Ticket Price: $75 earlybird; $100 advance

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This session is designed for instructional coaches and leaders who want to support their teachers in making the instructional shifts required by three-dimensional science standards, including the TEKS. Participants will receive NSTA’s suite of instructional coaching tools and gain experience using the protocols and providing feedback.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Become familiar with a suite of instructional coaching tools and protocols; 2. Gain experience using the instructional coaching tools and protocols; and 3. Identify ways to use the tools to provide feedback to teachers and document growth-over-time.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Calling all yoga enthusiasts. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, schedule time to join Jasmine for a gentle warm-up; traditional vinyāsa-style yoga (balance poses, core, strength building); deep stretching for hips and hamstrings; and, of course, meditation for relaxation and de-stressing. Beginner friendly!

Please note that this is limited to the first 30 people. Interested? Please come to the Conferences Services Desk to sign up before 6:00 PM on Wednesday, March 30.

Come for a quick peek at the fascinating history of science education and reforms as it relates to defining scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Scientific literacy may mean many things to different people and groups but, in general, a scientifically literate person is one who uses science in everyday decisions and understands the interrelationships between science, technology, and society; 2. Historical events such as Sputnik and the Vietnam war have influenced the focus of science education over time, shifting the emphasis back and forth between more rigorous and more relevant; and 3. A human-centered approach to science teaching and learning is more equitable because it emphasizes student voice and choice, creativity, and self-value.

SPEAKERS:
Becky McDowell (University of Wyoming: Laramie, WY)

Can a genetics unit affect students’ views of people different from themselves? This session presents lessons learned during a project-based learning unit, with critical discussion.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How can we use project-based learning to enhance scientific literacy? Attendees will have access to lesson plans and supporting materials. 2. How can we use middle school standards to decrease stereotypes? Participants will see the results of a pilot study that measured shift in bias as students learned genetics. 3. What can teachers do to encourage this kind of learning? Participants will engage in critical conversation to identify standards and approaches that will work in their classrooms as well as having an opportunity to connect and collaborate.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Clapp (The Catamount School: Sylva, NC)

The 5E is effective for learning most concepts, but not for processes. Other models may need to be included within the 5E.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Clearly understand the various instructional models and the best practice for their uses; 2. The learning objective must be clearly identified as a concept of a process to correctly identify the best practice and instructional model; and 3. Use other best practices such as moving instruction from the known to the unknown or concrete to pictorial to abstract or limiting objectives within a 5E.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra West (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science provides teachers with an entire unit of instruction that includes a variety of assessments, free and available for download.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The units created by the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) can be presented to a whole class, small groups, or can be assigned to individual students. They are teacher-guided or student-guided. 2. The TIES units can be easily downloaded for free and meet or exceed the evolution standards of every U.S. State. 3. The TIES units contain a variety of assessments, including online games, video questions, data analysis, puzzles, and formal assessments. They include a student response sheet, rubric, and formal assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour (Science Teacher: Winchester, 0)

Learn how graphical reasoning helps students bridge the STEM gap. Gain tools to help students become proficient at graphing, making predictions, and deepening content understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Help students who lack algebraic fluency bridge the gap between science and mathematics; 2. Gain tools and tips to help students become proficient at creating graphs, identifying common graph shapes (e.g. linear, inverse square), linking graphs with their algebraic representations, making predictions, and deepening content understanding; and 3. With hands-on demonstrations, data from our research studies, and lesson plans, teachers can utilize the information shared in this session to better support their students.

SPEAKERS:
Janice Gobert (Rutgers Graduate School of Education: New Brunswick, NJ), Michael Sao Pedro (Inq-ITS by Apprendis: Berlin, MA)

Join us to explore the free online student notebook and facilitator’s guide, make your own mosquito larvae trap, and do NASA citizen science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students will learn where, how, and when to safely find mosquito larvae, and how to identify three medically important mosquito genera; 2. Mosquitoes and the diseases they spread are everywhere; students will learn how to reduce the number of mosquito breeding sites in their local community and contribute their citizen science data; and 3. Facilitators will learn about the insights, answers, recommendations, background information, applications, and supplements (games and book lists) found in the Facilitator’s Guide.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Burck (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies: Arlington, VA), Cassie Soeffing (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies: Arlington, VA)

Turning on a string of electric lights is the anchoring phenomenon in this storyline. Students ask questions about electricity sources, production, and uses.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The system of producers and consumers of electricity we call the power grid is changing, and users are becoming more active participants; 2. Generators use magnetism and mechanical turning to create electricity, and burning carbon-based resources provides much of the energy that powers these generators; and 3. Energy efficiency and renewable and clean energy sources are important to the energy system of the future.

SPEAKERS:
Jana Sebestik (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Champaign, IL), Christina Tran (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Urbana, IL)

Regardless of their life circumstances, students are able to overcome obstacles and achieve success with the right tools. Learn how to use WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) strategies to increase student scientific literacy and have your students speaking, reading, and writing like scientists!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading)?; 2. What are strategies that I can use immediately in my classroom to increase scientific literacy?; and 3. How do these strategies help ALL students?

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea White (Heritage Middle School: Colleyville, TX)

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, and drawings, highlighting scientific practices, nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Access to millions of free digitized primary sources the Library of Congress has for K–12 science educators, including Thomas Jefferson’s weather journal, Robert Hooke’s first drawings of cells, photographs from the Dust Bowl, historic newspaper accounts about lead paint and electric cars, and much more!; 2. Multiple hands-on strategies for integrating science-related primary sources in the K–12 classroom to facilitate student engagement, critical thinking, and student-centered construction of knowledge; and 3. An understanding of how primary source analysis can lead to unique insights related to the Nature of Science, such as how scientists and engineers think, practice, and apply scientific principles and discoveries in the real world; how scientific ideas evolve over time; and how science and engineering are related to society.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC), Lesley Anderson (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: Washington, CA)

Want to teach climate literacy but don’t know where to start? NOAA offers lesson plans, videos, data, webinars, and more to inform and inspire students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is climate literacy and how to improve it; 2. How to discuss climate and climate controversies in the classroom; and 3. What climate education resources are available from NOAA.

SPEAKERS:
Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD), Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Frank Niepold (NOAA Climate Program Office: Silver Spring, MD)

Increase multilingual learners’ success in STEM by taking a language-based approach. Assist multilingual learners to deconstruct and unpack dense scientific sentences as “STEM Sentence Detectives.”

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. to select juicy sentences in scientific texts that will be challenging for multilingual learners; 2. to “unpack” the meaning of each sentence chunk to point out which elements of each chunk in the sentence are helpful in illuminating the meaning; and 3. several reading strategies that support multilinguals’ understanding of scientistic text.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Cieslak (Center for Applied Linguistics: Washington, DC)

Using algae as the vehicle for innovation, this FREE STEM kit and curriculum will have your students asking big questions as they grow algae in the classroom and dive deeper into its vast potential.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn all things algae—from the basic living requirements to how algae will help solve pressing global issues; 2. Walk through the entire Algae Academy curriculum to better understand the supplies provided, day-to-day activities, and teacher resources available to support teacher instruction; and 3. Learn how to cultivate your own algae culture!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Nalley (The Algae Foundation: Midland, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

How do crosscutting concepts link the ideas and practices of science across different domains and over time? We’ll show you practical examples to see how crosscutting concepts provide a foundation for student sensemaking of phenomena and problems. Leave with classroom resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Defining the seven crosscutting concepts; 2. Learning strategies to incorporate crosscutting concepts into science lessons; and 3. Understanding how crosscutting concepts support student sensemaking.

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

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Explore how to elicit and leverage students’ connections to the phenomena-based storylines in your science curriculum using strategies designed to deepen conceptual understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Eliciting and leveraging student ideas, when done strategically, can not only promote equity and relevance, but also support deep science learning; 2. 2. How to use a particular routine to elicit students’ ideas and experiences at the beginning of a unit and how to leverage these ideas at strategic points along the storyline; and 3. Teachers can effectively use phenomena-based storylines from a research-based national curriculum by incorporating their students' funds of knowledge into those storylines.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Kyla Cook (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Maria José Pastor (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Guests are getting sick at a dinner party. White powder is collected at a crime scene. Use pH and conductivity sensors to identify the powder. Bring your own device with our Graphical Analysis app installed or use our devices. All activities are available as a free download for attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: PhD Science

Explore a fourth-grade module to uncover how hands-on investigations allow students to develop an understanding of science concepts that apply far beyond the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. PhD Science introduces students to new concepts through engaging activities that allow them to first observe and wonder and then to investigate and deeply understand phenomena; 2. Hands-on experiences enable students to engage in science activities that align with common science and engineering practices; and 3. Planning and carrying out investigations allows students to gather personally meaningful evidence to support their scientific explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Victoria Soileau (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Ready to take STEM learning to new heights? Join Estes and build a FREE rocket and learn model rocketry basics!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model rocketry provides a relevant, hands-on, and engaging vehicle to hold students accountable for their knowledge in the classroom; 2. Participants will learn model rocketry basics and how to successfully set up a launch site; and 3. Estes Education provides interdisciplinary STEM resources and tools to educators that give them the skills and confidence necessary to elevate learning.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

Sponsoring Company: Beyond Labz

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

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

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

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Use electrophoresis to determine which pair of cows will have the best return on investment in this hands-on ag/life science lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to do electrophoresis in the MiniOne Electrophoresis System; 2. Discover how to do hands-on labs with students in middle and high school life science and ag classes; and 3. Explore how agriculture, biology, and business are intertwined in the modern farming industry.

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

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Students use a model to explore the cause-and-effect relationship between inappropriate use of antibiotics and the phenomenon of the evolution of antibiotic resistance. As they use the model, students use mathematical representations to support their analysis of patterns and trends in the results and to develop explanations for how and why the population of bacteria is changing.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model the effect of antibiotics on a population of bacteria with a range of antibiotic resistance; 2. Compare the effects of appropriate and inappropriate use of antibiotics on a population of bacteria; and 3. Explain how a population of highly resistant bacteria can evolve.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Lilly (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

As one of the science practices, asking questions and defining problems provides students with an authentic and meaningful entry point into science and engineering. From IQWST—the origin of the Driving Question Board—participants will experience a puzzling chemistry phenomenon and learn how to elicit, organize, and revisit students' questions to build a Driving Question Board.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Effective questioning strategies to engage students and increase the depth of student thinking, also helping to make student thinking visible; 2. Questioning strategies for teachers to help students clarify and articulate their understanding of essential science phenomena and concepts; and 3. How to give students an opportunity to use their own ideas and ways of communicating and sensemaking through the development of a Driving Question Board .

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (IntegratedSTEMk12, LLC: Chandler, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Join us for coffee, breakfast, and a take-home classroom activity. In this Power of Yeast activity, participants will set up and observe fermentation processes in varied environments to help provide an initial understanding of a modern biochemical model of cellular life. Participants will receive ready-to-go lesson activities for Elementary, Middle Grades, and High School classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. receive ready-to-go lesson activities for Elementary, Middle Grades, and High School classes; 2. enjoy coffee and baked goods in a relaxed presentation environment; and 3. examine ways to show students that science is both dynamic and relevant to their lives.

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Kremer (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek Inc.

Forensic science combines science disciplines to determine “whodunnit.” In this workshop, learn how to merge hands-on biotechnology experiments with literacy exercises to create an immersive lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. participate in hands-on biotechnology experimentation; 2. discuss the implications of genetic fingerprinting of forensic samples; and 3. learn strategies for connecting the lessons learned to the Common Core Literacy Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Danielle Snowflack (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Maria Dayton (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Build STEM culture through community engagement! Develop interest and awareness, leading to increased demand for STEM programming and STEM career pathway courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies for hosting community engagement events, including family STEM nights; 2. Explore the role of partnerships in supporting engagement events; and 3. Walk away with resources to support establishing and hosting community engagement events.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Blank (Watertown City School District: Watertown, NY), Tiara Davis (Teacher: Charlotte, NC), Heather Overkamp (Portsmouth Public Schools: Portsmouth, VA), Patty Brunet (Cypress High School: Cypress, CA)

Feeling overwhelmed by all there is to see and do at an NSTA conference on science education? Join us for an interactive exploration through the conference app and NSTA’s social media. By the end of the session, you will know just how to get the most from your conference experience in addition to building new networks with your science colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Start your day with the DE team and a hands-on immersion into the wonderful world of Phenomena! Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn and experience how to incorporate everyday phenomena into meaningful science lessons; 2. experience how to utilize hands-on activities to introduce phenomena ; and 3. explore scientific concepts using phenomena from across all grade levels K–12.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Fountain (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

In this hands-on workshop, participants learn how a culminating student performance task provided evidence of student learning while having a lasting impact locally.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. building knowledge across units ensures success on culminating performance tasks; 2. a diversity of assessments allows access to a variety of learners to effectively assess student learning; and 3. building engaging performance tasks provides evidence of student learning while impacting the larger community.

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Robertson (Envirolution: Reno, NV), Kristina Hadley (Swope Middle School: Reno, NV), Sylvia Scoggin (Washoe County School District: Reno, NV)

My NASA Data will present the wealth of NGSS-focused NASA resources that promote learning in flexible Earth science classroom spaces such as hybrid, in-person, and virtual environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Test out the newly updated Data Literacy Cubes to scaffold Earth science data exploration for a variety of learners; 2. Explore a wealth of three-dimensional resources that support teaching and learning with NASA Earth data; and 3. Navigate through the My NASA Data offerings to locate resources that support your teaching and learning goals.

SPEAKERS:
Desiray Wilson (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.: Hampton, VA), Janet Struble (The University of Toledo: Toledo, OH), Jessica Taylor (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA)

All students, regardless of their background and life experience, have ideas they bring to their learning. Examine techniques for honoring and building upon students' ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Examine how and why students come to the classroom with a variety of ideas that make sense to them; 2. Experience strategies for eliciting students' ideas and understanding where they come from; and 3. Aquire techniques for developing formative assessment probes that recognize and honor diversity in the classroom and make it safe for students to share their thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State)

Gain strategies and tools to support emerging multilingual learners (EMLs) with opportunities to authentically engage in science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students who are still learning English often experience barriers to successful science learning; 2. In order for emerging multilingual learners (EMLs) to have equitable opportunities to engage in science and engineering practices, teachers must be able to both leverage these students’ linguistic resources and address the language needs that they may have; and 3. In real time, teachers can utilize a set of strategies to support their emerging multilingual students.

SPEAKERS:
Spencer Martin (Kansas City Kansas Public Schools: Kansas City, KS)

Discover how to use physical education to help teach interdependence of the circulatory and respiratory systems through Argument Driven Inquiry. Three-dimensional teaching meets cross-curricular planning.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. collaborate with your PE teachers to conduct a scientific investigation; 2. teach students about data collection and analysis; and 3. help students realize the interactions of body systems and how they relate to physical exercise.

SPEAKERS:
Lincoln Clark (Spain Park High School: Birmingham, AL)

In this session participants will walk away with strategies to intentionally incorporate reading, dialogue, and graphing into the classroom to assist students in becoming scientifically literate.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify how literacy and dialogue are an integral part in sensemaking; 2. Engage in examples of activities that integrate speaking, listening, and reading into the science classroom; and 3. Pick up tips to promote retention of vocabulary through scaffolding.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Niedens (Tays Junior High School: Katy, TX), Rachel Rae (Katy ISD: Katy, TX)

This session provides a decontextualized, concrete activity that can be implemented as an exploration into speed, velocity, and acceleration in physical science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore the unique value and purpose of decontextualized science activities as they relate to lesson sequencing congruent with a Learning Cycle approach; 2. Receive instruction on an activity and lesson sequence that guides students to an understanding of motion science, and graphing, interpreting, and applying data; and 3. Learn to navigate the gap between providing a concrete experience and promoting student conceptual understandings of speed, velocity, and acceleration.

SPEAKERS:
Benjamin Janney (Texas A&M University: College Station, TX), Aaron Kidd (Texas A&M University: College Station, TX)

Modeling with Tinkercad to spark creativity and innovation in the design of a tiny home for a biome.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Tinkercad basics for design along with example student work products; 2. How to use screencastify as a tool for students to showcase their work in a mock real estate listing and home tour; and 3. How to draw upon real-world climate and environmental sustainability issues in the student home design challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Blue (The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH)

Some soaps make more bubbles than others. Let's explore this phenomenon and discover why it is an effective motivating tool for middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use the phenomenon of soap bubble formation to anchor an NGSS-focused chemistry unit to support student motivation; 2. What properties and molecular structures of different soaps contribute to soap bubble formation; and 3. How to utilize motivation design principles in a soap bubble unit to drive student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
David McKinney (University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Las Vegas, NV), Steven Gaskill (K.O. Knudson Middle School: Las Vegas, NV)

Learn how to develop holistic and equitable coding programs through positive social-emotional development, the inclusion of diverse role model representation, and connecting coding to activism!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. better understand the computer science landscape and how holistic programming can be a tool for addressing the gender gap in tech; 2. learn how to incorporate the three essential components every equitable coding program should have: a. holistic program activities that teach coding and social-emotional development, b. a culture of bravery where students join a supportive community of peers and role models from diverse career pathways, and c. connections to activism by using coding for positive impact; and 3. learn best practices for student recruitment and engagement of historically underrepresented groups in tech.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Ong (Girls Who Code: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts are applied to the DCIs of Heredity and Ecosystems in two hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to: 1. incorporate phenomena into life science lessons; 2. construct models and explanation for inheritance using Wisconsin Fast Plants®; and 3. use a cell phone spectrometer to gather data.

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

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Join the program authors to experience a deep dive into HQIM with Amplify Science and see why their research-based novel approaches can lead to deeper learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. It is complex work to create developmentally appropriate learning sequences that meet the NGSS’ expectations for phenomena-based storylines that address all three dimensions; 2. HQIM allow teachers to focus on implementation and adaptation rather than on designing sequences and materials; and 3. Independent efficacy studies have shown the effectiveness of using Amplify Sciences’ unique multimodal approach for science teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Daniel Alcazar-Roman (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Get active and participate in hands-on experiments. Explore limb position and grip strength, balance, and EKG/EMG experiments designed to encourage students to think about the physiology of various human organ systems. Walk away with valuable information, including sample labs and teaching tips.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experience with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: PhD Science

Explore the five social-emotional competencies as defined by CASEL. Research instructional routines that foster these competencies and learn how to incorporate these routines in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. PhD Science was designed with the research-based understanding that social, emotional, and academic learning are interconnected multi-directionally; 2. Students’ social and emotional well-being is intimately connected to their academic success; and 3. Engaging with science content in a safe, supportive classroom helps students feel competent, significant, and successful.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Goodner (Great Minds: Washington, DC), Victoria Soileau (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Green Ninja

This session will share a framework for how to create compelling learning experiences where students use science and engineering concepts to solve local environmental problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. be able to create a storyline and lesson sequence outline that focuses on a local environmental issue of interest; 2. be able to bundle different science TEKS using a storyline; and 3. develop experience using localized phenomena to create student-oriented instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Eugene Cordero (Green Ninja: Mountain View, CA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Let innovative technology and simplified prep take the mess and stress out of bacterial transformation with the Let it Glow™ Bacterial Transformation MiniLab.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about a faster, simpler, and more reliable way to teach bacterial transformation; 2. See how teachers can use a PCR System and Fluorescence Reader to perform and analyze bacterial transformation; and 3. Explore how new technology makes traditionally complicated labs more teacher- and student-friendly.

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

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

What does pH actually measure? In this investigation, you will measure pH indirectly using indicators and absorption using the Lab-Master. Using their data, participants generate a graph of absorbance versus pH. This graph can be used to determine the pH of solutions, within the measured pH range.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Prepare serial dilutions of 1M acid and base and calculate H+ and OH- ion concentrations; 2. Measure the RGB absorbance of solutions with different pH values; and 3. Create a graph of absorbance versus pH.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Koker (Lab-Aids, Inc.: Ronkonkoma, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Leaning

Explore the role literacy plays in the elementary classroom. Participate in an Activate Learning PRIME lesson that demonstrates how modeling scaffolds the student discussion to support literacy strategies in the context of science. This includes the incorporation of academic language in written responses and oral discourse in conjunction with investigations using an interactive word wall. Reading and differentiation strategies highlighted.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Receive strategies on how to get students to use modeling to strengthen since literacy in science; 2. Learn how literacy and science can be connected through modeling; and 3. Discover effective strategies on creating and maintaining interactive word walls.

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Mintz (Activate Learning: Greenwich, SC)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

This workshop explores the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the CoV-2 virus. Participants use physical models—enhanced by Augmented Reality—to explore these topics.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The nucleotide sequence of the CoV-2 RNA genome was the first step in vaccine development; 2. Prior research focused on the spike protein of CoV-1 set the stage for rapid progress on vaccine development; and 3. Pseudouridine was the key to an effective mRNA vaccine.

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

Sponsoring Company: The Climate Initiative

Come walk through exciting free climate change learning modules. Engage your students in hands-on activities and get them starting conversations in their communties.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Walk through the six-lesson module and learn how to use it with your online or in-person classroom; 2. Participate in a communication activity and learn how to conduct community converations that empower student voice and make them change agents in their local landscape; and 3. Learn how to incorporate Climate Change from the three lenses (Economic, Ecological, and Sociocultural) to encourage students to understand the issues from a local to global scale.

SPEAKERS:
Leia Lowery (The Climate Initiative: Cape Porpoise, ME)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Ken Miller will describe ways in which a curriculum built around the COVID-19 virus can help students to explore some of the most basic processes in biology. The emergence, spread, diversification, and resilience of this virus will be used to demonstrate important principles in evolution, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, and cell biology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will examine specific curriculum plans using the COVID-19 virus to illustrate basic principles of cell biology, including biological membrane structure, mRNA function, transcription, translation, replication, and immune response; 2. The emergence of COVID-19 variants will be explored as a case study in natural selection, evolution, and phylogenetic analysis; and 3. The public reaction to pandemic public health countermeasures and vaccination will be examined as a case study in scientific literacy and science denial. Participants will discuss ways to use their classrooms to promote student understand of the science behind these public health measures.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek Inc.

Respiratory viruses like Influenza or COVID can lead to worldwide pandemics. We’ll discuss how diseases spread and perform experiments to explore how disease testing works.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. participate in hands-on biotechnology experimentation; 2. explore medical testing for common diseases, including how they work and what they mean; and 3. discuss the epidemiological triad, a framework for understanding the relationship between host, pathogen, and environment.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Maria Dayton (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Engage the power of visible thinking to heighten learning through scientific inquiry and authentic questioning while fostering connections with and between students in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. understand and explain visible thinking; 2. describe multiple benefits of applying visible thinking in the classroom; and 3. learn strategies to apply visible thinking in inquiry-based science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Blank (Watertown City School District: Watertown, NY), Patty Brunet (Cypress High School: Cypress, CA), Tiara Davis (Teacher: Charlotte, NC), Heather Overkamp (Portsmouth Public Schools: Portsmouth, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Learn from a panel of educators from across the U.S. as they share their impactful stories of bringing science to life in today’s classrooms with Discovery Education. Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies and activities that engage students in classrooms across the country; 2. See science come to life with innovative classroom practices; and 3. Leave with a toolkit of resources to bring those ideas to your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Vincent (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Please join us for this Exclusive Exhibit Hall time today (11:00 AM–1:00 PM). During this time there are no teacher sessions scheduled and it’s a perfect opportunity to visit the exhibits and discover all the products and services companies and organizations have to offer. Some exhibitors will offer materials for sale throughout the conference.

This session focuses on the core messages of the book Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning, published by NSTA Press in 2021.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The power of crosscutting concepts is most fully realized when they are used in conjunction with science and engineering practices and disciplinary core ideas; 2. Crosscutting concepts serve as lenses on phenomena, supporting all students in question-asking and sensemaking; and 3. Teacher leadership is critical to realizing the power of crosscutting concepts in practice.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Nordine (The University of Iowa: Iowa City, IA), Okhee Lee (New York University: New York, NY)

Discourse is an important part of science learning. In this session, we will engage in talk moves from the teacher and student perspective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. distinguish between everyday conversation and academic discourse; 2. apply the goals of productive discourse through talk moves; and 3. consider classroom environment layout and routines that support a community of learners.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Martin-Hiner (Keystone Area Education Agency: Elkader, IA), Beverly Berns (Keystone Area Education Agency: Elkader, IA)

Participants will engage in a process where student work is analyzed for student understandings around NGSS Performance Expectations. Identifying student understandings, misconceptions, and holes in explanations enables teachers to assess student learning based on what students got versus what you thought you were giving.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A process for analysis of student work; 2. Identifying gaps between what teachers taught and what students learned; and 3. Using formative assessments to identify next steps.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Meyerpeter-Newman (Retired Science Educator: Wheatland, CA), Nicodemus Ford (Pivot Learning: Oakland, CA)

Multiple lessons were learned with remote instruction that can be transitioned into the face-to-face classroom and support blended science instruction. Examples, tools, and strategies provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discuss the lessons learned during remote instruction that have the staying power and should be part of blended instruction; 2. Identify positive instructional strategies that maximize technology and digital tools and determine the best way to transition those tools into the blended classroom; and 3. Engage in example activities where connections between digital tools and strategies for use in student engagement are made.

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

Astrobiology Learning Progressions support the creation of units that are relevant and motivating through the lens of the search for life in the universe.

TAKEAWAYS:
K–12 teachers, curriculum directors, and other science communicators will take away from this session: 1. what is the scientific search for life in the universe—Astrobiology, how it is interdisciplinary, and how it can be combined within STEM, ELA, art, engineering, and more; 2. how they can use the excitement and motivating topics in Astrobiology to leverage learning in a variety of science concepts throughout the NGSS; and 3. the know-how to navigate and use the Astrobiology Learning Progressions ( https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/alp/ )to find information, context, and resources to create their units and lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Dani Leach (Lakewood High School: Arlington, WA)

Space Station Explorers offers many activities to reach and teach the next generation—from growing tomato seeds that flew in space to launching experiments to the ISS.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Every educator can incorporate the highly engaging topic of space into their curriculum; 2. Most of our programs are completely free and standards aligned; and 3. We provide myriad opportunities to get involved, attend professional development, and equip educators to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Christman (ISS National Laboratory: Melbourne, FL), Courtney Black (ISS National Laboratory: Melbourne, FL), Samantha Thorstensen (ISS National Laboratory: Melbourne, FL)

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to identify and reach out to potential community and industry partners; 2. How to build a program or event that meets the needs of all stakeholders; and 3. How to develop authentic learning experiences to impact student perspectives of locally available STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Bethany Kenyon (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

Presents a structure partnering local STEM professionals and teachers in developing 3-D transfer tasks rooted in the phenomena and scenarios the professionals work with daily.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Utilizing local phenomena and scenarios for engagement in assessment tasks; 2. Strategies for developing Three-Dimensional Transfer Tasks; and 3. Engaging local STEM professionals meaningfully in formal education.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Pozarski Connolly (Nevada's Northwest Regional Professional Development Program: Reno, NV), Kristine Wilbrecht (Swope Middle School: Reno, NV)

This session introduces a way to create in-person and remote learning experiences that give all students a chance to learn how to use the DCIs, CCS, and SEPs to make sense of the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to make in-person and remote learnings experience more meaningful, relevant, and equitable for students; 2. How to give students an opportunity to use their own ideas along with the DCIs, CCs, and SEPs in the service of sensemaking; and 3. How embedded formative assessment during an investigation can be used to examine student sensemaking.

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

We are awash in assessment data, but often it’s overwhelming to make sense of it. Join us to learn tips and strategies for wrangling data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore new ways to organize data collection and raw data to aid in exploring the data for stories after it is collected; 2. Acquire skills in tying questions, data types, and data visualizations to enhance your ability to make sense of your assessment data; and 3. Identify next steps to better utilize and leverage your assessment data to help you measure students’ learning and know what steps to consider next.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC: No City, No State)

Learn how to apply for NMLSTA’s Classroom Teacher Awards and Hurd Award. This interactive workshop will provide information and an opportunity to begin an application.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NMLSTA Classroom Teachers awards provide up to $200 to support science in your classroom and has a quick and easy application. 2. The Hurd Award is for exemplary science teaching performance including leadership in sharing these ideas and a great way to showcase what you are doing in science education. 3. This workshop will cover eligibility, requirements, and timelines along with how to write a successful application, an opportunity to brainstorm ideas and start an application.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour (Science Teacher: Winchester, 0)

Lead the PBL charge from the science classroom with simple changes to your 5E lesson/unit plans that drive the question, provide instruction, and build interdisciplinary integration.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Changing a 3-D learning claim to a guiding question; 2. Structuring Explore in research and the first phases of the EDP; and 3. Creating an interdisciplinary project in Elaborate that acts as an Evaluation.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Williams McGee (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Let’s explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM, and let's move beyond differentiation and scaffolding. Pick up other proven intervention techniques to help students. Learn how to modify our traditional outreach to connect with students so that they gain greater understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM; 2. Compare differentiation and scaffolding strategies, and learn successful adaptations of each strategy; and 3. Explore effective intervention strategies that are built into the STEMscopes curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Dentler (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Tammy Motley (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Houston, TX), Amber Gunner (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a model lesson from OpenSciEd for Middle School and see how the new Carolina Certified Edition makes these high-quality instructional materials even better! Leave with classroom resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Experience the pedagogy of OpenSciEd through a model lesson; 2. Learn ways to encourage equitable classroom discourse; and 3. Create a Driving Question Board to explore real-world phenomena.

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

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Learn how to introduce new scientific concepts to your students through the lens of climate change. We will discuss experiments that let students study climate change in the classroom using data-collection technology, such as an investigation into the effect of carbon dioxide on ocean and freshwater pH. All activities are available as a free download for attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

CRISPR/Cas gene editing has revolutionized molecular biology. Now your students can use this method to knock out a gene.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how you can perform an authentic CRISPR/Cas gene knockout in your classroom; 2. Use optional PCR and gel electrophoresis to further verify phenotypic results; and 3. Try free CRISPR/Cas resources for your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Bryan (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding of how game-based learning (GBL) can enhance a 5Es lesson; 2. Understanding of unique ways to integrate GBL into instructional practices; and 3. Understanding how GBL allows for easier differentiation and builds an inclusive classroom learning environment.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Gerlach (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge/ Shell Awards

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:
Participants will: 1. learn about the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge competition and the two Shell-sponsored teacher awards; 2. learn how to nominate and apply for the programs that are sponsored by Shell; and 3. be able to collaborate with previous winners and judges on key elements to include in a strong application.

SPEAKERS:
Martha McLeod (Aransas County ISD: Rockport, TX), Ritu Gandhi (Morales Elementary School: Houston, TX), Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH), Melissa Collins (John P. Freeman Optional School: Memphis, TN)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Join us for a fun, minimal-prep lab testing for macromolecules in various unusual samples using the new fluorescence reader from MiniOne Systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about the new Fluorescence Reader from MiniOne Systems; 2. See how you can bring basic macromolecule labs and interesting extensions to students without the tedious prep work; and 3. Explore unusual samples to determine if they contain starch, glucose, protein, lipids, and/or DNA.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney Hagins (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Students investigate the use of reactions with three metals for reducing copper waste and reclaiming copper from a used copper etching solution. Students use data from their investigation and text sources to develop an evidence-based argument for which metal is the best choice for recovering copper from the waste solution.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop an evidence-based argument for which metal is best for removing copper from liquid wastes; 2. Chemicals such as copper and its compounds react in characteristic ways to form new substances with different properties; and 3. Decisions involving resource use should be made with an understanding of the trade-offs involved.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Lilly (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Join us for an engaging session that introduces the interactive digital edition (IDE) of OpenSciEd. Come explore the teacher’s side and experience the student side of the new IDE. The session will begin with an overview of the teacher's edition and its structure: Plan, Teach, Assign, and Assess. While engaged in an OpenSciEd lesson, teachers will learn the different features that students have available to use in their interactive student edition.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This interactive digital product can enhance learning but does not replace student interaction with hands-on activities; 2. Effective use of an online student notebook; and 3. Teacher will receive a 60-day trial of the Interactive Digital edition of OpenSciEd.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore the forces that determine protein shape by actively modeling protein structure! Then explore a particular class of proteins and enzymes by playing with models.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Protein shape is determined by interactions between amino acids that are specifically ordered in the primary structure of proteins; 2. Protein shape is critical for proper functioning of the protein; and 3. Enzymes are a type of protein that interact with their substrates in specific ways.

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

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Join the Savvas team for a hands-on workshop on a three-dimensional classroom experience based on the new Texas Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incorporate science and engineering practices into your lessons; 2. Build dynamic science lessons aligned to the TEKS; and 3. Transform the new TEKS into student-centered performance expectations.

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Kremer (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ), Manuel Romo (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Summit K12

Engaging evidence-based best practices that accelerate learning through an innovative fifth-grade STAAR Review Process that optimizes by class or through Individualized Learning Plans. Come learn how this process ensures growth at  the Masters, Meets, and Approaches levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teachers can meaningfully connect Benchmark Results to a customized STAAR Review Plan; 2. Students will be able to accelerate their learning through a customized learning path and plan; and 3. Students are guaranteed to excel in Science.

SPEAKERS:
Edna Carter (Summit K12 Holdings, Inc.: Austin, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek Inc.

Explore the relationship between genotype and phenotype using your sense of taste and biotechnology! Examine variations in your bitter taste receptor with PCR and electrophoresis.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. explore the link between genotype and phenotype using PCR and a PTC tasting assay; 2. analyze Mendelian traits using data collected in class; and 3. participate in hands-on biotechnology experimentation.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Danielle Snowflack (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Maria Dayton (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Build a working solar oven and your students’ empathy for global issues in this inquiry-based lesson on convection, conduction, and radiation with an authentic audience!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Having an authentic, global audience for a STEM inquiry project can be engaging and inclusive for your students and can promote empathy in your classroom; 2. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) can pair wonderfully with STEM lessons to enhance project-based lessons and make them meaningful to students; and 3. Organizations like iEARN (https://www.iearn.org/) partner with teachers to help provide platforms and opportunities for global learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kate York (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX), Katherine Donaldson (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX)

The NSTA Exhibit Hall is a must-see! NSTA brings you the leading science education companies and organizations to showcase products, services, curricula, and much more. You’ll discover something new and exciting in the world of science teaching.

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Hear about how DoD STEM partners with nonprofits, academia, industry, and government to work in schools and produce college- and career-ready graduates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. about the mission and vision of DoD STEM; 2. how DoD STEM programs connect schools, students, and teachers with STEM professionals and opportunities; and 3. how they can engage with DoD STEM to support and/or enrich local programming.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Leikin (National Math + Science Initiative: Dallas, TX), Rebecca Stanley (DoD STEM/RTI International: Durham, NC), Jennifer Preston (DoD STEM/RTI International: Research Triangle Park, NC), Laura Larkin (Einstein Fellow, DoD STEM: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Join us for lunch and explore DE’s Texas Two-Year Science Package, which is fully aligned to the TEKS and includes ready-to-use activities and intuitive lessons from Mystery Science. Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. dive into DE’s Two-Year Science Package that was designed to bridge the gap and prepare science teachers and students for 2024; 2. understand how DE brings science to life inside the classroom with hands-on activities connected to real-world phenomena; and 3. explore new easy-to-use lessons available through our partnership with Mystery Science.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Lewis (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Raquel Gruver (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

This session will introduce participants to the three dimensions of “3-D thinking”—from the origin of the dimension to how integrating the three dimensions supports all students in learning science. Gain experience using resources that guide decision-making in the selection, revision, and/or development of lessons designed for “3-D thinking."

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify the three dimensions of “3-D thinking”; 2. Increase understanding of the three dimensions, including how the three dimensions increase in complexity from K to 12; and 3. Gain experience in how integrating the three dimensions supports all students in learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Jennifer Meyer (Summitk12)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Are you looking for an engaging and innovative way to get your students to understand not only the meaning of a word, but how it fits into the bigger picture? Put on your thinking cap and join us as we use vocabulary to take students on a learning adventure! Experience ways to zoom in and zoom out of science content using a variety of differentiated strategies and structures. Take these ideas straight back to your classroom for immediate use. Great for intervention!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM; 2. Learn effective ways to dissect vocabulary from science standards for intervention; and 3. Explore effective intervention strategies for including literacy into the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Houston, TX), Tammy Motley (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Amber Gunner (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Lisa Dentler (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. engage in two different STEM challenges; 2. apply chemistry and physics DCIs; and 3. model the engineering design process.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Use Vernier pH and carbon dioxide sensors to learn about the differences between baking soda and baking powder while applying chemistry content skills all while using chemicals used for food preparation. All activities are available as a free download for attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

The new Bandit™ STEM Electrophoresis Kit brings affordable hands-on biotech and integrative STEM investigations to middle and high school classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Assemble and use a simple electrophoresis system; 2. Explore a high-quality curriculum that uses electrophoresis techniques; and 3. Affordable electrophoresis for all levels.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Bryan (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: eCYBERMISSION

A chance to hear from expert teachers about participation and engagement in STEM competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to get all of your students excited about STEM; 2. Hearing directly from teachers experienced in STEM competitions; and 3. Information about how to engage student in authentic STEM projects.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Laura Wilbanks (Southcrest Christian School: Lubbock, TX), Milene De Farias (Southcrest Christian School: Lubbock, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Zahourek Systems, Inc.

Build replicas of human anatomy using clay and a specially designed skeletal model in a classroom setting. Learn how to implement a unique curriculum system that helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy. This workshop will emphasize directional terms, planes, cavities, and landmarks on the skeletal model and then build several skeletal muscles. Emphasis will be placed on building the rotator cuff showing origin and insertion, movement, as well as a discussion of exercises to strengthen these muscles.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn how to implement a unique curriculum system that helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy; 2. acquire the knowledge to engage science students with immediate hands-on learning using a proven method that is nationally recognized to increase student retention and test scores; and 3. have fun!

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Roney (ANATOMY IN CLAY Learning Systems: Loveland, CO)

The Call to Action for Science Education—issued this summer by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics and funded by the Carnegie Corporation—provides an argument for the importance of science education; identifies major challenges for implementing coherent science education K–16; discusses how science relates to the other STEM disciplines; highlights science education programs and instructional practices that have shown to be most effective; and provides clear recommendations on how teachers, communities, and local, state, and federal stakeholders can work together to improve science education and broaden opportunity in the discipline.

At this featured session science education leaders will discuss the report and outline ways you can join this nationwide effort to change the trajectory of science and STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Schweingruber (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Washington, DC), Erika Shugart (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Jim Short (Carnegie Corporation of New York: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Use electrophoresis to determine the genotypes of a family with a history of sickle cell disease, and hear about progress in treating this disease.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about sickle cell disease, from its inheritance and symptoms as well as new progress treating the disease; 2. See how to do electrophoresis on the MiniOne Electrophoresis System; and 3. Explore a new genetics lab that is ideal for students in a biomedical pathway.

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

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

This hands-on workshop challenges participants to make a vehicle to move a toy or other small object using motors, wheels, wires, and other equipment. This activity is one of 10 engineering design challenges in the Electric Motors Catalyst, a STEM curriculum for grades K–5 that comes complete with equipment, lesson plans, assessments, embedded support for ELA, and is NGSS focused. The program is distributed exclusively by Lab-Aids. Lesson samples and literature will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach students to create their own inventions; and 2. Learn STEM through problem-based design challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Brocchini (Tinkering Labs: Ronkonkoma, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Experience a novel approach to Earth science. This new pedagogy uses a “systems” approach for plate tectonics, astronomy, natural resources, geology, and paleoclimatology. There will be several take-home activities and ideas to implement or augment your existing Earth science curricula. This curriculum is put together by AGI (American Geoscience Institute) out of Washington, D.C.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Receive materials they can use in their classrooms; 2. Learn more about the “systems” approach to Earth science; and 3. Receive a poster for your classroom reflecting the systems approach.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Teachers investigate models, text, and data that can engage students in making sense of the structure and function of these molecular marvels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. identify how the structure of enzymes influences their function; 2. explain how substances can alter the performance of enzymes and how that can impact human health; and 3. summarize how understanding enzyme structure and function can lead to medical and scientific advances.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Parfitt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

We will examine how new techniques that have dramatically altered the landscape of human biology work, suggest ways to incorporate them into the curriculum, and explore the promise and peril that awaits the brave new world of human genetic modification.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. be introduced to high-interest case studies/phenomena to engage their students in biology; 2. examine ways to show students that biology is both dynamic and relevant to their lives; and 3. explore the specifics of how these powerful genetic engineering techniques work and discuss ways to incorporate them into the curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek Inc.

Explore the science of food coloring! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll use electrophoresis and chromatography to separate mixtures of molecules based on their physical properties.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. perform hands-on biotechnology experiments; 2. explore the physical properties of molecules using chromatography and electrophoresis; and 3. learn about the history of food science.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Danielle Snowflack (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Maria Dayton (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE

Learn how BIOZONE’S superb interactive texts and BIOZONE toolkit support teachers to deliver flexible and engaging NGSS and AP programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how BIOZONE’s interactive worktexts and BIOZONE toolkit empower teachers to deliver engaging, effective programs within a differentiated classroom; 2. Discover how the BIOZONE toolkit augments the worktext and supports teachers in delivering a flexible and engaging program; and 3. Learn about BIOZONE’S two NGSS series (Standard NGSS Series and Integrated NGSS Series) and our new Advanced Placement titles for AP Biology and AP Environmental Science.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Temons (BIOZONE International Ltd.: Hamilton, New Zealand)

The NSTA Exhibit Hall is a must-see! NSTA brings you the leading science education companies and organizations to showcase products, services, curricula, and much more. You’ll discover something new and exciting in the world of science teaching.

Sponsoring Company: National Science Foundation, Presidential Awards

Join NSF as we share professional development opportunities for teachers within the federal government and hear from Presidential Awardees about their experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Federal professional development opportunities that you may not have been aware of before; 2. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) application process and benefits received; and 3. The paths of accomplished teachers and Presidential Awardees as they continue to grow their career.

SPEAKERS:
James Colby (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

To celebrate 20 years of supporting teachers and engaging students, the Discovery Education team invites you to join us as we dig deep into our platform and unveil seven things that you didn’t know about your FAVORITE science learning platform, and one thing you probably did! Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Help bridge representation gaps by giving students the opportunity to see themselves and their cultures reflected in STEM. We'll share standards-aligned stories from history to incorporate into your lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. gain a better sense of why inclusive representation matters; 2. consider how STEM is a human achievement that has been contributed to by people of all nationalities, orientations, and colors; and 3. learn about historic figures that are not taught in traditional settings to get them started in creating a more inclusive, diverse picture of STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Busch (The University of Alabama at Birmingham: Birimingham, AL)

This session will give participants the opportunity to interactively and collaboratively engage in a sampling of simple activities to promote explicit instruction in the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. It is important to explicitly teach the nature of science to students; 2. The nature of science should be presented in an accessible way to all students; and 3. Attendees will walk away with activities they can use in their class immediately to teach the NOS.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Learn how to read the 62 maps of practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in The NSTA Atlas of the Three Dimensions and use them and other features of this powerful navigational tool to develop and implement curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Construct an explanation for why it is important to consider learning progressions when planning curriculum, instruction, and assessment; 2. Analyze the elements of the three dimensions on a map to interpret the relationships it conveys; and 3. Obtain and evaluate information about the elements of the three dimensions in order to plan and carry out the development of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Come find out how to involve your students in learning how AI and ML can be taught to your students, how it can be used to promote equity in the classroom, and how it can make YOUR teaching job easier! If you can, bring a data set and computer.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. AI and ML can help equitize the science classroom by allowing students to participate in learning; 2. AI and ML can be taught to students in the classroom and is an excellent 21st-century skill for all students; and 3. AI and ML hold the possibility to make the science teacher's job easier.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Amerman (University of Georgia: Athens, GA), Anna Herdliska (Gwinnett County Public Schools: Suwanee, GA)

The James Webb Space Telescope will be the most advanced astronomical space observatory ever launched. Learn how to bring the JWST into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What infrared makes visible—cool stars and warm planets; 2. Galaxies and Star Life Cycles; and 3. Spectroscopy to study celestial bodies.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Sleeper (Storm Grove Middle School: Vero Beach, FL)

Many of our students come to us experiencing trauma so it is imperative we help them become scientifically literate using healing-care strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. see how healing-care strategies assist students in experiencing chronic trauma in the science classroom; 2. gain strategies for helping engage these students in activities focusing on scientific literacy with an emphasis on media literacy; and 3. be given strategies for both formative and summative assessments that align with the NRC Framework and NGSS.

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

Explore the NSTA website with us! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA gift cards will be raffled!

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Become versed about the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website. 2) Learn about NSTA’s virtual learning opportunities for educators of science. 3) Grow your network of like-minded individuals.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Join us as we explore a continuum of engagement strategies to formatively assess your students’ ability to demonstrate mastery of 3-D science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. gain new ideas to formatively assess 3-D learning; 2. participate actively in academic games; and 3. leave our session with accessible tools to use in the classroom next week!

SPEAKERS:
Mary Headrick (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Shundra Morris (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Ann Iott (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Cayce Perry (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL)

Students create their own "pets" using genotypes to express phenotypes. They then "breed" their pets with other pets to produce offspring guided by Punnett squares. Finally, random environmental factors determine which of the offspring survive to breed again.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A sure fire method for students to learn the difference between genotype and phenotype. 2. A genetics project that is adaptable to various grade levels and time constraints. 3. The applications of genetics to evolution and selective advantage.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Boehne (Zion Lutheran School: Dallas, TX)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

If you're using STEMscopes (or wanna-be), this session is for you. Come see examples of the EXCITING and NEW ASPECTS to the most popular digital science curriculum during this showcase. Discover program enhancements, Google integration, streaming, coding, and much more.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Dentler (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Houston, TX), Amber Gunner (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Tammy Motley (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Through frog dissection, we will demonstrate how to integrate the three dimensions of learning while highlighting adaptations and the relationship between structure and function.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to: 1. dissect a frog; 2. implement dissections in 3-D classrooms; and 3. incorporate the crosscutting concept of structure and function into dissection lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Stop counting bubbles. It has never been easier to visulize photosynthesis in the classroom. Use the latest technology to measure photosynthesis and the variables that affect it. Bring your own device with our free Graphical Analysis 4 app and Spectral Analysis 4 app installed or use our devices. All activities are available as a free download for attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Imagine Learning/Twig

Learn how to engage students in scientific literacy using Movie Magic. Gravity and force will be explored through a hands-on modeling of a hoverboard.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The powerful three-dimensional approach of lesson design; 2. Using high engagement, real-world topics to develop scientific literacy; and 3. Resources to investigate magnetic repulsion, then model magnetic fields and their interactions in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Mueller (Imagine Learning | Twig Education: Santa Cruz, CA), Tess Burns (Twig Education: Santa Cruz, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Education First and Cornell Tech

In this fast-paced, interactive workshop, we’ll give you a few tools to help you bring computing into your classroom without any code.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore ways to integrate computational thinking in the science classroom; 2. Discover ways personal data is collected and used on the internet; and 3. Learn about fun tools for bringing AI and computer vision into the curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Levitt (Cornell Tech: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Edulastic

NGSS lessons by students, for students—how cool is that?! Hear the STEAM Team’s story, discover their suite of activities, and get free classroom tools!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about what inspired a group of high school students to create engaging and fun STEAM lessons for middle school students; 2. how to access student-created digital learning lessons to help teach science to their own students; and 3. how to locate NGSS-focused assessments and create their own assessments in Edulastic, and assign them to their students.

SPEAKERS:
Ileana Betancourt (GoGuardian + Pear Deck + Edulastic: El Segundo, CA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

In this hands-on lab, you'll use scientific reasoning and experimental design to determine the source of a real-life foodborne outbreak with gel electrophoresis.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about a real-world Shigella outbreak and how food safety experts determine the source of outbreaks; 2. Become a foodborne illness investigator to solve which food made partygoers sick; and 3. See how fast, engaging electrophoresis labs can excite students about careers in food safety.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney Hagins (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

How can scientists tell what Earth’s climate was like thousands of years before human measurements? This activity simulates the use of fossil ocean foraminifera, tiny organisms whose growth patterns are different in warm or cold water. Your students will analyze and graph samples of replicas of these organisms and use this information to determine relative warm and cold periods in the past 200,000 years.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use a simulated sediment core to count and analyze foraminifera in layers of sediment; 2. Determine relative warm and cold periods in the past 200,000 years; and 3. Earth’s climate has varied considerably in the past.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Koker (Lab-Aids, Inc.: Ronkonkoma, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Develop a sport for the Moon; create a light and sound show to entertain your friends; design and build an improved safety device for a car. Project-based learning motivates students and challenges them to apply their physics knowledge, as well as reflect the three dimensions of the NGSS. Active Physics has been incredibly successful in schools. Join the fun and find out how to make your curriculum even better.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to customize the program for students who want or need more depth, concepts, or explorations; 2. Discover how your students can use their new physics knowledge to creatively solve their Chapter Challenges; and 3. Learn about the encapsulated 7E instructional model.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Examine David Goodsell’s landscapes that illustrate the molecular world in a whole new way. One landscape, Tour of a Human Cell, contains numerous biological concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Cells are complicated and packed full of proteins; 2. A Tour of a Human Cell illustrates Your Flu Shot in Action; and 3. Come for the art and leave with the science.

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

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

What's so phenomenal about phenomena?  Join the Savvas science team for an engaging hands-on workshop as we explore the purpose of phenomena, the power of using it to drive your instruction, and the way it will support your students as they bring their own life experiences into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students succeed when they feel connected to content, but even the best curricula are written for a generic school context; 2. Small lesson adjustments that introduce local, real-world phenomena can make a generic lesson more meaningful for students; and 3. All science teachers and instructional coaches can learn a few simple, practical strategies for adapting their curricula to highlight local phenomena and voices.

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

Sponsoring Company: Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc.

Use Digitalis' Nightshade NG planetarium software to target NGSS and/or TEKS at multiple age levels in various scientific disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. gain ideas about how Nightshade NG planetarium software can be used to target NGSS and/or TEKS at multiple grade levels; 2. experience how Nightshade NG planetarium software can be used to target NGSS and/or TEKS in various disciplines such as astronomy, Earth science, engineering, ecology, biology, physics, and more; and 3. learn how astronomy can be used as an anchor for interdisciplinary units.

SPEAKERS:
Karrie Berglund (Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc.: Bremerton, WA), Beau Hartweg (Tyler Junior College: Tyler, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek Inc.

Creating colorful transformed bacteria is an unforgettable way to teach the central dogma of molecular biology. Learn how to use transformed bacteria to create bio-art!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will learn about bacterial transformation, a genetic engineering technique; 2. Through transformation, attendees will explore the relationship between genotype and phenotype; and 3. Attendees will participate in hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Danielle Snowflack (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Maria Dayton (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Mystery Science, Discovery Education

Early elementary years set the stage for a lifelong love of science. Explore how engaging and easy-to-use instructional materials from Mystery Science provide that foundation! Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will: 1. spend time unpacking some of the opportunities and challenges that elementary-grade teachers have regarding science instruction; 2. see how Mystery Science provides elementary-grade teachers with the tools they need to successfully incorporate science instruction into their schedule on a regular basis; and 3. see how the Mystery Science curriculum has both a low floor and a high ceiling, allowing all teachers and students to find access and challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Phillip Keck (Mystery Science, Inc.: San Francisco, CA)

Interested NMLSTA members and invited guests may attend. Please visit https://www.nmlsta.org for more information.

Sponsoring Company: Shell Oil Company

Let’s first explore the global significance of a patent-free, low-cost “people’s vaccine.” How can this low-cost coronavirus vaccine be used as an effective weapon against COVID by reaching the unvaccinated in poorer countries? How can we address both vaccine equity and the rising antiscience movement that threatens global health security? Next we’ll explore how we can empower teachers to have a more active role in addressing emerging diseases, future pandemics, and similar emergent scenarios while inspiring generations and supporting the well-being of our students and future societies.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Hotez (Baylor College of Medicine: Houston, TX), Faiyaz Bhojani (Shell USA, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Join the #NGSSchat live at #NSTA22 Houston. Meet and speak with Ted Willard, Tricia Shelton, and more as they discuss the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Calling all exercise enthusiasts. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, schedule time to join Solomon for timed functional body weight and calisthenic exercises in a HIIT format. We may include resistance bands of varying difficulties. There will be 10 stations and 2 rounds per station, followed by core conditioning and finally a cool down.

Please note that this is limited to the first 30 people. Interested? Please come to the Conferences Services Desk to sign up before 5:30 PM on Thursday, March 31.

For many students, writing is difficult; moreover, explaining one's thinking is a challenging cognitive task to do. Encourage students to describe and explain observed data using the Claims-Evidence-Reasoning protocol that will help students to truly show what they know.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning process to get a better understanding of the student experience; 2. Understand the integration of writing in the science classroom to describe and explain scientific phenomena and real-world events; and 3. Apply the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning protocol when speaking and writing about natural phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Soll (Education Service Center, Region 20: San Antonio, TX), Allen Wilson (Education Service Center, Region 20: San Antonio, TX)

Compare the language of chemistry to the language of coding! I'll share ideas for integrating coding into the science classroom as a means of teaching chemical reactions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Pattern-seeking students will recognize correlations between computer language and the rules of chemical reactions; 2. Computer science skills can be integrated into chemistry lessons; and 3. Students will be exposed to real-word STEM career connections.

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

Wisconsin has over 400 school forests, yet many students across the state are unable to enjoy the benefits of outdoor science education. LEAF works to improve access.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Forests are wonderful laboratories that stimulate curiosity in ways that indoor classrooms simply cannot; 2. Not all students have equal access to forests and we have much work to do to change that; and 3. Wisconsin’s School Forest and Wheels to Woods programs are working to improve K–12 field trip access to forests.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Schmidt (LEAF: Stevens Point, WI)

Help students explore earthquakes and Earth science in context after major earthquakes using a suite of FREE web-apps, data, animations, and visualizations from IRIS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore: 1. the current seismicity of the planet; 2. resources to help students examine a recent earthquake in Earth science context; and 3. resources to enable students to work with authentic earthquake data.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Bohon (IRIS | Earthscope Consortium: Washington, DC), Michael Hubenthal (IRIS | Earthscope Consortium: Washington, DC)

This session will allow participants to develop an understanding of three-dimensional assessments. Participants will engage in activities to support discussion around how and why three-dimensional assessment tasks (used formatively and/or summatively) and instructional tasks share many similarities. Participants will also gain experience evaluating student learning across the three dimensions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain a stronger understanding of three-dimensional assessments; 2. Discuss similarities between three-dimensional assessment tasks and three-dimensional instructional tasks; and 3. Experience evaluating student learning across the three dimensions.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Bremen, GA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Come see the professional learning model being utilized across Iowa to scale the use of free high-quality instructional materials (OpenSciEd) across the state for middle school publicly released units as well as furthering unit design with supports for the high school field test. These materials support the science learning of emerging multilingual students and incorporate the Universal Design for Learning guidelines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. review the instructional routines highlighted across all OpenSciEd units and other high-quality OER curricula; 2. examine the professional learning model used to support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials across the state of Iowa; and 3. consider how the tools, processes, and instructional model shared could be applied to their local context.

SPEAKERS:
Tammy Askeland-Nagle (Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency: Bettendorf, IA), Jason Martin-Hiner (Keystone Area Education Agency: Elkader, IA), Hope Garton Brown (Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency: Pocahontas, IA), Beverly Berns (Keystone Area Education Agency: Elkader, IA)

After identifying that organic waste is a community concern, an eighth-grade classroom formed community partnerships to reduce organic waste.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Encourage your students to engage in community partnerships to promote student learning; 2. Provide strategies to increase scientific literacy through socioscientific issues; and 3. Facilitate an inclusive culture through student agency.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Joslyn (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: No City, No State)

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Science and Engineering education needs to be prioritized through fifth grade; 2. State policymakers should ensure these subjects are taught comprehensively, frequently, and consistently; and 3. Ways to support learning and engagement with science and engineering.

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

Learn how using NextGen TIME can help you get the best possible science instructional materials into the hands of teachers prepared to use them.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NextGen TIME is a suite of tools and processes that support district leaders in: a. preparing to evaluate instructional materials; b. evaluating instructional materials for their quality and design for next generation science; and c. planning for next steps including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation in classrooms throughout the district; 2. NextGen TIME is a collaborative, evidence based suite of tools and processes for professional learning that helps teachers and others operationalize the characteristics of high-quality instructional materials designed for next generation science; and 3. Using NextGen TIME represents an investment in curriculum-based professional learning to increase the likelihood that all students and teachers have access to the best possible materials for the local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Make student thinking come to life with notebooks! Increase the rigor of student work—learn new strategies for organizing content and how to use templates for any science class. Take home many current NGSS classroom examples to get you started.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The how and why of science notebooks; 2. Engaging ALL students in science; and 3. Templates scaffold student learning for success.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

This Extravaganza is not to be missed! Join elementary groups of professionals for an exceptional opportunity. Gather resources for use in your classroom immediately. Engaging hands-on activities, strategies to excite and encourage your students, a preview of the best trade books available, information about award opportunities, contacts with elementary science organizations, sharing with colleagues, and much more will be available to participants.

Walk away with a head full of ideas and arms filled with materials.

Organizations participating in the Elementary Extravaganza include:

• NSTA Committee on Preschool– Elementary Science Teaching
• Science & Children authors and reviewers
• Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees

NSTA is grateful to Linda Froschauer, 2006–2007 NSTA President, for organizing this event.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Sevin (Isidore Newman School: New Orleans, LA), Brittnie Hecht (Park City Library: Park City, UT), Scott Bartholomew (Brigham Young University: Provo, UT), Katie Morrison (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA), Stephanie Wendt (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: New Orleans, LA), Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY), Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA), Katrina Kmak (Park City Library: Park City, UT), Carla Neely (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program: No City, No State), Stephanie Long (Turnbow Elementary School: Springdale, AR), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA), Alissa Lange (East Tennessee State University: Johnson City, TN), Christine Moskalik (NSTA: No City, No State), Tiffany Pace (Cross Lanes Elementary School: Charleston, WV), Perihan Fidan (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Julia Crane (Springdale Public Schools: Springdale, AR), Cathy Barthelemy (STEMexperts: Keller, TX), Katie Stevenson (South Redford School District: Redford, MI), Michael Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO), Marlee Tierce (Retired Educator: Vonore, TN), Gretchen Brinza (Louisville Middle School: Louisville, CO), Amy McGreal (James Ward Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Wendi Laurence (Education Specialist: Park City, UT), Lisa Felske Deslaurier (EduSmart, Inc.: Austin, TX), Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Beaverton, OR), Julie Travaglini (Allegheny Land Trust: Sewickley, PA), Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: No City, No State), Megan McCall (Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies: No City, No State), Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn (National Science Teaching Association)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Childress Self (NextGenScience: San Francisco, CA)

Participants will explore how to use phenomena to elicit student questions that can drive a 3-D unit of instruction. In such a unit, students see how the disciplinary core ideas they construct using practices and crosscutting concepts address questions and problems they care about. We will explore how to anchor units in phenomena and how to introduce additional phenomena to help students investigate and make progress on their questions. Examples will range across grade bands (elementary, middle, high school) and disciplinary core ideas (physical science, life science, and Earth and space science).

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explaining phenomena and/or designing solutions is the goal of all 3-D instruction; 2. Identifying differences between productive anchoring and investigative phenomena is key to designing coherent instruction; and 3. An anchoring phenomenon routine can help students explore the phenomena, attempt to explain it, and connect to their related experiences in ways that will help raise student questions that can drive an entire unit of instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Reiser (Learning Sciences, SESP, Northwestern University), Nicole Vick (Northwestern University), Dan Voss (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL)

Discover low-cost, easy-to-construct, physically active lessons that help students understand solids, liquid, and gases at the particle level and the forces between particles.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to model the attractive forces between particles in a gas, liquid, and solid to help explain the difference in properties of the different states of matter; 2. Learn how to construct these activities using the materials and spaces they already have; and 3. Receive ideas and opportunities to modify the depth to make the activity more appropriate for the student population.

SPEAKERS:
Clark Ellis (The Kinkaid School)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

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:
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:
Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Houston, TX), Amber Gunner (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Lisa Dentler (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Tammy Motley (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we boost student success in literacy and fit science into packed schedules? Join us to explore the efficiencies of instruction that incorporates both!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Capitalizing on the overlaps, or convergences between the standards, can support reaching both CCSS-ELA and NGSS goals ; 2. Infusing literacy across the instructional day, rather than in siloed subject blocks, can support students in developing essential conceptual background knowledge in science and critical literacy skills; and 3. Having literacy-rich science instructional materials is part of a systematic solution to bring robust science instruction back into the K–5 instructional day.

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