Explore the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) a freshwater fish at the forefront of biomedical research and easily maintained in a classroom aquarium, to spark ALL students’ curiosity and scientific engagement with real-life science experiences through multiple-learning modalities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning how zebrafish and low-budget pet store supplies can be used to engage diverse learners in multimodal (visual, kinesthetic) real-life science learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Vinita Hajeri (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX)

Want to make phenomena come alive for your students? Well use live animals for your phenomena! In this session, Samuel Pruitt will show how to use the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) teaching strategy and an array of live reptiles as phenomena to teach biology and environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) and live animals in biology and environmental science phenomena can provide critical to learning and can be motivational to students. This session will blend the CER teaching strategy with the interest that comes from using live reptiles in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Samuel Pruitt (Biology/Environmental Science Teacher: FLOWERY BRANCH, GA)

Engaging environmental activities for students will develop awareness and action while providing teachers with a sense of purpose to combat burnout. These activities were developed and tested by teachers during multiple workshops that were conducted at the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will come away with 20+ environmental activities that can be adapted for almost all life and environmental science for grades 3-12

SPEAKERS:
Shaina Otterpohl (St. Jude Catholic School: Chattanooga, TN)

In this session we will showcase how to unpack the NGSS Science Standards to develop transparent rubrics. We will showcase how to use the rubric for backwards planning and what formative process to follow so students can set their own success criteria.

TAKEAWAYS:
Setting students to be successful in your Science Classes by Backward planning and setting success criteria.

SPEAKERS:
Rodrigo Diaz (Science Teacher: Managua, 0)

Techniques such as CRISPR, mitochondrial transfer, and mRNA therapeutics have opened up new possibilities for genetic manipulation, bringing with them new possibilities that can energize the biology curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to high interest case studies/phenomena to engage their students in human molecule biology and gene therapy.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI)

Put 3D Science Learning in context by utilizing the resources from the International Wolf Center. Invite students into the mysterious world of the charismatic wolf and wolf packs using research-based info, activities, and live wolf cams while addressing NextGen SEPs, CCCs, and LS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Put life science standards in the context of an apex predator: the wolf. Get curriculum maps with resources from the International Wolf Center to immerse students in pup development, predator/prey relationships, pack communications, hierarchy and territory, and wolf behavior, biology, and ecology.

SPEAKERS:
KIMBERLY LOOMIS (Kennesaw State University: Kennesaw, GA)

Incorporate coral reefs into your existing curriculum – biology, chemistry, climate studies, art, and more – using lesson plans, demos, activities, and multimedia from NOAA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn what corals are, why they are important, and how to fit coral reefs ecosystems into your curriculum using free NOAA resources.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Denise Harrington (NOAA TASAA Fellow: Garibaldi, OR), Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: College Park, MD)

Gardening in a school setting provides an authentic learning environment filled with wonder for students and teachers alike. From small outdoor flower pots to raised beds, these spaces transform not only the environment, but gives all involved a new perspective on where our food comes from.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students gain hands-on experiences with their environment while making connections between what they have planted and the food that goes into the cafeteria. Learn how we transformed an unusable space to create a school garden/outdoor classroom that has had unexpected benefits.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Butcher (Tozer Primary School, Weld RE-4 School District: SEVERANCE, CO)

This program aims to dramatically increase the exposure to and consumption of locally produced honey by developing a network of apiaries and supporting curriculum for preK–12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about: 1. how educational apiaries can be used in an education setting; 2. the benefits of implementing curriculum related to honey production; and 3. strategies to engage migrant students in STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Spencer Cody (Edmunds Central School District: Roscoe, SD)

Join this session for information about content-language integration and discuss the design of a multimodal task that emphasizes 3D Science learning through the interpretive and expressive modes of communication. Then, take an in-depth look at examples that you can integrate into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about lesson activities that provide students with the opportunity to make progress towards both the Science Ga Standards of Excellence and WIDA English Language Development Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Canepa-Redondo (Science/ESOL Program Specialist: Johns Creek, GA)

An 11 year old recently found a trilobite in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Let's explore this phenomenon and how customizing existing high-quality, open-source lessons for local stories create a cohesive storyline for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) How to customize existing high-quality, open-source lessons that pair with local phenomena; 2) What fossil evidence scientists use to support claims about past environments; and 3) Where to find open-source storylines for the elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Cox (Knox County Schools: Knoxville, TN)

Big Lessons from a Little Worm focuses on how to introduce the model organism, c.elegans into the classroom. Using c.elegans in the classroom has the potential to introduce inquiry-based labs, student-led research and much more. This presentation will highlight a chemosensation lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to run a chemotaxis assay, learn about GPCR signaling, and neurobiology and will learn how to introduce this lab into the classroom. Participants will learn the basics in working and maintaining worm stocks in their lab

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Monahan (North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: Durham, NC)

Interested in authentically weaving culturally relevant hands-on Science and rigorous literacy into your kindergarten classroom? Come learn how to use close reading to support NGSS-aligned science explorations and create rich, deep learning experiences for your students. Free resources provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate deep authentic science explorations with standards-based literacy instruction for kindergarten students. They will explore how the use of close reading (to collaboratively inquire about and make meaning of texts) can mirror how students make meaning in science.

SPEAKERS:
Janet MacNeil (Cambridge Public Schools: Milton, MA)

STEAM focused lesson plans integrating garden-based learning and the arts. In this hands-on workshop, learn how printmaking, nature journaling, bookmaking techniques, and Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) can reinforce sensemaking of science cross-cutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in teacher-tested STEAM lessons connected to garden-based learning that can be implemented into the K-6 classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Aurora Hughes Villa (Utah State University: providence, UT), Lisa Saunderson (Edith Bowen Lab School / Utah State University: Providence, UT)

This presentation provides an overview of the open schooling approach and the Make It Open project. By introducing resources co-created with educators and tested with students, we aim to present practice concepts such as maker, and inquiry-based learning, to help teachers implement this in classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to the Make It Open project based on the open schooling approach. They will get an overview of the tools and learning scenarios curricula developed by this project and reflect on how they can implement them in their classrooms based on their community.

SPEAKERS:
Tamar Fuhrmann (TC Columbia University: Cupertino, CA)

We will share our experiences of teaching science with big ideas to guide students’ learning. We will introduce some tips and strategies for teachers on writing big ideas from the standards, making them visible in the classroom, and centering student activities around the big idea.

TAKEAWAYS:
Big ideas enable a cognitive framework for teachers to direct classroom activities and assist learners in seeing the connections between various scientific concepts. Teachers can create big ideas for their science curriculum and use them to guide students’ science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Hill (Teacher: Tuscaloosa, AL), Taylor Lamon (Saban Center Education Specialist: Tuscaloosa, AL), Jale Ercan Dursun (The University of Alabama: Tuscaloosa, AL)

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) provides teachers with free and downloadable resources for an entire unit of instruction, including a variety of assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
The TIES website contains a variety of teaching materials including presentations, online resources, online games, video questions, data analysis, puzzles, and formal assessments. The formal assessments include student response sheets and rubrics to support teaching evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Clapp (The Catamount School: Sylva, NC), Alison Seymour (Winchester College: Scottsdale, AZ)

The session will cover 3 different types of gardens spaces. The session covers how to evaluate and set up different garden spaces. The session will cover what standards the spaces will cover and how to receive funding for the spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away how to plan and incorporate a garden space of some sort for their school while supporting NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
RaeAnn Wood (8th Grade Science Teacher/Lab Science: Little Rock, AR), Jackie Scott (Mann Magnet Middle School: Little Rock, AR)

The Citizen Science model provides students with opportunities to engage in authentic, purposeful, and relevant educational activities in support of local, state, and national scientific research and monitoring projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to a variety of Life Science and Ecology-based Citizen Science ideas ranging from simple to highly complex activities: activities that teachers can do on their own with students or in collaboration with local, state, or federal wildlife or conservation organizations.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Hodgdon (Richmond Hill Middle School: Richmond Hill, GA)

Current trends highlighting plants using 3D Learning that support sensemaking in the K-6 classroom will be presented. Participants will be provided hands-on, real-world lessons that engage students with a deeper and more meaningful experience that center around the Next Generation Science Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will develop a more meaningful understanding of sensemaking by using plant investigations to increase student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Lynn Hess (Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School: Sanford, FL)

We’ll explore key stances, strategies, and resources for supporting elementary students to learn about and take collective action in response to authentic socio-ecological challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Young learners are capable of consequential and justice-centered learning about social, political, environmental, and climate issues. Concerns about “developmental appropriateness” can perpetuate dominant forms of science and invisibilize marginalized students’ lived experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Rae Han (EarthGen: Seattle, WA), Pranjali Upadhyay (Educational Service District 112: Vancouver, WA)

Looking to increase achievement in an immersive way? The Air Camp Team will demonstrate how to harness the universal appeal of flight by captivating students with lessons and engaging activities rooted in biology standards while exploring exciting and fast growing aviation career fields!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn strategies to construct activities resulting in greater interest and mastery of biology for students in grades K-12. Explore distinct professional practices that expand biology standards into unforgettable learning experiences associated with human life, animals, plantlife, and so much more!

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Coblentz (Director of Operations: Dayton, OH), Christina Davis (Air Camp USA, Inc.: Dayton, OH)

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) conducts graduate field biology training. Their teaching model is a daily cycle of data collection, analysis, and reporting. The benefits for students 15-18 of a strong commitment to field science include better understanding of scientific arguments, increased confidence in research, communication, and team-building, and a sense of ownership. For high school classes, I stretched the timeline of each research cycle from one day to three weeks. Classes were divided into three-student teams with rotating roles (writing, editing, and presenting). Teams developed hypotheses, carried out field investigations, analyzed data, and shared their results on the final day of each cycle. These activities occupy about 40% of available class time. This adaptation of professional education to high school biology has had the effect of giving students a distinct advantage in experience and confidence as they have moved on to later research opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
A strong commitment to a field centered program is a leap, but the diversity of choices for possible research projects can integrate with many curriculum goals and contributes profoundly to students’ excitement, engagement, and analytical skills.

SPEAKERS:
Barry McPhail (Alabama School of Mathematics/Science: Mobile, AL)

A Research Experience for Teachers Program at the University of Puerto Rico (BIORETS: BioInteractions) aims to engage eight secondary school teachers in the development of standards-centered curricular materials after they participate in a summer research immersion experience. The focus of the research experiences is on the overarching theme of biological and biomolecular interactions. Teacher participants engage in a broad range of research activities: from molecular biology to ecology. Curricular materials are designed based on their research experience to promote students’ scientific literacy and foster positive attitudes towards STEM. In this session, we will share experiences from the summer research immersion experience as well as examples of the curricular materials that have been developed and tips for their implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away strategies to transfer scientific research experiences into their classroom to promote students’ scientific literacy and positive attitudes towards STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Rodríguez-Pérez (Teacher: Mayagüez, PR), Brenda Lee Estévez Moreno (Science Teacher: Boqueron, PR), Diana Galloza Ramirez (Teacher: Aguada, PR), Michelle Borrero (University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus: San Juan, PR)

Engage students in a hands-on cellular respiration learning activity using handouts and manipulatives.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn the stages of cellular respiration; 2. Discover how to follow glucose through the oxidation steps and track the carbons that are converted to CO2; and 3. Calculate the energy production (ATP) through substrate-level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation.

SPEAKERS:
Deborah Cardenas (Collin College, Wylie Campus: Wylie, TX)

Experience a lesson where students take on roles of stakeholders while engaging in guided research, discussion, and designing solutions to address algal blooms in Florida. Plans, protocols, and templates for student work and collaboration will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn a strategy for guiding students to research and generate solutions an environmental issue that impacts various stakeholders in different ways. I want attendees to see the need to teach skills related to research, discussion, and consensus building.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Kuninsky (Science Teacher/Instructional Coach: Lawrenceville, GA)

Explore strategies to modify various storylines that increase belonging and student identity in the science classroom. Testimonies from biology and special education teachers who have implemented storylines to bring NGSS and equity to students with learning needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to recognize barriers to students' success and implement strategies via storylines to remove those barriers and promote equity in the classroom. Participants will be able to modify storyline activities as we discuss and work through the modification process.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Pavic (Glenbrook South High School: Glenview, IL)

A master gardener and science educator will share their strategies for fostering young learners’ understanding of plant and animal interdependence through community gardening.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about strategies for engaging students in gardening, such as “Pest or Guest?” for promoting insect/plant interdependence, and steps to take for establishing a successful gardening program.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Cummings (Penn State: Jefferson Township, PA), Kristin Rearden (The University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Knoxville, TN)

Starting and maintaining a school herbarium exposes students to the flora of their school campus while practicing data recording, observation skills, identification skills, and technology skills. Oak Grove Elementary's herbarium continues to grow with the support of the Emory University Herbarium.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn all steps involved in starting an herbarium, supplies needed, and STEM connections. While most examples were used with upper elementary students, it can easily be adapted for all grade levels.

SPEAKERS:
Kendall Xides (Oak Grove Elementary School: Decatur, GA)

This session will introduce NSTA's phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional instructional materials designed for middle school classrooms. These lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning meaningful to them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

This session will highlight some of the practices that can be used to encourage student engagement, authentic work, and efficacy in the virtual environment. Through years of experience in a traditional face-to-face environment, a blended/hybrid online environment, and a fully virtual environment, t

TAKEAWAYS:
A major takeaway of this session will be strategies and ideas that teachers can immediately implement in their classroom to engage their online learners and gauge their mastery of the classroom standards rather than students’ internet savvy.

SPEAKERS:
Bethany Lambert (Online Content Developer & Science Teacher: No City, No State)

Nothing is better than learning new strategies that you can take back to your classroom/school that enhance literacy and engage English language learners in science. This session will introduce you to four or more new strategies that promote speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Educators will

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will acquire four or more essential teaching strategies for ELL's that they can use in their classroom to enhance literacy and engage learners.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Rowland (ESOL Department Chair/ ESOL Teacher: Clermont, GA)

Do you have dry skin? Evaluate a variety of skin care products on simulated skin cells using Orbeez super absorbent polymers in an inquiry-based lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Take home an exciting new inquiry-based lesson to incorporate into any biology or anatomy and physiology class.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Mason (University of Wisconsin-Stout: Chippewa Falls, WI), Gregory Matthias (University of Wisconsin-Stout: Menomonie, WI)

This USDA funded project aims to develop diverse rangeland grazing systems to optimize ruminant production, reduce environmental impacts, enhance biodiversity, and improve overall health. Schools and communities partner through gardening programs to develop scientific ways of thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a sustainable agricultural research program that utilizes garden-based and social and emotional learning through the 3-H learning model. We build science capital through an integrated STEAM curriculum, children’s literature, outreach booths, citizen science, and videos.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Trundle (Utah STate University: North Logan, UT), Rita Hagevik (The University of North Carolina at Pembroke: LAURINBURG, NC)

Our problem based learning project ‘Impacts to biodiversity on campus,’ merges scientific inquiry and hands-on, authentic experiences. We share our unit sequence, materials and methods, and finished products as well as the intangible benefits such as class camaraderie and appreciation for science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the unit sequence, materials and methods, and finished products of our problem based ecology unit, as well as intangibles such as class camaraderie, enthusiasm and appreciation for the challenges of science.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Jenkins (Rabun Gap Nacoochee School: Rabun Gap, GA)

Teachers will learn about the iWonder process and online tools that help connect students to the community (locally and globally) through place-based, scientific, research projects they create!

TAKEAWAYS:
Students' imagination will be sparked, and science connections with the world outside the classroom will be ignited with iWonder!

SPEAKERS:
Ian Collins (Maine Math and Science Alliance: Lincolnville, ME), Rebecca Clark Uchenna (Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance: Augusta, ME), Megan McCall (Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies: Mobile, AL)

Want to make phenomena come alive for your students? Well use live animals for your phenomena! In this session, Samuel Pruitt will show how to use the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) teaching strategy and an array of live reptiles as phenomena to teach biology and environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) and live animals in biology and environmental science phenomena can provide critical to learning and can be motivational to students. This session will blend the CER teaching strategy with the interest that comes from using live reptiles in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Samuel Pruitt (Biology/Environmental Science Teacher: FLOWERY BRANCH, GA)

Come discover how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all three dimensions of the NGSS to your physics, physical science and chemistry teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science Practices. Bring a device and take away free resources!

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies in the use of simulations for 3D NGSS-aligned teaching

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA)

As educators, we strive to bring meaningful and relevant learning experiences to our students each day, to connect the dots between what we're teaching and how it applies to the real world. We need to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers, and there are no better role models than those who are on the frontlines of researching, documenting, protecting, and exploring our planet. Every scientist and explorer remembers when it happened, when their passion for their chosen pursuit was ignited. It may have been meeting someone, seeing a documentary, reading a book, or an inspirational educator. You can spark these 'aha' moments for your students by bringing the world into your classrooms through virtual connections with leading scientists and explorers around the world, and it's easier than you think! Join educator and National Geographic Explorer Joe Grabowski and dive into exciting resources, along with tips and tricks for engaging students before and after.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the benefits of bringing exciting scientists, explorers, and conservationists live into your classroom, while exploring how easy it is to do with exciting resources like Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, Explorer Classroom, Google, and more!

SPEAKERS:
Joe Grabowski (Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants: Elora, ON)