Your STEM journey begins here. Incorporate STEM and PBL into the K–5 curriculum. Receive ideas for program development, grants and funding, as well as  inexpensive or free field trips.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating STEM curriculum and PBLs into the K–5 grade–level curriculum requirements. Finding and scheduling in-house free and inexpensive field trips, guest speakers, and virtual experiences for all students at your school. Funding and grant writing information and sources to fund your STEM program.

SPEAKERS:
Johanna Disney (McKendree Elementary School: Lawrenceville, GA), Julie Wilkerson (McKendree Elementary School: Lawrenceville, GA)

Develop critical thinking and research skills in your science students via debate. Bring the ideas you study into the real world. Hear how I researched and planned a debate to give my students a chance to investigate how communities evaluate environmental concerns.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to structure a science debate in the classroom How to select an appropriate topic How to help students find relevant information for the debate

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY)

We created a unit to introduce students to STEAM concepts by using engineering as the backbone. All resources, including activities and assessments, will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
-Elementary students have common misconceptions about engineers and engineering. -The engineering design process is an effective tool for designing STEAM-based lessons and units. -There are four main types of engineering (civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical), upon which all careers within engineering are based (eg. biomedical, mining, architectural, environmental, aerospace, geological, etc.)

SPEAKERS:
Jeffery Townsend (Eastern Kentucky University: Richmond, KY), Taylor Cobb (Preservice Teacher: Waco, KY)

Author Emily Morgan will share ideas for adding “green breaks” to the school day that provide an opportunity for students (and teachers) to get away from their screens and reset and refresh their minds.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Research on the importance of green time 2. Ideas for simple "green breaks" 3. Projects the integrate more extensive green time

SPEAKERS:
Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH)

Hear how the Samueli Foundation along with its partners designed and scaled the STEM Learning Ecosystem to now 89 communities around the world.

TAKEAWAYS:
What it takes to build a STEM Ecosystem How to build a STEM Ecosystem The evidence to support the value of a STEM Ecosystem

SPEAKERS:
Veronica Gonzales (Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES): Cleveland, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Twig Science Next Gen

Learn how Twig Science Next Gen leverages the strengths of multicultural backgrounds to help students feel valued and empowered with STEM. Twig Science raises expectations for all students (No deficit mindset here!) and helps build an equitable community of science and engineering in classrooms where all students see themselves as valuable contributors.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Distance Learning does not have to be difficult! 2. Underrepresented populations in STEM can be strategically empowered 3. Inspire all students to pursue STEM Careers

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Larsgaard (Imagine Learning | Twig Education: Santa Cruz, CA)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Discover STEAM-y starters in books we know, love, and have on our shelves. Titles, activities, and resources will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn why picture books are great starters for STEAM exploration. Discover favorite books and challenges. Explore how to add STEAM into already utilized texts in your curriculum and classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Burton (Trinity School: Atlanta, GA)

Come discover how the outdoor classroom and garden are places of joyful, interactive discovery that can engage young learners in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

TAKEAWAYS:
Lessons taught indoors can be moved outdoors with student involvement in the natural environment. Opportunities for life lessons abound in schoolyard stewardship activities. Multidisciplinary collaboration among classroom, art, science, foreign language, music, and technology teachers is possible, and fun!

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Tate (Tower Hill School: Wilmington, DE)

Learn computational modeling with the EcoMOD curriculum. See how to explore a 3-D virtual ecosystem, and program a beaver agent to build a dam.

TAKEAWAYS:
The EcoMOD research curriculum demonstrates an effective approach for integrating computational modeling and science content. Visual block-based programming interfaces make computational modeling for STEM learning accessible in upper elementary school. The NSF-funded EcoMOD software and curriculum are being made available for download through free license from Harvard University.

SPEAKERS:
Shari Metcalf (Harvard Graduate School of Education: Cambridge, MA)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Hear about a PBL project called Filling the Gap that connects educators with local STEM businesses to develop classroom units around real business issues/problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with: 1. Understanding of a local STEM Ecosystem in western North Carolina 2. Understanding of the Filling the Gap Program 3. Examples of PBL units partnering classroom teachers with local STEM businesses

SPEAKERS:
Carol Moore (STEM West: CLAREMONT, NC), Regina Barrier (North Carolina School of Science and Math - Morganton: Morganton, NC)

Join a group of architects with the Committee on Architecture for Education to explore how alternate learning environments and a connection to nature and sustainability can encourage discovery, innovation, and problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore various opportunities for fostering innovation in nontraditional classroom settings. Attendees will investigate case studies of successful spaces that incorporate nature as part of both the learning environment and as a learning tool. Attendees will learn how to create their own alternative learning environments, utilizing sustainable strategies and designing for discovery.

SPEAKERS:
John Dale (HED (Harley Ellis Devereaux): Los Angeles, CA), Claire Gallagher (Georgian Court University: Lakewood, NJ)

Discover Orton-Gillingham strategies and activities for science vocabulary, concepts, and organizational skills that can be used immediately in all grade levels and inclusion classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Vocabulary-based strategies for all levels of students. Language-based differentiation that can be adjusted for STEM classrooms. Orton-Gillingham method can be adapted for all levels of science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Wink Gilligan (The Bridge Academy of New Jersey: Lawrence Township, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Immersed Games

Video games can help improve your students’ three-dimensional, NGSS learning by having students use science and engineering practices as they directly engage with phenomena as part of storylines. We will examine model activities and discuss how games can fit into your classroom instruction even in a remote or hybrid setting.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Tropf (Immersed Games: Buffalo, NY)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks). Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social)—remote or classroom—and how being part of that community supports sensemaking. Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks). Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social)—remote or classroom—and how being part of that community supports sensemaking. Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Have a great activity to share? Join in for an overview of how to write for The Science Teacher. Learn tips and tricks for being a published author.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn about the inner workings of the journal. 2. Participants will gain skills in how to write for the journal. 3. Participants will be introduced to what kinds of articles are sought for the journal.

SPEAKERS:
Ann MacKenzie (Miami University: Oxford, OH)

Can the popular comic book medium be used to better support students learning chemistry? Science comic books are comic books designed to visually engage readers using sequential art to navigate a narrative that delivers science content. My investigation showed that students who read the comic book had higher gains in chemistry content knowledge than those who read the chemistry text. Given the findings, science comic books will be an effective educational tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
How science comics can benefit my students. How I can use science comics in my classroom. What science comics are there to use and where to find them.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Preece (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Use real data to visualize the human impacts of pollution on our waterways. Learn ways to use this information to make graphing meaningful and fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Use real data to make mathematical models to visualize relationships. 2. Identify the human-caused problems and identify potential solutions based off evidence. 3. Help students to build and interpret graphs effectively to be better scientifically informed citizens.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Kohout (Independent Contractor: Ellicott City, MD), Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA)

Hear about various NSTA competitions and how they can bring STEM and the NGSS into the classroom, as well as give students and teachers a chance to earn recognition and prizes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about NSTA competitions Learn about how you can use competitions as a resource to implement NGSS and STEM into your curriculum Learn how you and your students can win prizes and recognition

SPEAKERS:
Alexis Mundis (Army Educational Outreach Program: Arlington, VA), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Nutrien/ National Agriculture in the Classroom Org

Journey 2050 is a free, online STEM program designed for grades 7–12. Students virtually explore the complexities of sustainably feeding the world’s population of 10 billion by the year 2050. Lesson plans and resources provided, including a new lesson on technology and innovations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A growing population requires making sustainable choices 2. For every choice made there is a ripple effect on our environment, economy and society 3.New technology and innovations are essential to feeding the world

SPEAKERS:
Tessa Matuszak (National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization: Palm Coast, FL)

Sponsoring Company: WorldOnFire-TheScience.com

This session features a film about the science of global warming and energy, and will present a site with links to the film, as well as a short book and a comic.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The Earth is warming due to the greenhouse effect and the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases. 2. Electricity is made by pushing wires through magnetic fields and the energy to push those wires now comes mostly from the burning of fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide. 3. There are many non-polluting methods of making electricity, including solar, wind and nuclear powered systems.

SPEAKERS:
Oliver Rosengart (Retired Educator: Brooklyn, NY)

Experience the Question Formulation Technique: a simple, powerful strategy that can spark curiosity and deepen remote learning by teaching students to ask their own questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) by experiencing it for themselves. They will walk away with a practical strategy they can immediately use in a remote setting to teach students how to ask better scientific questions and drive science inquiries. 2. Participants will explore student work from science classrooms across the country to see how the strategy can be used for a range of instructional purposes. 3. Participants will reflect on their learning, think on how they can implement it in their own setting, and get access to free tools and resources to do so.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bolduc (Ellington Middle School: Ellington, CT), Katy Connolly (Right Question Institute: Cambridge, MA)

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Join us as we discuss pandemic rethinking of an in-depth, in-person program led by university students engaging diverse upper-elementary girls in a STEM pathway, and opportunities for participating college mentors.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Critical role the community advisory panel played in informing, guiding, and advocating for their audiences during the pandemic . 2) Student mentors have a powerful impact on the direction and depth of programming, including nurturing interests and role modeling with the next generation of scientists. 3) Key aspects of connecting young, diverse girls to the STEM pathway.

SPEAKERS:
Gianna Sullivan (University of Colorado Museum of Natural History: Boulder, CO), Lina Perez Angel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Rachel Fox Freeman (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Faculty and current students will discuss Pitt-Johnstown’s unique approach to their STEM Endorsement Certification, including students’ personal experiences and future teaching goals, and the program’s benefits and implications for  research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in discussion to learn about: • Current focuses on teacher preparation in STEM education • Pennsylvania’s approach to endorsing students via their STEM Endorsement Certificate model and its program design and evaluation competencies • Pitt-Johnstown’s unique approach to the model, through a Q&A with faculty and current students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Chesney (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown: Johnstown, PA)