Feeling overwhelmed by all there is to see and do at an NSTA conference on science education? Join us for an interactive exploration through the conference app and NSTA’s social media. By the end of the session, you will know just how to get the most from your conference experience in addition to bu

What will be describe in this session is are community science events that can be organized with themes that use natural phenomena or NGSS standards, practices, and outcomes that a school would like to promote.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to update these events to go beyond the traditional Family Science Events that are superficial. One main takeaway are example indepth activities and resources that can be used for use with families and students

SPEAKERS:
Annabelle Fortine (Central Michigan University: Eagle, MI), Lavender Bertsch (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Hannah Smock (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Morgan Glann (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Nicole Merner (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Makayla Spencer (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Emma Harma (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Jim McDonald (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI)

This session will highlight the coaching up of intentional literacy instruction during science time for coaches and teachers. School districts select goals based on their district improvement plans to support writing, reading, and/or academic productive talk. Facilitation guides provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a model for cross-disciplinary work during science instruction to take to their districts, supporting both instructional coaches and teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Presson (Early Literacy Coach: Muskegon, MI), Christi Gilbert (Literacy and EL Coach), Wendi Vogel (Kent Intermediate School District: Grand Rapids, MI)

Come learn three discussion routines that can transform your science lessons: “I Notice, I Wonder, I Predict”, “Data Discussions”, and “Let’s Make Sense of It All”. Together we’ll explore key features of each talk, participate in enactments, and brainstorm ways to have more talk time in our lessons

TAKEAWAYS:
For young students, talking is learning as students learn as they talk through their own ideas and listen to the ideas of others. This session highlights three whole class science discussion routines that can transform elementary science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Washington County Public Schools, MD had adopted the definition of Acceleration as intentionally providing access to grade/course-level learning so students who have unfinished learning succeed in today’s learning experience. Underpinning this definition we have leaned on the work of John Hattie to identify 4 high-impact areas(relationships, scaffolds, clarity, feedback) of teaching and learning to frame our focus away from traditional remediation. This session will look at the practice of scaffolding instruction in the science classroom. Attendees will participate in collaborative discussions and experience the use of authentic classroom examples. These experiences will promote their own thinking of how our practical strategies can be transferred into their classrooms. Due to the organizational leadership role of the presenters, audience members will be able to have questions ranging from classroom implementation to curriculum integration discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
The practical use of instructional scaffolds and the supporting strategies to increase access to student learning in science.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Ellis (Washington County Public Schools: Hagerstown, MD)

Addressing the needs of all the different learners in science can be challenging. Join us as we take a deep dive into research-based strategies and practices so that all students can succeed in science class no matter their learning need.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away a better understanding of addressing learner variability as it applies to science and Identify at least two strategies to promote student engagement, representation, or communication for planning future science lessons or adapting current lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Shirley-Stevens (Science Program Specialist), Judie Beccaro (Georgia Department of Education: Atlanta, GA)

COESEE - Join us to learn more about assessment of elementary science learning using elementary learning stories.

TAKEAWAYS:
Creating student learning stories can help support assessment in elementary classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Ewing (The Charles A. Dana Center: No City, No State)

Participants will engage in several activities that explore how a teacher explicitly prepares for collaborative conversations within a lesson. Participants will delve into strategies such as targeted questioning, talk moves, and instructional routines that promote science discourse within the class

TAKEAWAYS:
Develop understanding of the role a teacher takes in preparing for collaborative conversations that produce effective science discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Armetta Wright (Great Minds: No City, No State), Vicki Saxton (Implementation Support Specialist: CHICAGO, IL)

Young children naturally engage in science and engineering practices through play. Educators can support this kind of learning through purposeful play environments and subtle facilitation. In this session, educators will discover how to recognize and extend children’s play-based science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be introduced to an observation tool, which allows them to measure how children are engaging in science and engineering practices. Educators will gain practice using the tool with video-based cases and discuss effective strategies to support children’s play-based science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Miller (Bowdoin College: Brunswick, ME), Maranda Chung (Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance)

How do we center students in NGSS units designed for a national audience? Join us to explore how a team of K-8 educators are developing resources and strategies that incorporate local phenomena, community needs, and the lived experiences of their students into their teaching of Amplify Science units

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become familiar with an approach used to localize national curricula and take away research-based and equity centered tools, resources and approaches they can use in their own efforts to localize their curricula and create an inclusive classroom environment.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Brad Street (IslandWood: Bainbridge Island, WA)

Presenters will share two units in which science is integrated with ELA, math, and social studies. This session will share the process of unit creation and how incorporation with other content areas strengthens science instruction. Two units will be shared-one for kindergarten and one for 3rd grade.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate multiple content standards to strength science instruction as well as leave with two examples of fully integrated elementary units. In addition to the sharing of the units, presenters will share the creation process so participants can engage in this work.

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

Simple, easy, and inexpensive methods for starting an indoor school garden, even with limited space or no windows

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will give teachers pratical ideas about how to grow plants in a classroom setting

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY)

What is the big deal with a phenomenon—and how is it structured for science learning? A phenomenon drives three-dimensional science instruction. Join this session to discuss the importance of phenomena as well as what it is and what it isn’t. Resources will be shared!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the importance phenomena plays in 3D Science instruction , instructional strategies to use when sensemaking. and how to assess student learning using phenomenon-based assessment tasks.

SPEAKERS:
Judie Beccaro (Georgia Department of Education: Atlanta, GA)

COESEE - Join us to explore the selection and implementation of phenomenon for elementary students as you review materials or build phenomenon into your own materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon can be used in multiple ways to support interesting and just learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly LeDoux (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Molly Ewing (The Charles A. Dana Center: No City, No State), Carla Zembal-Saul (Penn State: University Park, PA), Mary Starr (Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network)

Does your district have limited support for science in Elementary schools? Join us to explore recruiting classroom teachers to develop a science teacher leader community that supports quality science instruction in PreK-5 in all schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies for developing these science teacher leaders that can increase student performance/interest in science, fostering a science community among educators, enhancing their capacity in science education best practice, and developing their leadership skills.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Reese (Howard County Public School System: Ellicott City, MD), Jenn Brown-Whale (Howard County Public School System: Ellicott City, MD), Linda Wilson (Manor Woods Elementary School: Ellicott City, MD)

Many states are adopting policy that promotes the use of high-quality standards-aligned curriculum for all grade levels. However, educators may question the accessibility of these units for all students. In the Science Curriculum Adaptation Project for Special Educators (SCAPE) program, science specialists from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education worked with special educators to adapt the NYU SAIL “Garbage” unit for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Science specialists provided learning activities around the structures and routines in the unit and guided teachers through key lessons. Teachers then identified barriers and used Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to adapt the unit for their students to access ideas and SEPs in the unit. Each teacher participant left with an adapted unit to pilot with students. In this presentation we will outline the program and share examples of adaptations made for students with disabilities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session attendees will learn about a MA program designed to support special education teachers in using the high quality “Garbage” unit with their students. Attendees will also see examples of UDL-based adaptations that can be used with science students with moderate to severe disabilities.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Palo (Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Boston, MA), Casandra Gonzalez (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Malden, MA)

Can science and art be held to the same rigor in a classroom? Of course! In this session we’ll share student-centered approaches to teaching science and the arts through integration as part of larger PBLs. Examples of classroom practices are targeted to K-8 educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain ideas and strategies to put into practice in their classes. These strategies will allow them to help students construct and demonstrate their learning using art as well as use science knowledge to help solve problems through the creation of art.

SPEAKERS:
Daria Collins (Visual Arts teacher), Kaleena Jedinak (Tybee Island Maritime Academy: Tybee Island, GA)

What started out as our solution to “viewing science fair projects can be boring” evolved into a well-attended, hands-on experience for our families and community. In this session we will share our station-oriented activities and how to use them to build relationships with families and your school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the resources and confidence to organize large events for their school and community using science to build relationships. Session participants will be given an outline of helpful resources, tools, and ideas they can use to manage their own events.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Hunt (First Grade Teacher: Eustis, FL), Anne Fritz (Science Teacher: Eustis, FL)

Advanced spatial thinkers do well in science, and building spatial skills can improve achievement. In this session, we will explore why science teachers should care about spatial skills, pedagogical tools to build these skills, and how they can be put into practice to build scientific knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will (1) gain an understanding of what spatial skills are and why they are important to success in science learning, courses, and careers; and (2) learn how to incorporate five spatial “tools” into their pedagogy and their students’ activities during science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Gagnier (Senior Research Scientist: Arlington, VA)

Scared of science? Wondering how to put it ALL together? Join us as we look at how a K-6 STEAM Elementary school creates science units that are project-based and student focused, without breaking the bank or burning out!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will understand how to create unit frameworks that are informative, easy to use, and lead to quick lesson planning.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Shaughnessy (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO), Ryan Mahn (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO)

Do you struggle with integrating your local habitat with science and literacy? Engaging K-3 students in content-integrated outdoor learning can be difficult for a variety of reasons. However, engaging students in environmental education outdoors is vital for developing scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using appropriate children’s literature, lessons were developed that emphasize the role of streams, water, and the local watershed allowing teachers to focus specifically on aspects of the stream that are relevant to the standards in their grade level. These will be shared with participants.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Catherine Cox (Carrollton Elementary School: Carrollton, GA), Brent Gilles (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA), Stacey Britton (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA)

Shifting your instructional practices to align to 3-D Science doesn't happen overnight! Teaching 3-D Science lessons requires you to rethink many of your best lessons! RCPS elementary teachers have been on this journey for quite some time. Walk with RCPS Instructional Leaders, as we share our districts journey into 3D science. We will celebrate our successes and challenges. Hear how we are shifting from best practices to better practices in order to facilitate and implement support for our elementary science teachers as they grow their skills in 3D Science teaching. Hear the lessons learned firsthand from our elementary science coach who has personally taken this journey. We invite you to share our journey as we continue to create a culture that embraces the rethinking of science teaching, learning, and leading. We hope that you will be propelled by a new energy that will fuel you to support teachers/leaders with creating a science learning culture that nurtures curiosity and growth!

TAKEAWAYS:
As we embark on this journey together, we hope that you will be propelled by a new energy that will fuel you to support teachers and leaders with creating a science learning culture that nurtures curiosity and growth!

SPEAKERS:
Denise Richardson (Rockdale County Public Schools: Conyers, GA), Christy Hernandez (Rockdale County Public Schools: Conyers, GA)

Leaders from the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and The Lawrence Hall of Science will share insights from the K-5 Project for Content Integration with Science as the Anchor. Participants will learn about the essential features for mutually supportive content integration and the tools, and strategies explored in the project. Participants will discuss their prior experiences with content integration and consider the research-based models used to ground the work of the teachers in this project, who come in from a variety of contexts and with a range of knowledge of NGSS, much like the diverse attendees of NSTA. We will focus on entry points for furthering implementation by introducing an Organizational Tool for planning with NGSS-designed science materials. Participants will reflect on how the resources can apply in their own context as an instructional leader supporting multiple teachers or a teacher using these ideas for their grade level or classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in this session will gain insight into the principles and definitions of content integration and take away resources, tools and strategies for how these ideas apply in their K-5 educational context.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Velez (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Sarah Pedemonte (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Vanessa Lujan (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

In this session, participants will be introduced to the Touch-Talk-Text interdisciplinary instructional model for teaching science and literacy. Participants will develop interdisciplinary science lessons using NGSS-based lesson resources aligned with the 5E lesson format.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using strategies presented in the Touch-Talk-Text interdisciplinary instructional model, participants will analyze and plan NGSS-aligned elementary science lessons that integrate literacy and science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Trager (Graduate Student: , NC), Danielle Scharen (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC)

Come hear how my teaching and student learning changed by using a Gather, Reasoning, and Communicate approach to my lesson planning. Insights on time management and student outcomes will be shared - the good and the not-so-good. I’ll also share why I think this approach leads to deeper 3D learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will take away explicit strategies of how to implement G,R,C lessons with your class including how to scaffold the approach with different grade levels, 2-4th grade, and how to roll out the approach in your first year.

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

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)

If we treat content areas as silos, we’ll never find time for Science. In this session, discover how to create authentic learning experiences that increase engagement, develop thinking skills, and connect across content areas. Come willing to try something new; leave with practical project ideas!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will formulate an understanding of the characteristics of authentic learning experiences. They’ll discover a PBL framework that can help them meet rigorous content standards while engaging students in making the world a better place.

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

Many districts de-prioritized elementary science during the pandemic and now are struggling to reignite consistent science instruction. Building, tapping, and deploying teacher leaders is a key strategy for quickly reintroducing science into the culture of your district. Teacher leaders can model best practices, demonstrate how science fits into their schedule and instructional priorities, and can guide colleagues to do the same by facilitating institutes, workshops, video reflections, PLCs, and coaching sessions. Improving Practice Together, an NSF-funded partnership between Lawrence Hall of Science, Stanford University, and Santa Clara USD, developed a suite of tools for developing and studying development of science teacher leaders, including: professional learning tools for summer institutes to support teachers’ classroom practice; tools to support development of teacher leaders; lesson artifacts, classroom videos, & teacher interviews; and research & evaluation tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Improving Practice Together website contains resources to support: facilitating and evaluating classroom science argumentation; leading and evaluating professional learning on argumentation; and the development and deployment of teacher leaders to support science learning in a school or district

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Pedemonte (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Diana Velez (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Krista Woodward (Santa Clara Unified School District: Santa Clara, CA), Emily Weiss (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Participants will learn about many different books and resources to integrate multiple subjects into their units, lesson plans, and project-based learning units. Teachers will also have the opportunity to see integrated units and some of the planning materials used to build these units.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use a variety of picture books to build lessons, pbls, and units. This session will give resources and materials to help you quickly and easily find books and other resources to use in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kahlilah Pagan (Teacher: College Park, GA)

This session provides a “snapshot” of how to use the 5E model of instruction, along with children’s literature while learning the process of coding different bots.

TAKEAWAYS:
Prepare to focus your lens with highlighted lessons in ELA, Math, and Science. This session puts the “T" in STEM into action.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Headrick (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Charles Holloway (The University of Alabama in Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Cayce Perry (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Shundra Morris (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL)

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)

Former teacher and host of the freely-available Tumble Science Podcast for Kids Marshall Escamilla will guide science educators in the nuts and bolts of creating a classroom podcast. We'll cover the very basics of getting set up and sharing your content with the entire community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees at this session will learn the very basics of how to create a classroom podcast from a professional podcaster.

SPEAKERS:
Marshall Escamilla (Tumble Media Production: Greenfield, MA)

Claim Evidence and Reasoning a strategy to increase engagement and assess student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will use the Claim Evidence and Reasoning protocol to check student content knowledge, increase discourse and improve literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Lindiwe Ngubeni (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA), Felicia Pratt (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA), Warren Edwards (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA)

COESEE - High-quality read alouds are amazing learning opportunities. Join us as we share our work and thinking around the use of fiction and non-fiction books in elementary science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Read alouds can provide high-quality, standards-aligned learning experiences within the context of a science unit.

SPEAKERS:
Miranda Fitzgerald (University of North Carolina Charlotte: No City, No State), Katherine Pfeiffer (Discovery Middle School: Orlando, FL), Amy Quinn (Gretchko: West Bloomfield, MI), Mary Starr (Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network)

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)

This is session #4 in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. The crosscutting concepts provide a consistent language for student communication. When teachers’ assessment prompts are designed with the crosscutting concepts, the focus of student thinking can be directed to different aspects of the phenomenon or, the system being investigated. Patterns may be used as evidence to support explanations or arguments for the causes of a phenomenon. Participants will explore the progression of Crosscutting Concepts throughout a student’s K-12 career. They will consider phenomenon and discuss several appropriate prompts that bring different CCCs to the forefront (patterns, scale, systems). Participants will engage with the process of developing assessment prompts which use the Crosscutting Concepts to initiate student sensemaking responses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participant will leave with resources that guide their development and use of Crosscutting Concepts to focus student sensemaking on assessments. These can be integrated with assessments prompts which are aligned to Science and Engineering Practices and Disciplinary Core Ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: No City, No State), Christopher Soldat (Grant Wood Area Education Agency: Cedar Rapids, IA)

Experience ways to incorporate fiction and nonfiction in science that support students at all levels. Explore books that engage and motivate students to enjoy literature while providing opportunities to make sense of science concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will provide resources to show how we weave science fiction/nonfiction text into science lessons integrating literature and science in phenomena, SEP, NGSS, CCC alignment.

SPEAKERS:
Tiffany Jones (South Cobb High School: Austell, GA), Stephanie Westhafer (West Jackson Elementary School: Hoschton, GA), Amanda Buice (Executive Director: Kennesaw, GA), Marlee Tierce (Retired Educator: Vonore, TN)

School campuses and school gardens provide inspiring learning opportunities for supporting elementary students’ scientific sensemaking. Students have explicit experiences with science phenomena that are relevant and developmentally appropriate. Scientific sensemaking in the students' local school environment includes (1) access to authentic scientific phenomena, (2) meaningful integration of 3D learning (disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts) and the 5E learning cycle, and (3) multimodal classroom discourse focusing on engaging all students. Students revise and refine their scientific understanding over time in the outdoor classrooms, while also enhancing reading, writing, and communication skills. We will share elementary science lessons and stories that integrate 3D learning and the 5E learning cycle and deepen students' investigation of their local learning environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use outdoor learning environments to teach 3D/5E elementary science lessons. They will see how standards were used and integrated to develop both in person and virtual science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Camryn Lochner (Teacher: No City, No State), Tess Mitchner Asinjo (Principal: Dayton, OH), Hannah Salaiz (Teacher), Michelle Fleming (Wright State University: Dayton, OH)

Come and learn more about key instructional teaching strategies K-12 for implementation of the SEP and CCC. You will receive grade-band cards for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
The SEP and CCC cards were developed for K-12 teachers to have a deeper understanding of the Science and Engineering Practices and the Crosscutting Concepts as well as suggestions for implementing them in classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Chambless (St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency: Marysville, MI)

Find out how contemporary scientists’ cutting-edge research can be shared with elementary students and linked to curriculum topics. Short articles written in language that children can understand and accompanying Teacher Guides describing practical activities to mirror the research will be shared.

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)

Using the "Claim, Evidence, Reasoning" model with elementary students helps to build scientific literacy as students understand how to support their ideas with evidence. Student sample work and using CER's as a formative assessment tool will be discussed in this presentation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Presenters in this session will model a fun way to introduce the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning model to elementary students. Teachers will leave with examples of how to use the CER model correlated to state standards for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to build scientific literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Rawls (Instructional Coach: Thomaston, GA), Debi Hancock (Teacher: Thomaston, GA), Jina Chapman (teacher: , GA), Nicole Channin (Upson Lee Elementary: Thomaston, GA), Donna Fouts (Upson-Lee Elementary)

Join us and learn how to incorporate Kagan cooperative grouping structures into your science curriculum. Your students will benefit from these research-supported strategies that are easy to implement and flexible enough to meet your needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will model each structure as our participants join in. This experience will help participants develop a sense of efficacy and confidence to add these structures to their own programming. Each participant will leave confident in his/her ability to use three different cooperative groups structures.

SPEAKERS:
Traci Kell (Assistant Professor of Education: , AL), Grace Langston (Student: , AL), Tami Shelley (Auburn University at Montgomery: Montgomery, AL), Nicholas Bourke (Auburn University at Montgomery: Montgomery, AL)

Ever run out of time to incorporate science into your elementary school day? The workshop model can help you conquer that problem. This tried-and-true, research-based instructional approach provides a framework for fitting an engaging, effective three-dimensional science lesson into a 30-minute bloc

TAKEAWAYS:
The workshop model isn’t just for math and literacy—elementary teachers can use this instructional approach to fit effective, engaging, hands-on science lessons into their daily instructional routine.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Bodner (Cobb County Schools & GSTA Board of Directors)

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)

Engage process skills and literacy using a variety of primary resources. With the handouts provided, you'll be ready to entice students into critical thinking practices. Analyze human tools. Infer natural disasters. Observe modes of transportation. Develop questions about maps and land features.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, attendees will learn how to use primary resources relating to science topics for elementary students to engage critical thinking, literacy, and content knowledge.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Boulden (Warner University: Lake Wales, FL)

Making observations about the world around us and being able to record that in written and drawn form is a skill critical for scientists. In the elementary classroom, students comprehension greatly increases when observation skills are expanded. Learn how to increase this within your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to engage your students as scientists in a new way, drawing! Understand the basics of drawing and how it connects to scientific observations. These simple and easy steps will transform the scientific drawings your students are creating during class to increase their overall comprehension.

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

Featuring educators and digital media creators from Tinkercast, the creator of the STEM-themed, #1 kids podcast Wow in the World, sharing the HOW, WHY, and WOW of using podcasts in the classroom, including how podcasts can help address the achievement gap in listening and literacy skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Podcasts offer educators opportunities to enhance listening and literacy skills, spark creativity, encourage collaboration, and ignite a passion for learning, with specific benefits for ESL learners and students performing below grade level in ELA.

SPEAKERS:
Meredith Halpern-Ranzer (CEO: montclair, NJ), Kristen Giang (Sr Director, Digital: Oak Park, CA), Natascha Crandall (Educational and Research Consultant: Woodcliff Lake, NJ), Carole Paterson (Science Teacher: Ligonier, PA)

Exploring Monarch Butterflies in Science and Art

TAKEAWAYS:
This quick session will introduce insects to a class designed for both Science and Art.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY)

Starting with a 3D learning target will ensure you build a lesson that includes a strong connection between Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Cross-Cutting Concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will create 3D learning targets and outline lessons that guide students through sense making instruction as they explore scientific content.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Suarez (Northwest ISD: Fort Worth, TX), Courtney Toht (Northwest ISD: Fort Worth, TX)

Join to hear how our district support team in Hawaii developed an innovative Lending Library system for STEM resource borrowing. We’ll share challenges and successes from our initial five items in 2017, to currently managing a massive system with over 130 items.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with ideas and considerations to kick-start or remodel a similar project in their current roles as educational leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Shelley Deakins (Science/STEM Resource Teacher: Kaneohe, HI), Ryan Kagami (Windward District Office: Kaneohe, HI)

Learning rarely takes place in only one space. In this session, identify strategies for developing and executing STEAM-based curriculum for young learners. Shift your mindset from “child homework” to “family learning” as we discuss ways to engage parents and families as stakeholders in learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will identify strategies for creating lessons grounded in STEAM and engaging parents and families in their child’s learning.

SPEAKERS:
Samanta Gutierrez (Professional Learning Specialist: No City, No State), Patricia Ratanapraphart (STEM Content Manager: Dallas, TX)

STEM careers are for ALL students! Learn how to bridge the gap between STEM careers and classroom spaces by exploring proven strategies for hosting STEM professionals in your elementary classroom! Walk away with a complete engagement guide written for elementary teachers, by elementary teachers!

TAKEAWAYS:
Through the lens of equity and inclusion, participants will explore tips for sustained classroom-based STEM career exposure success (both in-person & virtual), including: selecting and preparing speakers, planning an engaging classroom visit, and maintaining relationships with STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Pearson (Adams 12 Five Star Schools), Cameron McKinley (Technology Integration Coach), Kristen Record (Bunnell High School - National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY): No City, No State)

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 adapt and use Science Provision Maps in your setting to create stimulating science learning experiences for ages 3-5 that develop their scientific knowledge, understanding and literacy.

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

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)

With Extension Services being in every county in every state, your local county/parish Extension Office can be a great partner to enhance student learning. Come learn about strategies on how to work Extension Agents & K-12 educators can partner together in student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Provide ideas on how teachers and Extension Agents can partner together to enhance student learning

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Giles (Extension Agent I - 4-H Youth Development: Green Cove Springs, FL)

In this session we will explore the way that open source tools and techniques can be used to bring citizen science to life in your classroom. This will be a whirlwind session where examples from the tools will be shared as will results of these tools from classroom implementation and how these data

TAKEAWAYS:
A set of tools that will expand the participants knowledge base for implementing citizen science in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Jabot (SUNY Fredonia: Fredonia, NY)

In this 30 minute session we will explore the common constraints of elementary teachers and how to overcome some of them by using common classroom structures to support science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Essential Question: How can elementary teachers leverage existing classroom structures to support science learning? Answer: Through the intentional use of math and reading flex group practice to allow students to reinforce and apply scientific concepts outside of traditional “science” time.

SPEAKERS:
Russell Swanson (Instructor: , KS)

This presentation demonstrates the lasting power and depth of learning through interdisciplinary projects. Come see how science and language arts can be combined for students to have the opportunity to share knowledge about symbiosis through side-by-side poetry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use poetry to communicate how organisms survive. Participants will leave knowing how to introduce side-by-side poetry through a scientific lens, demonstrating a unique way of understanding symbiosis.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Autry (Sheridan School: Washington, DC)

Each year new teachers join districts ready to work with students. Navigating district initiatives, curriculum, parents and student learning can be overwhelming. To support new teachers, Northwest ISD developed New Teacher Academy, a unique, on-going PD to help retain teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the components of New Teacher Academy and how to implement strategies focused on brand new and new to district teachers in order to support teachers and increase retention.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Toht (Northwest ISD: Fort Worth, TX), Kelly Suarez (Northwest ISD: Fort Worth, TX)

Creating connected learning pathways for youth starts with connecting and supporting their educators. Learn about essential elements of building learning ecosystems and stories of the collaborative work that is coming out of Learning Ecosystems Northeast's Connected Learning Ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about essential elements of building supportive learning ecosystems. Local educator leaders will share stories of some of the collaborative and complementary work that is coming out of Learning Ecosystems Northeast's Connected Learning Ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Spooner (Van Buren District Secondary School), Diana Allen (Sanford Junior High School: Sanford, ME), Molly Auclair (Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Portland, ME)