Join education staff from Tellus Science Museum to see fossils that call Georgia home and discuss how to incorporate place-based geoscience education with elementary science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see how a science museum has worked to improve its own geoscience education using a place-based approach and how similar processes can be applied to education practice in classrooms or other localities.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Eisla (Tellus Science Museum: No City, No State)

This visually descriptive overview illustrates the practical application of the Garden Project and the impact of arts-based learning in an elementary school setting by offering “how to” visuals, documentation of project set-up, engagement, and examples of student artwork. Arts integration experiences are inclusive of the three domains of learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. Ask us how music, movement, and visual art have enriched the Garden Project. Music and movement activities, bookmaking, printmaking, and nature journaling samples will be displayed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about teacher-tested lessons connected to garden-based learning and the arts (visual art, music, and movement) for the K-6 classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Aurora Hughes Villa (Utah State University: No City, No State), Lisa Saunderson (Edith Bowen Lab School / Utah State University)

Rubrics are great assessment tools when grading lab reports and projects. Rubrics help to clarify expectations, inspire students to set goals and give educators a way to improve feedback that stimulates student reflection. Emphasis is on application and analysis not getting the right answers.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Poster will highlight best practices for creating and using rubrics to grade lab reports and projects. The poster will include best practices, main components of a rubric, tips for creating rubrics and well as best practices for feedback and grading using rubrics.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Morton (Instructional Coach)

Although cancer biology is an important topic with the study life science, the definition of cancer literacy has been ill defined. This project demonstrates limitations of using one measure of cancer literacy, the Cancer Health Literacy Test-6, within the scope of a cancer biology outreach program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Cancer literacy has been broadly defined and assessed. Assessment of cancer biology knowledge may be best suited by the use of instructor-prepared, lesson-specific assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Heath (Student: Warrenville, SC), Kamani Barnes (Student: Warrenville, SC), Alexandria Martin (Student: , SC), Christie Palladino (Teacher: Warrenville, SC)

Teachers will learn strategies to integrate picture books and STEM activities to support ELA standards, inspire student creativity and nurture a growth mind-set.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave this session with resources and activities to implement in their classrooms. This will include a resource library of books and activities that support ELA and STEM standards.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Eanes (John Sevier Elementary School: No City, No State), Alyson Colclough (Foothills Elementary: No City, No State), Bob Kirkland (Sam Houston Elementary School: Maryville, TN)

Teacher enthusiasm for any subject can really drive the enthusiasm of all stakeholders in a child’s education. It’s crucial to share and build the love of science in your community, and it can be done through communication. Pictures and student work can sell what you do and gain parent support.

TAKEAWAYS:
Every Science classroom has many stakeholders - students, parents, admins, and more. Frequent and varied communication of the great things you do is the key to increasing enthusiasm for your class, and this board shares some successful strategies for communicating. Build support for what you do!

SPEAKERS:
Rama Sreekantham (Paragon Prep School: No City, No State)

Students may lose confidence in science skills when inconsistencies are not addressed. Our project shows that students can feel success by understanding measurement error, identifying ways to reduce measurement error, and analyzing the impact of those modifications.

TAKEAWAYS:
This project will demonstrate educationally and statistically significant impact of a piloted, experiment-based measurement error lesson. Attendees will take home tips for addressing inconsistent data to foster student success.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Martin (Student: , SC), Tiannah Green (Student: Warrenville, SC), Hannah Smith (Student: Warrenville, SC), Darneisha Hughes (Student: Warrenville, SC), Destiny Ramos (Student: Warrenville, SC), Janiya Dunbar (Student: Warrenville, SC), Alexis Wren (Student: Warrenville, SC), Samantha Brosnahan (Aiken County Career Cente: Langley, SC), Vivian Swearingen (Student: Warrenville, SC), Sophia Taylor-Davis (Student: Warrenville, SC), Aubria Johnson (Student: Warrenville, SC), Jose Rodriguez (Student: Warrenville, SC), Atticus Lull (Student: Warrenville, SC), Savannah Manning (Student: Warrenville, SC), Chassity Williams (Student: Warrenville, SC), Kayleigh Thigpen (Student: Warrenville, SC), Katherine Roberts (Student: Warrenville, SC), Christie Palladino (Teacher: Warrenville, SC)

Joining a research lab as an undergraduate is a boon to many future career directions, making it important to equip students with the tools to find and contact potential laboratories. We will discuss evidence for the need for these tools as well as a tested strategy for their input into classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gaps in knowledge created by socio-economic differences, being a first-generation college student, etc., can make it challenging to find a research laboratory, or decide what skills are required to join. We will demonstrate a modular teaching device to help fill this void.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Ruesch (Postdoctoral Researcher/Educator: Ithaca, NY)

Science Provision Maps, linked to topics or storybooks, describe science learning opportunities in the different areas of provision commonly found in a classroom for ages 3-5: small world, construction, role play, water, sand, malleable play, sensory play, modelling, and outdoor learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will know how to use and adapt Science Provision Maps in your setting to create stimulating science learning experiences for children aged 3-5 that develop their scientific knowledge, understanding and literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Trew (Primary Science Teaching Trust: Bristol, England)

This session presents a science and literacy instruction intervention aimed at helping improve student achievement on high-stakes standardized tests. This study found statistically significant results with medium to large effect sizes at multiple campuses. Findings contribute to research and practice by demonstrating how to make science education accessible to all students, including minorities, economically disadvantaged, English learners, and At-Risk students. It also advances knowledge about effective science and literacy instruction interventions. Participants in this session will learn how to strategically target academic vocabulary, visually display connections between inquiry activities and vocabulary, explore opportunities for students to experience vocabulary in context, actively process word meanings, and practice using vocabulary to speak and write sentences. Easily replicable classroom strategies and examples that may be used to facilitate implementation will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will strategically target academic vocabulary, visually display connections between inquiry activities and vocabulary, and explore opportunities for students to experience vocabulary in context, actively process word meanings, and practice using vocabulary to speak and write sentences.

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

We engaged students in building computational thinking skills through the lens of science. Two lessons that will be featured include navigating a robot through a science-themed maze and coding a video game that integrates science. This model of blended science, design & tech will inspire you!

TAKEAWAYS:
This poster will describe and link to two lessons including navigating a robot through a science-themed maze and coding a video game that integrates science concepts of light and shadows. Computational skills and science content that are present in the lessons will be emphasized.

SPEAKERS:
Katheryn Kennedy, PhD (The Peck School: No City, No State)

Students in K-12 science classrooms don’t think about diagrams the same way adults do, and can be easily “overloaded.” Research in cognition gives us tools to make science diagrams that more effectively support learning. Surprise: often, students learn more without features like arrows and colors!

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective diagrams direct student attention to the most important information and relationships while minimizing cognitive load. Strategies for doing so include tree structures, explicit cues for implicit information, replacing realistic photos with illustrations, and use of the proximity principle.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Rabi Whitaker (Academy for Young Writers: Brooklyn, NY)

The Science Teacher Residency (STaR) Program was launched in 2018 in response to the need to expand access to high quality professional development for science teachers in Arizona. It is designed for third through eighth grade teachers from Title 1 designated schools, and provides instructional tools and resources to participants for free. The program is designed around its Theory of Change, which involves four facets: pedagogical approaches, content learning, access to expertise, and materials and resources. The program is externally evaluated by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Data on content knowledge level, fascination level, interest level, and intention to pursue science will be featured on the poster. Our target audience is for professional development providers.

TAKEAWAYS:
STaR expands access to high-quality teaching practice in science education for Arizona teachers. PD facilitators can obtain new ideas for research-based implementation of pedagogy, content learning, access to expertise, and materials and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Brenna Chambers (Manager of Professional Learning), Judith Lozoya (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ), Jennifer Petersen (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ)

Have you wondered how to teach the Nature of Science in an engaging way? Do you know that there are free accessible websites to help. Come see how a few simple activities that allow students to access the other dimension of the NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Come away with free resources of Nature of Science activities. In addition learn the backed research principles that make this dimension of NGSS vital for scientific literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Mulligan (Bridgeport Public School: Bridgeport, NE)

NSTA provides a wide array of professional learning services for teachers, science specialists, and administrators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to bring NSTA professional learning services to your school, district, or organization (face-to-face, virtual, and hybrid).

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

In this poster session, we will explore a hands-on, youth-centric citizen science program that teaches elementary students to “think like a scientist” by embodying the Scientific Method in a unique five-step program. Utilizing aspirational diverse characters and storylines from the award-winning “The Paper Girls Show” and standards-aligned, inquiry-based activities we will enhance the fun in science education. Participants will learn how to use the citizen science platform Marine Debris Tracker, and see how all of their students can become scientists and make changes in their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to 1. harness the power of stories to inspire their learners to think like scientists; 2. integrate inquiry-based learning into their classrooms; 3. empower their students to act like scientists and take action in their local communities through citizen science.

SPEAKERS:
Lena Deskins (Sandy Ridge Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School: Durham, NC), Rachael Polmanteer (Center for Inquiry Based Learning: Durham, NC)

There are many different forms of technology that can be used to enhance your science teaching. This poster presentation provides information and handouts for using technology with science activities for 4th and 5th grade science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engaging elementary students in science activities using technology is very motivating. A variety of tools are illustrated that can be used to engage elementary students as learn science.

SPEAKERS:
Marianne Phillips (Texas A&M University-San Antonio: San Antonio, TX)

This session will provide educators with ideas for hosting STEM day/night for K-8 students (especially in Title I schools). Attendees will participate in hands-on STEM challenges that explore phenomena, require minimal preparation, and can be completed in 45 minutes or less. Educators will walk away with packets that include posters, supply lists, rubrics, and worksheets. This session will help attendees to facilitate and model simple Engineering Design Challenges that will engage ALL scholars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to coordinate a STEM day/night including scheduling ideas, resources. Attendees will receive packets for their respective grade levels/grade bands that include posters, supply lists, rubrics, and worksheets.

SPEAKERS:
Karelle Williams (The Main Street Academy: Atlanta, GA)

A former national science fair judge provides insights on how good titles can improve the odds of winning at science fairs. The poster will describe what the parts of a "good" title are and how teachers can help your students create one.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn the components of how to create a good project title (from a research project on science fairs) and how to help their students develop a good title for their own project that is structurally similar to those used by scientists to describe their own research at conferences.

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

Our outreach program leveraged the 5E instructional model to deliver an authentic laboratory experience throughout underserved areas of our school district. Pilot results demonstrate significant gains in student learning and high interest in repeat opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to identify successes and struggles experienced in the implementation of a district wide STEM outreach program. Participants will take away a model of STEM outreach and an example lesson that can be easily implemented through a small team, even across a large school district.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Heath (Student: Warrenville, SC), Kamani Barnes (Student: Warrenville, SC), Javaris Lightsey (Student: Warrenville, SC), I'Layna Highsmith (Student: Warrenville, SC), Ny'Aja Clemons (Student: Warrenville, SC), Alexandria Martin (Student: , SC), Christie Palladino (Teacher: Warrenville, SC)

Integrating engineering content and skills into elementary science classrooms is an important goal as evidenced by the emphasis placed on it in the NGSS. This presentation will provide teachers with skills and strategies for the successful integration of engineering content and practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway from this presentation is a set of tools that teachers can use to gain skills in the implementation of engineering content and practices in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Ceglie (Associate Professor)

Attend this session and learn how to incorporate little to no cost STEM activities from teachers who do it every day! You will learn strategies for selecting projects and materials that will engage your students and not break the bank!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn strategies to incorporate STEM activities within their classroom for little to no cost and leave with lesson ideas to get their program started.

SPEAKERS:
Alyson Colclough (Foothills Elementary: No City, No State), Jodi Eanes (John Sevier Elementary School: No City, No State), Bob Kirkland (Sam Houston Elementary School: Maryville, TN)

Science educators teach THE scientific method; while this is a tried-and-true practice, it doesn’t wholly represent all the different methods used by scientists. At UT Austin, college students are taught there are several scientific methods. We can teach science this way starting at a younger age!

TAKEAWAYS:
Students would benefit from learning more research methods from a young age! Expand students’ view of science, and introduce variety to maintain student interest. Hear ideas to incorporate methods into your lessons such as mathematical modeling, observational studies, and statistics.

SPEAKERS:
Rama Sreekantham (Paragon Prep School: No City, No State)

ML-PBL teachers find ways to further integrate literacy and science throughout their day. ML-PBL's free OER project-based curriculum resources support students in applying their figuring out and critical thinking processes to all subject areas. Check it out!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be exposed to free resources and ideas for selecting resources for literacy lessons that allow students to continue to fine tune and extend the ideas they are developing in science class. Handouts with links to additional resources will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Codere (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, Retired)

Paper is so commonly used for drawing and writing but it is amazingly versatile and easy to use for making 3-dimensional projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
You do not need fancy equipment to do STEM and hands on activities.

SPEAKERS:
Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries / Skill Mill NYC: New York, NY)

The Science and Engineering Practices can be difficult to communicate to students, and hard to find ways to practice. Fairy and folk tales can serve as examples, and research-based strategies to practice and give feedback to students. The Three Pigs, The Emperor's Wardrobe, and other tales can represent the practices, while short biographies of scientists and engineers can show real examples. Practice activities, with appropriate strategies and scaffolds, can give students opportunities to engage in the practices and get feedback. All of these are based on the research presented in Schwarz et al 2016 and the literature since. The materials will be provided free to teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Get, and learn how to use, materials for supporting the Science and Engineering Practices, including tales, practice activities, and teaching structures.

SPEAKERS:
Rob Wallace (NSTA: Kenner, LA)

Creating primary and intermediate STEM-focused classrooms can be challenging. This session will highlight strategies and examples to incorporate both 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)

Contemporary scientists’ cutting-edge research can be shared with elementary students and linked to curriculum topics. Using I bet you didn’t know… articles and accompanying Teacher Guides is an exciting way to stimulate children and provides a rich context for learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how I bet you didn’t know… articles written in language that children can understand and accompanying Teacher Guides can be used in the classroom to increase engagement with practical activities, develop enquiry skills and an appreciation of the impact of science on real life.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Trew (Primary Science Teaching Trust: Bristol, England)

Participants will learn how to utilize two different strategies for group collaboration within the elementary science classroom. The first strategy will show participants how they can use common pairs (ex. burger/fries, bacon/eggs) of items to quickly partner students up prior to the collaborative learning activity. This will allow students to get a variety of partners to work with while ensuring maximum time for engagement with the lesson. Secondly, after students are grouped for the investigation using the aforementioned strategy, they can then employ the simple and efficient investigation job cards in their groups so that each person will have a defined job to conduct throughout the entirety of the investigation. One example of a job would be the “Reporter” who would be responsible for sharing the group's data and conclusions with the entire class. These strategies aim to prepare educators with simple tools to ensure greater participation and engagement from all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, you will learn two different strategies for engaging students within the science classroom during collaborative learning. You will walk away with a simple partner pairing strategy, as well as, specific scientific jobs for students to utilize during classroom investigations.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Oberdorf (Big Spring School District: Newville, PA)

How do we assess both DCIs and SEPs in a way that is not overly complicated nor burdensome, yet pedagogically sound? There is a clear way to integrate your course content without sacrificing an emphasis on the NGSS practices. You will leave with resources to implement this in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
After outlining the current debate, attendees will examine several effective approaches to deal with both content and skills, while considering issues of equity, differentiation, and opportunity for students of all ages.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Montvale, NJ)

The poster will highlight and discuss some of the valuable technology resources that played a key role in allowing teachers to provide students with an equitable learning experience during the pandemic and how they can continue to be utilized as we return to the post pandemic classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
The poster will discuss strategies using tools such as Classkick, Gimkit, Blooket, and Edpuzzle to differentiate instruction in the classroom while encouraging persistence and achievement in students.

SPEAKERS:
Selene Verhofstad (Dobie High School: Houston, TX)

At arrival participants would receive a green or grey colored paper. They would then be prompted with the question, How would environmental changes impact the population of both green and grey colored insects? After brainstorming they would read and view some graphics on the poster of the “Impacts of Industrialization,” looking at how scientists have long studied how environmental changes impact organisms over time. Then, educators would participate in an online simulation, they would play as a bird and eat the moths in the simulation. Participants would then debrief their observations, hopefully finding that dark forest environment represented what the environment was during and after the Industrial Revolution. The light colored trees became dark and bare, due to the harmful effects of the pollution; this made the lighter colored moths harder to see and therefore gave them an advantage to survive. Poster facilitators would them help educators brainstorm other SS/Science connections.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will find unique ways that they can incorporate their science and social studies lessons more frequently and naturally.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Petersen (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ), Judith Lozoya (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ)

Explore what NSTA is offering online to support your professional learning needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA has to offer.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Our poster session will answer the following questions: What makes a good STEM Challenge? What types of supplies do I need? What happens if students are not engaged in the challenge? How do I assess the challenge? Our interactive poster board will answer these questions and more. Attendees can view videos of activities we have done to help students generate solutions to problems using the engineering design process. When they own it they will do it!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a STEM Supply list to use to create an unlimited amount of STEM challenges to encourage creative design and problem-solving. Many of the items on the list are free or very low-cost.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Gowen (Curriculum Consultant), Sue Bedard (iBuild Academy, Inc: ORANGE CITY, FL)

Applying design thinking, students, educators, and community members collaborate to solve issues facing our community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Encourage your students to engage in community partnerships to promote student learning; 2. Provide strategies to increase scientific literacy through socio-scientific issues; and 3. Facilitate an inclusive culture through student agency.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Joslyn (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: No City, No State)