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)

CDC staff will provide a tour of CDC’s publicly available STEM resources for teachers. The session will feature the newly released CDC NERD Academy curriculum, which uses real-world COVID-19 data and scenarios to teach foundational science, math, and critical thinking skills. These lesson plans, activities, and videos are designed to include everything a STEM teacher needs, even without previous knowledge of public health. CDC staff will illustrate how Module 2: How does disease spread? can be used to teach students about the science behind prevention strategies. Attendees will also meet a diverse group of fictional characters and real CDC staff to help introduce some public health STEM careers. By session’s end, attendees will have practiced how to use one of CDC’s ready-to-go STEM resources, gained insight on how to create lessons using real CDC data and scenarios from journal articles, and gathered ideas on how to get students interested in public health careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use public health examples to illustrate key STEM concepts and skills and to introduce students to STEM careers in public health.

SPEAKERS:
Juliana Azeredo (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

Review data analysis/collecting techniques to help students young and old to learn the relationships between types of data and analysis of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about "orders of variables" and how understanding these can help their students to better engage in making and interpreting graphs.

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

Whales are complex creatures whose adaptations and behavior can serve as engaging phenomena for lessons. The Wade Institute and New Bedford Whaling Museum invite you to explore interdisciplinary approaches to teaching with whales and participate in inquiry investigations you can do with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whale adaptations, behavior, and relationship with humans can serve as investigative phenomena that you can use to teach inquiry-based lessons in science and across a variety of interdisciplinary subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA), Allison Pagliaro (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

Executive function deficits are common in students and impact achievement. Come learn what executive functioning is and strategies to make your classroom executive function friendly.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of what executive functioning is and how problems with executive functioning can impact student engagement in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will walk away with ready to implement strategies and ideas to reach all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thomas (F. A. Day Middle School: No City, No State)

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused—no matter what life throws at you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

This is session #2 in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. Attendees will explore the Framework progression documents to understand what is appropriate for their grade level. They will learn about and engage in hands-on activities paired with talk strategies and protocols that focus classroom talk on making sense of observations and data using the Crosscutting Concepts. Attendees will have the chance to talk with fellow participants about how they might use these strategies and tools in their classroom or role and how they can be differentiated to be used at different grade levels. Participants will leave with a virtual toolbox of resources they can take home and apply right away in their sphere.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with discussion strategies and tools they can implement right away in classrooms to support student discourse and sensemaking anchored in the Crosscutting Concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: No City, No State), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA)

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)

This session will integrate programming/coding as a tool for use in a science classroom. Participants will use various tools, such as Scratch, to implement programming in their already designed science classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how to integrate computer science into their science classroom; 2. experience resources they can use in their classrooms; and 3. develop a lesson using computer science in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tammie Schrader (Level Up Education: No City, No State)

Participants will learn about block coding, physical computing, and how small microcontrollers can be used with middle school students to conduct inquiry investigations using a computational thinking approach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the basics of block coding (using either Scratch or the web-based emulator for a widely available microcontroller) & the principals of physical computing/computational thinking as applied to science classrooms to help students conduct better inquiry investigations.

SPEAKERS:
Susan German (Hallsville Middle School: Hallsville, MO), G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

Find out how contemporary scientists’ cutting-edge research can be shared with elementary students and linked to curriculum topics. Activities and investigations which children (ages 7 to 11) can do in the classroom to mirror cutting-edge research will be demonstrated.

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)

This workshop will cover technology tools for teaching essential elementary science concepts and topics to students through virtual field trips. Generally, teachers use in-person field trips to expose students to otherwise inaccessible learning resources. In some cases, such field trips come with prepared teaching materials that can be used to connect the content to important science concepts. However, teachers also need to know about technologies they can use for field trips when it is not possible for students to travel to the site due to unexpected bad weather or pandemic, or long distances. During the workshop, teachers will receive resources for virtual field trips to enhance virtual science instruction and student learning. These resources have shown the potential to aid teachers in engaging students in virtual field trips.

TAKEAWAYS:
With appropriate educational technology integration and carefully planned lessons, teachers can seamlessly shift their classes to virtual field trip instruction during unexpected school disruptions without sacrificing student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
John Ojeogwu (Student: Charlottesville, VA)

Make manageable, meaningful changes in the classroom with free tools to help you communicate the nature and process of science, while integrating NGSS SEPs. Explore strategies for modifying your current instruction, such as the Science Flowchart interactive journaling tool. Bring a laptop/tablet!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will reflect on and refine their own models of the nature and process of science and gain experience with using materials, tools, and interactives from the Understanding Science project to support their classroom teaching on this topic.

SPEAKERS:
Betsy Barent (Lincoln Public Schools: No City, No State), Anastasia Thanukos (University of California Museum of Paleontology: Berkeley, CA)

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)

Students are going to talk anyway. Learn to make talk productive with student-led talk circles. Use this powerful strategy tomorrow to build students’ scientific literacy!

TAKEAWAYS:
Talk Circles enable educators to uncover student ideas and misconceptions as well as reveal students’ understanding to pave the way for further investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia McMahon (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Sheri Geitner (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Nicole Bay (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA), Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Come experience how leveraging complex culturally relevant societal challenges as phenomena in 3D teaching and learning supports student motivation and engagement. Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model develops student agency within and beyond the classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages complex societal issues as anchoring phenomena/problems, culminating tasks, and performance assessments in 3D units of instruction to motivate students and develop agency in addressing these issues.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Teachers will begin the session by sharing their current understanding/practice of incorporating play in the classroom by using a “fishbowl” sharing strategy. Then they will learn the three types of play: free play, guided play, and games. They will run through a few scenarios and determine which type of play is occurring during that scenario. Teachers will then review questioning-types that could be used to help guide free play to move it toward guided play. Teachers will work in teams scripting a teacher's questions to match a given play scenario. After teachers have shared, they will have a chance to put their work in action by engaging in four guided play stations. The four stations will focus on measurement, parts of a bug, buoyancy, and engineering. Teachers will brainstorm guided questions as they play. They will have a chance to share out major takeaways using a modified four corners strategy. We will have a reflection whole group.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore strategies that enhance children's STEM learning during play in order to extend and support current play and science activities in the classroom.

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

This session will focus on using the CER Framework, Scientific Argumentation and virtual simulations to support literacy in science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build their capacity to increase students' literacy skills using virtual simulations to support science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Ramon Reeves (North Atlanta High School: Atlanta, GA), Karin Mason (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA)

Learn how to better integrate local phenomena into classroom learning through the use of long-term projects and the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies to use student-chosen local phenomena as the basis for long-term projects and participation in a national STEM competition, eCYBERMISSION.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: No City, No State), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program)

Attendees will participate in a guided walk through the process of developing inquiries to ensure students reach mastery of critical content. This will include analyzing standard(s), participating in hands on inquiry, and using a template to create inquiries for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand how to plan opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding of critical content using methods that allow educators to easily monitor student progress toward mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Ryan Carlson (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL), Desiree Siegel (Program Specialist Elementary Science: Orlando, FL), Matthew Timm (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL), Kimberly Seaver (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL)

Join this session to explore effective and practical student discourse strategies that promote inclusive and productive classroom discourse. In this session, you will have the opportunity to engage in a few strategies as a learner to better equip you with implementing these with your students!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of shifts in classroom talk patterns, like moving away from the I-R-E talk pattern and towards Productive Talk. Attendees will engage with practical and effective discourse strategies that promote inclusive and productive classroom discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

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)

This session will take teachers behind the scenes of 3D Science to learn firsthand how phenomena draws every student into the scientific learning process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience as students how a phenomenon serves as a bridge connecting cultural differences, science strands, and sense making strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Taylor (Marietta Middle School: Marietta, GA), Keisha Kirkpatrick (Marietta High School: Marietta, GA)

Participate in an activity created by expert teachers that will help you better understand how to get your students involved in STEM competitions, including the eCYBERMISSION competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to juggle student participation in STEM competitions with the rest of their teaching load and integrate the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition into their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: No City, No State), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program)

The session uses embodied performances to support students’ science engagement. This interdisciplinary approach creates opportunities for multimodal literacies (e.g., body movement, oral/written texts, sound/music) that students can use to construct & communicate science knowledge & identities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use theatre practices (i.e., adaptation, embodiment, affirming ideas, & representing transformation) to support their students’ learning of science ideas, concepts, practices, & development of science identities in elementary/middle school classrooms via science theatre.

SPEAKERS:
Maria Rosario (Teacher: Chicago, IL), Stephanie Spezza (Graduate student), Jaegen Ellison (Teaching Artist/Educator), Miguel Melchor (DeWitt Clinton Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Rebecca Kotler (Postdoctoral Research Associate)

Experience an inquiry-based dance class showcasing key pedagogical ideas that support all learners, creating equitable opportunities for engagement and access. Designed using a research-based model, and an inclusive framework, build instructional knowledge that transfers to the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience best practices for science instruction including elements like differentiation, student choice, the power of kinesthetic learning, and more, all wrapped up in a research-based instructional model using an inclusive framework approach.

SPEAKERS:
Isaac Stauffer (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Explore-before-explain teaching creates conceptual understanding for students by allowing them to construct knowledge through hands-on experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in hands-on science instruction and learn why all students deserve to explore with hands-on science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Luthi (Gwinnett County Public Schools: Suwanee, GA)

Experience how the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model creates learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL anchors cycles of inquiry and sensemaking, culminating in student explanations/design solutions!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages authentic phenomena/problems to anchor cycles of inquiry and sensemaking. This approach provides instructional coherence from students’ perspective, equitable access, and motivation for ALL learners.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Teachers participate in hands-on lessons for Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade from the free online resource inquiryinaction.org. Teachers investigate the questions: What makes it rain, are M&Ms or Skittles better dissolvers, and does baking soda or baking powder bubble the most with vinegar.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will practice using grade-appropriate explanations of atoms and molecules to help students better understand the causes of the phenomena they observe.

SPEAKERS:
James Kessler (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC)

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, drawings and more! These free online resources elevate the stories behind scientific endeavor, highlighting scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access millions of free digitized primary sources and practice hands-on strategies for using them to promote critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of real-world scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

SPEAKERS:
Jacqueline Katz (Science Supervisor), Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC)

NGSS SEP 8 requires students to read like scientists. Develop questions and learn strategies to support student understanding of how to read like scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Part of scientific literacy is being able to access science news articles. Learn strategies to use in the classroom to support your students to read like scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Janel McPhillips (Calvert County Public Schools: Prince Frederick, MD)

Project-based learning, a strategy used in STEM education, improves student outcomes across racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and reading and language proficiency levels (LER, 2021).

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience project based learning while working to solve a real world problem.

SPEAKERS:
Falicia O'Mard (K-12 District STEM Coordinator: Suwanee, GA)

Learn about the new NASA Next Gen STEM activity Sparking Participation with Real-world Experiences (SPARX), launching in school year 23-24. Explore this exciting opportunity and experience hands-on lessons from the SPARX portfolio - Priority Packing for the Moon.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with an understanding of what resources will be necessary on a mission to the Moon, a knowledge of NASA SPARX, and an activity to ignite students' interest in STEM through space exploration resources.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Sebastian (Education Coordinator), Martha Lopez (Education Coordinator: Houston, TX)

Students bring amazing intellectual resources to make sense of natural phenomena. Come learn how to notice and leverage them in your teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Culturally responsive education supports student sensemaking and learning in science. Inclusive science strategies help teachers learn to see students’ sense-making resources. These methods help us create and adapt curriculum that is equitable and justice centered.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Morrison (University of Washington), Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Why do many students struggle with data? We will explore strategies for finding high quality datasets and discuss different approaches of building data skills by integrating real-time data into our teaching. Data as our instructional hook can result in changes for all of our students' data skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Review ways to leverage real-world data -- including personalized or daily data -- to enhance all students’ ability to access and make sense of data as parts of our instructional practices and/or adjust the curriculum you have.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

Scientific observations are deliberate, yet innate looking provides none of the skills needed to do this. In this session you'll undertake activities where the strategies and resources needed to successfully observe will be made explicit, before using your observations to communicate your learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
The strategies and resources a teacher needs to successfully support children to observer and then communicate learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding (Teacher Educator)

Explore how to use food and cooking to invite students to connect science to their everyday lives and be curious. This session includes hands-on activities and discussions to emphasize how participants can incorporate resources into their own teaching to support their current curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with ready-to-use strategies and resources to incorporate food and cooking into the science classroom. These strategies and resources are differentiated so they can be used for different types of classrooms and availability to resources as well as teaching styles.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Strangfeld (Harvard University: Cambridge, MA)

Experience off-screen coding/science activities that utilize science content, tools, and unplugged tasks. You will walk away with resources to show how coding is more than just computer science. Coding can be embedded within science to support concept development and sense- making.

TAKEAWAYS:
Computer Science is not something extra to teach- it is something we can use to develop key foundational skills and build conceptual understanding of core science ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Triebwasser (Hillsborough County Public Schools: Tampa, FL), Michele Wiehagen (Hillsborough County Public Schools: Tampa, FL)

This session highlights the importance of argumentation surrounding explaining meaningful phenomena and their centrality to a 3-D learning approach. The session will equip teachers to implement such learning experiences in their classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of argumentation around meaningful phenomena and how to implement learning experiences that engage students in argumentation around phenomena in the service of sense-making and learning DCIs, SEPs, and CCs.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (The University of Alabama: Del Valle, TX)

This session will provide a definition and overview of Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogy (CRSP), discuss why CRSP is vital for educational and personal liberation, and explore middle level science CRSP lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide a definition and overview of Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogy (CRSP), discuss why CRSP is vital for educational and personal liberation, and explore middle level science CRSP lesson plans.

SPEAKERS:
Kiana Eaddy (6th Grade Science Teacher: Columbia, SC)

Teachers can engage their students, teach content areas and process skills, and address standards using a specific inquiry-based format. The format incorporates a two-setup discrepant event, one forming an expectation and the other resulting in unexpected outcome and thus a problem to be solved.

TAKEAWAYS:
A specific inquiry-based format allows teachers to engage students, teach content areas and science process skills, and address standards. This discrepant-event method is easy for teachers and students to learn and gives students skills needed to feel comfortable and competent when doing science.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Jean Lynch (North Central College: Naperville, IL), John Zenchak (North Central College: Naperville, IL)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee to explore effective strategies and resources that focus on helping students make sense of data using the Crosscutting Concepts. In this session, you will have the opportunity to engage with the strategies and consider how to implement them with

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with sensemaking strategies for engaging students in the Science and Engineering Practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, through the lens of the Crosscutting Concept of Patterns, that can immediately be implemented with students!

SPEAKERS:
Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Olympia, WA), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

Experience how embedding literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in 3D teaching and learning promotes sensemaking and science understanding for ALL learners! Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model embeds literacy supports throughout cycles of inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and embeds literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in conjunction with science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to promote students in figuring out key science ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Introduce basic energy concepts early on with hands-on lessons disguised through songs, stories, games, & chants to teach energy buzz words.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn exciting lessons that introduce and reinforce the sources of energy and energy conservation using expanded vocabulary and language arts extensions for young students.

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

What does equity look like in Elementary Science & Engineering instruction? Through this interactive experience, participants will explore the meanings of equity & diversity and examine strategies instructional leaders can use to increase equity in the elementary science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learners will leave with a clear understanding of three-dimensional science instruction, causes of inequity in science education, and applicable strategies instructional leaders & teachers can use to increase equity in science education in their classrooms.

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

Join the News Literacy Project and science literacy subject matter expert Melanie Trecek-King as we cast light where the “sun don’t shine”! In this session, educators will become learners as they debunk the social media trend of perineum sunning using Trecek-King’s FLOATER toolkit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Subject matter expert Melanie Trecek-King will team up with NLP staff to facilitate a session exploring the FLOATER toolkit using the Checkology® lesson “Evaluating Science-Based Claims.” Attendees will then be challenged to debunk a trendy health claim—that perineum sunning increases energy levels.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power)

Join our team of detectives who are investigating a fictional crime scene! As a detective, you need to analyze each suspect’s alibi, collect evidence from the crime scene, and develop CER arguments to identify the innocent/ guilt parties. We conclude by discussing classroom strategies for praxis.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in CER argumentation through a crime scene investigation experience.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Kipp (Texas A&M)

Come join the fun! During this session you will create tools you can use to differentiate your science instruction and provide for the diversity of your students’ needs. Strategies necessary to teach diverse learners science are provided. Participants will actively engage in hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will actively engage in hands-on activities modeled to deliver instruction using a multi-sensory approach. Materials and handouts are provided.

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

The sand session returns! Sand is ubiquitous, unique, and addresses physical science, earth/environmental science, art, history . . . and more! Free sand/resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sand contains clues to weathering/erosion, transportation, and more! Free classroom samples and online resources make classroom sand activities fun and easy with identified NGSS PEs, DCIs, CCCs, and SEPS. ABC charts organize students’ incoming knowledge and documents progression in learning.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

At the elementary level, having students explain what they are observing and learning in science class can be challenging. Using a strategy such as a claim, evidence, and reasoning (CER) to guide explicit instruction and student responses can immensely impact their understanding of the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use silly commercials to engage your elementary science students into creating detailed written responses to what they are learning in class using the CER strategy. CER will help them unlock their thinking skills in a way that can then be easily transferred to classroom content.

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

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)

Come explore teaching strategies and supports for engaging in climate justice centered phenomena and issues. Youth are seeking this type of socio-ecological learning opportunities!

TAKEAWAYS:
Climate Ed Tools contain strategies to engage in climate justice instruction, to support climate change learning and communication among educator peers, and to get ideas for how to do this type of instruction in your own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Deb Morrison (University of Washington)

Come and engage in hands-on activities, collect resources, and network with Informal Science Educators from a variety of institutions. Discover exciting new ideas and materials that you can use right away.

TAKEAWAYS:
Classroom teachers and informal science educators network to discover and engage in activities that will expand their knowledge and be usable in many aspects of their work.

Engage in a variety of activities, collect information and resources, and network with elementary-level leaders. Discover new ideas and materials that you can use next week.

TAKEAWAYS:
The participants will network with other elementary-level educators of science and leaders to discover and engage in activities that will expand their knowledge and be usable in all aspects of their work.

Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems make learning experiences in science classrooms more relevant and equitable for students. Come learn what makes phenomena meaningful and problems authentic and then leave with some high-quality instructional materials that you can use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems are more than a hook or an example – they drive learning and provide a context for sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Participants will explore scientific tools and digital interactive slides to provide meaningful data collection opportunities from a variety of ecosystems not always available to all students. They will also learn how to design their own interactive slides suitable for all grade levels and content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use tools such as a photometer, infrared thermometer, and watt meter to collect data, and enhance this experience with digital interactive slides providing additional data.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Karin Jakubowski (eesmarts: No City, No State), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)

This session introduces a way to create learning experiences that centers literacy as central to students' sensemaking as they use the DCIs, CCs, and SEPs to explain natural phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about an approach to teaching science and literacy at the same time, supporting students learning of key science concepts will further developing their reading, writing, speaking, and listening proficiency.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (The University of Alabama: Del Valle, TX)

After reviewing the steps of the Engineering Design Process, educators will engage in a read-aloud story by Ashley Spires called The Most Magnificent Thing. Connections will be made between the story and the Engineering Design Process. From there, educators will put on their ‘student hats’ as they view a read-aloud of a story called Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin. With this story, educators will think like their students as they engage in an Engineering Design Process using elements from the book. For example, they will identify the problem in the story (How can Mr. Fookwire keep the squirrels away from his bird feeder?), and learn about the constraints involved. They will then brainstorm, diagram, and build their model as a team. They will also present their model and use feedback to make improvements. After experiencing the EDP, resources will be shared with teachers to assist them in designing an EDP using literature across many grade levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Plan for upcoming STEM integrated lessons by exploring resources and brainstorming ideas with colleagues

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

This workshop is designed to encourage teachers to jumpstart a love for learning science by using multiple project-based learning ideas, hands-on activities, and STEM challenges. Ignite your students' creativity! Challenge your students' problem-solving abilities! Let them get their hands dirty!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience first hand a couple of hands-on activities and be given a guide filled with multiple project ideas and instructions on how to implement them in their class. They will learn how to engage their students and alter their perception and love for learning science!

SPEAKERS:
Kandis Howard (Science Teacher: Mansfield, AR)

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)

BYO Device to this hands-on workshop for the Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) project. Explore free, high-quality, multidimensional tasks, consider how to use them for formative assessment in your elementary classrooms, and view online resources in a virtual learning

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to access and use two related, freely available online resources that support elementary teachers’ use of NGSS-aligned assessment and instruction: A site with tasks aligned with the performance expectations for Grades 3-5 and a virtual learning community for science teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Jeanne Di Domenico (The University of Chicago: Chicago, IL), Brian Gane (University of Kansas: No City, No State), Carla Strickland (UChicago STEM Education: No City, No State)

How do we take the mystery out of abstract ideas for our kids? It’s elementary my dear, models are the answer! We will give you tools that will enable your kids to master the curriculum. We solve the mysteries so you can go back and use these ideas!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with resources and lesson ideas that they can implement the next day they are in class. Not only will they have access to the resources shown, but they will also be able to get ideas where these resources can fit into their current curriculum for the year.

SPEAKERS:
Krystal Poloka (Woodlake Unified School District: Woodlake, CA)