2024 Denver National Conference

March 20-23, 2024

Additional sessions will be added as they are accepted and confirmed over the next several weeks.
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FILTERS APPLIED:9 - 12, Presentation, Cultivating Partnerships, Climate Science

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
25 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Teaching About Climate with the Latest Science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Thursday, March 21 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Agate


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, will explore ideas for climate-related phenomena and storylines from the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a way of making climate science relevant and engaging for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
The latest science (AR6 report) from the IPCC is a great resource for phenomena and storylines that can engage students and prepare them for assessments for the HS-ESS3-5 and HS-ESS3-6 NGSS performance expectations covering climate forcings, feedbacks, impacts, and environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO)

Food as climate justice: Teaching the science, policy, and promise of alternative proteins

Thursday, March 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Alternative protein teaching library
Our library of open-access course materials holds syllabi, slide decks, recorded lectures, and recommended readings from alternative protein courses around the globe. Instructors can adapt and transform these materials to design new education and training programs. Most material is targeted at postsecondary students but is open for adaptation to best suit the needs of any audience.
Alternative proteins and biosecurity.pdf
This fact sheet outlines the ways in which a shift to alternative proteins addresses the growing concerns of antibiotic resistance and pandemic threat.
Educated Choices Program
Educated Choices Program is a free, non-profit education platform that creates video lessons and education packages on the health, environmental, and other benefits on the transition to a plant-forward diet. The Good Food Institute is currently partnering with Educated Choices Program to expand its content on alternative proteins to bring accessible, engaging content to a high school audience!
Environmental benefits of alternative proteins
We can feed more people with fewer resources by shifting from conventional meat to alternative proteins. Learn how we can minimize the environmental impact of our food system, from greenhouse gas emissions, to pollution, to deforestation, by transitioning to plant-based and cultivated meat.
Factsheet on environmental benefits of alternative proteins
This brief resource condenses a huge body of evidence showing how (and by how much) alternative proteins lead to tremendous environmental benefits when compared to their conventional counterparts. The statistics are drawn from a collection of life cycle assessments
Presentation slides
The Protein Transition: The science behind alternative proteins
Our free MOOC walks through the fundamental science and state of the industry of alternative proteins. Aimed at advanced high school or post-secondary students, these lessons are approachable to students and educators with a foundational fluency in biology and chemistry.
What is Cultivated Meat Student Starter Pack
Produced by our partners at Educated Choices Program, this resource highlights the career opportunities in the field of cultivated meat.
What is cultivated meat?
Produced by our partners at Educated Choices Program, this website is a fantastic introduction to the science and promise of cultivated meat.

STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Climate goals like the Paris Agreement are only possible if we transition to a more sustainable protein supply. Alternative protein science offers real-world applications and tangible links between lessons in biology, chemistry, engineering, and more, with climate solutions and career opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating alternative protein science into existing course material offers a means for educators to link science and technology with students’ values-driven interests. Attendees will learn how to achieve this through instruction and experiential learning opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Ahlgrim (Good Food Institute: No City, No State)

Constructing Interdisciplinary Storylines Involving Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - 707


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Climate science is interdisciplinary and when broader society issues are addressed, like environmental justice, it becomes even more expansive. This presentation address these challenges by describing specific topics to include in instructional “storylines” that integrate student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
To learn how to sequence and communicate topics essential to explaining climate change, its environmental impact, and the broader societal concerns.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Clark (The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH)

Beyond Climate: How Multiple Human and Non-Human Factors Interact with Climate Change to Affect the Function of Global Systems

Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom C


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Climate change and other drivers of change in global systems are complex, interdisciplinary phenomena. Learn about a conceptual framework that connects drivers of change with global systems to help students understand the science behind the headlines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Human-biosphere interactions offer relevant narratives and conceptual frameworks that integrate cause-and-effect; systems and system models; structure and function; and stability and change.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine (Science Writer and Producer: Concord, MA)

Powerful, FREE Simulations for Three-Dimensional Earth, Climate, and Life Science

Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Agate


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Come discover how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all dimensions of the NGSS to your Earth, Climate, and Life Science teaching, with a special emphasis on the Practices. Bring a device to this interactive session and take away free resources!

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies in the use of simulations for 3D NGSS-aligned teaching of Earth, Climate, and Life Science.

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA)

Pathway to a Post-Global Warming Future: Teaching Climate Change With Inspiration, Not Fear

Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Global Warming Primer web site
Slides from Presentation (pdf)

STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

This session will provide a brief overview of the basic science behind global warming and its consequences, plus discussion of how we can in principle achieve a “post-global warming” future in which today’s children will someday be able to talk about global warming as a problem of the past.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to teach global warming science without “gloom and doom” — and without provoking parents — by inspiring students to envision a post-warming future.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Bennett (Big Kid Science: Boulder, CO)

Using the Patterns Approach to Engage all Students in the NGSS

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 7



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Using the Patterns Approach to Engage all Students in the NGSS
Link to presentation

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Northwest districts, this vertically articulated program could revolutionize your high school science program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Pacific Northwest districts.

SPEAKERS:
Matt McCollum (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR), Bradford Hill (Mountainside High School: Beaverton, OR)

CSSS: Building Awareness for Sustainability Education: Identifying and building networks around sustainability-focused learning.

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Colorado Convention Center - 111/113



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
BASE Framework Session Slides

STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Designing and implementing meaningful sustainability-focused learning involves all stake-holders in a community. Join CSSS members as they share their use of the Building Awareness for Sustainability Education (BASE) framework to advance equitable sustainability education in their communities'.

TAKEAWAYS:
Decisions about advancing sustainability education in a region should be made at the local level and include all local stake-holders.

SPEAKERS:
Carol O'Donnell (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC), Lori Henrickson (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: No City, No State), Deb Morrison (University of Washington)

Empowering Youth: Climate Justice Community Engagement in Science Classroom

Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall A


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

How do we cultivate students’ voice & agency through civic action? Through a partnership between UC Irvine and Anaheim Union High SD, we co-designed equity/justice-centered, NGSS-aligned units and created a civic engagement matrix. We'll share how to use this tool to support students' civic action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn a civic action matrix that can be used to guide students' projects and empower students to become agents of change in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Lieu (Magnolia High School: Anaheim, CA), Jessica Yett (AUHSD: Anaheim, CA), Hosun Kang (University of California, Irvine: Irvine, CA)

Climate Change Activities to Raise Environmental Justice Awareness

Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Agate


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Explore activities that will engage your students in activities that bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and the real-world impact of climate change on society and the environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with resources to engage students in activities that promote a deeper understanding of climate change and its impact at various scales in the human and natural world, with opportunities to explore environmental justice.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber (Rocky Mountain High School: Fort Collins, CO)

"Think Global, Act Local" Climate and Environmental Projects That Teach Skills, Agency, and Optimism

Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Colorado Convention Center - 704



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Think Global Act Local Teaching Agency, Skills and Optimism

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Learn to use the Solutionary Framework to design instruction that engages students in solving real-world problems in their community. Empower young people to become climate solutionaries who explore complex problems and find solutions that do the most good for all stakeholders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use the four-part Solutionary Framework to expand their ability to design units that empower students to address the complex climate issues facing their generation.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Meltzer (Director of K-12 and Teacher Education: Surry, ME), Angela Whittaker (Institute for Humane Education: No City, No State)

Building a Better Tomorrow Using Mapping Literacy

Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 1F



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

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

What is climate resilience? Using open source data demographics, specifically FEMA and EPA mapping tools (RAPT, NRI, and EJ Screen), attendees will learn to connect climate change issues to local communities, exploring the differential impact of climate change on communities to encourage advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
By employing EPA and FEMA's open-source GIS mapping tools (RAPT, NRI, EJ Screen), attendees can identify climate change impacts on local vulnerable populations. Educators will also gain strategies for fostering classroom discussions on solutions and advocacy.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Luna (North Babylon High School: No City, No State), Tamanna Shahid (Eleanor Roosevelt High School: New York, NY)

Promoting Sustainability Awareness at a Title One School in the Alabama Black Belt Region

Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ballroom 2G


STRAND: Connecting with Nature

Show Details

Combating the loud noises of systemic oppression often faced by students of color in the Alabama Black Belt entails creating space for them to rely on their cultures, their lived experiences, and their talents to address environmental problems that disproportionately affect their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to make the concept of sustainability culturally relevant to their historically marginalized student groups living in impoverished areas.

SPEAKERS:
Eshwaa Godfrey (Selma High School: Selma, AL), Venecia Eaton (Selma High School: Selma, AL), Mashika Tempero (Selma High School: Selma, AL)

Resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 2A


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Outreach specialists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, CO, will discuss what NOAA does and what resources are available for teachers. We will walk through our in-person opportunities, online information, videos, and student activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a Federal agency anchored by Science, Service, and Stewardship. Our Outreach specialists are passionate about bringing NOAA science to classrooms across the United States.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Szoke (Science Communicator: Boulder, CO)

CAST: Exploring the Life Cycle of Monarchs as a Biology Anchoring Phenomenon in Colorado

Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Colorado Convention Center - 103/105


STRAND: Connecting with Nature

Show Details

Join this session where we explore the use of raising monarch butterflies as an anchoring phenomenon to delve into the characteristics of life, local ecosystems, conservation, and citizen science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with resources to engage students in a long-term project that fosters curiosity in local ecosystems and inspires a call for action, along with two assessment measures. Student work samples will be available for attendees.

SPEAKERS:
Aja Mattise-Lorenzen (High School Science Teacher: Fort Collins, CO), Dr. Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber (Rocky Mountain High School: Fort Collins, CO)

Empowering Students as Advocates for School-Based Sustainability

Saturday, March 23 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 1F


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Teaching about environmental problems can be demotivating if students are not given the opportunity to contribute to solutions. Come to this session to learn about a project-based unit that fosters critical hope and empowers students to become advocates for sustainability in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to implement a unit that positions students as changemakers and advocates for sustainability at their school. They will walk away with a unit outline, scaffolds, and examples of student work.

SPEAKERS:
Brianna Balke (Blackstone Academy Charter School: Pawtucket, RI)

Ocean Acidification: Investigating the Changes in Oceanic pH & Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Concentrations Resulting from Increased Atmospheric CO2

Saturday, March 23 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ballroom 2F


STRAND: Connecting with Nature

Show Details

Students often find it perplexing that elevated atmospheric CO2 reduces carbonate ion concentrations in the ocean as they learn that increasing the concentration of reactants enhances product formation. Join this session to explore the underlying processes using an interactive computer model.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will utilize an interactive computer model to investigate how three interconnected reactions influence oceanic pH and dissolved inorganic carbon dynamic as atmospheric CO2 level changes. They will also receive ready-to-use classroom activity materials and tips for implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Lin Xiang (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Frozen Worlds Unveiled: A Journey from Classroom to Climate Change

Saturday, March 23 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 3C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Frozen Worlds Unveiled.pptx
PowerPoint for Presentation

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Experience an interdisciplinary lesson challenging students to achieve an understanding of climate change by improving their comprehension about the polar areas at the North and South Poles. Data sets and a hands-on experiment will be shared as well as strategies for inclusive, anti-bias teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with a lesson that will help their students understand the polar regions and glaciers. The lesson is from an AMS workshop that was hosted for teachers during the summer. Teachers will learn about the workshop and COLDEX. Data sets and a hands-on experiment will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone (Cardinal Gibbons High School: No City, No State)

What is the NAGT TED Earth Sciences Teacher Leader Award?

Saturday, March 23 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ballroom 3H



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA_NAGT ESTL Award_Metlay_23Mar24.pdf
NAGT Earth Sciences Teacher Leader Award Suzanne T. Metlay Western Governors University
NSTA_NAGT ESTL Award_Metlay_23Mar24.pptx
NAGT Earth Sciences Teacher Leader Award Suzanne T. Metlay Western Governors University

STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy

Show Details

NAGT's Teacher Education Division developed 10 leadership criteria to encourage K-12 educators as teacher leaders. This competitive annual award honors teachers who satisfy at least 7 criteria. Each qualified nominee receives a certificate of recognition, but only 1 nominee earns the annual award.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to (self-)nominate a candidate for the NAGT TED Earth Sciences Teacher Leader Award. We will consider the leadership criteria, nominating committee concerns, and monetary value of the award.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Metlay (Western Governors University: Salt Lake City, UT)

The Dinosaur Apocalypse: One Outdoor Educator's Guide to the Frontiers of Colorado, Science, and Education

Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 1C


STRAND: Connecting with Nature

Show Details

Presented by an author of more than thirty peer-reviewed regional and international journal papers on the topic, this presentation tells the world-renowned story of Colorado's rocks through the rocks themselves and the people who have studied the K/Pg boundary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Although scientific revolutions or advancement often occur through new discoveries and technology, some major revolutions occur simply because of changes in the way that we perceive the world around us—demonstrated through a virtual hike across a world-famous K/Pg boundary outcrop.

SPEAKERS:
Keith Berry (Hoehne Re-3 School District: No City, No State)

How To Use NOAA Data: A Guide For Educators

Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ballroom 2E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NOAA Data A guide for educators

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Learn how to access and explore NOAA’s data-rich resources, lesson plans, and visualization tools to build data literacy and proficiency in scientific data analysis. This session is appropriate for 6th grade through college educators and informal educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
What types of data are available from NOAA and how to find and use NOAA data in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Implementing New Jersey's First in the Nation Climate Change Education Standards: Progress Towards Full Implementation and Key Takeaways

Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ballroom 2G



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA March 2024.pptx

STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

In 2020, New Jersey adopted the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Climate Change Education, interdisciplinary standards that were the first of their kind in our nation. Join us to learn more about their implementation and current expansion efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees at this workshop will gain insight into the development and implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Climate Change Education. We’ll share high leverage resources and programs that may be used to support similar efforts across the country.

SPEAKERS:
Ross Gary (New Jersey Department of Education: No City, No State), Sarah Sterling-Laldee (New Jersey Department of Education: No City, No State)

Science Unveiled: Case Study Exploration in Secondary and Post-Secondary Education

Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - Mile High Ballroom 3B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Costa Rica Grant Video
Costa Rica Grant Trip in 2015
Savegre Case Study Handout
Savegre Case Study Presentation

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Take part in a punctuated case study led by four preservice students on how to utilize, modify, and adapt case materials in the classroom. Hear from the author about how her experiences in Costa Rica led to the writing of a published case study (NCCSTS/ NSTA) of Costa Rican sustainability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees in this session will take part in a punctuated case study and be provided instruction on how to write, utilize, and adapt case studies to fit in the secondary or lower-level postsecondary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Madison Lockhart (Olivet Nazarene University: No City, No State), Emily Blucker (Student: No City, No State), Matthew Aude (Olivet Nazarene University: Bourbonnais, IL), Haley Lloyd (Olivet Nazarene University: No City, No State), Aggie Veld (Olivet Nazarene University: Bourbonnais, IL)

Pandemics! How Did Changes in Human Ecology and Evolution Fuel the Emergence of New Diseases?

Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Colorado Convention Center - 607


STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice

Show Details

Viruses such as COVID and HIV that infect multiple species evolve by interacting with all members of their infectious ecosystem. The term "zoonosis" appears in virtually no state standards, but it describes most infectious diseases that challenge medicine and global public health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Evolution, ecology, and human activity, including social and economic factors, drive the emergence and spread of new diseases. Controlling pandemics requires scientific literacy to enable citizens and public officials to make wise decisions in personal behavior and public policy.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine (Science Writer and Producer: Concord, MA)

Civilization Exists by Geologic Consent: How Geologic Events Have Shaped Human History

Saturday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Colorado Convention Center - 101


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Dr. Michael Wysession, NGSS co-author and geophysics professor, will explore fascinating Earth and space science (ESS) storylines of how geologic events such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and climate change have shaped the rise and fall of civilizations and altered human history.

TAKEAWAYS:
The usual and sometimes bizarre history of human impacts from geological events make for engaging phenomena and storylines that can be used to help students understand not only Earth and space science but also NGSS performance expectations in life science and physical science.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO)

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