Purposeful use of quality media and texts is especially important for young learners. We will introduce you to quality digital learning resources that are effective, engaging, standards-focused, and appropriate to early exploration of science concepts, data, and phenomena. Discover media from Curious George, Peep and the Big Wide World, and more…all with literacy tie-ins and support materials, and available free on PBS LearningMedia.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A wide range of digital media for science for young learners will be presented, and teachers will leave with a list of resources they can begin using immediately; 2. Media literacy, as well as literacy with associated texts, will be discussed; and 3. Teachers will leave with a list of tips for engaging young learners with science media and associated texts.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Gonzalez (GBH Education: Brighton, MA)

Learn how to create engaging lessons, connecting to student interests and to the science and natural phenomena that surround us. Pick up strategies to engage K–6 students in explorations, helping them recognize and understand real-world science while creating a lifelong love of science. Handouts!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. innovative strategies to help children identify, explore, and understand a variety of interesting, real-life science that surrounds them in their everyday world; 2. how to design lessons that emphasize exploration, and give students the opportunity to test variables and analyze their effects; and 3. effective questioning strategies to engage students and increase the depth of student thinking, also helping to make student thinking visible; and to help teachers use effective questioning strategies to help students clarify and articulate their understanding of essential science phenomena and concepts.

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

Want to create high-quality, NGSS-focused field trip experiences? Come learn how we brought together classroom teachers and informal educators to accomplish this goal with amazing outcomes!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn the steps we took to create a collaborative environment for teacher leaders to support informal educators in learning more about NGSS and the EP&Cs; 2. learn the value of bringing the expertise of informal educators and the knowledge of formal educators together in order to create high-quality, NGSS-focused field trip experiences; and 3. be given access to the agendas, handouts, and templates we used in our training/planning sessions.

SPEAKERS:
Lesley Gates (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

This session will demonstrate how the NGSS’s crosscutting concepts can be utilized in the preschool setting to enhance literacy skills using intentional language and play experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Framed within the constructivist approach, this presentation will include the following: 1. digital documentation of preschool-age children (3 to 5-year-olds) using crosscutting concepts; 2. discussion of scaffolding in children’s scientific thinking and literacy behaviors; and 3. discussion of the crosscutting concepts through the lens of literacy and nature.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Hardison (St. Margaret's Episcopal School: San Juan Capistrano, CA), Kelly McGovern (St. Margaret's Episcopal School: San Juan Capistrano, CA)

This interactive presentation builds on NSTA resources with new classroom tools for using nonfiction trade books. Content-rich videos and lesson plans support differentiated learning styles.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover new tools for STEM/Lit connections that expand learning opportunities for students with differentiated learning styles; 2. Obtain bibliographies of current, high-quality nonfiction trade books that offer related, carefully curated teaching videos, curriculum-based lesson plans, and classroom activities; and 3. Explore new approaches to inspiring budding scientists by leveraging nonfiction books and associated resources on a range of subjects, including challenging topics.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Shreeve (Science Writer: Mill Valley, CA), Jason Jones (Educator/Multi-Media Specialist: Woodacre, CA)

The most amazing science curriculum lacks impact if it's not used. PS Science has been working on ways to ensure science isn't left out.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A successful elementary science program is built around ease of implementation and supporting teachers; 2. When there is no budget for science, lessons can still happen each week throughout the year; and 3. PS Science Instructors model inquiry science instruction through free video lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Olds (PS Science: Inglewood, CA)

No-mess dissections! Shark feedings! Find out how Cabrillo Marine Aquarium can bring these and more to your class through our online programming!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium can be a valuable resource to educators beyond our immediate area; 2. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium provides a wide array of freely available online content for educators; and 3. Online materials can enhance classroom learning.

SPEAKERS:
Carl Carranza (Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: San Pedro, CA)

Want to get your students outside enjoying nature and taking an active interest in improving the world around us, but don’t know where to start and how to sustain it? Join in for strategies to encourage critical thinking about environmental issues, methods to help students gain awareness of everyday resources and uses, budgeting and funding procedures, and ways to meet multiple subject areas. Empower your students to become part of the solution!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Critical thinking about environmental issues methods to help students gain awareness of everyday resources and uses; and 2. Ways to meet multiple subject areas.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Chehab (Millennia Gardens Elementary School: Orlando, FL), John Martinez (Millennia Gardens Elementary School: Orlando, FL)

Come get a window bird feeder and discover how to attract birds and student interest! Take home activities and ideas to teach science through birds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. discover how to encourage student curiosity and learning through feeder birds and free Cornell Lab resources; 2. learn where and when to hang feeders in order to attract a variety of birds; and 3. explore apps and resources to help identify birds and participate in our citizen science projects.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Fee (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Best practices and lessons learned from the USC BOTS computer science teacher education program and recommendations for building successful university-elementary teacher partnerships in computer science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about: 1. the USC BOTS program and the major benefits of a successful university-elementary teacher CS partnership; 2. common challenges of such collaborations and how to overcome them; and 3. the steps recommended to foster their own successful university-elementary teacher CS partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Bonaparte-Saller (University of Southern California: Los Angeles, CA)