The goal of this session is for participants to be able to feel confident and competent with incorporating multiple SEPs into everyday sensemaking lessons in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience a hands-on lesson that walks them through the basic steps of how to lead a sensemaking lesson that incorporates multiple SEPs.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Schumann (Katy High School: Bellville, TX), Elizabeth Morris (Katy ISD: Katy, TX)

A showcase of creating dynamic spreadsheets that provide instantaneous, differentiated feedback to students as they learn or practice new content independently or in small groups. This method amplifies confidence for students of all abilities and frees teachers to assist those most in need.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will make use of existing, free, and relatively ubiquitous digital spreadsheets in making presentations for new content. The use of this tool makes practicing content and skills helpful, engaging, and memorable. Educators will create their own spreadsheets for a lesson in their content.

SPEAKERS:
Sean Regan (Framingham High School: Westborough, MA)

This session looks at the research behind play-based learning and ways of and criteria for assessing science play in the P-2 group. Participant will actively assess several play scenarios.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with experience assessing some science play scenarios, assessment guidelines, and research citations supporting play-based learning to use and share in their own contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV)

Experience how embedding literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in 3D teaching and learning promotes sensemaking and science understanding for ALL learners! Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model embeds literacy supports throughout cycles of inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and embeds literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in conjunction with science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to promote students in figuring out key science ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

Increase knowledge aligning SEPs with science DCIs. Will students Plan/Conduct investigations using Inquiry lessons, or will they define simple design problems practicing STEM protocols? Design/build Paper Helicopters and Huff & Puff Vehicles practicing both ways of doing science. FACTs included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away two classroom models (Paper Helicopters & Huff/Puff Vehicles) and experience firsthand how to engage students in collaborative, inclusive groups to solve problems and build community. Try to constrain yourselves as you set up your criteria for success! FACTs modeled, too!

SPEAKERS:
Tina Harris (Bedford North Lawrence High School: Bedford, IN), Carolyn Mohr (University Center of Lake County: Buffalo Grove, IL)

Get ready to Rise to the Challenge in this Workshop series based on our Massachusetts STEM Week Challenges. From extreme weather to deserted islands, and zoo makeovers, there’s a challenge for everyone! You’ll experience hands-on, inquiry and phenomena-based investigations. Receive the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore STEM Design Challenges funded by the MA DHE and run during MA STEM Week. They will explore using a design challenge in their classroom that addresses the Science and Engineering Standards and the engineering design process, and will experience using phenomena-based units.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Stronach (Lloyd Center for the Environment: Dartmouth, MA), Kathryn Atkins (Wade Institute for Science Education: North Adams, MA), Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Dartmouth, MA)

This session provides an overview of teaching science for social justice and how elementary teachers can design explorations that use science to critique injustices. Participants will engage in an elementary hands-on, social justice science lesson and discuss ways to do the same in their contexts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of teaching science for social justice, along with practical classroom strategies informed by the Learning for Justice (2022) standards and Davis’ (2022) Four Approaches to Equity Framework, to design their own elementary science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Alesia Moldavan (Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Science Education: Pooler, GA), Bailey Nafziger (Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, GA)

Engage in activities that show how to connect your current science lessons to cutting edge engineering research and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. Receive access to K-5 NGSS aligned resources that immerse students in scenario based tasks using data from current STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to enhance student engagement, and promote STEM college and career pathways by connecting classroom learning to current engineering research at URI and UCONN. Leave with access to video and instructional resources aligned to NGSS and connected to the research.

SPEAKERS:
John Koziatek (University of Rhode Island: Salem, CT), Christopher Cochran (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: Coventry, RI), Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi (University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI), Zachary Orefice (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: High Point, NC)

We will engage audience in experiencing strategies a group of middle-school science teachers used to customize OpenSciEd curriculum to better support students' equitable sensemaking by enhancing the curriculum's relevance. We will also share the challenges and lessons learned.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through this session, we hope that the attendees will walk away with a set of strategies they could use to enhance curriculum's relevance to students in future instruction, as well as the items they want to pay attention to during customization.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Buell (Postdoctoral researcher: evanston, IL), Brian Reiser (Learning Sciences, SESP, Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Claire Hiller (Chute Middle School: Evanston, IL), Stephanie Baldwin (Haven Middle School: Skokie, IL), Kafi Chase (Chute Middle School: Evanston, IL), Yang Zhang (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL)

Classroom physical activity has been linked to improved academic performance, attention, concentration, and on-task behavior for students. This interactive session will provide strategies and activities for integrating physical activity into the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the association between movement integration and learning, as presenters share current research and examples of movement activities designed to increase understanding, engagement, and performance.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Lindt (Professor: Wichita Falls, TX), Stacia Miller (Midwestern State University: Wichita Falls, TX)

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards or localize phenomena. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, adapting, and localizing. In this session, apply a BSCS design tool, and learn about a suite of tools to use for large-scale design or adaptation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack target standards by clarifying key ideas, listing prerequisites and challenges, and considering what students should “figure out” and not just “learn about.” Consider and share how to apply tools and processes for designing and adapting HQIM in your local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Houston, TX)

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.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

The INSPIRE program is a professional learning opportunity aimed at increasing diversity within the geosciences. This is accomplished through inclusive pedagogies: specifically scaffolding support for student executive functioning skills and self-regulated learning cycle in inquiry activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about student executive functioning skills, the self-regulated learning cycle, and ways to incorporate their support into their planning and teaching praxis. Participants are asked to bring an example of an inquiry activity (lab, or otherwise) to work with during the session.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Anne Mollica (Teacher/ Science Pedagogy Specialist: Astoria, NY)

The NGSS highlights phenomena as one of the components of equitable instruction. This interactive workshop introduces an instructional tool that helps K-8 science teachers identify an appropriate phenomenon that will enable the teacher to plan and implement three-dimensional science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have opportunities to share their perspectives in identifying anchoring phenomena, use a phenomenon tool to evaluate a range of phenomena and non-phenomena, and discuss some common issues in identifying and using anchoring phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Lin Xiang (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY), Caitlin Ousley (Saint Agnes School/Archdiocese of Louisville: Louisville, KY), Kristin Cook (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY)

Figuring out phenomena engages students in the nature and process of science through the integration of all three dimensions. Observe how scientists investigate a question. Then use a web tool to illuminate the nature and process of science and apply to any lesson or phenomenon in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the Science Flowchart interactive journaling tool to illuminate the dynamic nature and process of science, and how to apply the tool to any phenomenon or lesson in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Smith (Scott Middle School: Denton, NE), Lindsey Roy (Science and Digital Learning Coordinator: Lincoln, NE), Betsy Barent (Lincoln Public Schools: Lincoln, NE)

Prior experience and knowledge are key to reading comprehension, especially for tackling complex texts. Join us for an interactive session where we'll explore how doing science and applying effective reading strategies are what students need to be successful readers and scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students need to engage fully in the science and engineering practices in order to build reading comprehension. Science cannot be learned through reading alone, and readers need to be able to draw upon their experiences in science to understand and make sense of new concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Claudio Vargas (Sci-Lingual Education: Oakland, CA), Diana Velez (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Oakland, CA)

Join us to explore and reflect on research-based practices for improving science engagement and learning for multilingual students through a mini-lesson, discussing how these practices are working with our students, and considering how to apply these strategies in your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a selection of easy-to-implement practices for making science learning more accessible to multilingual students, and even other students in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Nesnidal (Science from Scientists: JORDAN, MN), Esther Niemasik (Science from Scientists: Redwood City, CA), Mary Hatton (Science from Scientists: North Reading, MA), Beth Murphy (Science from Scientists: Barnes, WI)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee to explore strategies and tools that focus classroom talk on sensemaking using the Crosscutting Concepts. You’ll have the chance to experience sensemaking strategies linked to discourse and consider applications in your sphere.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with discussion strategies and tools they can implement right away in classrooms to support student discourse and sensemaking anchored in the Crosscutting Concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Northbrook, IL), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Vancouver, WA)

Engage in a research strategy grounded in the Global Competence Framework. Using maps and data visualization tools, including the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool, participants will consider different perspectives, investigate the world, communicate ideas, and plan to take action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn a research strategy that helps make student research personally meaningful and globally relevant while developing their global competence. Learn how to use data visualization tools to explore environmental justice in your own community and inspire students to take action for a more just world.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Emery (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: West Greenwich, RI), Catherine Knasas (University of Rhode Island: Attleboo, MA), Caroline Stabile (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: Narragansett, RI)

BYO Device to this hands-on workshop for the Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) project. Explore free, high-quality, multidimensional tasks, consider how to use them to create opportunities for your students to demonstrate their science understanding in your elementary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore freely available online formative assessment resources to make students’ multidimensional science understanding visible. They will gain confidence in using the tasks with students, analyzing and interpreting student work, and making instructional decisions to support learning.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Strickland (UChicago STEM Education: Chicago, IL), Jeanne Di Domenico (The University of Chicago: St. Louis, MO)

Communicating your findings is a huge piece of any science investigation or project. Come and see some of the different forms such communication can take in P-2 classes, as well as create some of your own!

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas and formats for communicating science findings.

SPEAKERS:
Annette Venegas (retired: Gig Harbor, WA), Anne Lowry (Aleph Academy: Reno, NV)

Early grades students are the most curious, uninhibited learners. They are ready and eager to share their ideas. How do we support them in developing accurate science understandings about complex phenomenon?

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore complex phenomenon that support the NGSS K-5 standards, developing not only their own understandings, but considering how they can support students in group sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Ananda Weigand-Sheerer (teacher leader: Rochester, NY), Kelly Peason (Associate Director of Science Education Outreach: Pittsford, NY), Michael Occhino (The Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development: Rochester, NY), Kimberly Fluet (Associate Director of Science Education Outreach: Rochester, NY)

This session introduces participants to the Dash robot and how it can be used in elementary science classrooms to explore the flow of energy. Participants will engage in a hands-on exploration with Dash to develop models using technology to illustrate sample food webs. Be sure to bring a laptop.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore how robotics can be used to communicate information about the flow of energy within an ecosystem (5-PS3-1 and 5-LS2-1). Participants will be introduced to the functionality of the Dash robot and how it can be used as a tool to develop a model to describe the phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Alesia Moldavan (Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Science Education: Pooler, GA)

Take a deep dive into the practice of developing and using models! We’ll explore how creating and using models help students build science ideas and can support students’ in developing and writing explanations. Experience the power of building science ideas together as part of a learning community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Developing models individually, in groups and as a class makes all students essential members of the knowledge-building community.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

Teaching students to use the Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) Framework is not easy. This workshop bridges the gap between theory and practice by providing a stepwise strategy that makes the process of evidence-based critical thinking visible to students. All activities are student-approved!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to successfully implement CER in their classrooms. In addition, attendees will leave the session with three readymade activities that are easily implemented but have a high impact.

SPEAKERS:
Mesa Davis (Clayton State University: Morrow, GA)

Investigate fostering scientific understanding and practice skills in our youngest learners. Take away topics of inquiry and tools for planning experiments and documenting student thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with strategies to: • Plan investigations to integrate science into their early childhood curriculum. • Build scientific practice skills in all of our youngest learners. • Reveal and document student understanding through lab notebooks.

SPEAKERS:
Alyssa Barr (Science Teacher: Seattle, WA), Katie Morrison (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA)

What will be describe in this session is are community science events that can be organized with themes that use natural phenomena or NGSS standards, practices, and outcomes that a school would like to promote. We will also share how we form these partnerships with local schools and museums.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to update these events to go beyond the traditional Family Science Events that are superficial. One main takeaway are example indepth activities and resources that can be used with families and students at local schools and museums. We share information about resources.

SPEAKERS:
Morgan Glann (Central Michigan University: Sanford, MI), Eli Vincent (Central Michigan University: Evart, MI), Lauren Rupe (Central Michigan University: Mt. Pleasant, MI), Jim McDonald (Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI), Emma Patrus (Central Michigan University: Chesterfield, MI)

Discover how AI can ease your workload and transform your instruction. Explore ways to harness the power of AI for your personal and professional gain. Learn how to leverage AI for deeper student learning. Whether you’re brand new to AI or a seasoned user, leave with ideas to implement right away.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how AI tools such as ChatGPT can be a game-changer in the classroom—saving teacher time and deepening student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Terra Tarango (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

In this interactive PBL experience, attendees will LISTEN to the STEAM podcast “Wow in the World”, WONDER to generate ideas, TINKER to choose a testable hypothesis, and MAKE a multimedia scientific inquiry or engineering design project in the free, private, and NGSS-aligned TinkerClass platform.

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 (TinkerCast and Valley School of Ligonier: Laughlintown, PA), Twee Mac (Digital Associate Producer: Montclair, NJ)

Join other educators on the Giant Map of Colorado! Learn how to integrate physical mapping into science-focused, problem-based learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators have the opportunity to learn how to access a Colorado Giant Map, for inclusion of Place and Problem-Based Learning. This can help address climate science, ecosystems, geology, river concerns, weather, and scientific history of Colorado.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Ragsdale (STEM Professional Development: GRAND JUNCTION, CO)

Experience PreK-2 lessons, learn outdoor classroom management, and hear philosophies from School in the Woods, a public school with an outdoor focus. Crosscurricular lessons that meet your standards with 3-D Learning through outdoor, hands-on, minds-on discovery. Turn your classroom inside OUT !

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience outdoor lessons to use with students to meet all areas of the curriculum (with indoor alternatives and in/out infusion ideas). Free nature notebook.

SPEAKERS:
Maurine Banzhaf (Colorado PLT advisory council: Woodland Park, CO), DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO)

After trying several K-12 solutions-based design challenges, choose one to customize for your students and environment. Adapt and leave ready to teach the entire QUEST (Question-Uncover-Explore-Solve-Teach). Written for Guam, these empower students to design projects that solve local problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will begin customizing one student-relevant purposeful design challenge QUEST, have access to many more, and will recognize the benefits of purposeful design challenges being part of a larger QUEST unit that requires intentional learning of STEM concepts and practices.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Arndt (Global GreenSTEM: Franktown, CO)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee to explore effective strategies and resources that focus on helping students make sense of data using the Crosscutting Concepts. In this session, you will engage with the strategies and consider how to implement them with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with sensemaking strategies for engaging students in the Science and Engineering Practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, through the lens of the Crosscutting Concept of Patterns, that can immediately be implemented with students!

SPEAKERS:
Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Vancouver, WA), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Northbrook, IL)

Participants will engage in hands-on activities focused on force and motion concepts. Activities are easy set-ups, using low-cost household materials that promote inclusivity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be engaged in multiple activities that promote learning and inclusivity of all students. Necessary materials and best teaching practices will be shared so that attendees can immediately incorporate knowledge and activities into their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Starks (Houston Middle School: Germantown, TN)

Use the STEM Teaching Tool’s self-documentation strategy as we go outdoors and create a map of our schoolyard. We will document observations & questions that can drive our learning. Consider how you might use a similar activity to connect classroom learning to your outdoor spaces.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use outdoor spaces to keep students engaged and invested in building new science ideas driven from their own observations and questions.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houle (The University of Rhode Island: Wakefield, RI), Holly Emery (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: West Greenwich, RI), Zachary Orefice (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: High Point, NC)

Introducing Sprocket: Powered by Educurious! Sprocket is a free platform with OER project-based learning science courses for educators everywhere. Created by researchers, experts, and educators, Sprocket is now part of Educurious. Join us for a guided tour of Sprocket’s courses and online community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sprocket is the world’s only OER platform providing access to evidence-based, full-year, project-based learning courses at no cost. Participants will learn how to navigate Sprocket, access the curriculum, and connect with an online community of colleagues and collaborators.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Rosenberg (Digital Content Specialist: Rohnert Park, CA), Hanna Jaramillo (Educurious Partners: Kirkland, WA), Sara Nachtigal (Educurious Partners: Seattle, WA), Alexandra Goodell (Educurious: Seattle, WA)

What is the connection between coherent instructional sequences from the students’ perspective and equitable access to science learning? Learn how coherent storyline units support students’ genuine engagement and perseverance as they work to explain a complex phenomenon over the course of a unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Storyline unit Instructional routines provide a coherent path from students’ questions about a phenomenon to the explanation or model of that phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
NSTA Online Advisors (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Attendees will learn how fit in all 3 dimensions of the NGSS while working under the significant time constraints of a typical elementary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a unit map planning document, sample anchor phenomena and example SEP activities.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Magaw (Community Roots Charter School: Brooklyn, NY)

Each will identify grade level, core disciplinary ideas (science content standards), Science & Engineering Practice and Crosscutting concepts. Participants will leave with lessons plans, websites, grants ideas and other resources. Over 14 PAs will bring best practices from their varied expertise.

TAKEAWAYS:
K-12 teachers will leave with lessons plans, websites, grant ideas, and other resources from Presidential Awardees.

SPEAKERS:
DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO)

Educators will engage in a hands-on science lesson that intentionally incorporates technology, centers students and builds agency and critical thinking skills. Educators will discuss what it means to be literate in the digital era and how to transform their teaching to benefit our youngest learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Intentional integration of technology in early childhood can build agency in our students, provide equitable access to media literacy skills, and transform teaching and learning. Participants will explore how to use digital tools to develop habits of inquiry and expression.

SPEAKERS:
Zachary Orefice (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: High Point, NC), Catherine Knasas (University of Rhode Island: Attleboo, MA), Kelly Houle (The University of Rhode Island: Wakefield, RI)

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for the NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps, including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS, and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

This session explores an interdisciplinary 5E lesson investigating sound and vibrations using physical and virtual (Scratch) instruments. Participants will learn how music and science educators collaborated to design the lesson, and how music and science can be used to explore cultural connections.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore an innovative, interdisciplinary 5E lesson as an example of ways to integrate music into elementary science classrooms. Emphasis will be placed on exploring instruments’ properties, what sounds the instruments make, and how people play them referencing cultural connections.

SPEAKERS:
Graham Johnson (Fordham University: Lynbrook, NY), Alesia Moldavan (Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Science Education: Pooler, GA)

Has a student ever asked, “what does this have to do with me?” Place-Based Learning is a way to answer that question as students build observation, inquiry, and data analysis skills. Workshop presenters will share examples from their STEAM classrooms. Participants will complete a mini investigation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will feel empowered to incorporate Place-Based Learning in STEAM curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Suggs (Teacher: La Mesa, NM), Gaylynn Lynch (Eastside Preparatory School: Bothell, WA), Amanda Petty (Bryan ISD Texas: College Station, TX)

In this session, we will examine the skills that scientists and engineers utilize in their work and explore ways to incorporate these with our students. Participants will move through stations that employee the use of different science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have a better understanding of the science and engineering practices and learn ways to create small shifts in their lesson planning to give students authentic experiences in science.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Boykin (Science Specialist: Pine Level, NC)

Through a hands-on lab investigation, students will explore landfill mining as a practice for the recovery of non-renewable resources and as a means to reclaim landfill areas for alternative uses. Students will learn about benefits, drawbacks, and steps involved in landfill mining.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through a hands-on lab investigation, students will explore landfill mining as a practice for the recovery of non-renewable resources and as a means to reclaim landfill areas for alternative uses. Students will learn about benefits, drawbacks, and steps involved in landfill mining.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Burns (Connetquot Central School District: Baiting Hollow, NY)

Deep dive into phenomenon-based learning! In this immersive workshop, participants will experience phenomena, collaborate with other educators, and develop a toolkit of ways to captivate students’ curiosity. Instructors will model examples and offer time to connect around ways to elevate engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with an understanding of how phenomena can drive high-quality instruction, and a real-time toolkit of resources to support them moving forward. Using the Next Generation Science Standards framework, teachers will collaborate around student engagement in a meaningful and authentic way.

SPEAKERS:
Pam McWilliams (Cherry Creek Schools: Aurora, CO), Rebecca Rolater (Cherry Creek Schools: Aurora, CO)

Participants will use activities that work in CP and Honors Biology to help students decide whether and how we should genetically modify corn. Materials can be integrated into DNA (genes), evolution (artificial selection), and/or ecology (environmental impacts of GMOs).

TAKEAWAYS:
Teach kids to make informed decisions about GMOs. Learn to scaffold group argumentation and CER skills in this unit. Students work in teams to discuss data and create a speech about how we should deal with this complex issue. This curriculum closed the gap between our CP and Honors students!

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey L'ECUYER (Andover High School: Andover, MA)

"A Walk Through Water" combines project-based learning with NGSS-aligned education, immersing students in real-world environmental exploration. This approach nurtures environmental consciousness, fosters scientific problem-solving, and promotes responsible citizenship.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience integrated art, science, and NGSS-aligned education through phenomenon exploration and sculpting an organism with model magic to create deeper connections in order to build empathy and connection to the natural world, in order to solve important environmental issues.

SPEAKERS:
Nikki Atkinson (Visual Arts and CTE Media Arts: Fort Collins, CO), Deborah Holman (Wellington Middle School: Fort Collins, CO)

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

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will (1) understand what spatial skills are and why they are important for success in science, and (2) learn to identify how an NGSS performance expectation activates students to think spatially and how to leverage this to build scientific knowledge through engaging classroom practices.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Dupuis (Science instructional facilitator: Moravian falls, NC), Katie Stevenson (South Redford School District: Livonia, MI)

Teachers engage in classroom discourse strategies designed to support developing science classroom communities that promote more equitable student contributions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participating in purposeful classroom discourse strategies during teacher professional learning experiences results in more equitable science classroom community building.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Brushway (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO)

Join PhET’s initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in STEM education by increasing your familiarity with our resources, and considering how simulations + activities + facilitation can be used to increase representation, relevance, and accessibility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the PhET Equity Framework to explore aspects of PhET simulations and sim-based resources that can help all students learn, such as inclusive sim features, translations, diversified character sets, and equity-aligned rubrics to select and modify teacher-contributed activities.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Perkins (PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Briana Clarke (Park Day School: Oakland, CA), Rebecca Vieyra (PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder: Washington, DC)

Introducing the Next Gen ASET SEP tools created by university teacher educators and public school instructional specialists to: support teachers in understanding NGSS SEPs, facilitate curriculum development, and evaluate NGSS alignment with existing curricula.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will 1.) gain a deeper understanding of NGSS SEPs and their significance in science education, 2.) acquire practical skills to develop and assess curriculum in alignment with NGSS, and 3.) engage in collaborative discussions on effective SEP integration.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Stalker (Graduate Student: Colorado Springs, CO), Lin Xiang (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Does your teaching style lead to creative projects? Then join us to explore the transformative power of tuning protocols in the context of STEM education. Engage in a real-time project tuning and see how this collaborative process leads to better ideas. Leave with tools to replicate the process!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in this workshop will learn the steps for conducting a tuning protocol to enhance a project, as well as learn about K-12 STEM education resources from the Dayton Regional STEM Center and DoDSTEM.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Drager (Montgomery County Educational Service Center: Dayton, OH)

Hands-on lessons for your students to explore how we produce, consume, and save energy, and how this can affect our homes, communities, and our health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn activities to help students develop an awareness of environmental justice and inequities that can have influences on one’s local environment and personal health outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Swan (The NEED Project: Manassas, VA)

An examination of how drama can be incorporated into science lessons to facilitate teacher assessment and support retrieval practice. This will be followed by a series of activities where the delegates will explore various drama techniques.

TAKEAWAYS:
How can drama be used to assess children's scientific understanding.

SPEAKERS:
David Allen (Associate Professor: Hatfield, 0)

Unlock the world of inquiry and exploration in your science classroom! In this session, we will model several practical, engaging phenomenon-based teaching strategies to make your classroom come alive. Transform your teaching and ignite curiosity now!

TAKEAWAYS:
Diving into the world of phenomenon-based teaching is easy! Implement the "notice and wonder" and "scientists' circle" strategies to spark curiosity and foster discussion. Using these strategies will help equip your students with tools to explore and understand the world scientifically.

SPEAKERS:
Jerry Graham (Greeneville Middle School: Greeneeville, TN), Matthew Olson (6th Science Teacher: Greeneville, TN), Jessica Proffitt (TNTP)

Participants will engage with resources and hands-on activities showing the relevance of Earth Science, specifically through the lens of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will explore features of the SDGs and Education for Sustainable Development, relating them to NGSS dimensions.

TAKEAWAYS:
The UN Sustainable Development Goals represent an international consensus for action on the world’s most pressing problems. Making connections with them using hands-on, standards-aligned instruction can be an effective way to highlight the relevance of Earth Science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee (American Geosciences Institute: Herico, VA), Lauren Brase (American Geosciences Institute: Westmont, IL), Lindsay Mossa (American Geosciences Institute: ANNAPOLIS, MD), Chloe Westhafer (West Jackson Middle School: Winder, GA), Ed Robeck (American Geosciences Institute: Salisbury, MD)

Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems make learning experiences in science classrooms more relevant and equitable for students. Come learn what makes phenomena meaningful and problems authentic and then leave with some high-quality instructional materials that you can use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems are more than a hook or an example – they drive learning and provide a context for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (Del Valle ISD: Del Valle, TX)

How can we take advantage of simple ingredients like yeast to connect science to students’ interests, explore different cultures, & encourage students to meaningfully and safely design their own experiments? Learn through this fun & easy bread-in-a-bag lab with differentiated versions for gr6-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore a lesson that centers around the phenomena of bread and yeast, and see how you can make bread within classroom parameters. Consider how bread can be used to explore multiple science concepts like chemical reactions, organisms, phase changes, and heat transfer; make cultural connections.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Velasquez (Allium Montessori School: Cambridge, MA), Meredith Moore (The Field School: Washington, DC), Shawn Boggs (Bullitt Lick Middle School: Shephersdville, KY), Kate Strangfeld (Harvard University: Cambridge, MA)

Learn how to formatively assess students in different ways using data and plan meaningful active learning experiences with interactive notebooks based on that data. You will explore various formative assessments from a student's lens.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how formative assessments can be used in their classroom and plan using the provided science planning protocol, creating a final product.

SPEAKERS:
Chrissy Brouwer (School District of Osceola County: Saint Cloud, FL)

How can we effectively prepare the next generation of scientists when science instruction is so vastly different from actual science practice? In this session, you’ll learn how research scientists work in a lab environment and how you can transfer those practices directly to your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand 6 practices of lab researchers that differ from science instruction in most classrooms. They’ll learn how to incorporate these practices into their classroom to better prepare the next generation of scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Terra Tarango (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

Fostering collaborative discussions is an ongoing process to reflect upon often. Join two veteran OpenSciEd teachers as they share successful strategies to help students set their own goals, gain confidence in speaking with peers, and eventually engage in a more student-led learning experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a variety of effective, simple, and practical strategies or activities that will help students build confidence in talking with peers, reflect on and set personal goals for growth, and have a true voice in their own learning path. Strategies can be implemented immediatelyl

SPEAKERS:
Heather Galbreath (Lombard Middle School: Galesburg, IL)

Learn to flip student uncertainty to rev up student motivation to understand concepts! SUPeR stands for Student Uncertainty as a Pedogogical Resource. The approach was developed by Drs. Ying-Chih Chen and Michelle Jordan at ASU. Learn tips and tricks for student uncertainty to drive your class!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will understand when to maintain, raise, and lower student uncertainty to keep curiousity driving their classroom. Teachers will learn sensemaking strategies and ways to assess uncertainty in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Rapkiewcz (Mesa Public Schools: Mesa, AZ), Mandy Heal (Mesa Public Schools: Mesa, AZ)

Teachers can use students’ natural curiosity to engage their students, teach content areas and process skills, and address standards. Our discrepant-event format uses two setups that allow all students (regardless of background) to identify a problem to be solved and then to solve it.

TAKEAWAYS:
One of the most engaging formats for learning is the discrepant event. The format can generate natural curiosity. If we channel this natural curiosity into learning problem-solving skills, we will nurture these skills, and students will feel comfortable and competent when doing science.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Jean Lynch (North Central College: Naperville, IL), John Zenchak (North Central College: Naperville, IL)

Science and math are the “bookends” of STEM education. Integrating science and math should be seamless, natural, and painless. Come join the fun as we collect and analyze an AVALANCHE of data as we work together to make hands-on, inquiry-based instruction one of your go-to strategies!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience the power of having students collect and analyze their own data, while learning strategies for the effective science-math integration and collaborative instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Lukens (Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls, SD)

Come learn how to use the Justice, Equity, and Inclusion in Science Picture Books Checklist to select high-quality picture books for your classroom. In this interactive workshop, participants practice using the checklist and discuss takeaways. Several picture books will be raffled to participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants learn about a tool to analyze science picture books they select that center justice, equity, and inclusion. Participants practice using the tool with recently published picture books, analyze the value of the tool, and discuss how they can integrate it in their teaching environments.

SPEAKERS:
Ingrid Carter (Metropolitan State University of Denver: Denver, CO), Caitlin Fine (Metropolitan State University of Denver: Denver, CO)

Immerse yourself in current trends and insights for inclusive learning, paving the way for leading inclusive, empowering, and identity-affirming science education with an asset based approach to learner variability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Embrace students' diverse funds of knowledge and identities to enrich science and engineering education. Integrate Zaretta Hammonds' Positive Feedback framework, respect identities, and employ multiple means of representation and expression for inclusive, effective learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Munoz (STEM4Real: Carlsbad, CA), Rosanna Ayers (UC Merced: Madera, CA)

Discover empowering activities for elementary students to use their STEM skills to learn more about people’s relationship to the natural environment and ways to work toward a healthy planet. Raise environmental literacy while collecting and analyzing data, creating a carbon sink model, and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn hands-on classroom activities to build students’ STEM skills while fostering environmental stewardships and empowering students on positive ways to impact their environment.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Huth (Population Education: Washington, DC)

Learn how historical primary sources can be paired with guided questions and analysis to challenge misconceptions about the nature of science. Join us for this workshop to experience how the free, digitized resources from the Library of Congress can lead students to more authentic views of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access millions of free digitized primary sources and practice inquiry-based strategies that challenge misconceptions about who does science and what that looks like, and provide surprising historical evidence that illustrates the evolving practice of science.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Purcellville, VA), Kelsey Beeghly (Einstein Fellow: Altamonte Springs, FL)

Do you or the educators you work with have questions about what science teaching and learning look like in classrooms implementing your state standards? Join us for a session where you will receive support to lead this module using classroom video of contemporary research-based teaching in action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build an understanding of sensemaking and receive a toolkit to lead this session with other educators.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Mathews (NSTA: Skokie, IL), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

This session is a hands on presentation to highlight the lessons we use to integrate math and science in a fun way but that follows grade level standards. Participants will walk away with student sheets and experience the activities for themselves.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will takeaway ideas on how to get to all the standards in math and science by combining standards into integrated and fun lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Newburger (Tappan Zee High School: Orangeburg, NY), Samantha Levine (South Orangetown Central School District: Blauvelt, NY)

The best teaching relies on the best evidence: how students think about core ideas in science and understanding where their ideas come from. Learn how this leads to responsive instruction that builds a bridge from where students are to where they need to be.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to effectively use formative assessment probes from the NSTA Uncovering Student Ideas series for responsive assessment and instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: Fort Myers, FL)

Using 3D science performance tasks to assess student learning requires tools that measure students' engagement with making sense of phenomena. This session provides a set of assessments for each of the science standards and coaches participants on how to develop analogous assessment items.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with a set of assessment items for each of the NGSS standards for the 3-5 grade band and a less-complete set for other grade bands. Participants will learn how to use templates to structure the development of assessment items and experience developing a task.

SPEAKERS:
Juan-Carlos Aguilar (Georgia Dept. of Education: Atlanta, GA), Brett Moulding (Partnership for Effective Science Teaching and Learning: Ogden, UT)

Participants will engage in a hands-on activity and a series of investigations to consider how fresh cheese is made (anf how this relates to science topics like pH and solubility). This activity will be delivered at ~grade 9, but can easily be scaled up or down to accommodate grades 5-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about what components in milk make up curds and how they chemically change during curd formation and get resources that facilitate eliciting student prior knowledge, making observations, asking questions, and constructing claims based on evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Strangfeld (Harvard University: Cambridge, MA)

Join us to learn engaging and creative assessment strategies for your classroom. Move beyond multiple choice tests and challenge your students to apply their learning in new ways. Learn how you can use Claim-Evidence-Reasoning, EdTech Platforms, Google Forms and more to assess student progress.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn and practice with several creative assessment strategies to assess student learning. The emphasis of these strategies is to get students to apply what they have learned and communicate effectively, while giving teachers quality data on their progress towards learning goals.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Freyschlag (Estes Industries: Colorado Springs, CO)

Often overlooked, but key to our survival, soils are vital to sustaining life. What makes this natural resource so special? Join us for an active session that digs into numerous soil science concepts and vetted teaching resources connecting soils to the lives of everyone, everywhere.

TAKEAWAYS:
No matter where one lives, soils are the foundation upon which life exists on Earth. The life that teems below ground supports the life above ground. Understanding the ecosystem services provided by soils requires cross-disciplinary thinking and reveals how vital soils are to our existence.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Holzer (none: Somerset, NJ)

Building Self-Regulation Learning into the classroom creates high levels of learning for all students. Learn how to walk student through identifying what they need to learn, set a goal to address learning, choose activities, evaluate their learning, and redesign to learn deeply.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn to use Self-Regulation Learning (SRL) to create a personalized classroom that challenges all students at deep levels. Learn to guide students' learning and encourage them to learn content and skills of learning at deep levels.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Willet (Williamsburg Middle School: Annandale, VA)

Engage in activities that show how to connect your current science lessons to cutting-edge engineering research and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. Receive access to grades 6-8 NGSS-aligned resources that immerse students in scenario-based tasks using data from current STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to enhance student engagement, and promote STEM college and career pathways by connecting classroom learning to current engineering research at URI and UCONN. Leave with access to video and instructional resources aligned to NGSS and connected to the research.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Emery (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: West Greenwich, RI), Christopher Cochran (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: Coventry, RI), John Koziatek (University of Rhode Island: Salem, CT), Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi (University of Rhode Island: Kingston, RI), Caroline Stabile (GEMS-Net, University of Rhode Island: Narragansett, RI)

Use the iceberg model to guide students through sensemaking using both natural phenomena and by surfacing science misconceptions using formative assessments. Help students see more than the tip of the phenomenon iceberg, and dive into understanding and scientific reasoning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand the value the systems thinking iceberg model has for tracking the patterns, structure of the systems, and mental models of a scientific phenomenon needed to develop the scientific reasoning connected to the standard they are teaching.

SPEAKERS:
DaNel Hogan (Waters Center for Systems Thinking: Tucson, AZ)

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can be used in coaching cycles that support implementing high-quality instructional materials. Gain experience using the tool to identify sensemaking “look and listen fors” in classroom observations and how to use those observations to facilitate productive discussions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the NSTA Sensemaking Tool to support productive coaching cycles.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ), Emily Mathews (NSTA: Skokie, IL), NSTA Online Advisors (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

5E lesson planning lends itself wonderfully to inquiry-led, tactile science lessons. This session discusses the components of a 5E lesson, why it works for Science, and pointers for creating engaging experiences. Participants will create their own excellent lesson and receive examples of 5E lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain a greater understanding of 5E lesson plan structure and gain confidence in writing them. I will support them in creating their own unique lesson from activities they have done prior and other resources. Their new lesson will integrate art/math/engineering, and promote inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Rama Sreekantham (Paragon Prep School: Austin, TX)

Engage in hands-on, critical thinking, and math-savvy activities that will help students distill a somewhat complex topic and understand how the consumption of energy sources relates to climate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Lessons aimed for students to understand more about energy, carbon dioxide, climate, and climate change with regard to their personal energy choices as well as a global perspective – recognizing choices made in the U.S. have an impact on the global environment.

SPEAKERS:
Vernon Kimball (NEED Facilitator: Manassas, VA)

Hexagonal thinking is a collaborative hands-on concept mapping strategy focused on making connections across vocabulary, concepts, and other subject-specific components that can be utilized in any content area, including cross-curricular settings. Come learn how to implement it in your own classroom!

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: Newburgh, IN)

Keep your pets safe from being left in hot cars by using automatic sensors to design an alarm that could save their lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Solve a real-world problem with coding and engineering design; no prior experience needed.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Scott, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

As long as there have been CER templates, there have been students who struggle. What’s the difference between evidence and reasoning, or an explanation and an argument, exactly? Our Mi-STAR CER lesson and templates help answer these questions and they are open to all - join us to learn more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with clear and concise definitions of reasoning, explanations, and argumentation, along with a lesson plan, activities, and templates to help students define and construct all three in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

Engage in an assessment activity that deepens students’ conceptual understanding, provides opportunities to evaluate scientific information, improves analytical abilities, and strengthens communication skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a student-driven re-assessment strategy that provides an additional opportunity for students to collaborate while analyzing scientific information.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Bowen (Johnson City Schools: Johnson City, TN)

This hands-on session will generate ideas on how to get your secondary students outside and moving while still covering your science standards. Good NGSS practice starts with an anchoring phenomenon. What better way to explore a phenomenon than getting outside?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with immediately applicable strategies and ideas to use in their secondary science classrooms outdoors.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Bateman (: Martinez, GA), Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC)

Learn quick activities to engage students using collaborative structures that require little planning, but provide big results.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how quick activities increase engagement and collaboration and will plan their implementation for an upcoming lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Chrissy Brouwer (School District of Osceola County: Saint Cloud, FL)

Participants will engage in computational thinking practices to identify trustworthy scientific sources in the media. This session includes classroom-ready activities focused on disciplinary core ideas to enhance media literacy through science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Computational thinking (CT) is an iterative process useful for identifying trustworthy scientific sources in the media. Through inquiry, CT enables students to disaggregate media content, recognize patterns, focus on important information, and develop systematic processes to improve media literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Missie Olson (Becker High School: Annandale, MN), Dennis Liu (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: Potomac, MD), Jocelyn Miller (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: Chapel Hill, NC)

Come learn how easy, important, and fun it is to collect and analyze data as a part of good, solid, responsible science education. Integrating science and mathematics isn't just a good idea, it is essential for today's STEM learner. Today's technology makes it quick, easy, fun and meaningful!

TAKEAWAYS:
ALL attendees will be active participants in the data collection activities in this session. But collecting data will not be the greatest takeaway. Rather, instilling confidence in ALL attendees to perform mathematical analysis of the data will be the main goal of the session.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Lukens (Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls, SD)

This session is intended for secondary science teachers with multilingual learners (MLLs). MLLs bring important science ideas that contribute to learning. This session will emphasize meaningful language instruction for all students and provide ideas for how to support emergent multilingual students.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will engage with meaningful examples of teaching techniques to support higher-level thinking for all students, especially multilingual learners. These examples can be implemented in any secondary science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Snapke (Middle School Science Curriculum Developer: Issaquah, WA), Angela DiLoreto (Bellevue School District: Bellevue, WA)

Teaching climate change in diverse contexts often means we need to meet communities where they are at and teach through concerns that are central to their lives. The SDGs provide a framework of 17 central goals that help to foster thriving and sustainable communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore the interrelationships between the SDG Framework and climate learning goals across diverse contexts. Using resources provided, plan possible connection points with the SDG Framework to your own teaching to help foster climate awareness and agency.

SPEAKERS:
Carol ODonnell (Smithsonian Institution: Washington, DC), Deb Morrison (University of Washington: Salt Spring Island, BC), Tana Luther (Louisiana Dept. of Education: Baton Rouge, LA)

Do you have an instructional unit published before 2013 or do you ever buy online lessons and wonder how to confirm alignment to three-dimensional learning? Learn about a practical approach for vetting science instructional units.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop presents a practical rubric for vetting lessons and a framework for transforming any lesson into a three-dimensional learning experience for students.

SPEAKERS:
Leidy Luciani (Parish Episcopal School, Midway Campus: Dallas, TX)

The underpinning of meaningful professional learning lies in coherent and sustained professional development experiences teachers can apply in the classroom. This session focuses on how to apply the Science Professional Learning Standards in modeling discourse to improve instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
A clear understanding of how to apply the Science Professional Learning Standards to select and design professional learning experiences. A set of strategies and lesson plans for modeling classroom discourse and applying these strategies in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Candace Penrod (Salt Lake City School District: MURRAY, UT), Brett Moulding (Partnership for Effective Science Teaching and Learning: Ogden, UT)

NGSS includes standards for engineering. Many small schools don't have the resources for high-tech maker spaces, so we meet those standards using common, inexpensive materials. Come see how we make it work!

TAKEAWAYS:
Engineering doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't require high-tech tools and equipment. We can engineer solutions to world problems using simple household materials.

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Ueltzen (Walther Christian Academy: Chicago, IL)

Consider how instruction can support students in making positive changes in their communities. Explore how in OpenSciEd HS, students use science ideas and practices to make sense of design problems that emerge from complex systems at the nature-human divide.

TAKEAWAYS:
NGSS-designed instruction that is oriented toward justice can not only teach students to understand the natural world, but broadens their perspectives on how humans fit into natural systems, what constitutes science, and what they can accomplish using science.

SPEAKERS:
Zoe Buck Bracey (Senior Science Educator and Director of Design for Justice: Colorado Springs, CO), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Evanston, IL), Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Many elementary students have a basic understanding of motion, but may be unable to graph motion in terms of distance, direction, and intervals of time. We will use a dune buggy to examine and graph motion. The activity can easily be taken back to your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session provides a learning cycle for constant motion using a constant speed buggy. Attendees will make physical graphs using adding machine tape and/or sticky notes or washers.

SPEAKERS:
Jan Mader (Retired Physics and Chemistry Teacher: Great Falls, MT)

In Discourse with an Equity Lens in a Science Classroom participants will explain what it means to disaggregate science instruction and discuss the role of linguistic bias in science classrooms, explain the process of “figuring out”, and identify teacher talk moves and productive talk.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers can use discourse to promote sensemaking and affirm students’ science identity.

SPEAKERS:
Evelyn Larose (Boston Public Schools: Roslindale, MA), Alicia Wedderburn (Science Instructional Coach: Milton, MA)

Bring your teaching to life by having students create videos of what they learn in science class. In this workshop you will learn how to use Adobe Express to create your very own video! By learning these skills, you will be equipped to help your students create video of their very own.

TAKEAWAYS:
Creating videos using images and videos.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Bean (Catherine Cook School: Chicago, IL)

Students are going to talk anyway. Learn to make talk productive with student-led talk circles. Use this powerful strategy tomorrow to build students’ scientific literacy! (K-8)

TAKEAWAYS:
Talk Circles enable educators to uncover student ideas and misconceptions as well as reveal students’ understanding to pave the way for further investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Sheri Geitner (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Patricia McMahon (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Nicole Bay (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

In this engaging session, you're invited to delve into the fascinating world of neuroscience as it relates to the art and science of effective teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation goes beyond theory to provide you with practical strategies and evidence-based techniques that can be integrated into your teaching methods.

SPEAKERS:
Martha MacKay (Science Teacher: Emporia, KS), Erica Huggard (Biology Teacher: Emporia, KS)

Participants will explore scientific drawing as a tool to strengthen student understanding of the underlying science concepts. This session will allow participants an opportunity and experience to combine the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learnings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Reinforce the understanding of photosynthesis through a scientific drawing.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Martinez (3rd Grade Vanguard Math and Science Teacher: Katy, TX), Suparna Vashisht (Assistant Principal: Houston, TX)

Explore how pets can be dynamic teaching tools, investigate standards-based lessons, participate in a challenge, and find opportunities to fund your classroom pet. Leave with a toolkit of ideas and a fresh perspective on enhancing your curriculum with our furry, feathered, or scaly friends!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be empowered to use pets in their classroom and understand the lasting impact of using pets to inspire science learning, fostering empathy and curiosity in students. Teachers will leave with the tools they need to incorporate a classroom pet into their curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Biernat (Zanilu Educational Services, LLC: Oak Creek, WI)

Turn your classroom inside OUT. Classroom lessons that meet your standards with 3-Dimensional Learning through outdoor, hands-on, minds-on lessons. Experience activities, learn outdoor classroom management, and hear philosophies from School in the Woods, a public school with an outdoor focus.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn outdoor lessons to use with students to meet all areas of the curriculum (with indoor alternatives and in/out infusion ideas). Free nature notebook.

SPEAKERS:
DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO)

Phenomenon-based instruction can make learning experiences more relevant and equitable for students. Come learn how to foster student sensemaking after you introduce a phenomenon today and then leave with a library of high-quality instructional materials that you can use for years to come.

TAKEAWAYS:
Introducing meaningful phenomena is necessary but not sufficient for fostering sensemaking. Students must also have opportunities to use DCIs, CCs, and SEPs during the learning experience and the experience must be structured in ways that make the process of sensemaking useful and inclusive.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Integrated science? Teach NGSS-focused geology, ecology, biology, engineering, and physical science through real-world problems. Access rubrics, guides, lesson plans, timelines, and other ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using a thematic approach to integrated science truly integrates the disciplines, making it highly engaging by giving students real-world applications of the content. The NGSS does not have a set of "integrated science" standards, yet aligning this course to the NGSS is possible!

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Ueltzen (Walther Christian Academy: Chicago, IL)

A hallmark of collaborative sense-making is productive discussion. Come learn how to foster productive small group and whole class discussions in your classroom and then leave with a library of high-quality instructional materials that you can use for years to come.

TAKEAWAYS:
Collaborative sensemaking requires productive and inclusive talk. Teachers can foster productive talk between students using specific activity structures, talk prompts, talk moves, and supports.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (Del Valle ISD: Del Valle, TX)

Food is a powerful tool to teach science: it’s approachable, accessible, & relevant to students and can give them agency in how they make sense of science & how it relates to them. But classrooms aren’t kitchens- how can we harness the power of food in a traditional classroom & why should we do it?

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in an investigative, food-based mini-lab and learn from teachers about how they have used food-based labs in their classroom with different classroom parameters, and why it was worth it. This lab will be at a high school level, but this can easily be adapted to middle school.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Velasquez (Allium Montessori School: Cambridge, MA), Shawn Boggs (Bullitt Lick Middle School: Shephersdville, KY), Meredith Moore (The Field School: Washington, DC), Kate Strangfeld (Harvard University: Cambridge, MA)

Practice activities with simple materials exploring the EM Spectrum and explanatory models that illustrate real world space science applications. Learn about the Virtual Astronomy Academy program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practice "Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning," and a gallery walk of student work to review models; practice collaborative learning to investigate filters and wavelengths. Attendees will also learn how to join NASA's Virtual Astronomy Academy professional development program.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Marie Dubick (Cherokee County School District: Smyrna, GA), Coral Clark (SETI Institute: Agua Dulce, CA), Jenny McCall (Winburn Middle School, Fayette County Public Schools: Nicholasville, KY), P Harman (Pamela Harman: PACIFICA, CA), Brittany Chase (Mahone Middle School: Kenosha, WI), Milo Maughan (Utah State Board of Education: Salt Lake City, UT), Diane Ripollone (Cardinal Gibbons High School: Garner, NC)

Interactive activities and games to introduce students to energy sources and to learn the difference between renewables and nonrenewables. Participants will play Energy BINGO and Candy Collector from NEED's "Energy Games and Icebreakers" free curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave this session with activities to bring back to the classroom immediately. Students will be introduced to renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.

SPEAKERS:
Cori Nelson (Winfield School District 34: Hinckley, IL)

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, drawings and more! These free online resources elevate the stories behind scientific endeavor, highlighting scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access millions of free digitized primary sources and practice hands-on strategies for using them to promote critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of real-world scientific practices, the nature of science, and connections between science and society.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsey Beeghly (Einstein Fellow: Altamonte Springs, FL), Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Purcellville, VA)

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly and function effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

Participates will engage in activities from the newly designed USGS field guides. The field guides are intended to be used in grades 3-5 to provide space that nurtures curiosity and creativity while realizing the interconnectedness of the natural world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with brand-new field journals that can be used in their classrooms!

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Willsey (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: Washington DC, DC)

Learn how to use the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning. We’ll focus our discussions on what counts as evidence of students’ ownership of targeted elements of the three dimensions and how to use collected student data to inform instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning using the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL), Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Carrollton, GA), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Come network with the National STEM Scholars, (a group of middle science school teachers) as we share our innovative, hands-on projects, materials, results, and curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover new ideas, lessons, and projects that you can use in your middle school classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Michele Mitnitsky (Dover High School: Bow, NH), Emily Harer (Global Arts Plus Upper, Upper Campus: Rush City, MN), Kandice Taylor (Brinkley Middle School: Jackson, MS), Sarah StCyr (WW Lewis Middle), Jenny McCall (Winburn Middle School, Fayette County Public Schools: Nicholasville, KY), Teresa Robertson (Middle Grades Teacher: Munfordville, KY), Patricia Huntington (Farb Middle School: Santee, CA), James Frye (Science Teacher: LEITCHFIELD, KY), Laura Cummings (Teacher: Haleiwa, HI), Erin Hullinger (Teacher: Gorham, ME), Kerrie McDaniel (Western Kentucky University: Bowling Green, KY)

Conduct energy transformation experiments using items encountered in everyday life. Motion, sound, thermal, radiant, electrical, and chemical energy transformations are studied using glow sticks, handwarmers, batteries, etc. Confidently teach energy forms & transformations!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about forms of energy and energy transformations by engaging in experiments just as their students would, to better understand visually what they are and how they occur.

SPEAKERS:
Vernon Kimball (NEED Facilitator: Manassas, VA)

Have you ever wonder why minerals come in so many different shapes and color? Using nanoscience concepts, come experience how a mineral's internal atomic arrangement contribute to its properties through a fun hands-on activity involving simple materials without an electron microscope!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching abstract concepts, such as matter at the atomic scale, can be difficult to get across to our students. Learn to use common household objects to help our students make sense of mineral properties using nanoscience ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Yishan Lee (PS/MS 219: Bayside, NY)

Where do you start a new school year? How about an introductory unit that will engage your students in the basic tenets of Scientific Literacy? This workshop will engage participants in hands-on activities aimed at laying the foundation for Scientific Literacy through inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away 5 activities that immerse students in Scientific Inquiry in ways that may not seem very "sciencey" but will build foundational skills in Scientific Literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Ueltzen (Walther Christian Academy: Chicago, IL)

The last total solar eclipse in the continental US for 21 years occurs in April. NSTA has assembled an abundance of resources for you to make the most of this teachable moment – from 3D learning materials, to safe viewing strategies, to ways to make it a school-wide experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with links to 3D teaching strategies for students to understand the science behind eclipses, plus safe viewing strategies and ways to make the event a school-wide experience.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Seattle, WA)

Hands-on workshop highlights considerations of water use and equity. Uses anthropology, geosciences, and environmental sustainability principles to discuss water equity and incorporating these concepts and disciplines into science education. Bring a laptop/tablet to fully participate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will investigate the ethnohistoric context of water ownership, access and use in their regions, and practice how to unpack the complex topic of water equity and incorporate various aspects into activities that address the learning objectives of their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sharon Bywater-Reyes (Associate Professor of Geoscience: Greeley, CO), Sarah Johnson (Wild Rose Education: Carbondale, CO), Chelsie Romulo (Associate Professor of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability: Greeley, CO)

Social Emotional Learning is a proven strategy to improve student learning outcomes, reduce negative behaviors such as bullying, and create positive classroom communities. But what does this look like in science class? Come learn how to use free lesson plans to incorporate SEL into your class!

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with a library of free, ready-to-use SEL lessons to teach skills such as self-awareness, relationship skills, positive decision-making, and more while introducing students to a variety of STEM professions!

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Noffsinger (STEM Magnet Lab School: Westminster, CO)

There are many topics included in required course content that student view as irrelevant. Come learn about ways to make these topics more meaningful for students and then leave with access to a digital library of some high-quality instructional materials that you can use to teach them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Meaningful phenomena and authentic problems can make topics not only more meaningful for students but can also make instruction more rigorous and equitable.

SPEAKERS:
Todd Hutner (Del Valle ISD: Del Valle, TX)

This session explores techniques for creating learning environments that foster deep-level thinking and support students with applying ideas to new contexts. Participants will explore questioning strategies and teacher moves that can build classroom cultures that value learning above knowing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with teacher moves and questioning strategies to support students with thinking more deeply and critically about disciplinary core ideas. Attendees will experience what it looks like to take the role of a facilitator rather than a lecturer.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Berk (Arcadia High School: Scottsdale, AZ), Kali Hines (High School Science Teacher: Holyoke, CO)

Participants will engage in an effective instructional strategy, the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), to help students develop questions for a Driving Question Board (DQB) about the causes of a phenomenon from an OpenSciEd Lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the QFT within a small group structure using an adapted version of the Questioning Form from the Illinois Storylining Group, an OpenSciEd lesson, and question stems that help support students with engaging in the Science and Engineering Practice of Asking Questions.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Northbrook, IL)

Dive into systems modeling with SageModeler, a free web-based tool for engaging students in systems thinking and computational thinking while modeling. SageModeler makes it possible for a wide range of students to create simulatable models as they test their ideas against real-world observations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain the skills to get started using SageModeler as a tool for modeling systems, and brainstorm strategies for integrating systems thinking in their curricula.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Gospodarek (Gorham Middle School: Gorham, ME), Daniel Damelin (The Concord Consortium: Bolton, MA)

Ready, set, measure! Come join us as we share activities and tools for supporting students’ invention of data visualizations, measures of central tendency, and variability within the context of a statewide citizen science project focused on climate-related impacts to local ecosystems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a learning sequence designed to guide students through the invention of data displays and core ideas in statistics. This framework can be adapted to support students of all ages and abilities in making sense of data across multiple content areas and learning contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Lacey Todd (Mountain Valley Middle School: Rumford, ME), Kyle Beeton (Lisbon School Department: Lisbon, ME), Monica Wright (Bath Middle School: Bath, ME), Amanda Sommi (Durham Community School: Portland, ME)

This session will model how to create purposeful, scaffolded, problem-based learning experiences. Participants will engage in experiences that model how to use storylines based on student questions to drive learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will model how to create purposeful, scaffolded, problem-based learning experiences that move students from asking questions to constructing explanations of natural phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Zipporah Miller (Educational Consultant: Bowie, MD)

Make the literacy connection to science with fairy tales. Join us as we explore activities that integrate multiple content areas with an emphasis on writing across the curriculum. We will even engineer a house for a pig.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop has been designed to show educators: -how to become advocates of literacy for elementary science and engineering -to provide connections between science and literacy and -to learn strategies for actively engaging all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Dobbs (Ruth Patrick Science Education Center: Augusta, GA), John Hutchens (Ruth Patrick Science Education Center: Aiken, SC)

How much blood do you have in your body? Why do you need a four-chambered heart? Why do you need to eat more in the winter? Why don't you see very many cold-blooded animals at high altitudes in Colorado? Join us for this session and discover the answers to life's pressing physiological questions!

TAKEAWAYS:
Being "warm-blooded" brings both good news and bad news for an animal. In this session, attendees will calculate their blood volume, why a 4-chambered heart is needed to move all that blood around, and how the circulatory system is the key to unlock all of these physiological phenomena!

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Lukens (Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls, SD)

Looking for a new tool to help students accurately evaluate science-related media? Join NCSE to explore this technique that allows students to examine the worth of the media content, inspect data legitimacy, and make sense of graphical analysis, all while evaluating the emotions the media elicits.

TAKEAWAYS:
The goal of this session is for participants to move past functional data literacy to critical data literacy. Students will learn to evaluate data-based claims for various types of bias, intent, and misleading data representations, in addition to basic strategies for understanding data.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Johnson (National Center for Science Education: Grand Rapids, MI), Lin Andrews (Independent Contractor: Wichita, KS)

Looking for ideas to ensure sensemaking access for all students? Participants will immerse in science lessons to explore numerous scaffolding strategies and ideas. The facilitator and participants will model how to allow every student to engage in rigorous science tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies for scaffolding instruction that allows students access to rigorous science tasks in whole group, small group, and individually. They will leave with ideas for planning/implementing equitable sensemaking so that every student in their classroom can engage.

SPEAKERS:
Anthony Goad (Hamilton County Schools: Hixson, TN)

Participants will explore hands-on station activities by making observations and asking wonder questions. We will expand on observations and questions to build a storyline that can be used to investigate a 'big picture' concept in Science. Examples and strategies will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of how to set up inquiry stations in their classroom, as well as build a storyline with their class. Participants will have a concrete example to take back to their school.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Smith (Anglophone School District - West: Fredericton, NB), Peter Trusiak (Instructional Coach - Science K-12: Island View, NB)

Experience how the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model creates learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real-world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL anchors cycles of inquiry and sensemaking, culminating in student explanations/design solutions!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages authentic phenomena/problems to anchor cycles of inquiry and sensemaking. This approach provides instructional coherence from students’ perspective, equitable access, and motivation for ALL learners.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO), Nancy Hopkins-Evans (BSCS Science Learning: Wayne, PA)

This session will introduce participants to NSTA’s Elementary climate science lessons designed using our Sensemaking approach. Investigating engaging and relevant climate phenomena drives student learning and inspires them to examine critical climate issues in their own communities.

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

SPEAKERS:
Emily Mathews (NSTA: Skokie, IL), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

STEM approaches and outreach are incredibly unique in one of North America’s largest geographical school divisions. Explore Sub-Arctic STEM with hands-on activities, resources to implement into your classroom, and continued global STEM opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will acquire both inspiration and practical ideas to implement into the classroom with no delay. Participants will be engaged in approaches to Science that are unique to the North, and adaptable to any classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jacqueline Monteith (Frontier School Division: Winnipeg, MB)

We invite educators from both formal and informal science learning environments to come and engage with the Informal Science committee. Learn how the committee can support you, and connect with professionals from museums, zoos, aquaria, out-of-school-time programs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Meet the Informal Science Committee, and find out how to connect with them in their work to support informal educators, expand the role of informal learning institutions, and strengthen the bonds between formal and informal science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Hays (Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: Denver, CO), Lindsay Milner (Mad Science Group Inc.: Montreal, QC)

Discover how you can model weather and climate data on a classroom loom. Riffing on the temperature blanket trend, we will discuss how a floor loom can be used to create data visualization models. You will create your own personal loom and weave one month’s weather data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with strategies to model weather and climate, as well a variety of other data, in their classrooms. They will get resources to make their own floor loom for a classroom as well as smaller personal looms.

SPEAKERS:
Katrina Heimbach (Msad 55: Brownfield, ME)

Make student thinking come to life with notebooks! Increase the rigor of student work—learn new strategies for organizing content and how to use templates for any science class. Take home many current NGSS classroom examples to get you started.

TAKEAWAYS:
1.) The how and why of science notebooks; 2.) Engaging ALL students in science; and 3.) Templates scaffold student learning for success.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Weibert (Fresno County Office of Education: Fresno, CA)

Come experience how leveraging complex culturally relevant societal challenges as phenomena in 3D teaching and learning supports student motivation and engagement. Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model develops student agency within and beyond the classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages complex societal issues as anchoring phenomena/problems, culminating tasks, and performance assessments in 3D units of instruction to motivate students and develop agency in addressing these issues.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

“Those who can do; those who can’t teach.” Sorry, that quote does not resonate with my teaching story. Learn the power of storytelling and how it can help transform your class and school through building better student relationships, creating student voice, and increasing student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn benefits and strategies for creating and telling stories in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Harden (Dallas ISD: Dallas, TX)

OpenSciEd HS engages students with complex, flexible, and purposeful mathematical thinking to meet the NGSS. We illustrate how NGSS practices 4 and 5 (analyzing data and math) are central and supported as students develop explanations, models, and solutions in chemistry and physics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leveraging data analysis and mathematical thinking in the context of meaningful phenomena and problems like food sovereignty, rather than frontloading rote math “skills,” helps students engage with these practices as sensemaking tools, deepening student understanding of both science and math.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Starting with empathy, we can create inclusive learning environments rooted in people’s needs. Learn how human-centered design principles can be applied to create meaningful, engaging, and effective learning experiences for educators and students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience practical human-centered design processes, methods, and tools used to deeply understand the people they are looking to serve and to continuously innovate solutions. Participants will leave this session equipped with strategies to design impactful learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Abby Tolley (Learning Analyst: Lafayette, IN), Brian Beierle (Relevant Classroom, a Division of Vivayic, Inc.: Wauwatosa, WI)

This session will provide participants with four take-away lessons for their high school or middle school classes that provide relevant real-world application of the concepts required by NGSS and state standards by infusing agriculture into the biology classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding where food comes from is an essential component of becoming an educated citizen in today's growing population and climate instability. This session will provide participants with four take-away lessons that provide relevant real-world applications of agriculture.

SPEAKERS:
Jane Hunt (Nourish the Future - Education Projects, LLC: Dublin, OH)

Do you wish your Math department was on the same page as your science classroom? In this session, you will participate in activities involving real-world data collection that can be engaging in both science and mathematics classrooms. There is no limit to what you can do with the S and M in STEM!

TAKEAWAYS:
Through simple real-time data collection, you can incorporate your science classroom with the mathematics classrooms in your school. Come learn how to build the community your school needs!

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Scott, LA), Daniel Wilkie (STEM Teacher: Pelzer, SC)

In Strategies for Improving Writing in the Science Classroom, participants will learn how to disaggregate science writing through explicit science writing instruction. They will experience strategies that support students with drawing models and writing in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Writing in science is a specific genre of writing, therefore students need to be explicitly taught how to deconstruct and construct science writing/models.

SPEAKERS:
Evelyn Larose (Boston Public Schools: Roslindale, MA), Alicia Wedderburn (Science Instructional Coach: Milton, MA)