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)

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 (: Sterling, VA)

Literacy has used “text to” connections to help students make authentic connections. Integrating picture books helps expand text to investigation connections in the science classroom.

This session is targeted for novice/intermediate attendees.

Materials needed:

• Children's book (related to science) of your choice
• shallow plastic tub with water (similar to plastic shoeboxes)
• variety of different objects that can be placed in water—some that sink and some that float
• tin foil
• common objects for weight to be used in tin foil boat such as pennies, marbles, similar sized legos, etc.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. explore how to expand a common literacy strategy of “text to” connections when using picture books in the elementary science classroom; 2. engage in investigations that model the use of “text to” connections that help students connect their own authentic experiences and help students understand and make sense; and 3. consider criteria for the selection of books, identification of phenomena, and how the selection of investigations can be a powerful experience for students.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Newburg, PA)

Learn to access hundreds of free hands-on engineering design activities that exemplify the interconnected three-dimensional elements of K–5 science learning.

For this beginner-level hands-on activity, each participant will need: 

• 4–6 Lifesaver® mints
• 4–6 plastic straws (with diameters smaller than the Lifesaver® mint’s hole diameter)
• 2–4 popsicle sticks
• 1–2 index cards (or thin cardboard or poster board scraps)
• tape (duct or masking)
• scissors
• paper
• pencil
• ramp (made from sturdy poster board or rigid cardboard)
• meter stick
• 10–30 pennies

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. engage in a hands-on NGSS engineering design–aligned activity for elementary students from the FREE TeachEngineering digital library; 2. experience the integration of design and design thinking through 3-D learning while exploring a fun way to ignite student creativity; and 3. experience the interconnectivity of 3-D learning while strengthening their own ability to implement 3-D teaching and learning practices in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Dua Chaker (Teach Engineering: No City, No State), Michael Soltys (TeachEngineering: Boulder, CO), Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering)

Attendees will participate in a hands-on experience as they construct an understanding of the best practices for presenting hands-on activities remotely.

This session is targeted for novice attendees.

Materials needed:

• scissors
• several paperclips
• sheet of scrap paper

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover tips, techniques, and strategies for the successful facilitation of online activities; 2. Discover new activities appropriate for online delivery, including virtual field trips; and 3. Participate in an online activity to experience (as a student) what works and what doesn't.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio (Master Educator, Presenter, and Author: North Falmouth, MA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

Literacy strategies, such as analyzing, discussing, and summarizing, can be utilized while reading science-based articles, authentic science research, journals, and textbooks. The use of these strategies provides a cross-curricular bridge that not only increases understanding but also increases a student's ability to think critically. Our professionally trained STEM coaches know what it takes to effectively integrate literacy and writing into the science content. Using a constructivist approach, participants will experience hands-on learning that will give them a greater understanding of literacy in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. work in a collaborative group to understand the importance of a constructivist approach; 2. understand how constructivist strategies provide a cross-curricular bridge that not only increases understanding but also increases a student's ability to think critically; and 3. work on an interactive activity to know what it takes to integrate literacy into the science content.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Jessica Morse (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Join Global Educator and Into Science author Michael DiSpezio for an engaging and motivating session on the tenets of an equitable approach to phenomena-based learning. Profiling an assortment of investigation phenomena, you'll discover how these process interactions are presented using everyday and inexpensive materials. Driven by experiences common to a diverse student population, the approach levels the often more exclusive playing field of traditional experimentation. Plus, it's fun! So, whether you are teaching face-to-face, hybrid, or remotely, this informative and practical session offers ideas for immediate implementation and success.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Tenets of an equitable approach to phenomena-based learning; 2. Discover how the process interactions are presented using everyday and inexpensive materials; and 3. Approaches that level the often more exclusive playing field of traditional experimentation.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio (Master Educator, Presenter, and Author: North Falmouth, MA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

With the increased focus on accountability for science, we can offer a play- and literacy-based program for young learners. This hands-on science program supports child development and socio-development in a meaningful way. There is always time for science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Science: 1. provides real-life applications for math and language arts; 2. develops problem-solving and critical-thinking skills; and 3. fosters curiosity and creativity.

SPEAKERS:
Mindy Stroup (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Amber Gunner (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) is a way for students to explain observed phenomena in a scientific way. This structured approach allows students to use observations and data from an investigation. Students use critical reasoning to connect the claim and evidence together. CER is an acclaimed and highly successful instructional strategy that is changing how students understand concepts and write explanations for phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore how to: 1. encourage student curiosity and engagement in authentic science and engineering practices; 2. engage students in deeper skills of inquiry; and 3. empower students to lead discussions about scientific phenomena, based on logical protocol for using evidence to make a claim.

SPEAKERS:
Maeve Green (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Susan Arnette (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Perdido, AL)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA Press

Argument-Driven Inquiry is an instructional model that gives students in grades 3–5 a chance to learn how to use DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to explain natural phenomena and provides them with a meaningful context to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
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; and 3. Ways to support students in both remote and in-person contexts.

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

Sponsoring Company: NASA James Webb Space Telescope Prog.

Launching in October 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope will be a large infrared telescope, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It will study every phase in the history of our universe. Join this workshop to see how to connect your class to this incredible telescope.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be more powerful than its predecessors and will be able to see further into space to discover distant planets in far-off galaxies; and 2. It will even give us the tools to search for indications of an atmosphere that could sustain life.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Sooy (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Greenbelt, MD)

Challenge and assess 21st-century learners through coding! We’ll explore code-based assessment or extension options related to a variety of NGSS Practices and Core Ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Challenging students to think critically and creatively through science-based coding projects builds competency in 21st-century skills while providing an innovative assessment opportunity; 2. Science practices and core ideas can be assessed through projects requiring varying levels of coding proficiency; and 3. Allowing students to creatively express their understanding of ideas can promote equity in access to computer science, enhance motivation and achievement, and provide another avenue for students to recognize their strengths.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Townsend (Oak Grove Primary School: Prairieville, LA)

The authors of the Picture-Perfect STEM series will share how  picture books can make STEM come alive for your students!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Strategies for integrating STEM and literacy in K–5; 2. Suggested picture books that integrate STEM and literacy; and 3. A STEM lesson you can use right away.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH), Karen Ansberry (Picture-Perfect Science: Lebanon, OH)

The Elementary Extravaganza has been a very popular mainstay of the NSTA national conferences for eight years. This year it includes a rapid-fire series of presentations that provide preK–6 teachers with opportunities to impact their science teaching and learning. Each session will focus on specific topics that relate to the needs of preschool and elementary teachers.

After an energy-filled series of six presentations, a question and answer session will be held with presenters to provide time to discuss ideas. Six presenters in each room will provide ideas using a modified Pecha Kucha strategy.

The presenters are leaders in elementary science education and award-winning teachers. This session's presenters are members of the NAEYC Early Childhood Science Interest Forum. Three additional Elementary Extravaganza sessions will be scheduled throughout Elementary Week.

The presentations included in this session are:

Sea Turtle Exploration
Presenter: Anne Lowry

Spring into Science: Capillary Action Flowers
Presenter: Janna Doherty

Animal Architects
Presenter: Julie Travaglini

Make Way Raceway: Ramps and Balls
Presenter: Juelie Perry

Moderator: Julie Travaglini

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.

SPEAKERS:
Juelie Perry (Inspire to Impact Consulting: Vero Beach, FL), Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV), Janna Doherty (STEMSpark LLC: Cambridge, MA), Julie Travaglini (Allegheny Land Trust: Canonsburg, PA)

Experience the interdisciplinary approach of the FoodPrints Curriculum with a Science and ELA focus to teach nine major garden and food education themes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in three different lessons (Edible Plant Parts, Seed Dispersal, and the Garden Ecosystem) for grades 1–3 that can be used in the classroom, and adapted for virtual instruction using literacy-based approaches aligned to Common Core ELA and hands-on science investigations aligned to NGSS; 2. Learn methods for teaching vocabulary in the garden, using visual literacy as a tool for teaching science content, addressing speaking and listening standards, using creative approaches to early writing, and using read alouds to support instruction; 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:
Susan Bandler (FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Washington, DC), Jennifer Ramsey (FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Annapolis, MD)

Investigate using inquiry-based learning and the SEPs to deepen students’ understanding of both science concepts and literacy strategies remotely or in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. l eave with a toolkit of hands-on, inquiry science investigations inspired and enhanced by literature; 2. l earn about distance-learning tools that support integrating the Science and Engineering Practices with literacy strategies to engage students in real-world science; and 3. identify strategies and resources for using books, productive talk, and science writing to integrate science, literacy, and discussion in ways that foster critical thinking, academic language, and meaning making.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Dartmouth, MA), Kathy Renfrew (Wade Institute for Science Education: Milford, MA)

Join us to experience an elementary NSTA lesson plan containing the assets that contemporary research shows are needed to support ALL students, particularly those from underserved communities and those traditionally marginalized in science classrooms. Reflect on the teacher guidance provided that empowers students, targets current standards, and creates a classroom community of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain strategies designed to shift instruction to create engagement and scientific literacy for ALL students that leverage the assets students bring to the table; 2. Explore a high-quality NSTA lesson plan; and 3. Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN)

Learn how students in grades 3–5 can explore issues of racial equity while investigating the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by family engagement and social-emotional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn that: 1. students’ own questions about COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact motivate them to authentically engage in NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and other connected multidisciplinary standards; 2. students can be supported in their exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic and inequities it has amplified by inviting families to be partners and incorporating social-emotional learning; and 3. students use the science they learn to explore ways their own decisions can help them care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Bang (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Evanston, IL), Sara Ivory (The Ogden International School of Chicago, East Campus: Chicago, IL), Gail Housman (Northwestern University: Brookfield, IL), Tyler Scaletta (Alcott Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Dan Voss (Northwestern University: Minneapolis, MN), Carrie Tzou (University of Washington Bothell: Seattle, WA), Katy Fattaleh (The Nora Project: La Grange Highlands, IL), Ashley Stanley (Dewey Elementary School: Evanston, IL)

Join us to experience an elementary NSTA lesson plan containing the assets that contemporary research shows are needed to support ALL students, particularly those from underserved communities and those traditionally marginalized in science classrooms. Reflect on the teacher guidance provided that empowers students, targets current standards, and creates a classroom community of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain strategies designed to shift instruction to create engagement and scientific literacy for ALL students that leverage the assets students bring to the table; 2. Explore a high-quality NSTA lesson plan; and 3. Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

STEAM activities are for early childhood students, too! Connect STEAM and literature with three-dimensional learning in a series of culturally relevant, play-based activities exploring simple machines.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Literature and visual texts provide opportunities for students to experience STEAM in a context that is familiar and meaningful to them; 2. STEAM-integrated activities, such as those presented in this unit of study, promote 3-D learning through scientific inquiry and investigation, mathematical exploration, and initial development of executive functioning skills; and 3. There is a need to engage in literature-connected, STEAM-integrated activities in the early childhood years. In formal and informal educational environments, young children are curious, inquisitive, and eager to explore STEAM concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Herlehy (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: Aurora, IL), Cassandra Armstrong (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: Aurora, IL)

The Elementary Extravaganza has been a very popular mainstay of the NSTA national conferences for eight years. This year it includes a rapid-fire series of presentations that provide preK–6 teachers with opportunities to impact their science teaching and learning. Each session will focus on specific topics that relate to the needs of preschool and elementary teachers.

After an energy-filled series of six presentations, a question and answer session will be held with presenters to provide time to discuss ideas. Six presenters in each room will provide ideas using a modified Pecha Kucha strategy.

The presenters are leaders in elementary science education and award-winning teachers. This session's presenters are members of the NSTA Committee on Preschool–Elementary Science Teaching. Three additional Elementary Extravaganza sessions will be scheduled throughout Elementary Week.

The presentations included in this session are:

Science Discoveries in PreK Town Planning
Presenter: Anne Lowry

Making Sense of the Moon and its Phases with Models
Presenter: Judith Boyle

Stop-Motion Science
Presenter: Ashley Townsend

Green Architects: The Wall Is Alive
Presenter: Annette Venegas

Teaching the Engineering Design Process in a Virtual Classroom
Presenter: Jennifer Williams

Creating Science Authors: Making Books About the Moon
Presenter: Wendi Laurence

Moderator: Judith Boyle

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.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV), Judith Boyle (Retired Educator: Whitehall, MT), Ashley Townsend (Oak Grove Primary School: Prairieville, LA), Annette Venegas (retired: Gig Harbor, WA), Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: Belle Chasse, LA), Wendi Laurence (Education Specialist: Park City, UT)

Virtual word walls support academic language acquisition. Three strategies will be presented for use in remote or in hybrid classrooms to strategically target vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use virtual interactive word walls to support academic language acquisition during remote or hybrid instruction; 2. Learn how to use virtual interactive word walls to highlight connections between science concepts and inquiry-based science activities while connecting scientific concepts and academic vocabulary; and 3. Experience three strategies that may be used, with virtual interactive word walls, to strategically target vocabulary during remote or in hybrid instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson (Texas State University: Round Rock, TX)

Join the author of Notable Notebooks and Exemplary Evidence to discuss effective notebooking practices. Get a preview of her upcoming book about elementary science notebooks!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Science notebooks are an essential component of 3-D student-centered classrooms; 2. While there are a variety of notebook models in use, a flexible, hybrid approach is best to meet the needs of elementary students; and 3. Notebooks can be a rich source of formative and summative assessment data.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Fries-Gaither (Library of Congress: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

With the amount of time for science instruction constantly under scrutiny, developing experiences beyond traditional classroom hours is critical. Learn how educators can leverage game-based learning to introduce, review, and deepen student content understanding. Through student-driven learning, Legends of Learning helps educators ensure that not a moment of time is lost.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. New ways to engage students through game-based instruction; 2. How student-driven learning resources can maximize instructional time; and 3. Strategies for using game-based learning to introduce, reinforce, and enrich student content experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Joselyn Whetzel (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Aryah Fradkin (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA Press

The author of the Next Time You See series will share a mentor text study where students can write their own Next Time You See book about a natural object of their choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Educator Guide for Mentor Text Study; 2. Series of YouTube videos guiding the study; and 3. Ideas for balancing screen time with green time.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Curriculum

A three-dimensional, phenomena-based science program can help address many of today’s challenges. Using examples from Building Blocks of Science® 3D, we’ll identify opportunities to support learning recovery, engage all learners, and promote social and emotional learning. Participants are invited to share ideas that worked and struggles they still face.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will identify opportunities to support learning recovery; 2. We will engage all learners; and 3. We will promote social and emotional learning through three-dimensional science.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Join Reading and ELD Specialist and HMH Into Science author Marjorie Frank for a workshop that uses a variety of interactive activities to provide a rationale for integrating ELA experiences into science instruction, and processes and procedures for doing so. A simple and straightforward hands-on activity will be used as a launch point for a lesson plan.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A variety of interactive activities; 2. A rationale for integrating ELA experiences into science instruction and processes and procedures for doing so; and 3. A simple and straightforward hands-on activity will be used as a launch point for a lesson plan.

SPEAKERS:
Marjorie Frank (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Boston, MA)

Sponsoring Company: The Walking Classroom

The Walking Classroom is a research-proven program of audio podcasts that students listen to while they walk. Our STEM program includes 60 science podcasts, including a science career series and supplemental resources. Elementary students learn better, retain information longer, and want to learn more about topics after listening and walking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn about the research-proven benefits of listening to podcasts while walking as experienced by students; 2. find out more about the podcast content provided by The Walking Classroom, which includes Earth science, physical science, life science, and a careers in science series; and 3. get an overview of the additional resources provided that supplement each podcast and include video clips, downloadable worksheets, suggested hands-on activities, virtual field trips, and more!

SPEAKERS:
Debra Ives (The Walking Classroom: Chapel Hill, NC)

Teachers will explore how to break down this controversial topic, teach it across disciplines, make it culturally relevant, and motivate students to develop climate change solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Elementary teachers will: 1. walk away with peer- and science-reviewed lessons they can immediately put to use in their teaching; 2. walk away with a variety of strategies and resources that will help integrate climate science into their classrooms; and 3. learn how to break down the complex and controversial subject of climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Tiffany Boyd (Classrooms for Climate Action: Louisville, CO), Alicia Christensen (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences: Boulder, CO), Rae Han (EarthGen: Seattle, WA)

Discover free age-appropriate "Cooped Up Kids" activities that connect kids to the outdoors and exciting science content whether in school, remote, or blended.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover free hands-on lessons that are tied to the NGSS and Common Core Standards and discuss how to implement them whether learners are at home or in school; 2. Describe the socio-emotional benefits of place-based outdoor experiences for diverse K–8 students; and 3. Learn how to access a variety of free educational interactives, online multimedia resources, and citizen science projects scaffolded by lessons that are perfect for K–8 settings.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Fee (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Learn how Culturally Responsive Teaching strategies engage elementary students in inquiry and modeling while fostering student agency and developing 21st-century skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn Culturally Responsive Teaching strategies that increase student participation and engage them in learning around the NGSS; 2. learn how collaboration to model phenomena can support English Learners by providing equitable opportunities in science education while helping students develop their voice and fostering student agency while fostering 21st-century skills; and 3. be invited to reflect on how to develop student agency whether teaching in-person or in distant learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Trochez MacLean (Gates Street Elementary School: Los Angeles, CA)

Kidlit opens the world to students through information, illustrations, and interesting topics. This panel will feature award-winning children’s authors whose stories create portals to exploring science.

Moderator: J. Carrie Launius

Presider: Christine Anne Royce

Panelists:

• Laurie Wallmark, Author
• Melissa Stewart, Children's Book Author
• Jessica Fries-Gaither, NSTA Press Author, and Columbus School for Girls
• Tracy Nelson Maurer, Author
• Patricia Valdez, Scientist and Author

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Stewart (Children's Book Author: Acton, MA), Tracy Nelson Maurer (Author: Forest Lake, MN), Patricia Valdez (Author: Kensington, MD), Jessica Fries-Gaither (Library of Congress: Washington, DC), Laurie Wallmark (Beaming Books: Ringoes, NJ), Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Newburg, PA), J Carrie Launius (SEI: St. Louis, MO)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

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 ODonnell (Smithsonian Institution: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: PAEMST

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)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Students learn best when they are empowered to draw on and make connections to their own experiences, prior knowledge, and cultural and social backgrounds. In this interactive session, participants will explore how an asset-based approach can inform strategic adaptations to core science instructional materials to promote equity, relevance, and deep learning for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how to empower students to draw on and make connections to their own experiences, prior knowledge, and cultural and social backgrounds; learn how an asset-based approach can inform strategic adaptations to core science instructional materials; and 3. gain strategies on how to promote equity, relevance, and deep learning for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA Press

The authors of the Picture-Perfect STEM series will share lessons that integrate STEM and literacy through the use of engaging STEM-related picture books.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Picture-Perfect lesson you can use in your classroom right away; 2. Picture book recommendations for integrating STEM and literacy; and 3. Padlet of Picture-Perfect STEM resources.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH), Karen Ansberry (Picture-Perfect Science: Lebanon, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

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)

Discover research-based approaches on how to build a strong makerspace community that taps into foundational scientific literacy skills. Participate in a makerspace project-based literacy challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Improve culturally responsive teaching in an informal makerspace environment through the development of makerspace pop-up activities and training approaches following a makerspace project-based literacy process; 2. Increase scientific literacy achievement through informal literacy hands-on makerspace pop-up activities focused on STEM real-world activities; and 3. Describe opportunities and hands-on mobile approaches to build capacity of existing informal makerspace learning of remote communities, diverse learners, and STEM professionals serving underrepresented minority populations.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Miller (Sul Ross State University: Alpine, TX), Thomas Tomas (Little Singer Community School: Flagstaff, AZ)

The Elementary Extravaganza has been a very popular mainstay of the NSTA national conferences for eight years. This year it includes a rapid-fire series of presentations that provide preK–6 teachers with opportunities to impact their science teaching and learning. Each session will focus on specific topics that relate to the needs of preschool and elementary teachers.

After an energy-filled series of six presentations, a question and answer session will be held with presenters to provide time to discuss ideas. Six presenters in each room will provide ideas using a modified Pecha Kucha strategy.

The presenters are leaders in elementary science education and award-winning teachers. This session's presenters are Science & Children authors and reviewers. Three additional Elementary Extravaganza sessions will be scheduled throughout Elementary Week.

The presentations included in this session are:

STEAM Across Elementary Grade Levels: Engineering Design, Bridges Across the World, and the Art Element of Line
Presenter: Kathleen Tate

Drawing Like a Scientist
Presenter: Christine Preston

Schoolyard Investigations: Outdoor Science with Primary Learners
Presenter: Laura Schneider

Creative Connections: Expanding Access to STEM and Literacy at the Elementary Level
Presenter: Sara Nelson and Rachel Shannon

STREAMing Engineering
Presenters: Lauren Burrow and Chrissy Cross

Shape, Bake, and Grow: Taking to the Outdoors in Urban Settings Encourages Plant Knowledge and Healthy Lifestyles
Presenter: Shelly Counsell, Mary Palmer, and Felicia Peat

Moderator: Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn

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.

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Tate (American Public University System: Lakeway, TX), Christine Preston (The University of Sydney: Hornsby, Australia), Laura Schneider (Father Andrew White School: Hollywood, MD), Sara Nelson (Iowa State University: Ames, IA), Lauren Burrow (Stephen F. Austin State University: Nacogdoches, TX), Chrissy Cross (Stephen F. Austin State University: Nacogdoches, TX), Shelly Counsell (Self Employed Consultant: Buffalo, NY), Mary Palmer (Southwest Tennessee Community College, Macon Cove Campus: Memphis, TN), Felicia Peat (WKNO: Cordova, TN), Rachel Shannon (Iowa 4-H Youth Development: Ames, IA)

Inclusive approaches to teaching and learning include probing questions that all students can relate to, that provide multiple entry points for engagement, and that create a desire to want to figure it out. Learn how to use the Uncovering Student Ideas probes and strategies to support a classroom where all students' ideas matter!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about a resource for formative assessment; 2. Explore key points from research on learning that support using formative assessment probes; and 3. Gain new strategies for eliciting all students' ideas and building a classroom culture where everyone's ideas matter.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: Fort Myers, FL)

Engage in this interactive session to find out how the idea of anchoring to a phenomena to begin a STEM unit lays out a plan for helping students to see how science impacts their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understand why the scenario helps students connect the phenomena to their own community/ global issues; 2. Show how to move from the unit phenomena introduction to the crafting the storyline for the student learning; and 3. Teachers will have a chance to practice developing their own scenario based on a given phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Jo Anne Vasquez (NSTA President 96-97: , AZ), Michael Comer (Consultant: Worcester, MA)

The Elementary Extravaganza has been a very popular mainstay of the NSTA national conferences for eight years. This year it includes a rapid-fire series of presentations that provide preK–6 teachers with opportunities to impact their science teaching and learning. Each session will focus on specific topics that relate to the needs of preschool and elementary teachers.

After an energy-filled series of six presentations, a question and answer session will be held with presenters to provide time to discuss ideas. Six presenters in each room will provide ideas using a modified Pecha Kucha strategy.

The presenters are leaders in elementary science education and award-winning teachers. This session's presenters are Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees. Three additional Elementary Extravaganza sessions will be scheduled throughout Elementary Week.

The presentations included in this session are:

The Power of a Punch Card
Presenter: Crystal Brown

Old Enough to Save the Planet and Pretty Tricky
Presenter: Delene Hoffner

Darwin’s Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution
Presenter: Christine Anne Royce

Busy Bird Nest Builders
Presenter: Nancy Smith

A Special Place Early Childhood STEM
Presenter: Juliana Texley

Explore the World with Technology, Movement, and Citizen Science
Presenter: Natalie Harr Ylizarde

Moderator: Conni Crittenden

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.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Brown (Hunter Elementary School: Dexter, MI), DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO), Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Newburg, PA), Nancy Smith (Heatherstone Elementary School: Olathe, KS), Juliana Texley (Lesley University: Boca Raton, FL), Natalie Harr Ylizarde (University of Maryland: Oakton, VA), Conni Crittenden (Retired Multiage Teacher: East Lansing, MI)

Join NASA Aeronautics and author Kirsten Larson for hands-on STEAM learning, and find exciting ways to stimulate creativity and design thinking in younger students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Effective STEM learning strategies for younger students focused on storytelling, real-life applications, and engaging hands-on learning; 2. The use of authentic and engaging children's literature that will provide a context for STEM topics, engage students, and support reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills; and 3. Introduction to NASA’s STEM resources that provide high-quality learning resources, instructional support, and opportunities to join in on new missions and events.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Larson (Author: Lancaster, CA), April Lanotte (NASA Headquarters: Monument, CO), Lisa Wininger (LMI: Portage, MI)

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)

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)

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 (: Sterling, VA)

Experience a contact tracing activity and explore how a storyline unit supports SEL during the pandemic while emphasizing health equity. Print http://bit.ly/MSContactTracing ahead of time.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how discussions of a pandemic can be attentive to students’ social-emotional needs; 2. consider how COVID-19-focused learning can and should provoke students' thinking about how their actions affect others and can help end pandemics; and 3. experience a contact-tracing activity that supports students’ thinking about issues of trust in public health.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Voss (Northwestern University: Minneapolis, MN), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

Attendees will participate in a hands-on experience as they construct an understanding of the best practices for presenting hands-on activities remotely.

This session is targeted for novice attendees.

Materials needed:

• scissors
• several paperclips
• sheet of scrap paper

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover tips, techniques, and strategies for the successful facilitation of online activities; 2. Discover new activities appropriate for online delivery, including virtual field trips; and 3. Participate in an online activity to experience (as a student) what works and what doesn't.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio (Master Educator, Presenter, and Author: North Falmouth, MA)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP

Learn how to build on the core concepts of WISE interventions to integrate social-emotional learning competencies into science teaching and learning with the new BrainPOP Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to: 1. reduce ambiguity for students to build self-efficacy and confidence in science; 2. provide immediate and precise feedback for students through formative assessments incorporated throughout the lesson; and 3. incorporate reflection questions at the end of each science lesson, and pause points throughout the lesson to promote meaning-making.

SPEAKERS:
Maneeza Dawood (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

In this workshop, participants will discuss how sustainability can be an integrative thread throughout STEM topics, such as climate change and environmental science. Participants will identify strategies for integrating sustainability into their existing curricula and will define sustainability in terms of systems thinking and future orientation. This workshop will be led by faculty and staff from the University of Wisconsin-Steven Point’s Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability Program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. discuss how sustainability can be an integrative thread throughout STEM topics; 2. be able to identify strategies for integrating sustainability into their existing curricula; and 3. be able to define sustainability in terms of systems thinking and future orientation (e.g., beyond reduce, reuse, recycle).

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Potter-Nelson (University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point: Stevens Point, WI), Erin Redman (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Stevens Point, WI), Rachael Rost (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Stevens Point, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Simulation Curriculum is a pioneer in developing online simulation-based curricula to help enhance students’ understanding of Earth science topics as diverse as climate change, plate tectonics, volcanism, Earth materials, and geological processes on Earth’s surface. NGSS-focused lessons engage students with interactive simulations and thought-provoking exercises. Designed for online learning and compatible with iPads, Android tablets, PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Free trial access provided!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Online science simulations are effective tools to compliment your instruction; 2. Become familiar with Layered Earth as a resource for teaching Earth science; and 3. Learn how to integrate Earth science and literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Gabber (Retired Educator: Toronto, ON)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

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 (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) is a way for students to explain observed phenomena in a scientific way. This structured approach allows students to use observations and data from an investigation. Students use critical reasoning to connect the claim and evidence together. CER is an acclaimed and highly successful instructional strategy that is changing how students understand concepts and write explanations for phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore how to: 1. encourage student curiosity and engagement in authentic science and engineering practices; 2. engage students in deeper skills of inquiry; and 3. empower students to lead discussions about scientific phenomena, based on logical protocol for using evidence to make a claim.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Wheat (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Long Beach, MS), Michele Cozza (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Plainfield, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Amazon Future Engineer

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)

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:
Daniel Bergman (Wichita State University: Newton, KS)

Explore using the SEPs to make remote STE instruction inquiry based. Participate in a remote hands-on investigation. Receive a toolkit of resources, strategies, and instructional tools.

Materials needed:

• Markers or crayons
• Large sheet of heavy weight paper (11x17 or 8.5 x14)
• 4–6 ice cubes all about the same size
• 4 paper cups big enough to hold 2 ice cubes
• Cooler or access to freezer to keep ice frozen
• Aluminum tray
• Black or white tray (take-out container will work)

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Leave with a toolkit of distance-learning practices and investigations to enhance students’ use of the SEPs; 2. Learn about distance-learning tools that support the engagement of all students in STE; and 3. Develop new ideas for performance-based assessments using distance-learning strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Rosemary Rak (Wade Institute for Science Education: Fall River, MA), Angela Damery (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Dartmouth, MA), Margaret Brumsted (Education Specialist: Riverside, RI)

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)

Want your students to read and write science more effectively? Join the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series for lessons from her newest book integrating literacy and physical science content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. There are three main impediments to students becoming confident science readers: they do not expect what they are reading to make sense, they lack the background knowledge assumed in the text, and they have found shortcuts around doing classroom reading; 2. Using a literacy learning cycle (exploration, reading, writing) makes reading science easier; and 3. Participants will also try out a literacy learning cycle that they can use with their classes (so they will learn a new lesson plan).

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (Author/ Staff Development: Atlanta, GA), Karen Kraus (Retired Teacher: Goodyear, AZ), Matthew Hackett (Delta Woods Middle School: Blue Springs, MO)

Teachers will learn to integrate bias recognition as part of the normal science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recognizing bias requires practice; 2. Recognizing bias requires critical thinking; and 3. Recognizing bias can be integrated as part of the normal learning process.

SPEAKERS:
Bailey O'Reilly (Academie Da Vinci Charter School for the Arts and Technology: Dunedin, FL)

Join us as we outline and present classroom applications of a four-part framework for equitable science instruction incorporating issues of identity, diversity, justice, and action.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use the four-part framework (identity, diversity, justice, action) to incorporate issues of social justice into classroom practices or science curricula; 2. How the four domains of social justice meet the call for equitable instruction outlined by the NGSS appendix “All Standards, All Students”; and 3. How to empower students to explore scientific issues and their personal identities within the scientific community.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Redick (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Powell, OH), Laura Blue (The Ohio State University: Hilliard, OH)

Explore a set of in-person and distance learning instructional strategies to support multilingual students' sensemaking through science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. To support equitable science instruction, all students must have their voice heard and be provided opportunities for rich sensemaking through science and engineering practices; 2. Multilingual students are a diverse group of students with a wealth of knowledge that need to be leveraged in the science classroom; and 3. In real-time, teachers can utilize a set of instructional routines for distance and in-person learning to support their multilingual students' sensemaking through science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Samuel Lee (Boston College: Brighton, MA), Natividad Mendez (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Sage Andersen (The University of Texas at Austin: Buda, TX), María González-Howard (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Engage in this interactive session to find out how the idea of anchoring to a phenomena to begin a STEM unit lays out a plan for helping students to see how science impacts their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understand why the scenario helps students connect the phenomena to their own community/ global issues; 2. Show how to move from the unit phenomena introduction to the crafting the storyline for the student learning; and 3. Teachers will have a chance to practice developing their own scenario based on a given phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Comer (Consultant: Worcester, MA), Jo Anne Vasquez (NSTA President 96-97: , AZ)

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: Rotonda West, FL), William Grosser (Curriculum Designer: Auburn, CA)

An informal discussion with former eCYBERMISSION Team Advisors about how to find success with student competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. engage students in STEM competitions; 2. take part in STEM competitions with limited time; and 3. help students find success in STEM competitions.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Sarah Rahman (Cabrillo Middle School: Santa Clara, CA), Debra Las (John Adams Middle School: Rochester, MN), Andi Suter (Serrano Intermediate School: Lake Forest, CA), Vonda Fruhwirth (Kings Junior High School: Kings Mills, OH)

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: Enterprise, UT), Tessa Matuszak (National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization: Palm Coast, FL)

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)

The fascinating phenomena of Earth and space science take on heightened relevance in learners’ lives when presented through the frameworks of geoheritage and place-based education.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. There are practical approaches for accentuating the excitement of Earth and space sciences as they are shown to intersect with human life, history, and culture; 2. The connection of geoscience with human history and culture—what is increasingly known as geoheritage—has great potential in education as a reference framework that encourages learning as well as promoting conservation of significant natural features; and 3. The dimensions of the NGSS, the big ideas of geoheritage, and the design principles of place-based education are mutually supportive—which together lead to strategies for meaningful learning in Earth and space science.

SPEAKERS:
Aida Awad (Education Consultant/ Adjunct: Ormond Beach, FL), Margaret Holzer (none: Somerset, NJ), Rebecca Dodge (Midwestern State University: Wichita Falls, TX), Eric Pyle (James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA), Dawna Cerney (Youngstown State University: Youngstown, OH), Dianna Gielstra (Prescott College Online Graduate Degree Program: Austin, TX), Ed Robeck (American Geosciences Institute: Salisbury, MD)

Inclusive approaches to teaching and learning include probing questions that all students can relate to, that provide multiple entry points for engagement, and that create a desire to want to figure it out. Learn how to use the Uncovering Student Ideas probes and strategies to support a classroom where all students' ideas matter!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about an NSTA Press resource for formative assessment; 2. Explore key points from research on learning that support using formative assessment probes; and 3. Gain new strategies for eliciting all students' ideas and building a classroom culture where everyone's ideas matter.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: Fort Myers, FL)

Virtual word walls support academic language acquisition. Three strategies will be presented for use in remote or in hybrid classrooms to strategically target vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use virtual interactive word walls to support academic language acquisition during remote or hybrid instruction; 2. Learn how to use virtual interactive word walls to highlight connections between science concepts and inquiry-based science activities while connecting scientific concepts and academic vocabulary; and 3. Experience three strategies that may be used, with virtual interactive word walls, to strategically target vocabulary during remote or in hybrid instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson (Texas State University: Round Rock, TX)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

In this workshop, we will utilize a simple yet effective talk process that can encourage students to more fully own their thinking and effectively communicate their ideas to peers. Join us in this interactive session to learn various talk strategies that support the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI), and best-practice instruction for all learners!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Setting the stage for student-centered talk success; 2. Shared experiences around the power of talk; and 3. Resources to support the implementation of science talk.

SPEAKERS:
Pam O'Brien (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Kristan Buckman (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

It is no surprise that the more engaged a student is with their learning, the more knowledge they retain. One significant takeaway from this past year is that many students thrived in an asynchronous learning environment. Learn how to support educators within any instructional model through game-based learning, increasing student engagement and content retention.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How asynchronous learning can help engage students through content experiences; 2. How to support educators within any instructional model through game-based learning; and 3. Understanding of how game-based learning can increase engagement while teaching content.

SPEAKERS:
Joselyn Whetzel (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Aryah Fradkin (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

The 16 units in Discovery Education’s brand-new Science Techbook for middle school are driven by engaging anchor phenomena that prompt students to ask driving questions. Students engage in storylines using the science and engineering practices to collect evidence that answers their questions, learning both core ideas and crosscutting concepts along the way.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Curriculum units should begin with an anchor phenomena that stimulates student questions; 2. A unit should be designed to allow students to collect evidence from investigative phenomena that they can use to answer their questions; and 3. Students should make sense of phenomena by engaging in practices that lead them to develop disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Hailey Adams Mangum (Discovery Education: Plainfield, IL), Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Ward's Science

Join us as we explore how you can identify and leverage new and existing resources to bring funding and awesome projects to your students. In this not-your-typical grant-writing workshop, we will delve into the relationship between engagement and grants and consider best practices for engaging students, colleagues, partners, and the community. You'll leave this workshop with the information you need to prepare a grant proposal that will wow funders! Takeaways include materials with ideas and activities to sharpen engagement and grant writing toward increasing student outcomes and impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. get information for grant applications; engage partners; and 3. find grants.

SPEAKERS:
Karol Stephens (Ward's Science: Fayetteville, GA), Rusti Berent (Ward's Science: Rochester, NY)

Sponsoring Company: PAEMST

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)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

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 (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP

Learn about three-dimensional formative assessment design and insights for student learning with the new BrainPOP Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. In this session, we will share how BrainPOP Science uses 3-D formative assessments strategically embedded in lessons to gather actionable data on student progress; and 2. Additionally, session participants will work through classroom scenarios to identify the best implementations of BrainPOP Science, focusing on the checks-for-understanding (formative assessments) and the resulting dashboards and reports.

SPEAKERS:
Laurel Ozersky (BrainPOP: Durham, NC)

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)

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: Montague, MI), Cristina Veresan (The Nueva School: El Granada, CA)

This session engages participants in the exploration of middle school–oriented, classroom-ready, interactive, online, data-driven, three-dimensional activities and visualizations that present how sea level rise is caused by climate change, how NOAA monitors and measures these changes, how U.S. coastal regions are dangerously impacted by it, and how you can get up to $5,000 for your school to mitigate its impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will: 1. explore a middle school–oriented classroom-ready multimedia module, and use data-driven NOAA websites that explain and visualize how climate change is causing sea levels to rise globally and impacting all U.S. coastal areas; 2. explore NOAA’s classroom-ready, Data in the Classroom modules: Investigating Sea Level Using Real Data, and learn how their students can use data from NOAA’s satellites and coastal stations to do the analysis to see sea level changing, and learn how they can integrate its inquiry-based resources into their classrooms today; and 3. learn about NOAA Planet Stewards, a Federal program that offers educators up to $5,000 to engage in hands-on stewardship activities to mitigate climate change and its impacts.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Rockville, MD)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP

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)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Experience Simulation Curriculum’s award-winning Starry Night astronomy simulator. Accurate and stunning visualizations allow students to make precise observations of sky motions, moon phases, planets, the universe, and much more. NGSS-focused lessons engage students with interactive simulations joined to exercises, animations, and images including current astronomical phenomena. Designed for online learning and compatible with iPads, Android tablets, PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Free trial access provided!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Online science simulations are effective tools to compliment your instruction; 2. Become familiar with Starry Night as a resource for teaching Space Science; and 3. Learn how to integrate simulations into your course.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Gabber (Retired Educator: Toronto, ON)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

What if coding were integrated into core science instruction instead of being an isolated, after-school activity for a select few? Join the curriculum developers from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science to experience cutting-edge and research-based instructional materials designed to make coding an interactive, collaborative, and science-based endeavor in service of students finding solutions to real-world problems. Explore how Coding Science Internships for Amplify Science grades 6–8 can play a prominent role in providing equitable access to coding and computational thinking for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. experience how cutting-edge and research-based instructional materials can make coding an interactive, collaborative, and science-based endeavor in service of students finding solutions to real-world problems; 2. explore how Coding Science Internships for Amplify Science grades 6–8 can play a prominent role in providing equitable access to coding and computational thinking for all students; and 3. have access to strategies that aim to increase access to positive experiences in computer science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Discovery Education’s brand-new Science Techbook for middle school provides multiple opportunities to assess students’ proficiency with all three dimensions. This session highlights the opportunities for formative assessments throughout the unit as students engage in practices, as well as a summative unit project and a set of performance-based assessments (PBAs) targeting every performance expectation.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students' engagement in science and engineering practices provides an opportunity for formative assessments; 2. Assessments should be tied to phenomena; and 3. Assessments should be three-dimensional.

SPEAKERS:
Nikki Brassell Snyder (Montgomery County Public Schools: Germantown, MD), Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA Press

Argument-Driven Inquiry is an instructional model that gives middle school students a chance to learn how to use DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to explain natural phenomena and provides them with a meaningful context 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 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; and 3. Ways to support students in both remote and in-person contexts.

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

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

No one likes to fail, but failing doesn’t make us failures! Join Savvas’ National Science Specialist Erin Horner for an engaging and interactive workshop as we look at ways to encourage Social and Emotional Learning in our middle school science classrooms. Participants will work through a series of famous failures and see how these “mistakes” led to greatness. Teachers can then take these same principles and apply them in the classroom as they strive to support students in developing emotional intelligence and STEM knowledge at the same time.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How embracing SEL will help your science students succeed; 2. The power of encouraging students to make mistakes; and 3. Tips on using collaborative groups most effectively.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Horner (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP

Join us as we walk you through the brand-new BrainPOP Science, the next step in teaching science with BrainPOP. Our new product is designed to drive student mastery and inspire the next generation of scientific thinkers with turnkey investigations and embedded interactive tools to prepare students for assessment success.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Leave with tangible strategies that you can use to connect kids to real-world science in remote, hybrid, and in-person learning environments; 2. Discuss and reflect on facilitating the connection between trusting science and doing real-world science; and 3. Leave with a menu of turnkey activities that you can use to propel how you approach phenomena-driven virtual lab instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP: New York, NY), Mike Jones (Illinois State University: Bloomington, IL)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

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:
Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Austin, TX)

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: Elizabeth, CO)

Discover research-based approaches on how to build a strong makerspace community that taps into foundational scientific literacy skills. Participate in a makerspace project-based literacy challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Improve culturally responsive teaching in an informal makerspace environment through the development of makerspace pop-up activities and training approaches following a makerspace project-based literacy process; 2. Increase scientific literacy achievement through informal literacy hands-on makerspace pop-up activities focused on STEM real-world activities; and 3. Describe opportunities and hands-on mobile approaches to build capacity of existing informal makerspace learning of remote communities, diverse learners, and STEM professionals serving underrepresented minority populations.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Miller (Sul Ross State University: Alpine, TX), Thomas Tomas (Little Singer Community School: Flagstaff, AZ)

Up-to-date scientific climate research will be explored as the basis for supporting NGSS performance expectation MS-ESS3-5 concerning the current rise in global temperature.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. There are many factors that affect changes in global temperature, both natural and human-caused; 2. The current rapid rise in global temperature is primarily the result of the human combustion of fossil fuels; and 3. There are many engaging sources of data and activities for students to use in investigating this NGSS performance expectation.

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

Join us to experience a middle school NSTA lesson plan containing the assets that contemporary research shows are needed to support ALL students, particularly those from underserved communities and those traditionally marginalized in science classrooms. Reflect on the teacher guidance provided that empowers students, targets current standards, and creates a classroom community of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain strategies designed to shift instruction to create engagement and scientific literacy for ALL students that leverage the assets students bring to the table; 2. Explore a high-quality NSTA lesson plan; and 3. Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking .

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

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; and 3. Suggestions for using adapting escape room format with eesmarts or your existing curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: West Hartford, CT), Kathleen Brooks (CREC: Westbrook, CT), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: North Granby, CT)

Join us to experience a middle school NSTA lesson plan containing the assets that contemporary research shows are needed to support ALL students, particularly those from underserved communities and those traditionally marginalized in science classrooms. Reflect on the teacher guidance provided that empowers students, targets current standards, and creates a classroom community of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain strategies designed to shift instruction to create engagement and scientific literacy for ALL students that leverage the assets students bring to the table; 2. Explore a high-quality NSTA lesson plan; and 3. Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

The use of children’s literature in the middle level classroom provides opportunities for students to pursue interests, engage in topics, and generate questions. This panel will feature award-winning children’s authors that focus their writing on creating these type of entry points for students.

Moderator: Christine Anne Royce 

Presider: J. Carrie Launius

Panelists:

• Elizabeth Rusch
• Jennifer Swanson
• Alexandra Siy
• Teresa Robeson

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Robeson (Author: Bloomington, IN), Elizabeth Rusch (Author: Portland, OR), Jennifer Swanson (Jennifer Swanson Books: jacksonville, FL), Alexandra Siy (Author: Feura Bush, NY), Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Newburg, PA), J Carrie Launius (SEI: St. Louis, MO)

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)

School-based studies of COVID-19 have provided valuable information about how the virus spreads and the activities and settings most associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although some risks can be ameliorated with policy or environment change, behavior plays a large role in risk of infection. Science teachers are well positioned to address behavioral contributions and can impact behavior change to mitigate the spread of COVID-1.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Barrios (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

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 (: Sterling, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Engage in three examples of hands-on investigations, digital investigations, and digital teacher demonstrations from Carolina 3D® kit lines for biology, chemistry, and Earth and space science. Activities illustrate how modified in-class, hands-on laboratory investigations are used in socially distanced, in-person classrooms, and remote learning settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Three hands on activities; one in life science, chemistry, and Earth and space science; 2. Techniques for altering hands-on labs for remote or socially distanced learning; and 3. Information about Carolina 3D Kit lines.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Amazon Future Engineer

Interested in exposing your students to the careers of the future? Join three Amazon Robotics Engineers as they discuss what it's like to build a future in technology. Then, sign up for our Class Chat Program to bring a virtual speaker to your classroom this spring!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. what a robotics engineer does day to day at Amazon; 2. an idea of the potential career path required to become a robotics engineer; and 3. how to sign up to bring a speaker to their class.

SPEAKERS:
Erica Aduh (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Joe Lee (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Mikell Taylor (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Sponsoring Company: Animalearn

Discover how you can make your dissection lab dynamic and innovative after COVID-19! Learn about new life science resources, including mixed reality (AR/VR) education technology; and explorative, hands-on teaching tools that will amaze and engage your students. Participants will be entered to WIN FREE PRIZES like dissection resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Life science resources; 2. Education technology; and 3. Hybrid classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Green (Animalearn: Jenkintown, PA)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

Phenomena-based instruction is a proven way to create connections between the content we present in our classrooms and the knowledge and experiences our students bring to the table. In this interactive session, we'll explore ways teachers can use phenomena to present new material, as well as review previous topics of study. Teachers will leave with ideas they can immediately implement into their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is phenomena-based instruction?; 2. How can I use phenomena to introduce a topic? and 3. How can I use phenomena to review many topics?

SPEAKERS:
Jessi Davis (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: uHandy Mobile Microscope

Since History and English classes teach students how to read and analyze primary sources, why can't Science classes do the same? In this workshop, you will learn how to teach NGSS using research articles and how to seamlessly tie it all into a lesson, with the help of some pond protozoa.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to: 1. teach NGSS using research articles; and 2. seamlessly tie it all into a lesson, with the help of some pond protozoa.

SPEAKERS:
Evelyn Wong (Science with Evie: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Ward's Science

Join us as we explore how you can identify and leverage new and existing resources to bring funding and awesome projects to your students. In this not-your-typical grant-writing workshop, we will delve into the relationship between engagement and grants and consider best practices for engaging students, colleagues, partners, and the community. You'll leave this workshop with the information you need to prepare a grant proposal that will wow funders! Takeaways include materials with ideas and activities to sharpen engagement and grant writing toward increasing student outcomes and impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. get information for grant applications; 2. engage partners; and 3. find grants.

SPEAKERS:
Rusti Berent (Ward's Science: Rochester, NY), Karol Stephens (Ward's Science: Fayetteville, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Shell Science Lab

Come start your winning application for one of three Shell-sponsored programs. We'll walk through the application step by step and you'll be able to begin your application or nomination form live.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn: 1. tips to complete a successful application; 2. who's eligible to apply; and 3. how to nominate a deserving teacher.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Venice, FL), Amanda Upton (NSTA: Fresno, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Experience Simulation Curriculum’s award-winning Starry Night astronomy simulator. Accurate and stunning visualizations allow students to make precise observations of sky motions, moon phases, planets, the universe, and much more. NGSS-focused lessons engage students with interactive simulations joined to exercises, animations, and images including current astronomical phenomena. Designed for online learning and compatible with iPads, Android tablets, PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Free trial access provided!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Online science simulations are effective tools to compliment your instruction; 2. Become familiar with Starry Night as a resource for teaching Space Science; and 3. Learn how to integrate simulations into your course.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Gabber (Retired Educator: Toronto, ON)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Use the short film The Biology of Skin Color to practice argumentation skills of developing claims with supporting evidence and reasoning techniques. This content can easily connect to learning in units of genetics, evolution, or cellular structure from middle school through AP/IB courses. Scaffolds and online learning suggestions included.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Biological traits are not inherently good or bad. Some traits can provide an advantage to an organism in certain environments but be a disadvantage in other environments; 2. Different human populations living many generations in a particular part of the world may have different variations in certain traits. In spite of these differences, all humans are very closely related and share most traits; and 3. A claim is a statement that answers a question using clear and supporting evidence connected by reasoning.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Hedeen (Oregon City High School: Oregon City, OR), Kathryn Fisher Hedeen (Oregon City High School: Oregon City, OR)

Unsure how to address disability in biology? Learn models of disability, identify ableism, and learn how to accept disability as a natural form of variation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. be able to identify and remedy common examples of ableism, while learning about the beliefs and practices of the ability-inclusive mindset to promote an inclusive classroom and school environment; 2. be provided a set of slides that teach how disability is a natural form of human variation, the other above concepts in the context of a biology lesson on the natural sources of variation (meiosis, mutation, sexual reproduction); and 3. learn about the positives and negatives of the social, medical, inspirational, and social justice models of disability.

SPEAKERS:
John Gensic (Penn High School: Granger, IN), Katy Fattaleh (The Nora Project: La Grange Highlands, IL), Lainey Bristow (Penn High School: Minneapolis, MN)

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

How did the Environmental Justice movement begin? Come discover how science inquiry and justice-oriented practices support teachers and students as changemakers in their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. that research supports connecting science content and opportunities for students to serve their communities as an essential facet of culturally relevant science instruction; 2. how to support students’ and teachers’ understanding of systemic inequities through science practices; and 3. how to create a critical inquiry instructional case study for students engaged in virtual or face-to-face instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Lenora Crabtree (The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Durham, NC)

Learn strategies to be more culturally responsive from an equity framework to not only retain but spread Black girl magic in STEM in school settings!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The school-based and classroom-based factors that are contributing to Black girls starting off with the highest interest in STEM but resulting in the lowest retention of STEM; 2. The seven elements of the ICUCARE equity framework in the classroom; and 3. Three to five strategies (to then develop and apply) for providing learning experiences in the school setting that empower our Black girls to remain in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Princess Francois (Math, Engineering, and Science Academy: Brooklyn, NY)

An informal discussion with former eCYBERMISSION Team Advisors about how to find success with student competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. engage students in STEM competitions; 2. take part in STEM competitions with limited time; and 3. help students find success in STEM competitions.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Lora Gibbons (Utah Education Network: Stansbury Park, UT), Mary Clarke (St. Paul Catholic High School: Bristol, CT), Michael Lake (Half Hollow Hills High School East: Dix Hills, NY)

Case studies highlight serendipitous discoveries that integrate engineering and science. Cases rooted in history capture students’ imaginations and can be used with online, remote instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will explore the historical background that case studies provide to teach science; 2. Attendees will apply scientific practices with the engineering design process.; and 3. Using case studies, attendees will work in small groups and will learn how to use cases to challenge students to use their imaginations and creative skills to ideate new products or applications of current products.

SPEAKERS:
M. Gail Jones (North Carolina State University: Cary, NC), Rebecca Hite (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX), Megan Ennes (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL), Gina Childers (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX), Elysa Corin (Institute for Learning Innovation: Chapel Hill, NC), Emily Cayton (Campbell University: Four Oaks, NC)

Explore a simulation to discover how different mitigation strategies slow the spread of a virus (COVID) while experiencing a storyline around pandemics. Download: https://tinyurl.com/C19basicspread

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will be introduced briefly to the anchor for a storyline around things people can do to help to slow the spread of a virus, using the current pandemic from COVID-19; 2. Through interacting and engaging with a simulation developed for this storyline, participants will explore the effects of different mitigation approaches on the spread of a virus; and 3. With the emotional toll the pandemic has had on everyone, participants will explore social-emotional activities and support for students.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Dan Voss (Northwestern University: Minneapolis, MN)

Using Project Hero’s online Soil Quest and Q-U-E-S-T framework, guide learners to design projects that sequester carbon, restore soil’s health, and slow climate change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. work with the online PBL Soil Quest platform (https://herofortheplanet.org/healthysoils) as a model for empowering students to use the understanding of science concepts to design and carry out a solution to a local soil problem; 2. understand how to teach the connection between soil-carbon-climate change concepts through Quest activities and investigations (aligned to the NGSS), and lay the foundation for designing and carrying out this project; and 3. gather ideas for how the soil project, and lessons for supporting concepts, could fit into current NGSS-focused curricula (i.e., concepts around healthy soil ecosystems, carbon cycle and sequestration, climate change, and design of conventional and regenerative farming and gardening practices), and connect to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Arndt (Global GreenSTEM: Franktown, CO)

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: Montague, MI), Cristina Veresan (The Nueva School: El Granada, CA)

Learn how the language and structure of your inquiry activities can produce roadblocks for emergent bilinguals, and how subtle shifts dramatically increase engagement and success.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A resource versus-deficit perspective and building lessons around abilities; 2. Breaking down language barriers in student-student collaborations through effective modeling; and 3. Using multiple representations in science, utilizing emergent bilingual's strength with translanguaging.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Moore (University of Nebraska Omaha: Omaha, NE)

Sponsoring Company: Feeding Tomorrow, Institute of Food Technologists

Do your students know about the science of food? The world needs the brightest minds engaged in the science of food to meet the challenge of feeding a projected population of 9 billion in 2050. To help meet this challenge, we want to help you introduce your high school students to the science of food and career opportunities in food science and technology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Food science lesson plans; 2. Food science pedagogy; and 3. Food science careers.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Sudler (FONA International Inc.: Geneva, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

Please join Flinn for a quick refresher on common safety concerns and issues that arise in the classroom and remote settings. This is a must-attend session for new teachers and experienced teachers alike who want to deliver the most comprehensive and safe program possible! Come for an overview of best practices in the lab with Flinn!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Refresher on science safety best practices; 2. Safety awareness culture; and 3. Practical :what to do in case of emergency" trainings.

SPEAKERS:
James Palcik (Flinn Scientific Canada, Inc.: Hamilton, ON)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

As educators, you know what student engagement looks like in the classroom. Students are focused on their work in front of them, they are collaborating with their peers, they are asking good questions, and creativity is flowing. But now that things have moved online, what does engagement look like? In this session we will explore the wealth of tools within the Mastering® technology from Pearson that you can use in your digital or hybrid classroom now to boost engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Student engagement in a digital/hybrid classroom; 2. How to utilize resources within the Mastering® technology from Pearson to boost student engagement; and 3. Learn about resources within Mastering to support digital teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Vaccaro (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ), Debra Gipson (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ), Matthew Barber (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ), Monica Wadler (Savvas Learning Co.: Greencastle, IN)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

Using 3DMD’s new CRISPR Kit©, explore the Cas9 endonuclease’s unique ability to recognize a statistically unique site in the 3.2 billion base-pair human genome, before moving to an accurate 3D-printed Cas9 model to explore enhancements of the system that become an even more powerful genome editing tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is CRISPR?; 2. Explore the CRISPR Cas9 endonuclease and its role in genome editing; and 3. Learn how scientists have enhanced Cas9 to make it even more powerful in genome editing.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Whether breaking bonds, dissolving NaCl, or exploring states of matter, your students will be captivated by 3D Molecular Designs’ magnetic Water Kit©. The versatile kit will engage students in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, Earth science, or physical science and its usefulness spans from middle and high school to college.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach bonds and bond strength with models; 2. Teach solutions and states of matter with models; and 3. Teach polarity with models.

SPEAKERS:
Jim Lane (Mahtomedi High School: Mahtomedi, MN)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Simulation Curriculum is a pioneer in developing online simulation-based curriculum to help enhance students’ understanding of Earth science topics as diverse as climate change, plate tectonics, volcanism, Earth materials, and geological processes on Earth’s surface. NGSS-focused lessons engage students with interactive simulations and thought-provoking exercises. Designed for online learning and compatible with iPads, Android tablets, PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Free trial access provided!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Online science simulations are effective tools to compliment your instruction; 2. Become familiar with Layered Earth as a resource for teaching Earth science; 3. Learn how to integrate Earth science and literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Gabber (Retired Educator: Toronto, ON)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA Press

In this workshop, participants will learn how to do integrated STEM challenge-driven projects in high school, including an overview of STEM and introduction to the STEM Road Map Curriculum series published by NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding of integrated STEM pedagogy; 2. Knowledge of how to integrate STEM into high school science; and 3. Sample lesson plans from STEM Road Map curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Johnson (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

Using engaging and powerful kits, model how proteins are simply long linear sequences of amino acids that spontaneously fold into complex 3-D shapes, following basic principles of chemistry. Then explore how a stylized enzyme model can help students understand basic concepts while an accurate model leads to increased levels of complexity.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach protein folding with models; 2. Explore enzymes using models; and 3. Learn how AI is assisting in determining the shape of complex proteins.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE

BIOZONE’s two NGSS series have been designed to fully embrace the spirit of the NGSS. We will compare their features, guiding you to select the series best suited to your program. We will show how BIOZONE’s flexible print and digital solutions support you to teach face-to-face, remotely, or through hybrid programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Comparing features of the standard and integrated NGSS series; 2. Guiding participants to select the series best suited to their program; and 3. Print and digital solutions to support teachers who are teaching remotely or face-to-face.

SPEAKERS:
Lissa Bainbridge-Smith (BIOZONE Corp.: Parker, CO), James Leggett (BIOZONE Corp.: Parker, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Amazon Future Engineer

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: 1. 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:
Tony Wallin (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Trinidad Cisneros (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

The fascinating phenomena of Earth and space science take on heightened relevance in learners’ lives when presented through the frameworks of geoheritage and place-based education.