2021 National Harbor Area Conference

November 11-13, 2021

All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in your account when the app launches. Any sessions added now, will also have to be added in the app.
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FILTERS APPLIED:Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators, Life Science

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
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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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Phenomenon-Based, Literacy-Rich Learning Using Digitized Museum Objects

Thursday, November 11 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D


STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

Engage with Research Quest, free, online, NGSS-focused, phenomenon-based investigations that use authentic museum objects and research to build students' literacy, critical-thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. experience an exemplar set of free resources that successfully integrate NGSS and ELA standards to provide students with meaningful, self-directed learning; 2. recognize that providing students with opportunities to research phenomenon-based problems professional scientists devote their careers to using the collections and data they build new knowledge from can empower students to better understand the enterprise of science, the natural world, and the natural history of our world—while building their literacy and critical-thinking skills; and 3. understand that creating opportunities to make critical thinking visible is an essential scaffold necessary to support student efficacy with problem-finding and problem-solving.

SPEAKERS:
Madlyn Larson (Natural History Museum of Utah: Salt Lake City, UT)

Increase Student Collaboration with Epidemiology

Thursday, November 11 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 3



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Increase Student Collaboration with Epidemiology_nsta 2021.pptx

Show Details

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)

NSTA Press Session: Argument-Driven Inquiry as a Way to Bring Three-Dimensional Instruction to Your Classroom

Thursday, November 11 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 4


Show Details

Argument-Driven Inquiry is an instructional model that gives students an opportunity to learn how to use DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to explain natural phenomena and creates a learning environment where students are able to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
• How to use this instructional model, or way of teaching, to give students an opportunity to learn how to use the DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to make sense of natural phenomena. • How to give students an opportunity to use their own ideas and ways of communicating to talk, read, and write in the service of sense-making • How to give students more opportunities to decide what counts as valid and acceptable and develop new criteria for what counts evidence in science.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (Del Valle ISD: Del Valle, TX)

Using Nature as Inspiration to Design Martian Landers

Thursday, November 11 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 4



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Martian Lander Data Sheet in Microsoft Excel format
This is a condensed data sheet geared toward upper elementary for students to collect speed or distance data.
NSTA Using Nature as Inspiration to Design Landers Lesson Plan document
Suggested lesson plan for "Using Nature as Inspiration to Design Landers" in pdf format.
NSTA Using Nature as Inspiration to Design Landers PPT
The presentation is in Power Point format. The file can be used as a student presentation. In the notes section, data sheets, lesson plans, and lesson ideas are listed or linked.

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

Show Details

Grades K–8 teachers—please join us for this hands-on workshop using biomimicry to design a system to land payloads safely to the surface of Mars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. integrate data using pocketlab sensors; 2. learn about modifications to this lesson that can help increase equity for all learners; and 3. see examples of formative assessments that can be used to assess student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Pitts (Oakdale School: Edmond, OK), Sheryl McCarthy (The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori: Cincinnati, OH)

Moving Beyond the Bold Words: Meaningful Language Development Through Science and Engineering Practices

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
STEM Teaching Tool Sharing and Building on Each Others’ Ideas

STRAND: Developing More Inclusive Classrooms

Show Details

This workshop focuses on how high-quality instructional materials designed for the NGSS provide for language skills to be developed by all students, including emerging multilingual students, by engaging in Science and Engineering Practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) By engaging with content first before learning science-specific vocabulary, students of varying language proficiencies are provided with an opportunity to express their ideas using the language they have. (2) Implementing meaningful student discourse in the science classroom can shift the focus on science and engineering practices and away from academic vocabulary. (3) Strategies that support emerging multilingual learners actually support all learners in developing proficiency in the science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Neelo Soltanzadeh (WestEd: San Francisco, CA)

Getting Students to Read in Science

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson B


STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

Reading should not be limited to English courses. Leave with strategies on how to motivate students to explore science through scientific novels. Review three years of qualitative data on how novels increased  literacy, scientific fluency, scientific connectivity, and college preparation in a marine biology course.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. learn how to use articles to make their content more applicable to the lives of their students; 2. receive strategies on how to get students to read more scientific articles; and 3. receive resources on selecting grade-appropriate scientific articles.

SPEAKERS:
Jonte' Lee (Whittier Elementary: Kansas City, KS)

Pop Culture's Relevancy in Authentically Assessing Students

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake I



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Pop Culture’s Relevancy in Authentically Assessing Students

STRAND: Sharing Authentic Assessment Strategies

Show Details

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 Three Sisters Garden: How Plants and People Grow and Thrive

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Three Sisters - NSTA 2021.pdf
Powerpoint presentation of FoodPrints Three Sisters Garden Lesson
Three-Sisters FoodPrints lesson.pdf

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

Show Details

Join us for a hands-on FoodPrints lesson that explores the Three Sisters Garden to teach teamwork, SEL practices, cooperation, groups discussion, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in a hands-on engineering investigation to design and build a Three Sisters Garden model and learn the Native American legend of the Three Sisters Garden as participants work in groups to explore the themes of teamwork, cooperation, and empathy as it relates to their investigation and the legend. 2. Participants will practice strategies to engage students in discourse and develop habits for discussion and collaboration through a series of hands on investigations, as well as explore tools for assessing through discourse. 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 Pre-K through 5th grade.

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

Developing Analysis and Argumentative Skills for Science Students: Tips from AP Biology Readers

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Developing Analysis and Argumentative Skills for Science Students

Show Details

Participants will explore methods to help all science students create better scientific arguments from data. Presenters will use AP Biology Exam Free Response Questions and Scoring Guidelines to show participants how to evaluate student science writing and engage students in peer review.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to internalize the rubrics as AP Readers do. Use peer review to evaluate student writing. Use tech tools to engage students in analysis of data and self-review of science writing.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lesh (Winters Mill High School: Westminster, MD), Amy Inselberger (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Lincolnshire, IL)

Mountaineer Mania

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8


Show Details

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)

STEM Education | Space Station Explorers | ISS National Lab

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 2


Show Details

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)

Teaching Human Ecology with Models and Simulation

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5


Show Details

Discover inquiry-based simulations and modeling activities that explore “Human Impacts” topics, including global land and water use, wildlife habitats, and interdependent relationships in ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn ways to incorporate modeling and simulation activities into classroom instruction around the topic of interdependent relationships in ecosystems. 2. Participants will learn ways to incorporate modeling and simulation activities into classroom instruction around the topic of human-environmental interactions. 3. Participants will be able to identify how the presented hands-on activities use 3-D learning strategies for middle grades science and how the activities can be used to reach all kinds of learners in the middle school classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Holmes (Carl Sandburg Middle School: Alexandria, VA)

Engaging Students in Online Science Investigations Using Digitized Museum Specimens

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 7


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

Show Details

EPIC Bioscience are free, online investigations for NGSS middle school life science. Students collect and analyze data from digitized museum specimens to develop evidence-based arguments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Online science investigations can engage students in real-world issues, promote accurate data collection, and facilitate critical thinking and reflection. Digitized museum specimens increase student motivation during data collection and support understanding of data findings. Online data collection can facilitate accurate data collection and reduce barriers related to specimen access.

SPEAKERS:
Madlyn Larson (Natural History Museum of Utah: Salt Lake City, UT)

Supporting Student Agency Using Multidisciplinary Projects in the Elementary Classroom

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake H



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

STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

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)

Supporting SEL and Meeting NGSS Standards Through Citizen Science and Schoolyard Investigations

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake I


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

Show Details

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 (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

NSELA-Sponsored Session: Highlighting Stories of Successful (Formal and Informal Science) Partnerships from National Science Leaders

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake G


STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

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)

Dumpster Dive with STEM

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Dumpster Dive with STEM Materials

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

Show Details

Connect the human impact of trash pollution to engineering design. Get your students thinking critically and creatively as they collaborate in real-world problem-solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Connecting the human impact of single-use plastics and their effect on aquatic ecosystems; 2. Exposing students to basic coding and engineering design in an NGSS-focused content classroom; and 3. Developing a project that enhances STEM skills in students such as collaboration, curiosity, and creative problem-solving.

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

Historical Inquiry: A Three-Dimensional Approach to Teaching and Learning

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Goodstein NSTA Presentation 211111.pptx
Presentation from Session

Show Details

Historical inquiry allows students to develop understanding by using scientific practices to trace the experiments that led to foundational core ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
--How to design experiences that allow students to trace the thinking that led to foundational scientific ideas --How to create performance-based assessments that allow students to transfer the scientific practices they have learned to novel situations --How to use historical inquiry to demonstrate that our understanding of science is evidence-based, and with different evidence, our conclusions must be different

SPEAKERS:
Josh Goodstein (Greene Street Friends School: Philadelphia, PA)

Partnering with NSTA to Reach Your Professional Learning Goals

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8


Show Details

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)

Pushing Technology Past the User Guide

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 3



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Pushing Technology Past the User Guide Presentation
Reference Sheet Pushing Technology Beyond the User Guide

Show Details

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)

Does Black English Stand Between Black Students and Success in Science?

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C


STRAND: Developing More Inclusive Classrooms

Show Details

Discussion centers on tools to properly analyze black students’ scientific work to determine if the misconceptions and misunderstandings are a learning issue or language issue. Emphasis will be placed on the use of language to reduce the ethnic achievement gap in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Analyzing students’ work from a linguistic lens; 2. Recognizing biases when it comes to student language; and 3. Pushing Black students academically forward without making them feel torn between two language worlds.

SPEAKERS:
Jonte' Lee (Whittier Elementary: Kansas City, KS)

Cultivating a Culture of Argumentation in Your Classroom

Friday, November 12 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 7


STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

This session will model how to create purposeful, scaffolded PBL experiences that move students toward constructing explanations of natural phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Examine ways to engage students by using phenomena that directly connect to the core ideas. • Explore strategies that develop a culture where student thinking is valued • Examine practices that encourage students to defend their ideas or challenge their classmate’s ideas using evidence

SPEAKERS:
Zipporah Miller (Educational Consultant: Bowie, MD)

Bringing the Amazon to the Classroom with the Morpho Network

Friday, November 12 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 3


STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

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)

Injecting Viruses into the Curriculum

Friday, November 12 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 4



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Materials List Link
Presentation and Materials Google Document

Show Details

Viruses are everywhere in our world! Engage students in a hands-on NGSS-focused engineering/modeling activity that challenges students to explore the world of viruses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how: 1. to model virus-cell interactions using everyday household items; 2. to provide students an opportunity to explore the world of microbes and change variables as they engineer their models; and 3. viruses have positive and negative impacts on their local environment.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Ferrell (St. Georges Technical High School: Middletown, DE)

Inspiring Literacy and Science Interest with Data

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6


STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

We use data to do science; data literacy is its own set of skills. Young learners benefit when we integrate data, literacy, and science together.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify how data literacy is a critical aspect of literacy and science literacy in the 21st century; 2. Explore strategies and resources to use to authentically integrate data into K–5 science instruction; and 3. Develop a plan for next steps to elevate data as an aspect of meaningful connections between literacy and science.

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

Problem Solving by Design for Every Classroom

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 3


STRAND: Sharing Authentic Assessment Strategies

Show Details

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)

Incorporating Technology into Inquiry-Based Science Lessons

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 3


Show Details

Content experts have developed processes for creating inquiry-based lessons. Participants will learn how to integrate technology in order to create engaging science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the major components of inquiry-based science instruction. Participants will learn how to develop inquiry-based science lessons. Participants will learn how to incorporate technology into inquiry-based lessons to promote student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Williams-Brown (Houston County Schools: Perry, GA), Tonya Woolfolk (Houston County Schools: Perry, GA)

Forging Successful Collaborations Through Facilitative Instructional Coaching

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 14


Show Details

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)

Game On! Gamify Your Classroom and Student Learning

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake D


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

From unplugged to plugged-in game design, explore how games create an authentic learning experience in which students collaborate, communicate, and have fun in the process!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Use an innovative approach to game-based learning as a primary vehicle for science instruction; 2. Make lessons fun and accessible while encouraging students to take personal responsibility for their education; and 3. Create an equitable learning environment where students can progress at their own rate, allowing for differentiation based on student needs.

SPEAKERS:
Joselyn Whetzel (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Joshua Goldberg (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

Beyond Labz: Realistic Virtual Labs That Bridge the Gap Between Real Labs and Scientific Inquiry

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake F


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Beyond Labz

Built on a platform developed over 20 years, Beyond Labz creates an open-ended environment providing students the opportunity to experiment, practice, fail, discover, and learn.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Beyond Labz simplifies and reduces the cost and expertise needed to provide crucial laboratory experiences and practice for Secondary and Higher Ed students; 2. Attendees will learn how the labs are used for pre- and post-lab experiences, credit recovery and lab make-up, student engagement in class, and meeting NGSS standards; and 3. Basic onboarding and start-up instructions will be provided for drop-in solutions, and instructions for using some of the more sophisticated features will also be described.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Woodfield (Brigham Young University: Provo, UT)

Exploring the Properties of Water and Cell Membranes

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 13


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore the properties of water and discover the structure and function of cell membranes with engaging models that allow students to drive their learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn how modeling the properties of water allows students to predict the structure of cell membranes; 2. use models to explain the structure and function of cell membranes, including the transport of molecules across the membrane; and 3. experience how the use of these models allows student thinking to become visible.

SPEAKERS:
Keri Shingleton (Holland Hall: Tulsa, OK)

Plants from Fish Poop: Exploring Classroom Aquaponics and Raising Trout

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8


STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

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)

Collaborative Partnerships + Hands-On Activities = STEM Career Interest

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6


STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

Connect your school with local colleges and STEM employers using relevant, standards-based, hands-on activities that spark interest in science and STEM careers. Sample activity included.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to identify and reach out to potential community and industry partners How to build a program or event that meets the needs of all stakeholders Developing authentic learning experiences to impact student perspectives of locally available STEM careers

SPEAKERS:
Bethany Kenyon (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

How to Give Children More Opportunities to Use Science and Literacy to Make Sense of the World Around Them

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D


Show Details

This session introduces a way to create learning experiences that give students opportunities to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking as they use the DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to explain natural phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Takeaways: • How to ensure students have access to science by designing investigations that promote and supports the use of literacy skills • How literacy can be used to be used in the service of sense-making. • How to embed formative assessment of science practices and literacy skills into an investigation in a meaningful and informative way.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (Del Valle ISD: Del Valle, TX)

Build Local Connections and a Global Perspective with eBird Citizen Science

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5


Show Details

Connect to nature, explore biodiversity data, and build science practices with eBird citizen science. Use free apps to discover birds and beyond, wherever you are. Participants should bring their own device to this session.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: 1. use the Merlin bird ID app to identify birds and create a list of the most 10 common birds in their area, and to use the eBird citizen science app to submit a checklist of birds; 2. define citizen science and describe how it can help students develop data literacy, deepen understanding of biodiversity, uncover real-world patterns and trends, and support conservation efforts; and 3. name and access at least three freely available resources (such as apps, online interactives, videos, lesson plans, data visualizations, and projects) that are suitable to use in their classroom to diverse learners in citizen science.

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

How to Incorporate Climate Education and Environmental Justice—In and Out of the Classroom

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Incorporating EJ and CC in the classroom

Show Details

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)

Twist and Shout:  Unraveling Chromosomes with Hands-On Models

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 13


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Mitosis, meiosis, chromosome structure, and crossing over will be explored in this hands-on modeling event. Bring your student hat and be ready to engage.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model chromosome structure and anatomy; 2. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis; and 3. Model mechanisms that contribute to genetic variation.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Williams (Shelter Island Union Free School District: Shelter Island, NY)

Ditch the Dish and Kick the Ice Bucket with Classroom-Friendly Bacterial Transformation!

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake E


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Reduce your prep and integrate technology to take the mess and stress out of transformation with the Let it Glow™ Bacterial Transformation MiniLab.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. reduce the mess and stress of bacterial transformation; 2. use a PCR System to perform transformation; and 3. use The Winston, The MiniOne PCR System, and gloTrays to replace ice buckets, heat baths, and petri dishes.

SPEAKERS:
Callen Hyland (Embi Tec: San Diego, CA)

Easy Ways to Differentiate Science Curricula for Highly Able Learners

Friday, November 12 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5


Show Details

This workshop explores a myriad of simple ways science classroom teachers can differentiate their lessons/units/curricula to meet the needs of highly able learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Highly able leaners often require differentiation to achieve their full educational potential. There are simple strategies that can be employed to enrich the education of high achieving students without adding hours to a teacher’s workload. Using a variety of strategies, teachers can adapt their lessons, units, and projects to meet the needs of highly able learners.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Ellis (Argyle Middle School: Silver Spring, MD), Alaina Piek (Oklahoma Road Middle School: Sykesville, MD)

Discover NSTA’s New Professional Learning Units to Earn Continuing Education Credit

Friday, November 12 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 1


Show Details

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)

Toppling the Straw Tower: What Does Problem-Driven Learning Look Like in an NGSS Classroom?

Friday, November 12 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson D


Show Details

In this workshop, participants will discuss how NGSS-focused instructional materials can support an equitable classroom that empowers all students to design solutions to real-world problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) In the NGSS, problems are defined as “situations somebody wants to change,” which is different from construction or design projects, where the ultimate goal is achieving a design or tinkering. (2) Problems that describe real-world situations grounded in compelling contexts that students care about can create intrinsic motivation for all students to learn science and engineering ideas. (3) The presence of an authentic and compelling problem in instructional materials is not enough; it also needs to be used in instruction in a way that will effectively support students’ learning and motivation.

SPEAKERS:
Neelo Soltanzadeh (WestEd: San Francisco, CA), Jenn Brown-Whale (Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE): Baltimore, MD)