2021 National Harbor Area Conference

November 11-13, 2021

Additional sessions will be added as they are accepted and confirmed over the next several weeks.
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Rooms and times subject to change.
195 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Smashing Classrooms Walls Through Virtual Events

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 3


STRAND: Innovating the Future of Education: Technology and Science Education

Show Details

Take your students beyond your classroom walls through virtual speakers and field trips with those on the front lines of science, exploration, and conservation.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover the benefits of bringing exciting scientists, explorers, and conservationists live into your classroom through virtual guest speakers and field trips; 2. Explore how easy it is to do with exciting resources like Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, Explorer Classroom, Google, and more; and 3. What to do before, during, and afterwards so your students get the most from these experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Grabowski (Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants: Elora, ON)

3-2-1 Lift-Off! NASA’s Beginning Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) Activities

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Collection of 3-2-1 Lift-Off! NASA's BEST Satellite
Link to files used in the 2021 presentation

STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

Use each stage of the Engineering Design Process to complete a team challenge of building and launching a satellite while making connections to NASA missions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about and use the engineering design process to build and perform a drop test of a satellite using NASA’s BEST activities. Educators will learn how to integrate the process skills of measuring, calculating, designing and evaluating while teaching the engineering design process. Make real-life connections to how NASA engineers use the engineering design process and work as teams to accomplish their mission goals.

SPEAKERS:
Barbie Buckner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Bristol, TN)

Using Student-Created Poetry to Strengthen Growth in Science

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake H



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
ppt Using Student-Created Poetry to Strengthen Growth in Science.pptx

STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

Come learn about a variety of formula poems that can reinforce science learning on a wide range of topics. See student examples and try writing some.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about a wide variety of formula poems that can be used across elementary grade levels and tie easily to commonly taught science concepts. Attendees will learn how they might modify the formula poems to meet the needs of diverse students. Attendees will realize how to use the poetry as a type of informal assessment to see what science content students know and what they still need reinforced.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Altieri (Coastal Carolina University: Conway, SC)

HOTS, Technology, and Alternative Assessments in the Science Classroom

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake I


STRAND: Sharing Authentic Assessment Strategies

Show Details

Learn how a science teacher incorporated HOTS (higher-order thinking skills), technology, and alternative assessments in her classroom and doesn't want to go back to traditional assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Describe higher order thinking skills and how educators need to help students obtain these skills. 2. Show examples of how technology can be used as a tool to help students learn HOTS. 3. See examples of how alternative assessments were used in a science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Emilie Tekely (Dauphin County Technical School: Harrisburg, PA)

NITARP: High School Teachers and Students Working with Astronomers on Current Research

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake G



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NITARP NSTA F2021.pdf

STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

NITARP (NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program) gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research. Small groups of mostly high school educators work with professional astronomers for an original research project.

TAKEAWAYS:
A clear understanding of the application process to apply for a NITARP opportunity. An idea of the research experience of a participant involved in this astronomy experience. An awareness of the vast astronomy resources (images and astronomy programs) available for free to educators and their students.

SPEAKERS:
John Taylor (Marvin Ridge High School: No City, No State)

Stratospheric Ballooning for Middle and High School Students

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Google Sites: Stratospheric Ballooning in Delaware

Show Details

Discover how to successfully launch and retrieve payloads engineered by your students into the stratosphere. In the 21st century, the sky is truly the limit!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to design, predict and track stratospheric ballooning projects. Attendees will learn about the FAA guidelines and regulations associated with unmanned balloons. Attendees will learn about the challenges and pitfalls of gathering data from extreme environments up to 20 miles from the surface of the Earth.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Ferrell (St. Georges Technical High School: Middletown, DE), Michael Oberly (Springer Middle School: Wilmington, DE)

Breaking Down the Three Dimensions: Dissecting and Modeling NGSS-Focused Lessons for Grades 6–8

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 4


Show Details

Participants will dissect completed three-dimensional lessons written to NGSS standards for grades 6–8 in order to identify and apply each of the dimensions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NGSS Performance Expectations can serve as a helpful guide and tool when developing 3D lessons 2. By exploring completed 3D lessons we can build competency in developing our own 3. Inquiry based learning is an excellent way to ensure we are utilizing NGSS 3D Standards

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Ellis (Argyle Middle School: Silver Spring, MD), Amy Levine (Silver Spring International Middle School: Silver Spring, MD)

Teach like an Elder and Help Your Students Thrive!

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Teach Like an Elder Power Point

Show Details

Did you realize that elders used inquiry, a multidisciplinary project-based approach, hands-on learning, and innovation? Incorporating these ideas will improve your classroom for ALL students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. All teachers can adapt their teaching methods to match those of our elders. 2. The sequence and methods that were used by our elders insured that students were active learners. 3. The elders not only had students build a foundation of knowledge, but also they accomplished this by using inquiry, exploring phenomena, implementing a hands-on approach, and concluding with an innovative extension.

SPEAKERS:
Joel Truesdell (Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus: Keaau, HI)

Phone Physics

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 3



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Phone Physics NSTA National Harbor Presentation

Show Details

Leverage the power of smartphone sensors in today’s physics classroom so that all students get experience in experimental science. Class-ready materials provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phone physics increases equitable access to experimental science in the classroom or at home as a flipped lab or distance learning. Phone sensors match or improve upon precision and accuracy of classic physics equipment. Phone physics has a low floor/high ceiling and is appropriate for all levels.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Tobler (Moreau Catholic High School: Hayward, CA)

Science At Home: Bridging the Gap

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 7


Show Details

Looking for ways to connect what students learn at school with their home learning environment? This session will provide participants with many overarching hands-on science lessons that integrate the science and engineering practices and can easily be completed at home or school. Materials are cheap and easily accessible for parents/teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Overarching science concepts at each grade band; 2. Connecting hands-on science activities to at-home learning; and 3. Creating at-home lesson templates.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Cobb (Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative: Branch, AR)

A Chemical Inquiry: Let’s Master Equilibrium!

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 4


Show Details

Join this workshop and participate in a hands-on activity to help students overcome common chemical equilibrium misconceptions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. take part in a hands-on inquiry activity with a chemical equilibrium having a large K value; 2. learn ways to overcome student misconceptions about equilibrium; and 3. learn to use appropriate technology to facilitate data collection and analysis for an inquiry lab.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Dodd (George Washington High School: Philadelphia, PA)

ASEE Session: Heartbreaker: An Engineering Design Lab Using Biology and Incorporating Awareness of Systemic Injustice in Our Medical Systems

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5


Show Details

Participants will experience a culminating human body systems Design Engineering lab that includes an analysis of our medical system.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn the power of real world connections with design engineering labs 2. Have a Design Engineering lab that they can reproduce 3. Focus on effectively using background information in many forms for a Design Engineering lab

SPEAKERS:
Jan Schuettpelz (Oyster-Adams Bilingual School: Washington, DC)

NSTA Press Session: Inspiring Curiosity and Writing with the Next Time You See Series, K–5

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C


Show Details

Learn how Next Time You See books can connect students with nature and inspire them to write their own books about natural objects and phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Explore research about the positive effects of time in nature on children and adults • Learn how literacy and science can be connected through writing activities • Receive classroom-ready resources (videos and graphic organizers) to guide your students through a Mentor Text Study

SPEAKERS:
Debra Sawyer-Moulton (NSTA Sales Rep for DC, DE, MD, PA, VVA, WV: Charlestown, MD)

Connecting Science and Literacy with the FoodPrints Curriculum

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Edible Plant Parts.pdf
One of the FoodPrints lessons featured in the Integrating Science and Literacy session
FoodPrints NSTA Science and Literacy Integration (Nov. 2021) .pdf
The powerpoint presentation for the Science and Literacy Integration FoodPrints session.

Show Details

Experience hands-on Science and ELA investigations with the FoodPrints Curriculum’s interdisciplinary approach to teaching nine major food and garden education themes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in hands-on investigation from three different elementary lessons: Edible Plant Parts, Seed Dispersal, and the Garden Ecosystem for grades 1–3 that can be used in the classroom and in outdoor learning using literacy-based approaches aligned to Common Core ELA and hands-on science investigations aligned to NGSS; 2. Learn methods for teaching and assessing vocabulary using live worms, engage students in discourse as they sort real food to classify edible plant parts, create seed packets using nonfiction text features while addressing speaking and listening standards, using student discourse, real-world and authentic vocabulary and incorporating read alouds to support instruction and learning methods for authentic assessment with each investigation; and 3. Explore the FoodPrints Curriculum’s interdisciplinary approach to teaching elementary science lessons with garden and food education themes and gain free access to our lessons and resources for preK—5.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Ramsey (FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Washington, DC), Susan Bandler (FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Washington, DC)

Self-Efficacy and Agency in Science Education for Students with Learning Challenges

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Self-Efficacy and Agency in Science Education Is it Possible

STRAND: Developing More Inclusive Classrooms

Show Details

Unpack executive functioning and best practices for increasing students with learning challenges' efficacy in Project Based Learning. We'll discuss workshop barriers and pitfalls you've experienced.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Unpack executive functioning for students with learning challenges in science education. 2. Identify the best practices, tools and strategies, to help students manage Project Based Learning (PBL) in Science. 3. Model the continuum of more hand-holding to less when facilitating PBL in science education for both primary and secondary students.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Chambers (The Siena School: Silver Spring, MD)

Let's Get Middle School Students Interested in Climate Change!

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 7


STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

Are you interested in climate change lessons to engage students? Discover activity-filled lessons that explore natural cycles and what can be learned from proxies.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Participants will engage in activities that involve natural cycles including sun cycle and the Carbon Cycle. 2) Participants will explore a variety of proxies and what information we can learn from them about Earth’s history. 3) Participants will explore Earth’s seasons and their effect on climate.

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Brooks (CREC: No City, No State), Karin Jakubowski (eesmarts: No City, No State)

What Do I Do with This? Making Sense of Your Assessment Data

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Session Resource Document Form
Access resource document for the session through this form. The Resource Document has links to all activities and will include a link to the slide deck following the workshop.

STRAND: Sharing Authentic Assessment Strategies

Show Details

We are awash in assessment data, but often it’s overwhelming to make sense of it. Come learn tips and strategies for wrangling data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore new ways to organize data collection and raw data to aid in exploring the data for stories after it is collected; 2. Acquire skills in tying questions, data types, and data visualizations to enhance your ability to make sense of the assessment data; and 3. Identify next steps to better utilize and leverage your assessment data to help you measure students’ success and know what steps to consider next.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

Climate Anxiety: Teaching with Data and Compassion

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake I


STRAND: Supporting the Social and Emotional Needs of Students Post-COVID-19

Show Details

Successful environmental science education needs to balance data with compassion and equitable sensemaking. How do we manage student anxiety and invite them into the problem?

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will form support groups to recognize their own anxiety in order to prevent burnout and deliver content effectively and sensitively. Subtractive problem solving will be highlighted as a means to ease "hopelessness" in climate discussions. The role of sensemaking, as it applies to students of various backgrounds and with various needs, will be brought into the climate discussion as well.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Epstein (The Baldwin School: Bryn Mawr, PA)

Protocols for Student Success with Science and Engineering Practices

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 3


Show Details

Using protocols will scaffold students’ learning as they apply science and engineering practices to science lessons. Come see how this approach can change your science instruction!

TAKEAWAYS:
1). Teachers will receive a grade-band appropriate set of protocols ready to use in the classroom. Printable copies, teaching slides, and digital versions compatible with Google Classroom will all be provided. 2). Experience a model lesson using the Science and Engineering Protocols. 3). Training on how to use the Science and Engineering Protocols to engage students in doing science, not just learning about science.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Gutzwiller (Murray City School District: West Jordan, UT), Rachael Coleman (Jordan School District: West Jordan, UT)

Exploring Practices, Nature of Science, and Science in Society: Analyzing Historical Primary Sources from the Library of Congress

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D


Show Details

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, and drawings; and highlighting scientific practices, nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Access to millions of free, digitized primary sources the Library of Congress has for K-12 science educators, such as: Thomas Jefferson’s weather journal, Robert Hooke’s first drawings of cells, photographs from the Dust Bowl, historic newspaper accounts about lead paint and electric cars, and much more! 2. Multiple hands-on strategies for integrating science-related primary sources in the K-12 classroom, to facilitate student engagement, critical thinking and student-centered construction of knowledge. 3. An understanding of how primary source analysis can lead to unique insights related to the Nature of Science, such as: how scientists and engineers think, practice, and apply scientific principles and discoveries in the real world; how scientific ideas evolve over time; and how science and engineering are related to society.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC)

Share Your STEM Expertise with a Global Audience: Fulbright DAST Opportunities for U.S. Science Teachers

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 1


Show Details

Fulbright's DAST program is seeking U.S. teachers for two- to six-week projects all over the globe. Come hear from 2020 Uzbekistan Fellow Allan Miller and learn how you can apply.

TAKEAWAYS:
What is the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teacher Short Term Program for US Teachers and how can a teacher apply? An understanding of the presenters experience in Uzbekistan in Jan / Feb 2020 training the first cohort of STEM teacher trainers at the Samarqand Institute for Teacher Education An overview of the 3 Dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards, which served as the foundational learning for grounding the Uzbek Teacher Trainers in an understanding of "What is STEM?"

SPEAKERS:
Allan Miller (Champlain Valley School District: Shelburne, VT)

Creating Engaging K–6 Science Explorations That Will Ignite a Lifelong Passion for Science

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 2


Show Details

Discover 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 (self: Shawnee Mission, KS)

STEM Talks for Early Learners

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C


Show Details

Early positive experiences in STEM are critical for future student success. Come explore research and resources for increasing STEM practices, student discourse, and family engagement! Bring your laptop for hands-on engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. STEM activities for young learners; 2. Resources for STEM discourse; and 3. Family engagement strategies for math explorations.

SPEAKERS:
Tanaga Rodgers (D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education: Washington, DC), Lauren Thompson Allen (D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education: Washington, DC)