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)

Explore simple cause-and-effect relationships with forces and motion through hands-on investigations with a toy dog named Newton and a toy car.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how the right picture books can set the stage for STEM learning; 2. Receive a STEM lesson plan that you can use in your classroom; and 3. Explore how the three dimensions (DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs) can be integrated to create meaningful learning experiences in the K–5 classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH), Suzy Jungmann (Lufkin High School: Lufkin, TX), Rebecca Walker (Tays Junior High School: Katy, TX), Amy Rush (Lufkin Middle School: Lufkin, 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: 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: 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: 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)

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)

Become a Tinkering Teacher by participating in a hands-on STEM lesson derived from a classic fairytale. Learn how to detect STEM opportunities within your favorite pieces of children's literature to create rigorous novel engineering lessons of your very own.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. participate in a model STEM lesson derived from a problem found within children's literature. This model experience enables attendees to learn how to see science in every piece of material they choose to use in their classroom. Science is indeed everywhere and awaiting us to make the connections; 2. learn how to utilize and develop lessons using the 5E instructional model; 3. take away methods for preparing 5E lessons from their favorite children's literature; 4. utilize tips shared in the training session to identify science phenomena or concepts embedded in the literature; 5. recognize the significance of inquiry and facilitating collaborative discussion to further depth of knowledge; and 6. recognize the added benefit of journaling: differentiating instruction and strengthening 21st-century writing and communication skills.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Oden (Southern Arkansas University: Magnolia, AR), Angela Stanford (Southern Arkansas University: Magnolia, AR)

Language learning occurs in content-rich and discourse-rich classrooms. Learn how to use interactive word walls to support listening, speaking, reading, and writing about academic language.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. organize science concepts and academic vocabulary to scaffold listening, speaking, reading, and writing about science; 2. identify vocabulary that has multiple meanings and may present comprehension challenges for multilingual learners; and 3. bridge academic language acquisition theory to classroom practice.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Participants will explore forces with common objects in a carefully designed sequence using conversation to uncover conceptual understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. sequence instruction to explore forces; 2. use conversations to make thinking visible and drive instruction; and 3. make diverse classrooms equitable and inclusive.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Buckley (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

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: 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)

Daily Do sensemaking lessons are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven lessons motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. Learn strategies for implementing Daily Do lessons  in both face-to-face and virtual settings. If you are a K–5 teacher, we have Daily Do sensemaking lessons for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore how phenomenon-driven lessons motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas; 2. Understand the critical attributes of sensemaking; and 3. Discuss strategies for implementing Daily Do lessons in face-to-face and virtual settings.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

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: 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: 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: 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: 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)

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: 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)

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: 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)

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)

Want to engage students in inquiry lessons, but don’t know where to start? Join us for hands-on experiences to take back to your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participate in a three-phase inquiry; 2. Obtain resources and materials for designing an inquiry; and 3. See how to link phenomena, inquiry, and the three dimensions of NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bay (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Kim Lewis (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

In this session, participants will learn about the S.W.I.R.L. strategy and how effective implementation in a three-dimensional science classroom can enhance literacy outcomes for English Language Learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1. support language development in the science classroom; 2. incorporate research-based practices for ELL students in the science classroom; and 3. utilize productive language strategies in inquiry-based learning.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Armstrong (DeKalb County School District: Stone Mountain, GA), Kassidy Moore (DeKalb County School District: Stone Mountain, GA)

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: 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)

Hear about various NSTA competitions and how they can bring STEM and the NGSS into the classroom, as well as give students and teachers a chance to earn recognition and prizes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn: 1. about NSTA competitions; 2. how NSTA competitions help integrate STEM and NGSS in the classroom; and 3. how students and teachers can win recognition and prizes.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA)

Teaching science through art makes learning more meaningful! Learn how our elementary specials team collaborates with classroom teachers to support science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to use the arts to make science standards more meaningful to students who may otherwise not be engaged; 2. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a simple green screen project to see how to put pedagogy first when teaching science through art; and 3. Teachers will leave with templates to help facilitate their collaborative efforts between elementary science teachers and specials/support staff.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Wuest (A. D. Henderson University School: Boca Raton, FL), Jennifer O'Sullivan (A. D. Henderson University School: Boca Raton, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Measure the acceleration of gravity with whichever sensor you have, or no sensor. We’ll discuss using a Picket Fence and a Photogate, tossing a ball over a Motion Detector, and using Vernier Video Analysis. Data collected in class can be shared to remote students. Share your favorite g labs with other teachers.

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:
Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Tom Smith (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

This session will introduce simple, practical strategies that teachers and instructional coaches can use to enhance students’ connection to science content. We’ll walk through ways to make small lesson adjustments to highlight local phenomena and local voices across all phases of a 5E lesson.

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:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Get ready for the NGSS with ways to sequence instruction that promote long-lasting understanding for your students by using a simple yet powerful approach: Explore-Before-Explain.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Why sequence matters—a concise review of cognitive science and science education research explains why the order in which you structure your lessons is so critical; 2. What you need to do—an overview of important planning considerations covers becoming an “explore-before-explain” teacher and designing POE (Predict, Observe, Explain) and 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) instructional models; and 3. How you do it—ready-to-teach lessons that use an explore-before-explain sequence to provide experience that meet the Next Generation Science Standards and make interdisciplinary connections to the Common Core State Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO)

Presenters will describe an approach to creating culturally relevant curricula for preschoolers in science, technology, and engineering (STE) that places family engagement and home-to-school connections at the center of STE curriculum development and implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to: 1. foster home-to-school connections that value families’ cultures and funds of knowledge; 2. use children’s everyday knowledge from their families, homes, and communities to design culturally relevant science, technology, and engineering learning experiences for preschoolers; and 3. create powerful STE experiences that connect, deepen, and extend preschoolers’ STE learning.

SPEAKERS:
Betty Zan (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA), Daryl Greenfield (University of Miami: Miami, FL)

Participants will engage with a lesson sequence for elementary-aged students designed to support science practices and connections between precipitation and river flow using real-world data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Young learners (e.g., the fourth graders we engaged in the Streams of Data project) have and can develop thinking skills that can enable them to think critically with and about real-world, professionally collected data in order to understand connections between phenomena such as river flow and precipitation; 2. There are appropriate instructional scaffolds that can be applied to the use of datasets that are available online from sources (e.g., USGS, NOAA, and others) to provide students with a foundation for making meaning of events and phenomena in local and/or regional contexts; and 3. Varied instructional resources—including real-world data (i.e., that are professionally collected or gathered by students), hands-on models, and media-focused elements (e.g., still images, videos)—can be combined with students’ own experiences to generate meaningful understanding of real-world events and phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Ed Robeck (American Geosciences Institute: Alexandria, VA), Amy Busey (EDC Center for Children and Technology: New York, NY), Lindsay Mossa (American Geosciences Institute: Alexandria, MD)

Come experience how one California district is leveraging an opportunity to bring equitable STEM experiences to all preK–12 students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How one district approaches integrated STEM; 2. What an integrated STEM unit feels like; and 3. How one district supports and builds accountability for equitable STEM instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds (Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC): Boston, MA), Dean Reese (Tracy Unified School District: Tracy, CA)

This session provides educators with strategies and resources to use scientific investigation to motivate students to read to obtain information, academic discourse, and write explanations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science educators will: 1. take away strategies for how to use scientific investigation to motivate students to read, engage in discourse, and write; 2. learn how to use over 340 investigations as effective reading strategies to engage students in active science learning; and 3. have access to a set of strategies to effectively teach students how to use the ideas and concepts of science presented in the Framework and 3-D science standards.

SPEAKERS:
Brett Moulding (Partnership for Effective Science Teaching and Learning: Ogden, UT), Juan-Carlos Aguilar (Georgia Dept. of Education: Brookhaven, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

This workshop presents an engaging way to explore the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration. Consider how you can avoid student misconceptions and create student-centered experiences. Join us as we demonstrate collecting and analyzing kinematics data using Go Direct Sensor Carts and Graphical Analysis software. You will receive access to experiment files and sample data to use with your students.

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:
Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Tom Smith (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: PhD Science

Dive into a second-grade module to explore the six steps of the Engineering Design Process and test a solution to a real-world problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. PhD Science provides students with the opportunity for hands-on experiences that require the practical application of scientific processes; 2. “Misconceptions about the processes of science tend to occur when the processes become ends in themselves, divorced from core concepts of science.” – Rick Allen in Priorities in Practice: The Essentials of Science, Grades K–6; and 3. Core texts, an important component of PhD Science modules, allow teachers to present relatable content and inspire student learning through compelling stories while reinforcing their developing literacy skills.

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

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Explore the use of a Driving Question Board (DQB) as a tool to make the phenomena meaningful and connected to science content. Using an example activity from Ecology, we will model the DQB at the start of the unit, then jump to an activity to make connections to the phenomena and content. Pro-tips and full exemplary DQB walkthrough with our experienced classroom trainers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop a DQB to help drive phenomena throughout a unit of study; 2. Develop a model of an ecosystem; and 3. Determine how an introduced species affects the flow of energy and cycling of matter throughout an ecosystem.

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

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Learn how the structure of your inquiry activities can produce roadblocks for emergent bilinguals, and how shifts based on student strengths increase engagement and success.

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

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

Sponsoring Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In this session we’ll explore the importance of integrating engaging and relevant hands-on learning opportunities into your science instruction to ensure the best student outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The importance of integrating an ample amount of hands-on learning opportunities into instruction to successfully engage students in doing and learning science; 2. How to promote active learning by encouraging students to collaborate, think critically, and explore science, all within the context of a coherent phenomenon storyline; and 3. How hands-on learning opportunities support standards, make science accessible to all learners, promote deeper understanding, and prepare students for college and career readiness.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Heithaus (Florida International University: North Miami, FL)

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 distributed.

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: Savvas Learning Company

Come see practical ways to help students make sense of phenomena. Three different examples will be used to demonstrate some general principles of guiding students' sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in phenomena from different content areas that can be used at different grade levels; 2. Learn strategies to scaffold students' thinking; and 3. Develop strategies to help students generate questions.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Investigate fostering scientific understanding and practice skills in our youngest learners. Take away topics of inquiry and tools for planning experiments and documenting student thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with strategies to: 1. plan investigations to integrate science into their early childhood curriculum; 2. build scientific practice skills in our youngest learners; and 3. reveal and document student understanding through lab notebooks.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Morrison (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA), Deb Chickadel (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA)

Participants will dive into makerspace as a means to create an inclusive classroom with student choice for many outcomes, including sensemaking and assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore key elements of makerspace activities; 2. View makerspace challenges as a means to provide student choice and voice in how they make sense of a phenomena, a solution to a problem, and core ideas; and 3. Explore ways to use makerspace activities where student choose a means to demonstrate their understanding of a core ideas as a means of assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Detwiler (Gary Adult High School: Tampa, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Learn what representations and data your students can use to bridge phenomena and mathematics, and how to use data tasks to assess 3-D kinematics understanding, as opposed to rote algebra skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Using authentic data from real open-access journal articles to model motion; 2. Students using multiple representations to shift back and forth from pictures, graphs, and math; and 3. Assessing students' understanding through their performance using real data.

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

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Journey to the abyss with NOAA Ocean Exploration as we investigate deep-sea phenomena using the student sensemaking instructional model and hands-on demonstrations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Covering 70% of Earth, the ocean is rich with complex natural phenomena that can be used in the classroom to engage students in science learning as well as foster curiosity and interest about the ocean, ocean exploration, and stewardship; 2. Instructional strategies that support student sensemaking also support student equity and inclusion in the classroom by ensuring that every student has a voice; and 3. NOAA Ocean Exploration provides numerous educational resources that support current education standards and modern classroom pedagogy.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Hoadley (NOAA Office of Education: Dauphin Island, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Seven Sides Publishing

Seven Sides Publishing will show how our investigation manuals provide an easy and efficient way to put science in the hands of students through Simple Investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. We have enough ideas for investigations to cover 100% of the science standards; 2. Investigations are so simple, students and teachers will want to use them; and 3. Simple Investigations will put science in the hands of students, efficiently increasing learning and test scores.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Garside (Seven Sides Publishing: , United States)

Sponsoring Company: XR Guru

Join us for this hands-on presentation to experience Virtual Reality science content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understand and experience virtual reality science content; 2. learn the research on integrating virtual reality in the classroom; and 3. learn how to create your own virtual reality content to share with students.

SPEAKERS:
Doug Smith (XR Guru: Dublin, OH)

This session will describe Arts-STEM Afterschool Programming in two low-performing schools in primary grades based on the theme of Thinking and Inventing like Leonardo da Vinci.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. To engage participants in the connection between nature, art (design), math, and science and the core disciplines for three-dimensional thinking; 2. To promote three-dimensional thinking by promoting science and engineering practices and crosscutting processes (particularly, form and function); and 3. To promote inclusivity by showing how a variety of children and families from diverse races, ethnicities, and countries in high-need areas worked together to promote a high level of learning in the design thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Jo Pollman (Professor Emerita, Metropolitan State U of Denver: Denver, CO)

This engaging, evidence-based session answers the question, “How can we get families involved in their child’s education?” Science & Literacy bags provide unique experiences for families.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants learn about the science & literacy bags that encourage all students to describe, explain, and predict natural phenomena integrated with strategic science literacy skills; 2. Using the science & literacy bags, participants experience the science investigations integrated with science literacy skills along with management tips for successful implementation; and 3. Participants walk away with science & literacy bag ideas that promote powerful family, school, and community connections.

SPEAKERS:
Sandy Handrick (Educational Consultant: Leander, TX)

Learn effective strategies for engaging multilingual learners and culturally diverse students in collaborative phenomenon-based sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Examine the principles for equitable engagement co-developed by NSTA and WIDA, and discuss how these relate to national reform efforts, but more importantly, how they are applied in science classrooms for multilingual students; 2. Examine suggested classroom norms that support collaboration and equitable engagement among linguistically diverse students and their peers—participants will engage in group discussion about equitable science teaching practices describing the data practices they currently use and which practices they would like to expand upon within their science teaching; 3. Learn new ideas about language and some new approaches to support multilingual students’ deep engagement in sensemaking; and 4. Map WIDA’s Teacher Discourse Moves and Student Discourse Moves onto the sensemaking process to support the exploration and transformation of science understanding.

SPEAKERS:
David Crowther (University of Nevada, Reno: Reno, NV)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Use the Vernier Video Analysis app for ChromeOS, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android to investigate the motion of a physical pendulum colliding with a cart. Access to Vernier Video Analysis and the experiment from our lab manual will be shared with you. Bring your own device or use one of ours!

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:
Tom Smith (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

As many of us transition back to our new normal, this session will focus on the developmental (not academic) gaps that the past few years of learning are likely to have caused and provide multiple strategies to address those inequities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Appreciate the developmental deficiencies remote learning is likely to have caused; 2. Build specific strategies and lessons meant to address those deficiencies; and 3. Build strategies to lead with phenomena-based instruction to encourage risk-taking and collaboration.

SPEAKERS:
Ramy Mahmoud (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA Office of Education

Join us for a demo and discussion about the NEW searchable database of 1,200+ educational resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NOAA has 1,200+ resources for educators, including lessons, videos, activities, posters, and more; 2. You can now search by grade, resource type, subject, and topic to find what you’re looking for; and 3. We have NGSS resources too! Search by DCI.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Jones (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Washington, DC), Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Learn how to use the Uncovering Student Ideas probes in an explore-before-explain instructional sequence to support a classroom where all students' ideas matter!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about a resource for formative assessment and explore-before-explain teaching; 2. Explore key points from research on learning that support critical planning considerations for lessons based on how students learn science best; and 3. Gain new strategies for building a classroom culture where everyone's ideas matter.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO), Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State)

Learn how to create a vermicomposting container in your classroom that will encourage participation, learning, and environmental awareness.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Expand the awareness of the environmental husbandry of our Earth and its resources; 2. Vermicomposting takes care of the majority of food waste while also eliminating greenhouse gases; and 3. Vermicomposting can turn into an Earth-friendly, income-producing project that allows the entire classroom to participate.

SPEAKERS:
Paula Daniel (UF/IFAS Extension Okeechobee County: Okeechobee, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Learn how model rocketry is the perfect vehicle to teach data literacy, featuring the PocketLab!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model rocketry provides a relevant, hands-on, and engaging vehicle to teach data literacy in the classroom; 2. Participants will learn how to launch a rocket, collect flight information, and analyze data; and 3. Estes Education provides interdisciplinary STEM resources and tools to educators that give them the skills and confidence necessary to elevate learning.

SPEAKERS:
David Bakker (PocketLab: San Jose, CA), Nicole Sjoblom (Estes Industries: Penrose, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

This session addresses the need for teaching science as inquiry and gives teachers the opportunity to experience investigations that span the inquiry spectrum of learning for multilingual learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain an understanding of energy transformation through the inquiry process; 2. Learn strategies to assist multilingual learners in scientific investigations; and 3. Explore how to facilitate teaching science as inquiry through questioning techniques.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Domjan (University of Houston: Houston, TX)

Educators will enhance their student science inquiry and literacy skills using melting blocks, questioning strategies, claims, evidence, and reasoning in a lively demonstration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. enhance their inquiry questioning strategy; 2. have a deeper understanding of how energy flows; and 3. receive organizers to help them teach students about energy.

SPEAKERS:
Teresa LeSage-Clements (University of Houston-Victoria: Victoria, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Summit K12

Engaging evidence-based best practices that accelerate learning through an innovative eighth-grade STAAR Review Process that optimizes by class or through Individualized Learning Plans. See 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: BrainPOP Science

Walk through how the new BrainPOP Science helps middle school teachers facilitate inquiry-based science and encourages students to do, discuss, and analyze science.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, attendees will better understand: 1. the reasoning for incorporating evidence gathering as an embedded part of their inquiry-based investigations; 2. the need to create age-appropriate entry points for simulations and data manipulatives; and 3. how to shift middle school level science from an environment of listening to one of doing.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Powers (BrainPOP: New York, NY), Kristen Rillieux (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

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)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Join Mike Jones, Illinois science educator and BrainPOP-certified educator, as he explores the importance of differentiated learning in the middle school science classroom with the new BrainPOP Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will: 1. explore resources to help teachers effectively implement shifting science standards and pedagogy to support the wide needs of middle school learners; 2. analyze and discuss opportunities for formative assessment and actionable feedback; and 3. reflect on digital opportunities to engage middle school science learners with real-world data manipulatives, simulations, and 3D Worlds.

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

Makerspace is an engaging teaching pedagogy where students participate in sensemaking to solve real-world problems through innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Makerspaces are versatile and encourage student engagement; 2. Makerspaces teach students crucial 21st-century life skills; and 3. Hands-on exploratory learning leads to increased retention and understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Graf (Student: Shippensburg, PA)

Engage students in the three dimensions of the NGSS by using phenomena. We will help you reimagine the “how” and “why” of everyday occurrences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn how to tap into students' natural curiosity using the NGSS; 2. use phenomena to engage in inquiry-led discussions; and 3. learn how to find and use the NGSS phenomena for standard-aligned lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Wendt (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Perihan Fidan (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)