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

Don’t miss this exciting event showcasing STEM and science-based programs, organizations, mobile labs, and local Philly attractions! Explore a variety of displays, connect with showcase presenters, enjoy tasty bites from the food cart, and take advantage of ample networking opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about STEM and science-based programs, organizations, mobile labs, and local Philly attractions

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Eaton

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Do you teach courses for preservice teachers? Learn how NSTA's resources, webinars, and online community can help students become the BEST teachers they can be. We will discuss what’s available on the NSTA website and how to easily access it from your own Class Landing Page. Membership is included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructors using NSTA as their Textbook (or as a supplement) have students who create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

A thorough understanding of the CCCs & SEPs naturally leads to phenomena-based lessons and shifts the focus within the lesson from covering disciplinary topics to using the DCIs as the context for mastering important CCCs & SEPs necessarily infusing the three dimensions within each science lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
A proper interpretation of science standards of STEELS can help teachers see them as the guide for what is really important rather than a rearrangement of the same old list of things to cover.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Cohen

Outdoor exploration and participatory science can help shape the STEM leaders of our future! Discover the benefits of outdoor learning as we explore free lessons, activities, and participatory-science projects that support social and emotional learning (SEL) while meeting science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover free resources and strategies to ensure outdoor exploration and participatory science experiences give all students authentic opportunities to build life-long skills that help them thrive in and out of the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Schaeffer

We will present the efforts of twenty secondary schools and partners at Stanford University to create authentic Drosophila-based research experiences, and how you can too!

TAKEAWAYS:
Through coordination with the Stan-X Network of schools, students and teachers can learn science through authentic, open-ended, publishable genetics research.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Lantz

Join us to explore how the engineering design process (EDP) enhances collaborative learning, community connections, student resilience, and skill-building in STEM education and preparing students for STEM careers. Gain insights into authentic design, research, and PL opportunities with practical examples.

TAKEAWAYS:
The engineering design process nurtures critical skills like problem-solving and creativity in K-12 education. We'll showcase adaptable resources, opportunities, and activities for all educators, focusing on free curricular resources, teacher development, and grants.

SPEAKERS:
Josephine Mesina, Tom Jenkins

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.

Come and connect! Engage with informal science educators from museums, zoos, afterschool, media, non-profits and more. Discover resources, programs, organizations, and opportunities for science educators - formal and informal alike!

TAKEAWAYS:
You'll network with informal educational organizations from across the country, discuss best practices, and discover free, hands-on activities for your organization or classroom.

Participants will explore an engineering design challenge that engages upper elementary students in the creation of tiny homes as a solution to homelessness after a local natural disaster. Explore Design Thinking principles and how empathy plays a role in authentic and inclusive STEM inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in an NGSS-based engineering design challenge where you design a solution for homelessness caused by natural disasters and learn the role of empathy in STEM inquiries by using Design Thinking principles and place-based strategies that engage all learners in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Williams

Videos where BIPOC students share STEM stories offer deep and moving insights in relation to their STEM education, careers, and family or community contexts. This model of STEM storytelling is culturally sustaining and empowering for the students and enlightening for teachers viewing them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will view some of these compelling storytelling videos and learn how to access them. Discussions during the session will reveal how to best use them as resources to build trust in our school communities. Guidance will be provided on how your students can tell their unique stories.

SPEAKERS:
Kris Grymonpre, Arthur Eisenkraft

Inviting all Preservice Teachers and Instructors to learn about NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapters. Preservice Teacher Chapters support individuals entering the profession with leadership experiences, networking opportunities, and professional learning resources available at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Preservice Teachers and Faculty Advisors walk-away informed to participate in NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapter Program.

SPEAKERS:
Jim McDonald, Eli Vincent, Alexandra Chester, Flavio Mendez, Jordan Kobielus

Science is Elemental’s (501C3) Teachers Asking Scientists Questions provides, free, rapid assistance with science content to elementary school teachers, and the opportunity for additional assistance incorporating science into lessons, to include having a scientist/engineer speak to classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Elementary school teachers (and others) can get free, quick help, using a text or email, without having to go to a website or set up an account. Career scientists are ready to answer your science content questions and/or help you incorporate science into your lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Miller

Join us to learn more about how to implement the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts into your K-12 science classroom. Attendees will receive copies of the SEP and CCC grade-band cards for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, as well as guidance on how to use them to support your plan.

TAKEAWAYS:
The cards have a title side which can be used as a classroom poster and a teacher information side that can be used during planning and instruction. Both cards contain bullet points from grade-band progression matrix documents as well as instructional strategies and sample questions for teacher use.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Chambless, Minna Turrell

Explore a unique approach to building student comprehension of natural phenomena through direct relationships with physical science concepts. These methods help students connect and apply chemistry and energy basics to meteorology and ecology experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the tools to teach the physical science foundations of natural phenomena, making clear connections between different areas of science for full understanding of weather, climate, biomes, and ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Schoeffler

Demonstrations in Physics to support curriculum, and also in Chemistry to support curriculum. They will reinforce instruction of various topics in physics and chemistry.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will gain practical knowledge in Physics and Chemistry to further enhance learning of subject matter in several areas you teach.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Hain

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.

We will share our experiences coordinating undergraduate pre-service teachers visiting high school classrooms to share and teach lessons related to fire-science. The lessons use local phenomena in order to connect them to the local students' experiences, but they can be adapted for any classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about how modeling fire succession can fit into their classroom lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Sameul Hoque Fahad, Debika Jana, Rachel Dice, Merryn Cole

Our world faces extreme challenges as we feel the impacts of our climate crisis. Learn how to build and facilitate student leadership for climate action programs and campaigns within your school and school community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to develop student leadership practices and how to teach about our climate crisis and translate their ideas into real-world impacts. How to develop skills like public speaking, outreach to community leaders, and inspiring action from your audience.

SPEAKERS:
JoEllen Schuleman

This session will introduce NSTA's phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional instructional materials designed for K-5 classrooms. These lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning that is meaningful to them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students with opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Emily Mathews, Patrice Scinta

Learn how students in a high school earth science class build Lego dams, with working floodgates, on a stream table with a small reservoir to model flood control structures. Students incorporate aspects of the Science and Engineering Practices to complete this engineering challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators who attend this session will learn how to implement this project based engineering challenge, create all the necessary pieces needed to implement the project, and see student examples.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Glen

During this session participants will be introduced to a teaching tool developed by teachers for teachers that can supplement your curriculum by ‘infusing’ hyper-local phenomenon centered on issues of environmental justice into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many of our students come from disenfranchised populations that have, or are currently are experiencing the impacts of environmental racism. Science teaching should include controversial issues connected to environmental justice (something called for in the Next Generation Science Standards).

SPEAKERS:
Christina Casto, Linda Fuselier

Some of the phenomena of the NGSS include astronomy topics that are either unfamiliar to classroom teachers, difficult to teach in the classroom, or both. This is where local planetariums can be of great help! Learn how partnering with planetariums can help provide your students with success!

TAKEAWAYS:
Planetariums offer immersive experiences to enhance student understanding of NGSS concepts (e.g., 5-ESS1-2). This session highlights topics for teachers to explore with planetariums, shares examples of successful programs, and provides guidance on finding and collaborating with local planetariums.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Seaton

Join us to explore how to scaffold student skills in a logical progression until students of varying abilities can apply skills independently. The session will include samples and activities to use in classrooms, methods for documenting progress, and tools for guiding students’ self-evaluation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with clear ideas about explicitly teaching skills and sequencing them in investigations in such a way that their students will practice and apply science process skills. Participants will also walk away with tools to build students’ metacognitive skills.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Schoeffler

This session will introduce NSTA's phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional instructional materials designed for middle school classrooms. These lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning that is meaningful to them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students with opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta

Pelham Lab High School's three-year research program, in partnership with Syracuse University Project Advance, empowers diverse students. By offering mentorship, college credits, and hands-on research, it fosters STEM skills, confidence, and academic growth.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how an inclusive research program can empower diverse students in STEM through mentorship, hands-on research, and college-level courses.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Kola, Intiaz Mahamad, Lea Buena

Are you ready for it? Come learn how to integrate Taylor Swift’s global influence into chemistry lessons, fostering student engagement and deepening their understanding of scientific concepts, making your course an "era" they will never forget!

TAKEAWAYS:
Chemistry can be intimidating, but linking it to familiar stories or characters breaks down complex ideas into simpler, more digestible parts.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Allessio

Presenting a constructivist activity-based 9th grade Biology lesson that offers students the opportunity to apply their core idea understandings of genetics with an emphasis on real life applications centered around rabbit reproduction using innovative inclusive based education strategies

TAKEAWAYS:
Presenters will share results of the use of integrated inclusive strategies in their Biology classroom as well as logistics, use of effective of protocols that demonstrated positive impact on student performance and content understanding

SPEAKERS:
Emily Setaro, Issam Abi-El-Mona

This presentation will focus on managing student behaviors in the STEM classroom. Participants will learn key strategies for creating a successful learning environment for their students, including relationship building, passion for STEM, and putting trust into each student.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through this presentation, teachers will leave with valuable strategies for delivering STEM curriculum in a safe, engaging, and rewarding way by harnessing the individual strengths and interests of the students in their classroom and giving them the power to explore the world around them.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Backstrom

Learn about a free high school science curriculum that introduces scientific thinking approaches for everyday life. Interactive lessons engage learners in real-world issues and are based on a University of California, Berkeley course co-authored by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Saul Perlmutter.

TAKEAWAYS:
The field of science contains techniques for using and evaluating information, which can be learned and applied to everyday life. The free curriculum of Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit provides classroom lessons that link these approaches to high school science content.

SPEAKERS:
Kristina Duncan, David House, Sarah Metz, Eric Greenwald

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Valynda Mayes, Dr. Patty McGinnis, Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn, David Wojnowski, Brooke Whitworth, Peter Lindeman, Beth Murphy

This session will introduce NSTA's phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional instructional materials designed for high school classrooms. These lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning that is meaningful to them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students with opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta

Harness the potential of generative AI in science education. The session showcases the benefits and some limitations of using AI to create classroom resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in this session will leave with a solid understanding of how to effectively integrate generative AI into their classrooms to enhance student engagement and learning. They will learn how to create innovative activities and design rubrics using AI, as well as how it can assist in grading

SPEAKERS:
Christine Patrum, Jewels Morgan

New to the U.S., this hands-on activity allows K-12 students to address plastic pollution through small-scale recycling. Students collect, shred, and repurpose plastics from cleanups, using injection molding technology to create functional items, promoting sustainability and STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement a small-scale plastic injection molding program, including sourcing equipment, receiving training, and accessing curriculum. They'll engage students in hands-on STEM projects that turn reclaimed plastics into functional items, promoting sustainability and technology.

SPEAKERS:
Rick Cochrane

This presentation explores the process by which a community-based organization engaged 17 youth of color in an integrated engineering problem solving participatory action research program to address challenges within the City of Pittsburgh.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn practical strategies to engage youth in project-based, hands-on research that is meaningful for both youth and community stakeholders.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Sinex

Resilience in Teaching and Learning: An examination of SEL pedagogy for a range of educators and their approach to socioemotional (SEL) as well as their own self-care. A qualitative study into the focus of SEL in the general education classroom and principles that help kids learn

TAKEAWAYS:
What types of approaches do educators use in promoting socioemotional learning with their students? Do teachers' perspectives on self-care influence their pedagogy? Are there any general SEL principles that promote student learning?

SPEAKERS:
Krishni Patrick

The Education Research & Outreach Lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center aims to connect learners at all levels with the vital role of plant science in improving the human condition through innovative STEAM+Ag® education, inclusive community partnerships, and cutting-edge research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Authentic Research Experiences and Education Technology programs provided by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center facilitate student experiences to enhance learning, foster interest, and prepare a diverse STEAM+Ag® next-generation workforce equipped to meet the challenges of the future.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Kass

Written text and images on a cereal box reflect many STEM concepts (e.g., shapes, numbers). By teaching with cereal boxes that children bring to school, teachers can build on children’s funds of knowledge and make informal science learning accessible to ALL children while addressing NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will explore STEM concepts in cereal boxes and learn from classroom examples of engaging children in exploring STEM concepts. You will brainstorm ideas for using cereal boxes in your own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Shelley Xu

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 showcases how K12 educators can access Department of Defense (DoD) STEM assets and opportunities that foster authentic learning opportunities and connections to STEM career pathways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a suite of STEM resources and opportunities - as well as efficient ways to incorporate these in the classroom - that support students toward future careers in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Levrault, Tiffany Jones, Stacey Reed, Eric Moore

We invite educators from both formal and informal science learning environments to come and engage with the Informal Science committee. Learn how the committee can support you, and connect with professionals from museums, zoos, aquaria, out-of-school-time programs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Meet the Informal Science Committee and find out how to connect with them in their work to support informal educators, expand the role of informal learning institutions, and strengthen the bonds between formal and informal science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Eisla, Rosie Arnold, Lindsay Milner, Karen Hays

Create a successful indoor garden using basic materials, and on a budget

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will give teachers dozens of ideas of how and what to plant indoors when you lack outdoor space

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson

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.

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.

Come explore selected science trade books from the past 3 years of OSTB winners that went beyond excellence - those that explicitly represent a diversity of stories, characters, authors, and illustrators. You will consider connections and application of these books for your own classroom context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about selected OSTB winning books that represent a diversity of stories, characters, authors, and illustrators. They will consider cross-curricular connections and application of these trade books for their own classroom contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Brady, Julie Geary, Ana Houseal

ASTE and NSTA have had a multi-year partnership. In the current climate of radical change, we want to solicit ideas, propose actions, and craft policy guidelines on what this partnership will look like tomorrow and into the future.

TAKEAWAYS:
What ASTE and NSTA, combined can do to support science teachers and science teacher educators.

SPEAKERS:
Jonah Firestone

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.

Through some hands-on activities learn how you can use existing science kit materials to support your student to achieve the goals of the NGSS, based on experiences from the Elementary Science Olympiad program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to modify "instructional kits" available to them to allow for authentic student inquiry where cycles of failure and feedback can occur to achieve the learning outcomes established by the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
John Loehr

Experience how embedding literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in 3D teaching and learning promotes sensemaking and science understanding for ALL learners! Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model embeds literacy supports throughout cycles of inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and embeds literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in conjunction with science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to promote students in figuring out key science ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Hopkins-Evans, Cynthia Gay

Engage with lessons that make invisible forces “visible”. As students collect data they see the evidence of forces at work. Videos and student notebooks show connected investigations illustrating elementary students’ science thinking about gravity, friction, static electricity, and magnetism.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn ways to design lessons that engage all students with making sense of physical science phenomena related to forces. The lessons are sequential and use a content storyline structure to leverage student ideas for building explanations about science concepts not easily seen.

SPEAKERS:
Kimber Hershberger, Kate Hallinger, Jennifer Jones

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.