NSTA Engage: Spring21 - Sessions

Keynote Presentation: Equity-ology

Growing up in a single parent home on the south side of Chicago, IL, Justin J. Shaifer had little awareness of the potential of a STEM career. His worldview drastically transformed after experiences at Hampton University. Justin graduated with a bachelor's degree in marine and environmental science with the highest departmental GPA, and was also president of Hampton University's student body while receiving scholarships from NASA and NOAA that covered 100% of his tuition and room and board. Now 24 years old, Justin travels the country empowering young students to "embrace their inner nerd" despite their surroundings, and developing culturally responsive STEM curricula for New York City institutions.

Justin is executive director of Fascinate, Inc., an organization created to excite underrepresented students about STEM. He is known for his work on the Magic Cool Bus Project. Past partners of his organization include Microsoft, MIT Media Lab, and the Children’s Aid Society. Justin is studying these programs’ effects as a PhD student at Columbia University.

Speakers

Justin Shaifer (Fascinate, Inc.: New York, NY)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

Keynote Presentation: U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Answers Your Questions

Don’t miss your opportunity to hear from U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona as he shares a special message and answers questions from science teachers.

Speakers

Miguel Cardona (U.S. Secretary of Education: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Education Through Minecraft

Bestselling author Max Brooks believes in the power of educating through entertainment, whether it’s learning survival skills through zombie fiction or better understanding our own history through graphic novels. What better way to reach students than through mediums they have fun using, such as video games? Join Max as he explains why he thinks the massively popular game Minecraft has the potential to be the greatest teaching tool since Gutenberg’s printing press.

Speakers

Max Brooks (Author: Venice, CA)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Integrating Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) in the STEM Classroom

STEM is not just about integrating science, technology, engineering, and math. Dr. Carol O’Donnell discusses how schools can support STEM students and teachers of diverse backgrounds through curricula, professional development, and leadership development that take an integrated approach to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in K–12 STEM. Participants will learn about several free Smithsonian resources to integrate inclusive design into K–12 STEM curricula, apply PD strategies for teaching English learners and girls in STEM, and diversify the STEM teaching workforce.

Speakers

Carol O'Donnell (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Planning for a Responsive Relaunch

What have we learned during the past year about what we most value about teaching and learning? Where does science fit in a responsive relaunch? Join leaders from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science as we reflect on these questions and begin to explore how to capitalize on a phenomenon-based approach to create a culture that values student voice and fosters curiosity and engagement.

Speakers

Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Engaging Students by Integrating Culturally Relevant Instruction

Alejandro understands that students arrive each day with an abundance of cultural wealth. He will share how establishing authentic relationships with his students and strategically integrating culturally relevant instruction has increased student motivation, morale, and engagement in his class. He will also provide insight to some of the challenges that our students from underrepresented populations face, and how providing his students access to a variety of people, programs, resources, and experiential learning opportunities has been critical to his students’ success.

Speakers

Alejandro Diasgranados (Aiton Elementary School: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Environmental and Climate Justice Education—From Grass Roots to the Classroom

In this session participants will get an overview of how environmental and climate justice have been introduced to classrooms through partnerships, expos, and educational programming. Participants will also get an overview of key terms, focus areas, and resources for learning more about environmental and climate justice through a local lens.

Speakers

Taylor Morton (WE ACT for Environmental Justice: New York, NY)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

Master Data Analysis

Learn how model rocketry altitude tracking is a great way to get students comfortable with collecting, graphing, and analyzing data. Win a Mini AltiTrak set for your classroom!

Takeaways: 1. Tips to incorporate graphing into a lesson; 2. Information on data analysis activities for students; and 3. How to use the Estes Mini AltiTrak as a technology tool for data collection.

Speakers

Kathy Biernat (Educational Consultant: Franklin, WI), Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

WhiteBox Learning: The E in STEM  

This workshop will demonstrate an authentic engineering practice so compelling that science and engineering students create an average of 62 virtual design iterations of balsa wood bridges, gliders, mousetrap cars, wind turbines, drones, and many others before (optionally) building a physical model of their optimized design.

Takeaways: 1. Time and money (nearly) prohibits science and engineering classrooms from presenting an authentic engineering practice; 2. WhiteBox Learning provides an authentic experience by utilizing powerful web-based tools with roots in industry that leverage gamification for motivation; and 3. It is possible to leverage familiar projects like balsa wood bridges, balsa wood gliders, mousetrap cars, and others to teach engineering in an authentic way. This is great news because the familiarity of these projects makes it easier for teachers to take on engineering.

Speakers

Tom Robertson (WhiteBox Learning: Louisville, KY)

Save a Nickel and Learn to Trickle!

Learn how to create a project-based camp or classroom lesson that enable students to apply concepts, such as photosynthesis and the water cycle, to design a smart irrigation system. Inspired by real-world events, students are motivated to apply problem-solving skills and learn some basic programming to come up with innovative solutions to using water more efficiently.

Takeaways: 1. Developing models to better understand a process; 2. Constructing explanations and designing solutions; and 3. Introducing students to coding to solve a science problem with an engineering solution.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Inquiry-Based STEM, Featuring the PocketLab

Give your students the opportunity to nurture their inquisitive nature with our Does Mass Matter? lesson plan. Learn more about how Estes is working with cool educational companies and industry professionals to provide you with hands-on, real-world learning experiences for your classroom. All participants will be entered to win our Green Eggs™ Starter Kit!

Takeaways: 1. Improve inquiry-based learning techniques; 2. Foster students' inquisitive nature with the PocketLab; and 3. Incorporate all four elements of STEM with the Does Mass Matter? lesson plan.

Speakers

David Bakker (PocketLab: San Jose, CA), Kathy Biernat (Educational Consultant: Franklin, WI), Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

Tapping into the Phenomena of Drinking Water

Water is the single most valuable resource essential for life on Earth, yet is subject to increasing scarcity, pollutants, and overuse. The Tapwater Tour curriculum makes the real-world connection between the phenomena explored in the lesson and actual hands-on laboratory activities that students experience while revealing the quality of their own tap water. Group discussions, activities, and analysis of class data provide opportunities for teamwork, collaboration, and reflection.

Takeaways: 1. Simple hands-on methods that students can easily and safely perform in the classroom, or as teacher demonstrations for distance learning, will be presented; 2. Examples of phenomena to engage students in water quality testing will be given; and 3. Ideas for adapting lessons to suit student audience/grade levels/abilities will be shared.

Speakers

Margaret Hill (LaMotte Co.: , United States)

Virtual Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour

Give your students real-world computer science and career exposure through Amazon Future Engineer's new live, virtual, and interactive Fulfilment Center Tours! From our online store to doorstep, students will discover how computer science, state-of-the-art engineering, and incredible people deliver customer orders at Amazon.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: how Amazon uses computer science, engineering, and amazing people to deliver customer orders around the globe; 2. how algorithms, sensors, cloud computing, machine learning, databases, and more all help make Amazon possible; and 3. what it's like to be an engineer at Amazon.

Speakers

Trinidad Cisneros (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Tony Wallin (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Adding NOAA's SOS Explorer to Your Data Visualization Education Toolbox

Modern society is awash with data that tell complex stories in the language of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Most humans are intensely visual and find it difficult to find meaning in just numbers. NOAA's answer—SOS Explorer (SOSx), now available as a FREE APP on your tablet or smartphone!

Takeaways: 1. Interpreting data through visualizations; 2. Using mobile device apps in teaching; and 3. Resources available from NOAA.

Speakers

Beth Russell (NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory: Boulder, CO), Hilary Peddicord (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory: Lyons, CO), Stephen Zepecki (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: Meet Me in the Middle Virtual Share-a-Thon, Session 1

Join us for a variety of short, modified Pecha Kucha–style presentations, after which the presenters will be available for questions and further discussion.

The presentations included in this session are:

EarthKAM: Have Your Students Take Photos from ISS
Presenter: David Curry

The Post-COVID Dissection Lab
Presenters: Nicole Green and Bailee Henderson

Teaching Physics on the Cheap
Presenter: Shannon Hudson

Shape of Life: Virtually Teaching The Greatest Story Ever Told—Evolution of the Animal Kingdom on Planet Earth
Presenter: Denise Ryan

NMLSTA Award Opportunities
Presenter: Alison Betz Seymour

Parent/Family Involvement in Science: Why It's Important and How to Make It Work
Presenter: Jessica VanValkenburg

Teaching the Engineering Design Process Through Urban Gardening
Presenters: Elizabeth Weissman and Rebecca Somogyi

Moderator: Mary Lou Lipscomb

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Takeaways: 1. Discover a variety lessons, units, professional development opportunities, and resources for hybrid or virtual instruction; 2. Learn ways to engage middle level students in exciting inquiry learning; and 3. Become aware of ways to involve parents and/or community in science.

Speakers

Denise Ryan (Shape of Life: Capitola, CA), David Curry (Newtown Middle School: Newtown, PA), Nicole Green (Animalearn: Jenkintown, PA), Bailee Henderson (Animalearn: , United States), Shannon Hudson (Crawfordsville Middle School: Crawfordsville, IN), Alison Betz Seymour (Science Educator and Communicator: Scottsdale, AZ), Jessica VanValkenburgh (Columbus State University: Columbus, GA), Elizabeth Weissman (The Ramaz School: New York, NY)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Integrating Science and Literacy in Middle and High School Classrooms with Argument-Driven Inquiry

Learn about Argument-Driven Inquiry and how it can help students engage in real-world science while using literacy-based materials in the service of sensemaking.

Takeaways: In this session, participants will: 1. how to use this instructional model, or way of teaching, to give students an opportunity to learn how to use the core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and practices of science to make sense of natural phenomena; 2. how to give students an opportunity to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking in science; and 3. ways to support students as they engage in real-world science while using literacy-based materials in the service of sensemaking.

Speakers

Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Examining Nature of Science and Standards in a Post-COVID World

Using COVID data and multimedia sources, teachers can elevate students’ understandings of science as a human endeavor, and explore diverse contributions and other nature of science themes.

Takeaways: Attendees will: 1. acquire multiple classroom resources for COVID data, updates, and multimedia; 2. examine connections among pandemic examples and grade level nature of science (NOS) themes in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); and 3. explore opportunities to enhance science lessons with key NGSS NOS themes such as science as a human endeavor, diverse contributions and cultures, using a variety of methods, and knowledge open to revision in light of new evidence.

Speakers

Danny Bergman (Wichita State University: Wichita, KS)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Engagement Strategies and Resources for Remote and Face-to-Face Instruction

Participants explore strategies and resources for engaging students during face-to-face and virtual instruction. Equity, differentiation, and nonlinguistic representations of instruction and learning will be targeted.

Takeaways: Attendees will: 1. learn research-based strategies that increase student engagement so that all students are involved in the learning process; 2. learn new ways to increase the confidence of learners who may be reluctant to engage in classroom activities and discussions; and 3. obtain numerous activities, templates, games, resources, etc. they can use with their students. These can be used “as is” or modified to include other content based on the needs of the attendees.

Speakers

Iris Mudd (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: Winston Salem, NC)

Dumpster Dive with STEM

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 (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD), Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Level Up Students' Analysis Skills with NASA Earth Science Data

My NASA Data will model interactive resources for students learning in-person and via virtual environments that feature short activities, lessons, and access to NASA data.

Takeaways: Participants will: 1. walk away with access to NASA resources for their Earth science classrooms that can be linked directly to their learning management systems; 2. learn of interactive strategies for using these resources with students in a variety of learning environments; and 3. learn of an Earth science data visualization tool that enables students/educators to access and visualize NASA data for a particular region or time period.

Speakers

Elizabeth Joyner (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA), Angela Rizzi (NASA Langley Research Center/ Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI): Hampton, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Virtual Field Labs: Student-Generated Data Explorations of Investigable Questions Led by Climate Scientists

Based on three-dimensional learning and field-tested in high school classes, Virtual Field Labs can be used synchronously, asynchronously, or in hybrid classrooms.

Takeaways: 1. Hands-on virtual tool for teaching climate change concepts; 2. Student-generated data activities led by climate change scientists; and 3. Generate, graph, and analyze data on the way to making claims supported by evidence related to the investigation.

Speakers

Louise Huffman (U.S. Ice Drilling Program: Hanover, NH), William Grosser (Curriculum Designer: Auburn, CA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Discipline-Specific Language Demands with CER and KLEWS

Explore how to use argumentation and explanations supported with the CER framework and the KLEWS chart to engage in the science and engineering practices in the science classroom—both virtually and in person. These ideas will support students to actively participate in inquiry-based, phenomenon-centered activities.

Takeaways: 1. Students need a scaffolding of supports to fully participate and grow in their ability to use the SEPs; 2. Teachers can use many different supports, in different ways for varied learners, to help all students be successful in science. ALL students can be successful!; and 3. These supports can be tailored to all topics in science.

Speakers

Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Designing for Phenomena in Food Production

Discover lesson plans and teaching resources to better integrate science and engineering practices in our food system.

Takeaways: 1. Engage in the practice of phenomena-based learning through the phenomena of photoperiodism; 2. Improve critical thinking while investigating food production systems; and 3. Integrate STEM concepts through design thinking.

Speakers

Andrea Gardner (Utah State University: Logan, UT), Tessa Matuszak (National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization: Palm Coast, FL)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Data Puzzles: Bringing Authentic Data into Classrooms Through Inquiry-Based Instruction

Come learn about Data Puzzles, a free resource co-designed by climate scientists and instructional specialists from the University of Colorado Boulder that are aimed at bringing authentic data into classrooms in the context of current and relevant scientific research.

Takeaways: 1. Introduction to inquiry-based instruction in the context of Ambitious Science Teaching practices; 2. Strategies for facilitating Data Puzzle resources and other inquiry-based activities in your MS/HS classroom; and 3. Skills to design your own data-driven learning activities.

Speakers

Jonathan Griffith (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Biodiversity and the Environment

In this session you will learn how to use a simulation of an aquatic ecosystem to help students see the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. The simulation makes it possible to model environments that would otherwise be very difficult to monitor and experiment with. Plus, the fish animations are really cool!

Takeaways: 1. Using simulations with students can help them better visualize the mechanisms behind phenomena; 2. Simulations are a great complement to hands-on learning and work best when hands on isn't possible/practical; and 3. Effects of changes to certain variables in aquatic ecosystems can have negative effects on the organisms that live there.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: Recognizing Quality Teaching in STEM

Come learn about the highest recognition for STEM educators in the United States. We will discuss eligibility criteria, nomination, application, and review process for the awards. Awardees receive a certificate; a $10,000 award; a trip to Washington, DC, for a recognition event; and access to over 5,100 award-winning teachers.

Takeaways: 1. How you can win $10,000; 2. How you can apply for this prestigious award from the U.S. Government; and 3. The benefits of applying for this award.

Speakers

Robert Mayes (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

To the Sky with STEM Learning!

Ready to take STEM learning to new heights? Join Estes and receive a FREE model rocket to build with us. We will cover model rocketry basics and how you can implement this exciting, low-cost STEM tool in your classroom!

Register here to receive your FREE rocket for this workshop.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. the basics of model rocketry; 2. how to use rocketry in the classroom; and 3. the benefits of hands-on, real-world science.

Speakers

Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

Keynote Panel: Psychosocial Skills and Achievement: A Two-Way Street

The objectives of this session are threefold: to assist teachers in identifying students who need additional social and emotional support; to highlight the dynamic between SEL and learning/achievement as bi-directional, since SEL instruction and skill building have been shown to improve achievement, but achievement or lack of it also impacts children’s sense of well-being; and to highlight psychologically validated strategies designed to prevent distress as well as enhance performance in the science classroom. Teachers will learn about approaches they can use to help students manage performance fears and encourage strategic risk-taking that fosters creativity.

Speakers

Rena Subotnik (American Psychological Association: Washington, DC), Joanne Broder (Media Psychologist: Moorestown, NJ), Amanda Dettmer (Yale School of Medicine: New Haven, CT), Kimberly A. S. Howard (Boston University: Boston, MA)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: Meet Me in the Middle Virtual Share-a-Thon, Session 2

Join us for a variety of short, modified Pecha Kucha–style presentations, after which the presenters will be available for questions and further discussion.

The presentations included in this session are:

Innovation in Biology
Presenter: Jessica Kohout

Eureka! Bioprospecting for Medicine
Presenter: Liz Martinez

FIRST at Home
Presenter: Libby Simpson

Opportunities and Resources for All Middle Level Educators!
Presenters: Anne Schoeffler and Edralin Pagarigan

Inspiring the Future of Aerospace
Presenter: Melissa Sleeper

Ten STE(A)M Skills for Everyone
Presenters: Lydia Kidane

Moderator: Mary Lou Lipscomb

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Takeaways: 1. Discover a variety lessons, units, professional development opportunities, and resources for hybrid or virtual instruction; 2. Learn ways to engage middle level students in exciting inquiry learning; and 3. Become aware of ways to involve parents and/or community in science.

Speakers

Edralin Pagarigan (Golden Ring Middle School: Rosedale, MD), Lydia Kidane (Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Washington, DC), Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD), Liz Martinez (Curriculum/Professional Development: Escondido, CA), Libby Simpson (FIRST®: Manchester, NH), Anne Farley Schoeffler (Seton Catholic School: Hudson, OH), Melissa Sleeper (Storm Grove Middle School: Vero Beach, FL)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NASA GLOBE Cloud Resources for Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

NASA GLOBE Cloud resources provide a variety of ways for diverse learners to engage in the science process in their local community through citizen science.

Takeaways: 1. NASA GLOBE Cloud resources are free and flexible and allow diverse learners to engage with content in many ways; 2. A NASA scientist will discuss why citizen science observations are important to NASA; and 3. Learners can actively participate in citizen science in their own community.

Speakers

Angela Rizzi (NASA Langley Research Center/ Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI): Hampton, VA), Elizabeth Joyner (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Science Storytelling: Student Activism Through Film

Help students create compelling stories about climate change and environmental justice. Classroom-ready resources will help students communicate scientific information with narrative structure across various media.

Takeaways: 1. In an analytical discipline like science, there is still a case to be made for storytelling; 2. The And-But-Therefore narrative structure technique to summarize scientific information or craft original science communication; and 3. Science storytelling can enhance student projects by improving conceptual understanding and allowing choice and voice to engage students as activists for environmental justice.

Speakers

Susan Tate (Whitehall Middle School: Whitehall, MI), Cristina Veresan (The Nueva School: Hillsborough, CA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Creating Inclusive STEM Classrooms to Support All Students from Diverse Backgrounds

STEM fields do not currently reflect the diversity in our country. Not every student will need to be a scientist or engineer but every student should be able to envision themselves in a STEM field. How do we create inclusive classrooms to support all students from diverse backgrounds?

Speakers

Jacqueline Smalls (Code.org: Seattle, WA)

To the Sky with STEM Learning!

Ready to take STEM learning to new heights? Join Estes and receive a FREE model rocket to build with us. We will cover model rocketry basics and how you can implement this exciting, low-cost STEM tool in your classroom!

Register here to receive your FREE rocket for this workshop.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. the basics of model rocketry; 2. how to use rocketry in the classroom; and 3. the benefits of hands-on, real-world science.

Speakers

Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: A New Awakening: Taking Care of the Social and Emotional Needs of Students and Teachers

This past year put a spotlight on the social and emotional needs of our teachers and students. Let’s step back and look through a renewed lens at what really matters. While good teaching is the hallmark of student success in the classroom, this can only happen when teachers and students are in a good frame of mind and position to care for one another. We'll tackle this critical issue with relevant tools and suggestions. Learning from this past year can transform education forever.

Speakers

Kenneth Heydrick (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: Meet Me in the Middle Virtual Share-a-Thon, Session 3

Join us for a variety of short, modified Pecha Kucha–style presentations, after which the presenters will be available for questions and further discussion.

The presentations included in this session are:

Telling Data Stories
Presenter: Loris Jean Chen

AMS Project Atmosphere: Jet Streams
Presenter: David Curry

3 Cs of Bridging the Gap to Science Literacy
Presenters: Jennifer Ledbetter and Lisa Reis

Stack the Deck
Presenter: Liz Martinez

Greetings from Mars!
Presenter: Melissa Sleeper

Science Simulations and Digital Notebooks
Presenter: Stacy Thibodeaux

NGSS-Focused STEM Projects
Presenter: Vanessa Ueltzen

Moderator: Mary Lou Lipscomb

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Takeaways: 1. Discover a variety lessons, units, professional development opportunities, and resources for hybrid or virtual instruction; 2. Learn ways to engage middle level students in exciting inquiry learning; and 3. Become aware of ways to involve parents and/or community in science.

Speakers

Loris Chen (Science Education Consultant: Fair Lawn, NJ), David Curry (Newtown Middle School: Newtown, PA), Jennifer Ledbetter (University School: Johnson City, TN), Lisa Reis (University School: Johnson City, TN), Liz Martinez (Curriculum/Professional Development: Escondido, CA), Melissa Sleeper (Storm Grove Middle School: Vero Beach, FL), Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA), Vanessa Ueltzen (Walther Christian Academy: Melrose Park, IL)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Raising the Bar for At-Risk Youth

It is a challenge to work with at-risk youth. Our discussion will center on successful strategies for motivating, assessing, and nurturing the science mind of students.

Takeaways: 1. Strategies for motivating at-risk youth in the science classroom; 2. Examples of adaptations of assignments for at-risk youth; and 3. Aligning building relationships with building a growth mindset with at-risk youth.

Speakers

Nadene Klein (Daniel C. Oakes High School: Castle Rock, CO)

Empowering Effective Climate Change Communicators

Learn how to navigate the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication's Educator Page. Engage with data-based, NGSS-focused activities that you can easily use with students.

Takeaways: 1. Communicating effectively about climate change is just as important as understanding climate science itself if we hope to realize viable, equitable climate solutions in our lifetime; 2. The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts scientific research on public climate change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Through YPCCC's Educator Page, students can engage with current data from this research to identify effective climate change communication strategies and think critically about what it takes to implement climate action; and 3. Students are a critical audience to engage in the work to find and enact climate solutions. The activities on the Educator Page can help students develop a sense of agency around climate change communication while honing important NGSS-related skills.

Speakers

Ruthie Gold (Yale Program on Climate Change Communication: New Haven, CT)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NSTA Press Session: Fact or Phony? Successful Strategies to Promote Media Literacy

Learn effective techniques, including Claims-Evidence-Reasoning, to help students navigate media filled with fictional information promoted as fact and cherry-picked data offered as evidence.

Takeaways: 1. Teachers are provided with a checklist to assist their students in determining if information found on the internet is reputable, factual, and accurate; 2. Learn effective techniques to consider and understand why someone would believe common misconceptions about climate change and global warming; and 3. Participate in group discussions that take a deep dive into data to determine its relevance to a question or issue.

Speakers

Laura Tucker (Consultant: Port Townsend, WA), Lois Sherwood (Professional Development Coordinator: Port Townsend, WA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: You Would Be a Great Teacher!

If a student in your class is amazing at math, then what job do you tell them they'd be good at? Engineering, maybe? What if they have a natural aptitude for science, or they’re well-spoken and love to debate? The best answer for these questions, and every other issue we face in education, is simple: You would be a great teacher!

Speakers

John Arthur (Meadowlark Elementary School: Salt Lake City, UT)