We will present activities developed for high-need urban schools (elementary and middle school focus) that lead to weather, ecology, life cycles, and water quality classroom discussions and ask attendees to challenge us to match activities to their needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
No matter what a school’s environment, urban or rural, students can be engaged in Earth systems study to prepare them to be stewards of the Earth.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Feit (Research Scientist - Project Manager: Boston, MA), Peter Garik (Boston University: Boston, MA)

An 11 year old recently found a trilobite in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Let's explore this phenomenon and how customizing existing high-quality, open-source lessons for local stories create a cohesive storyline for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) How to customize existing high-quality, open-source lessons that pair with local phenomena; 2) What fossil evidence scientists use to support claims about past environments; and 3) Where to find open-source storylines for the elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Cox (Knox County Schools: Knoxville, TN)

We will share our experiences of teaching science with big ideas to guide students’ learning. We will introduce some tips and strategies for teachers on writing big ideas from the standards, making them visible in the classroom, and centering student activities around the big idea.

TAKEAWAYS:
Big ideas enable a cognitive framework for teachers to direct classroom activities and assist learners in seeing the connections between various scientific concepts. Teachers can create big ideas for their science curriculum and use them to guide students’ science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Hill (Teacher: Tuscaloosa, AL), Taylor Lamon (Saban Center Education Specialist), Jale Ercan Dursun (The University of Alabama: Tuscaloosa, AL)

Students challenged by the concept of time? Hard time understanding the processes that have shaped the Earths’ surface? Explore using science-based trade books to support young students’ conceptualization of time and their ability to communicate around earth’s changing features.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore how they can address NGSS & Common Core ELA standards by using science-based trade books and modeling to support young students in conceptualizing and communicating how changes in the Earth’s surface occur over time.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rearden (The University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Knoxville, TN), Amy Broemmel (The University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI)

Provide students with the power of citizen science as they make scientific observations and analyze data to increase awareness worldwide about the impact of light pollution using NSF’s NOIRLab’s Globe at Night program. Students engage with authentic data to propose local solutions to light pollution

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the impacts of light pollution and walk away with resources and strategies to implement this citizen science campaign in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab), Justine Schaen (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

We’ll explore key stances, strategies, and resources for supporting elementary students to learn about and take collective action in response to authentic socio-ecological challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Young learners are capable of consequential and justice-centered learning about social, political, environmental, and climate issues. Concerns about “developmental appropriateness” can perpetuate dominant forms of science and invisibilize marginalized students’ lived experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Rae Han (EarthGen: No City, No State), Pranjali Upadhyay (Educational Service District 112: Vancouver, WA)

A master gardener and science educator will share their strategies for fostering young learners’ understanding of plant and animal interdependence through community gardening.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about strategies for engaging students in gardening, such as “Pest or Guest?” for promoting insect/plant interdependence, and steps to take for establishing a successful gardening program.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Cummings (Master Gardener), Kristin Rearden (The University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Knoxville, TN)

This session will introduce NSTA's phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional instructional materials designed for elementary classrooms. These lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning meaningful to them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Purposeful use of quality media and text is especially important for young learners, a group often overlooked in the development of science media. Media can connect science content to students’ lives and make the material more accessible to more students.

TAKEAWAYS:
You’ll leave the session with a list of resources and ideas for actively engaging your students with media during science instruction and tips for supporting your students in engaging in science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Shawn Stevens (GBH Education: Brighton, MA)

Are you looking for ways to attract a diverse group of students to STEM and provide authentic learning experiences? In-Flight Education Downlinks engage students with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Join us and learn ways to write a competitive downlink proposal that stands out.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will understand the proposal requirements for an In-Flight Education Downlink, use key metrics to draft an Impact Statement, and leave with insights on planning an event that incorporates a broader audience and leaves a lasting impact on the local community.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Whitfield (Education Coordinator)