2023 Kansas City National Conference

October 25-28, 2023

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Rooms and times subject to change.
131 results
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Opening Reception

Wednesday, October 25 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Grand Ballroom Lobby


Show Details

Join us at the Kansas City Convention Center for an opening reception to mark the start of NSTA Kansas City23! We’ll keep it casual—enjoy beverages and small bites while networking with old and new friends. The event is complimentary and open to all registered conference attendees.

ESPRESS-O Yourself @ NSTA’s Morning Coffee Chats

Thursday, October 26 • 6:40 AM - 7:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2200 Lobby


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Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and join us for an informal get-together with your peers. Each day of the conference will feature a morning coffee chat with opportunities to share ideas and experiences, expand your network, and connect with colleagues and friends from around the country.

3 Steps for ES & MS Students to Rock Graphs

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2202



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Shared resource document

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Data is key to NGSS. Yet many students struggle to make sense of it. Leaving many of us baffled by what our students do with data and/or confused by the claims they make from graphs. What can we do? Leverage classroom-ready strategies based on what research says about how younger students learn from data! Join us to discuss the data skills our young learners need and try strategies to integrate these skills into whatever your curriculum or platforms. We will explore how such strategies foster science learning for all students and increase students' interest in working with data (from Pre-K to 8th). We will discuss how novices and experts interact with data differently and what that means for our teaching. As we explore classroom-ready resources around data, data visualizations, and instructional strategies to enhance our current K-8 science content instruction and increase our toolkits. Let’s set ourselves and our students up for success by building strong foundations!

TAKEAWAYS:
Acquire skills and resources to unpack strategies for K-8 students to use when interpreting science data and visualizations in our existing curriculum for building data skills.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

What Could We Have Done About All That Dust?

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2207



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Kansas City 2023 NSTA Conference session_ What could we have done about all that dust_.pdf
NSTA KC 2023_ What could we have done about all that dust_ (2).pdf
Red and Blue Stripes Patterned Senses Graphic Organizer (2).pdf

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

According to recent studies, teaching elementary reading, writing, and math in isolation is not the most effective way for students to learn. We will show how it is possible to develop integrated learning opportunities using all of the subjects as attendees work together to analyze data and primary sources from the 1930's regarding the Dust Bowl in Kansas. Using a jigsaw method, attendees will first be divided into specialties: Horticulturist, Biologist, Geologist, Climatologist, Government employee, Native American, and a monoculture farmer to work together, from their discipline's unique perspective, to investigate how the Dust Bowl could have been avoided. They will analyze soil samples, graphs, charts, weather patterns, etc. and come to conclusions. Each member of the group will then be assigned a new group that includes one member from each discipline to present and share their perspectives with others in order to design a solution for the droughts being experienced in the 21st century.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate historical problems, primary source analysis, and STEM practices in engaging and meaningful ways to reinforce student learning as they work together to explore and debate possible solutions from multiple perspectives to prevent another Dust Bowl like the 1930's.

SPEAKERS:
Deborah Draper (Cedar Ridge Elementary School: Tulsa, OK), Julie Siebach (Retired Teacher: Cedar Hills, UT)

Is Your Science Instruction a Disaster? Let's Unpack Curriculum to Create Deeper Understanding

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2204


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

As third grade teachers in a STEAM school, we continuously work to create, plan, improve our science curriculum. Teachers who join us will learn how we apply the three-dimensions to our science planning while actively participating in our natural disaster unit. We will lead a discussion on how we breakdown and integrate the 3-dimensions of NGSS science in our unit plan. We will then showcase core instructional practices by completing an activity from our unit. During this time, participants will grow in their understanding through hands-on learning and journaling. They will leave with the natural disaster unit, along with materials to recreate this in their own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the three-dimensions of the NGSS. We will break apart each of the three dimensions to see what they are, how they guide us, and how they make science more attainable within our classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Olivia Witherspoon (3rd Grade Teacher: Nixa, MO), Amanda Fenley (5th Grade Teacher: NIXA, MO), Daesha Parks (3rd Grade Teacher: Nixa, MO)

Integration by Design: The Task Analysis Tool for Developing Meaningful Science Lessons

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2215 B


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

NGSS emphasize the integration of disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices in ways that reflect real-world practices. Integration has shown to enhance students' interest in multiple content areas, improve their attitudes toward the discipline, and develop life-long learning skills. Integration can be challenging without proper support and resources. The Task Analysis Tool (TAT) is a graphic organizer tool and a practical process that supports the meaningful, intentional, and purposeful integration of content and skills within a lesson. The TAT has proven to be beneficial for designing student-centered lessons, identifying integration points, and collaborating with others. This 60-minute workshop proposal aims to provide participants with an opportunity to learn about the TAT, its significance, related research, potential applications, and to interact with the tool by applying it to their personal lesson or activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in this workshop will gain knowledge of the TAT; how it can be used and applied in their personal contexts. In addition, participants will be given digital and physical resources, including their own adaptable TAT that they can take with them and use immediately in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Britt Miller (George Mason University)

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning: Often Misunderstood But Inherently Valuable

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2203


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

The claim, evidence, reasoning method is a well-researched and effective tool in helping students engage in argumentation. However, in our work with teachers, we find that the method is often not well understood or implemented. In practice, especially in elementary classrooms, teachers are using claim to replace the word hypothesis, leading to the incorrect use of the method. Teachers are also starting by having students make a claim and then evaluating the evidence shown as to provide reasoning. A better way of using the method is to evaluate the evidence, then make a claim, and finally use reasoning to support the claim. We want to help teachers understand the research and how to use the method in their classrooms. Once the background is understood, the teachers will practice the method themselves by gathering evidence from the provided visualizations, writing a claim based on the evidence, and using the evidence along with their own background knowledge as their reasoning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn where and how to use the claim, evidence, reasoning method and practice using it to make their own reasoned claims based on evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Speaking Like a Scientist Leads to Reading and Writing Like a Scientist!

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2209


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

It's difficult for educators at the primary level to imagine creating “additional time” for science, but when we understand strong language skills provide greater success in reading and writing, we see that science isn't just "one more thing." Science and critical thinking creates opportunities for students to have authentic conversations–which allows us to guide student language in a way that's unmatched! We will include a brief review of SEPs, standards for spoken/written language, and examples for using NGSS DCIs to facilitate student conversations. Ideas for explicitly teaching conversational language skills and behaviors will be shared. Participants will learn ways to combine the use of guided student language and current best practices in literacy instruction along with other ideas that can be used immediately. The session will end with participants developing plans for scientific conversations in their own classrooms, and ideas for how they might guide & build student language.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be provided with ideas for engaging students in scientific conversations, ideas for guiding student language within those conversations, and ideas for using language to facilitate literacy instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Paige Garrett (Teacher: Nixa, MO), Courtney Mills (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO), Shannon Winkler (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO)

Wonder EVERY Day: Creating a Culture of Sensemaking

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2101


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

In this session, teachers will explore the concept of wonder and how it can be applied to teaching and learning. Through activities and discussion, teachers will gain an understanding of the importance of wonder in the classroom. Educators will also learn how to embed wonder into their lessons through creative strategies, such as using hands-on activities, engaging visuals, and technology-based activities, focusing deeply on making space for student sensemaking and exploration. Additionally, teachers will explore how to connect wonder to curricular standards and create lesson templates that promote exploration and discovery. Teachers will also reflect on what they have learned and brainstorm ways to implement a culture of wonder in their classrooms. AND HAVE A GOOD TIME DOIN' IT

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session understanding how sensemaking is supported through our NGSS standards. They will have time to explore and understand methods that inspire student thinking and wonder.

SPEAKERS:
Jacey Suda (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO), Hannah Buckner (John Thomas School of Discovery Partner School: Nixa, MO)

Supporting Meaningful Sensemaking Before, During, and After Science Investigations

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2201


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

The purpose of this session is to engage participants as learners in the process of making sense of a phenomenon through engaging in scientific practices. The modeled lesson provides attendees with a shared learning experience similar to that of a typical science classroom, seeded with instructional strategies designed to support their sensemaking before, during, and after an investigation. Attendees will be introduced to a phenomenon, provided materials to carry out an investigation, given a model scaffold to record their thinking, and a talk tool to support equitable idea sharing and listening. They will reflect on their experience as learners, debriefing sensemaking strategies, and using the four attributes of sensemaking (phenomena, science and engineering practices, student ideas, and science ideas) to reflect on the model lesson and their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of how key science practices work in tandem to support student sensemaking and will experience tools like model scaffolds, driving question boards, and talk tools designed to support learners in explaining phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Alex Gerber (Instructional Specialist: University City, MO), Heather Milo (Washington University in St. Louis: St. Louis, MO)

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Creating a Successful Science Learning Environment for Multilingual Learners

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2502 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Learn how multimodal instruction and embedded language scaffolds, such as language frames, vocabulary routines, and writing supports create a learning environment that help Multilingual Learners – and all learners – successfully access science instruction.

Effective Intervention Strategies: Let’s Hook Students into Learning

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2504 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

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

SPEAKERS:
Margo Dye (Accelerate Learning Inc.: Houston, TX)

Energize Claims and Evidence through Smithsonian Science for the Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2505 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Experience how science lessons can be structured using teacher instructional slides, where students work in groups, with specific roles, to develop claims [about how motion energy moves and changes] based on evidence observed through hands-on experiences. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Recharge yourself! From Striving to Thriving - How to Manage Your Stress

Thursday, October 26 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 3501 C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA How To Manage Stress October 2023

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In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused—no matter what life throws at you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

BIOZONE’s Latest Biology Titles - Learn How These Superb Interactive Texts Deliver Flexible and Engaging Science Programs

Thursday, October 26 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 1501 A


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative, interactive worktext approach is a departure from traditional textbook learning; providing flexible, engaging, student-centered resources. Teacher Toolkit helps teachers plan, deliver, and assess. Attendees receive a FREE print copy and a 1-year ebook license.

The Power of Literacy Integration: Enhancing Opportunities for Science Learning and ELA Gains in Elementary Grades

Thursday, October 26 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2502 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Elementary students deserve science! Experience a research-based approach to teaching science that leverages the mutually supportive aspects of phenomena-based science instruction and literacy. Explore how this approach can help you increase instructional time for science while making ELA gains.

Strategies to Support English Learners (ELs) in the Science Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2504 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Spaeny (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Inspire Meaningful Engagement with Hands-On Learning in the Middle School Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2503 A


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Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Spark your students’ curiosity and prepare them for high school–and the world beyond. Learn how to introduce concepts to your students using the Go Direct Temperature Probe to measure the temperature of the palm of their hand, discover the reflectivity of various colors with the Go Direct Light and Color, measure sliding friction with the Go Direct Force & Acceleration Sensor, and determine the power of their grip with the Go Direct Gas Pressure.

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

Teaching STEM and Humanities: Combining STEM Activities with Social Studies and History

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2207


STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

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)

Building Data Literacy One “Block” at a Time

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2202



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Session resource document

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Data literacy is integral to students engaging in real-world science and NGSS practices. However, it can be challenging to design data experiences that help students to develop deep understanding of data. The Building Blocks for Data Literacy (Hunter-Thomson & Schauffler, 2021) offers a developmental approach to the design of data experiences: Get Data, Explore Data, and Infer Meaning From Data. Each realm is further broken down into the functions that students should be encouraged to do with data. Session participants will experience a typical path through the data journey, including the opportunity to see how the decisions that we make as educators can shape what students take away from the data experience. Our focus in this session will be at the elementary grade level, but the Building Blocks are a continuum across the K-12 grade span. This work complements the ADVizE grant project (NSF #2142692), which supports the integration of data skills into preservice STEM Methods courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain an understanding of the way data literacy can be developed developmentally across the realms of Getting Data, Exploring Data and Inferring Meaning from Data.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC), Michael Jabot (SUNY Fredonia: Fredonia, NY)

Parking Lot Science: Time to Explore!

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2205



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Parking Lot Science - Time To Explore! NSTA 2023

STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

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)

Moonflower Magic: Inclusive Argumentation in the Elementary Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2210


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Participants will discover how argumentation can support the vision of inclusive instructional strategies across the curriculum. This session will anchor in learning theory and focus on student work examples, including graphic organizers and transcripts, that tell the story of an instructional sequence about pollinators. How the routines of science support learning for literacy and math will be investigated and made explicit. We’ll pull apart the underlying instructional practices evident in the student work for how to plan for engagement, elicit student ideas, support changes in student ideas, and press for complete explanations through argumentation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with an example of how to structure argumentation in the 4th grade classroom through observing student data organization and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Roy (Science and Digital Learning Coordinator: Lincoln, NE), Miranda Orellana (Lincoln Public Schools: Lincoln, MA), Betsy Barent (Lincoln Public Schools: , United States)

Elementary Science Olympiad For All – Activity Plans for K-6 Students with Disabilities

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2203



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Science Olympiad Brochures
Science Olympiad Homepage

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Elementary Science Olympiad for All (ESO for All) provides K-6 students of all ability levels with a dynamic, engaging STEM experience. Many elementary classrooms and schools today are fully inclusive, so Science Olympiad created activity plans for students with disabilities that include individualized accommodations tailored to the following needs: Academic, Communication, Health, Vision/Hearing, Motor (Small and Large), Functional, and Social/Emotional. Come learn how 10 classic Elementary Science Olympiad events we use as a base for the activity plans touch every letter in STEM, are fully aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and complement any school’s science curriculum. Bugs, rocks, catapults, planes, and towers will spark imagination and creativity; providing opportunities for teamwork, collaboration, and shared successes. You’ll learn insightful advice, like outlining shapes on Monster Cards with glue so that students with sight impairment can use their tactile senses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join us for a fun-filled look at how classic science activities can be modified to meet all learners whether they are a core part of your instruction, an enhancement (such as a family science night or school science day), after-school club, or a community-engaging STEM competition.

SPEAKERS:
Shari Haug (: Elmhurst, IL), John Loehr (Science Olympiad: Oakbrook Terrace, IL)

Our Favorite Unit And How To Teach It

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2215 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Introductions[5min] Meet the presenters and share with neighbors to establish networking for discussion and exploration Do Now (5min) Review session objectives and set personal goals The Role of Phenomena in Science Education (5min) Investigate examples of phenomena that lend themselves to strong Science lesson The Importance of Interdisciplinary Units in Science Education (5min) Explore purposeful pairing of learning objectives from a range of content areas Exploration of The Water Princess Unit Plan (30min) Learn about the elements of the unit and the accompanying resources that support strong instruction Identify opportunities for customization and differentiation based on their unique teaching and learning environments and students Science Notebooks - features and strategies (10min) See examples of science notebooks and discuss their impact on student learning Call to Action and Closing Comments (5min) Anchor their session take-aways with the personal goals they set during the Do

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will receive a richly-developed, phenomenon-based unit plan paired with the ‘how to’ of unit planning, strategies for science notebooks, interdisciplinary learning objectives, KLEWS, notice-and-wonder, graphic organizers, and assessment models.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Amato (UVA | Teaching Channel: No City, No State)

You Have the Power! Bringing Phenomena to Life With NGSS-Designed Instructional Materials

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2502 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

High-quality instructional materials are essential for equitable access to science, but materials are only the start of the instructional journey! Examine the importance of YOUR role as a teacher in leveraging NGSS-designed curriculum to inspire your students to figure out phenomena.

Brave Enough to Fail: Three Strategies for Building Student Resilience Around Data Analysis

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 1501 B


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

Join our session to learn strategies for teaching data analysis and modeling in line with the NGSS. Empower your students to analyze real-world data, create accurate models, and apply their knowledge with easy-to-implement techniques. Participate in and win CHARTY PARTY while enhancing your toolkit!

SPEAKERS:
Hailey Vogel (Head of Teaching and Learning: Los Angeles, CA)

Exploring OpenSciEd from Carolina

Thursday, October 26 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2505 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a model lesson from OpenSciEd for Middle School and see how the new Carolina Certified Edition makes these high-quality instructional materials even better! Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Science Journals That WORK

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2205



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Science Journals that WORK!

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Are science journals getting in the way of your students learning? Are they becoming just "another" thing we have students do in their everyday routine? Time to spice up those science journals! Join us as we explore the science behind journals and notebooks, discuss best practices for science journaling, and highlight resources that work. Don't let journaling get in the way. Embrace student's writing and learn how to make science journals work for you. Participants will learn how to set up science journals at the beginning of the year, do different experiments and activities to show how to use science journals, and review best strategies to use for student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
How do you introduce journals, organize, maintain, scafforld, etc., while teaching students to use it as their own personal tool? Teachers would walk away with a better understanding of how to make journals meaningful to students and help me see/understand their learning.

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

Empowering Parents’ Support for Early Science Through Home-to-School Connections

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2207


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

This presentation will discuss the importance of home-to-school connections in fostering early science opportunities through everyday activities. We explore research on family-school partnerships and the value of incorporating families' experiential knowledge into the curriculum to promote equity and inclusivity in early childhood. The Early Science Framework, an infant, toddler, and preschool adaptation of the Framework for K-12 Science Education, provides a research-based approach to early science learning that connects science to children's everyday lives. We will discuss how teachers can use this framework to create a more dynamic curriculum. Practical resources and ideas for teacher professional development will be provided to support culturally responsive preschool science engagement. By promoting family-school partnerships and bringing research into practice, we can create a more engaging learning environment for children and stronger partnerships between families and schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
We provide resources and examples incorporating experiential knowledge from families into the classroom, connecting children’s learning to their everyday lives. These home-to-school connections provide culturally relevant and equity-informed opportunities for high-quality teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Daryl Greenfield (University of Miami: Miami, FL), Chabely Figuereo (Graduate Student: Coral Gables, FL)

Promoting Student Agency Through Equitable Phenomena

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2215 A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Handout (Phenomena)
Session Slides (Phenomena).pptx.pdf

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

A collaborative team of teachers and researchers share results from a research project aimed at leveraging compelling and equitable phenomena in NGSS-designed instruction with multilingual learners (MLs). Using our yearlong fifth-grade curriculum, we share our approach to selecting phenomena from both science and equity perspectives. From a science perspective, we ensured that a unit anchoring phenomenon (a) promotes deep science and engineering understanding, (b) integrates science disciplines, (c) sustains a 9-week unit, and (d) raises awareness of societal concerns. From an equity perspective, we ensured that a unit anchoring phenomenon (a) creates relevance for all students, (b) utilizes funds of knowledge, (c) provides context for language, and (d) promotes participation of all students. We focus on the impact of using compelling and equitable phenomena with MLs and present case studies of two teachers who implemented such phenomena across four units over one school year.

TAKEAWAYS:
By using phenomena and problems that meet both science and equity criteria, teachers ensure that all students, especially MLs, have agency to make connections to the world around them, see science as relevant to their lives and future careers, and see themselves as scientists and engineers.

SPEAKERS:
Iovanna Williams (Science Teacher: , NY), Adriana Romanzo (Elementary Science Teacher: New York, NY), Abigail Schwenger (Research Associate)

Learning to be an Ambitious Science Teacher

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2105


STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy

Show Details

In order for teachers to support the three-dimensional learning of their students, they need high-quality professional learning (PL). This presentation outlines a PL approach that focuses on Ambitious Science Teaching (Windschitl, M. Thompson, J., & Braaten, M., 2018) as an approach to support teacher and student three-dimensional science learning. The PL model includes 4 PL sessions followed by 3 action periods to “try-on” strategies in their classrooms. During the PL sessions teachers experienced ambitious strategies as learners, connected theory to practice, collaborated meaningfully with colleagues, and reflected on their implementation of strategies. The sessions led to a change in teacher practice that was evident through the artifacts they collected. Teachers also made cross-curricular connections with many of the introduced strategies. This presentation provides suggestions for supporting teachers in implementing ambitious science teaching strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
The audience will walk away with a model for high-quality professional learning for teachers that supports student growth in three-dimensional science learning. The model can be implemented at the school, district, or cross-district level.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Milo (Washington University in St. Louis: St. Louis, MO), Alex Gerber (Instructional Specialist: University City, MO)

Using Neuroscience Research in the STEM Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2214



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Brain based hacks to learning.pptx

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

As teachers, it is important for us to understand how the brain works when students are learning. Brain science research has not been easy to transfer to the classroom setting. We are beginning to bridge the gap with real-world, classroom research. By joining this session, you will uncover some of the newest neuroscience/learning research and ways to use the information in your classroom. Retrieval practice, interleaving, spaced practice, and elaborate encoding are a few of the topics we will learn about. In addition, you will leave with plenty of short 5-minute tools you can use right away in your classroom, as well as a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of neuroscience research and classroom settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Not all research is equal, especially when it comes to classroom teaching. This session will help you understand the research, it's strengths and limitations, and provide you with usable tools to start using right away.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Landry (Kent Denver School: Englewood, CO)

Off and Running: Moving Students in Their Own Race

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2210



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Enrichment, Practice, and Remediation Guiding Document.pdf
Note sheet for EPR.pdf
NSTA Kansas City 2023- Off and Runing Moving Students in Their Own Race..pptx

STRAND: Research to Practice

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Students learn and develop at different speeds and in different ways. How can we meet them where they are and move them forward? Enrichment, Practice and Remediation are lessons designed to focus on a science concept (or cluster of concepts) for students to actively engage in accessible learning. EPRs include active learning experiences designed to support students continuing to learn based on their needs. Some students will be ready to dig deeper into the concept, while others might need a little more time for mastery. Experience your own learning by looking at an example score, becoming a student, and joining others as you learn through an enrichment, practice, or remediation activity

TAKEAWAYS:
Enrichment, Practice, and Remediation allows us to meet students where they are and move them in their science knowledge. EPR will help supervisors, coaches, and teachers understand, visualize, and experience what differentiated learning in science looks like and how simple it can be.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Squires (The School District of Osceola County: St Cloud, FL)

Fueling Success for Students - Win up to $20K for your students and school

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2202


STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy

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Sponsoring Company: NSTA - Shell Science Teaching Awards and Competitions

In this hands on workshop you will begin your application for one of three programs sponsored by Shell USA, Inc. You will learn key components to creating a strong application, and strengthen your chances to win for your students, school. Prizes and gift cards will be given in a drawing.

SPEAKERS:
Adrine Williams (Jackson State University: Jackson, MS), Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Let’s Engage Students through Phenomena-based Science Instruction

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2504 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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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:
Laurie Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Let’s Investigate Like Scientists and Engineers

Thursday, October 26 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2505 A


STRAND: STEM Haven

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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.: Burlington, NC)

Making Sense of Science with Makerspace for an Inclusive Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2204


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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It is often thought that a makerspace activity is something that is nice to do with students, but not a necessity. Yet when makerspace activities are integrated into daily instruction, it can open many avenues that promote an inclusive classroom. This workshop will focus on strategies and ways to use makerspace to promote student voice and choice for areas of concept development, empathy-driven problem solving, and assessment. Participants will explore the key elements of makerspace and examine ways to use makerspace challenges to support sense-making. The discussion will also focus on the idea that makerspace activities can nudge all students to consider multiple ways of solving problems, thus enhancing their “out of the box” thinking. As part of this session, participants will explore different strategies in using makerspace to introduce a phenomenon, model a phenomenon, and assess students' understanding on three different dimensions of learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore makerspace challenges and activities as a means to provide student voice and choice in how they make sense of a phenomenon, a solution to a problem, and core ideas while demonstrating their understanding of core ideas as a means of assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Detwiler (Gary Adult High School: Tampa, FL)

Implementing the Hexagonal Thinking Strategy in the Elementary Classroom

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2203



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA 2023 Handout.pdf
NSTA Hexagonal Thinking in the Elementary Classroom.pdf

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

The hexagonal thinking strategy stems from a business background and made its way into the secondary education realm in the past five years. It has not been utilized in the elementary setting, so I joined with a local 4th grade classroom teacher to determine the best way to implement the activity with younger students. The strategy is simple: the teacher creates a set of hexagons for each group with vocabulary and concepts. The students work together to determine connections and how everything is interrelated. It is then glued to a large paper and annotated with students' thoughts about the connections. At the same time, the most important aspect is the conversation among students throughout the activity. We conducted six classroom sessions over the course of 3 months to find what worked and what did not. We also collected student work, quotes, and videos with feedback from students. Although the focus was on science , we included a variety of topics and cross-curricular sessions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the strategy from a student POV and learn the process of implementation for a variety of settings (traditional and digital) and materials. Examples of student work will also be shown.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Thomas (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Simone Nance (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN)

STEAM-Based Projects; Unlocking the Power of Real-World Learning

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2205



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
STEAM-Based Projects: Unlocking the Power of Real-World Learning

STRAND: STEM Haven

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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)

Intentional Art Integration

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2208


STRAND: STEM Haven

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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)

Inspiring Curiosity with Wildlife Cams

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2209


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Live-streaming wildlife cams give students an intimate view into the amazing and diverse world of animals and allow teachers to engage all students in inquiry- and phenomena-based learning as nature unfolds in real-time and with unknown outcomes. Wildlife cams encourage questioning and curiosity, build connections to wildlife and nature, and are interesting to teachers and students alike. Cams engage students who have fewer opportunities to be immersed in nature, including those in urban settings, with mobility challenges, and in remote learning environments. I will guide teachers through a series of questions to help them determine good live-streaming cams to use in their classrooms. I’ll discuss different ways to use cameras within the classroom, including active and passive usage. I’ll share how we use cams to make observations and they will draw their own comics as we watch a live-streaming cam.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover a variety of wildlife cams from around the world, explore how they can be used to effectively develop student science practices, and discover free resources to support science learning through wildlife cams.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about NGSS, But Were Afraid to Ask

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2215 B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About NGSS Handout
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRtiYhuGkgiE9mz0cHDUsaaOKFBGLXHwRki7XdQfu5HMhr110VQIVYqpaWlGRGhlsBM7UmSfIAwa34O/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000
Kansas City 2023_Everything You Wanted to Know about NGSS Presentation

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

The NGSS is very complicated. The Institute for Quality Science Teaching at the Museum of Science and Industry provides professional learning opportunities for science teachers in Chicagoland and surrounding areas. Our approach is to ground everything we do in the NGSS and take a deep dive into all the elements of 3-dimensional learning. The professional learning programs at MSI are invested in helping teachers understand how to teach science effectively using these standards. This presentation will review the basics of the NGSS, the 3 dimensions, how they’re combined in Performance Expectations, and the basics of how to enact the NGSS in the classroom. If you need a refresher, just want a review, or still don’t have all those acronyms straight in your head, this is the presentation for you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with a basic understanding of the structures of the Next Generation Science Standards and how they inform three-dimensional standards and three-dimensional science teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Garrett Gray (Sr. Educator, School and Teacher Programs: Chicago, IL), Tara Flett (Sr. Educator IQST: Chicago, IL)

Authentic Literacy and Language (ALL) for Science: Reading, Writing, and Thinking Like a Scientist!

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2202


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Participants will explore the Authentic Literacy and Language (ALL) for Science curriculum framework and discover how the combination of guided science investigations, mini-lessons on science-based disciplinary literacy, and science inquiry circles can increase learner performance. They will receive and be guided through a sample lesson and a template they can use to develop their own lessons using this framework. Teachers who used lessons using this curriculum framework reported that children demonstrated increased engagement with lessons and improved their language skills as they began to read, write, and think like scientists. They also found that children performed better overall on assessments of science concepts, attributing the use of collaborative learning teams that build a community of science practice as a factor. Participants will receive access to the ALL for Science website where they can download FREE curriculum resources aligned with NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will explore how they can create their own lessons unifying science investigations with science-specific disciplinary literacy using the ALLS framework to engage learners in the practices of science. Participants will receive the framework template and access to free resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jimmie Thomas (Baylor College of Medicine)

Showcase: What’s New at STEMscopes?

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2504 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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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:
Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

STEM Bins with Brooke Brown: Engineering Through Play

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2502 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Sponsoring Company: hand2mind

Discover how to effectively use STEM Bins® as a foundational, developmentally appropriate form of engineering for elementary students. Learn simple ways to implement STEM Bins® for early finishers, enrichment, morning work, centers, makerspaces, and literacy and math extensions.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Brown (Roosevelt Elementary School: Norman, OK)

uHandy Mobile Microscope

Thursday, October 26 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - 1501 B


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Sponsoring Company: Aidmics Biotechnology

This workshop supports teachers to implement inquiry-based science learning and helps students to develop meaningful scientifically literate views of the world by using the uHandy Microscope that acts as your second pair of eyes, which ignites your curiosity and your genuine passion for science!

SPEAKERS:
Jolanda Hsu (Aidmics Biotechnology: Taipei City, Taipei City)

ESPRESS-O Yourself @ NSTA’s Morning Coffee Chats

Friday, October 27 • 6:40 AM - 7:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2200 Lobby


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Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and join us for an informal get-together with your peers. Each day of the conference will feature a morning coffee chat, providing you an opportunity to share ideas and experiences, expand your network, and connect with colleagues and friends from around the country.

Daily Science Instruction IS Possible Using the Workshop Model

Friday, October 27 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2104 A


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

No one disputes the need for effective daily science instructions for elementary children, yet, only 20% of K-3 students and 35% of grades 4-6 students have access to daily science instruction, according to Cafarell, et.al. (2017). Elementary teachers are challenged to get in daily meaningful science instruction. There is a need to design science lessons that are powerful in impacting student learning and economize the curriculum time. The purpose of this session is to explore the “Workshop Model” instructional layout as a means to deliver meaningful science experiences. This model of instruction has a “tried-and-true” history in literacy and mathematics. The instructional model segments the time into 3 areas: opening, work session, and closing. The session will use a lesson on Earth’s Systems where students open the unit by observing a phenomenon, then move into stations or work sessions, and use student lead closing so students can formalize their understanding of the phenomenon.

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)