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

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

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

Writing your own NGSS units? Learn about our articulated writing process that achieves NGSS and English Language Proficiency standards. Applicable to all levels!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. how we unpack PEs and approach writing a unit; 2. how to consider NGSS from a language perspective; and 3. why the investment in time upfront leads to a more effective writing experience and a more coherent experience for students and teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Mayo (Portland Public Schools: Portland, OR), Jennifer Scherzinger (Portland Public Schools: Portland, OR), Geoff Stonecipher (Portland Public Schools: Portland, OR)

Maximize instructional minutes through integration strategies that deeply engage students in science, engineering, and ELA learning.  I'll share links to free resources for all your NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how to use science phenomena and driving questions to engage students deeply with English Language Arts strategies and standards (reading, writing, speaking, and listening); 2. where and how English Language Arts fit and function in the arc of science learning; and 3. about free resources that can help them integrate science and ELA in their elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA)

We’ll explore key stances, strategies, and resources for supporting elementary students to learn about and take collective action in response to authentic socio-ecological challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Young learners are capable of consequential and justice-centered learning about social, political, environmental, and climate issues. Concerns about “developmental appropriateness” can perpetuate dominant forms of science and invisibilize marginalized students’ lived experiences; 2. Science learning should support students in understanding and engaging with local and global challenges through centering the world views, perspectives, and leadership of BIPOC communities; and 3. The use of project-based approaches can allow young learners to develop their voice and leadership capacity as they solve problems that are real and urgent in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Rae Han (EarthGen: No City, No State), Pranjali Upadhyay (Educational Service District 112: Vancouver, WA)

Learn and understand  how an industry partner and a team of educators collaborated to create activities in helping students design a microgravity space toilet.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to develop a successful problem-based Learning unit incorporating NGSS, Common Core, and CTE; 2. How to infuse 21st-Century soft skills and connections to career pathways into a problem-based learning unit; and 3. Tips on forming strong partnership collaborations.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Bromley (Hazelwood Elementary School: Lynnwood, WA), Zayd Sarwat (Hazelwood Elementary School: Lynnwood, WA), Alexandra Willwerth (Hazelwood Elementary School: Lynnwood, WA), Makena Nymeyer (Hazelwood Elementary School: Lynnwood, WA), Sylvie Giral Kacmarcik (Civil Air Patrol, Washington Wing: Bothell, WA)

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; and 3. Using STEM notebooks and the EDP during your literacy block and demonstrating how the EDP is cross-curricular.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Spearman (McKissick Academy of Science & Technology: Easley, SC), McKenzie Martin (McKissick Academy of Science & Technology: Easley, SC)