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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Curricula can support all students in reaching today’s standards, including NGSS. Attend to learn about critical curriculum features and how to improve/advocate for quality materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding the importance of high-quality materials for supporting students and teachers; 2. Understanding the features and the opportunity for feedback and input; and 3. Ability to utilize the features for improving development and selection of curriculum materials.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Childress Self (NextGenScience: San Francisco, CA), Sam Shaw (EdReports.org)

Start building or join Jeff Wheatcraft, 2019 Texas Teacher of the Year, in design challenges that push students to be engaged and included!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is a design challenge and how are ones you develop different from those developed by major science organizations?; 2. How you can make STEM, specifically design challenges, engaging and inclusive while still covering standards; and 3. How to start and finish a design challenge that maximizes engagement!

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Wheatcraft (Alamo Heights Junior School: San Antonio, TX)

Learn how to join NASA’s first online community of practice for STEM educators (CONNECTS) and gain access to NASA content, resources, educator community, exclusive events, and NASA experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. receive a foam rocket activity they can implement in their classrooms using simple materials; 2. learn about the vast resources offered by NASA’s new online community of practice for STEM educators, CONNECTS; and 3. learn how they can join CONNECTS.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Hasselbring (NASA Headquarters: Washington, DC)

Reading proficiency is tied to academic success. Teaching various reading and testing strategies can help students overcome their challenges with comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use reading strategies to help all students develop ways to navigate grade level challenging text. How creating a classroom culture can cultivate an environment conducive for welcoming and increasing literacy in the classroom. How to use testing strategies in science to help students navigate and become accustomed to scenario style questions.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie White (Duval County Public Schools: Jacksonville, FL)

Gorilla conservation in Uganda is an exciting topic that teachers can use to engage students in life science concepts and real-world, interdisciplinary problem-solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The rich biology of the boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda) can be used to electrify concepts in a middle school life science curriculum; 2. Using real-world case studies of current global challenges demonstrates to students that science can be used to both understand and solve relevant societal problems; and 3. Highlighting and representing the leadership of African scientists in the classroom helps inspire students of African descent…in the USA, Africa, and beyond.

SPEAKERS:
Emily De Moor (Science Educator/Curriculum Writer: Boston, MA)

Explore NSTA’s new Professional Learning Units. Discover these bite-sized asynchronous professional learning experiences that support student sensemaking to earn credit to submit to your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how NSTA can provide asynchronous and bite-sized continuing education credit options (2 hours per PLU); 2. Explore how each PLU contains reflections or tasks connected to the classroom that are submitted to NSTA for review or feedback; and 3. Explore how we can support professional learning for individuals or schools/districts, including the flexible options available for Professional Learning Unit topics, and how these fit into our Professional Learning pathways.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Discover accessible three-dimensional–aligned instruction and instructional strategies that are beneficial for diverse student groups, including English learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover the successes and challenges in a three-dimensional science classroom; 2. Instructional strategies to integrate the disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts that are beneficial for all students; and 3. Strategies that can immediately be implemented into a three-dimensional learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Salak (Bryan Middle School: Omaha, NE)

Do you impact your school and community with STEM? If you teach K–12, come learn how to apply to win up to $15K through this teacher competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to apply for the Shell-sponsored teacher competition; 2. Begin your application or nomination of a Shell-sponsored program and receive a prize; and 3. Collaborate with past winners and judges to learn how to strengthen your application.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH)

Science current events journals bring real science into the classroom. Use the news to teach science content, media literacy, and analytical thinking, and to reinforce language arts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to integrate media literacy in the science classroom; 2. Tools for differentiated instruction in science literacy; and 3. Integration of NGSS in a science literacy project.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman (The Ramaz School: New York, NY)

Experience a virtual escape game and learn how free online tools can be used to create your own virtual escape games at this bring-your-own-device session.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. experience a digital escape game from a student perspective; 2. learn how to use Google Forms to create digital locks; and 3. learn how to use Google Slides to create a virtual room.

SPEAKERS:
Dodie Resendez (Region 4 Education Service Center: Houston, TX)

Undergraduate citizen science research from Peru’s Sucasari Region is brought to Iowa. Examples and connections for reference and future connections will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Cultures have more similarities than differences; 2. Understanding phenomena is trans-continental; and 3. Science involves questioning and researching.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bechtel (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA), Chloe Zierke (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA), Michaela Dehli (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA)

Participate in engaging activities designed to clarify and teach scientific modeling while encouraging elementary/middle school students to think and learn. Receive free resources!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Define scientific models and describe ways scientists use models in their work; 2. Distinguish scientific models from other types of models used in science instruction; and 3. Connect scientific modeling to the NGSS and use modeling to promote three-dimensional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler St. Clair (Longwood University: Farmville, VA), Randy Bell (Oregon State University: Corvallis, OR)

Toshiba America Foundation wants to work together with teachers who are looking for a better way of doing the right thing.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Toshiba America Foundation objectives; 2. How to request a Toshiba America Foundation grant; and 3. Learn from fellow Toshiba America Foundation grant teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), John Anderson (Toshiba America Foundation: Irvine, CA)

This session features current science practitioners who share some common challenges faced by urban science educators as well as successful solutions from their school districts. The challenges and solutions discussed are applicable to all school settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Receive resources and strategies to promote successful science education; 2. Discuss fresh progressively thinking approaches of current science practitioners who are in the classroom and at the district level; and 3. Engage with presenters on culturally responsive tips that support and strengthen urban science education.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Hayes (Highland Oaks Elementary School: Memphis, TN), LeeAnne Jimenez (Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy: Tulsa, OK), Michelle Ellis (Hunter Huss High School: Gastonia, NC), Brad Rhew (Guilford County Schools: No City, No State), Florentia Spires (Prince George's County Public Schools: Upper Marlboro, MD)

This session presents the data behind climate-driven sea level rise and its impacts. We'll share classroom-ready, interactive, data-driven, NGSS- focused activities, and share how you can get up to $5,000 for your school to mitigate climate change and its impacts.

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

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

Incorporate coral reefs into your existing curriculum—biology, chemistry, climate studies, art, and more—using lesson plans, demos, activities, and multimedia from NOAA.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What corals are and why they are important; 2. What some major threats to coral reef ecosystems are; and 3. How to fit corals into the curriculum using NOAA resources.

SPEAKERS:
Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD), Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Kelly Drinnen (Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Galveston, TX)