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: Arlington, VA)

Beyond Earth, cosmic radiation is a substantial challenge to astronaut health. Biomedical research is critical to success of NASA’s Artemis, and unraveling the genetic riddles of aging and disease. In this session, participants explore radiation biology through NASA research and hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
To offer participants resources and strategies for developing radiation biology units that integrate hands-on NASA education activities and cutting-edge scientific research, with particular attention to benefits for Earth-based medicine as well as optional connections to the humanities.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Weiss (Educator Professional Development Specialist)

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: Arlington, VA), Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Each Attendee will be given assorted materials to create the up and down quarks and the strong nuclear force to construct protons, neutrons, and the hydrogen-2 Isotope models using both the String Theory and Solid Sphere Models. Hand-outs and examples will be given. Attendees will take their models.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on classroom quark modeling activity was designed for students to use both the String Theory and the Solid Sphere Models for the nuclear synthesis of protons, neutrons, and the hydrogen-2 isotope. As a class, students will create their own criteria for model comparison and probability.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Schiltz (Retired Chemistry Teacher: Naperville, IL)

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)

Harness the power of technology with student designed solutions for a changing climate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use technology to expose students to coding and engineering design solutions for severe weather.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Voorhees, NJ)

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)

Join this hands-on workshop to explore phenomenon-based outdoor learning with (free) Eco-Engineering Challenges and Schoolyard Investigations, using a toolkit of research-informed easy-to-implement instructional strategies that promote equitable and inclusive student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with instructional strategies and teaching resources they can implement immediately to create a more relevant, equitable and inclusive learning environment for phenomenon-based environmental and outdoor learning.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Miles (Villa Rica High School: Villa Rica, GA), Patricia Morgan (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA), Karan Wood (Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia (EEA): Acworth, GA)

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)

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)

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)

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)

As Earth’s climate warms, the heat and humidity are rising, with major consequences for ecosystems. NASA scientists are tracking heat stress that can warn us of harmful conditions. Explore interactive inquiry-based lessons and participate in a heat island experiment.

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA provides free earth science resources and engaging interactive climate change lessons.

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

During this session, you will experience a lesson that combines physics with engineering and argumentation. This hands-on lesson will allow your students to interact with the abstract concept of radio frequencies, resulting in a deeper understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session, teachers will know how to integrate two highly sought-after skills, engineering, and argumentation, into a physics lesson. In addition, teachers will know how to turn the abstract concept of the EM spectrum into something more concrete and understandable.

SPEAKERS:
Anna-Margaret Bruton (Project Director: Broader Impacts: Charlottesville, VA), Valarie Bogan (Curriculum Specialist)

After being inspired by the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, participants will design their own musical instruments using “trash.” We will then learn how to add conductive materials to our instruments creating our own Garbage Band complete with music videos.

TAKEAWAYS:
While constructing their own musical instruments from recycled materials participants will explore conductivity as they use a variety of materials to create circuits adding to their Garbage Band experience. They will then learn how to make music videos via a green screen and iMovie.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Eades-Gill (Midland Trail High School: Hico, WV), Tiffany Pace (Cross Lanes Elementary School: Charleston, WV)

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 high school-level leaders. Discover new ideas and materials that you can use next week.

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

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

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

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)

Explore how excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes water more acidic through hands-on activities from the free 5E lesson plans in middleschoolchemistry.com.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers practice using grade-appropriate explanations of the interactions of atoms and molecules to help students better understand the causes of the phenomena they observe and its connection to the problem of ocean acidification.

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

Projections are that by 2050, there may be more plastic in our oceans than fish, leading to calls for a worldwide treaty restricting plastics. In this session, participants will explore new remote-sensing capabilities for monitoring microplastics from space and relevant STE[A]M+G educator resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
To offer participants resources and strategies for developing a STE[A]M+G Earth science unit that integrates problem-based learning (PBL), hands-on NASA student design challenges and cross-curricular material.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Weiss (Educator Professional Development Specialist)

Learn background information and hands-on activities for students to apply the science of the oceans and electricity generation as they learn about the many types of marine hydrokinetics technology.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how the energy of moving water can be harnessed and converted into electricity in many ways, including technologies for harnessing the energy in ocean tides, waves, and currents.

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

Come learn how to host an Earth Day STEM outreach event for families! We will share activities, planning aspects, and implementation strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
STEM Outreach events can be a way to engage students and families in equitable STEM learning to encourage and support all learners. This will provide information on how to replicate a STEM outreach event we hosted at our local STEM Center along with ideas about implementing it in different formats

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Meadows (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

A successful Family Science Night is a perfect coming together of informal science learning, community support, and schoolwide excitement. Come find out how to start or step up your STEAM family program. Target audience K-12

TAKEAWAYS:
Setup steps for a Family Science Night for elementary or middle school using activities with phenomena to engage students modified for elementary, middle school, home school, afterschool clubs and summer camps.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Hoke (Chattahoochee Elementary School: Cumming, GA), Denise Webb (Coal Mountain Elementary School: Cumming, GA)

This session will introduce participants to a lesson that incorporates elements of physics and government. The interdisciplinary lesson requires students to grapple with the delicate balance of providing access to everyone and physics which dictates the frequencies available for a given user.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session, participants will have a ready-to-implement lesson that incorporates government and science. This lesson addresses the fact that the EM spectrum is a limited resource that has to be managed in order for everyone to benefit.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Avalos (O.D. Wyatt High School: Fort Worth, TX), Valarie Bogan (Curriculum Specialist)

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)

100Kin10 recently developed a bold new vision for the future of STEM education - to understand how to foster belonging in STEM. STEM Ed Innovators is a longtime 100kin10 partner. Our transformative community of practice for teachers, by teachers, and about culturally responsive and anti-racist teaching has fostered belonging in the margins for nearly a decade. In this workshop we will present research on STEM belonging and create a space to discuss what belonging looks like, sounds like, and feels like in a classroom, school community or district as well as in a school’s professional learning programs. Participants will work in affinity groups to identify ways to foster belonging for all students in the STEM classroom and for all teachers in professional learning spaces. Groups will share out and their contributions that will be memorialized so we can all look back on the learnings together after we return from the conference.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will develop an understanding of how instructional practices can create or hinder a sense of belonging in STEM and identify some teacher moves that can be used to foster a sense of belonging in the STEM classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston (STEM Ed Innovators: Saratoga, CA), Daniel Babauta (Sunset Park High School: Brooklyn, NY)

Moths play key roles in food webs, as pests, and as nocturnal pollinators. The MothEd Project invites students and teachers to investigate moths in local places by building blacklight traps, developing hypotheses, collecting and analyzing moth data in collaboration with others using a web platform.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will prepare to engage students in science investigations of moth ecology by building blacklight traps, developing research questions/hypotheses, collecting/analyzing data from local habitats, and using technology-enhanced curricular materials to foster collaboration & agency among students

SPEAKERS:
Peter White (Associate Professor: No City, No State), Brian Keas (Research Associate)

The purpose of this workshop is for the teacher to ask themselves, “How Am I Going To Have My Students Discover This Concept,” rather than lecturing. Examples of converting lectures into hands-on and open-ended investigations will be given. Demos are essential to show concepts and will be discussed

TAKEAWAYS:
Students have had been told and are expected to memorize the mass of an electron is ≈ 1/2000 of a proton. Developing a hands-on student discovery investigation for this concept and other concepts is a far superior learning method than lecturing and memorizing. .

SPEAKERS:
Gary Schiltz (Retired Chemistry Teacher: Naperville, IL)

Create large scale models and diagrams on a wide variety of subjects in open spaces both on inside floors and outdoors. Learn how to get the most out of your school building spaces and engage your students’ interests using inexpensive materials and kinesthetic activities!

TAKEAWAYS:
You and your students will learn how to make and use large scale models to explore many scientific topics. Using materials like electrical tape, sidewalk chalk, string and other simple materials, we will make and use large scale models of an ellipse, heart and body systems, cells, water cycle.

SPEAKERS:
David Ebersole (Greece Athena Middle School: Rochester, NY)

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)