCYBERMISSION's table will provide details regarding the competition along with a fun interactive activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Throughout the competition, students and teachers are provided access to eCYBERMISSION staff, standards-aligned resources, grant opportunities and much more.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Kutsch (National Science Teaching Association, eCYBERMISSION)

Environmental issues, such as plastic pollution in the ocean, are often global in scale and thus overwhelming for students to consider. We’ll explore how engineering can frame these problems so that they are manageable for students to solve in the classroom while remaining relevant to global issues.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to apply socially engaged engineering to environmental problems using free lessons from the Museum of Science, Boston. Experience open-ended design challenges that get students thinking about large-scale environmental issues while building their confidence in solving problems.

SPEAKERS:
Darshita Shah (Senior Director of Curriculum: Boston, MA)

A hands-on beam lab produces graphs critical to understanding beam properties for engineering. Focus on making, interpreting, and teaching the graphs in class. Real-world uses and applications of stress-strain curves in engineering will be shared and help to illustrate the importance of such graphs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take part in a simple beam lab using weights to determine the deflection of the beam material. Groups will have different beams and varying results will help support understanding of the graphs created. The results will then be graphed as a load-deflection curve and shared.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler (Global Impact STEM Academy: Springfield, OH), Briana Richardson (Washington High School: Washington Court House, OH)

Explore the application of ChatGPT to facilitate student choice, interest, and motivation and to address science and engineering practices! Investigate ChatGPT’s capacity to inform design decisions through inquisitive exploration, creative brainstorming, and interpretive lenses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore how ChatGPT elevates science and engineering practices through the investigation of problems, topics, and phenomena; creative brainstorming options; generation of experiments with conceptual and hypothetical results; and interpretation of data for product improvement.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Kipp (Texas A&M)

NASA's Next Gen STEM is focused on bringing quality STEM content and experiences to the K-12 community. Join this informative session to learn what we have to offer and how you can bring NASA to your students. Presented by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about NASA Next Gen STEM offerings related to professional development, STEM lessons, communities of practice, live virtual connections with scientists and engineers, student challenges and competitions, and competitive awards.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Edstrom (NASA Education Specialist), Miranda Fike (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: Huntsville, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Rockets

This session highlights a model rocket mission simulation where students work together to complete a successful launch of the New Shepard rocket. Students consider thrust, altitude, and velocity to determine the best engine for the launch.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Freyschlag (Estes Industries: Penrose, CO), Kristen Yip (Education Program Manager)

Knowles Engineering teachers co-developed and piloted a scaffolded framework for integrating social justice into engineering design that we are excited to share with the NSTA community. Come ready to explore how to empower your science students through intentional engineering curriculum design!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will interact with examples of empowered engineering curriculum, as well as apply the framework to their own classrooms. Teachers will leave with concrete ideas for how to incorporate more social justice work into their own engineering curriculum in manageable and expanding ways.

SPEAKERS:
Kylie Bertram (Science Teacher: Willingboro, NJ), Emily Berman (Global STEM Challenges Program)

Lydia Denton is a 15 year-old inventor. She has been nationally recognized for her inventions and was named one of the 16 Under 16 in STEM in 2022, and was a 2022 NSTA Angela Award winner. Join her as she shares her journey and how you can encorage innovation and problem solving in your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how empowering students to tackle real-world problems in their community can increase student engagement, foster skills in perserverance, and draw on multiple skills to create prototypes for real-world solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Lydia Denton (Student), Covey Denton (Greenfield School: No City, No State)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges with race cars and rockets. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

Studying the Heat Island Effect covers multiple standards and content areas, and is an excellent grounding phenomenon to discuss equity and justice in the classroom. Come to this hands-on workshop to run through this experience and learn about a framework to develop empowering engineering projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with a framework for developing engineering projects that integrate social justice, and will also walk through one of our developed projects on the Heat Island Effect.

SPEAKERS:
Kylie Bertram (Science Teacher: Willingboro, NJ), Emily Berman (Global STEM Challenges Program)

Learn about NASA’s K-12 project which creates, delivers, and curates NASA STEM products and experiences that make connections to NASA and fuel STEM learning and identity. Join us for this fun session and participate in an exciting activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the vast resources offered by NASA's Next Gen STEM project; they will participate in a virtual chat with a NASA scientist or engineer and engage in an activity they can use in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Bethanne Hull (Education Specialist: No City, No State)

Attendees will initiate sense-making through the data-driven phenomenon of pollinator decline. Attendees will analyze and interpret evidence on how resource availability affects native bee populations. Finally, we will design a school native bee habitat to encourage native bee biodiversity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave the workshop with lesson ideas and strategies to problem-frame the decline of native bee species and develop a possible solution by designing a native bee habitat for their school or community.

SPEAKERS:
Rita Hagevik (The University of North Carolina at Pembroke: LAURINBURG, NC), Kathy Trundle (Utah STate University: No City, No State)

Are heatwaves happening more often? Or does it just feel that way? Using lessons from Heatwave Visualizations, available for free from the Museum of Science Boston and MathWorks, explore visualizations of heatwave data and discuss how an individual’s perspective may have unintentionally biased them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Navigate data visualizations generated from weather station data and learn how to help your students understand that a data visualization is produced by an algorithm written by a human, subjecting it to possible bias. Learn how to access the free materials needed to implement these lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Darshita Shah (Senior Director of Curriculum: Boston, MA)

Attendees will actively engage with innovative devices; learning strategies to teach data collection and analysis; engineering design processes; robotics; and engaging ways to apply coding and AI to make devices “work”, adding rigor and complexity as learners gain skills and understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to design accessible learning experiences using innovative devices; helping students learn essential science concepts; data collection and analysis; engineering design processes; robotics; and how to add rigor and complexity as learners gain skills and understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell (Educational and Technology Consultant: Prairie Village, KS)

Test some heat-treated metal samples; practice your math skills and artistry with a STEAM activity; work in groups for an engineering challenge! There’s a little something for everyone and we won’t judge anyone for wanting to be hot and cheap in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
There can be a lot of fun learning and STEM possibiltiies with cheap, accessible materials, application of heat, and a little creativity. Teachers will leave with a number of ideas useful for all levels of high school classroom: chemistry, physics, physical science, math practice, and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler (Global Impact STEM Academy: Springfield, OH), Briana Richardson (Washington High School: Washington Court House, OH)

The Colleges of Education & Engineering at URI and UCONN developed a model to enhance student engagement in STEM classrooms and introduce a variety of college & career opportunities across engineering disciplines. Consider implementing a similar model and access project resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a model for connecting engineering research to classroom learning without adding more to teachers’ plates. Access resources to share with teachers, including video and instructional materials that align to the NGSS and engage students in scenario-based tasks using data from current research.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Stabile (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Christopher Cochran (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), John Koziatek (University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi (University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI), Kelly Houle (The University of Rhode Island: NARRAGANSETT, RI)

Come ready to learn about how the Toshiba America Foundation wants to work together with teachers who are looking for a better way of doing the right thing through engagement in STEM action projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with resources to apply for mini grants for use in local community action projects in the K-12 educational setting.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO

Engage students in a real-world engineering challenge! Learn how students can design and test crash barriers with live collision data to explore the link between momentum and impact forces. Analyze the resulting data to improve upon further design iterations.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Guzules (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Attendees will employ engineering drawing techniques to draw a cube isometrically and extend that new skill to draw a cube puzzle built during the workshop using orthographic projections. This exercise will be used to illustrate equity building opportunities within classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drawing isometrically allows us to create a different 2d representation of a cube where all sides are measurably equal, employing a model that better represents our actual lived experience and understanding of geometric shapes and strengthens spatial reasoning skills.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl LG Riedel (Lester J Gates, Scituate Public Schools)

Creative Engineering Design is a classroom-tested, ready-to-teach, hands-on introductory engineering curriculum that highlights concepts of the NSF-funded ASPIRE Engineering Research Center, which aims to make equitable and sustainable widespread electric vehicle-based transportation a reality.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore the Creative Engineering Design free resources and starter kit to engage your students in understanding the connections between engineering and environmental justice through real-world engineering applications of electric vehicle technology to improve health and quality of life for all.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Taylor (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Jennifer Ramos-Chavez (University of Texas at El Paso: El Paso, TX)

The most intensely-developed urban neighborhoods tend to be significantly warmer than areas that have more green space and less pavement. We will explore this phenomenon and consider how to use it as a meaningful avenue for students to become citizen scientists and environmental justice activists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using a combination of satellite and student-collected data, we'll discuss strategies to support students working to investigate the temperature variation in an urban area, utilize data to identify neighborhoods at risk, and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack (I.S. 223 Montauk Intermediate School: Brooklyn, NY)

Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Northwest districts, this vertically articulated program could revolutionize your high school science program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Pacific Northwest districts.

SPEAKERS:
Matt McCollum (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR), Bradford Hill (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR)

In this demonstration of a middle school mechanical engineering PBL unit, attendee's will build and test the performance of Lego toy cars, evaluate competing designs, and suggest improvements to how they would improve designs. There will be math and writing, and so bring a pencil and a calculator!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see a demonstration of a full problem-based learning unit outlining a full engineering design cycle for mechanical engineering, and the pedagogy used in lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Brabant (STEM Lab: Northglenn, CO)

Engage in activities that show how to connect your current science lessons to cutting-edge engineering research and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. Receive access to grades 6-8 NGSS-aligned resources that immerse students in scenario-based tasks using data from current STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to enhance student engagement, and promote STEM college and career pathways by connecting classroom learning to current engineering research at URI and UCONN. Leave with access to video and instructional resources aligned to NGSS and connected to the research.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Emery (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Christopher Cochran (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), John Koziatek (University of Rhode Island: No City, No State), Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi (University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI), Caroline Stabile (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: No City, No State)

Participants will engage in a team STEM challenge to illustrate the impact of unequal access to resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain tools to guide students to consider how advantage and disadvantage impact STEM challenge outcomes as an allegory for societal inequities, building empathy to fuel socially just thinking and action.

SPEAKERS:
Maya Bhagat (The School District of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA), Maggie Osman (The U School - School District of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA)

Set up a simple lab and watch a cool demo to talk about resources and the environment, using copper as a specific example. These labs can be used for many levels of understanding - geology, environmental science, chemistry; and a focus on environmental impact of resource acquisition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Recovering pure copper will provide chances to talk about environmental impacts and concerns of resource acquisition. The Berkeley Pit in MT and mining in CO will be discussed. Resources provided will help students understand the challenges faced when balancing competing interests.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler (Global Impact STEM Academy: Springfield, OH), Briana Richardson (Washington High School: Washington Court House, OH)

Join us for a chance to learn about the value and how to implement K-12 STEM innovative programs with hands-on learning strategies utilized to motivate engagement. NSTA administered programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to enhance student STEM engagement through the use of NSTA administered programs.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Michelle Butler (National Science Teaching Association: No City, No State), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program), Winnie Boyle (NSTA: No City, No State)

In this session, participants will work on hands-on activities and test a prototype to learn about forces using the engineering design model and translanguaging for middle grades

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach about forces for elementary grade level using an engineering activity and translanguaging (English/Spanish).

SPEAKERS:
Max Vazquez Dominguez (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

Access to supplies is often a barrier to learning, yet amazing projects can be made with just paper, tape, and scissors. Learn how to transform paper into creative roller coasters, catapults, windmills, and dozens of other hands-on engineering projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
You don't need expensive equipment to do hands-on interactive projects.

SPEAKERS:
Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries / Skill Mill NYC: New York, NY)

View the results of a case study highlighting engineering, problem-solving, creativity, and SEL in a first-grade classroom. Presentation includes research, data, pictures, assessments, and student artifacts. Learn why research supports immersing young learners in science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see a summary of research, data sets, and student work from a recent onsite first-grade case study in engineering. Experience and evidence support the research that schools need to include science and engineering in the early learning curricular lineup.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Nolan-Beasley (Elementary STEM Teacher, Consultant and Science Teacher Trainer: Walla Walla, WA)

The TeachEngineering Digital Library is a free, online collection of K-12 curricular STEM resources. Our goal is to help educators put the ‘E’ in STEM— by making applied science, technology, and math come alive through engineering design and design thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
TeachEngineering provides 1,850+ free STEM curricular resources focusing on hands-on, standards-aligned activities for K-12 students.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha (TeachEngineering: Boulder, CO), Dua Chaker (TeachEngineering: Boulder, CO), Ellen Parrish (TeachEngineering: Boulder, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC)

This session explores a unique approach to integrated STEM. The approach places curricular units that focus on engineering and computer science directly into the core curriculum for every student, PreK-12.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds (Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC): Boston, MA)

In this powerful workshop, teachers will learn how to promote an equitable and safe space to design, experiment, and investigate the topics of work and power as an alternative to the traditional stair lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will work through an alternative lab that allows students to build and examine the work and power involved in a conveyor belt system. The lab, suggested materials, and analysis will be supplied to teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Whitaker (Farmingdale High School: Farmingdale, NY)

Join award-winning science educator Griff Jones and members of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center to practice a sample of engaging demos and hands-on activities, such as paper car crashes and egg drop competitions, from the IIHS’s free “Crash Science in the Classroom” program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will try out a selection of inquiry-oriented discrepant events and hands-on crash science activities, and learn how to access other free, video-supported, classroom-tested lessons and resources to teach crash-related science and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Young (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute: Arlington, VA), Griff Jones (University of Florida: No City, No State)

Inspire your students to think like scientists and engineers with this hands-on STEM approach. Test variables, make predictions, and design the perfect straw rocket. See how this STEM approach can be used to create any design challenge in your class. Receive resources to transform your STEM lessons!

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:
Christina Davis (Air Camp USA, Inc.: Dayton, OH)

How can we teach students to be inventors and provide them with skills to solve real problems? Join PBS NewsHour Classroom's session on "Invention Education" with teachers whose students have successfully solved problems in their communities through the invention process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with a solid understanding of Invention Education, the 7-step invention process, and how students, who are natural inventors and problem-solvers, can implement this strategy to solve problems in their own communities and beyond.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Momsen (Houston High School: Houston, MN), Mary Lynn Hess (Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School: Sanford, FL), Victoria Pasquantonio (PBS NewsHour: Arlington, VA)

Ever wondered what’s inside a calculator? Or how a wind-up toy works? Join us as we tinker with toys and learn how reverse-engineering activities can be a powerful learning experience for students. Come prepared to take simple objects apart. The challenge will be putting them back together again!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain experience deconstructing and reconstructing everyday objects such as toys; be able to identify learning opportunities in simple reverse-engineering activities; and be prepared to facilitate reverse-engineering activities in elementary classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Get in the groove and make a real working record player! Investigate sound and wave properties with an easy-to-build homemade record player. Learn how music is encoded and played back. Understand the difference between digital and analog information transfer with this DIY device.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sound waves and their application in technologies for information transfer.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Muller (Exploratorium: San Francsicso, CA)

Is crash-testing biased against women? Join science education professor Griff Jones and IIHS Vehicle Research Center staff to learn about the latest research regarding equity issues and crash-testing, and participate in a live Q&A with crash test dummy research experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn why ensuring equity in crash-testing research is more complex than simply putting a female dummy in the driver’s seat and how IIHS’s “Deep Dive with Dummies” free video series can be used to teach grade 5-12 students about the nature of science.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Young (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute: Arlington, VA), Griff Jones (University of Florida: No City, No State)

In this session, participants will work on hands-on activities and build a guitar to learn about the properties of sound using the engineering design model and translanguaging for elementary grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach about the properties of sound for elementary grade level using an engineering activity and translanguaging (English/Spanish).

SPEAKERS:
Max Vazquez Dominguez (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO

Rediscover the most versatile tool in your physics lab: the meter stick! Learn how to facilitate student investigations of rotation, torque, optics, and even Lenz's law using the PASCO Aluminum Meter Stick and accessories.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Guzules (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

In this workshop, explore what defines a STEM lesson and learn how to turn your Science class into STEM by adding relevant engineering and math activities to lessons. STEM activities will help maintain your students’ interest and give them a more wholistic understanding of the Science discipline.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhance your 5E science lessons by learning how to add student-centered, collaborative math and engineering activities to them. In this workshop, we will transform common science activities in 3-5th grade by exploring and generating connections from the Science activities to math and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Rama Sreekantham (Paragon Prep School: No City, No State)

How can engineering design invite student creativity and choice in a science classroom? Come learn about a teacher-developed tool for scaling student autonomy both up and down within engineering practices into your science class. Leave with new activity ideas and a new strategy for developing more.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this presentation, teachers will look at several examples of integrated-STEM instruction on a continuum of student-centricity and complexity. Teachers will use a Project Complexity Rubric to consider modifications to the examples and to their own engineering-oriented math and science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kylie Bertram (Science Teacher: Willingboro, NJ), Emily Berman (Global STEM Challenges Program)

Innovative workshop designed to help break down barriers to innovation with free educational resources, hands-on activities, and lesson plans celebrating our Inventor Trading Cards. Empower students of all backgrounds and differing abilities to see themselves as inventors!

TAKEAWAYS:
Everyone is an inventor! All students and educators are problem solvers, inventors, and makers regardless of economic status or geographic location. Innovation and our economy thrive on diversity of thought and all voices and ideas are essential to solving the problems of today and tomorrow.

SPEAKERS:
Jorge Valdes (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA), Reginald Duncan (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA)

Come to this session to learn how to incorporate project and problem-based learning into your NGSS and three-dimensional science classroom. Real projects will be shared that are linked to relevant and engaging phenomena, and provide students with choice and agency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement project- and problem-based learning into their science class, while maintaining an NGSS or three-dimensional science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Bogart (Stonecreek Junior High: No City, No State)

Projects in the P-2 band are a wonderful way to include all student voices and are very indicative of science understandings. See ways of creating a project, and what to do with the projects that get "left behind."

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with project ideas and criteria for choosing workable class projects, as well as research citations supporting such work to use and share in their specific contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV)

This study aims to enhance the understanding of future science teachers in the field of transportation and to create an innovative teaching approach that integrates the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of students into the instruction of transportation engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
This study aims to enhance the understanding of future science teachers in the field of transportation and to create an innovative teaching approach that integrates the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of students into the instruction of transportation engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Jiyoon Yoon (The University of Texas at Arlington: Arlington, TX)

Hawai‘i Island’s leading astronomy education program Journey Through the Universe is marking two decades of bringing astronomy down to Earth and into Hawaiʻi classrooms. Join the International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab as we share our approach to building community partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away a variety of strategies and resources from the Journey Through the Universe Program to help establish and build partnerships with their local astronomical organizations.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab), Emily Peavy (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab: No City, No State)

Within these years of early childhood education, teachers and their young learners need high-quality STEM materials to explore what is in the world, and how it works. Ramps & Pathways give children endless possibilities to design and create…come learn how!

TAKEAWAYS:
By preparing the next generation of STEM educators, we are preparing them to support innovation in their classroom with their own students. This session will focus on how to use Ramps and Pathways as a tool to support your young engineers in an active and engaging session!

SPEAKERS:
Allison Barness (Assistant Professor)

I have been utilizing electronic notebooks with students in a variety of ways. I will share examples and what I’ve found useful and problematic about different platforms, and what I hope to add in the future. I will give you resource copies and contact info to collaborate on future improvements.

TAKEAWAYS:
Electronic notebooks are a better approach for students to record what they are learning and doing. They have all the abilities of traditional notebooks plus many additional features: from animation and linked videos, to manipulatable pictures, to cross-platform aspects like graphs and much more.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Kuehl (Grand Rapids High School: , MN), Joshua Dumas (Biology Teacher: Medford, MN)

The NGSS calls for the integration of engineering design into K-12 science classrooms. In this session, participants will be introduced to NSTA Instructional materials that provide opportunities for students to design solutions and enact the science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Problem-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students opportunities to actively try to figure out how to design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Learn how to create easy inexpensive science and engineering activities using just paper, tape and scissors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Fun engaging projects can be made with inexpensive easily accessible supplies

SPEAKERS:
Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries / Skill Mill NYC: New York, NY)

Tired of the same old Egg Drop Experiment? Meet Egg Wars where engineering meets demolition! Students design devices to protect their egg while trying to destroy their opponent's in this physics-based engineering battle. Devices swing on a pendulum into each other for big impact and even bigger fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to bring the excitement of Egg Wars to your classroom! Attendees will receive: documents outlining project criteria and constraints, a sample timeline for the project, a materials list, instructions for building an Egg Wars pendulum, and student examples.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Lucht (Middle School Science Teacher: , IL), Leora Kurtz (8th Grade Science Teacher: Northbrook, IL)

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons teach graphing, data analysis, engineering practices, etc. They include teacher notes, standards, rubrics, and lesson plans. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Too often, our students view science as a cold, calculated endeavor. We have lessons that show how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations, like open-heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. Our goal is for students to see themselves as future scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez (G. W. Carver Middle School: Miami, FL)

Learn about the collaboration of university and industry-based researchers with K-12 educators in creating science learning opportunities through community centered STEM lessons and activities that highlight local STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how the SciREN project supports a collaborative relationship between K-12 Teachers and STEM researchers by providing a platform for researchers to translate their local research into K-12 lesson plans under the guidance of K-12 teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Joni Lakin (University of Alabama at Birmingham: No City, No State), Komanci Love (Northside High School: Northport, AL)

Explore an NGSS-aligned 3D learning journey merging physics, earth science & engineering via inquiry & projects. Delve into a storyline based on creating a Sustainable Energy Plan, engaging in hands-on activities like building speakers, engineering wind turbines, and modeling solar cells.

TAKEAWAYS:
At the end of the workshop, the entire year of Patterns Physics resources will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Bradford Hill (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR), Matt McCollum (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR)

This interactive presentation provides teachers with a ready-to-use middle school science unit. The Unit connects students' current weather experiences to Earth's weather systems. Next, students learn and apply their knowledge of thermal energy to a school building engineering design project.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to teach and assess a dynamic 3D unit addressing Physical Science and Earth Space Science Next Generation Science Standards. Teachers will leave with editable access to all Unit materials. Teachers will get time and guidance on how to adapt the Unit to their classroom and student needs.

SPEAKERS:
Kat Chamberlain (Ridgetop Middle School: No City, No State)

Sponsoring Company: Imagine Learning

Join world class designers and engineers as we dive in to explore hydroelectricity and the growing need to harness force and motion found in the ocean. Experience a simulated lesson, make a 3D model of a water turbine, and use it to investigate the relationship between force and motion.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Biadasz (Senior Product Marketing Manager: Scottsdale, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Nuclear Energy Education Initiative

This workshop will provide a one-stop-shop for Nuclear and other STEM Professionals, Industry Organizations, Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Influencers to encourage 8th graders to pursue nuclear and STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Desiree Wolfgramm (Energy Northwest: Richland, WA), Mandi Brigman (Duke Energy: Charlotte, NC), Bobbi Jo Halvorson (Xcel Energy: Minneapolis, MN)

To achieve a clean energy future, the industry needs new, diverse talent to fill jobs across many different occupations, spur innovation, and build a better world. Let's discuss ways this can be achieved and how the Department of Energy and its national labs can best inspire the next generation.

TAKEAWAYS:
The goal would be to seek feedback from participants, share tools and resources to support challenges to meeting our nation's clean energy workforce needs, and solicit input into future work efforts to attract those that want to build a better world.

SPEAKERS:
Iain Sterry (STEM Engagement and Training Manager: Portland, OR), Michael Arquin (KidWind Project: Saint Paul, MN), Arielle Cardinal (Senior Project Manager - Water Power Program: Golden, CO), Kimberly Swan (The NEED Project: Manassas, VA), Elise DeGeorge (Project Leader: LA CRESCENTA, CA)

Through a hands-on approach, students engaged in experiments, creating hypotheses and testing their theories with various materials. Fourth and fifth-grade students worked with teachers for over six months and explored material science and basic engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
The ability to modify and adapt STEM lessons for all students. We successfully incorporated students with learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, interrupted formal schooling/newcomers to the country, and other English Language Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen Cahill (Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District: No City, No State)

Embark on a journey of empowering students through invention and intellectual property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Our poster presentation invites you to explore the vast landscape of educational resources, dynamic professional development, and EquIP HQ.

TAKEAWAYS:
Elevate your expertise in how invention education engages students in real-world problem-solving and is a transdisciplinary approach to learning, meeting NGSS crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Lanman (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA), Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: No City, No State)

We developed a new unit for high school biology courses where students design a robotic gripper that opens and closes based on their own muscle activity. This model of a bionic arm integrates life science content, computational thinking skills, and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive poster, participants will be able to engage with the technology and learn about the lessons and activities that our team has developed. We hope that this will inspire other educators to incorporate computational thinking and engineering design into their courses.

SPEAKERS:
Joshua Wickline (teacher: New York, NY)

Kids are natural inventors and problem solvers. We all know the importance of all students seeing themselves as mathematicians and scientists. Explore a free K-12 resource to teach our young inventors how and why to protect their intellectual property through the power of invention education.

TAKEAWAYS:
The purpose of this session is to introduce teachers to EquIP HQ and other free tools and resources from the US Patent and Trademark Office to help your students develop essential critical thinking and research skills, as well as creativity and problem-solving through invention education.

SPEAKERS:
Reginald Duncan (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA)

Explore innovative ways to engage students in the world of science and technology through nature-inspired inventions, intellectual property, and engineering. Experience a USPTO lesson that will foster a sense of wonder and curiosity in students while promoting creativity and critical thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Time-tested biological systems inspire inventions that solve complex human problems. Learn how to implement case-based lessons that integrate inquiry, biological concepts, and nature-inspired invention while teaching students about protecting their intellectual property.

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Lanman (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA), Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: No City, No State)

Join the Click2Engineering.org team for an introduction to this free website for informal STEM educators. Engage in a ready-to-teach engineering activity and learn about the Ten Practices for an Engineering Mindset, as well as best practices for teaching engineering to elementary-age youth.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, attendees will be briefly introduced to the website and it’s resources, and will then engage in a hands-on, authentic engineering activity focusing on one of the ten Practices for an Engineering Mindset (e.g., using a systematic design process).

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Swanson (University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln, NE)