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.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Tom Cynkar (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

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.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Tom Cynkar (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

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:
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, PhD (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Incorporating social studies and history into STEM education doesn’t have to be difficult. Situations and events from the past can be used to present phenomena to students. Explore how you can use real world events and situations from World War II to engage your students with observable phenomena. In this workshop session led by an educator from The National WWII Museum, educators will explore how to incorporate a story, situation, or event from WWII into a phenomenon that meets NGSS standards. All of the activities also have a reading to accompany them for an added literacy component. The stories and activities will all come from our free curriculums: Little Engineers and Real World Science. Attendees will receive a hard copy of each curriculum. During this workshop, the activities demonstrated will feature Victory Gardens (parts of plants, growing seeds) and Earn Your Wings (engineering challenge with paper airplanes) activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating social studies and history into STEM education doesn’t have to be difficult; situations and events from the past can be used to present phenomena to students.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Goodner (Assistant Director of K-12 Programs: New Orleans, LA)

This session consists of a student facing experience in which participants will engage in a sample lab activity followed by a collaborative debrief about the intentional decision making process behind the experience. Participants will leave with an understanding of how they can replicate experiences like this in their classroom, even in the absence of a designated space such as the STEAM Lab. Fairport Central School District has implemented STEAM Labs in each of its elementary schools. The vision is to support, challenge, and prepare all Fairport students to be Future Ready. By engaging with curricular and extracurricular projects and inquiries, students will utilize their innate creativity to actively construct knowledge. Students are at the center of the learning and are seen and valued for who they are. The Labs provide opportunities for students to tinker with ideas and collaborate with each other, to support the social-emotional and academic development of all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how the use of criteria and constraints increase student engagement and creativity in the problem-solving process.

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

Problem based learning uses observable events and processes that occur in the world. It is important to provide students with sensemaking opportunities that require them to combine their knowledge about multiple, cross-disciplinary DCIs, science and engineering practices, and cross cutting concepts, and ELA, math, and social studies, to design solutions to a real-world problem. The purpose of this session is to model the intentional combination of multiple disciplines to design a solution to the impact farming can have on the environment. During the session, participants will engage in designing a windmill that will help them reduce the impact of farming on the environment. We will explore the transdisciplinary nature of designing windmills and work in engineering teams to create the most efficient windmill. This presentation provides access to an NGSS Design Badge 5th grade unit, and strategies for combining multiple disciplines to design solutions to real-world problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
The audience will walk away with access to an NGSS Design Badge 5th grade unit that exemplifies strategies for engaging students in real-world problem-solving using multiple disciplines.

SPEAKERS:
Christi Sanderson (mySci Instructional Specialist: University City, MO), Lauren Ashman (Washington University in St. Louis Institute for School Partnership: Saint Louis, MO)

Too frequently, teachers wait until Black History Month to incorporate diversity topics into their curriculum. For this workshop, I will be sharing how to incorporate diversity and equity topics year-round into a STEM program for both lower and middle school students. We will examine different science topics, including my second grade engineering unit, that can seamlessly be included in the science classroom. I will be showcasing some of the work my second, fourth, and sixth grade students have completed. In addition, I will be discussing the latest addition to the sixth grade weather and climate unit: Hurricane Relief and Environmental Racism. Finally, we will be examining the stories that different cultures have composed about the origin of constellations. Participants will have an opportunity to develop their own constellations and to write a story that explains the origin of their star pattern.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this workshop, participants will see how to incorporate diversity and equity topics into their STEM classroom. Teachers will experience some of the lessons my students have experienced and will discover how easily it can be to adapt lessons to celebrate the contributions of many cultures.

SPEAKERS:
Joan Gillman (The Browning School: Teaneck, NJ)

What started as a silly experiment in a hotel parking lot Parking Lot Science has become a staple in K-6 exploration at John Thomas School of Discovery. Teachers who attend this session will participate in a cooperative, hands-on learning experience that will help showcase the importance of science in elementary education. The session will involve hands-on exploration and simple phenomena to implement in your everyday teaching. The session will then look at how creating a culture of science leads to a larger picture of student exploration and learning. Participants will have an open discussion about the state of science in their schools and the hurdles they face. We will brainstorm ways participants can create a “wonder” week or showcase of science at their school to highlight student learning throughout the year. The session will have singing, dancing, science, wonder, and a whole lot of laughter. Come join in on the learning experience and see what we can do with the power of wonder!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn different unique ways to expose students to wonder, receive ideas to create a culture of learning within their classroom, and participate in hands-on explorations that can be used all year long.

SPEAKERS:
Ryan Mahn (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO), Joe Shaughnessy (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO)

“Raising the Green Roof” is a 4-week interdisciplinary STEM unit developed by university architectural studies and science education faculty working with elementary educators. In the unit, students use place-based strategies to explore how human-built structures impact the environment and then learn that green roof designs can help restore the natural water cycle. Water cycle basics (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) are emphasized as students explore stormwater runoff, test water retention in various soils, model roof design features, and discover the role that plants play in water management. The unit culminates in an engineering design challenge with students building their own miniature doghouses, green roofs included. Our workshop introduces teachers to our unit’s structure and the science and sustainability concepts behind it. Teachers will also have an opportunity to practice several hands-on investigations and modelling activities from the unit’s lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on workshop provides an overview of Green Roof lessons and gives participants a chance to practice modelling and engineering investigations from the unit. Educators will learn architectural content knowledge and receive a link to classroom-ready curriculum and teacher support materials.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Zangori (University of Missouri: Columbia, MO), Suzy Otto (University of Missouri: Rolla, MO)

This will give information that will enable participants to replicate a STEM outreach event with various theme ideas. The activities are all low-cost and adaptable across student ages and generations of family members. The activities are meant to provide opportunities for students and families to experience success in a fun and enriching way while engaging with STEM concepts from the NRC K-12 Framework. We will also discuss how we used this event as a way for our preservice teachers to experience and practice implementing informal education strategies. This event was hosted at our local STEM Center, but we will also discuss ways that it can be implemented at school STEM nights, at community events, or even as neighborhood "pop-up" events to reach diverse learners in equitable ways.

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

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

Seaworthy STEM in a Box activities were developed through collaborative efforts between STEM education specialists at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division and master teachers participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellowship Program. Seaworthy STEM endeavors to inspire and prepare the next generation of STEM professionals by supporting teachers’ efforts to engage students – from early childhood through high school – in more hand-on science inquiry and engineering design. Activities are organized around grade bands with Naval-relevant themes and involve simple phenomena that support student sensemaking around key science and engineering concepts. Our workshop will allow teachers to practice several hands-on activities from the Seaworth STEM suite and will provide strategies for classroom integration, including content selection, standards alignment, materials acquisition, and tips for classroom implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this hands-on workshop, teachers will explore several Seaworthy STEM in a Box activities and receive teacher background information on NGSS standards alignment, career connections, and relevant Naval and physical science concepts. Links to classroom-ready lesson materials will also be provided.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Klixbull (Penn State University: Lemont, PA), Tom Jenkins (National Museum of the United States Air Force: Fairborn, OH), Melissa Thompson (Department of Defense: Stevensville, MD), Suzy Otto (University of Missouri: Rolla, MO)

“Rockets Away '' curriculum revealed that the predominantly female staff was uneasy and hesitant to use launching equipment. A “Science Squad” assisted the teachers with the physics knowledge, building, and launching of the rockets. Then the creation of videos to show the proper techniques for rocketry and voice overlay ppt to ensure the accuracy of the physics concepts. Teachers became certified in Rocketry. Many 3rd-grade teachers provided inquiry science in the form of dioramas for their life science unit. The introduction of “Chickquest” was essential to providing inquiry-based learning. Early on, a “Science Squad” dressed in white coats, funny chick glasses, and hats assisted the teachers in the classroom with setting-up incubators, candling eggs, and troubleshooting student questions to WebCams for students to witness the live hatching 24/7. These STEM activities evolved into humanity lessons such as students reading to the chicks and sharing their hatches with each other.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to leverage technology & personnel for elementary teachers to engage students in authentic science and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Johnna O'Neal (Instructional Specialist: No City, No State), Katrina Halasa (Akron Public Schools: Akron, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

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. Launch a chemical reaction rocket and race a car powered by a balloon.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Kopkau

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Discover new ways to help students think & work like scientists and engineers. We will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching and learning including teacher instructional slides, student friendly materials, simulations, and student investigation sheets.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

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!

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Tom Cynkar (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Discover a new way to study DNA and enzymes! Use fluorescence to see changes to DNA structure and enzyme activity with your own eyes. Explore how temperature, pH, and genetic sequence affect DNA base pairing. Then, see inhibitors, concentration, temperature, and pH affect enzymatic reaction rates.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Nishitani, PhD (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Presenters will start by highlighting place based-learning and how to create experiences through hands-on learning using NGSS standards. Then, the presentation will focus heavily on open discussions to answer questions on how we have successfully created STEAM-based projects that integrate all learning areas. Participants will then start creating their own learning experiences for their classroom by focusing on the four major questions of a Professional Learning Community: What will students do? How will they do it? How will we know they've learned it? What will we do if they don't? Last, the focus on how to bridge the gap between passion and standards will help us move forward in the creation of STEAM-based units. Participants will walk away with gained knowledge in NGSS standards, unit creation/template, and a better understanding of place-based and STEAM-based projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will collaborate with educators to form learning experiences they can apply in their classrooms, receive a unit template to help organize thoughts, and discuss ways to break out of the traditional mold of education.

SPEAKERS:
Joe Shaughnessy (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO)

The presenters will share the development of an elementary science lesson that incorporates art into science as a meaningful tool, not a fun supplemental activity. Participants will then complete the example activity that involves developing a solution to a real-world problem using a combination of science and art knowledge and skills. At the conclusion of the example activity, the presenters will provide information on the development of the activity and participants will have the opportunity to begin developing their own science and art-infused lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Art does not have to only be a supplemental activity that is added after a science lesson, it can be an integral part of a STEAM lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Mintert (Associate Professor of Art: Joplin, MO), Laura Schisler (Missouri Southern State University: Joplin, MO)

Presenters will be using resources used in their own classrooms created by the Master Teacher of Invention Education Program through the Office of Education at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. For engagement, participants will begin by playing a trademarks guessing game with other participants. Next the participants will then learn about the 4 different types of intellectual property (Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret). From there, participants will learn and experience an invention "SCAMPER" strategy and finally tie it altogether with invention education. Active participation will be required for meaningful takeaways. Free resources from the United States Patent and Trade Office and MTIP teachers will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be instantly motivated to try invention education with their students. They will walk away with patent & trademark knowledge to teach their students, as well as materials/strategies from Master Teachers of Invention Education that can immediately be implemented in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Henggeler (Northeast Nodaway: Parnell, MO), Juan Valentin (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Laurel, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Discover the awesome potential of the ELISA! This highly-sensitive assay allows for detection of low levels of antigens in biological samples, making it perfect to identify pathogens, allergens, and more. We'll also practice pipetting to improve accuracy and precision, ensuring experimental success.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Tom Cynkar (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Participants will complete a short and sweet STEM design challenge. We will discuss the purpose and benefits of the Engineering Design process. Participants will walk away with ideas for implementing STEM right away in an elementary setting. The meat of this training will be sharing how to foster a STEM culture in your school by offering choices, engaging students in the design process, and promoting the 4C’s. Participants will understand how STEM prepares students for all career paths.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will discuss ways you can foster a STEM culture in your school by offering choices, engaging students in the design process, and promoting the 4C’s.

SPEAKERS:
Tosha Hoefert (Educational Consultant: No City, No State)

Even if educators understand the role of an engineer, they often do not know how to teach it at an elementary level. In this session, I will explain the components of the engineering design process, including ask, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve. A comparison will be made between the scientific and engineering design processes. A description of STEM will be presented that centers on the engineering design process. Participants will explore the alignment of the engineering design process and the next-generation science standards. A simple STEM project will be analyzed through the engineering design lens in order to identify potential adjustments to foster the inclusion of critical thinking of an engineer.

TAKEAWAYS:
What is engineering, and how can it be used to enhance my STEM teaching?

SPEAKERS:
Erika Neuman (University of Texas at San Antonio: San Antonio, TX)

Participants learn hands-on how to engage students in a STEM design challenge. They discover the importance of research through experimentation while investigating 4 variables that affect a straw rocket’s flight. They’ll create a series of straw rockets, testing each variable through launching. Participants will learn strategies to teach students measurement and data collection skills with any experimental design process for any level; whether that is beginning measurement in Pre-K and K to the importance of significant figures in measurement with high school. Teachers will experience strategies for classroom data analysis and use this in their ultimate challenge: designing and engineering the ideal straw rocket to test in a distance competition. Teachers will learn strategies to differentiate this concept in any K-12 classroom and see testimonials on this from the Air Camp Programming and Teacher Air Camp alumni.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn hands-on strategies to help students develop measurement, data collection, and analysis skills they can apply in engineering design lessons. You will learn methods to differentiate this in any K-12 setting and leave with free resources for your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Stormer (3-6 STEM Teacher/ Elementary and Teacher Curriculum Specialist, Air Camp USA: Union, OH), Christina Davis (Air Camp USA, Inc.: Dayton, OH)

What student has not been amazed by the incredible bridges and buildings constructed by architects! How many of them have wanted to try and design their own structures? In this hands-on workshop, the participants will have an opportunity to view some of the creative buildings and bridges my second graders have constructed using mostly recyclable materials. They will hear about some of the record-breaking buildings that have been constructed around the world, and they will also have a chance to see a short video about some of the most unusual structures ever built. Before commencing any of the building, the participants will receive information on the different types of bridges built throughout the ages. These include the covered bridge, the truss, suspension, cantilever, beam, cable-stayed, and arch bridges. Once the participants have a general knowledge of the different types of bridges, they will then have an opportunity to work as a team to build a bridge or a building.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will learn how to develop an engineering unit for elementary students where they design and build their own skyscrapers and bridges. Relevant videos will be shown and student work will be showcased.

SPEAKERS:
Joan Gillman (The Browning School: Teaneck, NJ)

This poster presentation will use the Krebs Cycle of Creativity as created by Dr. Neri Oxman as a framework for a new approach to interdisciplinary sciences. I will explore the intersectionality of art, science, engineering, and design. This will include how the synergy between these disciplines creates opportunities to study how art and design affect our behavior, how design and engineering impact utility, how engineering and science creates knowledge, and how science and art portrays information. I will use examples from my own classes to highlight how the Krebs Cycle of Creativity can provide a new lens to view interdisciplinary teaching in the science discipline. This will include examples of projects, teaching materials, and student samples. Visitors will leave with a tangible understanding of how their school can move away from the siloed STEAM approach and move towards a more holistic approach that connects the many different disciplines of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Visitors will leave with a new lens to view interdisciplinary science teaching including examples of projects, teaching materials, student samples, and a tangible understanding of how their school can move away from the siloed STEAM approach and towards a more holistic take on teaching science.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Vorel (6th Grade Science Teacher: Webster Groves, MO)

Using a story, such as Fish in a Tree, that is already being used in the classroom as the structure and inspiration for STEM-related activities is one way to incorporate additional time into the week for STEM. Some of our school districts have 45 minutes every other week dedicated to Science, so the idea is to incorporate scientific thinking and activities into the Literacy and Math blocks through questioning strategies that are directly tied to the existing curriculum. Fish in a Tree is a perfect example of ways to incorporate science habits of mind from a non-science-specific book. In this poster session, we will look at the Mystery Boxes from Chapter 14 and look at ways students will discover, through observation, what is inside the box. I will provide some sample mystery boxes, as well as some questioning strategies to use if students get stuck and some ideas for things to contain within the mystery boxes for varied skill levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to use mystery boxes to model the theme of persistence; to discover through observations other than sight; to determine what is contained within the box. Mystery boxes can be used with a variety of ages and skill levels as a way to encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Summers (Project ECHO for Education: Albuquerque, NM)

The participants will follow a sequence of activities that align with a progression of the skills found in the PreK-2 engineering standards (NGSS). During the session, the participants will complete the hands-on activities in order to bring them back to their classrooms or modify them as they see fit. The first activity has the participants cut up a water cooler paper cup (cone shape) in order to maximize the “float time” after it was placed on a box fan pointed upwards. By watching the different designs, they will be encouraged to make a second design to test. The second activity has the participants making straw rockets using the following materials: plastic straw, clay, card stock. Using a straw rocket launcher, the participants will see how far their rocket goes. Last activity includes the designing and testing a sail for a car. Teaching materials will be provided, along with ways to encourage science fairs and family STEAM nights for elementary grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the session, the participants will complete hands-on STEAM activities that they can use or modify with their students the next day!!!

SPEAKERS:
Jeanine Doxsee (Franklin Early Childhood Center: Hauppauge, NY), Brian Terry (Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools: Hauppaugue, NY)

Participants will experience multiple hands-on playful learning activities that engage young children and their families. Participants will use plastic bricks that will help inspire ideas about STEM learning outcomes that can be achieved through play. This workshop will engage participants in a knowledge journey of playful learning, STEM inquiry, and modeling educator practices. The session will share best practices for engaging young children and families with STEM. Our program session will help the audience using knowledge to create relevance in programs to prepare student participants for lifelong STEM learning and inquiry. In the workshop they will have the opportunity to interact with others in the session, engaging in mutual inquiry, teamwork and building relationships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience multiple hands-on playful learning activities that engage children and their families. Participants will use plastic bricks that will help inspire ideas about STEM learning outcomes that can be achieved through play.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Sample (Specialist, Education: Browns Mills, NJ), Tammy Pankey (Director of Education: Virginia Beach, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Combine science, math, paper towel tubes, popsicle sticks, cardstock, and a calculator into an actual working slide whistle. This project explores the frequencies of musical notes and uses a linear equation (y=mx+b) to create a functional, customizable slide whistle.

STEM learning activities have been shown to increase student engagement (Fredricks et al., 2003) and learning (English, 2016). Because we are currently experiencing huge growth in STEM fields, we need to grow student interest in future STEM careers. STEM careers, which combine aspects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, are growing exponentially (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2021; Ramaley et al., 2005; Scott-Parker & Barone-Nuget, 2019). To be globally competitive in a technologically diverse society, educators and policymakers aim to build scientific and mathematically literate students who are prepared for integrated STEM career fields. Employers not only need future employees to be literate in math and science, but they also need students to develop creativity and critical thinking skills; these are skills that cannot be replaced with computer or robotic technology. Development of student interest in STEM is critical for future generations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers and administrators will see how the incorporation of STEM activities can be used to increase student engagement and excitement in the classroom. Lesson plans and connections to science and math standards are included.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Sauder (Northern State University: Bryant, SD)

Presenters will be using resources created through the Master Teacher of Invention Program which is a program of the United States Patent and Trade Office. Participants will begin by looking at patents related to the telephone and putting them in chronological order. Next the participants will generate ideas about innovations regarding the telephone. The participants will then learn about the 4 different types of intellectual property (Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret). From there, participants will experience the design process of identifying problems and finding solutions related to cell phone usage.This workshop will be taught as if participants are students experiencing the lesson; therefore, participants will be up and moving around. Resources from the United States Patent and Trade Office will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with a lesson focused on invention and intellectual property created by teachers in the Master Teacher of Invention and Intellectual Property Program that can immediately be implemented in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Juan Valentin (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Laurel, MD), Denise Henggeler (Northeast Nodaway: Parnell, MO)

Do your students bring you the rocks they've found? Do they find the weather, volcanos, and fossils fascinating? This workshop will provide classroom-ready activities to teach elementary/middle school students earth science concepts and mineral/rock identification with inexpensive earth science labs. Participants will receive a comprehensive set of earth science activities designed especially for elementary/middle school teachers. All of these activities are tried-and-true to teach all the basics of earth science, from basic rock and mineral identification to volcanoes and why some blow up (and some don’t), from the water cycle and weather to climate and climate change in a way that young learners can grasp. Viscosity labs include peanut butter and syrup, orbital motion with marbles, string, lace curtains, and hula hoops. Everything is readily available, cheap, easy to set up and, most importantly, makes concepts easy to understand for your students. Human impact on the environment will be considered throughout.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching about the Earth can be cheap, easy, fun, and is the first step to helping your students become good stewards of our planet.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Carden-Jessen (Missouri State University: Springfield, MO)

This engineering workshop for elementary teachers is designed to provide educators with a foundation in engineering practices that can be applied in the classroom. The workshop will be divided into three segments covering the following topics: 1. Introduction to Engineering: The workshop will start with an introduction to the Engineering Design Process and its applications in our daily lives. Workshop attendees will learn how to help young students make connections to their own lives. 2. Hands-on Activities: A hands-on activity (building a watering device) will be be included in the workshop to provide teachers with a first-hand experience of the engineering design process. Teachers will work in teams to brainstorm, design, build, test, and refine their prototypes, much like they will ask their students to do. 3. Curriculum Integration: A discussion and ideas on how to integrate engineering concepts into the elementary classroom curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of incorporating the Engineering Design Practices in their elementary classrooms as well as ways to teach this to young learners in a way that is engaging, exciting, and memorable.

SPEAKERS:
Shawn O’Neill (University of Massachusetts Lowell: Taunton, MA)

Simple machines are historically a difficult subject to teach due in part to limited integration with other content. The Clean Cut unit is suitable for upper elementary students and combines the concept of the wedge and the engineering design process. The goal is not only to introduce students to simple machines but also to introduce them to the nature of engineering design. Throughout the unit, students learn that one perfect solution does not exist; instead, they learn to tolerate and learn from failures. The students learn why simple machines are used in everyday life and design a solution to a problem while learning about and using an engineering design process. The students refine their design to fit within the constraints and criteria set by a client. Students test the design and collect qualitative data to refine their design. The unit includes a summative assessment in the form of a letter to the client describing what was learned about simple machines and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
The context of the lesson is designing a tool to split soap for use by people who have been through a natural disaster. Participants will learn about the integrated approach using engineering design and simple machines, experience part of the unit, and receive the handouts for use in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
William Walker (Assistant Director, CATALYST: West Lafayette, IN), Sopheak Seng (Mr.: Lafayette, IN)

Through an interactive presentation, participants will engage with the learning concepts presented a "Sagging Circuits" lesson. Participants will build an electric grid using materials provided by The Energy Coalition’s program: Energy is Everything. The lesson will connect to real-world scenarios by portraying a town’s electric grid and monitoring the supply and demand. The lesson incorporates a story describing the various energy-use activities occurring to monitor the town’s energy consumption and manage the city’s electricity supply. Participants will be instructed to build a series of circuits to depict the energy load on the electrical grid and record their data on a handout and graph their daily load profiles on graph paper. Additionally, the lesson will inspire a discussion of the impact of renewable energy resources on the power grid.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on, standards-aligned workshop will show the influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement a similar lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Hanna Buechi (Sr. Project Coordinator: Irvine, CA), Jasmine Pineda (Project Manager: Irvine, CA)

Many educators do not utilize integrative STEM to its full potential. Integrative STEM benefits all students but can be especially impactful for gifted learners for whom academics come easy and struggling learners who constantly overcome failures. When STEM is done in homogeneous groups, students often contend with collaboration challenges and are forced to compromise. When working in heterogeneous groups, it is often the struggling students who are able to persevere in the face of failure and adversity that serve as leaders. In this session, attendees will be presented with the benefits of integrative STEM for their diverse learners. Examples of the positive impact it has on struggling learners and high achievers will be shared. Finally, attendees will leave with ideas about how to implement integrative STEM in their own classrooms based on their individual needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how integrative STEM benefits all students when done collaboratively.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Neuman (University of Texas at San Antonio: San Antonio, TX)

In “Integrating Culturally Responsive Literacy Instructional Strategies with Science Teaching in K-3 Learning Spaces,” new science teachers will explore ways to implement the Three-Dimensional Science Teaching Framework and the tenets of Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction (CRLI) to build equitable learning experiences for young learners. Participants will identify the tenets of the 3-D Science Framework and CRLI. Next, participants will explore the integration of literacy skills and science concepts. Finally, participants will create a lesson that incorporates the 3-D Science Framework and CRLI practices using K-3 learning objectives. This interactive workshop is designed to support participants in providing opportunities for learners to apply literacy skills while learning science concepts that relate to real world experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will provide opportunities for young learners to apply literacy skills while learning science concepts that relate to real-world experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Cletis Allen (CLETIS Education Consulting LLC: Atlanta, GA)

In this workshop participants will explore their local agricultural commodities to determine which ones are a good fit with their grade level science standards. A year-long Farm-To-Plate unit will be shared, and participants will be active learners as they explore: • Crops (corn, wheat, sunflowers, sorghum): plant parts & needs, human and animal uses, baby vs adult, seed investigations, life cycle, and environmental concerns • Animals: human uses, life cycle, baby vs adult, needs, environmental concerns, characteristics • Technology: drones, ear tags, feeding/milking stalls, Tower Gardens, equipment • Agricultural Careers • Environment: bees, soil health • Nutrition: Farm-To-Plate process, fresh vs frozen, local Participants will play games, make projects, engage in partner work and group discussions, and explore these topics and their relationship with NGSS. When agricultural literacy and science standards are combined, students have a meaningful way to learn about their world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with learning ideas that use agricultural phenomena and the Farm-to-Plate process to teach life and earth science standards to young learners. Participants will engage in games and projects that combine agricultural literacy and NGSS in a fun and meaningful way!

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Smith (Heatherstone Elementary School: Olathe, KS)

STEM Education in rural areas needs to meet students where they are at, not push progress and advancement by utilizing non-relatable curriculums and extensions. Rural community culture needs to be recognized and respected as well as incorporated into STEM learning in order to achieve the most beneficial outcome for the student. The GO STEM Mobile Maker Lab is using & developing curriculum influenced by students and supported by teachers to elevate rural STEM Education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Awareness and insight into exploratory STEM education methods and tools designed to enhance classroom experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Kyle Koyle (GO STEM: La Grande, OR)

The vision of the Fairport STEAM Lab is to support, challenge, and prepare all Fairport students to be Future Ready. We believe that by engaging with curricular and extracurricular projects and inquiries, students will utilize their innate creativity to actively construct knowledge. Students engage with materials and technologies that help them share their learning and tell their stories. The Labs are a place for young people to develop skills that they can transfer to other parts of their lives as they prepare themselves for the future. The presenters will share our experience with building a Lab with attendees that are interested in creating them in their districts and how we have expanded our work to other area districts. We will explore how our curriculum is scaffolded to increase levels of sophistication regarding engineering design, computer science, and digital literacy concepts.

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)

Sponsoring Company: CloudLabs Virtual STEM

Discover how gamified classrooms enhance STEM, creativity, and autonomous learning. Get engage with gamified environments, exploring benefits, challenges, and best practices for integrating technology in education.

SPEAKERS:
Jiovany Orozco (CloudLabs LLC: Englewood, NJ)

This presentation will give an overview of how to incorporate an Innovations Technology STEM class into the elementary building schedule. This STEM and engineering course has been offered for grades K-5 at Orchard Farm School District in St. Charles Missouri for years. Often science is overlooked in the elementary school schedule and is often pushed to the side for more time for ELA and mathematics, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. This course has enabled our students to stay ahead of the curve as engineering scientists, and this presentation will enable participants to ask questions, explore curriculum, as well as give benefits they could bring back to their buildings to incorporate a class like this at their schools. Participants will explore how NGSS standards, makerspace opportunities, and CS curriculum are all used to build a creative curriculum to engage the littlest scientists on a consistent basis!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the characteristics of Orchard Farm School District's Innovation Technology class at the elementary level, including curriculum ideas, ways to build the course into an existing schedule, and STEM and NGSS implications!

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Tackett (Innovations Technology Teacher: Wentzville, MO)

This presentation explores transdisciplinary STEM strategies that foster critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and resilience in students. The session will focus on providing learning opportunities that prioritize contexts of societal relevance and student/community interests, while highlighting the importance of having the skills and knowledge necessary to solve real-world problems. Participants will learn about phenomenon-based learning, unit planning with NGSS, inquiry-based lesson planning, and other strategies that promote student-centered learning. The presentation will also showcase strategies for integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into the learning experience, emphasizing the importance of inclusive practices that recognize and value diverse perspectives. Through this session, participants will gain insights into how to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments in STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop focuses on equipping students with skills to solve real-world problems in STEM fields through relevant learning opportunities, effective tools and strategies, and the integration of 21st century skills.

SPEAKERS:
Kara Ball (Teacher Created Material: Huntingtown, MD)

Using a story, such as Fish in a Tree, that is already being used in the classroom as the structure and inspiration for STEM-related activities is one way to incorporate additional time into the week for STEM. Some of our school districts have 45 minutes every other week dedicated to Science, so the idea is to incorporate scientific thinking and activities into the Literacy and Math blocks. Fish in a Tree is a perfect example of ways to incorporate science habits of mind from a non-science specific book. In this presentation, attendees will explore connections between the three dimensions of NGSS through the lens of literature, including the tools to create questioning strategies and prompts to incorporate into any book they and their students are reading. This session will provide attendees with the skills to take any reading and layer science and engineering into the context of the literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take a deep dive into ways to incorporate aspects of three-dimensional science instruction through questioning strategies and activities using Fish in a Tree as the example literature. These strategies can be applied to any book you use with your students.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Summers (Project ECHO for Education: Albuquerque, NM)

STEM Education in rural areas needs to meet students where they are at, not push progress and advancement by utilizing non-relatable curriculums and extensions. Rural community culture needs to be recognized and respected, as well as incorporated into STEM learning in order to achieve the most beneficial outcome for the student. The GO STEM Mobile Maker Lab is using & developing curriculum influenced by students and supported by teachers to elevate rural STEM Education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Awareness and insight into exploratory STEM education methods and tools designed to enhance classroom experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Kyle Koyle (GO STEM: La Grande, OR)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a clearinghouse of free STEM education resources covering a wide range of health and biomedical research topics for students in grades K through 12. On science.education.nih.gov, you’ll find links to great content from NIH, as well as materials developed through our education grants. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS, part of NIH) has created a section of its Biomedical Beat blog called the Educator’s Corner (biobeat.nigms.nih.gov/educators-corner) with a collection of carefully curated blog posts designed to align with existing NIGMS science education resources, such as its Pathways collection for middle and high school students. You’ll find tools and ideas to enhance lesson plans, building upon existing science education material that’s already available at no cost. We hope these websites will be useful tools to bring STEM materials into the classroom and to encourage students toward health science careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
The National Institutes of Health has a wide range of free curriculum resources for teachers in the health science space. Materials vary from online interactives, Kahoot! games, and blog posts, to free printed magazine copies with teacher guides. Find them all at science.education.nih.gov.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Crowley (NIGMS, National Institutes of Health: Silver Spring, MD)

The vision of the Fairport STEAM Lab is to support, challenge, and prepare all Fairport students to be Future Ready. We believe that by engaging with curricular and extracurricular projects and inquiries, students will utilize their innate creativity to actively construct knowledge. Students engage with materials and technologies that help them share their learning and tell their stories. The Labs are a place for young people to develop skills that they can transfer to other parts of their lives as they prepare themselves for the future. The presenters will share our experience with building a Lab with attendees that are interested in creating them in their districts and how we have expanded our work to other area districts. We will explore how our curriculum is scaffolded to increase levels of sophistication regarding engineering design, computer science, and digital literacy concepts.

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)

Our cross-cultural environmental education unit allowed us to collaborate with classes in Venezuela and Nicaragua to deepen our understanding of migratory birds. We integrated Science, Technology, Art, and Spanish into the curriculum, and used technology to facilitate cultural exchange. Through Stop Motion Animation and paper maché models, students connected with peers and learned about the challenges birds face. By understanding their role as environmental stewards, students learned how they can help preserve habitats and protect these birds. We're hope this unit inspires others to take action in preserving our environment and the habitats of migratory birds. We connect learning across disciplines and relationships with students in Nicaragua and Venezuela to promote global education and environmental stewardship. The collaboration and partnership with a school in Ometepe Island allowed for a holistic approach to learning about the birds and their migration patterns.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our trans-disciplinary approach deepened students' learning by raising awareness of the challenges neotropical migrating birds face, such as building collisions during migration. By understanding their role as environmental stewards, students can help preserve habitats and protect these birds.

SPEAKERS:
Larissa Giacoman (Spanish Teacher: Alexandria, VA), Michelle Bruch (Primary Science Teacher: Alexandria, VA)

NASA’s UoL STEM program connects the public to the discoveries, scientists, engineers, and educators working with astrophysics missions, such as Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, GALEX, Fermi, Swift, and JWST. The program includes a nationwide network of partners who share and develop resources. The UoL projects and events are designed to inspire engagement and learning with STEM materials to promote science literacy. All materials are free and excellent astronomy resources for STEM education programs. One of the UoL STEM partners is the National Science Olympiad (NSO), a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest in science for all students, and creating a STEM-literate workforce. The UoL program supports NSO space science events, and all materials are freely available from the UoL or the NSO websites. Other UoL partners include AstroViz, Planet Search, STEAM, MicroObservatory, Planet Watch, and View Space.

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA’s UoL team connects the public and learners to data, discoveries, and experts from NASA’s Astrophysics missions. The team of scientists, engineers, and educators have direct connections to these missions, and provide a range of projects and interactive activities for any educational setting.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young (NSO/NASA: Laughlin, NV)

Participants will have an opportunity to practice using a 3-D printing pen. They will be able to create small models and designs from a pattern (or just by doodling). This activity also aims to spark ideas for 3-D pens as a relatively easy and inexpensive way to introduce the engineering design process with practical applications for students. Information about eCYBERMISSION and the other programs sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program will be available as well. Submitted for the STEM Haven activity session on Saturday AM session, request access to electrical outlets and table space Please do not schedule to conflict with the following sessions: The Scoop on K-12 STEM Programs and Teacher Awards Administered by NSTA; eCYBERMISSION STEM Competition - The Power of Phenomenon-Based Learning; eCYBERMISSION STEM Competition - Authentic, Engaging, Accessible; or Translating Experience to Classroom Practice through Research Experiences for STEM Educators & Teachers (RESET)

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use a 3-D pen to make (and take) a small model or design for the classroom using a provided pattern or an original design. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Kutsch (National Science Teaching Association, eCYBERMISSION: Maumelle, AR), Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: Bettendorf, IA)

Participants will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual reality simulation of a laboratory setting by wearing a VR headset. They will be able to “test” potential solutions for a refillable canteen by following verbal and visual instructions within the VR application. The VR experience also offers additional options to learn about various technological developments researched and developed by scientists and engineers working in Army laboratories, including night vision goggles and walkie talkies. Information about eCYBERMISSION and the other programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program will be available as well.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use virtual reality goggles and applications to explore a technological alternative to hands-on scientific inquiry and engineering design processes. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Kutsch (National Science Teaching Association, eCYBERMISSION: Maumelle, AR), Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: Bettendorf, IA)

Using inquiry as a platform to support young children’s creativity and engagement, this presentation will share some ideas for ways to incorporate STEM learning into children’s learning through play. We will share specific ways to encourage play through a variety of mediums with an eye on safety of materials and environments. Each example activity will recommend easy to obtain or recycled materials and activities with appropriate scaffolding to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and preK children. These activities will use an open-ended set of materials that can be revisited over time as the children grow and mature in their STEM understanding and confidence to move forward with their investigation.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this poster session, attendees will learn ways to meet the needs of infants and toddlers as they explore the materials around them. Attendees will take away specific activities and supplies for each ages (infants, younger toddlers, older toddlers, preK) while using a common theme of materials.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Summers (Project ECHO for Education: Albuquerque, NM)

Looking for ways to integrate engineering in your science curriculum? Join us to become familiar with freely-available, high-quality instructional materials that create opportunities for students to apply science ideas to solve real-world problems, gain confidence and see themselves in STEM careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to engage students in learning that centers on addressing pressing social challenges and be able to describe transdisciplinary approaches to education.

SPEAKERS:
Rob Wallace (: Houma, LA)

In this presentation, we will be reviewing how our district has built a STEM Pathway program that has developed a community of STEM learners and led to the creation of programming opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom that builds knowledge of STEM careers, foster STEM skills, and ultimately begins to create a community of real-world problem solvers. In addition to discussing the programs, we will discuss how we have leveraged community resources, how the program has branched out to create other unique STEM opportunities for our students and has ultimately allowed us to close the gender gap for STEM in our schools, reach our diverse population, and promote our founding belief that STEM is for all.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with resources and tangible ways to build a STEM community and provide a variety of opportunities for all students to participate and deepen their understanding of the STEM field.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Curtiss (Coordinating Supervisor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Business: Parsippany, NJ), Rachel Villanova (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools: Parsippany, NJ)

During this session, we will look at various units of study appropriate for 3-5 grade curriculum and how all the contents interconnect. Lessons will focus on Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math integration. Samples of Lessons will be shared and participants will be asked to share how they are currently implementing STEM, STEAM, or STREAM lessons in their classrooms. Strategies that help students make connections between content areas and with the real-world help to drive a deeper understanding and allows students to build on their interests and wonderings. Now STREAMing lessons drive creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see examples of how to break lessons down into the STREAM elements while making connections with interdisciplinary standards.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Burnham (Assistant Professor of Education: Overbrook, KS)