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)

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)

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)

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)

Tired of disconnected, one-day field trips? Join this interactive presentation on collaborating with community experts to embed outdoor science learning within an interdisciplinary PBL.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with specific strategies for: 1. building strong relationships with community science partners; 2. linking outdoor learning experiences to standards-based science and interdisciplinary learning through Project-Based Learning; and 3. helping students explore real-world environmental issues and become advocates for change.

SPEAKERS:
Victoria Martinez (Artemisia Bowden Academy: San Antonio, TX), Jared Holmes (Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve: Johnson City, TX), Ellen Barnett (Trinity University: San Antonio, TX), Melissa Rodriguez (Mirabeau B. Lamar Elementary School: San Antonio, TX), Lyric Johnson (Trinity University: San Antonio, TX)

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)

Learn about a seven-week Saturday program that engages fifth- and sixth-grade Latinx girls and their parents in garden-based activities to develop language and science identities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn about the evolution and goals of Family Problem-Based Learning to promote interactions and language, and to develop science content knowledge and abilities; 2. appreciate how translanguaging can be an asset in science education; and 3. learn about activities that can be used in classrooms and out-of-school programs.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Marie Rillero (Urban Farming Education: Phoenix, AZ), Adrian De Alba (Maricopa County Schools: Phoenix, AZ), Peter Rillero (Arizona State University West Campus: Glendale, AZ), Susie Oliver (Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ), Ashley Coughlin (Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ)

This interactive session showcases embedded assessment strategies created for an elementary unit on Earth's geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, adaptable for other NGSS-based instructional units.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn a variety of effective assessment strategies that can be used before, during, and after instruction to determine student understanding and learning needs; 2. learn how to seamlessly integrate interactive formative assessments during instruction; and 3. apply what they have learned, by identifying and sharing one new assessment strategy to integrate into their own instructional practice.

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Schiller (Grand Valley State University, Robert C. Pew Campus: Grand Rapids, MI), Heather Miller (Austin Community College, Elgin Campus: Elgin, TX)

If we treat content areas as silos, we’ll never find time for Science! Discover how to create authentic, cross-curricular projects that increase engagement and critical thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Determine characteristics of authentic learning experiences; 2. Explore two projects, lesson by lesson, making connections to your science content; and 3. Discover a process for creating your own project-based learning units.

SPEAKERS:
Terra Tarango (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

Elementary teachers—let's read some awesome books and pair those books with opportunities to go outside to DO something. Targeted for preK–5, this session offers opportunities to connect environmental issues and aims to empower young learners to make pro-environmental choices every day. Session takeaways include an annotated list of trade books and sample classroom and at-home activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will use selected award-winning books as a foundation to build and deliver hands-on activities incorporating the crosscutting concept of cause and effect while practicing the science and engineering practice of asking questions and defining problems; 2. Presenter will lead activities focusing NGSS science and engineering practices extracted from texts with hands-on activities to promote students' growth in scientific processes and environmental stewardship; and 3. Participants will leave the session with a list of resources, books, and activity samples ready to be personalized for use in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Parks (Stetson University: Deland, FL)

This session will share a sample elementary unit that demonstrates the integration of science and social studies, along with ELA and math standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. experience sections of a sample integrated unit written with third-grade standards for science, social studies, math, and ELA; 2. recognize the importance and value of the appropriate integration of the various content areas; and 3. have an exemplar unit to use as a model for creating integrated units for their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Mandie Sanderman (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Cedar Falls, IA), Chelsie Byram (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Cedar Falls, IA)

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)