2023 Atlanta National Conference

March 22-25, 2023

Grade Level


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FILTERS APPLIED:Hands-On Workshop, No Strand, Biology

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
51 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

A Day in the Devonian: Intermediate Elementary Fossil Investigation

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C201


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Identify common fossils of the Middle Devonian in a hands-on investigation. Work with Petoskey stones and other fossils to make inferences about the past and learn how to teach this with elementary students. Curriculum handouts and fossil kits will be provided to the first 30 participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use the fossil curriculum with intermediate elementary students. Teachers will get to explore Devonian fossils of the Traverse Group and learn how to analyze data to make inferences about past environments. Teachers will receive materials to use with intermediate elementary students.

SPEAKERS:
Kayce Wills (Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School: Leonardtown, MD), Laura Schneider (Father Andrew White School: Leonardtown, MD)

Explore Moon to Mars: Radiation & Humans in Space

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B310



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
23_Additional Resources_Explore M2M Radiation Humans in Space.pdf
23_Explore M2M Radiation & Humans in Space.pdf
23_Materials List_Overview_Explore M2M Radiation Humans in Space.pdf
Deep Space Hazards Radiation CRE Extensions.pdf
Hazards to Deep Space Astronauts Activity Guide.pdf
NASA Modeling_Radiation Damage Activity.pdf
NASA Space Faring The Radiation Challenge Yeast Activity Guide.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A412


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Hooked on Earthworms: High-interest activities to drive sensemaking

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C210


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Using Societal Challenges as Phenomena in 3D Units to Develop Student Agency

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B408



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Anchored Inquiry Learning

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Computational Thinking Using Computer Simulations in High School Biology

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
2023 NSTA CT-S Student Lesson FINAL .pdf
2023 NSTA CT-S Student Lesson FINAL .pdf
2023 NSTA CT-S Teacher Lesson Plan FINAL.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

Anchoring student learning in locally relevant problems and solutions: An example storyline from the Climate Education Pathways project

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B304


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Experience an anchoring phenomenon lesson designed to engage students in a local climate impact. Reflect on how local community problems can be leveraged to engage students in understanding large-scale, shared global issues, like climate change, to increase relevance and agency for youth.

TAKEAWAYS:
Anchoring student learning in local phenomena and problems can tap into students’ interest and perceived relevance of science learning to their life and community. A storyline based on local problems also position students to for meaningful activities for future learning and taking action now.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Audrey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Enya Granados (Life Science Teacher: , GA)

It's Time to Lose the Ladder: Combating Misconceptions in Evolution

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Grand Ballroom B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://ncse.ngo/supporting-teachers/classroom-resources
NSTA March 2023 - Evolution.pdf

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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 (: Oakland, CA)

Data Puzzles: integrating authentic data and Ambitious Science Teaching practices to help students make sense of phenomena

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Redwood



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Landing Page
All resources referenced in the Data Puzzles workshop can be found in this "Landing Page" document.
Summer workshop schedule (grad credit options)
Find our Data Puzzle summer workshop schedule here. All workshops are FREE! Participants can choose to receive a certificate for professional learning hours (free) or purchase 0.5 graduate credits from the University of Colorado Boulder ($90).

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Come learn about Data Puzzles, a free resource co-designed by climate scientists and instructional specialists from the University of Colorado Boulder that combine authentic data with Ambitious Science Teaching instructional practices to help students make sense of phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore authentic, contemporary data through Data Puzzles resources that frame data analysis for use in middle and high school classrooms with the Ambitious Science Teaching framework and leave prepared to implement these 2-3 day sensemaking tasks in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Griffith (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, VT)

Using Algae Models & Assays to Illuminate the Interplay between Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration for Students!

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B310


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Foraging for Fish in a Melting Arctic: Seabirds as a Model for Monitoring Climate Change

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C201



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Bird Banding activity
Cooper-Island-population-numbers.xlsx
45+ years of data of seabird population
Lesson-Black-Guillemot-Reading-Comprehension.pdf
Lesson-Foraging-Fish-in-Melting-Arctic.pdf
Active simulation of the impacts of a melting Arctic on seabirds.
Resources on Arctic Science and Climate Change.pdf
Online resources
Resources on Arctic Science and Climate Change.pdf
Online resources
Workshop slideshow

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Explore a seabird study and the effects of climate change. We will share our curriculum highlighting authentic data analysis, techniques used in the field, and seabird biology and the Arctic ecosystem. Come try out a fish foraging simulation, bird banding, data analysis, and the research tools!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about an integrated curriculum centering on a 48-year Arctic study and explore seabird biology and the impacts of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem. Attendees will try out a fish foraging simulation (very fun!), bird banding, data analysis, and research tools.

SPEAKERS:
Alyssa Barr (Science Teacher: Seattle, WA), Katie Morrison (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA)

A Mysterious Case of Brain Illness - Connecting Humans, Animals, and the Environment

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C212


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Model how environmental health investigators work to discover the cause of an outbreak of encephalitis. Experience hands-on, minds-on, NGSS practice-based lessons related to One Health – the connections between human, animal, and environmental health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about hands-on, minds-on, NGSS practice-based lessons related to One Health – the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. Engage in three-dimensional activities that focus on the science practices of analyzing data and constructing explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Dina Markowitz (University of Rochester: Rochester, NY), Lisa Brosnick (SUNY Buffalo State College: Buffalo, NY)

Anchored Inquiry Learning: Designing Meaningful Instruction to Make Sense of Authentic Phenomena

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B408



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Anchored Inquiry Learning

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Learning Ecology Through a Lyme Lens

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C213


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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 (retired - Yorktown High School), Michael Zito (Yorktown High School: Arlington, VA)

Embedding Literacy Supports in 3D Units for Equitable Sensemaking and Learning

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B408



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Anchored Inquiry Learning

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Tree with Golden Apples: Teach Botany with Storytelling

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C207


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Botany principals presented in unusual, indigenous myths of photosynthesis, mycorrhizal fungi, pollination, decomposers, seed diversity, forest ecology, etc. Discover elements of what makes story an effective educational tool and generate successful interdisciplinary experiences supporting science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the essential elements of story and understand what makes story such an effective educational tool. Learn from indigenous myths to build the meaning of botanical/scientific concepts in the context of narrative, imagery, characterization and sensory elements.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Strauss (Author/ Storyteller: , OR)

Lets Play With Macromolecules

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C210


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Teaching Biology to ESL students sitting in our science classrooms can be challenging. In this session we will dive into Macromolecules with hands-on activities using toys as manipulatives and concluding with a mini investigation comparing macromolecule nutrients in cow's milk with nondairy milk.

TAKEAWAYS:
Macromolecules can be overwhelming to ESL students who have limited English and Biology vocabulary skills. In this session we will break down a difficult topic into hands-on activities and a mini investigation that will bring Macromolecules to life.

SPEAKERS:
Sarida Hoy (Dalton High School: No City, No State)

Effectively Use Phenomena that Highlights the Lived Experiences and Narratives of Black Heritage in Biology Lessons

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A410



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSF Final Outcomes Report: Using Lived Experiences & Narratives Black Heritage
The Clarity We Need For Belonging
The clarity we need for belonging
Video Clips on YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityinstem
Visibility In STEM

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

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)

Is Bigfoot Among Us? Follow the Evidence to Combat Pseudoscience

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://ncse.ngo/supporting-teachers/classroom-resources
NSTA March 2023 - NoS.pdf

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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 (: Oakland, CA)

Handling extinction and adaptation: Project Based Learning with low-cost fossils

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Grand Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Handling Extinction And Adaptation Project Based Learning With Low-Cost Fossils
Slides from Hands-On Workshop

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

This project was funded by a National Science Foundation grant to expose high school students to geoscience within their required science curriculum. A collateral benefit is integrating key concepts in other sciences. In Biology, natural selection requires eons (“deep time”) to create Earth’s biodiversity. In project-based learning using fossil-bearing rocks of multiple ages, students experience deep time concretely. A barrier to hands-on fossil study is the expense of specimens good enough for university students to systematically learn fossil taxa. However, imperfect samples can connect anyone to deep time. Ironically, some such samples are simply dumped when teachers return from professional development field trips. This presentation reveals a path to making use of such ordinary material by 1) circling fossils in ink, 2) creating a picture guide from circled fossils, 3) building a PBL unit uniting those fossils with a biodiversity-though-time graphic known as a Tree of Life diagram.

TAKEAWAYS:
Might students better master evolution standards, especially extinction and adaptation, by encountering fossils through "deep time"? Teacher-collected samples, with fossils circled in ink, a picture guide made from the set, and a detailed Tree of Life diagram form foundations for PBL exploration.

SPEAKERS:
Katty Mobasher (Professor of Geology and GIS: , GA), Adrianna Rajkumar (Lecturer), Bill Witherspoon (geologist/educator: Decatur, GA)

Tick-Borne Diseases and One Health: Connecting Humans, Animals, and the Environment

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C212


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Investigate the spread of tick-borne diseases in humans and animals. Experience hands-on, minds-on, NGSS practice-based lessons related to One Health – the connections between human, animal, and environmental health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about hands-on, minds-on, NGSS practice-based lessons related to One Health – the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. Engage in three-dimensional activities that focus on the science practices of analyzing data and constructing explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Dina Markowitz (University of Rochester: Rochester, NY), Lisa Brosnick (SUNY Buffalo State College: Buffalo, NY)

Investigating the Presence of Bacteria in Probiotic-Advertised Products

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Dogwood A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1N5h2XYBi6g-YrZw3psSWODP6JEROJ46PlA7JJIw0V4A/edit?usp=sharing
Slideshow

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Environmental Science in a World of 8 Billion

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Environmental Science in a World of 8 Billion - NSTA 3.24.23 (1).pdf

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Engage in hands-on activities (problem-solving challenges, simulations and modeling) that use 3D learning to explore key ecological topics in Biology and Environmental Science courses (including AP) – population trends, climate change, land use, biodiversity, and ecosystem health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn ways to guide students’ inquiry around key environmental challenges, using hands-on simulations and modeling activities that employ 3D learning in an inclusive classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Grams (Education Program Associate: Washington, DC), Barbara Huth (Online Learning Manager: Washington, DC)

Mathematics and Computational Thinking in OpenSciEd High School Biology

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom D


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Experience phenomenon based, stoylined curriculum in high school biology! Use an agent based model, in the form of a table top game, to generate evidence to answer questions about predator prey interactions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use a computational model to generate evidence to answer questions about about predator prey interactions.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Nourish the Future: Energy and Biofuels

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Redwood


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

In this unit, learn about fermentation and ethanol production, what enzyme action can do, and how co-products from ethanol are valuable in their own right.

TAKEAWAYS:
Nourish the Future is a national education initiative developed by science teachers for science teachers to connect students to modern agriculture and provide sound science based resources that meet teacher and student needs in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Leanne Thele (Perryville High School: , MO), Tiska Rodgers (Clarkton High School: Clarkton, MO)

High School Share-a-thon

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A411


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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.

What a Way with Water

Saturday, March 25 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B208


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Learn how to teach your students about water using hands-on investigations. Activities include manipulating a drop of water to examine its characteristics, increasing science literacy using primary source analysis, and concentrating pond water for viewing organisms with a microscope.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop provides teachers with hands on ideas exploring properties of water. They learn a simple method for concentrating pond water to make finding organisms with a microscope much easier. Chemistry of water will be presented to strengthen your foundation of understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Burch (Biology Professor and Lab Manager: Lake Wales, FL), Laurie Boulden (Warner University: Lake Wales, FL)

Exploring mRNA Vaccines to Reinforce Central Dogma and Combat Vaccine Misinformation

Saturday, March 25 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A304


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

STEM | Cross-Curricular Data Collection and Analysis

Saturday, March 25 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A311


STRAND: Technology and Media

Show Details

Attendees will learn how to collect and analyze data using sensors and technology for use across multiple Science and Engineering courses in both Biology & Engineering and Physics & Engineering cross-curricular STEM settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use sensors and available technology that allow students to collect and analyze data across multiple Science and Engineering courses in both cross-curricular Biology & Engineering and Physics & Engineering STEM settings.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Bennett (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA), Mary Morris (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA), Jonathan Harper (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA)

Cells in Context

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C210


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Exploring the Miocene Epoch: A Hands-on Elementary Investigation of Fossils

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

NGSS fossil exploration that will teach intermediate elementary educators how to equitably use fossils of the Chesapeake Group to look for patterns and analyze and interpret historical science data to understand past environments. The first 30 participants will receive free classroom fossil kits.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore fossil samples from the Chesapeake in a hands-on investigation to understand past life and past environment in this region. Teachers will receive materials to use with intermediate elementary students.

SPEAKERS:
Kayce Wills (Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School: Leonardtown, MD), Laura Schneider (Father Andrew White School: Leonardtown, MD)

Who Killed Dr. Zwink?

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B403


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Do have the forensic skills needed to solve the mystery? Join Dr. Yemothy for a mini-CSI hands-on workshop exploring basic forensics skills needed to solve the murder. Leave with a packet of classroom activities and murder mystery for your students to solve.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with the experience of practicing forensic skills that can be done in a classroom setting. Educators will be provided with a packet of forensic activities and a murder mystery to take back to their classroom for use with students.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Yemothy (K-8 STEM Educator & Trainer)

Historical accounting of oppression in STEM spaces

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A302


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Empowering students to make science-based decisions requires acknowledgment and dialogue around the injustices marginalized communities have endured within scientific fields. We will engage in meaningful talk around race, vaccinations, and applications within a sample lesson for science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create opportunities to acknowledge and validate students’ personal experiences even when it might be divergent from our own personal experiences or larger data sets.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Betzelberger (UCLA Science Project: Los Angeles, CA), Richard Huynh (Science Coach: No City, No State), Zachary Cue (UCLA STEM+C3 and Science Project)

Teaching Sex Ed to Grade 6 and 7

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B313a


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Teaching reproduction and puberty can be challenging for early middle schoolers. We have created a fun, engaging, and inquiry-based curriculum that gets even the most hesitant student excited about sexual health!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching reproduction and puberty for middle schoolers can be engaging and fun!

SPEAKERS:
Laura Doyle (MYP Science Teacher: Atlanta, GA), Kyla Corelli (Atlanta International School: Atlanta, GA)

Learn R, in R: Crash-course in Coding for Quantitative Reasoning into the Biology Classroom

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B215


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Want your students to code but new yourself? This session introduces ‘swirl’ (OER lessons using the R programming language) to encourage quantitative skill adoption in Biology classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will discuss how to find, use, and create customizable lessons for your classroom that are biology-standards-aligned and encourage coding skills (without you needing to be an expert!)

SPEAKERS:
Emily Weigel (Senior Academic Professional: Atlanta, GA)

Session Title: What does science have to do with race and racism? A curricular approach to anti-racist science teaching

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

What is race? During this session, we will introduce a curriculum for biology educators that explores how racism, the construct of race, the history of science, and human genetic variation intersect.

TAKEAWAYS:
Race is a socio-political construct with deep implications but race is not a good surrogate/proxy for biology. Understanding human genetic variation can disrupt the idea of the existence of genetically meaningful “races” and help emphasize the racist roots of inequities in areas such as health.

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

Crash Science Inquiry - Investigating Distracted Driving Dangers

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Dogwood A


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Complete a distracted driving simulation and discover award-winning videos, crash-science activities and real-world applications exploring science, engineering, vehicle crashworthiness and driver safety. Free online access to video-supported classroom resources and NGSS-aligned lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will complete a distracted driving simulation and learn how scientific and engineering principles can be modeled in classrooms using crash-science related videos and activities.

SPEAKERS:
Pini Kalnite (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute: Arlington, VA), Griff Jones (University of Florida)

What's in your Water?

Saturday, March 25 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A304


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

This unit is really engaging for the students! They start highly engaged with the filter design and stay focused through the challenge of microscope work. Our district made a video highlighting this project. Since 2018 we added the water scarcity issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_LSblnGNRU Here is the Padlet of water scarcity issues: https://nvhs.padlet.org/adrianne_toomey1/boalf80ihol2sm91

TAKEAWAYS:
Students are introduced to a regional water issue and challenged to design a filter to clean water. Students are also developing microscopes skills as they learn about life in the water. The unit ends with redesigning their filter and possible solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Habas (Neuqua Valley High School: Naperville, IL)

Genes, Traits & Change Over Time

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C210


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Whose Patient Zero? An Epidemiology Challenge

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B312


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

It happens every school year. Someone came to school sick and spreads their germ. Now 20% of the class is sick. Can you use your contract tracing skills to determine who Patient Zero might have been? Participants will work in epidemiology teams to spread the flu and try to identify Patient Zero.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience from the student’s perspective of how to execute this lab and what it takes as a team member to solve the mystery. Participants will also receive teacher guide packet for how to set up and implement the lab in their classroom with students.

SPEAKERS:
Vidalina Trevino (Albert Einstein Fellow: Alexandria, VA), Nicole Yemothy (K-8 STEM Educator & Trainer)

Explore Solar System & Beyond: NASA Astrobiology

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C212



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
25b_Additional Resources_Explore SSB NASA Astrobiology.pdf
25b_Explore SSB_NASA Astrobiology.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

MothEd: Authentic Science Experience Exploring Moth Biodiversity

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C213


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

Beyond Mitosis: Utilizing a Cancer Case Study to Explore the Cell Cycle and Differentiation

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Dogwood A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Presentation Slides

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

How Can DNA Help Exonerate Those Wrongly Convicted? Flipping a traditional DNA crime lab to center issues of social justice

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

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)

Electronic Cigarettes & Aerosols | Exploring STEM Connections

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A303


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Offshore Wind and Whales STEM

Saturday, March 25 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A316


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

How does the installation of offshore wind turbines impact marine life? This hands-on session will allow participants to design and test a model that would reduce noise pollution from drilling into the sea floor.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineers and marine biologists work together to ensure that protected species are not negatively impacted during the installation of offshore wind turbines. Participants will investigate the precautionary measure of using bubble curtains to absorb sound waves.

SPEAKERS:
Cori Nelson (Winfield School District 34: Winfield, IL)

Understanding the Importance of Climate Modeling

Saturday, March 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A303



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://ncse.ngo/supporting-teachers/classroom-resources
NSTA March 2023 - Climate Change.pdf

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Models are an essential tool used by scientists to study natural phenomena. Learn how climate hindcasting helps build powerful models for projecting future climate trends.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the history and evolution of climate modeling while examining evidence that supports their reliability for predicting future climate patterns.

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

Questions are the Answer: How to scaffold students’ thinking without telling them the answers.

Saturday, March 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A314


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Turning What You Love to Teach into a Modeling-Based Unit

Saturday, March 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Modeling integrates scientific practices, cross cutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. In this workshop you will construct a model of a favorite anchoring phenomenon, and use the model to develop a 3D, modeling-based unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session attendees will learn how to engage their students in modeling, and use a systems-thinking framework to construct a modeling-based unit

SPEAKERS:
Steve Bennett (Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI)

Bugs The Food of the Furture

Saturday, March 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A410


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Exciting Endophytes! A Plant Biotechnology Primer

Saturday, March 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A309



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Endophyte photos
Endophytes collected at the conference.
Endophyte photos
Endophytes collected at the conference.
Endophyte photos
Picture of endophytes collected at the conference.
Endophyte pictures
Endophytes collected at the conference.
Exciting Endophytes
Endophyte Isolation Powerpoint

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

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)

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