Do you ever wish your lesson engaged everyone in the class? The readers, the mathematicians, the engineers and writers will all love these STEM and literacy lessons! In this session, you will learn how to mix and mingle - with read aloud books and STEM challenges, of course!

TAKEAWAYS:
When you leave this session, you will have a better idea of how incorporate literacy with STEM. I’ll be sharing STEM challenges that you can link to children’s books that you probably already have in your classroom! You’ll also learn some tips on how to create your own read aloud STEM challenges!

SPEAKERS:
Emily Gentile (STEM Teacher: Parker, CO)

Engage in active exploration of primary source materials that support sensemaking in middle level science and STEM. Leave with a plan for incorporating primary sources into your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Primary sources can be used to: (1) present phenomena, (2) engage students in science and engineering practices, (3) identify crosscutting concepts, (4) reinforce disciplinary core ideas, and (4) address equity through leveled resources and shared experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Biernat (Zanilu Educational Services, LLC: No City, No State), Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Loris Chen (Science Education Consultant: Fair Lawn, NJ)

Did you know that you can launch units in your science class by engaging students in the analysis of historical primary sources? Join us for this hands-on workshop, where we’ll investigate free, digitized resources to see how they can reveal phenomena linked to the content you teach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage students at the start of a unit by exploring phenomena embedded in historical primary source documents. The strategies discussed will develop the critical thinking and sensemaking strategies of students.

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

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)

A major evolution misconception is that organisms on a phylogenetic tree are progressing towards the ultimate goal of being bigger, better, and faster. Using convergent evolution as an anchoring phenomenon, learn how to inoculate your students against this misunderstanding with a 5E storyline.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to help students using a misconception-based approach. By looking at a variety of species, teachers will leave with evidence-based examples of evolution in action. Major areas of focus are artificial selection, domestication, natural selection, and convergent evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Cari Herndon (National Center for Science Education: No City, No State), Lin Andrews (National Center for Science Education: Oakland, CA)

Research in climate change education indicates that knowledge alone is a poor predictor of student action toward addressing climate issues. Learn about how one high school is supporting students to connect local issues, climate and food justice through community partnerships and civic action.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session you’ll learn about: A framework for education that integrates knowledge of place, interdependence, and student agency Current research in climate change education How food justice can be a powerful motivator that leads to student engagement and action

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Margon (Teacher: NY, NY), Jennifer Cirillo (Shelburne Farms: Shelburne, VT)

Conduct an activity that can be used to introduce students to the concept of energy justice and receive a scorecard that can be used to evaluate stories that highlight our current and future energy system and its impacts on people and communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about energy justice and use an evaluation scorecard as one strategy to enhance education about clean energy technologies while promoting literacy, systems thinking and critical thinking skills among learners.

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

We will explore the what, why, and how of integrated science and language teaching. We will describe, illustrate, and model research-based strategies, tools, and resources teachers can use to support inquiry, sense-making, and language development with their young multilingual learners (MLs)

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with some research-based strategies, tools, and resources to support planning and facilitation of language-enriched and inclusive science experiences that leverage science as a context for language and for building skills across the developmental domains with a focus on MLs

SPEAKERS:
Mandell Academy (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Rachel Shurick (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Becky Fahey (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Cindy Hoisington (Education Development Center, Inc.: Holbrook, MA)

Learn how you can give students an opportunity to use science concepts and skills to figure out how or why a natural phenomenon happens. This instructional approach also gives students an opportunity to use disciplinary literacy practices (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) during science.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to give students an opportunity to use science concepts and skills to make sense of natural phenomena, an opportunity to talk, read, and write in the service of sense-making, and ways to support students as they engage in real-world science while using literacy-based materials.

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

How often have you performed a simple water test as a lab and thought - is there more to this? How else can I get students to relate to the importance of the water they utilize everyday? Learn how to incorporate case studies and reading into this common lab activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to set up a simple water test for testing nutrient levels in the water but then expand concepts on the quality of water by exploring the digital platform H2KNOW.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Reynolds (Teacher: Chicago, IL)

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)

Experience language integrated science instruction and the equitable sharing of ideas as students listen, speak, read, and write about science content. We will construct an interactive word wall that visually organizes science concepts and academic vocabulary in meaningful ways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience language integrated science instruction. Attendees will listen, speak, read, and write as they participate in building an interactive word wall that visually displays connections between inquiry science activities and academic vocabulary and is constructed by students during class.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Learn about environmental DNA (eDNA) by analyzing unknown samples against a database of DNA barcode sequences. This evidence will be used to justify whether one of the collected samples belonged to a Bigfoot. A variety of practical applications for eDNA will also be explored.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore and appreciate the importance of evidence to the scientific process by taking a deep dive into an NGSS storyline sequence developed to help students understand that science must be substantiated by multiple lines of evidence to be accepted by the scientific community.

SPEAKERS:
Cari Herndon (National Center for Science Education: No City, No State), Lin Andrews (National Center for Science Education: Oakland, CA)

Are you an elementary teacher trying to make more time for science? You are not alone. One of the biggest barriers in elementary science is time. Join us as we address this through science integration. Explore using your ELA, ELD, History… standards to create rich science experiences for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through experiencing an integrated arc of learning, participants will leave this session understanding why other subjects should be integrated with their science lessons and how to lean on other content standards to create integrated standard based lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Wright (Hayward Unified School District: Hayward, CA), Channon Jackson (Alameda County Office of Education: Hayward, CA)

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 (Massasoit Community College)

Join the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series to try out a hands-on lesson on ocean garbage patches and the Coriolis Effect. You'll also learn strategies that will help you build literacy while teaching any science topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to the literacy learning cycle format, in which hands-on work precedes meaningful reading and writing activities. You will see how this system works by participating in a lesson and come away with practical strategies for your classroom.

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

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)

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)

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: Austin, TX)

Participants will learn strategies for implementing Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences in their classrooms. Strategies include how to build relationships with community partners, finding local spaces to use to conduct investigations, and how to engage students in field-based investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have a “front row seat” and get hands-on experience with the resources needed to implement a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. Participants will walk away with specific strategies for building partnerships and gaining resources to support their instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Alexis Tharpe (ODU Research Foundation TCEP: Norfolk, VA 23508, VA), Venicia Ferrell (Research Assistant Professor: Norfolk, VA)

Join the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series to try out a specific, hands-on lesson, for kicking off a unit on wave motion. You'll also learn strategies that will help you build literacy while teaching any science topic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to the literacy learning cycle format, in which hands-on work precedes meaningful reading and writing activities. And they will see how this system works by participating in a lesson on wave motion.

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

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)

Learn how to support students' analysis of science models by teaching cognitive literacy strategies through the Transfer Learning Routine.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use the transfer learning routine to teach literacy strategies in science.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Link (DeWitt Clinton High School: Bronx, NY)

Participants will explore resources and methods for incorporating age-appropriate literature into computer science lessons independent of technology access. They will gain strategies for selecting content, facilitating discussions, and drawing connections that excite student learning. They will compare print and digital books, collaborate in a CS-ELA activity, and consider classroom applications. Outline: -Discover SAE’s computer science curriculum and literature, including teaching strategies and free STEM resources (15 minutes) -Examine the gamified comic book, STEM Sagas: Virtually Rerouted and learn about hybrid, multidisciplinary applications (10 minutes) -Participate in two peer-to-peer discussions & activities from the Virtually Rerouted curriculum, bringing narrative and science concepts together (30 minutes) -Regroup to share takeaways and ideas

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover tools and strategies for fostering 21st century & computational skills by integrating literacy with interactive lessons suitable for any classroom environment. Participants also receive a free SAE book and chances to win a classroom STEM kit!

SPEAKERS:
Bonnie Thibodeau (SAE International: Warrendale, PA)

Make student thinking come to life with notebooks! Increase the rigor of student work—learn new strategies for organizing content and how to use templates for any science class. Take home many current NGSS classroom examples to get you started.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The how and why of science notebooks; 2. Engaging ALL students in science; and 3. Templates scaffold student learning for success.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

Do your students struggle to make sense of graphs? You're not alone. Join us to explore new ways to leverage how our eyes work to make working with graphs and real-world data easier for your students. Gain strategies you can use this week regardless of what curriculum or graphing programs you use.

TAKEAWAYS:
Access classroom-ready strategies to better leverage graphs from online data portals and ways to better set students up for success to make sense of data patterns in any graph they are using in your science classroom.

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

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)

This session explores the ideas behind why inquiry science is necessary when teaching young children and how it can be incorporated into already busy schedules. The session will focus on the study of how living things adapt during the winter season, regardless of geographic location.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through presentation, discussion, and activities, attendees will have the opportunity to experience and learn how to develop a hands on scientific curriculum, and then how this curriculum can be incorporated into a classroom with young children.

SPEAKERS:
Erica Green (Bellows Free Academy Fairfax: Fairfax, VT)

Students love sketchnoting in science! Come learn how visual notetaking leads to deep processing and retention of content. Editable templates will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What are sketchnotes; 2. How to use sketchnotes in science; and 3. How to greatly increase student processing.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

Join us as we explore the connection between science demonstrations and thinking routines. Discover how these two teaching tools, uncover student misconceptions, activate prior knowledge, and engage students in sensemaking by integrating literacy with science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will takeaway a series of engaging science demos/activities that have been purposefully paired with literacy strategies to help develop important thinking routines students can use when approaching a problem, issue or challenge in science.

SPEAKERS:
Lionel Sandner (Edvantage Interactive: Sidney, BC), Sandra Mirabelli (Brock University: Burlington, ON)

Adopting curriculums is a top priority for many schools across the nation. While curriculums are useful, they often have shortcomings. One shortcoming we often see in schools is a lack of engagement between the students and the content. In this session, we will explore strategies that align with the 5E Instructional Cycle and UDL that can be easily implemented with the curriculums adopted by schools and provide opportunities for students to engage with science and engineering practices. The strategies can be implemented immediately in the classroom setting. Each strategy presented can be leveled up or leveled down for varied grade levels, including differentiated supports in class to support the varied learners in a classroom. Engage strategies include Observations and Questions and Four Corners. Both are low stakes and engage learning with phenomena immediately. The Explain strategy leverages reading in science and makes it accessible through targeted questions and scaffolding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Small shifts in the curriculum can make large shifts to develop an inclusive classroom environment. Science should be accessible for all and by taking prescribed curriculum and making a few adjustments, all students can engage in science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney McCormick (Alliance College Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles, CA), Sheena Velasquez (Alliance College-Ready Public Schools: Los Angeles, CA)

With increasing diversity in student populations and continued focus on STEM education, new approaches are needed to increase student interest and literacy in science. Student success in the science classroom requires that they be authentically engaged as they investigate and communicate their understanding of scientific phenomena. In this session, participants will receive 30+ classroom-ready strategies, activities, games, templates, and resources that will help engage all learners and increase student achievement in various domains of science. The resources and strategies provided will help participants teaching grade 6 and higher motivate even the most unengaged students. Resources and strategies target areas of the 5- E Model of instruction. Many activities can be used as formative assessments to assess student learning. Participants may modify the activities based on the content they teach and the academic level of student groups and individual students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore resources including activities, templates, games, etc. they can use to increase the scientific literacy and engagement of all students. These can be used “as is” or modified to include other content based on the needs of the learners.

SPEAKERS:
Iris Mudd (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: Winston Salem, NC)

What does scientific observation look like? How do students get there? Through GMRI’s Nature Note framework, students connect what they see with what they know to become curious observers. Join us to explore how this model can be adapted to support scientific observation in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with strategies, writing frames, student work samples, rubrics, and ideas to help students make connections between background knowledge and their local environmental and ecological observations.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bursk (Science Instruction Specialist: , ME)