"PV=NRT" is nearly 200 years old! However, the ideal gas law has remained a relevant tool that's helped us progress from Sterling Engines to Solar Panel Cars. How? Engineering. Come be a student in an engineering project based physics/ physical science class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will have hands-on opportunity to experience engineered based lesson (mini unit). Teachers will come away with an example scope and sequence, example projects with directions, materials guidelines, and rubrics.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Clarke (Park Day School: Oakland, CA)

CDC staff will provide a tour of CDC’s publicly available STEM resources for teachers. The session will feature the newly released CDC NERD Academy curriculum, which uses real-world COVID-19 data and scenarios to teach foundational science, math, and critical thinking skills. These lesson plans, activities, and videos are designed to include everything a STEM teacher needs, even without previous knowledge of public health. CDC staff will illustrate how Module 2: How does disease spread? can be used to teach students about the science behind prevention strategies. Attendees will also meet a diverse group of fictional characters and real CDC staff to help introduce some public health STEM careers. By session’s end, attendees will have practiced how to use one of CDC’s ready-to-go STEM resources, gained insight on how to create lessons using real CDC data and scenarios from journal articles, and gathered ideas on how to get students interested in public health careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use public health examples to illustrate key STEM concepts and skills and to introduce students to STEM careers in public health.

SPEAKERS:
Juliana Azeredo (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

Designed by award-winning science educator, author, and Michigan Teacher of the Year Gary Abud, Jr. in partnership with PBS, this session will focus on instructional strategies, high impact core teaching practices, and amazing learning resources about the Great Lakes from Detroit Public Television's award-winning show Great Lakes Now. In this session, you'll learn how to help your students explore the Great Lakes like never before and engage in productive discussions, engineering challenges, and intriguing investigations that they'll never forget. From fatbergs to watersheds to invasive species, biodiversity, climate change, and much more, you'll see how the Great Lakes makes for a GREAT way to teach myriad science concepts and engage students in the science and engineering practices of the NGSS no matter where they are learning, because the blended learning activities can go with you anywhere!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to explore the Great Lakes with your students while incorporating multimedia, cognitive science, and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
SANDRA SVOBODA (Program Director, Great Lakes Now: , MI), Gary Abud Jr (Nourish the Future - Education Projects, LLC: Columbus, OH)

Review data analysis/collecting techniques to help students young and old to learn the relationships between types of data and analysis of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about "orders of variables" and how understanding these can help their students to better engage in making and interpreting graphs.

SPEAKERS:
G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

Whales are complex creatures whose adaptations and behavior can serve as engaging phenomena for lessons. The Wade Institute and New Bedford Whaling Museum invite you to explore interdisciplinary approaches to teaching with whales and participate in inquiry investigations you can do with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whale adaptations, behavior, and relationship with humans can serve as investigative phenomena that you can use to teach inquiry-based lessons in science and across a variety of interdisciplinary subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Allison Pagliaro (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

Executive function deficits are common in students and impact achievement. Come learn what executive functioning is and strategies to make your classroom executive function friendly.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of what executive functioning is and how problems with executive functioning can impact student engagement in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will walk away with ready to implement strategies and ideas to reach all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thomas (F. A. Day Middle School: No City, No State)

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused—no matter what life throws at you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Azra Chughtai (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Engage in active exploration of primary source materials that support sensemaking in middle level science and STEM. Leave with a plan for incorporating primary sources into your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Primary sources can be used to: (1) present phenomena, (2) engage students in science and engineering practices, (3) identify crosscutting concepts, (4) reinforce disciplinary core ideas, and (4) address equity through leveled resources and shared experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Biernat (Zanilu Educational Services, LLC: No City, No State), Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Loris Chen (Science Education Consultant: Fair Lawn, NJ)

Technology has opened the pathway of art creation, making it accessible for all learners, no matter their artistic skill level. Utilizing Pixel Art, educators across the spectrum can leverage the inclusion of customized and unique artistic creations to engage the creativity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain hands-on exposure creating a personal avatar with multiple modes used to construct authentic designs through Pixel Art including using various types of websites and applications but also strategies for unplugging Pixel Art with physical mediums.

SPEAKERS:
Claudeen Denning (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN), Claire Williams McGee (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN)

This is session #2 in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. Attendees will explore the Framework progression documents to understand what is appropriate for their grade level. They will learn about and engage in hands-on activities paired with talk strategies and protocols that focus classroom talk on making sense of observations and data using the Crosscutting Concepts. Attendees will have the chance to talk with fellow participants about how they might use these strategies and tools in their classroom or role and how they can be differentiated to be used at different grade levels. Participants will leave with a virtual toolbox of resources they can take home and apply right away in their sphere.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with discussion strategies and tools they can implement right away in classrooms to support student discourse and sensemaking anchored in the Crosscutting Concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: No City, No State), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA)

Did you know that you can launch units in your science class by engaging students in the analysis of historical primary sources? Join us for this hands-on workshop, where we’ll investigate free, digitized resources to see how they can reveal phenomena linked to the content you teach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage students at the start of a unit by exploring phenomena embedded in historical primary source documents. The strategies discussed will develop the critical thinking and sensemaking strategies of students.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC), Jacqueline Katz (Science Teacher)

In this unique curriculum, called BioScann, students become science experts, interpreting data to address a real-world challenge from their expert perspective. Students share their expertise in teams where communication and collaboration are essential to finding a final class solution to the problem. By showcasing a broad array of careers that require a range of training and education, we expose students to science careers that are in high demand; a major point being that STEM is for everyone! BioScann modules are web-based and free. The workshop will showcase a 3-day module designed for grades 7-9, but additional modules that focus on plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance are under development. And are expected to be released in 2023. Evaluations of the original BioScann module indicate that students show dramatic and sustained increases in life sciences interest and career awareness and demonstrate an increased ability to read graphs and interpret complex data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in web-based curriculum that introduces students to a wide range of science careers. You will first experience the curriculum from the student perspective but will also be coached to deliver this free curriculum in your classroom. This curriculum is compatible with google classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maggie Keeler (Senior Curriculum Specialist), Michelle Mischke (VP of Biotechnology Education Programs: CAmbridge, MA)

This session will integrate programming/coding as a tool for use in a science classroom. Participants will use various tools, such as Scratch, to implement programming in their already designed science classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how to integrate computer science into their science classroom; 2. experience resources they can use in their classrooms; and 3. develop a lesson using computer science in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tammie Schrader (NorthEast Washington ESD 101: Spokane, WA)

Soils are vital to sustaining life. What makes this natural resource so special? Join us for an active session that digs into numerous soil science concepts and vetted teaching resources connected to the geosciences, biology, chemistry, and physics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Soils are the foundation upon which life exists on Earth. The life that teems below ground supports the life above ground. Understanding the ecosystem services provided by soils requires cross-disciplinary thinking and reveals how vital soils are to our existence.

SPEAKERS:
Missy Holzer (Chatham High School: Chatham, LA)

Participants will learn about block coding, physical computing, and how small microcontrollers can be used with middle school students to conduct inquiry investigations using a computational thinking approach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the basics of block coding (using either Scratch or the web-based emulator for a widely available microcontroller) & the principals of physical computing/computational thinking as applied to science classrooms to help students conduct better inquiry investigations.

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

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Get ready for the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. See how learning activities about the Earth, Moon and Sun provide three-dimensional learning experiences that connect to these events that will be more spectacular than the 2017 eclipse.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have a better understanding of what is meant by three-dimensional learning, see how 3D learning can lead to knowing what causes lunar phases and eclipses, and be prepared to enjoy the solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Beaverton, OR)

Explore how to use the air sensors to demonstrate the dangers of vaping to students. Participants will see how to measure air quality around the mist expelled out of vapers in a closed system testing system, made from simple materials, in which non-nicotine vape juice is expelled.

TAKEAWAYS:
Air quality, measured in several areas such as particulate matter and AQI, can be used to show that the ingredients in vaping reduce air quality for not only the vaper, but people around them. Students will also learn how to read and analyze graphical data.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Behrle (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

This session will focus on using the CER Framework, Scientific Argumentation and virtual simulations to support literacy in science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build their capacity to increase students' literacy skills using virtual simulations to support science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Ramon Reeves (North Atlanta High School: Atlanta, GA), Karin Mason (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA)

Design a multi day STEM project that incorporates wind energy. Participants would learn how to do a unit that incorporates a virtual lab as well as physically building wind turbine blades to generate energy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a multi-day (3+week) ready to use engineering design process unit on wind energy.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Webster (Teacher: Michigantown, IN), Allison Clegg (7th Grade Science Teacher)

Learn how to better integrate local phenomena into classroom learning through the use of long-term projects and the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies to use student-chosen local phenomena as the basis for long-term projects and participation in a national STEM competition, eCYBERMISSION.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: No City, No State), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program)

Participants will investigate relationships between variables such as barometric pressure and precipitation, using data from a wide range of geographical stations in the United States. Selected stations represent sites with contrasting latitudes, altitudes, proximity to water bodies, and other elements, in order to best study the effect of these variables on weather and climate. The session will analyze data to look for patterns of change over time and to investigate regional patterns and region-specific effects of climate change. Data from Los Angeles & San Diego weather stations will also be included. The graphing tool is a freely accessible webpage that works on laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets. An internet connection at the session would additionally allow for participants to see a live demonstration as well as explore their own investigation questions. http://uanyc.science/pwc

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session attendees will learn to analyze and interpret weather and climate data using a custom designed graphing tool that simplifies visualizing and analyzing data on time scales of hours, days and weeks (weather) to decades and centuries (climate).

SPEAKERS:
Rachelle Travis (P.S. 288 The Shirley Tanyhill: Brooklyn, NY)

Play a new free online science game - Wake: Tales from the Aqualab. Take on ocean-based ecosystem missions, and engage in experimentation, modeling, and argumentation around middle school life sciences content. Use a submarine to explore a kelp forest! Travel to the arctic to find a missing whale!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn ways to implement Wake in your classroom - including associated curriculum and supplemental materials. The full game can cover 10+ classes, with over 35 jobs of increasing complexity, and a fun story. Learn about our research on game-based supports for student learning of science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Scianna (University of Wisconsin Madison)

This session takes attendees on a journey using their premade avatar or sprite from Pixel Art and integrating it into their own nostalgic video game using Microsoft Make Code!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave knowing how to insert graphics created in Pixel Art into an online game creator. It can be implemented as an alternative to a standard formative or summative assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Williams McGee (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN), Claudeen Denning (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN)

Join this session to explore effective and practical student discourse strategies that promote inclusive and productive classroom discourse. In this session, you will have the opportunity to engage in a few strategies as a learner to better equip you with implementing these with your students!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of shifts in classroom talk patterns, like moving away from the I-R-E talk pattern and towards Productive Talk. Attendees will engage with practical and effective discourse strategies that promote inclusive and productive classroom discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

This session will take teachers behind the scenes of 3D Science to learn firsthand how phenomena draws every student into the scientific learning process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience as students how a phenomenon serves as a bridge connecting cultural differences, science strands, and sense making strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Taylor (Marietta Middle School: Marietta, GA), Keisha Kirkpatrick (Marietta High School: Marietta, GA)

Participate in an activity created by expert teachers that will help you better understand how to get your students involved in STEM competitions, including the eCYBERMISSION competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to juggle student participation in STEM competitions with the rest of their teaching load and integrate the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition into their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: No City, No State), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program)

The session uses embodied performances to support students’ science engagement. This interdisciplinary approach creates opportunities for multimodal literacies (e.g., body movement, oral/written texts, sound/music) that students can use to construct & communicate science knowledge & identities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use theatre practices (i.e., adaptation, embodiment, affirming ideas, & representing transformation) to support their students’ learning of science ideas, concepts, practices, & development of science identities in elementary/middle school classrooms via science theatre.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Rosario (Teacher: Chicago, IL), Stephanie Spezza (Graduate student), Jaegen Ellison (Teaching Artist/Educator), Miguel Melchor (DeWitt Clinton Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Rebecca Kotler (Postdoctoral Research Associate)

Building student capacity in 3-D design is an opportunity to prepare our students for the future. 3-D design is not just for engineers but used by STEAM professionals. Bring your laptop and learn how Tinkercad can be used with your students while you create African masks.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop participants will learn how to ​3-D ​design and print using Tinkercad and learn how​ to use Tinkercad as a virtual manipulative in classes. We will create A​frican Masks, looking at possible math and technology standards as we learn 3D design.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Yoo (STEAM Specialist)

Harness the power of technology with student designed solutions for a changing climate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use technology to expose students to coding and engineering design solutions for severe weather.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Voorhees, NJ)

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, drawings and more! These free online resources elevate the stories behind scientific endeavor, highlighting scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access millions of free digitized primary sources and practice hands-on strategies for using them to promote critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of real-world scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

SPEAKERS:
Jacqueline Katz (Science Teacher), Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC)

NGSS SEP 8 requires students to read like scientists. Develop questions and learn strategies to support student understanding of how to read like scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Part of scientific literacy is being able to access science news articles. Learn strategies to use in the classroom to support your students to read like scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Janel McPhillips (Calvert County Public Schools: Prince Frederick, MD)

Through hands on activities using real-world data, take students on a time-travelling adventure to discover the history of Earth – from natural hazards, including earthquakes and volcanoes, to the discovery of plate tectonics and feedbacks in the Earth’s systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
By looking into the past and present, we can begin to predict our future. The International Ocean Discovery Program creates educational resources that enable students to use real data collected by scientists investigating global concerns and explore parts of our world usually hidden to them.

SPEAKERS:
Sharon Cooper (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: Palisades, NY), Ed Robeck (American Geosciences Institute: Alexandria, VA), Lindsay Mossa (American Geosciences Institute: Alexandria, MD), Lauren Brase (American Geosciences Institute: , IL), Maya Pincus (Columbia University / U.S. Science Support Program: Palisades, NY), Sequoyah McGee (American Geosciences Institute: Alexandria, VA), Carol Cotterill (U.S. Science Support Program: Palisades, NY)

Students bring amazing intellectual resources to make sense of natural phenomena. Come learn how to notice and leverage them in your teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Culturally responsive education supports student sensemaking and learning in science. Inclusive science strategies help teachers learn to see students’ sense-making resources. These methods help us create and adapt curriculum that is equitable and justice centered.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison (Educator and Learning Scientist: Seattle, WA), Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Why do many students struggle with data? We will explore strategies for finding high quality datasets and discuss different approaches of building data skills by integrating real-time data into our teaching. Data as our instructional hook can result in changes for all of our students' data skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Review ways to leverage real-world data -- including personalized or daily data -- to enhance all students’ ability to access and make sense of data as parts of our instructional practices and/or adjust the curriculum you have.

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

Compare surface temperature data collected by students between urban & rural areas studying the phenomenon of urban heat islands. Get involved in the summer in a Google classroom and receive equipment.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of collecting surface temperature data to study “heat islands” within communities and ways to interpret the ground-truthing & satellite data.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Mierzwiak (The University of Toledo: Toledo, OH), Kevin Czajkowski (The University of Toledo: Toledo, OH), Jessica Taylor (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA), Janet Struble (The University of Toledo: Toledo, OH)

This session will provide a definition and overview of Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogy (CRSP), discuss why CRSP is vital for educational and personal liberation, and explore middle level science CRSP lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide a definition and overview of Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogy (CRSP), discuss why CRSP is vital for educational and personal liberation, and explore middle level science CRSP lesson plans.

SPEAKERS:
Kiana Eaddy (6th Grade Science Teacher: Columbia, SC)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee to explore effective strategies and resources that focus on helping students make sense of data using the Crosscutting Concepts. In this session, you will have the opportunity to engage with the strategies and consider how to implement them with

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with sensemaking strategies for engaging students in the Science and Engineering Practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, through the lens of the Crosscutting Concept of Patterns, that can immediately be implemented with students!

SPEAKERS:
Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

The study of trace fossils is an exciting way to explore the past. Join the Wade Institute for Science Education and Amherst College’s Beneski Museum in an inquiry-based session to guide your students through the application of the SEPs in creating and interpreting their own dinosaur stories.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session participants will gain experience with using the phenomenon of dinosaur tracks and trace fossils as a powerful tool for student engagement, and leave the session with guidelines for creating track stories, and using those track stories to expand their student’s use of the SEPs.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Pagliaro (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Alfred Venne (Museum Educator: Amherst, MA), Kathryn Atkins (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

We will dive into hands-on, STEM-based activities and technology resources such as ArcGIS and web apps, that educators can use right away to help students understand the sustainability and climate justice issues most relevant to their school and local community. We will present best practices for executing a successful eco-audit and using design thinking methodologies to foster critical thinking and problem solving. These methodologies will help students tap into community funds of knowledge by engaging local stakeholders in their process. These K-12 activities help students cultivate sustainability and climate science literacy while exploring the uneven and inequitable impacts of climate change on the communities that have the fewest resources to respond. Teachers will explore how to foster student action through the creation of data-driven policy or use student-driven Eco-Audit resources to implement a climate solution at their school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore how ArcGIS StoryMaps and other EcoRise resources related to climate data, mapping and climate justice can shape students’ understanding of the causes and impact of climate change within their community and foster student action.

SPEAKERS:
Brynn Johnson (Program Manager), Zakhia Grant (EcoRise: No City, No State)

Join the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series to try out a hands-on lesson on ocean garbage patches and the Coriolis Effect. You'll also learn strategies that will help you build literacy while teaching any science topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to the literacy learning cycle format, in which hands-on work precedes meaningful reading and writing activities. You will see how this system works by participating in a lesson and come away with practical strategies for your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (Author/ Staff Development: Atlanta, GA)

Learn about Educating for Environmental Change, a free Indiana University program that helps educators teach the science and policy of climate change and participate in an exemplar ice core activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science teachers have stated that standards like the NGSS are a principal reason for teaching climate change in their classroom. This workshop will engage participating teachers in hands-on, exemplar climate change activities that align with the NGSS and emphasize science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN)

Engage in a mini design sprint to develop curriculum aligned exit tickets for use in your classroom. Together, we will use an equity framework and Universal Design to design exit tickets that support equitable sensemaking and 3D science learning. You will walk away with a set of exit tickets to asse

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a set of exit ticket prompts to support 3D science learning in their classrooms. These prompts can be used to gain insight into their students’ experiences to support their 3D sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL)

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)

In what ways can we use computational thinking to solve real world problem related to issues faced due to climate change? During this session you will have the opportunity to learn about applicable ways to integrate physical computing in science classrooms to prepare students for future STEM careers

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience and learn about the different ways to integrate physical computing and engineering design in science classrooms in engaging way.

SPEAKERS:
Dani Ward (K-5 Computer Science / Science Curriculum Developer: Bellevue, WA), Yusra Obaid (Bellevue School District: Bellevue, WA)

Come explore teaching strategies and supports for engaging in climate justice centered phenomena and issues. Youth are seeking this type of socio-ecological learning opportunities!

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate Ed Tools contain strategies to engage in climate justice instruction, to support climate change learning and communication among educator peers, and to get ideas for how to do this type of instruction in your own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Deb Morrison (Educator and Learning Scientist: Seattle, WA)

Engage in a variety of activities, collect information and resources, and network with high school-level leaders. Discover new ideas and materials that you can use next week.

TAKEAWAYS:
The participants will network with other high school-level science educators and leaders to discover and engage in activities that will expand their knowledge and be usable in all aspects of their work.

Engage in a variety of activities, collect information and resources, and network with middle-level leaders. Discover new ideas and materials that you can use next week.

TAKEAWAYS:
The participants will network with other middle-level science educators and leaders to discover and engage in activities that will expand their knowledge and be usable in all aspects of their work.

In this session, participants will work on hands-on activities and test a prototype to learn about genetics using the engineering design model and translanguaging for middle grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach about genetics for middle grade level using an engineering activity and translanguaging (English/Spanish).

SPEAKERS:
Maggie Lewis (Student: Dawsonville, GA), Lorraine Ramirez Villarin (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Victoria Hunter (Student), Max Vazquez Dominguez (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems make learning experiences in science classrooms more relevant and equitable for students. Come learn what makes phenomena meaningful and problems authentic and then leave with some high-quality instructional materials that you can use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems are more than a hook or an example – they drive learning and provide a context for sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Participants will explore scientific tools and digital interactive slides to provide meaningful data collection opportunities from a variety of ecosystems not always available to all students. They will also learn how to design their own interactive slides suitable for all grade levels and content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use tools such as a photometer, infrared thermometer, and watt meter to collect data, and enhance this experience with digital interactive slides providing additional data.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Karin Jakubowski (eesmarts: No City, No State), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)

NASA’s Artemis program will return humans to the moon. Practice computational thinking while including elements of a real NASA mission. Use the engineering design process to design, build, and test a foam rocket to understand the relationship between a rocket’s process to ability and its trajectory

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA STEM educational resources incorporate classroom strategies for implementing Engineering Design Challenges. Gain an understanding of how to integrate computational thinking into a standards aligned lesson.

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

Climate change has exacerbated the urban heat island issue. Understanding the issue at different spatial scales helps us clarify the problem and identify solutions. Participants unpack the science of urban heat islands at local and regional scales, and identify solutions to reduce the impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Urban heat islands are studied at local and regional scales using simple instruments, and remote sensing data to view the impact over time and space. Understanding the causes and effects of urban heat islands at different scales will ensure effective solutions are implemented to reduce the impacts.

SPEAKERS:
Desiray Wilson (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.: Hampton, VA), Missy Holzer (Chatham High School: Chatham, LA)

Explore how excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes water more acidic through hands-on activities from the free 5E lesson plans in middleschoolchemistry.com.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers practice using grade-appropriate explanations of the interactions of atoms and molecules to help students better understand the causes of the phenomena they observe and its connection to the problem of ocean acidification.

SPEAKERS:
James Kessler (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC)

How do our youngest students learn best? BY DOING! Come and experience some of our favorite lessons that are part of our fully integrated STEM units. From low-cost and low tech to high tech, experience how we teach STEM in our PK-3rd grade classrooms and leave with lessons you can teach next week!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience several of our favorite early childhood STEM lessons and leave with access to multiple fully integrated and standards aligned STEM units.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Trout (Academy Specialist: Athens, AL), Jennifer Kennedy (SPARK Academy at Cowart: Athens, AL)

Participants will learn strategies for implementing Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences in their classrooms. Strategies include how to build relationships with community partners, finding local spaces to use to conduct investigations, and how to engage students in field-based investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have a “front row seat” and get hands-on experience with the resources needed to implement a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. Participants will walk away with specific strategies for building partnerships and gaining resources to support their instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Alexis Tharpe (ODU Research Foundation TCEP: Norfolk, VA 23508, VA), Venicia Ferrell (Research Assistant Professor: Norfolk, VA)

Join the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series to try out a specific, hands-on lesson, for kicking off a unit on wave motion. You'll also learn strategies that will help you build literacy while teaching any science topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to the literacy learning cycle format, in which hands-on work precedes meaningful reading and writing activities. And they will see how this system works by participating in a lesson on wave motion.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (Author/ Staff Development: Atlanta, GA)

This workshop is designed to encourage teachers to jumpstart a love for learning science by using multiple project-based learning ideas, hands-on activities, and STEM challenges. Ignite your students' creativity! Challenge your students' problem-solving abilities! Let them get their hands dirty!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience first hand a couple of hands-on activities and be given a guide filled with multiple project ideas and instructions on how to implement them in their class. They will learn how to engage their students and alter their perception and love for learning science!

SPEAKERS:
Kandis Howard (Science Teacher: Mansfield, AR)

This session introduces participants to NASA resources including a closer look at STEMonstrations which are STEM demonstrations filmed in the microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station and taught by astronauts. Each of these videos includes a corresponding Classroom Connection lesson plan which is ready for educators to immediately implement in their classrooms. This session focuses on the Engineering Design Process STEMonstration where participants will watch the Engineering Design Process STEMonstration video and participate in the corresponding Classroom Connection activity. Other engineering design activities will be introduced and discussed as extensions to this introductory lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will become familiar with STEMonstrations and be able to integrate these videos and corresponding Classroom Connections into their classrooms. Participants will leave this session with hands-on, ready-to-go STEM lesson plans including student activities and worksheets.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Hooks (Education Project Manager), Lynn Dotson (NASA Office of STEM Engagement-GoH: Kennedy Space Center, FL)

Will I ever use this outside of the classroom? When students engage in integrated real-world math activities, they make deeper connections, gain a stronger understanding of academic concepts, and see the concepts as a whole. Teachers in grade bands will collaborate on an integrated garden activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be provided with lesson plans, student work, and anecdotes to initiate discussions about what this activity could look like in their classrooms. At the end of the session, participants will see how integrated math learning projects, like the one described here, connect students.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Miles (Graduate Student: Logan, UT), Michelle Parslow (Student)

Participants will explore resources and methods for incorporating age-appropriate literature into computer science lessons independent of technology access. They will gain strategies for selecting content, facilitating discussions, and drawing connections that excite student learning. They will compare print and digital books, collaborate in a CS-ELA activity, and consider classroom applications. Outline: -Discover SAE’s computer science curriculum and literature, including teaching strategies and free STEM resources (15 minutes) -Examine the gamified comic book, STEM Sagas: Virtually Rerouted and learn about hybrid, multidisciplinary applications (10 minutes) -Participate in two peer-to-peer discussions & activities from the Virtually Rerouted curriculum, bringing narrative and science concepts together (30 minutes) -Regroup to share takeaways and ideas

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover tools and strategies for fostering 21st century & computational skills by integrating literacy with interactive lessons suitable for any classroom environment. Participants also receive a free SAE book and chances to win a classroom STEM kit!

SPEAKERS:
Bonnie Thibodeau (SAE International: Warrendale, PA)

Two upcoming eclipses cross the US: annular October 14 2023 and total April 8 2024. This workshop teaches the why, how and where of eclipses, demonstrates safe solar viewing techniques & citizen science projects. Weather permitting, we will view the Sun. Each teacher receives 25 eclipse glasses free

TAKEAWAYS:
The solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024 will cover much of the nation. Safe observing techniques are critical. Only during the relatively brief totality can you observe the amazing and ghostly corona, and only then can you look at the Sun without eye protection

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Reiff (Rice University: Houston, TX)

This session will introduce how to implement a year-long Capstone Project within your curriculum. This will create engagement and allow students to explore and design solutions to real-world problems. Participants will walk through how to engage students before and during a Capstone project.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to engage students in experiences that will provide them with a year long Capstone experience to facilitate change on a personal or local scale using the 17 Global Goals designated by the United Nations.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Perrimon (Marietta Middle School: Marietta, GA), Rajyam Potluri (Teacher: Marietta, GA), Marshai Waiters (Marietta Middle School: Marietta, GA), Brandon Nicholson (Marietta Middle School: Marietta, GA)

Explore a free unit featuring progressive cell models supported by multimedia tools. A realistic and dynamic exploration of cells, cell systems, and disruption by pathogens.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to integrate realistic multimedia and paper-based modeling exercises to depict the dynamic inner-workings of cells and tissues.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Taylor (Lakeview Academy: Saratoga Springs, UT)

Come have a BALL and put your own SPIN on how the game of Skee-ball is built and played so you and your students can save Skee-ball, too! This session provides an engaging, hands-on activity that explores physics and engineering through a “cardboard arcade” activity coupled with a fun storyline.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will identify relevant physics concepts related to building and playing a cardboard Skee-ball game through this FUN engineering project that is easily-adaptable for students across grade levels and settings.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Moskalik (NSTA: No City, No State)

Do have the forensic skills needed to solve the mystery? Join Dr. Yemothy for a mini-CSI hands-on workshop exploring basic forensics skills needed to solve the murder. Leave with a packet of classroom activities and murder mystery for your students to solve.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with the experience of practicing forensic skills that can be done in a classroom setting. Educators will be provided with a packet of forensic activities and a murder mystery to take back to their classroom for use with students.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Yemothy (K-8 STEM Educator & Trainer)

This interactive session will explore scaffolded, NGSS aligned, three-dimensional Earth science resources for all students including multilingual learners. The My NASA Data Literacy Cubes support data literacy using authentic data from scientific research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Implementation strategies for a flexible resource which can be used with multiple Earth System Science DCIs, support numerous science and engineering practices related to questions, evidence, models and data, and CCCs for patterns, scale, proportion and quantity, and stability and change.

SPEAKERS:
Desiray Wilson (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.: Hampton, VA), Natalie Macke (Pascack Hills High School: Montvale, NJ), Angela Rizzi (NASA Langley Research Center/ADNET: No City, No State)

Are you unsure how or where to begin with Argument-Driven Inquiry? Are you feeling overwhelmed or confused with the ADI approach? If so, this session is for you! This is an immersive workshop that provides a practical approach using puzzles to introduce ADI to your students. Join the fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers learn a practical way to introduce Argument-Driven Inquiry in classrooms without losing the integrity of the ADI framework and feel confident with the ADI process.

SPEAKERS:
Marwa Crisp (Teacher: No City, No State)

Engage multilingual learners with human ecology activities scaffolded for different levels of English proficiency. Participate in hands-on lessons (simulations and group problem solving) that promote 3D learning while building language skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies to adapt science activities for the middle school classroom to be more inclusive for English language learners. Shared activities explore “Human Impacts on Earth’s Systems” and “Natural Resources” (ESS3).

SPEAKERS:
Abby Watkins (Population Connection: Washington, DC)

Teaching reproduction and puberty can be challenging for early middle schoolers. We have created a fun, engaging, and inquiry-based curriculum that gets even the most hesitant student excited about sexual health!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching reproduction and puberty for middle schoolers can be engaging and fun!

SPEAKERS:
Laura Doyle (MYP Science Teacher: Atlanta, GA), Kyla Corelli (Atlanta International School: Atlanta, GA)

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)

Projections are that by 2050, there may be more plastic in our oceans than fish, leading to calls for a worldwide treaty restricting plastics. In this session, participants will explore new remote-sensing capabilities for monitoring microplastics from space and relevant STE[A]M+G educator resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
To offer participants resources and strategies for developing a STE[A]M+G Earth science unit that integrates problem-based learning (PBL), hands-on NASA student design challenges and cross-curricular material.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Weiss (Educator Professional Development Specialist)

Need FREE grant funds for STEAM education, but don't know where to start? This session unpacks the science of grant writing in 12 steps to acquire resources, materials and supplies.

TAKEAWAYS:
From this session, educators will be able to: •Describe grant types and grant funders •Illustrate 12-step grant writing process •Identify sources of grant funding

SPEAKERS:
Bejanae Kareem (STEM & Grant Specialist: Jonesboro, GA)

One of the goals of NGSS is that topics should not be taught in a striated series of unrelated levels, but rather learning should be articulated vertically through the grade bands. In this workshop, we are going to address three different examples from the Physical Science topics: Sound (from Waves), Kinetic and Potential Energy (from Energy), and Particles of Matter (from Matter). Participants will engage in several activities for each topic to demonstrat how inquiry activities can be differentiated in the grade band levels for the developmental level of the students and their content knowledge and understanding. Participants will gain an understanding of vertical topic development, i.e. bridging what comes before and/or after their own grade band. The activities have also been selected for the high level of engagement and enjoyment they bring to the participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Elementary students are naturally curious and we can capitalize on their curiosity with engaging science activities; 2. Using the NGSS 3-D approach leads to effective science teaching and learning; and 3. The goal of science teaching is to help students become scientifically literate.

SPEAKERS:
Wayne Snyder (Cal Poly Pomona: Pomona, CA), Karen Ostlund (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Use chemical reactions to create colorful paintings in an activity designed around research-based STEAM practices that support identity and mindset in diverse learners. Leave with an understanding of the STEAM Practices framework, and an NGSS-aligned activity that can be modified for various ages.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn equity-focused strategies for integrating art and science in instruction, supporting STEAM-linked identities in learners, and fostering a STEAM mindset that emphasizes learners’ creative capacity to understand and transform the world around them.

SPEAKERS:
Perrin Teal Sullivan (University of Alaska Fairbanks: Fairbanks, AK), Laura Carsten Conner (University of Alaska Fairbanks: Fairbanks, AK)

How do you help a student who gets stuck on a critical thinking task without giving them an answer? Explore modeling prompts for scientific phenomena to dig deeper and communicate your understanding that you can implement with the students so they can produce exemplary work.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will practice using modeling prompts they can bring to their classes to support student learning while utilizing evidence statements to ensure student empowerment and consistency across the curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Erik Bullock (Grade 6 Science Teacher: Vienna, 0), Allison Wise (American Community School of Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

In this session educators will be presented with several research-based STEM equity moves that can be used in their classroom. These equity moves fall under the following categories: (1) Equity and NGSS, (2) Inclusive Ed Tech, (3) Culturally Responsive and Sustaining STEM, (4) Anti-Racist STEM. Educators will select an equity move and engage in a Remix Protocol to modify the equity moves to fit their classroom and context and may even modify an activity, lesson, assessment for their own class. Educators will share their ideas and hear the amazing ideas that their peers developed. All the work will be shared in a Padlet that will be available after the workshop to keep the conversation going! The session is designed in a way that educators will engage in some of the equity moves with a learner lens as they are exploring the equity moves. We will unpack this additional layer when we reflect on the learning activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave this session understanding that STEM teachers are what beyond100k (formally 100kin10) describes as the keystones of the “belonging ecosystem” who can successfully remix research-backed equity moves to fit their classroom community.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston (STEM Ed Innovators: Saratoga, CA), Daniel Babauta (Sunset Park High School: Brooklyn, NY)

Through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s community science program, students go into the field to collect and contribute data to ongoing research on climate-related ecosystem change, building a foundation for understanding of variability. Come experience this data literacy strategy in action.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A strategy that leverages student experiences collecting community science data to build confidence in working with and interpreting larger community science datasets. 2. Familiarity and confidence using CODAP, free educational software designed to support data learning.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Auclair (Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Portland, ME), Robin Lea (Gulf of Maine Research Institute: No City, No State)

You are using models in your science classroom, but are your students MODELING to make sense of systems and phenomena? Come to this hands-on session to learn more about modeling as a sensemaking practice and how to integrate meaningful modeling experiences into your science classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away from this session with a deeper understanding of modeling as a sensemaking practice, having engaged with multiple models and with ideas about how to integrate more modeling in their own classrooms, support discourse, and formatively assess students’ modeling practice.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Saenz (Researcher: , ME), Alison Miller (Bowdoin College: Brunswick, ME)

Oil spills, climate change and other environmental disasters significantly impact our ecosystems. How can visual data from these events be quantified to make informed, scientific conclusions? Come experience how deep-sea photos help scientists analyze ecological effects of these disasters.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how they can incorporate the STEM-integrated module Under the Sea: A Deep-Sea Ecosystem Challenge, into their science classroom to promote visual literacy within the context of ecology and the interdependence of living things. Attendees will receive access to the curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Grossman (CEISMC, Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta, GA), Jayma Koval (CEISMC/ Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta, GA)

Attendees will participate in a lesson designed to engage students in the issues created by climate climate change and inequity in different communities. Students will use technology, visual literacy skills by evaluating graphs and maps to find meaning; constructing explanations and share ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will be able to use a Social-Scientific Issue related to climate change to foster interest in the science of climate change. We will use the Philadelphia temperature data to interpret and identifying the impacts of climate change differ by income level, as well as how nature plays a role.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Beech (William Penn School District: Lansdowne, PA), James Whetzel (The School District of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA), Eric Gold (School District of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, PA), Susan Chan-Peter (William Penn Charter School: Philadelphia, PA)

Make student thinking come to life with notebooks! Increase the rigor of student work—learn new strategies for organizing content and how to use templates for any science class. Take home many current NGSS classroom examples to get you started.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The how and why of science notebooks; 2. Engaging ALL students in science; and 3. Templates scaffold student learning for success.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

Increase your ability to use phenomena to anchor sensemaking throughout an entire unit rather than simply hook students’ interests. We will explore examples from the free OpenSciEd curriculum to show how to anchor entire units in a phenomenon and support students to make sense of the natural world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-based instruction is not about grabbing interest or demonstrating concepts, but rather anchoring sensemaking throughout a unit in explaining an observable event. Tools like the driving question board and progress tracker can focus student thinking on figuring out an anchoring phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Bruce Kamerer (Boston College: Chestnut Hill, MA), Ji-Sun Ham (School Support Specialist: Chestnut Hill, MA), Benjamin Lowell (New York University: New York, NY)

Come learn how to host an Earth Day STEM outreach event for families! We will share activities, planning aspects, and implementation strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
STEM Outreach events can be a way to engage students and families in equitable STEM learning to encourage and support all learners. This will provide information on how to replicate a STEM outreach event we hosted at our local STEM Center along with ideas about implementing it in different formats

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

Explore a free middle school unit that integrates genetics concepts to help students understand natural selection. Features paper-based activities, multimedia pieces, and games!

TAKEAWAYS:
How to access and use a new, free unit that integrates core ideas in genetics, heredity, and natural selection, through multimedia materials.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Taylor (Lakeview Academy: Saratoga Springs, UT)

This workshop will provide you with various resources that you can take back to your classroom to provide your middle schoolers with engaging STEM activities that address the Engineering Design Process. Walk away with many hands-on project ideas, coding and gaming activities and online 3D design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate the Engineering Design Process into every STEM lesson they create. Materials and worksheets provided.

SPEAKERS:
Jacie Veno (Plymouth Public Schools: Plymouth, MA)

Experience the process of sensemaking by investigating surface heating from a student perspective. With a focus on student ideas, explore methods for engaging students in the three dimensions of science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning through place-based, student-centered, teacher-facilitated science inquiry increases student engagement in and ownership of learning and promotes student growth in science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Loris Chen (Science Education Consultant: Fair Lawn, NJ)

It happens every school year. Someone came to school sick and spreads their germ. Now 20% of the class is sick. Can you use your contract tracing skills to determine who Patient Zero might have been? Participants will work in epidemiology teams to spread the flu and try to identify Patient Zero.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience from the student’s perspective of how to execute this lab and what it takes as a team member to solve the mystery. Participants will also receive teacher guide packet for how to set up and implement the lab in their classroom with students.

SPEAKERS:
Vidalina Trevino (Albert Einstein Fellow: Alexandria, VA), Nicole Yemothy (K-8 STEM Educator & Trainer)

Do your students struggle to make sense of graphs? You're not alone. Join us to explore new ways to leverage how our eyes work to make working with graphs and real-world data easier for your students. Gain strategies you can use this week regardless of what curriculum or graphing programs you use.

TAKEAWAYS:
Access classroom-ready strategies to better leverage graphs from online data portals and ways to better set students up for success to make sense of data patterns in any graph they are using in your science classroom.

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

Hexagonal Thinking ensures the learning environment features a high degree of student engagement by providing a framework for academic discussion where all students participate. Attendees experience Hexagonal Thinking using science, math and engineering concepts to make connections between them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn a hands-on strategy that will help students make connections between academic vocabulary, engineering practices and science concepts visible in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Miranda Rosenhoover (Aledo ISD: Aledo, TX)

Inspired by the "Odyssey of the Mind" national competition, engage in competitive hands-on engineering projects (5-10 minutes each) designed to encourage student creativity in the design process. Attendees will be split into groups of five individuals and given unique engineering problems to solve.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) Creativity is essential for engineering design (2) Learn how to engage students in expanding their creative minds

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Krajeski (Bridgewater State University: Bridgewater, MA)

With the catalog of known exoplanets growing, NASA scientists are searching these worlds for signatures of life as we do (and do not) know it. In this session, participants learn through hands-on activities about NASA astrobiology missions that attempt to answer the age-old question: are we alone?

TAKEAWAYS:
To offer participants resources and strategies for developing an astrobiology [life sciences] unit that integrates hands-on NASA education activities, cutting-edge scientific research, and differing worldviews [cosmologies] that combine science, culture, art and storytelling.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Weiss (Educator Professional Development Specialist)

We will compare the scientific method with the engineering design process, highlighting the idea that the scientific method is more linear and the engineering design process is more cyclical. After overviewing the SEPs, we will use a typical classroom challenge that includes criteria and constraints to lead participants through the engineering design process, taking on the role of the students. Once the challenge is completed, we will look at how many of the SEPs were used during our engineering design process challenge. This will help emphasize the importance of students completing the entire EDP process as a way to develop students' critical thinking skills and scientific behaviors. Stem Tool #32 (stemteachingtools.org) says, "Engaging with a range of practices in different configurations helps students understand that there is not just one way to conduct science and that scientists draw upon varied practices in their research."

TAKEAWAYS:
Although a teacher may not be working toward a content standard, focusing on science and engineering practices alone is an integral part of science education.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Tilley (AMSTI-UM: Pelham, AL), Holly Adams (University of Montevallo: Montevallo, AL)

Participants will engage in a series of strategies that have been used with the OpenSciEd curriculum to enhance student engagement. Come see how to diversify the implementation of open source materials with teacher-tested techniques that promote equity in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see the power in utilizing a diverse array of strategies designed to actively engage students while still teaching a curriculum as intended.

SPEAKERS:
Cathi Cox-Boniol (Louisiana Tech University: No City, No State)

New science curricula use effective pedagogy to provide young people opportunities to explore the prevalence and impacts of plastics, learn about emerging work on sustainable bioplastics, and plan authentic projects to help mitigate environmental impacts in their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use this new peer-reviewed curriculum to engage youth in environmental science and civic engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Smith (University of California, Davis: Davis, CA)

Teachers will participate in activities and be given lesson plans from the Teaching About Kinematics manual they will receive free after the workshop.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding motion and being able to teach the following concepts: Velocity is not the same concept as speed; Two objects at the same position can have different velocities; Velocity and acceleration are not the same thing.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Robinson (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA)

Attendees will engage in hands-on activities focused on force and motion concepts. Activities are easy set-ups using low-cost household materials that promote inclusivity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be engaged in multiple activities that promote learning and inclusivity of all students. Necessary materials and best teaching practices will be shared so that attendees can immediately incorporate knowledge and activities into their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Starks (Houston Middle School: Germantown, TN)

100Kin10 recently developed a bold new vision for the future of STEM education - to understand how to foster belonging in STEM. STEM Ed Innovators is a longtime 100kin10 partner. Our transformative community of practice for teachers, by teachers, and about culturally responsive and anti-racist teaching has fostered belonging in the margins for nearly a decade. In this workshop we will present research on STEM belonging and create a space to discuss what belonging looks like, sounds like, and feels like in a classroom, school community or district as well as in a school’s professional learning programs. Participants will work in affinity groups to identify ways to foster belonging for all students in the STEM classroom and for all teachers in professional learning spaces. Groups will share out and their contributions that will be memorialized so we can all look back on the learnings together after we return from the conference.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will develop an understanding of how instructional practices can create or hinder a sense of belonging in STEM and identify some teacher moves that can be used to foster a sense of belonging in the STEM classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston (STEM Ed Innovators: Saratoga, CA), Daniel Babauta (Sunset Park High School: Brooklyn, NY)

Discover how to build a STEM curriculum from the ground up, from ideation to final product. Improve an aircraft design, meet the STEM Quality Framework and 50+ free STEM units from Pre-K to High School, and explore amazing resources from the Dayton Regional STEM Center and DoDSTEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the process of designing a high-quality STEM curriculum including; standards alignment, evaluation and improvement of curriculum and implementation within the classroom, along with a library of free, currently available unit plans and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Carey (Xenia Community Schools: Xenia, OH)

Moths play key roles in food webs, as pests, and as nocturnal pollinators. The MothEd Project invites students and teachers to investigate moths in local places by building blacklight traps, developing hypotheses, collecting and analyzing moth data in collaboration with others using a web platform.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will prepare to engage students in science investigations of moth ecology by building blacklight traps, developing research questions/hypotheses, collecting/analyzing data from local habitats, and using technology-enhanced curricular materials to foster collaboration & agency among students

SPEAKERS:
Peter White (Associate Professor: No City, No State), Brian Keas (Research Associate)

Students love sketchnoting in science! Come learn how visual notetaking leads to deep processing and retention of content. Editable templates will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What are sketchnotes; 2. How to use sketchnotes in science; and 3. How to greatly increase student processing.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

Join us as we explore the connection between science demonstrations and thinking routines. Discover how these two teaching tools, uncover student misconceptions, activate prior knowledge, and engage students in sensemaking by integrating literacy with science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will takeaway a series of engaging science demos/activities that have been purposefully paired with literacy strategies to help develop important thinking routines students can use when approaching a problem, issue or challenge in science.

SPEAKERS:
Lionel Sandner (Edvantage Interactive: Sidney, BC), Sandra Mirabelli (Brock University: Burlington, ON)

Engaging strategies to increase student retention in science will be shared during this session. Strategies shared are focused on excitement and relevancy to entice learner curiosity as well as focus. The session will review musical, inquiry, kinesthetic, literacy, and game-based strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will include engaging and helpful strategies to reach different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Lewis (Katy ISD: Katy, TX), Molly Niedens (Tays Junior High School: Katy, TX)

Introduction: How long does it take you to react when you notice a change in your environment? If you are riding a bike or driving a car, how long would it take for you to apply the brakes? Do you think this time is the same for everyone? Part 1: Desmos Activity: The Tortoise and the Hare: In this interactive mission, participants use the story of the Tortoise and the Hare to develop a motion graph. Once the motion graph is created, participants will analyze the graph to determine where the motion was the greatest, where it stopped, and where it decreased. Part 2: The Fast and the Curious Mission: If you were a timer at a track meet, how would the times you record on your stopwatch compare to the actual times of the runners? Participants watch a clip of a race and they have to use their stopwatch/phone to time the race. They are comparing their reaction time with the actual time using a linear relationship.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will collect data of speed and reaction time, then present their data by creating and graphing an algebraic equation that compares the actual amount of time with the average time that you recorded.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Neumann (Teacher), Kyan Butler (Spring ISD: Houston, TX)

Need support in creating an NGSS driven, student-centered Science classroom? Learn how to implement Eduprotocols, lesson frames that will positively impact student learning and help you plan in less time.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use Eduprotocols with NGSS to increase DOK and 4C practice within the Science classroom. Strategies, best practices, and iterations will be modeled to support teachers who are looking to create a student-centered classroom, plan less, and positively impact student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Siverd (Virtual Learning Specialist: , PA), Ariana Hernandez (Teacher: Hesperia, CA)

Creating an inclusive learning environment requires dedication and creativity for incorporating the success skills (21st Century Skills) such as citizenship with culturally relevant education for crafting STEAM and science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Main goal of the workshops is using the CRE into STEAM or science lesson or unit plan on any topic or subject matter.

SPEAKERS:
Jenniffer Stetler (Chamblee Middle School: Chamblee, GA)

How does the installation of offshore wind turbines impact marine life? This hands-on session will allow participants to design and test a model that would reduce noise pollution from drilling into the sea floor.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineers and marine biologists work together to ensure that protected species are not negatively impacted during the installation of offshore wind turbines. Participants will investigate the precautionary measure of using bubble curtains to absorb sound waves.

SPEAKERS:
Cori Nelson (Winfield School District 34: Winfield, IL)

Create large scale models and diagrams on a wide variety of subjects in open spaces both on inside floors and outdoors. Learn how to get the most out of your school building spaces and engage your students’ interests using inexpensive materials and kinesthetic activities!

TAKEAWAYS:
You and your students will learn how to make and use large scale models to explore many scientific topics. Using materials like electrical tape, sidewalk chalk, string and other simple materials, we will make and use large scale models of an ellipse, heart and body systems, cells, water cycle.

SPEAKERS:
David Ebersole (Greece Athena Middle School: Rochester, NY)

Learn about Conserve It or List It, an exciting series of inquiry investigations driven by student questions that you can use to teach environmental and life science. You will participate in one of the investigations, receive the project guidelines, and get strategies for classroom implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Conserve It or List It is an exciting way to engage students in environmental and life science through inquiry-based lessons driven by phenomena and student questions, with the goal of helping students invest in science and bringing the outdoors into classroom instruction.

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

Come network with the National STEM Scholars, (a group of middle science school teachers) as we share our innovative, hands-on projects, materials, results, and curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Discover new ideas, lessons and projects that you can use in your middle school classroom • Network with other middle school teachers from around the country • Experience effective real-world projects that encourage all learners to be scientifically literate

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Ventrella (American Heritage School, Boca Delray Campus: Delray Beach, FL), Jennifer Polacek (Globe Park Elementary School: Woonsocket, RI), Lori Schoenwiesner (VA Department of Conservation and Recreation: Richmond, VA), Susan Hall (King Philip Regional Middle School: Norfolk, MA), Tonya Prentice (Tremont Consolidated School: Bass Harbor, ME), Tasha Jordan (Ferguson Middle School: Ferguson, MO), Kerrie McDaniel (Western Kentucky University: Bowling Green, KY)

Teams use a programmable robotic ball to design solutions and simulate an unmanned aerial vehicle entering a disaster zone. Set in a post-natural-disaster scenario, students will find solutions to problems that first responders may face. This standards-aligned activity will help students explore challenges engineers face throughout different phases of NASA missions as they conduct research, propose solutions, create designs, build their designs and test their solutions to a set of given problems. Students will investigate how their designs in each stage of the challenge lead to their final design solution. With these activities, students will: Apply the steps of the engineering design process to successfully complete a team challenge. Conduct research, write a proposal and create a basic budget. Program a spherical robot using JavaScript (JS) or block programming to complete various leveled challenges. Design, build and test solutions to each problem. Create a presentation and share.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bring the world of advance air mobility to life in your own classroom. Transform your students into ground pilots and open up the door to their future STEM career.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Dotson (NASA Office of STEM Engagement-GoH: Kennedy Space Center, FL)

Adopting curriculums is a top priority for many schools across the nation. While curriculums are useful, they often have shortcomings. One shortcoming we often see in schools is a lack of engagement between the students and the content. In this session, we will explore strategies that align with the 5E Instructional Cycle and UDL that can be easily implemented with the curriculums adopted by schools and provide opportunities for students to engage with science and engineering practices. The strategies can be implemented immediately in the classroom setting. Each strategy presented can be leveled up or leveled down for varied grade levels, including differentiated supports in class to support the varied learners in a classroom. Engage strategies include Observations and Questions and Four Corners. Both are low stakes and engage learning with phenomena immediately. The Explain strategy leverages reading in science and makes it accessible through targeted questions and scaffolding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Small shifts in the curriculum can make large shifts to develop an inclusive classroom environment. Science should be accessible for all and by taking prescribed curriculum and making a few adjustments, all students can engage in science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney McCormick (Alliance College Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles, CA), Sheena Velasquez (Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles, CA)

This workshop will be integrating Game Based Learning strategies into hands on experience for participants. The focus will be looking at crosscutting concepts and the science and engineering practices to make science come alive thru game play.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with a model and their own lesson as well as ideas on game based learning integrated through the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Tammie Schrader (NorthEast Washington ESD 101: Spokane, WA)

With increasing diversity in student populations and continued focus on STEM education, new approaches are needed to increase student interest and literacy in science. Student success in the science classroom requires that they be authentically engaged as they investigate and communicate their understanding of scientific phenomena. In this session, participants will receive 30+ classroom-ready strategies, activities, games, templates, and resources that will help engage all learners and increase student achievement in various domains of science. The resources and strategies provided will help participants teaching grade 6 and higher motivate even the most unengaged students. Resources and strategies target areas of the 5- E Model of instruction. Many activities can be used as formative assessments to assess student learning. Participants may modify the activities based on the content they teach and the academic level of student groups and individual students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore resources including activities, templates, games, etc. they can use to increase the scientific literacy and engagement of all students. These can be used “as is” or modified to include other content based on the needs of the learners.

SPEAKERS:
Iris Mudd (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: Winston Salem, NC)

Discover CERTL’s proven inquiry-based approach that aims to increase teacher effectiveness. Dynamic scenarios with embedded lab activities deliver content in a real-world context that spark student-led discussions. Participants will experience a hands-on student inquiry and receive takeaways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be provided inquiry-based learning scenarios and embedded lab activities that will allow them to deliver content in a real-world context that develops students’ critical thinking skills.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Russell (The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching and Learning: No City, No State), Stan Hill (Wake Forest School of Medicine: Winston Salem, NC)

Join us in this workshop to explore ways to review a beloved lesson and give it a 3D upgrade. Shifting to 3-dimensional teaching can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Teachers may wonder, aren’t I already teaching 3-dimensionally? Can’t I take a lesson and make it 3D? In some cases, yes, give that lesson an upgrade! In this workshop, we will explore how to identify if a lesson is 3-dimensional, if it can be tweaked to be 3-dimensional, or if it needs to be completely re-worked. Then, we will examine ways to incorporate 3-dimensional learning and teaching practices into an existing lesson. Finally, educators will be provided time to apply these strategies to a lesson of their own that they bring, or select from a group of provided lessons. By the end, educators will have the skills to make changes in their own teaching practice and take home a ready-to-implement 3D lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research shows that teachers struggle transitioning to 3-dimensional teaching (Smith, 2020). One step that can help teachers begin to make the shift is to adapt familiar lessons. In this session, teachers will walk away with a beloved lesson they have upgraded to a 3D masterpiece.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Hunter (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Jennifer Bateman (Clemson University), Meredith Schwendemann (Clemson University)

Explore how computational thinking can enhance students’ engineering designs and science sensemaking. You’ll engage with two middle school modules that develop computational thinking practices and skills as they bolster engineering understandings and solutions related to thermal energy transfer.

TAKEAWAYS:
Computational tools are increasingly used by scientists and engineers. Hands-on engineering design challenges provide an authentic and motivating context for students to practice and apply computational thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Dzaugis (Mathworks: Natick, MA), Christine Cunningham (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Although questions are an important aspect of effective science teaching, many science teachers may not be aware of the questions they ask. This session will show three questioning strategies including SHARE (Wilcox et al., 2021), using students’ responses to drive the conversation forward, and convergent/divergent questions. We will demonstrate the questioning techniques during a 5E where we use specimens preserved in acrylic to investigate the structure/function relationships (1-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1) and to consider homologous and analogous structures (MS-LS4-2).

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn three different questioning strategies they can use with their students. Additionally, participants will experience these questions in action as the presenters will use life science examples to teach the questioning strategies.

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

In this session educators will be presented with the following equity frameworks: (1) Equity and NGSS, (2) Inclusive Ed Tech, (3) Culturally Responsive and Sustaining STEM, (4) Anti-Racist STEM. Educators will work in small groups to learn more about their equity framework of choice and summarize their learning for a larger group. Next, groups will unpack equity moves to identify how they support or hinder equity work through the lens of the framework they selected and identify next steps. By the end of the session each group will share out actions they can take in their classroom to create a more equitable STEM classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with knowledge of equity frameworks and unique next steps that can be implemented into their classroom for a more equitable, inclusive, culturally responsive and anti racist classroom community.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston (STEM Ed Innovators: Saratoga, CA), Daniel Babauta (Sunset Park High School: Brooklyn, NY)

What does scientific observation look like? How do students get there? Through GMRI’s Nature Note framework, students connect what they see with what they know to become curious observers. Join us to explore how this model can be adapted to support scientific observation in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with strategies, writing frames, student work samples, rubrics, and ideas to help students make connections between background knowledge and their local environmental and ecological observations.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bursk (Science Instruction Specialist: , ME)

A STEAM Center's Art and Science of Sports Interactive Exhibit, its STEAM curriculum, and lessons learned from more than 2,000 students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn ways to incoroporate many different science-based, hand-on, minds-on activities into their classrooms as explored during at the Art and Science of Sports presented by the STEAM Center for Applied Creativity and Innovation.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Gerber (Professor: Valdosta, GA), Jessica Pippin (Administrative Coordinator: No City, No State)

NGSS storylines will provide the backdrop for a highly constructive, interactive session where attendees experience the power of questioning to drive connected lessons, deepen student thinking, and provide significant learning for all students. This session targets PK-8 teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session attendees will leave with a vade mecum (go ahead and google it, you WANT this!) that will support implementation of transdisciplinary design processes. Takeaways include: Storyline development tools and teacher-constructed model of design processes for use in the classroom and more!

SPEAKERS:
Bridget Miller (University of South Carolina: Columbia, SC), Ashley Gess (University of South Carolina: No City, No State)

Quantum education in middle school science education is a very novel initiative. Responding to the recent call of the National Quantum Initiative Act (2018) to accelerate quantum research and development, IQ-PARC aims to bridge the gap between developing quantum technologies and public interest and knowledge in quantum. Towards this end, IQ-PARC would like to introduce and apply a quantum-infused curriculum unit. Attendees will be encouraged to explore the concepts of quantum randomness and random number generator to create a particular artwork via quantum lab data collection. Also, they will be given a unit package including five distinct lesson plans and a pre-post assessment tool beginning with an archaeology challenge and ending with a quantum artwork activity. All materials were revised and updated by taking in-service middle school teachers' feedback and suggestions during and after the Teachers’ Quantum Workshop, organized by the IQ-PARC team in Summer 2022.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will explore that quantum is not an intimidating subject to learn and teach; it is possible to link existing and/or newly released middle school state standards with basic quantum concepts, and STEM-based activities make quantum integrable into middle school science education.

SPEAKERS:
Zeynep Akdemir (Purdue University: West Lafayette, IN)

Singing science parodies together will create fun and relaxed shared experiences that will strengthen teacher/student bonds and facilitate future learning. Plus they will learn science concepts without even knowing it!

TAKEAWAYS:
Song can teach as well as create a safe and enjoyable environment for students.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Taylor (Lakeview Academy: Saratoga Springs, UT)

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)

Have you ever wonder why minerals come in so many different shapes and color? Using nanoscience concepts, come experience how a mineral's internal atomic arrangement contribute to its properties through a fun hands-on activity involving simple materials without an electron microscope!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching abstract concepts, such as matter at the atomic scale, can be difficult to get across to our students. Learn to use common household objects to help our students make sense of mineral properties using nanoscience ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Cathy Xiong (Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology: Long Island City, NY), Yishan Lee (PS/MS 219)

Come join the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team (HEAT) in exploring how heliophysics, or 'Sun science,' can effectively serve as a model for teaching systems science to K12 students. This session includes hands-on learning activities, NASA printed materials, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
The Sun gives us light, heat, food and more. It creates patterns on Earth and causes climate change. It is the source of space weather. Studies of the Sun offers a glimpse into the universe. The solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024 are opportunities to learn more about Sun-Earth systems science.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Milotte (Education Specialist), Carolyn Ng (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/ADNET Systems, Inc.)

A skyrocketing global population is making us rethink how we feed people. Traditional protein sources are unequally distributed and can have devastating effects. We will be investigating how insects could help us feed the world in a more equitable and sustainable way. Bring your appetite!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how traditional ways of farming protein (poultry and cattle) negatively affect the ecological communities and explore how insects could help rectify this problem.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Ologbosele (Teacher), Curtis Martin (Teacher)

People learn better when they are having fun. This session will use Project WET’s guide—Climate, Water and Resilience—to effectively teach about local and global climate change using fun, hands-on, interactive lessons for middle and high school educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will feel more comfortable teaching about climate change using fun, hands-on activities such as the ones demonstrated in this session.

SPEAKERS:
Julia Beck (Project Wet Foundation: Bozeman, MT)

The sky belongs to everyone - including middle-school age youth. Learn how to join the Youth Astronomy Network (YouthAstroNet) of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, where your students can tell their own star stories using images they capture from real robotic telescopes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn YouthAstroNet’s strategies for engaging students from culturally diverse backgrounds in accessible, relevant and meaningful exploration of their place in the cosmos and find out how they can join the YouthAstroNet online community, supported by the National Science Foundation

SPEAKERS:
Erika Wright (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA), Mary Dussault (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA)

Forensics is a great way to engage students through hands-on, real world activities but some elementary & middle school teachers feel it is not age appropriate & struggle to affordably create relevant forensics units that meet their standards. In this hands-on session, teachers will see how forensics is fun for all ages! They will learn how to engage their community through a personalized, age-appropriate scenario that uses their community as the crime scene and suspects. Engage in blood typing, fingerprints, genetics, hair, fiber, handwriting analysis & chromatography. Students will learn how to think as scientists, to collaborate & ask relevant probing questions & collect, preserve & analyze evidence during the course of their investigation. Teachers will learn how to create a CSI escape room using Google Forms for remote & in class learners. Both hands-on & virtual activities encourage safe environments & social interactions. Leave ready to set the stage with their own crime scenes!

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use your school community to create an engaging crime for students to solve while encouraging socialization, collaboration, and critical thinking through blood typing, fingerprints, genetics, hair + fiber + handwriting analysis, chromatography, plus ways to create a virtual crime activity.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Guzzetta (Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women: Rochester, NY)

Engage as a learner in a unit about energy conversions. This unit incorporates project-based learning, the engineering and design process, and 5Es learning cycle.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use an engineering and design project as the phenomenon. Participants will learn how to build a 3D unit with conceptual flow. Participants will learn how to incorporate inquiry labs within a unit.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Bogart (Stonecreek Junior High: No City, No State)