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

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative worktexts deliver student-centred resources: AP, NGSS & electives. Identical print and digital titles integrate to provide a rich teaching program. Use our teacher resources to plan, deliver, & assess. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

Help students see the forest for the trees -- and all its biodiversity -- in this interdisciplinary, hands-on session. Engage in a game inspired by The Lorax, a simulation of biodiversity in temperate and tropical rainforests and a resource management game of strategy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn ways to introduce elementary students to concepts about natural resource use and management and the importance of preserving biodiverse ecosystems through games and 3D simulations that are interdisciplinary and inquiry-based.

SPEAKERS:
Bennett Steidinger, Pam Wasserman

We will share a process for developing middle school science curricula using Two-Eyed Seeing and place-based learning to increase the engagement of Indigenous students. We will sample lessons developed with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, walk through development process, and provide lesson links.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about an approach to developing a culturally relevant STEM curriculum using Two-Eyed Seeing and place-based learning and sample lessons that respectfully include Indigenous knowledges.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Just, KIRTIKA PANWAR, Sarah McDowell

Join us for an immersive EarthX experience, where you will don your student hat to explore the interconnectedness of Earth and the traditional sciences. We don’t experience the world as discrete biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth science interactions, so why do we teach these subjects in silos?

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session having experienced first hand a student-centered, 3-dimensional lesson showcasing NGSS Earth Science DCIs integrated into traditional high school curricula, taught by one of the Baltimore City science teachers who helped develop the materials.

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

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Why are sea levels rising? Why is it so dangerous - no matter where in the US you live? How can we address it? Using hands-on role-playing activities from NOAA, engage your students on one of the most dangerous climate impacts of our time.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen, Peggy Steffen

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

This authentic case study analyzes microbial DNA from the International Space Station. Available as a hands-on gel electrophoresis experiment or a free virtual lab. This session will also feature Genes in Space, a free experimental design competition that sends student experiments to space!

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Dive into Earth's wonders! Our Earth Science workshop offers hands-on activities, expert insights and teaching strategies to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding. Join us in exploring the dynamic systems of our planet! Geology, Meteorology, Climate & Physical Geography! Grades 5-8, 9-12.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman

I will have a tri-fold of the carbon cycle. I will also have print outs of vocabulary to use, a coloring sheet with carbon cycle, and an exit ticket or a way to test knowledge. I will also have some other helpful links and resources that explain the carbon cycle.

TAKEAWAYS:
The attendees will be learning how to incorperate sceince into their school day. There will be resources and print outs of how to explain the carbon cycle to elementary level students.

SPEAKERS:
Lydia Chapman

Learn to compare ground-based weather observations with satellite data using visible and infrared imagery. This session will provide hands-on activities with My NASA Data to help students analyze weather patterns and understand how different observations complement each other.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate ground-based observations with satellite data, using hands-on activities with My NASA Data to help students analyze and understand weather patterns from both local and global perspectives.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Smoak, Diane Ripollone

This poster showcases the culturally relevant middle school 5E STEM lesson that interweaves Native American stories, language, and culture through Two-Eyed Seeing and Place-Based Learning. The lesson is part of the Native Earth Native Sky free online asynchronous professional development course.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about effective strategies and tools to implement culturally relevant STEM lessons that interweave Native American stories, language and culture. Attendees will also learn about other lessons that are a part of an online asynchronous professional development course.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah McDowell, Angela Just

The University of Nebraska offers a geology field course to science teachers where participants will travel through Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota over a 2 week experience. The only cost for participants is tuition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in the course will not only learn about the geology of the area, but they will also learn new strategies to reinforce 3 dimensional learning in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kyle Thompson

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this unit for grades 3-5 teaches students how to understand and improve indoor air quality. Students read stories and engage in hands-on activities to explore indoor environments and take action to create healthier spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to engage grades 3-5 students in investigating indoor air quality through storytelling and challenge-based activities. This modular unit empowers students to become active problem-solvers and builds their action competence in creating healthier indoor spaces.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

This lesson focused on Earth’s movement in space using a hands-on, inquiry based approach. In this lesson, students designed experiments to support a hypothesis that the helio-centric model is the most accurate in terms of explaining the phenomena: day & night and seasonality.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn to utilize inexpensive materials you may have lying around the classroom and/or at home to engage students in activities that will support them in their understanding of Earth’s movement in space. Teachers will receive an adaptable lesson plan with student examples that is customizable.

SPEAKERS:
Jaime Camero

Discover how PBS LearningMedia, a free and trusted resource for PreK-12 classrooms, utilizes media-rich resources from PBS shows like NOVA, NATURE, Weathered, and PBS Eons to spark students' curiosity, facilitate student sense-making, and support 3D learning frameworks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies for seamlessly incorporating multimedia content from PBS LearningMedia into curriculum and learn new methods to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving as students learn about and discuss challenges posed by environmental issues and the potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Merek Chang, Lori Brittain

Scientific ocean drilling is disappearing from textbooks. An OER was developed to share the ships and sampling process, profiles of scientists and crew, and onshore analyses. The OER includes multimedia material, interactive fact checks, and student exercises to increase ocean literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Viewers will learn about the organization of a free educational resource on scientific ocean drilling, which includes spotlights of the scientists and crew in text and audio, video clips, interactive fact checks, and questions and exercises, to increase student ocean literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Guertin

Dive into the "Curious Cloudy Connections" crafted by the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) to help foster systems thinking and community science engagement in classrooms. Learn how NESTA cultivates vital connections, enhancing Earth and space science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a unique way NESTA supports quality Earth and space science instruction across all disciplines with community learning and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Macke

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Unlock the cosmos for your classroom with our tailored workshop! Discover engaging teacher resources and delve into the latest astronomical discoveries. Gain confidence and tools to ignite students' curiosity about the wonders of the universe, fostering a passion for science. Grades K4, 5-8 and 9-12

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman

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

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Dive into a sea of classroom-ready resources! With standards-aligned teaching materials, tutorials, hands-on activities, PD, and funding opportunities, NOS Education supports ocean, coastal, and climate learning at ALL levels and engages students and communities in hands-on stewardship.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen

Learn to use some of the standards-based physical activities and "kinesthetic clue" mnemonic devices used at one of New Jersey's top-performing middle schools. See how when you get kids moving, it gets them learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tired of having your students waste time and energy trying to memorize things? Have them “Get Moving!” Kinesthetic activities help make the shift from memorizing to mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ciuffreda

Learn how Blue Origin's Club for the Future is helping students get excited about space careers via hands on STEM lessons. Explore the lesson Cosmic Clutter: The Mission to Clean Up Space Debris and learn how to implement the lesson into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to implement the lesson into their classroom and learn about the free resources Club for the Future has to offer.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Yip

Participants will conduct a series of hands-on activities on the properties of soil and how they relate to ecosystem health and sustainability. Teachers will also learn about additional professional development opportunities where they can participate in fieldwork with soil scientists in their area.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with concrete strategies and resources for teaching soil science concepts as they relate to a number of middle school standards. The activities foster inquiry-based learning and are intended to spark curiosity about the Earth beneath our feet.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Lindsay Mossa, Maliya Malik

Join us to learn how to use a place-based approach with data from NASA’s Earth System Data Explorer tool. Participants will take part in hands-on activities and pedagogical discussions to think about implementing place-based, data-rich activities using NASA resources in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access and use both primary and secondary data from NASA’s Earth System Data Explorer and other NASA resources (e.g., My NASA Data Literacy Cubes) to explore global phenomena at local scales, and reflect on instructional trade-offs for using different tools.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Salisbury, Karen Lionberger

NSTA has revised and updated its position 2018 position statement on climate science, strengthening its commitment to high quality education on the teaching of the science of climate change. This presentation outlines the changes to the position statement and the rationale for the changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become equipped with the rationale and tools for necessary for teaching the science of climate change, as well as needed talking points necessary for engaging with the range of constituencies that have voice in or impact upon science education in general.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Holzer, Michael Wysession, Kelli Grabowski, Eric Pyle

Learn how to engage your students with the rich phenomena that stars and exoplanets can provide through the use of a free EQuIP-reviewed high quality ESS unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will deepen their understanding of how prioritizing phenomena-driven learning supports key HQIM features through exploring a free NGSS-badged ESS unit that engages student interest and relevance while integrating the three dimensions of argumentation, stability & change, and various DCIs.

SPEAKERS:
Devin Foschi, Dora Kastel

Engage with routines and text sets—including primary sources from the Library of Congress—that can be used to support civically engaged argument writing about cross-disciplinary environmental issues like space debris, fast fashion, palm oil in foods, and minting new pennies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to support students in (1) making sense of multiple perspectives and (2) contributing to ongoing civic conversations about issues of importance with the help of approaches and tools that have been developed by teachers and are freely available online.

SPEAKERS:
Trey Smith, Lisa Lapina, Javaha Ross

Come learn about Data Puzzles, a free resource co-designed by climate scientists and instructional specialists from the University of Colorado Boulder that combine authentic data with Ambitious Science Teaching instructional practices to help students make sense of phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the Data Puzzles instructional framework in the context of the Wind Farms of the Future resource and leave prepared to implement these 2-3 day sensemaking lessons in their own middle and high school classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Marie Dubick, Kerri Wingert

The American Meteorological Society’s Education Team offers four professional development courses for teachers throughout the year. Learn about these free opportunities to deepen your understanding of Earth Science topics and how to teach them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with information about the DataStreme Weather and Ocean, Project Ice, and Project Atmosphere, including the focus and components of each course, types of activities, and how to apply.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone, Erin Smoak

Enhance your Earth and Space Science teaching and student learning with free instructional resources from Windows to the Universe! Bundle high-quality materials for effective lessons related to any Earth and space science topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will access the Windows to the Universe web resource filled with high quality instructional resources that can be used to enhance Earth and Space Science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Holzer

NOAA Ocean Service Education offers classroom ready, standards aligned Earth science resources for teachers to immediately plug into existing curriculum, as well as opportunities to receive up to $5000 in funding to develop and carry out stewardship projects in their school or community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will receive classroom ready, standards-aligned resources so they and their students can learn about Earth science in the air, on the ground, in the ocean, how it relates to their everyday lives, and how they can receive funding to address environmental impacts to their community

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik

Using free or low-cost resources in the middle school classroom, you can get your students excited about earthquake science. IRIS and EarthScope resources will be shared, explained, and demonstrated.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be able to have their classrooms and students monitor local, regional, and global seismic events even before they make national news stations. Authentic seismic data in the classroom will make your science classes more relevant and interesting for all students.

SPEAKERS:
David Curry

Explore the NASA Earth System Satellite Images for six variables over the course of a year and six lesson plans incorporating the My NASA Data Literacy Cubes to make sense of the mapped data.

TAKEAWAYS:
This resource uses differentiated resources to make sense of curated NASA Earth data.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Rizzi

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

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE’s platform combines digital replicas of our highly acclaimed print titles together with Presentation Slides, 3D models, and curated videos, providing powerful options for delivering high school science programs. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

Build capacity in providing opportunities for students to have voice and choice in exploring topics and fostering STEM skills through engaging space-themed curriculum. The charge is on educators to provide opportunities for all students to envision themselves in a STEM career field.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with ideas and simple yet impactful strategies to leverage knowledge of students to help ensure all students feel valued in STEM learning and can envision themselves in STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Minton, Beverly Berekian

Representatives from the GLOBE Program, MYNASA Data, and NASA GLOBE Mission Earth, will discuss and answer questions about available educational and scientific products, that focus on Acquiring -Analyzing- Applying satellite imagery, remote sensing, and computer visualizations for student research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the Space to Earth:Earth to Space (SEES) Model, students can actively engage in investigations using authentic NASA imagery, data, and visualizations using from Earth Observing Satellites, remote sensing, and ground observations and measurements using scientific protocols

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Taylor, Michael Jabot, John Moore

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

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Get the first look at the newly revised EarthComm book, 4th edition earth science book. Experience a great take home lab and learn how to infuse United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) into instruction, plus see all the changes that were made to this classroom resource!

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts, Lindsay Mossa, Ed Robeck, Sequoyah McGee, Lauren Brase, Maliya Malik

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this FREE and turn-key, research-based unit empowers middle school teachers to bring climate science into their classrooms through engaging, hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use a research-backed climate science unit in their classrooms. They’ll discover practical strategies for engaging students through experiments, case studies, and design challenges, making climate science accessible, interesting, and relevant to middle school learners.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

What if you could easily tailor your science curriculum to reflect the world your students live in? In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how to use Stile’s Prepare Mode to seamlessly integrate local phenomena into their science lessons. We’ll explore how making local connections boosts engagement and learning outcomes, and you’ll collaborate with fellow teachers to build a custom lesson featuring New York- and New Jersey-specific science phenomena in real time. Whether it’s a case study on Hurricane Sandy, an analysis of water levels in the Manasquan Reservoir, or an exploration of genetically diverse cockroaches in Manhattan, you’ll leave with a personalized lesson ready to spark dynamic, student-led discussions in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Julianna Jimenez

Sponsoring Company: LEGO® Education

Ever wonder how your cells are like a tiny city? Or what a sheep would want in their hotel room? Come experience science standards in a way that will make science the highlight of your students' day. Reignite your passion for teaching with engaging, hands-on science lessons and LEGO® bricks.

SPEAKERS:
Jenny Nash

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

Participants will gain first-hand experience in designing a virtual field trip. They will learn how to use Tour It, a free tool available through the NASA Infiniscope project, to create immersive virtual experiences that make the benefits of place-based education more broadly accessible.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, participants will begin creating an immersive student field experience using Tour It. They will learn how to capture media, design for place-based learning, and accommodate the needs of diverse learners.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Narish, Sina Kirk

Sponsoring Company: Texas A&M University / NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium

Astronaut and Professor Greg Chamitoff will share some of his personal journey in Space while explaining a new STEM program called Space Teams Academy that immerses student teams in virtual collaboration, design, and execution of their own space mission.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Chamitoff

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Discover how the strategic use of feedback and reflection can revolutionize your instructional practices and student learning outcomes. In this collaborative session, engage with fellow educators to explore practical strategies for fostering a classroom culture that listens actively, reflects thoughtfully, and continuously improves.

SPEAKERS:
Wayne Wright

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Join us for a tour of our education website and discuss how NOAA can meet your needs. We’ll show you how to navigate our educational resources on the ocean, coast, Great Lakes, weather, and climate. Bring your questions and comments on what you’d like from us. This session is for K-16 educators.

SPEAKERS:
Tami Lunsford, Michael Gutierrez

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Help your students understand complex concepts like climate and climate change through modeling. Participants will do hands on activities that can be used in the classroom to explain climate mechanisms and explore how we know climate is changing.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko

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 this workshop, explore nationwide weather and climate data through an online graphing tool that simplifies data visualization. The tool makes it possible for students to focus on analysis and interpretation, rather than getting stuck on complex data. http://uanyc.science/pwc

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use the free AMNH Weather and Climate graphing tool with their students, and will walk away with worksheet resources that make this graphing tool even more accessible to their students.

SPEAKERS:
Jasmina Nikolov, Rachelle Travis

Want to digitally capture all students' sensemaking in chemistry? Discover the potential of Canva’s infinite whiteboard for fostering collaboration and creativity through modeling and QFT. Leave with practical tips, editable protocols, and fresh inspiration to start implementing immediately!

TAKEAWAYS:
This interactive session uses Canva’s whiteboard as an effective platform for all students to collaboratively engage in SEPs, such as creating models and asking questions in an equitable learning environment. This chemistry focused session provides student examples and tips for implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah English

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

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Attendees will leave equipped with a student-tested wind energy lesson, incorporating hands-on activities and collaborative learning, adaptable for grades 4-12, fostering a deeper understanding of renewable energy concepts aligned with NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

This workshop will delve into the critical role of soil in the sustainability of our planet, incorporating the four pillars of sustainability: economic, social, environmental, and cultural. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of human activities on soil health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using classroom-ready resources shared, participants learn about the economic benefits of healthy soil, the social implications of soil degradation, the environmental importance of soil conservation, and the cultural significance of soil in different societies.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Szulczewski, Margaret Holzer

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

Learn how the NGSS integrates physics and ESS through an introduction to four innovative lessons about heliophysics. All activities are based in research on a survey of physics and ESS teacher needs and interests and have been tested in high school and introductory college classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take back lessons to (1) teach about motion graphs with images of coronal mass ejections, (2) relate sunspot cycles to period and frequency, (3) model spectra from the Sun and other stars, and (4) visualize magnetic fields and their relationship to the Sun and planets.

SPEAKERS:
HAVA TURKAKIN, Francesca Viale

Elementary teachers will learn about the role of plausibility in science and a new scaffold for their students' evaluation of the relationship between scientific evidence and explanatory models. This lesson about fossils includes a narrative nonfiction story and an interactive worksheet.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will takeaway that plausibility is a key cognitive construct in science and that elementary students are capable of evaluating these complex relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Klavon

Learn how to modify and implement the NASA Data Literacy Cubes with students in a co-teaching model. Experience a lesson with combined Science and Social Studies content that provides students a unique opportunity to learn about oil and gas deposits and landforms in Ohio.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a co-taught lesson using the NASA Data Literacy Cubes. They will be provided with the opportunity to adapt the lesson to fit their own content, curriculum, and state standards. Attendees will receive copies of the lesson plan, the Data Literacy Cubes, and student materials.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Creech, Michele Lewis

Nature is a perfect lens for sparking a child's curiosity. Nature-based materials provide opportunities for children to dive into the world of scientific inquiry, asking questions, designing experiments and collecting data. Come explore some exciting nature-prompts and see where it takes you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a range of activities designed to spark science inquiry in young children through nature-based materials and explorations. They will leave with tools for using nature as a resource to provide opportunities for science inquiry with young children.

SPEAKERS:
Rina Zampieron

Reduce your planning time with one-week pacing guides. These NGSS aligned pacing guides cover cloud types, plant phenology, and solar eclipses. Each has a driving question, teacher background information, GLOBE Program data collection, and connections to NASA.

TAKEAWAYS:
These one-week pacing guides cover clouds, plant phenology, and solar eclipses in NGSS aligned sequences which include student data collection.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Rizzi

Discover interdisciplinary, role-playing activities, games and group collaboration from Population Education to explore human-environmental interactions, impacts on fragile ecosystems and paths to sustainability. Receive lessons ready to use at informal education settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Share-a-thon visitors will discover ways to incorporate hands-on activities into their programming that explore relationships between people and the environment.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Humanity fights a perpetual arms race with pathogens. COVID and HIV recently hopped from animal hosts to humans and spread widely. Strains of H5N1 “bird flu” are poised to make that leap and threaten public health. How does viral evolution create new threats, and how we can defend ourselves?

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth investigates the relationship between the ocean, weather and climate on local to global scales. You’ll sample some of the ten hands-on activities for upper ES and MS students to reinforce Earth science concepts related to oceanography, meteorology and climate.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen, Kurt Mann

Explore an extreme heat based phenomenon with the Understanding Global Change (UGC) framework’s modeling practices. Learn UGC practices and tools to help incorporate an Earth systems perspective into your curriculum and adapt existing resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience the nature and processes of science by constructing explanations about a global change phenomenon with the Understanding Global Change framework and explanatory modeling practices.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

Bring science to life with fun, NGSS-aligned activities for middle school and high school! Explore physical, life, and earth science topics like chromatography, energy, and blood types. Perfect for middle and high school teachers! Handouts included. Visit www.flinnsci.com.

SPEAKERS:
Jonnathan Medina Ramos, Ph.D., Mike Marvel, Ph.D.

Explore how a multi-year teacher leadership initiative evolved into the development of a formalized program to prepare facilitators for curriculum-based professional learning and learn how these PL providers are supporting scaled curriculum adoption efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain insight into the key components of a long-term teacher leadership initiative, including how it informs professional learning for PD providers, through an immersive experience that highlights our curriculum-based facilitator preparation model.

SPEAKERS:
Dora Kastel, Elizabeth Chatham

Parallax is hard to understand from traditional illustrations. Here's a fresh take on parallax, and how to use your cellphone with google apps and a little dance to measure angular displacement between images, calculate distances, and validate your results.

TAKEAWAYS:
You'll learn to measure your phone camera's field-of-view, and use that information with layout tools in the Google Suite (or any similar suite) to measure angular displacement between views and calculate distances. We'll also discuss the Gaia mission to use parallax to make a 3-D map of our Galaxy.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Kaiser, Vincent Urbanowski

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

This presentation will showcase best practices to address that “all forms of energy production” have “risks as well as benefits.” The free, online Switch Classroom provides non-partisan content in this critical area of NGSS instruction. Adaptable for grades 4-12.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

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

Learn how various technologies of space communication can let your school chat with an astronaut LIVE in space through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. Investigate the use of electromagnetic waves, as well as the affects of life in space in these shared interactive lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to submit a proposal to ARISS to talk to an astronaut LIVE. The exciting ISS Chat is a day student will always remember, but it is just part of an extended learning opportunity about life, physical and space sciences. Examples of lesson plans will be shared and modeled.

SPEAKERS:
Dara Gardner

Discover the equitable assessment system applied in the OpenSciEd Thermodynamics in Earth’s Systems unit. Examine assessment practices that value and elicit diverse ways of knowing, supporting all students in demonstrating their understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore how formative and summative assessments are designed to be inclusive and culturally responsive, providing students with multiple opportunities to engage with, reflect on, and communicate their learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker, Holly Hereau

The A3Sat Project, Acquire-Analyze-Apply, the fundamentals of Remote Sensing Education, allows students to build an active CubeSat Emulator incorporating components of an authentic design engineers use for launch into space.

TAKEAWAYS:
Authentic STEM experiences like this can no longer wait to be explored only at the college or university level … they must begin in the pre-college community. The A3Sat project is broadening participation and creating diversity within these communities due to the interdisciplinary nature.

SPEAKERS:
John Moore

Sponsoring Company: Switch Classroom

Design, construct, and test a waterwheel to demonstrate the conversion of water power into mechanical power, capable of lifting several pennies. This lab will reinforce the concepts of renewable energy and energy transformation.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

This session will focus on engaging educators with quick, actionable insights and teaching strategies that bring the study of ancient climates into the classroom. Participants will explore classroom-ready activities such as ice core simulations and data analysis tools that align with NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Key takeaways: Understanding how Earth's climate has changed over time using proxy data. Hands-on classroom activities to engage students with real-world applications of paleoclimatology. Tools to connect paleoclimate studies with modern climate science, enhancing climate literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone

Adapted from companies like Google and 3-M, this 100% student-driving PBL allows students to pursue sense making and learning on a topic of their choosing as it relates to the content area.  Students work through the process from driving questions to public presentations in just 10 class periods.

TAKEAWAYS:
This process/project is accessible for students at any ability level, given the appropriate scaffolds, and EVERY student can find something they are passionate about to research. You can do this in your classroom and make it your own!

SPEAKERS:
Katie Mercadante

How to set up a long term weather journal project and what to do with the data when you are done using weather apps and sites. With long-term data (6-8 weeks) students can set up a preliminary climatograph and make some assumptions about climate regions for that season of the year.

TAKEAWAYS:
By having students choose a variety of locations globally, each can learn more about the progression of seasons in different hemispheres, day/night cycles, weather and climate to share with others in the class for enrichment of all.

SPEAKERS:
Tina Harris

Studies have shown that students have not experienced equitable and uniform access to a high school Earth science course. This study explored ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and English language proficiency and their relationship to Earth science access and performance.

TAKEAWAYS:
Earth science performance was positively predicted by the prevalence of Earth science participation in the school. Earth science enrollment also acted as a partial mediator for ethnic minority student enrollment, school level poverty, and the percentage of English language learners.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Schlendorf

Developed by experts in environmental health and K-12 STEM education, this FREE and turn-key, research-based unit empowers middle school teachers to bring climate science into their classrooms through engaging, hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use a research-backed climate science unit in their classrooms. They’ll discover practical strategies for engaging students through experiments, case studies, and design challenges, making climate science accessible, interesting, and relevant to middle school learners.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Link, PhD

AGI’s Teacher Field Experience (TFE) program connects geoscience professionals with K-12 educators through immersive field trips and workshops. This poster session highlights partner case studies and how professionals can enhance earth science education while inspiring future geoscientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how they will be able to join AGI's Teacher Field Experience (TFE) program, connecting with local geoscience professionals to participate in hands-on field experiences or workshops that will enhance their knowledge of specific geoscience areas.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsay Mossa, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Sequoyah McGee, Maliya Malik

The Women In Natural Sciences Program encourages participants to advocate for themselves in their exploration for other educational and career related opportunities. Sierra Destefanis shares her capstone project on how seaweed farming can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participation in OST programs provides real word insight in STEM fields. As a student interested in pursuing animal sciences, understanding how historical dramatic climate shifts impacted animal populations provides insight to how these changes will impact existing wildlife populations.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Godfrey

Water is the major force in shaping our planet. Students use simple models to measure water outwash and soil erosion. Simple models show students how plants and plant residue play major roles in preventing water outwash and soil erosion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will be able to explain how slope, wind and precipitation affect the movement of water across soil surfaces and how soil is carried by water on a slope using terms from their geography vocabulary lists (sediments, weathering, erosion, etc.).

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Cunningham

The alumni group of the NASA/IPAC Teacher Research Project have created standalone lessons to help teachers implement astronomical research. This poster will highlight the resources created for the middle school level and include tips to incorporate in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about incorporating standalone lessons into middle school classes and how to help facilitate astronomical research projects.

SPEAKERS:
Ace Schwarz

Let’s Connect! For over 40 years, educators have united through NESTA to champion excellence in Earth and space science education. Discover how our community can support your professional growth, inspire your teaching, and open doors to leadership opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NESTA supports fellow science teachers through collaboration, mentorship, and resource sharing. By fostering professional growth and enhancing teaching practices, NESTA empowers educators to inspire students and deepen their commitment to their own professional journeys.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Macke

Learn about Educating for Environmental Change, a free Indiana University project that helps educators teach the science and policy of climate change, and participate in exemplar activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Educating for Environmental Change project utilizes the following driving questions: how do we know the climate is changing; what are the impacts of these changes; how can we mitigate these changes; and how do we cultivate optimism in our students while teaching them about climate change?

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner

Explore how educative features in HQIM can support teacher learning, leading to effective adaptation and teacher decision-making that maintains curricular integrity. Using a free, storyline-based HS ESS course as an example, learn how these features foster sustainable changes in practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through an immersive experience, attendees will have the opportunity to consider educative features of OER science materials, including targeted callout boxes, that are designed to support enactment of the curriculum and localized adaptations to the materials that maintain the vision of the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Chatham, Dora Kastel

A hallmark of collaborative sense-making is using DCIs and CCs to develop explanations. This session will explore an approach for helping students to learn DCIs and CCs “just-in-time” as part of figuring out phenomena. Participants will also receive samples of high quality instructional materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Treating DCIs and CCs as a “piece of the puzzle” and introducing them “just-in-time” after there is a need to use them are productive ways to encourage the use of DCIs and CCs in sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Build data literacy with NOAA! Learn how to access and use NOAA’s data-rich resources, lessons, and visualization tools. We will choose 3-5 data resources based on your interests and walk you through navigating the resources and offer suggestions on incorporating them into your teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Smith

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative worktexts deliver student-centred resources: AP, NGSS & electives. Identical print and digital titles integrate to provide a rich teaching program. Use our teacher resources to plan, deliver, & assess. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 30 day preview of our digital platform

SPEAKERS:
Mark Temons

Too much? Too little? Just right? What are some of the potential impacts of the quantity of water in the environment? How can we mitigate negative impacts? Join us as we investigate some of the impacts and develop potential solutions. Leave with access to these and other lessons for your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will put on their student hats and engage in 3-D NGSS lessons as they learn about interactions among the hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, human impacts on these spheres, and how science may be used to mitigate concerns. Pedagogy behind lesson development will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Martinez

NOAA Ocean Service Education offers classroom ready, standards aligned ocean, coastal, Earth and climate science resources to immediately plug into existing curriculum, as well as opportunities to receive up to $5000 in funding to develop and carry out stewardship projects in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will receive classroom ready, standards-aligned resources so they and their students can learn about ocean, coastal, Earth, and climate science phenomena and issues, how they apply to them, and how they can receive funding to address environmental impacts to their community.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Gillen, Bruce Moravchik

The NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI) is a partnership between academic and non-profit organizations that explores, maps, and develops technology for the ocean. OECI institutions place a high priority on engaging with the public, K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The OECI table will highlight opportunities for both students and educators, lesson plans and activities to increase awareness of exploring our ocean.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Hicks Johnson

The American Museum of Natural History presents Urban Skies, an immersive program where students can explore the cosmos using our digital atlas, OpenSpace. Through hands-on navigation, students engage with space science, develop public speaking skills, and are inspired by careers in astronomy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how immersive technology like OpenSpace can transform education, ignite curiosity, and foster collaboration in classrooms and learning spaces as you virtually orbit Saturn, explore the volcanoes of Mars, or land on the surface of our moon.

SPEAKERS:
Guiomar Camano, Abigail Dean

PART OF NMEA SHARE-A-THON. Stop by and chat with a marine education specialist from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to learn more about their K-12 lesson plans, digital resources, career materials, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about our FREE marine science resources for K-12 educators!

SPEAKERS:
Celia Cackowski

The Dallas Arboretum has been engaging students of all ages with educational programming for nearly two decades, making standards-based, hands-on learning fun for everyone. Stop by to try out a garden-themed STEM activity and learn about all of the programs we have to offer!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about educational programs at the Dallas Arboretum.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Liken

The session will demonstrate the impact of co-teaching between the two disciplines through the use of a common phenomenon (aircraft in flight and race car). Participants will discuss how to introduce and correlate the core concepts of air pressure and temperature and their impact on aerodynamics.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway will be how science and tech ed teachers can co-teach a given concept (Bernoulli’s Principle), allowing students to see the correlation between the phenomena of pressure and airflow and how it affects the design of aircraft and race cars.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Dumas, John Atkins

Practice activities as a student with simple materials exploring the EM Spectrum and explanatory models that illustrate real world space science applications. Learn about the Virtual Astronomy Academy program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practice Claim Evidence and Reasoning, and a gallery walk of student work to review models; and practice collaborative learning to investigate filters and wavelengths. Attendees will also be learn how to join NASA Virtual Astronomy Academy professional development program.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone, Coral Clark, Ann Marie Dubick, P Harman

With simple gel filters, their own phones and computers, students can make images at different optical wavelengths and combine them as astronomers. Then, they’ll download real space telescope images in invisible wavelengths to make astrophotos. This activity supports STEM fun – and serious science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn to create multi-wavelength datasets with their phones and process them as astronomers do and access and process real astronomical images from free professional resources. Shared with students, this rich, non-language dependent activity deepens understanding and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Kaiser, Vincent Urbanowski

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Join us for a tour of our education website and discuss how NOAA can meet your needs. We’ll show you how to navigate our educational resources on the ocean, coast, Great Lakes, weather, and climate. Bring your questions and comments on what you’d like from us. This session is for K-16 educators.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Smith, Bekkah Lampe

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Help your students understand complex concepts like climate and climate change through modeling. Participants will do hands on activities that can be used in the classroom to explain climate mechanisms and explore how we know climate is changing.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko

Educators learn to create digital formative assessments utilizing Earth science simulations from Concord Consortium and Infiniscope’s Simple Authoring tool. Educators will learn how to embed these simulations, hear from peers, and gain strategies to enhance digital learning outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will discover how to leverage Earth science simulations from Concord Consortium to create interactive, formative assessments using Infiniscope’s Simple Author. By integrating these tools, they can enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes in digital learning environments.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Kreter, Christine Girtain, Melanie Narish, Stephanie Harmon

Elementary teachers will learn about the role of plausibility in science and a new scaffold for their students' evaluation of the relationship between scientific evidence and explanatory models. This lesson about fossils includes a narrative nonfiction story and an interactive worksheet.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will takeaway that plausibility is a key cognitive construct in science and that elementary students are capable of evaluating these complex relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Zembal-Saul

The American Meteorological Society’s Education Team will help teachers connect the forces acting on high- and low-pressure systems to the weather patterns they create.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with the ability to guide high school students through an inquiry-based weather lesson about the forces acting on high- and low-pressure systems and the weather patterns they create.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone, Erin Smoak

Learn strategies to support all students, including MultiLingual Learners (MLLs), in developing disciplinary-specific language through embedded peer-to-peer discussion routines, informed by research, that promote collaborative sensemaking and language acquisition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience instructional routines, through an immersive activity, designed to support the development of disciplinary-specific language and collaborative sensemaking in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Chatham, Dora Kastel

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

In this session, I’ll share "Lunar Dreams," a Wofford College seminar supported by NASA's South Carolina Space Grant. The course explores the Moon through humanistic and scientific inquiry, fostering scientific literacy, mindful observation, and AI-assisted writing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session participants will leave with practical insights and strategies for integrating AI and cross-disciplinary approaches, creating an authentic learning environment that connects science with the humanities.

SPEAKERS:
Steven Zides

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

This session will discuss how middle school students explored astronomical phenomenon via telescopes and databases to create a research project based on student-driven questions and hypotheses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Authentic, astronomical research can be done in an effective and rigorous way in middle school classes. Attendees will learn how to build an inquiry-based research project using authentic data.

SPEAKERS:
Ace Schwarz

Data literacy is a vital science skill. Can art help us build it? We share a research-based approach that combines Earth science content, NOAA data, and techniques from art education that center the skills needed to interpret complex visual information, alongside results of actual classroom impact.

TAKEAWAYS:
Specific results of how and why teaching practices that combine scientific data, science concepts, and arts-based facilitation techniques enable teachers to create an environment of productive struggle, equitable engagement, and improvement in data literacy skills in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Semmens, Jessica Sickler

Sponsoring Company: Esri

Geographic maps (GIS) are powerful tools for visualizing and analyzing scientific data from the schoolyard to the planet. Learn how to use no-cost, no login tools from Esri to explore and understand data using our new tools, including the National Geographic MapMaker.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Baker

Students experience “real science” through hands-on interaction with 3D-printed fossils in an activity that brings fieldwork and lab research into the classroom via an exploration of crucial geoscience concepts (deep time, paleoclimate, functional morphology, and extinction).

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain confidence in guiding their students through tackling big-picture and open-ended questions about the societal and scientific relevance of paleontology and geology using a hands-on and inquiry-based activity that incorporates 3D-printed fossils and aligns with the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Mattea Horne

Discuss the vital role of introducing children to the world of weather with an on-air meteorologist. Show students how they can analyze and anticipate weather patterns, giving them the tools to better weather our shared world. A perfect way to foster informed citizens on a changing planet!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators learn how to embed meteorology concepts into their curriculum. Using hands-on strategies, teachers can demonstrate the significance of real-world weather phenomena that shape students’ lives. Meteorology education empowers students while enhancing scientific literacy and critical thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Guy Brown

Identify a variety of shark tooth fossils of the Miocene in a hands-on investigation. Work with fossils to make inferences about the past environments and learn how to teach this with upper elementary students. Curriculum handouts and fossil kits will be provided to the first 35 participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use shark tooth fossils to analyze and interpret data during a NGSS-aligned 5E investigation. Identify shark tooth fossils from Chesapeake Group and make inferences about the past environment in the Miocene Epoch. Teachers will receive materials to use with elementary students.

SPEAKERS:
Kayce Wills, Laura Schneider

Teachers will conduct activities from the annual Earth Science Week calendar, explore special dates (e.g., Mountains Day), and make ties to UN Sustainable Development Goals, all of which connect earth science concepts to real-world events and the work of geoscientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage with free resources developed for Earth Science Week that connect with a variety of grade levels and earth science concepts. Making connections to real-world applications of earth science concepts will help relate many topics to sustainability and the work of geoscientists.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Lindsay Mossa, Maliya Malik

Sponsoring Company: Esri

Ready to set up a new outdoor data collection project for your students? This workshop will show you how to use three GIS tools in the ArcGIS school bundle to collect, map, analyze, and report on data collected. The workshop will feature StoryMaps and Survey123 to help support your project-based.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Baker

How do scientists study phenomena like dark matter and neutrinos, which can’t be directly observed? Learn how to bring this cutting-edge research into your classroom using sensemaking and SEPs, with strategies to help students explore the unseen through observable evidence and inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with practical strategies to help students leverage observable phenomena to make sense of complex, abstract scientific concepts, fostering deeper engagement and understanding through SEPs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Armstrong

Explore the Kids in Nutrition (KIN) program, an NGSS-aligned curriculum that engages middle school students in project-based learning focused on food sustainability and nutrition. Discover how to implement its flexible modules in various educational settings to foster student-led advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement phenomena-based learning experiences that engage students in exploring nutrition and sustainability issues. This approach positions students as decision-makers, problem-solvers, and advocates within their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Akanksha Pabari, Victor Pereira

Looking to help your elementary students connect and apply what they learn across content areas? Come learn how to use phenomena to launch interdisciplinary learning journeys. We’ll explore practical ways to integrate science, social studies, and literacy using anchoring and everyday phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be equipped to improve how they engage students with phenomena and will be able to amplify interdisciplinary connections in their own curricula through improved lesson activities and assessments that support science, social studies, and literacy learning for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe

What’s in a good assessment? Learn what to look for (or include) in an effective assessment that tracks students’ 3D learning related to middle school PEs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn about key features for summative, benchmark 3D assessments designed to be used in any NGSS-aligned middle school classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding

Explore the WikiWatershed Toolkit, a free suite of online tools that enhance 3-D learning and sensemaking through place-based watershed investigations, geospatial analysis and modeling, and interactive resources. Learn how these tools improve science practices and support student research projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand how to use the free resources and online applications from the WikiWatershed Toolkit to support learning and sensemaking in their middle and high school classrooms, including a stream study simulation, an animated site storm model, and a GIS watershed-modeling app.

SPEAKERS:
David Kline

Teachers will use lessons connecting earth science content, like soil properties and map interpretation, to sustainability issues. The session will also use geoheritage (i.e. recognizing the historic and cultural value of geologic features), to enable meaningful cross-curricular connections.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain experience with and access to free resources that use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and geoheritage as contexts for teaching. Concrete examples of how teachers have incorporated the SDGs into their classrooms and community-based student projects will be given.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lauren Brase, Ed Robeck, Lindsay Mossa, Maliya Malik

Empower students to address ecological issues with experiential activities focused on three-dimensional learning. Engage in simulations, modeling and interpreting data on natural resource use, population ecology, food and agriculture, and more. Receive lessons aligned to NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn ways to guide students’ inquiry around key environmental challenges, using hands-on simulations and modeling activities that employ 3D learning in an inclusive classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sharonda Eggleton-McNeil

An NGSS-aligned 5E investigation that will teach intermediate elementary educators how to identify and use fossils of the Chesapeake Group to look for patterns and analyze and interpret data to understand a paleoenvironment. The first 30 participants will receive free classroom fossil kits.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore marine fossil samples from the Chesapeake Group in a hands-on investigation to understand past life and past environment in this region. Teachers will receive materials to use with intermediate elementary students.

SPEAKERS:
Kayce Wills, Laura Schneider

This workshop highlights 10 unique and unusual science-based examples of solar system modeling for students that use simple materials and all activities stress use of decimals, fractions, and proportions in a scalable, adaptable, and fun exploration of the planets, distance, time, density, and scale

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate. in memorable and effective hands-on solar system scale activities that personalize both the experience and the information while encouraging confidence and understanding through fun, sometimes funny models.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Horejsi

Do you teach about the Sun and its effect on Earth? NASA created a heliophysics division 20 years ago to study the Sun-Earth relationship . Now NASA science educators have created a Framework for Heliophysics Education connected to NGSS so you can bring this exciting content to your students.

TAKEAWAYS:
We exist because of our Sun, but it’s not in the dictionary and gets only limited attention in the NGSS. You can change this by bringing the powerful knowledge NASA has developed through its missions to your students bringing physics and Earth science alive!

SPEAKERS:
Hilarie Davis

Explore an innovative model to help middle school students make sense of Earth and Environmental Science phenomena through data visualization! Attendees will participate in a program that uses arts-based approaches to support sensemaking and data skills and get access to classroom-ready resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a new model for exploring and making sense of geospatial data using arts-based instructional approaches for learning Earth and Environmental Science, learn how this approach supports teachers and students in improving data literacy, and leave with classroom-ready resources.

SPEAKERS:
David Curry, Mark Goldner, Jessica Sickler, Amy Busey, Kathryn Semmens

Stories provide a window into preservice elementary teachers’ anti-deficit perspectives on astronomy and how it is practiced. Attendees will critique published astronomy storybooks. Then small groups will write and share an outline of a story using criteria from the resource that will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Children’s storybooks contain implicit biases about who does astronomy, what counts as astronomy, and how place shapes astronomy. Attendees will learn to critique representation (e.g., racial and gender diversity), identify astronomy practices, and teach astronomy using stories.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Ragonese, Julia Plummer

You will be given a sample of material from the Miocene epoch. Your mission will be to analyze the microfossils found in this material and how it could be used in a lab and in introducing lab reports with students. Student handouts and more sample material will be available.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how microfossils can be used in a fun and exciting way to introduce what is, and how to conduct, a scientific investigation. It can also be used as part of a more comprehensive unit in earth or life science.

SPEAKERS:
Rick Glatz