Use A-I to create a fictional planet in order for students to make connections between settling on a foreign planet and early American civilization of Jamestown. How will you choose where to settle? How will your colony be sustainable? How do you ethically interact with native species?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees are going to learn how to utilize A-I by exploring settlement on a fictional planet mirroring Jamestown addressing sustainability, ethical interaction with natives, citizen science, robotics, and lessons for Earth's care.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wren (Riverfield Country Day School: Tulsa, OK), Lisa Robinson (4/5 Grade Educator: Bixby, OK)

Immerse yourself in two intermediate grade units on Weathering & Erosion and Earth's Systems which integrate algorithmic thinking and student-generated models using block coding. Project {FUTURE} has co-designed CS-integrated curriculum units with teachers in CT and WI, available as OER.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our CS and Science integrated units are ready to use and benefit student learning in both areas. By building algorithms and programs, students model Earth System relationships in novel ways. Likewise, applying CS concepts in the context of science enhances meaning, rigor, and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Scianni (Milwaukee Public Schools: Milwaukee, WI), Christine Thorp (Teacher: Wallingford, CT), Darcy Ronan (Sacred Heart University: Fairfield, CT)

This session is the second of a series of four - join for one or more - focused on early childhood science and language arts integration. Engage with concrete examples of interdisciplinary connections focused on Earth and space science. Part of NSTA Early Childhood/Lower Elementary Science Pathway.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to plan and implement instruction that integrates early childhood Earth and space science and language arts learning targets with fidelity.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale (Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE): Randallstown, MD)

Space Rocks! Making heads and tails of rocks in space. Comets, meteors, asteroids? What’s the difference? We will use high-engagement strategies to help our students understand the difference between these windows to our galactic past.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will depart with tested lessons, prepared background information, and complete resources for hands-on labs, and three engineering-based STEM projects that incorporate Earth's place in space and human-created systems to make predictions and establish patterns.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Walker (University Academy: Lynn Haven, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Unlock the cosmos for your classroom with our tailored workshop for teachers! Discover teaching methods, explore resources, and delve into the latest astronomical discoveries. Gain confidence and tools to ignite students' curiosity about the wonders of the universe, fostering a passion for science.

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Get a close look at the pedagogical strategies of a highly acclaimed Earth Science book. Developed by the American Geoscience Institute, this book relies on student-centered activities, students doing science! Take part in several activities and connect with other earth science teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Participants will examine how models can be used to drive understanding of complex concepts. Tree ring data will be used as an example of a line of evidence to support climate models and a balloon model will be used to support universe expansion.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

"Dive into Earth's wonders! Our Earth Science workshop for teachers offers hands-on activities, expert insights, and teaching strategies to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding. Join us in exploring the dynamic systems of our planet!" Geology, Meteorology, Climate, Physical Geography!

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Join us for a demo of our database of 1,300+ educational resources from NOAA. We host ocean, coast, Great Lakes, weather, and climate resources. Tour our lesson plans and activities and ask us your questions. Learn more at noaa.gov/education/resources. This session is appropriate for K-16 educators.

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

Come experience the wonder of our universe through the lens of a young learner while taking the abstract out of astrophysics! Join AMNH Educators as they present astrophysics lessons for young audiences, try activities that combat common misconceptions in space science, and receive lesson resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session aims to break down the barriers of intimidation that come with teaching an abstract concept like astrophysics and address common misconceptions in space science. Attendees will practice techniques for teaching astrophysics to elementary-aged students using AMNH lessons and activities.

SPEAKERS:
Ilana April (American Museum of Natural History: New York, NY), Kate Schmidt (Museum Educator: New York, NY)

During this hands-on lesson exploring the significance of local watersheds, participants create a model of a watershed and explore its role in the water cycle. We will share insights with educators to help them integrate this lesson plan into their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
This workshop highlights the value of hand-on experience and adapting investigations to integrate sustainability principles to support teaching the NGSS. Leave with insights and strategies to adapt this investigation in your classroom to support sustainability education.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Rogers (SubjectToClimate: Harahan, LA)

"Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth", investigates the relationship between the ocean, weather and climate on global to local scales. This workshop introduces ten hands-on activities for upper ES and MS students to reinforce Earth science concepts related to oceanography, meteorology and climate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will sample the range of activities that incorporate graphing, data analysis, visualizations and sense-making to introduce Earth/atmosphere/climate connections on local and global scales.

SPEAKERS:
Peggy Steffen (Ready, Set, STEM: West Liberty, IA)

Sharing free Department of Defense and US Space Force online resources around careers and space science topics. Will have a "light saber" circuit make or take kit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sharing free Department of Defense and US Space Force online resources around careers and space science topics. Will have a "light saber" circuit make or take kit.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Novak (AFRL STEM Academy: Albuquerque, NM)

Participants will engage in science and engineering practices to develop their understanding of why flooding frequently happens in some areas of New Orleans but not others. Then, they will learn strategies for leading their own students through conducting schoolyard investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with suggestions to support elementary students in modeling a complex environmental science phenomenon that’s relevant to their everyday lives, getting outside of the classroom to collect data, and using this data to revise their understanding of the phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Marshall (International School of Louisiana: New Orleans, LA), Claire Anderson (Ripple Effect)

The Earth2Class (E2C) Program at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory enables secondary school students and teachers to access cutting-edge research by world-class geoscientists. This free program is provided through hybrid (on-campus) and zoom formats. I will describe its assets and availability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students and teachers can learn about cutting-edge geposcience resesources.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Passow (Dwight Morrow HS (retd): Englewood, NJ)

This poster presentation will showcase best practices to address that “all forms of energy production” have “risks as well as benefits.” The free, online Switch Classroom provides non-partisan content in this critical area of NGSS instruction. Adaptable for grades 4-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn practical strategies to teach energy source pros/cons aligned with NGSS, fostering equity and inclusion in STEM classrooms while empowering students as informed decision-makers for a sustainable future.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler (Switch Classroom: Pittsburgh, PA)

Discover NASA's Astro Camp Program: free STEM resources and lessons on space exploration. See how one school created a week-long, community-building STEM Challenge for Pre-K to 5th grade, reinforcing the S.E.P.s and sparking interest in NASA careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA’s ASTRO CAMP Community Partners Program provides collaboration opportunities for youth service organizations, museums, libraries, and schools interested in presenting NASA’s ASTRO CAMP activities in their community with training and resources provided by NASA ACCP specialists. Free resources.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Sevin (Isidore Newman School: New Orleans, LA), Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: Belle Chasse, LA)