Participants will learn how to choose a picture book as a basis for an engineering unit, examine examples of several books that we have turned into engineering units, follow our journey to construct a force and motion unit, and participate in the Engineering Challenge to build a better race car.

TAKEAWAYS:
The participants will understand how to select a picture book to support a science standard, as well as be able to construct an engineering unit based on the chosen book. Participants will also receive a copy of our force and motion unit based on to use in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jenna Henkel (Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers, Inc.: Cumming, GA), Pamela Parks (Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers, Inc.: Winterville, GA)

Is your science time getting squeezed? In this interactive workshop, learn how to use the NGSS K-5 Engineering Standards to find the STEM in ANY storybook to get your students excited about science and engineering through reading in the elementary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will learn how to plan lessons and units that integrate science, engineering, and other content areas into your reading time by starting with any storybook.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Hill (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD)

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TAKEAWAYS:
STEM isn't an add on at the EC level. It is a natural way of discovering the world around. It is also a path to equity when it is embedded in literary and real-world experience.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Venice, FL), Juliana Texley (Lesley University: Boca Raton, FL)

A step-by-step explanation of how to implement FLORES (Family Learning and Outreach for Research and Education in STEM) in your elementary school. The program builds content knowledge and confidence in both parents and students, as they learn STEM together in their native language.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the positive research results form this program, how to implement FLORES and how to access the materials used to run the family sessions.

SPEAKERS:
Anny Vanegas (Columbus Elementary School: White Plains, NY), Amanda Gunning (Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry Campus: Dobbs Ferry, NY)

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)

This session disseminates learnings from an early-phase STEM project of the federal Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program. A joint effort of the Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC) and Tracy Unified School District in California, the multi-year project centers on the development and implementation of integrated STEM curricular units to every student in each grade level, pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Developed by local teacher leaders, each 4- to 8-week unit centers on a design challenge, clusters the ETS and other NGSS standards related to that challenge, and requires students to develop a computational artifact as a part of demonstrating their learning. The project is enriched through the participation of community leaders who bring local industry experiences to students within each unit, and is supported through strategic work teams. Come see how this systemic reform is bringing equitable STEM experiences to all students PreK-12. Leave inspired with ide

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How one district approaches integrated STEM; 2. What an integrated STEM unit feels like; and 3. How one district supports and builds accountability for equitable STEM instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds (Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC): San Francisco, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Transform your classroom into a forensic lab with this whodunit-themed experiment. Guests at a party are getting sick, and a few have even succumbed to the illness. Using spectroscopy and Beer’s law, your students will uncover the truth in this active, inquiry-based learning experiment.

SPEAKERS:
Nüs Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

How to make the learning process as important as the product? Create a visible learning process and practice strategies to remove the fear of failure. Participants will be exposed to different levels of instructional feedback, standard-based grading, assessment, and feedback tools.

SPEAKERS:
Mike Jones (Illinois State University: Bloomington, IL)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Bring real-world conservation to biology students to analyze DNA profiles from confiscated ivory tusks. Fits with Environmental Science and the Africa Storyline.

SPEAKERS:
Sherri Andrews (At Retired: Greensboro, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Do your students struggle with the meaning of the slope of a graph? We'll demonstrate how to use all the sensors in a Go Direct® Sensor Cart to explore kinematics, force, and mass. These engaging, hands-on experiments will give your students multiple ways to practice working with these principles.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

There’s a break-in at the lab. Your students become forensic scientists as they walk into a crime scene. Analyze samples for blood and then catch the criminal with DNA fingerprinting. This exciting workshop will include ways to incorporate biotechnology and gel electrophoresis into your classroom.

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Let’s explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM. Let's move beyond differentiation and scaffolding. Come learn other proven intervention techniques to help students. Let’s modify our traditional outreach to connect with students so that they gain greater understandi

SPEAKERS:
Stacey O'Connor (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: VEX Robotics

STEM education needs to be inclusive. This workshop will discuss research proven methods for why STEM can help improve student participation in the classroom. Jason McKenna, Director of Education at VEX Robotics, will include examples and techniques that teachers can use in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jason McKenna (VEX Robotics: Pittsburgh, PA), Drew Ostry (Marketing Director: Greenville, TX)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Be the geneticist overseeing screening and interpreting the genotypes of hemoglobinopathies for at risk newborns.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal McDowell (Greenbrier High School: Evans, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore the science of candy colors! We will extract food dyes from candy and separate them using agarose gel electrophoresis and paper chromatography. By separating the different colors, students learn about complicated mixtures, charges on molecules, and how science relates to everyday life.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Link physical science concepts like circuits and charged particles to the essential biotech method gel electrophoresis. Build a reusable gel electrophoresis system with the Bandit STEM Electrophoresis Kit, and use it to separate colorful dyes. Also add the A to STEAM with creative pipetting art!

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Explore the teacher’s side and experience the student side of our IDE. While engaged in an OSE lesson we'll explore the Teacher Edition’s and its structure while also experiencing the different features that students have available to use in their interactive student edition.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Chandler, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Empower your students to become confident problem solvers by providing hands-on STEM experiences that improve their resilience and motivation through trial and error. Build a free rocket with us and walk away with great strategies to use in your classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: Pueblo, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Lyricos Learning LLC

We are a STEM+Arts streaming platform that gets used in the classroom to teach hands-on projects via our standards aligned videos. During this session we will plan on hosting a hands-on project for the teachers to make while following along with the video. Example - they can make a DNA bracelet.

SPEAKERS:
Devina Bhojwani (Lyricos Learning LLC: No City, No State)

Generating STEM interest through a place-conscious framework is a pathway for students to solve issues relevant to their community. Framing instructional methods within the place-conscious design allow important issues to be at the center of the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will explore how to design hands-on inquiry lesson developed from a place-conscious framework.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bookheimer (Pre-service Teacher: BILLINGS, MT)

Opening a lab is a daunting process. Learn about how Fairport developed a vision, wrote a horizontally and vertically aligned curriculum, and utilized intentional decision making to design the Elementary STEAM Lab experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with recommendations for creating STEAM Labs in their districts based on the blueprint that Fairport used to launch Labs that incorporate the NGSS Engineering Design standards, Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards, and a focus on social-emotional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Travis Wood (Fairport Central School District: Rochester, NY), Kristin Larsen (Honeoye Falls- Lima CSD: Honeoye Falls, NY)

Come and learn how two different school contexts (rural and urban) are implementing science engineering practices through PBL experiences. Utilizing Engineering is Elementary resources as a model, teachers will share their instructional practices and strategies along with successes and challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to explain that SEPs can and should be integrated in a manner to meet the individual needs of a school’s community and make-up.

SPEAKERS:
Trudy Giasi (Valle Catholic Schools: Ste. Genevieve, MO), Andi Maddox (Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Kennett, MO), Brandy Hepler (Southeast Missouri State University: Cape Girardeau, MO)

Creating primary and intermediate STEM-focused classrooms can be challenging. This session will highlight strategies and examples to incorporate STEM and science activities into their classrooms. Resources that use trade books to teach Science/STEM concepts will be modeled and discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in example activities that make connections between quality children’s literature that support STEM topics, STEM investigations, and reading strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Newburg, PA)

In this interactive workshop, you will use the NGSS K-2 Engineering Design Standards to integrate STEM into the storybook Mrs. Brown Went to Town and see how you can get your students excited about reading and science through engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
Want to get your students excited about a story? Then have them be a part of the story and use their knowledge of materials and engineering to help Mrs. Brown! In this interactive session you will get to design and test your engineering project based on the storybook Mrs. Brown Went to Town.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Hill (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD), Anna Ball (Wicomico County Public Schools: Fruitland, MD)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
John Ojeogwu (Student: Charlottesville, VA)

Rocketry is a learning pathway - not an "event". Join Dr. Cassondra Zielinski as she takes you through the process of space-settlement design in a K-5 school. This session concentrates on designing a space settlement using paper and Lego through the SDG Sensor Kits. This is session 1 of 3.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session participants will understand how to combine NGSS, Mathematics, Art, and Technology by using a hands-on approach through space settlement design, creative lesson planning, and student interest. Participants will implement their own ideas into new lessons just like the K-5 students.

SPEAKERS:
Cassondra Zielinski (Mountain View Elementary School: Marietta, GA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Using the MiniOne System, develop an understanding of forensic science and gel electrophoresis while investigating the mystery of who killed Dr. Ward.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Mirakovits (Kalamazoo Valley Community College: Kalamazoo, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Do you have Vernier equipment but don’t know how to get started? Do you have questions but aren’t sure whom to ask? Learn about the resources and support available to you from Vernier Science Education and gain confidence to use our technology with your students!

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Wondering how to teach your students about enzymes? Leave the liver behind and bring complex concepts to life with hands-on experiments. Vernier biology expert Colleen McDaniel will walk you through an inquiry-based experiment that explores the different variables that affect catalase.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Students get engaged with practical and inquiry-based engineering experiences by using the DIVE-in method. This program was developed with the New York Hall of Science. Transform your classroom into an authentic makerspace with the DIVE process. Learn how to use the design process through consensus.

SPEAKERS:
Stacey O'Connor (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Take a new look at enzymes through historical, cultural, and economical lenses. Students use the lactase enzyme to produce lactose free milk in an easy to perform lab and then modify experimental conditions to design and test their own procedures to maximize production of lactose free milk.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon (Watauga High School: Blowing Rock, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

The gene-editing tool CRISPR is one of the most exciting biotechnology breakthroughs of the past decade. In fact, this technique won the Nobel Prize in 2020! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore CRISPR biology using fast, easy experiments that model the development of a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Sponsoring Company: Proteus VR

Using the Meta Quest Pro and Quest 2, participants will explore and try the world's first chemistry lab in augmented reality. Pros and cons of the technology will be demonstrated, and real-life implementation will be discussed, as well as virtual reality vs. augmented reality in the classroom.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

A purrfect introduction to genetics! Track inheritance in a family of cats using Punnett squares. Then, use gel electrophoresis to examine the gene that controls that trait. Students connect Mendelian genetics with our modern understanding of genes! No stains or extra visualization equipment needed.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA), Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: The National WWII Museum

When students investigations began with a real story from history, with true situations and high stakes, science learning can be everything we want it to be. Learn about using our free activities to teach science the NGSS way, and integrating science. literacy, and social studies.

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

The NGSS calls for a shift from knowing to doing. This includes analyzing real-world data and using that analysis to create models. Join us as we talk about tangible classroom strategies that meaningfully improve students' skills with data and receive the award-winning game, CHARTY PARTY!

SPEAKERS:
Julianna Jimenez (Stile Education: Los Angeles, CA), Hailey Vogel (Head of Teaching and Learning: Los Angeles, CA)

Young children naturally engage in science and engineering practices through play. Educators can support this kind of learning through purposeful play environments and subtle facilitation. In this session, educators will discover how to recognize and extend children’s play-based science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be introduced to an observation tool, which allows them to measure how children are engaging in science and engineering practices. Educators will gain practice using the tool with video-based cases and discuss effective strategies to support children’s play-based science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Miller (Bowdoin College: Brunswick, ME), Maranda Chung (Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance: Brunswick, ME)

As education professionals seek to engage with Tribal entities to support Youth, they need resources to help ensure that they are stepping respectfully and intentionally. Learn about an Un-guidebook, supported by 100kin10, to help non-Native education professionals engage with Tribal entities.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session, STEM educators will know more about building relationship with indigenous communities, and how both formal/OST, educators can use the Un-guide to create the first steps of a relationship with Tribal entities in their community and better support Tribal learners, especially youth.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: Rio Rico, AZ), Melinda Higgins (U.S. Dept. of Energy - Fossil Energy & Carbon Management: Washington, DC)

Engage in teacher play with us and ponder how light sources and open-ended materials entice children to grow executive function skills as they construct systems that produce unique images.  

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in teacher play as they handle light sources and open-ended materials and receive a handout to help them get started in preparing an environment for independent STEM experiences that can be offered daily in their PK-2 classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Dykstra VanMeeteren (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Judith Lozoya (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ), Jennifer Petersen (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ), Brenna Chambers (Arizona Science Center: Phoenix, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Let innovative technology and simplified prep take the mess and stress out of bacterial transformation with the Let it Glow TM Bacterial Transformation MiniLab.

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover hands-on activities using temperature probes and other Vernier sensors that will excite your students. See how age-appropriate, sensor-based experiments teach students about data collection and analysis—practices that promote scientific inquiry, build STEM literacy, and boost test scores.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Python is a dominant programming language, and we have created libraries and sample code so that you can use most of our sensors in Python programs. Web VPython even allows you to read our Go Direct® sensors without installing anything, and it works on Chromebooks, PCs, and Mac® computers.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore how physical models foster an understanding of the importance of meiosis to the diversity seen among living things.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Neuroscience is one of science’s fastest growing fields. Students learn about the field by exploring Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s, two neurodegenerative disorders. We will analyze the Huntingtin genes using PCR and electrophoresis and explore the biology behind Alzheimer’s disease with an ELISA.

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Rockets zoom and race cars zip through hands-on activities that engage your middle and high school students. Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Hale, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Museum of Science, EiE

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SPEAKERS:
Amanda Cramer (ALSDE DLCS Integration Specialist: Hoover, AL), Mallory Schmidt (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

Have fun building a catapult to launch cows and learning about trajectories. After this presentation, you’ll walk away with techniques to bring an engaging gaming experience to your classroom, which your students will explore science and engineer practices through.

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Using the storyline approach, a logical sequence of lessons motivated by students’ questions arising from their interactions with phenomena, we’ll navigate through the OSE model using the five routines to help students achieve the objectives and actively work through the sense-making process.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Chandler, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: UL Research Institutes Xplorlabs

Over 500 fires in the last 2 years are linked to thermal runaway, a phenomenon caused by short circuits in lithium-ion batteries. Participants will learn how Xplorlabs' free online pathway supports student understanding of energy transformations and culminates with an engineering design challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Sparacino (UL Research Institutes: Chicago, IL), Katey Shirey (edukatey: Washington, DC), Amy Gilbert (Griffin Middle School: Smyrna, GA), Megan O'Keeffe (senior content specialist: canton, GA)

In this session you will take a closer look at STEM instruction in order to reflect on whether it is inclusive of all students and how to use innovative ideas to continue moving forward as a STEM educator.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss and reflect on their own STEM instruction and focus on ways to include all students in STEM education regardless of abilities, language, or economic status.

SPEAKERS:
Pavel Escobedo Garcia (Principal: Ventura, CA), Adriana Guerra (E. P. Foster STEM Academy: Ventura, CA)

Can science and art be held to the same rigor in a classroom? Of course! In this session we’ll share student-centered approaches to teaching science and the arts through integration as part of larger PBLs. Examples of classroom practices are targeted to K-8 educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain ideas and strategies to put into practice in their classes. These strategies will allow them to help students construct and demonstrate their learning using art as well as use science knowledge to help solve problems through the creation of art.

SPEAKERS:
Daria Collins (Visual Arts teacher: Savannah, GA), Kaleena Jedinak (Tybee Island Maritime Academy: Tybee Island, GA)

What started out as our solution to “viewing science fair projects can be boring” evolved into a well-attended, hands-on experience for our families and community. In this session we will share our station-oriented activities and how to use them to build relationships with families and your school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the resources and confidence to organize large events for their school and community using science to build relationships. Session participants will be given an outline of helpful resources, tools, and ideas they can use to manage their own events.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Hunt (First Grade Teacher: Eustis, FL), Anne Fritz (Faith Lutheran School: Redmond, WA)

Participants will explore an engineering design challenge that engages upper elementary students in the creation of tiny homes as a solution to homelessness after a local natural disaster. Explore Design Thinking principles and how empathy plays a role in authentic and inclusive STEM inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in NGSS-based engineering design challenge where you design a solution for homelessness caused by natural disasters and learn the role of empathy in STEM inquiries by using Design Thinking principles and place-based strategies that engage all learners in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: Belle Chasse, LA)

Advanced spatial thinkers do well in science, and building spatial skills can improve achievement. In this session, we will explore why science teachers should care about spatial skills, pedagogical tools to build these skills, and how they can be put into practice to build scientific knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will (1) gain an understanding of what spatial skills are and why they are important to success in science learning, courses, and careers; and (2) learn how to incorporate five spatial “tools” into their pedagogy and their students’ activities during science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Gagnier (Senior Research Scientist: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

What ALE's you? Come see how bitter taste genotype and phenotype are linked, and how it can play a role in your fondness for certain food or drinks! Great use of CER's!

SPEAKERS:
Sherri Andrews (At Retired: Greensboro, NC)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Discover new ways to use Claim-Evidence-Reasoning to enhance your students' science knowledge, communication, and writing skills in the middle school science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Rillieux (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Let us shed light on guided-inquiry lessons for your classroom. We’ll walk you through guided-inquiry simple circuit lessons, with attention to both the student experience and the teacher's view. You’ll be able to customize the lessons to feature the sensors and software you already have!

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Keep your students engaged by giving them opportunities to move and interact in class. Explore limb position and grip strength, balance, and EKG and EMG experiments designed to encourage students to think about the physiology of various human organ systems. Come ready to participate!

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Examine how modeling deepens student engagement. Explore carefully designed models to discover basic features of DNA structure and function using an atomically accurate model. Model nucleotides, DNA and RNA polymers, genetic sequences, genetic engineering, and an endless number of possibilities.

SPEAKERS:
Keri Shingleton (Biology Teacher: Tulsa, OK)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Want to learn more about technologies used in today’s laboratories? If so, join this hands-on workshop! You’ll explore two biotechnology techniques, PCR and electrophoresis.. These experiments will help your students understand how techniques like genetic engineering work in a real-world context.

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

If you're using STEMscopes (or wanna-be), this session is for you. Come see the most popular digital curriculum during this session. Discover assessment packages, streaming videos with activities, coding with app building, hands-on engineering projects, STEM teacher certification, and much more.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Spaeny (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Suzan Morris (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Foley, AL), Susan Arnette (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Perdido, AL), Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Add a hands-on lab to your study of the central dogma! With the cell-free BioBits® system, students can watch as polymerases transcribe RNA and ribosomes translate it to make protein, all using fluorescent indicators. Now you can experiment directly with transcription and translation!

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: ExploreLearning

This interactive session will explore a digital interface that develops models to capture students' thinking when designing and testing solutions to real-world problems. We will immerse ourselves in solving a puzzling STEM Case to develop a model and use it to optimize a solution.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Chiota (Learning Designer: Redwood City, CA), Jared Jackson (Director of Production: Decatur, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Experience a novel approach to Earth science. This pedagogy uses a “systems” approach for plate tectonics, astronomy, natural resources, geology, and paleoclimatology. There will be several take-home activities and ideas to implement or augment your existing Earth science curricula.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Werkz Publishing Inc.

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Gullotti (US Lead Sales Team & Trainer: New Smyrna Beach, FL), David Gentry (Franklinton Elementary School: Franklinton, NC), Amanda Hightower (4th grade Math and Science: Spring Hope, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Imagine Learning | Twig Education

Join world class designers and engineers as we dive in to explore hydroelectricity and the growing need to harness force and motion found in the ocean. Participants will experience a simulated lesson, make a 3D model of a water turbine, and use it to investigate the relationship between force and motion.

In this session, the presenters will share specific strategies and an intentional design for preparing elementary STEM teachers to create inclusive and equitable STEM classroms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about specific strategies to create inclusive STEM classrooms. Elementary STEM educators will model ways in which they have revised curriculum and integrated specific STEM pedagogy that is inclusive, culturally sustaining, and rooted in social justice.

SPEAKERS:
Bonnie Maur (Sacred Heart University: Monroe, CT)

Come hear how my teaching and student learning changed by using a Gather, Reasoning, and Communicate approach to my lesson planning. Insights on time management and student outcomes will be shared - the good and the not-so-good. I’ll also share why I think this approach leads to deeper 3D learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will take away explicit strategies of how to implement G,R,C lessons with your class including how to scaffold the approach with different grade levels, 2-4th grade, and how to roll out the approach in your first year.

SPEAKERS:
Katheryn Kennedy, PhD (The Peck School: CRANFORD, NJ)

Culturally responsive pedagogy can help bridge the diversity gap in STEM. This session shares how our Dream City program supports all students in thinking like urban planners to design beautiful neighborhoods that are not only structurally sound but also inclusive and responsive to all who come.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have a chance to see how IMSA Outreach provides inquiry-based, hands-on STEM learning. Attendees will see how inquiry-based teaching and learning is, by its very nature, inherently culturally responsive and can leave with practical ideas to use in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Wu (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: Aurora, IL)

Learn how to integrate the engineering design process and environmental education to engage students in this unit designed for upper elementary students! Participants will complete the Ocean Cleanup Challenge from the perspective of a student and learn about the Trashion Fashion Challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will learn how to increase student awareness of ocean and land pollution through hands-on STEM challenges. They will also learn how to connect relevant, real world topics that matter to promote student voice.

SPEAKERS:
Meghan Marrero (Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry Campus: New Rochelle, NY), Johanna Vasquez (Trinity Elementary School: New Rochelle, NY), Terri Agravat (Trinity Elementary School: New Rochelle, NY)

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

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

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

Discover how to build a STEM curriculum from the ground up, from ideation to final product. Design an alarm to protect your stuff, meet the STEM Quality Framework and 50+ free STEM units from Pre-K to High School, and explore amazing resources from the Dayton Regional STEM Center and DoDSTEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the process of designing a high-quality STEM curriculum including; standards alignment, evaluation and improvement of curriculum and implementation within the classroom, along with a library of free, currently available unit plans and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Carey (Xenia Community Schools: Kettering, OH)

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

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

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

Empower our students to be solutionary thinkers with “think local, act global” as an important theme in student centered instruction. Create engaging 3D, phenomenon-based opportunities through a social justice lens and harness local and global community partnerships to deepen student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create a solutionary approach to lesson planning connecting local and global environmental issues in California and Africa, while enhancing SEL. Using the 3D5E DO-KNOW-THINK Learning Sequence, teachers create STEAM-centered lessons for engagement, interdisciplinary active learning, and empathy.

SPEAKERS:
Marie Gorman (STEM 4 Real: Crofton, MD), Jacqueline Lafitte (Teacher: Hayward, CA), Leena McLean (STEM4Real: Honolulu, HI)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Get ready to exercise more than just the muscle between your ears when you use the Vernier Video Analysis app to investigate the physics of a bench press and bicep curls. You'll walk away with experiment best practices, lesson suggestions, and tips on successful video collection.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

While building bottle rockets, students are instructed not to use more than 10 pumps on a bicycle pump. When a bottle bursts and injures students, it's up to you to investigate. Use Avogadro’s law and a Go Direct® Gas Pressure Sensor to solve the mystery in this hands-on experiment.

SPEAKERS:
Nüs Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore how physical models foster an understanding of how the structure of DNA and RNA determine the structure of proteins, which carry out the essential functions of life.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Williams (Teacher: Shelter Island, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore the relationship between genotype and phenotype using Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). Some think PTC tastes bitter, while others find it tasteless. The ability to taste PTC is linked to variations in a taste receptor gene. In this workshop, you will use PCR to distinguish between PTC alleles.

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

You will learn how to build and code a four-chamber heart (no coding experience required) while exploring how the heart works. This is a great project for middle and high school science and STEM students! You can also borrow all of the equipment for this project from TI for free.

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Discover how collecting data from a classroom greenhouse can help you engage students in more meaningful explorations of environmental concepts. Learn how to measure, analyze, and control greenhouse conditions such as light, water, and airflow - then optimize them using block-based code.

Sponsoring Company: Anatomy in Clay

In this workshop, attendees will build replicas of human anatomy using clay and a specially designed skeletal model in a class-room setting. Educators will learn how to implement a unique curriculum system which helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy.

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Roney (ANATOMY IN CLAY Learning Systems: Haddonfield, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Plasma Games

Let's expose students to the diversity in STEM careers x3! Explore how to inspire the next generation of STEM experts by showing them STEM experts who are diverse in how they look, diverse in what they do, but most importantly diverse in how they got there.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Meet Bandit™, the electrophoresis system that brings accessibility to a new level. Build an affordable, durable, and reusable electrophoresis system. Then, make connections between molecular and Mendelian genetics with electrophoresis labs that run in 20 minutes and don’t require staining.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

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SPEAKERS:
Leslie Spaeny (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Susan Codere (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, Retired: Lansing, MI), Cory Miller (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: Charlotte, MI), Joseph Krajcik (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI), Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Deepen engagement for all students by showing them the power of science to impact their worlds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with practical strategies for empowering students to apply their learning to have a positive impact on their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Ben Talsma (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

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: Lafayette, IN)

STEM is a way of thinking and engaging in STEM skill-building activities can help students become better STEM thinkers. Every student benefits from these opportunities, but access is not equitable. Experience STEM skill-building activities that can be done with students of any age in any classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will understand why it is important to provide opportunities for every student to develop STEM skills and simple ways to engage students in STEM thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Dodie Resendez (Region 4 Education Service Center: Humble, TX)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Do the macromolecule lab with minimal prep, and see how students can apply their new skills to explore macromolecules in every day foods.

SPEAKERS:
Stacey Chapley (Science Teacher: Deerfield, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Studying complex physics phenomena can be exciting for your students with photogates! Join us to explore strategies for engaging your students in learning about velocity vs. time graphs, acceleration, and kinematic equations. Demystify these helpful tools and bring hands-on learning to your class!

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Engage your students in learning about the effects of climate change with this hands-on experiment. Using the latest Vernier data-collection technology, we'll define ocean acidification, determine how we can measure it, and discuss why it is bad for our marine ecosystems. Get ready to dive in!

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

This session will introduce a mRNA vaccine design activity in which students explore the uridine-to-pseudouridine modification as well as codon optimization.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Explore easy, engaging, and safe chemistry activities that guarantee a reaction in your students. Whether you’re new to chemistry or feeling out of your element, create excitement with hands-on labs, demonstrations, and Carolina’s digital content. These lab activities support 3-dimensional learning

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon (Watauga High School: Blowing Rock, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Creating colorful bacteria with transformation is a memorable way to teach the central dogma of molecular biology. Take it a step further and have your students create art with the colorful cells! In this workshop, we’ll share tips for transformation success and create bio-art with microbial paint!

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Looking for ways to increase student ideas in the development of investigative phenomena? We will work in collaborative teams to develop a driving question board. Let’s discuss the types of phenomena and how they can be used effectively in the STEM classroom. Bring relevancy to students’ lives!

SPEAKERS:
Suzan Morris (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Foley, AL), Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Teachers will learn strategies to integrate picture books and STEM activities to support ELA standards, inspire student creativity and nurture a growth mind-set.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave this session with resources and activities to implement in their classrooms. This will include a resource library of books and activities that support ELA and STEM standards.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Eanes (John Sevier Elementary School: No City, No State), Alyson Colclough (Foothills Elementary), Bob Kirkland (Sam Houston Elementary School: Maryville, TN)

Students may lose confidence in science skills when inconsistencies are not addressed. Our project shows that students can feel success by understanding measurement error, identifying ways to reduce measurement error, and analyzing the impact of those modifications.

TAKEAWAYS:
This project will demonstrate educationally and statistically significant impact of a piloted, experiment-based measurement error lesson. Attendees will take home tips for addressing inconsistent data to foster student success.

SPEAKERS:
Alexandria Martin (Student: Warrenville, SC), Tiannah Green (Student: Warrenville, SC), Hannah Smith (Student: Warrenville, SC), Darneisha Hughes (Student: Warrenville, SC), Destiny Ramos (Student: Warrenville, SC), Janiya Dunbar (Student: Warrenville, SC), Alexis Wren (Student: Warrenville, SC), Samantha Brosnahan (Aiken County Career Cente: Langley, SC), Vivian Swearingen (Student: Warrenville, SC), Sophia Taylor-Davis (Student: Warrenville, SC), Aubria Johnson (Student: Warrenville, SC), Jose Rodriguez (Student: Warrenville, SC), Atticus Lull (Student: Warrenville, SC), Savannah Manning (Student: Warrenville, SC), Chassity Williams (Student: Warrenville, SC), Kayleigh Thigpen (Student: Warrenville, SC), Katherine Roberts (Student: Warrenville, SC), Christie Palladino (Teacher: Warrenville, SC)

Joining a research lab as an undergraduate is a boon to many future career directions, making it important to equip students with the tools to find and contact potential laboratories. We will discuss evidence for the need for these tools as well as a tested strategy for their input into classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gaps in knowledge created by socio-economic differences, being a first-generation college student, etc., can make it challenging to find a research laboratory, or decide what skills are required to join. We will demonstrate a modular teaching device to help fill this void.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Ruesch (Postdoctoral Researcher/Educator: Ithaca, NY)

We engaged students in building computational thinking skills through the lens of science. Two lessons that will be featured include navigating a robot through a science-themed maze and coding a video game that integrates science. This model of blended science, design & tech will inspire you!

TAKEAWAYS:
This poster will describe and link to two lessons including navigating a robot through a science-themed maze and coding a video game that integrates science concepts of light and shadows. Computational skills and science content that are present in the lessons will be emphasized.

SPEAKERS:
Katheryn Kennedy, PhD (The Peck School: CRANFORD, NJ)

This session will provide educators with ideas for hosting STEM day/night for K-8 students (especially in Title I schools). Attendees will participate in hands-on STEM challenges that explore phenomena, require minimal preparation, and can be completed in 45 minutes or less. Educators will walk away with packets that include posters, supply lists, rubrics, and worksheets. This session will help attendees to facilitate and model simple Engineering Design Challenges that will engage ALL scholars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to coordinate a STEM day/night including scheduling ideas, resources. Attendees will receive packets for their respective grade levels/grade bands that include posters, supply lists, rubrics, and worksheets.

SPEAKERS:
Karelle Williams (The Main Street Academy: Lithonia, GA)

Elementary educators will explore ways to add scientific modeling into their class through drawings. Through the introduction of modeling through examples, teachers will experience the process and then be able to plan ways they can use scientific modeling in their own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be able to experience scientific modeling through a classroom example. They will then be able to plan a way they can use scientific modeling in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Mouland (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

This session provides a “snapshot” of how to use the 5E model of instruction, along with children’s literature while learning the process of coding different bots.

TAKEAWAYS:
Prepare to focus your lens with highlighted lessons in ELA, Math, and Science. This session puts the “T" in STEM into action.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Headrick (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Charles Holloway (The University of Alabama in Huntsville: Decatur, AL), Cayce Perry (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Ardmore, TN), Shundra Morris (AMSTI-UAH: Huntsville, AL)

Whether you’re looking for new ideas for an established science night or planning your first one, we are dedicated to making sure your science night showcases quality science content and practices that is fun for the whole family.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share planning, recruiting volunteers, setting up, fundraising ideas, step-by step directions for stations and sample stations to take with you! The stations are for K-5 aged students but with a focus on training high school students to run the stations.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Webb (Coal Mountain Elementary School: Dawsonville, GA)

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)

Explore how engineering benefits English learners as you engage in lessons designed to foster engineering, science, and language learning for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineering activities can offer multimodal experiences for English learners that encourage their participation and contributions to the engineering classroom community and engage them in purposeful uses of language.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Cunningham (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Although the S in STEM is science, this doesn’t mean science equals STEM. What makes a lesson STEM? Using two captivating hands-on activities, we compare STEM and science through the discussion of the value of student failure, why student choice is important, and how to integrate STEM into your scie

TAKEAWAYS:
A STEM lesson includes the possibility of failure, the opportunity for student choice, while also incorporating science standards. STEM uses processes within all the subjects included in the acronym to deepen student understanding of the content while creating skills for lifelong learning.

SPEAKERS:
Chauntèe Pitts (Professional Learning Specialist: Lafayette, IN), Lauren Kelly (Crowley ISD: Burleson, TX)

Inclusive Community Science Workshops in schools, libraries, and communities fosters STEM learning, creativity, innovation, and identity through play, making, and positive social interactions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about instructional innovations, resources, and ideas for enhancing STEM learning and teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Jerry Valadez (Fresno State and SAM Academy CSW: Fresno, CA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Run and analyze the Familial Hypercholesterolemia genotypes of family members to see which members are at risk for this inherited condition.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal McDowell (Greenbrier High School: Evans, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Introduce your students to renewable energy to sharpen their problem-solving and engineering skills. This workshop will provide three-dimensional learning opportunities for your students as they explore the engineering design elements of a wind turbine, such as number of blades, blade shape, etc.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Don't let complex concepts slow you down! Join us as we explore kinetic and potential energy in mechanics using Vernier sensors and software. Learn how your students can calculate columns to create graphs of energy vs. position or time to observe the transformation of energy between forms.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

For over 15 years NOAA Ocean Today videos have engaged students in environmental phenomena. Watch never before seen clips of a new animated series that explores ocean, weather, and climate connections. Wherever you live, Ocean Today’s over 300 videos will be a powerful asset in your teaching toolkit

SPEAKERS:
Kurt Mann (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), June Teisan (InnovatED 313: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte Company

Do your students know their food is an ecosystem? Students apply science, technology, engineering and math concepts to the exploration of microbes that they encounter every day. Come microbe hunting with us using BioPaddles. Participants leave with easy to implement lesson plan ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Evans (Kent County High School: Worton, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Animalearn

Want to help your students explore anatomy without dissecting animals? Tune in and learn about the latest advancements in life science, from AR/VR dissection technology to hands-on non-animal resources that will both amaze and engage your students.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Green (Animalearn: Jenkintown, PA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Have you wanted to implement a Project-Based Learning unit in your classroom? Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL) provides interdisciplinary science units for Grades K-5. Experience hands-on lessons that are enjoyable and intellectually satisfying for the teacher and students.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Spaeny (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Susan Codere (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, Retired: Lansing, MI), Joseph Krajcik (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI), Cory Miller (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: Charlotte, MI), Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

School leaders and university faculty will share and discuss two different grassroots approaches to the development of STEM programming in K-8 levels. The processes of continued collaboration, strategic planning, professional development, and STEM culture have led to initial successful outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about STEM program development and STEM professional development models. STEM Education frameworks and a toolkit used as a foundation for strategic planning and sustainability will be shared and available for attendees.

SPEAKERS:
Brandy Hepler (Southeast Missouri State University: Cape Girardeau, MO), Andi Maddox (Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Kennett, MO), Trudy Giasi (Valle Catholic Schools: Ste. Genevieve, MO)

For teachers looking for tools to foster student achievement, participation, and growth. The key way to do this is by teaching students about a positive growth mindset and applying thinking routines to make the mindset part of the classroom's culture (free routines from Harvard's Graduate School of

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of focusing on student effort and growth during the problem-solving process which results in an increase in student participation and achievement.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Lockwood (Author & Executive Director: Milford, CT)

Provide students with the power of citizen science as they make scientific observations and analyze data to increase awareness worldwide about the impact of light pollution using NSF’s NOIRLab’s Globe at Night program. Students engage with authentic data to propose local solutions to light pollution

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the impacts of light pollution and walk away with resources and strategies to implement this citizen science campaign in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ), Justine Schaen (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

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

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

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

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Run an agarose gel to make DNA Fingerprints to determine who baby whale Luna's dad is. This activity can be done in a single classroom period.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Mazur (Science Teacher: Somerville, MA)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Learn how the new BrainPOP Science makes it easy to assess your middle school students’ multi-dimensional science skills.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Bakken (Director of Assessment Design: Webster, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Looking for ways to get your middle schoolers excited about science? We can help. Explore ways that Vernier technology can engage students in hands-on STEM learning and help them learn about important scientific concepts, including temperature, light, friction, and grip strength.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Find out how you can use a simple reaction between food color and bleach to teach reaction kinetics. Learn how to select the best wavelength on a spectrometer, analyze the data to determine the rate constant, and write the rate expression. Collect data on your own device or use one of ours!

SPEAKERS:
Nüs Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Come experience our new collection of protein models enhanced by molecular stories, digital resources and augmented reality technology. Bigger, better,…and more robust.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS), Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Teaching students to reason and problem solve is the cornerstone of math instruction. This session will highlight several engaging strategies - Three Reads, Numberless Word Problems, and more. These provide multiple entry points for students to engage in the math problem solving process.

SPEAKERS:
Suzan Morris (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Foley, AL), Susan Arnette (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Perdido, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Experience the pedagogy of OpenSciEd for middle school by engaging in a model lesson from the new Carolina Certified Version. Teachers will experience the four elements of the anchoring phenomenon routine. Teachers will experience how the anchoring phenomenon routine motivates students.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC), Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Adventerra Games

Adventerra's unique board games nurture environmental literacy. While racing to win, students see how their actions affect the planet. Come play, and discuss how to use games to empower students and achieve curricular goals! Learn about a Johns Hopkins study on the effect of games on eco behavior.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Mundell (Marketing and sales: Laurel, MD), Bryan Mundell (Founder: Paradiso, Switzerland), Sue Mundell (Adventerra Games North America: Boston, MA)

Model Eliciting Activities provide no-cost PBL, content area integration and an increase in computational thinking for students. Experience open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that reveal students’ thinking while considering constraints & tradeoffs in realistic problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about PBL, called Model Eliciting Activities, as they experience them firsthand, analyze the required parts & hear about the research and successes it can bring to a diverse classroom. Teachers can formulate how to write their own and see the many integration areas possible.

SPEAKERS:
Jim Reynolds (STEM coordinator: Tallahassee, FL), Carrie Meyers (Curriculum Coordinator: No City, No State)

Discover how to use Project Based Learning to foster a learning environment where students produce original ideas, objects, and structures through STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to effectively implement STEM PBL’s (Project Based Learning) by integrating the components of STEM and PBL in order to grow students' capacity for creativity, fun, and back-loaded learning in a STEM context.

SPEAKERS:
Adero Carter (Fulton County Public Schools: College Park, GA)

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 (Midland Trail High School: Ansted, WV), Tiffany Pace (Cross Lanes Elementary School: Charleston, WV)

Create an electric car and race it against other participants’ cars. These cars are made using cardboard strips, paper fasteners, wooden skewers, tape and plastic wheels, in addition to motors and AA batteries, whose total cost is about $1.50.

TAKEAWAYS:
A car consists of a base, wheels, a battery, a motor and a drive system. Only one drive wheel is needed to propel the car, and the simplest drive system has this wheel attached directly to the motor.

SPEAKERS:
Jazlyn Mena (Castle Bridge School: New York, NY), Jody Hilton (P.S. 44 Marcus Garvey Magnet School of Engineering and Design and The City College of New York: Brooklyn, NY), Lacey Samsoe (Teacher: Brooklyn, NY)

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: Smyrna, GA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

In this STEAM activity, you will make art using drops of color dye – similar to the pointillism art technique, while perfecting pipetting technique.

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

BrainPOP’s new product is made by science teachers for science teachers and has evolved to meet the unique needs of today’s middle school science students. Discover what’s missing in your middle school science classroom and how BrainPOP Science turns students into scientific writers.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Powers (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Make three-dimensional learning work for you! We will explore an everyday phenomenon, the heating of a gas when it is compressed, using Vernier technology. Using science and engineering practices, you'll actively engage students by integrating crosscutting ideas into this real-world experiment!

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Stop counting bubbles! Your students can easily visualize photosynthesis and cellular respiration using the latest Vernier technology. This workshop will cover sample collection, carbon dioxide data analysis, and inquiry ideas to test variables that affect photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Cell to cell communication is difficult for students to grasp; but signal molecules and receptors come to life with this hands-on model synapse. Further engage your students using this model to reflect how drugs and toxins disturb the biochemistry of the synapse.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Williams (Teacher: Shelter Island, NY)

Sponsoring Company: The National WWII Museum

When you use real problems and stories from history to begin investigations, STEM naturally happens. Starting with problem-solving your students will naturally engage in the science and engineering practices while learning about history, and practicing disciplinary literacy

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

Teaching has always been challenging, and a pandemic has only exacerbated the struggles of educators and widened pre-existing gaps. Join us for our session to discuss how teachers can leverage cross-curricular strategies to increase participation, engagement, and outcomes in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Julianna Jimenez (Stile Education: Los Angeles, CA), Hailey Vogel (Head of Teaching and Learning: Los Angeles, CA)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

In this hands-on session, we’ll conduct a Bring Science Alive! investigation that gets students engaged in explaining phenomena and solving problems like real-world scientists and engineers.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Thomas (TCI: Mountain View, CA)

Participants will come away with a roadmap of how to align their local instructional evaluation instrument with the characteristics of a great STEM lesson and how to provide actionable feedback to improve STEM instruction in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to identify the key components of STEM instructional practices, have a process to align those practices to their local instructional evaluation instrument, and will be able to identify key components of actionable feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Hilton (Central Indiana Educational Service Center: Indianapolis, IN)

Learn about the PrimaryAI project and how it integrates artificial intelligence and computer science education into elementary life science.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this presentation, you will learn about PrimaryAI, a project that uses a rich, problem-based learning scenario in which students are tasked to gain experience with AI and apply their knowledge to help an endangered species.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN)

Story Play curriculum embraces children’s storytelling, while reinforcing the writing process. This approach has roots in Montessori methods and uses STEM as a context. While the method was created to meet students’ needs after the pandemic pause, it can be used anytime to help all students learn.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of children's own experiences for storytelling and writing and how STEM exploration can be used as a context for both.

SPEAKERS:
Michelyn Goodin (Yonkers Early Childhood Academy: Brooklyn, NY), Amanda Gunning (Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry Campus: Dobbs Ferry, NY)

This presentation centers the NGSS dimensions of science, crosscutting concepts, and engineering practices in real-life applications that yield tangible results to get students excited about STEAM by engaging with a school garden. Current teachers will share their successes and pitfalls.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session is aimed at helping teachers see that school gardening provides a plethora of STEAM-based learning experiences from current teacher perspectives.

SPEAKERS:
Tain Curtis (Teacher: Price, UT)

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.

We have worked with more than 40 current and future K-8 teachers across our state as part of a PD and curriculum project. We used a place-based approach to explore marine science, climate change, and the NGSS. We will share our PD model and strategies for successful implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will present an overview of our PD model, which provides a series of workshops on climate change, marine science, and the NGSS K-8. Attendees will have access to our growing database of NGSS-aligned grade-level specific science lessons exploring marine science and climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Madden (The College of New Jersey: Ewing, NJ)

This session will demonstrate drag, gravity, thrust and lift and how those forces are integrated into a unit that uses paper airplanes to explore science and engineering practices and disciplinary literacy techniques in reading and writing with Amelia Earhart, aviator & champion of women’s rights.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away from this session with concrete resources on how key concepts in physical science can be embedded within an engaging unit using airplanes that also support student learning in the practices of science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Koomen (Research Professor: Port Townsend, WA)

Computational thinking and computing education have the potential to develop students’ higher-order thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills in ways that can advance learning in interdisciplinary ways and can be done even with our youngest minds.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will focus on how we can embed computational thinking skills into student learning by using background knowledge from multiple subjects to design and implement curriculum that allows for all students to have access to higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in real-world situations.

SPEAKERS:
Wyman Khuu (KIPP NYC: Sunnyside, NY)

Learn how we use the 3-H Learning Cycle and our school garden to teach integrated STEAM lessons in our early childhood classrooms. This approach incorporates hearts-on, hands-on, and minds-on learning to address children’s social and emotional needs. We will share STEAM lessons and tips.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the 3-H Social and Emotional Learning Cycle, our favorite integrated STEAM garden-based lessons, and tips for effective and safe outdoor learning with young children (K-2). How to encourage students and families to get outside and make community connections in outdoor spaces.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Trundle (Utah STate University: North Logan, UT), Shannon Rhodes (Teacher: Logan, UT)

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: Smyrna, GA)

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)

Featuring educators and digital media creators from Tinkercast, the creator of the STEM-themed, #1 kids podcast Wow in the World, sharing the HOW, WHY, and WOW of using podcasts in the classroom, including how podcasts can help address the achievement gap in listening and literacy skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Podcasts offer educators opportunities to enhance listening and literacy skills, spark creativity, encourage collaboration, and ignite a passion for learning, with specific benefits for ESL learners and students performing below grade level in ELA.

SPEAKERS:
Meredith Halpern-Ranzer (CEO: montclair, NJ), Kristen Giang (Sr Director, Digital: Oak Park, CA), Natascha Crandall (Educational and Research Consultant: Woodcliff Lake, NJ), Carole Paterson (TinkerCast and Valley School of Ligonier: Laughlintown, PA)

Career connections in elementary school are crucial in supporting the workforce. This session shows how a district implemented a sySTEMatic plan to grow understanding of career pathways for our high-needs students. Participants will be provided with a STEM Camp toolkit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a blueprint of how to implement STEM career awareness in elementary school by using the curriculum, teacher development, and community partners.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Berry (Knox County Schools: Knoxville, TN), Mallory Sterling (Knox Co Schools: Knoxville, TN)

Exploring Monarch Butterflies in Science and Art

TAKEAWAYS:
This quick session will introduce insects to a class designed for both Science and Art.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY)

Gifted students are a unique population we rarely have time to focus on while common misconceptions often prevent them from reaching full potential. This session offers an assessment tool to help students capitalize on strengths and realize their own potential in a STEM classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
A Total Talent Portfolio can be used to identify students’ interests, preferred learning styles, and expression styles to leverage motivation, engagement, & autonomy. A Talent Portfolio also serves as an assessment tool teachers can use to document talent development throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Bailey Nafziger (Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, GA)

The purpose of this session is to discuss research findings from a synthesis we conducted from projects funded by the NSF's DRK-12 program related to improving preK and elementary science teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
More research is needed in lower elementary grades and professional development lasting a year or longer showed promised in increasing teachers' self-efficacy and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Ferguson (Researcher: Bronx, NY)

Do you need help in planning engineering experiences for young learners? Collaboration with others in a learning community can help! This session will show how a group of teachers used Flip to share ideas for STEM/STEAM and engineering focused lessons. Get ready to join our engineering fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in using the Flip application and learn how they can create learning communities focused on STEM/STEAM and engineering education.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Hood (Science Specialist: Jacksonville, AL), Carol McGinnis (Jacksonville State University: Anniston, AL)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Promising idea or a recipe for disaster? Beta-test a new app that pairs with 3DMD’s physical models.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Ryan (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

CER gets students to explain phenomena in a scientific way. Let’s use investigations to demonstrate how to use data collection to drive data-based conclusions. Guide students in how to think deeper, write scientifically, & incorporate vocabulary that strengthens their understanding of a phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Esri

Join us as we demonstrate how to use data collectors from PASCO to collect and push data into ArcGIS Online mapping software. Among other measures, we will assess ground-level CO2 and correlate it to temperature in a map display. ArcGIS Online is free to K-12 instructional use, globally.

Sponsoring Company: National Science Foundation

Join the National Science Foundation as we share professional development opportunities for teachers within the federal government and hear from Presidential Awardees about their experiences and benefits received from the PAEMST program.

SPEAKERS:
Gianluca Grignoli (NSF Event Lead: Philadelphia, PA)

We aim to bring K-12 STEAM further in the 21st century by emphasizing innovation. The proposed session will cover a STEAM rebranding process. We will host a discussion of NSTA community goals around innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as tools and resources for addressing these goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees should expect the session to serve as a valuable idea brainstorm, to provide a collection of strategies, and to generate a network of NSTA members interested in pursuing a rebranding of STEAM to a “Tinker-Create-Innovate” model who may serve as allies as such shifts are endeavored locally.

SPEAKERS:
Maggie Renken (STEAM Program Director: Dillard, GA)

This session will discuss what it means to engage in authentic integrated STEM, with a focus on Mathematics, Science and English Language Arts. Ideas for integrating Technology and Engineering will also be discussed. This integrated lesson encompasses the NGSS three dimensional learning approach to explore the concept of forces and motion. Through the use of a read aloud titled Equal Smeechqual by Virginia L. Kroll, students will engage in sequencing, reading comprehension, equal and unequal forces, and mathematical justifications. Results from this lesson conducted with a third grade class will be shared and discussed. In addition to the results of the lesson, tips for constructing meaningful and logical integrated instruction will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away an NGSS based three dimensional lesson for a third grade integrated lesson on forces and motion that integrate math and ELA standards, as well as general tips for integrating instruction across content areas that are meaningful, purposeful and logical to benefit students.

SPEAKERS:
Christie Martin (University of South Carolina: Columbia, SC), Bridget Miller (University of South Carolina: Columbia, SC)

Join to hear how our district support team in Hawaii developed an innovative Lending Library system for STEM resource borrowing. We’ll share challenges and successes from our initial five items in 2017, to currently managing a massive system with over 130 items.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with ideas and considerations to kick-start or remodel a similar project in their current roles as educational leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Shelley Deakins (Windward District Office: Kaneohe, HI), Ryan Kagami (Windward District Office: Kaneohe, HI)

Learning rarely takes place in only one space. In this session, identify strategies for developing and executing STEAM-based curriculum for young learners. Shift your mindset from “child homework” to “family learning” as we discuss ways to engage parents and families as stakeholders in learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will identify strategies for creating lessons grounded in STEAM and engaging parents and families in their child’s learning.

SPEAKERS:
Samanta Gutierrez (Professional Learning Specialist: No City, No State), Patricia Ratanapraphart (STEM Content Manager: Dallas, TX)

STEM careers are for ALL students! Learn how to bridge the gap between STEM careers and classroom spaces by exploring proven strategies for hosting STEM professionals in your elementary classroom! Walk away with a complete engagement guide written for elementary teachers, by elementary teachers!

TAKEAWAYS:
Through the lens of equity and inclusion, participants will explore tips for sustained classroom-based STEM career exposure success (both in-person & virtual), including: selecting and preparing speakers, planning an engaging classroom visit, and maintaining relationships with STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Pearson (Adams 12 Five Star Schools: Broomfield, CO), Cameron McKinley (Technology Integration Coach: Hoover, AL), Kristen Record (Bunnell High School - National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY): Bridgeport, CT)

In this session we will share our model for sustainable and inclusive K-5 STEM teacher leadership, drawn from experiences working with teams of teachers and administrators. This work is part of an NSF-funded capacity-building initiative in preparation for a larger project which seeks to develop a robust cadre of Master Teacher Fellows. Our model for STEM teacher leadership is unique in that (1) it is focused on STEM learning at the K-5 level; (2) it centers equity and inclusivity in STEM teaching, and (3) it takes place within the context of a state that recently adopted K-12 climate change standards. We will first share the model and how it came to be. Then, we will provide examples of ways in which STEM teacher leaders can lead innovation within and across many contexts including schools, communities, professional organizations, and through social media.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share a model for sustainable and inclusive K-5 STEM teacher leadership and examples of ways to leverage the assets of these leaders to bring about innovation in schools, communities, and society at large.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Taylor (Salve Regina University: Newport, RI), Helen Corveleyn (Timberlane Middle School: Pennington, NJ), Melissa Zrada (The College of New Jersey: Cream Ridge, NJ), Lauren Madden (The College of New Jersey: Ewing, NJ)

With Extension Services being in every county in every state, your local county/parish Extension Office can be a great partner to enhance student learning. Come learn about strategies on how to work Extension Agents & K-12 educators can partner together in student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Provide ideas on how teachers and Extension Agents can partner together to enhance student learning

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Giles (Extension Agent I - 4-H Youth Development: Green Cove Springs, FL)

The need for all students to have STEAM-related strategies and practices that work is paramount for a equitable classroom. This presentation is to provide recommendations to support students with and without disabilities in remote and in-person classroom environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to implement evidence-based strategies for STEAM instruction that work for students with and without disabilities in a a variety of instructional settings.

SPEAKERS:
Jonté Taylor (Penn State: University Park, PA)

I Can't Do It! We have all heard that cry from the students during a STEM project. But what do you do about it? This session helps you understand more about the power of failure. We will share our experiences with you to help students understand trial and error along with the engineering process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with proven strategies to help children overcome the fear of failure in order to attempt or complete a STEM Challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Gowen (Curriculum Consultant: Deltona, FL), Sue Bedard (iBuild Academy: Debary, FL)

Looking for more interactive grade 3-5 physical science curriculum? Students will engage with robot SaM-1’s videos and hands on activities while exploring physical science at an animal conservatory and on vacation at the beach! Free access will be given to use this curriculum in your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be given access to a physical science curriculum in grades 3-5 that provides instructional content via videos, hands on lesson and labs, bulletin board ideas and coding. The curriculum is meant to transform elementary science classrooms from using workbooks to real science!

SPEAKERS:
Jim Reynolds (STEM coordinator: Tallahassee, FL), Carrie Meyers (Curriculum Coordinator: No City, No State)