In this session, Nyamwija, a native Ugandan, will provide songs, dances, and instrument-making from Western and Central Uganda. Dees will provide cross-cultural and cross-curricular hands-on-learning activities to intersect the Ugandan arts with NGSS standards. Twabakiira! Karibu! Welcome!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in music making (singing/dancing/drumming), as well as, instrument making to gain a greater sense of the Ugandan culture while combining those understandings in hand-on science activities for use in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jenny Dees (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX), Ristella Nyamwija (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX)

Discover interdisciplinary games and simulations that help younger students explore connections between themselves and the environment, including natural resource use, pollution and climate. Presented activities build skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis and critical thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will increase their understanding of basic human ecological concepts and best practices for introducing these concepts in their interdisciplinary elementary classrooms using 3D science instruction for a variety of learning styles.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Travaglini (Allegheny Land Trust: Sewickley, PA)

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)

Using "Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field, 2nd edition," several hands-on activities will be explored: data collection using cricket observations, the prisoner's dilemma, and how to read primary literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session would provide educators with ideas of how to teach general animal behavior/ecology topics that are adaptive to different learning environments and levels of students.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Zimbler-DeLorenzo (Associate Professor of Biology: Mableton, GA)

Worms excite everyone! They are cheap, easy to get, and can be the phenomenon to drive learning on a host of topics. Come play with worms and see how they can stimulate learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience a series of activities that will help them use earthworms as phenomena in elementary science. For each activity, we will discuss how to move from the specifics of worms into sensemaking around more general concepts that the activities illustrate.

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

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)

You’ve heard it said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Well, 3-D teaching and learning are “The Big Stuff” in science education. Join us for a 100% hands-on session of data collection, data analysis, and data discussion.

TAKEAWAYS:
The attendees will do a data collection activity on the cooling rates of water vs. isopropyl alcohol. The biggest takeaway will be an understanding of the importance of the structural properties of water--namely its polarity--and will apply this understanding to how water allows for life to exist.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Lukens (Retired Science Teacher: Sioux Falls, SD)

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)

Explore how to engage students in computational thinking using a newly developed, freely available simulation designed to address high school performance expectations in life science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to promote the science and engineering practice of computational thinking in the high school biology classroom. Participants will be introduced to a freely accessible computer simulation based on a real-world phenomenon designed to address PEs in biology.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Ben Koo (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Wendy Jackson (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

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)

In this workshop, participants will apply conceptual maps of photosynthesis and cellular respiration to simple algal assays. Collected assay data will be used to evidence real-time carbon cycling within the organism as well as serving as a model for ecological interplay between these processes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk through how students can measure and learn about photosynthesis, cellular respiration and the carbon cycle in the same hands-on lab.

SPEAKERS:
Audra Brown Ward (Upper School Biology Teacher: , GA)

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)

The lived experiences and narratives of Black heritage and African American Gullah-Geechee are used as engaging phenomena in inquiry lessons using the 5E model. The scientific practices are used to explore biology data cards created in a National Science Foundation funded project.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engaging in inquiry and scientific practices using the cultural resources of Black heritage facilitate engagement in the NGSS three dimensions of STEM. Attendees receive free resources created from this project. Connections to Common Core and equitable classroom practices will be made.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Quinlan (Howard University)

Butterflies, birds, bees, bats, & books blend as topics and tools for teaching engaging outdoor lessons. Get hands on animal artifacts & rethink the student science journal. Interwoven throughout, suggestions for appropriate children’s literature will include books from NSTA Kids, the Outstanding Sc

TAKEAWAYS:
The main take away will be cost effective, hands on, content specific strategies for teaching appropriate NGSS standards outdoors or with materials gathered from the outdoors. integration of children's literature and strategies for science journals/notebooks will accompany each teaching strategy.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Rich (Science Author/Consultant: Atlanta, GA)

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)

The topic of mRNA vaccines can introduce or reinforce ideas about central dogma (DNA->RNA->proteins) while challenging students to explore various vaccine misconceptions. Activities include an exploration of vaccine-preventable diseases and a timeline-building activity for mRNA vaccine development.

TAKEAWAYS:
mRNA vaccines, like other vaccines, help your immune system to fight infections in order to prevent severe illness. mRNA vaccines are unique in utilizing your cell’s own machinery to evoke a targeted immune response.

SPEAKERS:
Jeanne Chowning (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: No City, No State), Hanako Osuga (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center), Regina Wu (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Seattle, WA)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Explore a 10-lesson unit in which students follow a young girl’s cancer journey. Participants will work through 3 hands-on activities that center NGSS science and engineering practices to engage students in learning about mitosis, the cell cycle and cell differentiation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore 3 activities: Blood Panel Analysis - Disease diagnosis through blood cell count anomalies. Modeling Cell Differentiation - Differential expression of genes drives development of blood from hematopoietic stem cells. Cell Cycle Game - Cancer results from disruptions in cell cycle controls.

SPEAKERS:
Regina Wu (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Seattle, WA), Hannah Crowder (Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton: Atherton, CA)

This new framing of a popular forensics lab connects science topics such as DNA technology to mass incarceration by using real cases of wrongful convictions. The lab and accompanying series were featured in NSTA’s The Science Teacher (July/August 2022).

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how DNA technology can be used not only to identify criminals but also to exonerate the innocent. This can help present science in a social context, connecting it to topics such as mass incarceration and the criminal legal system.

SPEAKERS:
Jeanne Chowning (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: No City, No State), Hanako Osuga (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center)

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)

Gain ideas for incorporating the science of e-cigarettes into STEM instruction through an examination of curriculum connections; receive a suite of data interpretation activities that showcase how toxicologists are studying the effects inhaled e-cigarette aerosols on health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to describe the components of e-cigarette liquids and inhaled aerosols; identify curriculum connections; interpret published scientific data (e.g., graphs).

SPEAKERS:
Dana Haine (UNC Institute for the Environment: Chapel Hill, NC)

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)

Have you wondered how to set group norms in your science classes in a way that feels engaging and relevant? This session combines the life science concept of mutualism with social emotional learning as students work collaboratively with their teacher to develop class norms that benefit everyone.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to implement a norm-setting protocol through a life science lens that will engage your students intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Rose Mosh (Greensboro Day School: Greensboro, NC)

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)

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)

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)

Ever wondered what microorganisms might be hiding in a plant? Probably not! But we'll show you how to translate real high-level research into a highly engaging lab your students will remember and enjoy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a lab protocol to isolate plant endophytes with their students

SPEAKERS:
Sloan Almehmi (Student), Katie Busch (The University of Alabama at Birmingham: Birimingham, AL)

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)