The room will be set up with stations containing different technologies such as Sphero, MircoBits, etc. At each technology, there will be task cards with a mixture of beginning/intermediate/advanced tasks appropriate for elementary-level students. Teachers will explore each technology station and related task cards. Following the activity, we will discuss how task cards can be a starting point when creating full EDP STEM lessons. Examples will be shown using one of the task cards and how it can be transformed into a full STEM experience. The teacher will then have an opportunity to use one of our task cards to create a STEM experience of their own, based on their selected card. Teachers will be given blank task card templates and lesson planning guides for designing their own STEM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with some new ideas on how to take a simple STEM task card activity and turn it into a full lesson in their classrooms, while also getting to explore a variety of classroom technologies and elementary-appropriate STEM activities.

SPEAKERS:
Chauntèe Pitts (Professional Learning Specialist), Lauren Kelly (Crowley ISD: Fort Worth, TX)

This workshop offers an immersive learning experience that allows participants to explore the roles of soil in the ecosystem as well as its function as a carbon sink. Designed for grades K-2 educators, this workshop provides a glimpse of a classroom investigation that can be adapted for use in their own classrooms. Participants will gain insights into key concepts related to soil ecosystems, such as the roles of different organisms, nutrient cycles, and the impact of human activities on soil health. Participants will also explore the importance of soil as a carbon sink and its potential as a tool for mitigating climate change. The workshop is designed to be highly engaging and interactive, mimicking the student experience. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain an understanding of how to use immersive learning activities to support classroom teaching and learning, and will have access to resources to help them implement similar investigations in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through hands-on experience, students gain a deeper understanding of sustainability by using observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive. The workshop highlights the value of adapting investigations within the context of sustainability to support teaching NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Makarevich (SubjectToClimate)

Play along as we think, tinker, and wow like scientists and engineers! The session layout will be as follows: -Listen: Attendees will together listen to a short excerpt of the research-based podcast, Wow in the World. -Wonder: Attendees will individually use divergent thinking and creative innovation to reflect on the wonders and wows sparked from the podcast, and share insights with the room. -Tinker: In small groups, they will sort through their wonders and identify their One testable Big Wonder (their hypothesis) to investigate by communicating, collaborating, and critically thinking. -Make: In the same groups, they will be guided through a hands-on scientific experiment or engineering design project, and build confidence by sharing their findings in a multimedia presentation. -Debrief: Attendees will reflect on the classroom management and streamlined instruction practices that the instructors used in the session and how they can do the same.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to streamline PBL instruction, manage the classroom to develop 21st Century skills, and excite K-5 students about hands-on scientific inquiry and engineering design using TinkerClass’ modular LISTEN, WONDER, TINKER, and MAKE experience.

SPEAKERS:
Carole Paterson (Science Teacher: Ligonier, PA), Rebecca Caban (Educational Producer)