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

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

SPEAKERS:
Merium Valdez, Magda Esparza, Gisella Calejo

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth

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

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Hesson

Come learn how we integrate science and language arts mini units, using food chains to guide participants through the process. Also, learn how we instruct our teacher candidates in higher education to do the same and then implement the lessons in local schools with immediate feedback from us.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to integrate science with language arts in classrooms, as teachers or instructors of higher education.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Lampley, Frances Hamilton

Make student thinking come to life with notebooks! Increase the rigor of student work—learn new strategies for organizing content and how to use templates for any science class. Take home many current NGSS classroom examples to get yourself started.

TAKEAWAYS:
Notebooking in science should focus on sensemaking and creating ownership of the work. Moving away from worksheets and discovering-1.) The how and why of science notebooks; 2.) How to engage ALL students in science; and 3.) Templates scaffold student learning for success.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert

Help students build empathy and connect science to their lives using a STEM picture book (Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals). Engage in science phenomena embedded in the story and learn how open-sourced interdisciplinary lessons can address literacy, science content, and inquiry skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will engage in student activities that show how NGSS content and inquiry skills can be addressed by investigating real-world phenomena introduced through a STEM picture book. Teachers will leave with the resources and background knowledge to facilitate these activities with students.

SPEAKERS:
Judith Newcomb, Jennifer Welborn

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Fries-Gaither

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive science workshop where literacy meets exploration! Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities see how to unravel the wonders of science but also enhance literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Sarah Glassman, Hoover Herrera

Engage students in authentic science learning about lead contamination through interactive activities that integrate cognitive and technical perspectives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will discover the significance of reframing lessons and traditional lab experiments through the lenses of cognitive and technical authentic science learning, empowering students to engage meaningfully with real-world scientific issues like lead contamination.

SPEAKERS:
Eual Phillips

This session provides strategies to enhance students' critical thinking skills in science. Participants will learn ways to support students to navigate the information landscape, by discerning credible sources and building strong scientific knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave the session equipped with strategies to encourage students to extend their thinking and knowledge beyond the classroom, enabling them to become informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens in an information-rich world.

SPEAKERS:
Rosiane Lesperance- Goss

Do you know Meaningful Integration Strengthens, Supports, and Inspires the Next Generation? This hands-on workshop is designed for middle school instructors to give and share ideas, structures, and strategies to integrate science with math, reading, writing, and critical thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants leave ready to collaborate and demonstrate the new found structure and strategies gained from the workshop. The workshop provides attendees with authentic and meaningful ideas that inspire students to read, write, understand mathematics and use critical thinking in science.

SPEAKERS:
Yolanda Williams

Ethics, biology, algebra, reading, what do all of these things have in common? Much more than you would think! Stop by to learn how we have been using ethics as a throughline to help students develop their literacy and numeracy skills in their science class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with cross-disciplinary tools. Attendees will see examples of ethics in science and how that fosters discussion and develops class culture while creating connections between core disciplines.

SPEAKERS:
Leila Haghi

In this lesson unit, middle school students explore interdisciplinary concepts through the book "The Wild Robot" integrating ELA, Science, and Computer Science.Transitioning to the Engineering Design Process (EDP) students embark on a project to design and build prosthetic hands inspire by the book.

TAKEAWAYS:
This lesson unit not only enriches students' comprehension of "The Wild Robot" but also provides valuable experience in engineering and AI. It connects literature with practical applications, enhancing problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Suters, Kim Alvin De Lara

What makes a good story? How can simple storytelling connect us to learning science? This interdisciplinary project allows students to explore science picture books and environmental children's stories while learning about science communication in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students can dive into diverse storytelling methods and explore the importance of storytelling in accessible science communication. Students will express environmental stories they care about to a community audience. AZ Standards Engaged: 1.E1U3.8, 8.W.2, 3, 4, 7

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Becker

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

Participants will explore hands-on stations as they use inquiry analysis tools to dive into phenomena, primary sources, and discovery boxes about coastal phenomena. Participants will share, engage, and connect with multiple tools, strategies and PreK-2 resources to use to analyze coastal phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Inquiry-based teaching focuses on moving students beyond general curiosity into the realms of critical thinking and understanding. We must encourage our students to ask questions and support them through the investigation process, understanding when to begin and how to structure an inquiry activity.

SPEAKERS:
Betsy Glisson

I will present an electrical circuit game that uses closed circuits and a switch. This game can be adapted for higher or lower classes and can be used for limitless topics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to help students research, design, and build a closed circuit gameboard that uses simple materials.

Gamify your classroom with "The Adaptation Game," a fun activity supporting critical thinking, art skills, and data organization. Loosely based on the nonfiction book, THE ODDBALL BOOK OF ARMADILLOS, the game helps kids understand natural selection. Free card decks and book giveaway!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain a free, easy-to-use classroom activity that encourages science literary and supports reading skills. During the session, we'll play a round or two. You'll design and draw your own special critter...but will it survive? Suitable for MS and upper elementary levels.

SPEAKERS:
Sierra Satterstrom, Elizabeth Shreeve

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Reidy, Kevin Wessler

Engage in plant-focused classroom demos and investigations using budget-friendly materials, and learn about community resources such as Master Gardeners who can ignite students' curiosity about plants in their local environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be provided with resources for implementing low-cost, standards-based life science demonstrations and investigations and learn about the classroom resources that their local Master Gardeners can provide free of cost.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Cummings, Kristin Rearden

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Edwin Emmer

We will share how we have helped our students see themselves as engineers. Using picture books that lend themselves to engineering tasks, students build to solve a problem. Then record what they built through drawing and writing. Participants will get to experience this and plan for their classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with plans on how to integrate reading, writing, and science into their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sheri Geitner, Jennifer Mouland

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Leslie White-Keuchler

Using the science classroom for language development empowers all students, specifically multi-language learners, to build their confidence with communication needed for all academic areas. Learn strategies to incorporate language activities, movement, and song into your science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with instructional strategies that support elementary students, specifically multi-language learners, with academic language development within the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houle, Sarah Reis, Catherine Knasas

Let's DO Science and increase our language development! Come investigate plants as we walk through a Science talk protocol, ask questions, make comparisons and predictions, and document and share our results from five plant exploration stations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science talk protocols will help develop understanding of science concepts, academic vocabulary, and oral language skills. Learn discussion and questioning techniques, ways to engage and communicate, how to use inquiry to spark curiosity, and strategies that build speaking, listening and writing.

SPEAKERS:
Betsy Glisson

Sponsoring Company: hand2mind

Bring your literacy block to life with STEM Bins®! During this session, you will learn how to use STEM Bins as an engaging hook for storytelling and creative writing. Participants will explore how to integrate read alouds with STEM and incorporate engineering with STEM Bins into literacy centers.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Brown

This session introduces a storybook-like scaffold that helps elementary students purposefully evaluate connections between lines of evidence and alternative explanations of phenomena to construct a deeper understanding of the topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
The scaffold encourages students to engage in science practices, literacy, and argumentation strategies to communicate basic content knowledge on climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Chantelle Renaud-Grant, Lorraine Ramirez Villarin

An NGSS classroom promises Science for All, but sometimes students have different needs. See how classroom teachers build a culture of choice, create differentiated literacy and assessment products, and help students meet differentiated goals for 3D learning within an inclusive classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with ideas and routines for fostering a differentiated classroom culture, samples of high-quality, scaffolded guides for scientific readings and assessments, and strategies to allow students to set their own goals for meeting or exceeding standards.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre, Chris Geerer

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Brown, Katie Stevenson

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Elissa Milto

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

This presentation is an innovative approach to integrating the engineering practices of NGSS and literacy in the elementary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use existing classroom literature (stories, novels, expository texts) as the basis for engineering design challenges that help students identify problems and create solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Annette Venegas

We will integrate science with language arts using the book "I'm Going to Eat You!" as inspiration. Activities include food chains in Miro (visually representing), presenting boards (speaking and listening, viewing), writing about food chains, and creating 2-D models of food chains.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to integrate science with language arts using food chains.

SPEAKERS:
Frances Hamilton

Student-generated interactive word walls resemble graphic organizers or data tables. They highlight connections between concepts and artifacts from inquiry-based science activities and connect scientific concepts with academic vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will discover how to transform traditional static word walls into powerful teaching tools that support academic language development.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson

Check out and learn how to access free ML-PBL integrated science curricular units for Grades K-5. See how the features of PBL support sensemaking, check out examples of unit overviews, literacy integration and recommended trade books, and research supporting the Multiple Literacies in PBL Project.

TAKEAWAYS:
After viewing examples from multiple units within the ML-PBL K-5 unit sequence, participants will learn how to access the free K-5 curricular resources on the Sprocket site. Handouts provide information for accessing and implementing the resources, or for adapting current units.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Codere

In our increasingly technological world, it is more important than ever for children to feel comfortable with STEM concepts, facts, and vocabulary. Reading picture book biographies about women in STEM immerses girls in the process of scientific thinking and boosts their interest STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Reading picture book biographies of women in STEM gives girls role models as well as providing a wealth of STEM information.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Wallmark

If you have ever wondered about NSTA's Picture Perfect STEM lessons, and how they will fit into your classroom, this session is for you. Come and learn about these dynamic lessons written in the 5E model that engage your youngest learners in sensemaking through investigation and problem-solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to engage students in trade books that launch each science unit and how NSTA's science kits make each lesson easy to incorporate into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren LoPorto, Kristen Crawford

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

Participants will use the engineering design process to create models that support science, literacy, and math standards. Energetic engineering activities will be linked with nursery rhymes for research-based learning that can be easily replicated in the classroom. Come engineer with us!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach science and engineering practices to young learners who undoubtedly need these foundational skills. Engineering explorations will be seamlessly integrated with language, literacy, and math standards, leading to valuable cross-curricular learning.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Nolan-Beasley

This session explores how science educators and library specialists can collaborate to embed disciplinary literacy into science classrooms, thus providing opportunities for students to increase and engage with literacy skills as classroom scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, we will provide a definition of disciplinary literacy, explore sample lesson plans with resources offered by library specialists, obtain disciplinary literacy strategies, and emphasize the importance of disciplinary literacy in building literacy skills and closing the equity gap.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Sanders, Kiana Eaddy

Have you ever wondered why the excited chatter during a science investigation disappears when teachers ask their students to write science explanations? Students enjoy hands-on investigative activities but need support to shift from their provisional language to science-specific language.

TAKEAWAYS:
Writing strategies and talk moves can improve students’ ability to develop clear writing. Appropriate scaffolds benefit all students, particularly multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Participants will learn how to support students’ development of ideas into written explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Haverstick

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

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Does grant writing feel overwhelming? This session will provide practical tips, strategies, and resources to help you write grants that win!

SPEAKERS:
Covey Denton

Discover student-focused science publications as we explore opportunities for student publishing, then equip educators with practical resources and strategies to support students throughout the publication process, from crafting manuscripts to navigating peer review.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to effectively guide students through the process of publishing their scientific research, gaining knowledge of student publication venues and acquiring practical tools to support young researchers from manuscript preparation to successful submission and peer review.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Mader, Sarah Fankhauser

Discover strategies for integrating data analysis, AI concepts, and cybersecurity literacy into K-12 core subjects. This session provides practical, cross-disciplinary approaches to empower students with essential 21st-century skills while meeting curriculum standards across various content areas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain ready-to-implement techniques for integrating data, AI, and cyber literacy into their existing curricula. They'll leave with resources and strategies to enhance student engagement and prepare them for an increasingly digital world.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Wang

NSTA's Science Scope columnist and NSTA Press’s Creative Writing in Science author Katie Coppens will provide strategies to integrate reading and writing in science with an emphasis on differentiation. Models and rubrics will be provided. Everyone will leave with ideas for implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating science and literacy engages students while enhancing their scientific knowledge and improving their writing skills! Each activity gives students voice and choice to strengthen their interest in various areas of science. Student models are provided to show strategies in action.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Coppens

Every science lesson is a chance to build student literacy skills! Accentuating language and literacy skills is sure to build student science understanding while cultivating science knowledge. This session will provide actionable techniques that build student literacy skills through rigorous science

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching science with a literacy mindset accentuates the learning of both science and literacy. Participants will be provided with the tools they need to support literacy in their daily instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Talada

Join the author of Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms to discover how notebooks are an interdisciplinary, sensemaking tool. Leave with strategies for immediate classroom use.

TAKEAWAYS:
When science notebooks are incorporated into student-centered, three-dimensional classrooms, they become powerful interdisciplinary sensemaking tools and a rich source of assessment data.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Fries-Gaither

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive workshop where literacy meets exploration! Through investigations, such as testing magnets, students solve problems and grow their literacy skills. Leave with classroom resources. Smithsonian Science for the Classroom received an All-Green rating from EdReports.org. 

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Emily Harrison, Hoover Herrera

Explore the link between targeted vocabulary instruction and improved comprehension in STEM. Through practical examples, attendees will learn one strategy and examine a tool to enhance scientific literacy while maintaining content rigor and concept retention for all learners in their classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how explicit vocabulary instruction enhances comprehension and concept retention in science.

SPEAKERS:
Shana Pyatt-Buckner

Find out how to modify your current instruction to better communicate the dynamic process of science using an interactive tool from the Understanding Science website. Help students recognize science as a dynamic, exciting, creative, and intensely human endeavor!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the Science Flowchart interactive journaling tool, which allows students to make visible the dynamic process of science and helps them recognize the NGSS SEPs in their own inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Betsy Barent

Use real-world phenomena as class starters to engage students and link science with other subjects. Discover ready-to-use images and prompts for all content areas that spark discussion, deepen inquiry, and foster cross-disciplinary learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use real-world phenomena to show students that science is everywhere. By linking science with other subjects, they’ll discover how to make classroom topics more engaging, relevant, and connected to the world around them.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Sharpe

Come along on a fun-filled journey to incorporating Science vocabulary schoolwide and in the classroom.  Explore strategies and activities to help your students understand the world around them in engaging ways--one science word at a time.  There is something for every type of learner!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be given a Padlet link with resources for ways to incorporate science vocabulary in their school and classrooms. The Padlet includes a list of books by science topic to teach and reinforce science vocabulary by integrating literacy into science.

SPEAKERS:
Tara McClintick

In this session, we will examine how to leverage time used to practice and reinforce math and reading skills to also include phenomenon-based science. By using math and ELA standards as a starting point, short units building off of a common science phenomenon are created.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience a phenomenon-based, science-focused lesson series that was designed to help reinforce and practice the standards in math and ELA.

SPEAKERS:
Miranda Orellana

Examine how both scientists and AI systems have been misled by deceptive data. This session highlights historical scientific errors and modern AI misinterpretations, showing the dangers of bias and flawed analysis. Learn strategies to teach critical data literacy and improve decision-making.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with real-world examples of scientists and AI models reaching false conclusions based on flawed data. These cases can be easily integrated into science curricula to teach data literacy and the complexity of scientific inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Selene Verhofstad, Charles Wang

This presentation offers strategies for engaging learners in place-based ecosystem studies. Students research a local plant or animal, design an infographic detailing their species, and model the flow of energy between classroom dwellers, fostering deeper understanding of ecological relationships.

TAKEAWAYS:
A flexible, adaptable lesson plan that can be customized for different ecosystems and grade levels. Strategies for promoting engagement through place-based learning and integrating science and engineering practices into ecosystem modeling.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Shepard

A former national science fair judge provides insights on how good titles can improve the odds of winning at science fairs. The poster will describe what the parts of a "good" title are and how teachers can help your students create one.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn the components of a good project title (from a research project on science fairs) and how to help their students develop a good title for their own project.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bowen

Struggling to make the case in your community for why science time is important? A new research study shows that a phenomena-driven science curriculum paired with high-quality professional learning had positive effects on ALL students, not only in science but also in math and reading.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the characteristics to look for in HQIM and HQPL that can lead to improved student achievement in science, math, and reading.

SPEAKERS:
Amy D'Amico

The importance of health literacy in the general public was highlighted by the recent pandemic; undergraduate STEM students are well positioned to address this issue. Seniors are trained as Health Connectors to share their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for health sciences with K-8 students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Benefits emerge across all levels: from undergraduates to K-8 students and classroom teachers. Persistence of the learned content and increased awareness of health sciences and careers in K-8 students and expanded Health Connector confidence and skill in sharing complex scientific content with novices.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Kehl, Kanita Olson

Explore the link between targeted vocabulary instruction and improved comprehension in science. Through practical examples, attendees will learn effective strategies and tools to enhance scientific literacy while maintaining content rigor and concept retention for all learners in their classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how explicit vocabulary instruction enhances comprehension and concept retention in science; leave with effective strategies and tools to integrate vocabulary teaching into their lessons, ultimately improving student literacy while maintaining rigorous content instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Shana Pyatt-Buckner

In this session, science educators will explore how to integrate AI into their curriculum, fostering both student and teacher AI literacy. Through real-world examples and case studies, participants will learn strategies for using AI tools ethically to support scientific inquiry and problem-solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain strategies for integrating AI literacy into their science curriculum and learn concrete techniques for developing students' ability to responsibly leverage AI tools in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Camden Hanzlick-Burton, Jennifer Stauffer

As long as there have been CER templates, there have been students who struggle. What’s the difference between evidence and reasoning, or an explanation and an argument, exactly? Our Mi-STAR CER lesson and templates help answer these questions and they are open to all - join us to learn more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with clear and concise definitions of reasoning, explanations, and argumentation, along with a lesson plan, activities, and templates to help students define and construct all three in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Tubman, Barbara McIntyre, Chris Geerer

Hands-on exploration of phenomena is key for effective science lessons, but in practice it’s often time-consuming to prep activities, and sometimes students only take away a superficial understanding. But structured visuals are easy to prepare and intuitively engage students in deep, 3D learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Structured visuals are easy to prepare and implement, and they can either replace labs or dramatically enhance them. Structured visuals get students talking and making inferences and connections. This session shows how to find, make, and use them.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Fleenor

Science teachers have been implementing the CER in their instruction with varied results, but what if there were a better alternative? This session will model how the Gather Reason and Communicate model can lead to greater and more authentic learning outcomes for students in the NGSS classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators should leave this session with ideas that are ready to implement, and a tool kit to allow them to convert existing CER lessons to GRC; an approach that is more student-friendly, rigorous, and can help strengthen sens-making in the NGSS classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Jones

National Marine Educators Association is a dedicated, influential member-based organization of teachers, informal educators, university professors, scientists, and more from around the world working together to advance the understanding and protection of our freshwater and marine ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about resources, professional development and publishing opportunities available for all educators as it pertains to aquatic and marine ecosystems and Ocean, Great Lakes and Gulf literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Lewis

Experience learning opportunities designed for elementary students and reflect on the use of literacy practices in sensemaking. We will engage in and identify strategies that foster productive talk in science and explore free, NGSS-aligned, research-based resources for elementary classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Pedagogical moves you are already using in ELA can be used in your science instruction to support students in sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Lazarowicz, Cory Miller

Can primary sources lead K-12 students to Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Cross-Cutting Concepts? Spoiler alert: they can. Examine, analyze, and discuss free online resources from the Library of Congress featuring the work of women in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover how to access millions of free digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress, practice strategies for guiding students in critical analysis using a three-dimensional lens, and learn about the contributions of women to entomology, plate tectonics, and chemistry.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf, Jessica Fries-Gaither

The ability to communicate complex STEM content and develop STEM literacy can be hindered by a lack of resources. Through strategic programming and resources, DSEC and its partners are working together to ensure all students and teachers can thrive in STEM classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the sessions, participants will explore five essential practices, with related strategies and resources, that educators, camp counselors, and others who support students in STEM can embed within their existing practices in classrooms, outdoor spaces, or wherever learning takes place.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Stanley, Dr. Marquis Mason

NGSS and Science of Reading (SoR) frameworks have common principles that can be linked to support deeper learning. We’ll explore how to connect foundational literacy skills with NGSS practices and provide practical strategies for effectively integrating reading and science in K-5 classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with an understanding of how literacy skills support science learning, key connections between SoR and NGSS, and practical strategies for integrating SoR and NGSS in K-5 classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Pesnell

Who doesn't love a baby tiger cub? Learn how the Philadelphia Zoo and the author of the nonfiction picture book “A Family for Zoya” inspire children through field trips, engaging educational materials, contests, and more to enhance your science curriculum and spark students’ interest in nature.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the upcoming release "A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub" as an example, participants will learn how zoos can provide teachers with practical tools for their science teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Debra Goldstein

Students love sketchnoting in science! Come learn how visual notetaking leads to deep processing and retention of content. Editable templates will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to greatly increase student processing using templates and a new strategy of sense making called sketchnotes.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert

Learn how CASCIA has leveraged research-based practices and partnerships to design grade 5 and middle school score reports and reporting mechanisms that help educators track, interpret, and communicate students' science learning and that provide strategies for families to support their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through shared testimony of state and local educators, learn how to use open-source assessments and CASCIA reporting mechanisms that include QR codes and hyperlinks for educators and families with assessment-aligned, student-centered, actionable strategies and resources to improve science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Gall, Bill Herrera, Rhonda True, Charlene Turner

Participants engage in an activity to determine the credibility of factual information sources. A lateral reading strategy is applied to fictional online posts about a renewable energy project. This lesson is part of a free high school curriculum developed at the University of California, Berkeley.

TAKEAWAYS:
Guidelines for lateral reading, an approach for evaluating credible sources, is presented so that teachers may use this approach in their own classrooms. The activity, a part of a 10-lesson unit on group decision-making and energy use, is free for download.

SPEAKERS:
Kristina Duncan, David House, Sarah Metz

Hands-on exploration of phenomena is key for effective science lessons, but in practice it’s often time-consuming to prep activities, and sometimes students only take away a superficial understanding. But structured visuals are easy to prepare and intuitively engage students in deep, 3D learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Structured visuals are easy to prepare and implement, and they can either replace labs or dramatically enhance them. Structured visuals get students talking and making inferences and connections. This session shows how to find, make, and use them.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Fleenor

Figuring out phenomena engages students in the nature of science through the integration of all three dimensions. Come explore strategies that make explicit the nature of science through figuring out “How did the blue whales get so big?” from an AMNH Curriculum Collection.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the Science Flowchart interactive journaling tool to illuminate the dynamic nature and process of science, and how to apply the tool to any phenomenon or lesson in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Miranda Orellana, Kirsten Smith, Betsy Barent

Welcome to our idea factory where we will demonstrate clever cross-curricula ways to grow STEM literacy in your classrooms. We will provide a diverse collection of nonfiction books and impactful resources to scaffold lessons for your students. Books & curriculum for grades 3-8. Door prizes!

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify STEM titles from diverse creators that target science & ELA standards; access cross-curricula activities for nonfiction that connect between disciplinary core ideas; obtain access to a nonfiction bibliography. Create flexible, student-oriented curriculum that addresses NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Sierra Satterstrom, Elizabeth Shreeve

The Women In Natural Sciences Program inspires students to pursue STEM careers and pay it forward. One WINS participant researches the ways that the changing food systems have influenced climate change how this understanding can inform climate literacy in Brazil.

TAKEAWAYS:
OST Programs like the WINS program are critical in providing opportunities not only for career exploration, but also to develop confidence and self advocacy throughout their journey. For WINS participant Asstan Cisse, she aims to improve the quality of science literacy for others!

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Godfrey

This presentation aims to discuss scientific literacy in secondary education and to communicate results of a qualitative pilot study using teacher interviews and classroom observations. It is vital to foster critical thinking, curiosity, and the ability to determine validity of information.

TAKEAWAYS:
Further investigation of secondary science curricula is needed to ensure that ample time can be devoted to the engagement of learning activities designed to promote scientific literacy skill development. This conclusion stems from thematically analyzing teacher perceptions and practices.

SPEAKERS:
James LaRocca

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

This session explores how English Language Arts Standards can enhance science education by integrating literacy with scientific inquiry. Participants will learn strategies for blending ELA and science, using formative assessments to foster critical thinking and cross-disciplinary skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
One main takeaway from this session is how integrating English Language Arts Standards with science education can enhance students' ability to analyze, communicate, and think critically about scientific concepts, using formative assessments to support both literacy and scientific practices.

SPEAKERS:
Stacie Jassen, Brittney Denier Cantrell

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

Discover strategies to boost your students' skills in explaining and evaluating scientific knowledge in real-world contexts. This presentation offers insights from using science discovery narratives and a science literacy tool to enhancing literacy in urban high schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to systematically assess students' application of scientific knowledge to solve socio-scientific issues via written communication skills.

SPEAKERS:
Eual Phillips

In this engaging presentation, participants will learn an integrated approach to researching and writing about severe weather and natural disasters. Key strategies include selecting nonfiction texts, creative notetaking, building vocabulary, flash drafting, and developing a student choice product.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with a tool kit for integrating science and writing, that can be adapted for any grade and topic. Specifically educators will learn how to encourage students to collect vocabulary terms and incorporate them into their writing, through visual note taking.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Fox

This session will explore literacy practices in the science classroom using the Playlist Model, in which all learners are empowered to take ownership of learning while enhancing scientific literacy related to the NGSS framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies for embedding literacy skills into science lessons, including reading comprehension, note-taking, and vocabulary development.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Marino

Elevate science and literacy in your elementary classroom through practical integration strategies, utilizing a lesson template and science trade books to design a plan stimulate knowledge building. You can engage, equip, and empower your students by contextualizing their comprehension.

TAKEAWAYS:
INTEGRATING science and literacy ALLEVIATES challenges (time constraints, disconnected learning, low engagement). This presentation includes evidence-based research, practical insights, and hands-on application, to empower educators with knowledge and practical tools to contextualize comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Westhafer

With the advent of accessible Large Language Models, today’s students are now able to generate multiple hypotheses, simulate experiments, and visualize outcomes. This session showcases how emerging tech, like AI, can be leveraged to foster critical thinking and digital literacy in classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
See and learn how easily accessible generative AI tools can and should be used in classrooms to drive inquiry, promote agency and ensure cutting edge technological literacy for learners in Upper Elementary and Middle School.

SPEAKERS:
Sasha Manu

This presentation will explore case studies, best practices, and practical strategies for implementing PBE in diverse educational settings. It will demonstrate how place-based education fosters interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and citizen science.

TAKEAWAYS:
The PBE teaching strategy provides an opportunity for teachers to bring real-world situations into the science classroom, thereby creating a stronger link between science learning, the student, and their place. Eventually, this will increase students' engagement and scientific literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Oyewole

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 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

This session will explore effective literacy strategies designed to enhance student engagement and comprehension in classrooms with diverse learning styles. Participants will learn about 4 strategies to easily implement to promote a deeper understanding of concepts found in the NGSS framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with specific literacy strategies that can be implemented immediately in any science classroom. These strategies have been proven to be high impact strategies that can increase student comprehension and understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Marino

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

Join us for a dynamic panel session that celebrates two decades of Ocean Literacy , highlighting its profound impact on education, conservation, and its use around the globe. Learn about opportunities for enhancing Ocean Literacy in your school and community.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will convene educators, scientists, and advocates to highlight achievements, share innovative practices, and chart the future course of Ocean Literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Meghan Marrero, Diana Payne, Tara Hicks Johnson

This session will focus on getting students to speak, listen, read and write using academic language in science. Participants will engage in a Talk Read Talk Write using structured visuals, the QSSSA strategy, and get ideas of how to differentiate reading passages for Emergent Bilinguals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate vocabulary-focused structured conversations, reading and writing to improve Scientific Literacy

SPEAKERS:
Julie Gibson

Communicating your findings is a huge piece of any science investigation or project. Come and see some of the different forms student science storytelling can take in P-2 classes, as well as create some of your own!

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas and formats for student science storytelling

SPEAKERS:
Annette Venegas, Anne Lowry

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

With your plate so full, when do you have time to do science? Join us for an engaging workshop designed to provide elementary educators with innovative strategies for integrating science and ELA in the classroom, that can also be incorporated into other content areas and support English learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with engaging and practical strategies and activities that can be used within classrooms to bridge science with literacy, ideas on how to bring literacy into science, and science into ELA.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Corso, Kelli Conner

Student-generated interactive word walls resemble graphic organizers or data tables. They highlight connections between concepts and artifacts from inquiry-based science activities and connect scientific concepts with academic vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will discover how to transform traditional static word walls into powerful teaching tools that support academic language development.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson

Explore how teachers are leveraging AI to adapt science curriculum for diverse learners. Showcase examples of how AI-driven tools are being used to tailor curriculum materials, ensuring that all students can engage meaningfully with science content, regardless of learning styles or background.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn strategies to modify lessons, assessments, and activities to better support students with varying needs, including ELL, students with disabilities, and those who require enrichment.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Baldwin, Heather Toothaker

Participants will explore elementary engineering activities that also support students’ engagement in environmental literacy. In this hands-on workshop, educators will explore STEELS-aligned engineering design challenges that connect with environmental literacy such as designing a hand pollinator.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to use engineering to support STEM instruction that synthesizes the three dimensions of the STEELS curriculum framework in developmentally appropriate, scaffolded ways.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Bateman, Stephanie Klixbull

Struggling to make the case for spending time on science in elementary school? A new study shows that high-quality science instructional materials and high-quality professional learning can improve reading, math, and science scores. Experience the strategies to implement in your school or district!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the characteristics to look for in HQIM and HQPL that can lead to improved student achievement in science, math, and reading.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Short, Katherine Fancher, Katie Gainsback

Explore how the engineering design process helps students solve real-world problems across life, physical, and earth/space disciplines. Gain strategies to foster creativity, build content-area literacy, and enhance 21st-century skills through hands-on STEAM challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Implement hands-on STEAM challenges that guide students through the engineering design process. Strengthen literacy and STEAM skills while developing communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Support diverse learners with digital and print resources

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Kara Ball

How can K-5 teachers directly address and utilize ELA and Math while students are deeply immersed in science learning? Join us to explore how phenomena-based teaching and learning authentically lends itself to content integration and take away tools to integrate subject areas in your own context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain ideas about how ELA, math and science play a mutually supportive role in figuring out scientific phenomena, and will take away a three-step process to be able to apply these ideas to their own context.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Velez, Claudio Vargas

Children in K-5 classrooms deserve opportunities to scientifically make sense of their world. They come to learning with rich ideas about how the world works and each of these ideas provides an entry point for children’s sensemaking through literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Children’s meaning making in elementary science can be enhanced by engagement with high-quality literacy. We have identified dozens of high quality read aloud books that align to the science standards. We will share these resources and learn with some of them.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Starr

This presentation session will explore the pathways to increase climate literacy and support educators with integrating climate education topics into their classroom. Digging deeper, we will look at how nonfiction books are a bridge to strengthen literacy skills and teach climate change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Nonfiction books are useful tools that can teach literacy skills through climate topics that allow students to develop agency, a sense of hope, and mitigate climate change through finding climate solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Rochelle Strauss, Dennis Nolasco

Science teachers have been implementing the CER in their instruction with varied results, but what if there were a better alternative? This session will model how the Gather Reason and Communicate model can lead to greater and more authentic learning outcomes for students in the NGSS classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators should leave this session with lesson plans that are ready to implement, and a tool kit to allow them to convert their existing CER practices into an approach that is more student-friendly, rigorous, and can help strengthen sense-making in the NGSS classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Jones

Computational thinking to enhance science education. By teaching students to break down complex problems, analyze data, and develop a step by step approach , we can equip them with the skills they need to explore science phenomenon and solve real-world challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Sanvictores, Michelle Velho

Engage with high-quality science trade books to apply strategies for supporting disciplinary literacy development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore and analyze features of science trade books with the goals of making science content more accessible to students and positively impacting students’ science achievement and literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Broemmel, Kristin Rearden

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons are NGSS aligned and include teacher notes, worksheets, and lesson plans highlighting a diverse group of scientists. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Often, our students don’t see themselves as scientists. Teachers will hear about free lessons showing how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations that make our lives better, like heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. The lessons are editable, engaging and NGSS aligned.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour

Connect kids to science with games! Building on nonfiction books and websites, this session explores strategies to activate curriculum through fun, classroom-ready activities. Attendees will play “The Adaptation Game” and draw for prizes including books by Elizabeth Shreeve & other science writers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees learn how games engage diverse learners. Some students learn via focused reading; others benefit from interactive modes. Focusing on high-interest topics, including “oddball animals,” this session provides a bibliography of books and games supporting NGSS and other curriculum frameworks.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Shreeve, Sierra Satterstrom