With your phone camera and filters we provide, you'll make images at different wavelengths and combine them in JS9, just as astronomers do. Then, with NASA files, you'll create astrophotos expressing your interests and aesthetics. This activity works at many levels, from STEM fun to serious science.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to process multi-wavelength image sets to create color images from NASA and your own devices. This leads to a deeper understanding of how the spectacular JWST images were made, and prepares the participant with a classroom activity that is fun, rich and economical.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Kaiser (Stamford High School: Stamford, CT), Vincent Urbanowski (Academy of Information Technology & Engineering: Stamford, CT)

Creating primary and intermediate STEM-focused classrooms can be challenging. This session will highlight strategies and examples to incorporate STEM and science activities into their classrooms. Resources that use trade books to teach Science/STEM concepts will be modeled and discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in example activities that make connections between quality children’s literature that support STEM topics, STEM investigations, and reading strategies.

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

In this interactive workshop, you will use the NGSS K-2 Engineering Design Standards to integrate STEM into the storybook Mrs. Brown Went to Town and see how you can get your students excited about reading and science through engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
Want to get your students excited about a story? Then have them be a part of the story and use their knowledge of materials and engineering to help Mrs. Brown! In this interactive session you will get to design and test your engineering project based on the storybook Mrs. Brown Went to Town.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Hill (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD), Anna Ball (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD)

The workshop would begin with a short description of Hailey and Marie who want to be doctors, but live in light poverty and cannot study after the sun sets. They need clean sources of lights. Our students are searching for meaning in their learning. School must be meant for something more than grades on a test. They need to solve real problems that matter. Once the stage is set, attendees will spend the majority of time practicing how to solder and assemble 3D printed lights that will be sent to partner students living in Haiti. The instructions, list of materials and digital files circuit board files are freely available to that attendees can repeat and expand these efforts with their students from Grade 5 to grade 12. The purpose of learning if to build capacity to do good in the world. Students all over NSTA might find meaning in their learning and contribute to UNSDG’s #4 of Quality Education & #7 of Clean Energy while simultaneously learning electrical engineering and activism.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to solder through hole resistors and LEDs onto circuit boards for a solar powered light that will be sent to students in Haiti living in light poverty. Attendees will be able to teach their students that they can make a difference in the world with engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Ian Fogarty (Riverview High School: Riverview, NB)

Participants will explore an engineering design challenge that engages upper elementary students in the creation of tiny homes as a solution to homelessness after a local natural disaster. Explore Design Thinking principles and how empathy plays a role in authentic and inclusive STEM inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in NGSS-based engineering design challenge where you design a solution for homelessness caused by natural disasters and learn the role of empathy in STEM inquiries by using Design Thinking principles and place-based strategies that engage all learners in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: New Orleans, LA)

Protecting Whales is one of two new freely available units in the Smithsonian Science for Computational Thinking series. Learn about integrating computational thinking into your elementary STEM classroom using both hands-on and high-tech resources by using this specific third grade unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to integrate computational thinking into the upper elementary STEM classroom using a problem-driven approach. Learn how to access everything needed to implement the 3rd grade Protecting Whales unit.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Rogers (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC), Sarah Glassman (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC)

Department of Energy national labs provide opportunities for researchers to be involved in developing authentic STEM learning experiences for students. Join this hands-on session to see how Berkeley Lab energy technologies research is reflected in projects on sustainability and alternative energy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about NGSS-aligned curriculum resources that reflect authentic STEM research at Berkeley Lab, and directly experience hands-on sustainability/alternative energy projects.

SPEAKERS:
Faith Dukes (Director, K-12 STEM Education Programs: Berkeley, CA), Alisa Bettale (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Berkeley, CA)

As Earth’s climate warms, the heat and humidity are rising, with major consequences for ecosystems. NASA scientists are tracking heat stress that can warn us of harmful conditions. Explore interactive inquiry-based lessons and participate in a heat island experiment.

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA provides free earth science resources and engaging interactive climate change lessons.

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

Join the Wade Institute and their partners to explore STEM Challenges developed for MA STEM Week. Participate in inquiry-based investigations using the engineering design process. Receive the curriculum packets. Challenges include: Extreme Zoo Makeover, Survivor Island and Storm City USA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience using the Engineering Design Process and inquiry investigations to develop engineering challenges for their students and receive curriculum packets for 3 Challenges developed for Massachusetts' STEM week.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Stronach (Lloyd Center for the Environment: Dartmouth, MA), Kathryn Atkins (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

Participants will engage in real-world engineering challenges. Lessons are designed to apply scientific knowledge through problem solving solutions using everyday materials. Lessons embed the NGSS Practices and Cross Cutting Concepts to help foster a deeper understanding of engineering and content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineering Design is not extra, it can be part of everyday, standards-based lessons that expose students to real world problems.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Wiehagen (Hillsborough County Public Schools: Tampa, FL)

Physical computing allows students to design and create interactive objects that emphasize computational thinking skills. Participants will engage in activities designed for middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Microcontrollers are small computers that come with several integrated sensors. Their functionality makes them useful for both investigations and engineering projects. We will focus in how engineering tasks using microcontrollers provide opportunities for student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS), Susan German (Hallsville Middle School: Hallsville, MO)