Background information, teacher demonstrations, and fun, hands-on student explorations to better help you introduce K-3 students to the basic concepts of science and energy, as well as measurement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Help educators learn hands-on activities to introduce primary students to the basic concepts of science and energy using NEED's free curriculum while providing suggestions for use across the K-3 setting.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Swan (The NEED Project: Manassas, VA)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Yoo (STEAM Specialist)

A hands on simulation based on probabilities from scientific literature is used to investigate the effect of community structure on the prevalence of infected ticks. This anchoring phenomenon is extended to explore population ecology, trophic cascades, biodiversity, and the dilution effect.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with a set of lessons that teach many core concepts in ecology using a modeling approach. The hands on simulation will be supplemented by computer models that allow students to explore population growth curves and more complex community relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Carroll (Yorktown High School: Arlington, VA), Michael Zito (Yorktown High School: Arlington, VA)

This STEM activity includes reading a book and involves one-hour lessons over seven days. Student groups design, build, test, and analyze parachute models.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student groups learn that the engineering design process and the scientific method are circular processes as they design, build, test, and evaluate a parachute model then improve it.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Cunningham (Purdue University: West Lafayette, IN)

Do probiotic products really contain the number of bacteria they claim? Do expiration dates really matter? How do supplements compare to food products?

TAKEAWAYS:
Practice the use of serial dilution, aseptic technique, and culturing to evaluate probiotic products with the goal of understanding the use of probiotics and the different environmental and nutritional needs required for bacterial growth and reproduction.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Vignolini (Biology Teacher)

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

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

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

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

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

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

This session will pair seemingly odd ideas (roleplaying and buffers) together for a dynamic activity that increases student engagement. Roleplaying is an effective instructional strategy that supports ELL learners and those who need harder concepts broken down.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn a differentiated approach to introducing buffers, one of the most challenging topics in AP Chemistry, in a creative and fun activity where ELL and students of all levels will learn about buffers.

SPEAKERS:
Permeil Dass (: Tyrone, GA)

Come to a fun, interactive workshop on integrating elementary science with math and writing. Learn how we prepare elementary science teachers to integrate across content areas in meaningful ways for students. Leave with a plan for integrating your own curriculum standards in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students collecting data in science creates multiple possibilities to integrate math and writing. This session focuses on taking commonly used investigations and adding interdisciplinary connections. Attendees will learn strategies to integrate writing and math to argue scientific claims.

SPEAKERS:
Bailey Nafziger (Georgia Southern University), Alesia Moldavan (Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Science Education), Katie Brkich (Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, GA)

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

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

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