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)

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)

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 (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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 (Educational and Technology Consultant: Prairie Village, KS)

Consideration of both the NGSS and Environmental Education Guidelines can help teacher educators prepare K–12 teachers who are developing environmental curricula that humanize and democratize education for all K–12 students by being inclusive, anti-racist, and working to achieve equity and sustainability for all communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Integration of of environmental education into preservice and inservice science teacher training; 2. Developing an environmental curriculum that humanizes and democratizes education for all; and 3. Preparing activist teachers who are ready, willing, and able to create activist students.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Gordon (NYU Steinhardt School of Education: New York, NY)

This presentation will review the PBL strategy and how it is being used to enhance students’ learning, in-class and virtually, in relation to epidemiology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Current research supports that project-based learning increases scientific efficacy and an explanation of project-based learning will be included. 2. Science is a collaborative endeavor and educators must teach students how to collaborate; both face-to-face and virtually. 3. Epidemiology is a field of study where many types of scientists must collaborate to solve public health problems and this field is accessible to middle and high school students.

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

Authors of this report from the Board on Science Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will give an overview of the report’s key issues, conclusions, and recommendations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Challenges facing elementary science education; and 2. Solutions for increasing elementary science education.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Schweingruber (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Washington, DC), Amy Stephens (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Washington, DC)

Using pop culture references creates relevant opportunities for teachers to authentically assess students' ability to design/speculate models to revitalize endangered species and vulnerable ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the intersection between project-based learning, anchoring phenomena and authentic assessments Learn about a model that uses pop culture to create anchoring phenomena and opportunities for authentic assessments Collaboratively identify examples of pop culture that can be used as anchoring phenomena and/or authentic assessment and link them with NGSS standards

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

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science is a network of 150+ science teachers. We have presented over 225 teacher workshops in all 50 U.S. states.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) provides high school biology teachers with paid opportunities to present to middle and high school science teachers who need help teaching evolution in an engaging and effective manner. 2. TIES has several FREE, complete evolution units for science teachers to use in their classrooms, including assessments, active learning lessons, online investigations, and bell-ringer activities, along with dozens of other free resources. 3. TIES invites educators, biologists, and science authors to give monthly webinars to an international audience of teachers, students, and science enthusiasts.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Moran (Lake Braddock Secondary School: Burke, VA)

This session provides ideas for engaging students in Science, Math, and Literacy while addressing learning loss and school culture.

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas on how to address leaning loss through fun and engagement. Integration of Science, Math, Literacy, and local studies Building a school culture based on positivity and love

SPEAKERS:
LaCosta Hodges (Oakvale Elementary School: Oakvale, WV), Racine Stefancic (Oakvale Elementary School: Oakvale, WV), Summer Thomas (Oakvale Elementary School: Oakvale, WV)

Discover ideas, curricula, and lessons/activities from the Space Station Explorers Program. They inspire curiosity, develop skills, and promote learning in scientific, mathematical, life science, and Earth science spheres by engaging students with the International Space Station.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to access the ideas, curriculum, and lessons/activities of the Space Station Explorers Program How the program integrates appropriately and easily into the classroom (physically or virtually) as well as activities for learning at home. How to become a Space Station Explorer Ambassador

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Pore (Bishop O'Connell High School: Arlington, VA)

This session will highlight the impact of the Japanese Lesson Study model on increasing self-efficacy and teacher collective efficacy through low-cost sustained professional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Examine a case study that highlights how one school district addressed its immediate need to embed integrated STEM education by using the Japanese Lesson Study as its professional development framework. Learn about solutions to address barriers to effective professional development. Participants will examine their current school context to develop action steps to increase self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy in relation to elementary, integrated STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Avitabile (Interboro School District: Prospect Park, PA)

Discover Switch Classroom, a free, online, objective curriculum about energy use and nonrenewable and renewable resources centered on AP Environmental Science and NGSS Energy standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore the Switch Energy Alliance resources, including Switch Classroom, energy videos, and full-length documentaries. The Switch Classroom curriculum covers six units of comprehensive lessons detailing renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, energy production fundamentals, and how energy decisions are made; 2. Learn how to set up your own class using Switch Classroom, creating a customized energy unit for your students that includes video and your choice of activities (multiple-choice quizzes, critical-thinking writing and diagramming, and lab and math-based calculation activities); and 3. Increase your students' ability and skills to explain concepts, analyze visual representations, and propose solutions to complex energy decisions in a nonpartisan and objective manner.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler (Upper St. Clair High School: Pittsburgh, PA), Ruthann McComb (Elkin High School: Elkin, NC)

Orchestrate whole-class and independent inquiries that integrate science, social studies, technology, and literacy using phenomena, investigations, historical primary sources, picture books, and driving question boards.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) Participants will learn strategies for using driving question boards to support student agency and manage multidisciplinary student inquiries that connect to an anchoring phenomenon. (2) Participants will learn how to layer texts like picture books and primary sources to support student writing and inquiries in science and social studies. (3) Participants will learn strategies for supporting student writing across the disciplines of science and social studies with the help of digital tools.

SPEAKERS:
John Smith (Chester A Arthur School: Philadelphia, PA)

Support SEL while meeting science standards through student investigations and citizen science. Motivate students with schoolyard projects and real data with our free inquiry curriculum!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. explore free resources to scaffold citizen science–inspired inquiry projects; 2. discover how outdoor learning and inquiry projects can support social and emotional learning; and 3. discuss the challenges and opportunities related to authentic scientific inquiry and how classroom teachers have successfully implemented these practices.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Schaeffer (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Participants will learn about the successful and varied informal and formal science partnerships developed by members of the NSELA leadership community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Successful partnerships between formal and informal science institutions increase student and community engagement in STEM education; 2. Success stories include STEM ecosystems; and 3. The NSELA Learning Center provides resources and support for ongoing learning about formal and informal science partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Weatherhead (National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA): Downingtown, PA)

Are you new to elementary science education, or looking for ways to streamline your current science instruction? If so, this is the place for you! In this session I will share tips, strategies, and best practices that I’ve found to be successful year after year to not only teach rigorous material, but to do it in a consistent way that ensures student engagement and learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
- How to setup a routine specifically for science instruction to help units flow more smoothly - How to thoroughly use the standards to plan your units - How to embed claim, evidence, and reasoning practice opportunities, and engineering activities throughout your instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Flowers (Cumberland County Elementary School: Burkesville, KY)

Explore how to take advantage of NSTA’s vast resources and pathways—including both asynchronous and synchronous options—to create personalized professional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover the value of being a School or District NSTA Partner; 2. Explore how to maximize online professional learning for all teachers; and 3. Discover how to utilize NSTA's online learning resources to support in-person professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Learn how to utilize the technology you’ve come to love in innovative ways not discussed by their accompanying user guide for both instructional and noninstructional purposes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Technological platforms can be used creatively to do more than what each platform is marketed for 2. Technology is beneficial for both instructional and non-instructional practices 3. Technology is a powerful tool for educators whether students are in person or virtual

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Allessio (Robbinsville High School: Robbinsville, NJ)

Learn about the launch lab where s chemistry professor and preservice STEM teachers engaged high schoolers in a summer program filled with experiences centered on aviation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn about collaboration between preservice and inservice teachers and university STEM content experts in designing and facilitating lab experiences for high school students to engage in hands on inquiry; 2. learn about the planning process that maximized the collaboration between different stakeholders at the college, community college, high school, and district levels to ensure student participants could access, engage with, and learn effectively about the aviation concepts and related math and engineering skills; and 3. experience a truncated version of the launch lab and learn about what the students experienced and the reflections of the educators.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Cuddapah (Hood College: Frederick, MD), Chris Stromberg (Hood College: Frederick, MD)

Model stellar evolution processes using NASA images, plotting H-R diagram transitions, and determining the chemistry and physics of supernovas using NASA STEM image analysis tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Knowledge of the process of how stars form and change over time ending in catastrophic events, providing conditions for the formation of planets. Students will understand that all knowledge of celestial events is determined by analyzing the light from these events and provide possibilities – not definitive answers, as the data can be interpreted differently. Image analysis software tools allow scientists to gain detailed information of stellar physical and chemical processes and constantly refine our evolving models of stellar evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young (NASA/NSO/UoL Program Manager: Laughlin, NV)

This session will provide an overview of the design, resources, and impact of integrating Literacy into the Science Methods for Preservice Elementary Teachers Course.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will be introduced to the curricular design of a Science Methods course for Pre-service Elementary Teachers (grades pre-k-6) that uses a Science/Inquiry/Literacy integration resource book as the textbook. 2. Attendees will be introduced to other resources and instructional methods that are used throughout the course to help Pre-service Elementary Teachers learn how to integrate literacy and science in their classrooms. 3. Attendees will be involved in a hands-on activity that students of this course experience as part of the literacy integration instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Tracie Reding (University of Nebraska Omaha: Omaha, NE)

Learn how to bring the Amazon to life in your classroom through learning from Indigenous community elders, entomologists, primatologists, ornithologists, other formal and informal educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to connect the Amazon to their classroom through engaging, thoughtful activities Develop an understanding of the Indigenous Tribe of the Maijuna people and how we can support them and their work Make connections with scientists in different fields of study to collaborate and engage students

SPEAKERS:
Kate Price (Moore Square Magnet Middle School: Raleigh, NC)

To address the impacts of the pandemic on K–12 education, Congress has made emergency funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund. In this session for educators and science leaders at the district and school levels, we will discuss how these federal funds can be leveraged to support science education, students, and
teachers, and review the products and services NSTA has available to address learning loss.

TAKEAWAYS:
Information on pandemic relief federal funding for K-12 How this funding can be used for science education NSTA products and services that can be used to address learning loss

SPEAKERS:
Erika Shugart (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

We’ll start with direct observation of the daytime Moon. Based on our findings, we’ll determine its direction of revolution, location in space, and phases…before building models.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to do daytime observations of the Moon and use this data to determine how it moves in its orbit around Earth; 2. See, firsthand, how the geometry between the Sun, Earth, and Moon determines the Moon’s phases; and 3. Walk through multiple astronomy models that build on one another and are helpful for developing mental models that are so important to understanding scientific concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Balch (Teacher: Great Falls, VA)

The challenges presented to our students by the world in which they will live require committed problem solvers with the academic, life, and social skills promoted through an education utilizing design learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how each step of the design process can promote essential skills in their classroom. Attendees will learn where effective and appropriate technology use enhances the design process and problem solving. Attendees will learn how design learning fosters leadership skills in those facilitating the learning and in those participating in the challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Chad LeDune (Southwest School Corporation: Sullivan, IN)

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: 1. about NSTA competitions; 2. how NSTA competitions help integrate STEM and NGSS in the classroom; and 3. how students and teachers can win recognition and prizes.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Winnie Boyle (Army Educational Outreach Program: , United States)

We present the EQuIPD coaching model used in establishing collaborations between teachers and coaches in a professional development to improve teaching practices and student outcome.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The attendees will learn how coaching can foster collaborations among teachers and coaches to effect improvement in teaching practices. 2. The attendees will reflect on their practices by engaging with a facilitative coaching method by EQuIPD experts. 3. The attendees will learn the critical features of the EQuIPD facilitative coaching model.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Ruzycki (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL)

Curriculum compacting allows students who have shown mastery of course material to challenge themselves and work on more difficult content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The logistics of how curriculum compacting works 2. Data analyzing the effectiveness of curriculum compacting 3. Pros and cons of curriculum compacting from the viewpoints of the students, the professor, and the teaching assistants

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Hesson (York College of Pennsylvania: York, PA), Jessica Fautch (York College of Pennsylvania: York, PA)

How does toxic ammonia from fish waste end up serving as a nitrogen source for plants? Attend this informative session to learn about aquaponics.

TAKEAWAYS:
How the nitrogen cycle influences both plant and fish health. How to use a modular design philosophy to allow students to innovate and create an aquaponics system in the classroom. How to incorporate Virginia's Trout in the Classroom program into your aquaponics system.

SPEAKERS:
Eric March (Browne Academy: Alexandria, VA), Kristen Oberhofer (Browne Academy: Alexandria, VA)

How do science teachers and students rebound after a year of interruptions, remote learning, and a compromised learning experience last year?

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips offered on how to engage prior learner experience and content knowledge without student fear of judgement or negative evaluation Looking at 3-dimensional science teaching in terms of broad, transferable skills that can be backfilled if learning loss took place last year Creating opportunities for purposeful, personal self-reflection to help drive instruction and allow learners to connect with material in ways that couldn’t occur with COVID restrictions

SPEAKERS:
Shawn Sutton (Long Valley Middle School: Long Valley, NJ)

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, explores creative storylines for integrating up-to-date, research-driven climate science into high school chemistry courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Climate-related storylines provide powerful frameworks for students to learn fundamental chemistry core ideas and reinforce understandings of crosscutting concepts and science and engineering practices; 2. The wealth of Earth-orbiting NASA satellite data now available in real time provides us with an unprecedented understanding of the science of climate change and also provides many opportunities for student experiential learning; and 3. The latest advances in climate modeling can allow students to both see the impact that humans are currently having on Earth systems and to build a sense of hope in how future changes in human practices can reverse current impact trends.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO)

Gain important insight on how to easily and gently integrate lessons on Climate Education and Environmental Justice using project-based and class-tested activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to offer students ways to understand events, make changes and be a voice for changing the current climate dilemma and environmental injustices. Attendees will learn about activities that can be used to support students to drive social change or offer citizen science. Attendees will be inspired by the innovative ways shared on best practices to communicate effectively with students.

SPEAKERS:
Lolita Kiorpes (Thomas Stone High School: Waldorf, MD)

Are you an instructor of preservice teachers of science? Learn about NSTA's digital resources, virtual experiences, and website tools to help your students become the BEST teachers they can be. More than membership, learn about what’s on the NSTA website…and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) Pre-service teachers create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science by actively engaging with NSTA digital resources and online tools within the NSTA website. (2) Instructors receive a class landing page to manage their course, a private forum for asynchronous discussions, and gain access to an administrator's dashboard to monitor and assess their students' engagement within the NSTA website. (3) All instructors using NSTA as their textbook get a free NSTA membership and their students become members of the Association through their graduation date at a cost that is competitive and gives the students access in perpetuity to the entire suite of NSTA’s Interactive E-Books+ Professional.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

What is an effective and engaging way to get students to care about climate change and take action? This session will focus on how to help students teach the story of climate change through the creation of their podcast episodes and the publication of their class podcast series.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach students how to create podcast episodes in partnerships and a podcast series as a class; 2. Integrate authentic assessments into a unit of study on climate change that will be incorporated into the climate change podcast series; and 3. Structure a unit of study on climate change into different parts with a logical sequence of NGSS work products leading to the creation of the class podcast series.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Gordon (NYU Steinhardt School of Education: New York, NY)

Learn about strategies teachers use to help students comprehend scientific information. Polar Opposites, 3-2-1, Multiple Gist, and other ideas will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will understand why even "good " readers may struggle with understanding and remembering scientific information. 2. Attendees will learn the importance of teaching students to use and understand text features, focus on specific content, engage with multiple texts, and support their opinions with textual evidence. 3. Attendees will learn specific strategies elementary teachers have used to develop each of the above skills in the science classroom.

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

This session will take a deep dive into how to engage students experiencing chronic trauma in the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will be exposed to the signs and impacts of chronic trauma on science students. 2. Participants will be provided with strategies for engaging these students in the science classroom. 3. Participants will be provided with ideas and techniques for developing a science classroom environment that supports students living with chronic traums.

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

Explore NSTA’s NEWProfessional Learning Units. Discover these bite-sized asynchronous professional learning experiences that support student sensemaking to earn credit to submit to your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how NSTA can provide asynchronous and bite-sized continuing education credit options (2 hours per PLU); 2. Explore how each PLU contains reflections or tasks connected to the classroom that are submitted to NSTA for review or feedback; and 3. Explore how we can support professional learning for individuals or schools/districts, including the flexible options available for Professional Learning Unit topics, and how these fit into our Professional Learning pathways.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Participants explore using a "Chemical Reaction of the Week" to target SEPs and CCCs. Related activities require students to connect their thinking to multiple disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. identify SEPs and CCCs for students to practice and refine and will develop activities related to a chemical reaction that explore those practices; 2. experience the activities from the perspective of a student, responding to prompts, drawing models, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions based on evidence; and 3. make transdisciplinary connections for themselves and their students by exploring various applications of the components of the specified reaction.

SPEAKERS:
Dina Dormer (West Chester Area School District: Exton, PA)

This session presents an eesmarts activity using the popular “escape room” format in which students solve clues using science knowledge to complete the challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Using an escape room to explore the concepts of energy transformation and its environmental impact 2. Ideas to enhance distance learning through competitive activities/gamification 3. Suggestions for using and adapting escape room format with eesmarts or your existing curriculum

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Brooks (CREC: No City, No State), Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)

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:
Kelly Schaeffer (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Join us as we explore how NSTA’s three-dimensional resources can be utilized to enhance your teaching. Walk away with effective strategies for science teaching and learning and hear from educators as they provide tips for using these resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Hear from classroom teachers about how they are using NSTA Press publications; and 2. Leave with top-notch teaching tips and innovative lesson plan ideas that promote imaginative learning and student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Wendy Binder (Program Director, STEM Professional Learning: Arlington, VA)

It takes a village to build and sustain formal and informal environmental educational partnerships. Join the nonprofit ShoreRivers, Maryland's Wicomico County Public Schools, and funder The Chesapeake Bay Trust, as they share how the "Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Academy" created 15 unique partnerships and curricula that support Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland's Environmental Literacy Standards, and connected students with their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience provides a curriculum framework that embraces and enhances formal and informal partnerships that support Next Generation Science Standards. 2. Formal and informal educators can collaborate to support Environmental Literacy through local issue investigations that culminate in students doing science while engaging directly with field professionals and community networks while advocating for community solutions. 3. Best practices for informal and formal collaborations and funding opportunities to support systemic and sustainable partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Sullivan (ShoreRivers: Easton, MD), Mairin Corasaniti (Education & Outreach Coordinator: Easton, MD), Hemalatha Bhaskaran (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD)

Participants will learn about how some districts around the country are using an asset approach to post-COVID learning and will collaboratively share ideas with others.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Some districts around the country are focusing on an acceleration rather than a remediation post-COVID approach to learning; 2. An asset approach to learning and learners supports social and emotional well-being; and 3. The NSELA Learning Center provides resources for continued learning about asset versus deficit approaches to learning.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Weatherhead (National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA): Downingtown, PA)

Let's discuss ways to get students excited about independent scientific research.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will learn ways to incorporate independent research in their classroom. 2. Attendees will learn about the opportunities that are available to students who are involved in independent scientific research. 3. Attendees will review what paperwork and student developed materials are necessary for a middle/high school science fair and where to obtain needed resources.

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

Students conduct research throughout multiple parts of a unit of study on Hudson River Ecology. The authentic NGSS-focused assessments they produce throughout the unit are in service of a collaboratively authored book that the class creates about the Hudson River.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop authentic NGSS-focused assessments throughout a unit of study on Hudson River Ecology; 2. Teach students agency and independence as they create chapters for a collaboratively authored book; and 3. Structure a logically sequenced unit of study on Hudson River Ecology that facilitates student growth as scientific thinkers and learners.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Gordon (NYU Steinhardt School of Education: New York, NY)

EdReports is expanding into high school instructional materials reviews. Learn about the High School Learning and Listening Tour, provide feedback on our current thinking, and hear about opportunities to become a reviewer.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Build an understanding of the challenges educators face in finding quality materials and how EdReports aims to address those challenges; 2. Learn about the expansion into High School science and develop an understanding of the findings from our High School Learning and Listening tour, characteristics of alignment to the NGSS and usability, and discuss smart adoption processes; and 3. Hear about opportunities to engage as an EdReports reviewer in upcoming reviews, which includes NGSS training, an extended learning community, and a paid stipend.

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Eliopoulos (EdReports.org: Alexandria, VA)

Explore innovative approaches to incorporating vocabulary and text in the science classroom using strategies encouraging reflection, critical thinking, communication, and consistent connection to content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Immediately applicable, engaging activities that can be used at any grade level 2)How to help students connect what they are doing in science to themselves, their world or the world around them 3) How to create a space in your classroom for weekly vocabulary in order to ensure all students have the same base of information for classroom discussions, activities and content instruction

SPEAKERS:
Kate Price (Moore Square Magnet Middle School: Raleigh, NC), Kim Patterson (West Pine Middle School: West End, NC)

Join us as we share our journey of collaborating with science leaders to recognize and design quality professional learning to advance 3-D science teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. An understanding of the science leader’s role in putting the pieces of the NRC Framework together for a coherent science program. 2. Ways to strategically plan and prioritize professional learning based on system and individual teacher needs. 3. Ways to approach addressing what teachers need to know and be able to do if students are to achieve our vision for science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tonya Woolfolk (Houston County Schools: Perry, GA), Patricia Morgan (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA)

Through STEM notebooks and the Engineering and Design Process, transform your literacy block to become more engaging and inquiry based.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The steps of the engineering and design process and what each step means and how it looks in the classroom 2. STEM notebooks and how to use them effectively 3. Using STEM notebooks and the EDP during your literacy block specifically but demonstrate how the EDP is cross curricular

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey McAlister (McKissick Academy of Science & Technology: Easley, SC), Abbigail Ramey (McKissick Academy of Science & Technology: Easley, SC)

Share our Vermont middle school journey implementing project-based learning and the “ best of times, worst of times" in units involving podcasts, student science videos, and design challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
What are the key design elements for technology-rich project based learning units? How can a project drive student learning and still keep content learning targets in the center? Is it possible video production, podcasting or engineering design challenges might enhance students’ proficiency based learning in my classroom - and if so, how?

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

High school biology students use an inquiry-based approach to investigate the impact of five-minute mindful meditation in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about the statistically significant impact short amounts of mindful meditation have in a classroom setting, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. about connecting mindfulness to physiological factors, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate; and 3. to recreate this experiment with their own classes and integrate this activity into a biology or life sciences curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Bunnell-Young (Severn School: Severna Park, MD)

The Crosscutting Concepts will be used to thread Disciplinary Core Ideas together in a meaningful way. This is for intentional integrated science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Cross Cutting Concepts will be explained and illustrated. Practical examples will be given how to combine seamingly different lessons into novel ways. Comparison strategies will be used in a fun game way.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Allison (Dawson Education Service Cooperative: Arkadelphia, AR), Aaron Buchman (Northeast Arkansas Educational Coop: Walnut Ridge, AR)

Participate in a discussion of how to purposefully integrate problem-based learning into life science instruction while leveraging student choice as part of the assessment process.

TAKEAWAYS:
What problem-based learning looks like in a biology/life science classroom. How to make assessment authentic and as real-world as possible for high school students. The role of student choice in assessment and what that looks like.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Dagounis (Berkeley Heights Public Schools: Berkeley Heights, NJ)

Give students memorable experiences by providing opportunities for learning that extend beyond the classroom through meaningful connections with community partners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Community partners can come from unlikely places. 2. Partnerships benefit not only students but educators as well. 3. Teachers will learn how to plan and approach building a network of community partners.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Niemi (Muscogee County School District: Columbus, GA)

Love teaching 6–12 climate? Hate it? Stop by either way! We'll share ideas for weaving e-justice into climate change for middle school on up through APES!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Environmental racism has already created a need for environmental justice. 2. Climate change is exacerbating the need for e-justice by making inequities sharper. 3. Climate justice is, therefore, environmental justice, and we as science educators need to carefully choose our climate change lessons, data, and resources to include e-justice through the lens of climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Duvall (Appoquinimink High School: Middletown, DE), Steven Sygowski (Appoquinimink High School: Middletown, DE)

Learn the rationale behind hypothesis testing methods like the Student’s t-Test. A classroom activity comparing surface areas of sun and shade leaves will be presented.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand… • the logical reasoning underlying hypothesis testing. •how to compare the means of two samples, for example, an experimental and a control group, to see if there is a significant difference between them. Participants will be able to apply… •a simple and elegant procedure for determining the surface area of leaves which is useful in the sun leaf vs shade leaf activity, as well as in activities determining the rate of transpiration of leaves.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Cooper (Pennsbury High School, West Campus: Fairless Hills, PA)

Hear how a college partnered with a local urban elementary school to build a greenhouse and its impacts on K–8 students and the preservice teachers who are completing field experiences in the partnership school.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Logistics of how a college partnered with a local, urban elementary school to build a greenhouse 2. The impact of utilization of the greenhouse on preservice teacher self-efficacy for teaching science 3. Tips for how host teachers can support preservice science teachers will be provided

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Hesson (York College of Pennsylvania: York, PA)

Discover safe ways to lower the barriers to a fair and equitable science education for student groups who have been excluded or marginalized.

TAKEAWAYS:
- Activities that build a positive student/teacher relationship as well as a positive classroom community - Activity to nurture challenging but achievable student created goal building -Activity to differentiate your current science lessons

SPEAKERS:
Donna Kaiser (Stamford High School: Stamford, CT)

Imagine doing daily labs without going crazy. We will discuss the highlights of setting up a self-directed middle school science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
You'll learn the questions you must ask before embarking on this structural change. You'll consider how to change your environment to accommodate a self-directed classroom. You'll think through your scope and sequence and see how it can be adjusted to a self-directed classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Balch (Teacher: Great Falls, VA)

Learn how a research-backed approach to project-based learning is the best way to develop students who are ready to tackle Earth’s biggest environmental challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn simple yet powerful strategies for integrating PBL into environmental science classes and lessons. Leave with resources you can use to immediately improve how you approach standards focused on environmental science at the secondary level. Learn the results of recent research which proves PBL results in better environmental science learning outcomes for all students, even those furthest from opportunity.

SPEAKERS:
James Fester (Hill-Murray School: Maplewood, MN)

Join individuals responsible for the coordination and supervision of science education and teachers from around the country to share ideas and solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Networking with individuals in similar positions from around the country; 2. Sharing ideas around concerns facing science educators; and 3. Great ideas or solutions that others are implementing that you can too.

SPEAKERS:
Tonya Woolfolk (Houston County Schools: Perry, GA), Robbie Higdon (James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA), Michael Heinz (New Jersey Dept. of Education: Trenton, NJ)

Research has demonstrated the connection between color and recall of information as well as the reduction of stress and anxiety. During COVID, a biology teacher and IB Biology student combined the two to create a resource for students. This is their story.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The health benefits associated with coloring; 2. The connection between color and the recall of information; and 3. The creative journey taken by a teacher and student to bring these benefits together for future Biology students.

SPEAKERS:
Breanna Calkins (North Hagerstown High School: Hagerstown, MD), Kaleea Korunka (William & Mary: Williamsburg, VA)

Let's explore student interest and perceived barriers to careers in STEM education and engage with potential STEM teacher candidates through interdisciplinary urban ecology modules.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Generating interest in STEM education through curriculum innovation; 2. Barriers to careers in STEM education; and 3. Developing STEM education recruitment pipelines.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Stabile (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY), Margaret Smith (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY), Benjamin Gaines (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY)

Experience three different digital design challenges using branching scenarios that provide student choice and data sets. Each challenge is presented on a different digital platform.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will engage in a digital design challenge to test efficiency of wind turbine blades. 2. Participants will engage in a digital design challenge to test the strength of electromagnets. 3. Participants will engage in a digital design challenge to test the greenhouse effect in an area of a specific land surface (polar region, water, desert).

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Brooks (CREC: No City, No State), Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)

We will present the efforts of six secondary schools and lab-based partners at Stanford University to create relevant, impactful research-based learning curricula in the field of genetics. Learn how you can too!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Through Stan-X, middle school and high school students learn science through authentic, open-ended, publishable research; 2. Coordination between schools, both public and private, across the world can enhance scientific learning and research opportunities for your students, while also building a supportive network for teachers interested in providing these opportunities to students; and 3. Instructing teachers in the "process" to develop student-based classroom research is the crucial step in providing meaningful experiences in research-based classes.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Lantz (The Lawrenceville School: Lawrenceville, NJ)