Design a robotic insect to meet the requirements of a given environment and adapt the designs to changes in or new information about the environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NASA engineers use biomimicry to design robots for other planets; 2. NASA STEM educator guides provide detailed information to implement STEM in the classroom; and 3. Practice designing a Robotic Insect.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Kohler (NASA Glenn Research Center: Cleveland, OH)

Bring the excitement of literacy and STEM to children as you discover how to incorporate STEM Imagination Guides in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. discover this new resource and the potential for community partnerships by utilizing the STEM Imagination Guides; 2. walk away with book suggestions, guided questions, and expanded learning resources to support literacy development, enhance relationships, and make connections with local libraries; and 3. discuss the importance of incorporating nature and STEM into their early childhood classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Roberts (University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln, NE), Jackie Steffen (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Cedar County: Hartington, NE)

Learn about the creative way one school district is getting more diverse students involved in STEM and explore classroom facilitation strategies that engage all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies to eliminate barriers and allow all students to feel included; 2. Identify discussion supports to foster effective collaboration and communication; and 3. Explore the benefits of engaging with community partners to provide new STEM opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Lorri Coates (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA), Sarah Slater (Marquardt School District 15: Glendale Heights, IL)

Join us to explore the use of fiction to help make complex topics like evolution, heredity, and natural selection more fun, understandable, and meaningful for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to: 1. conduct example activities using a fictional story that can help integrate science and ELA topics; 2. engage students in science and literature by scaffolding their learning with inquiry-based and hands-on activities related to a fictional story; and 3. apply these examples and strategies to other science content using other fictional titles.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Moskalik (NSTA: No City, No State), Nicole Ross (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: Aurora, IL)

Learn how successful users integrate NSTA resources together to promote STEM and literacy through the use of high-quality STEM-related picture books.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Hear success stories and learn strategies for integrating STEM and literacy in K–5 with NSTA resources such as Picture-Perfect, Uncovering Student Ideas, NSTA Kids books, and more;l 2. Explore suggested picture books that integrate STEM and literacy; and 3. Walk away with a STEM lesson you can use right away.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lewis (Blue Springs School District: Blue Springs, MO), Ryan Bohannan (Cordill-Mason Elementary School: Blue Springs, MO), Aubrey Tsevis (Lucy Franklin Elementary School: Blue Springs, MO)

STEM experiences are not limited to the school day. Get ready to roll up your sleeves to work on planning a STEM event for your organization!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn effective practices for STEM family outreach events and begin to plan their own STEM family outreach event; 2. engage as learners and participate in activities from successful STEM events; and 3. engage in small group discussion to brainstorm potential planning ideas for their own STEM events using the tips provided in the session for successful, family-friendly STEM events.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Meadows (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Leslie Suters (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

This hands-on workshop will engage participants in outdoor STEM activities and experiments they can utilize in an early childhood classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn about the research outcomes surrounding outdoor learning for early childhood students, and the importance of nature and greenspace to mental and physical health; 2. engage with and complete at least three outdoor STEM activities such as sound maps, making scientific observations and drawings, journaling, etc.; and 3. take home at least six new ideas for outdoor STEM activities as well as accompanying resources.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Travaglini (Allegheny Land Trust: Sewickley, PA)

We use data to do science; data literacy is its own set of skills. Young learners benefit when we integrate data, literacy, and science together.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify how data literacy is a critical aspect of literacy and science literacy in the 21st century; 2. Explore strategies and resources to use to authentically integrate data into K–5 science instruction; and 3. Develop a plan for next steps to elevate data as an aspect of meaningful connections between literacy and science.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

Light reflects, refracts, and can be used for communications, but do we really understand some of the weird things it does? Come “see the light”!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Light can bend as it travels through objects; 2. Light has properties of particles, like grains of sand; and 3. Light has properties of waves.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: No City, No State), Cathy Barthelemy (STEMexperts: Keller, TX)

Learn from successful users how NSTA Kids books can be integrated into your classroom to spark student notebooking and mentor text writing activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how literacy and science can be connected through writing activities with NSTA Kids books Notable Notebooks, Exemplary Evidence, and The Next Time You See series; 2. The NSTA Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms resource address the essential component of 3-D student-centered classrooms. While there are a variety of notebook models in use, a flexible, hybrid approach is best to meet the needs of elementary students; and 3. In this session, you will receive free classroom-ready resources (videos and graphic organizers) to guide your students through a Mentor Text Study.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Kirk (William Yates Elementary 2022 Partner School: Blue Springs, MO), Christine Lewis (Blue Springs School District: Blue Springs, MO), Ryan Bohannan (Cordill-Mason Elementary School: Blue Springs, MO), Aubrey Tsevis (Lucy Franklin Elementary School: Blue Springs, MO)