How can we use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to design more equitable systems? Join us to consider how leaders rally interest and build internal capacity for the selection and effective implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Work with other leaders to consider strategies to make the case for change toward more equitable systems that support all learners in the system and the role of HQIM in leading ongoing science improvement efforts.
Ticketed event - register here: https://my.nsta.org/event/2024NEW_LEADERSHIP

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider how high-quality instructional materials can be used to design more equitable systems. Discuss how to share the vision, support implementation, and build internal capacity for ongoing support for curriculum implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Laveen, AZ), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA), Jim Short (BSCS Science Learning: Ridgefield, NY), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

Navigate your first National NSTA Conference with ease! Join our session for an orientation to the conference, tips on selecting sessions, and an opportunity to meet other first-time attendees. We will share a few insider tips from experienced conference attendees and give an overview of the conference app. This session is structured so you can learn why you belong at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get the most out of your conference experience in addition to becoming an engaged learner.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Luft (University of Georgia: Athens, GA)

Explore the NSTA website with us and learn how to maximize your member benefits! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about their member benefits, the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events, and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

This new version of the Quick-Reference Guide (aka The Purple Book) is a must-have reference tool for working with NGSS and other Framework-based, 3D standards. This session will review the features of the book and show how to use the tools and resources in it to unpack the crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to unpack the three dimensions using the tools and resources in the Quick-Reference Guide and will gain insights into the meaning of the crosscutting concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Let’s discuss how to incorporate problem-based learning and build female student’s academic self-efficacy in online STEM learning. Presenters will share barriers to implementing problem-based learning and the factors that relate to female student’s academic self-efficacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with practical applications for incorporating problem-based learning and building students’ academic self-efficacy in online learning to improve engagement and retention in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Lemster (Grand Canyon University: Phoenix, AZ)

Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and practical applications of using Native Plant Gardens and Vegetable Gardens in educational settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify advantages of incorporating different gardens in teaching for middle or high school. Explain how using different gardens can enhance student student engagement and learning outcomes. How gardens align with standards. Ways to include various departments through out the school.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Scott (Mann Magnet Middle School: Little Rock, AR)

Are you an educator eager to use podcasts in your classroom but aren’t sure where to start? Tinkercast will present practical tips on why and how to include podcasts in your science curriculum, including an introduction to TinkerClass, our FREE, easy-to-use NGSS-aligned Project-based learning tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how and why podcasts are so engaging, to ask questions about using podcasts in the classroom, and to leave the session feeling empowered to incorporate podcast learning into their classrooms right away.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Caban (Educational Producer: Brooklyn, NY)

Explore the storyline of the newly released OpenSciEd Unit 5.1 How does a nurse log help other things live and grow? and see how students leverage connections to ELA and math as they investigate and make sense of ecosystems and matter cycling.

TAKEAWAYS:
OpenSciEd Elementary units provide significant opportunities for students to explicitly connect with grade-level mathematics, reading, writing, speaking & listening, and language standards in service of their science sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Gen Zoufal (Project Managaer: Chicago, IL), Cathery Yeh (Assistant Professor: Austin, TX), Gail Housman (Northwestern University: Brookfield, IL), Amy Belcastro (Science Educator/Grad Student: Fort Collins, CO)

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards, especially if they vary significantly from the NGSS. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, and adapting Storylines units. Come to this session to apply a BSCS design tool that can be used for adaptation.

Please note: space is limited.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack and compare 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 adapting HQIM in your local context.

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

The Atlas is a collection of 62 maps of the practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in NGSS and other Framework-based standards. The maps show how goals in science are meant to build upon each other and relate to each other over a student’s K-12 education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to read the maps and use other tools in the Atlas to understand and interpret standards and plan instructional sequences as part of their work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Discover innovative strategies for creating inclusive, problem-driven learning environments in science education, leveraging antibias principles for student empowerment that integrates students' life experiences into the curriculum, fostering representation and ensuring all voices are valued.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effectively incorporate antibias education strategies into STEM curricula to create more inclusive, engaging, and representative learning environments that empower all students.

SPEAKERS:
Neotha Williams (STEM4Real: Addis, LA), Jennifer Munoz (STEM4Real: Carlsbad, CA)

Join us to participate in providing educators with the skills and knowledge needed to create authentic and engaging assessments that truly measure student understanding of the 3-D science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will utilize the NGSS standards, the Louisiana Achievement Level Descriptors, and high-quality curriculum items to develop and evaluate 3-dimensional assessment items.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Shirley (Teacher: Natchitoches, LA), Sheena Prelow (Natchitoches Parish School Board: Natchitoches, LA), Paula Callender (Natchitoches Central High School: Pleasant Hill, LA), Jessie Church (Natchitoches Parish School Board: Natchitoches, LA)

Educators of all levels will learn how to create equitable STEM opportunities for girls of urban backgrounds. In addition, suggestions will be given on how ensure that urban girls sustain an interest in STEM which will results in them choosing STEM related college/university majors and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of representation and how to reverse the narrative when it comes to teaching STEM to African American girls.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Neely (Warrensville Heights Middle School: Lyndhurst, OH)

Department of Defense scientists and engineers are the bedrock of our nation’s most advanced technology and research breakthroughs, including virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and more! Join us as we explore multiple STEM career pathways supported by DoD STEM’s network of partners in academia, i

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use career resources on DoD STEM’s website to support students in envisioning themselves as future STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason (RTI International: Research Triangle Park, NC), Dr. Whitney White (RTI International: Research Triangle Park, NC), Rebecca Stanley (DoD STEM/RTI International: Durham, NC)

You have a coherent phenomenon-based learning plan for your students, and midway through, you get sick or jury duty - now what?!? This session will highlight approaches to substitute plans that are flexible, easy to implement, and support student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
When students are tasked with sensemaking and figuring out day in and day out, it is easier to have that happen without the teacher present. Utilizing a quality curriculum that supports student coherence and phenomenon-based learning is the best tool to make that a reality.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

How can we fit student-centered science instruction into the varied schedules of K-5 classrooms? Experience and explore how OpenSciEd Elementary’s free high-quality units are designed to support teachers in making time to engage their students in 3D science.

TAKEAWAYS:
OpenSciEd Elementary lessons are organized in four components: Navigate, Explore, Connect, and Synthesize. These components support teachers in understanding the purpose of each part of a lesson, allow for more flexible timing, and can be implemented in various parts of the school day.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Bismack (Oakland University: Rochester, MI), Gail Housman (Northwestern University: Brookfield, IL), Yanira Vazquez (OpenSciEd: Los Alamos, NM)

Come learn about the NSTA press books addressing the three dimensions: Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas: Reshaping Teaching and Learning, and Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthen Science and Engineering Learning

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn techniques to use these three books to help educators have a deep understanding of practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts to foster better student learning in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

The Learning Progression Model is a flexible, equitable assessment strategy to provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report achievement. Attendees leave knowing how they can implement this in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand how the Learning Progression Model keeps students engaged and accountable, how learning progressions are used to develop/assess skills and knowledge aligned with NGSS, and how to integrate this approach into the traditional grading system.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Saddle River, NJ)

Bound lab notebooks are excellent records of student growth and their journey in learning the scientific method. But they tend to be difficult to implement in the lab itself, and horrible to grade. We will share our story of how we use (and effectively grade!) lab notebooks in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with proven strategies that reduce the heavy burden of a robust lab program. Participants will gain access to resources to a large collection of physics labs (and rubrics!) that are easy to set up, engaging to students, and easy to grade.

SPEAKERS:
Oather Strawderman (Lawrence Free State High School: Lawrence, KS), John Pinizzotto (Director, AP Physics: Whitman, MA)

Feeling burned out by unmotivated students? Join us to reveal motivational gems hidden in your class. Attendees will gain strategies to provide SEL support, including methods allowing students to share their input and assessment practices to increase participation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover how things they may already be doing can be adapted to boost student motivation and build confidence. Walk away with strategies to implement tomorrow!

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

During this interactive hour long hybrid between a professional development and research presentation participants will learn about and ideate on how to make STEM learning spaces more equitable through simple changes to classroom organization.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with strategies and resources on how to organize and decorate their classrooms to promote equity and belonging in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Novelli (PhD student: Cedar Park, TX)

In this session, we will examine how to leverage time used to practice and reinforce math and reading skills to also include phenomenon-based science. By using math and ELA standards as a starting point, short units building off of a common science phenomenon are created.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the process of creating a phenomenon-based, science-focused lesson series to help reinforce and practice the standards in math and ELA, thus leading toward equity for students and subject areas.

SPEAKERS:
Miranda Orellana (Lincoln Public Schools: Lincoln, NE)

Want to complete rigorous experiments with your multilingual learners? Learn about successful strategies, scaffolds, and structures which can be used for all levels of learners, increasing accessibility and creating an environment where hands-on learning is not only possible, but preferred!

TAKEAWAYS:
English Learners are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. However, access to quality training in how to teach our ELs is limited. Through this session, educators will explore strategies and structures that can be used to better assist ther ELs in the scientific process.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Salonga (Justice High School: Alexandria, VA)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee for a discussion regarding professional learning! We will explore NSTA’s new professional learning statement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave the discussion with a framework for professional learning and strategies to implement professional learning!

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Deanna Taylor (Interactive Learning Solutions LLC: Columbia, SC), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: Omaha, NE), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

NSTA provides in-person, online, and blended personalized professional learning experiences for cohorts of K–12 educators. All programs engage educators with digital resources, virtual experiences, the larger online community, and expert staff. NSTA membership included.

TAKEAWAYS:
District and school leaders will learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA offers, delivered in-person, online, and blended that give their teachers the power to personalize their learning as well as the ability to learn with their peers. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

Transform your assessment tool into a powerful instrument for enhancing learning. Designed for educators from K-16, with an aim to streamline the grading process, make rubrics strengths-based, differentiable across all levels, and centered on developing transferable skills. Bring your own rubric!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with their own revised rubric that not only simplifies grading but also fosters student engagement and achievement. They will discover ways to provide constructive, actionable feedback that drives improvement and facilitates student growth.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Saddle River, NJ)

After a year of diving into the implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum, learn about our experience. We will share reflections on the experience in implementing OpenSciEd through a curriculum-based professional learning model to foster collective efficacy and curriculum implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn pros and cons, and strategies for a “ripping off the Band-Aid” approach to curriculum implementation, including analysis of curriculum-based professional learning for student and teacher growth; partnership and coaching for ongoing implementation support.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Wlodarczyk (Capitol Region Education Council: Wethersfield, CT), Julie Christianson (CREC Magnet Schools: Hartford, CT)

This session will center on cohorts of educators who participated in a series of learning cycles. It will showcase the purpose and outcomes of the learning cycles, which empower teachers to refine their pedagogical approaches to directly address the diverse needs of their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing learning cycle protocols, teachers refine their pedagogical approaches to better meet the diverse needs of their students. Data collection and reflection processes further enhance instructional strategies, leading to continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Taissa Lau (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Learn a variety of implementation strategies to include debating/ argumentation into your science curriculum. Strategies include ideas such as Four Corners, tabletop debate, and full class debate. Ways to differentiate strategies to accommodate different learning abilities will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be able to implement different debating/ argumentation strategies into their science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Craig (Croatan High School: Newport, NC)

This session will focus on using multiple types of representations to foster a deeper understanding of physics concepts. More than just math, using graphs, charts, pictures, and more gives students many opportunities to demonstrate their understanding and dive deeper into content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with engaging classroom strategies that can be used to deepen students' understanding of physics content. In addition to teacher-made classroom resources, teachers will gain the tools to develop their own materials that they can adapt to their own unique needs.

SPEAKERS:
Oather Strawderman (Lawrence Free State High School: Lawrence, KS), John Pinizzotto (Director, AP Physics: Whitman, MA)

During this session, participants will discuss the significance of artificial intelligence, belonging and culture in STEAM learning. Additionally, participants will obtain and practice using a tool to include culturally inclusive practices in STEAM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Why are culturally inclusive strategies important in STEAM classrooms? How can you use AI and belonging strategies that challenge and engage a diverse group of learners? In this session, we will reveal a planning tool that you can use to support learner success in STEAM classroom settings.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor (Interactive Learning Solutions LLC: Columbia, SC)

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive the learning.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Led by members of NSTA Early Childhood-Elementary Committee, the session addresses the relationship between science education & children’s literature by providing an interactive platform for educators to discover how literature can support & enhance science & engineering practices in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the integration of children's literature with science and engineering practices through cross-disciplinary connections and hands-on activities. Resources provided.

SPEAKERS:
Simone Nance (University of Southern Indiana: Newburgh, IN), Katie Morrison (University Child Development School: Seattle, WA), Jennifer Williams (Isidore Newman School: Belle Chasse, LA), Jenn Brown-Whale (Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE): Randallstown, MD)

Unlock the potential of narrative-driven instruction in your science classroom with our interactive workshop on creating storyline-driven lessons. We will provide educators with practical strategies and tools to infuse storytelling elements into their science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the workshop, participants will explore the power of storytelling in science education and discover how to develop cohesive storylines that guide the learning journey.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Holman (Hillsborough County Public Schools: TAMPA, FL)

This session will introduce teachers to a variety of note-booking techniques that will increase student engagement and excitement for learning. Students will take pride in their notebooks and therefore increase the level of effort they put into their work.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide teachers and administrators with various strategies to differentiate learning for English Language Learners, Special Education Students, and General Education Students, and accurately assess student learning through note-booking by tracking student thinking/understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells (Mather Elementary School: Dorchester, MA), Karen Ziminski (EMK Academy for Health Careers: Boston, MA)

Discover how Columbus City Schools has strategically developed and utilized Spruce Run to bridge the gap between urban landscapes and natural environments. Participants will gain insights into the district's commitment to providing all students with equitable access to outdoor learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Highlight the impact of outdoor education field trips and monthly open houses on students from the city, educators, and the community using partnerships and volunteers.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Hamilton (Southland Center CCS: Columbus, OH), Heather Allen (Columbus City Schools: Columbus, OH)

Memes are a powerful learning tool, helping teachers assess understanding and drive deeper learning through Bloom’s taxonomy. Memes challenge students to articulate and audit their understanding through powerful puzzles. Explore how to use memes in your classroom as a formative assessment tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will gain an introduction to memes as a learning tool, see good and bad examples of memes in learning, and explore three unique meme activities that can be used in your science classroom to support the development of NGSS Science and Engineering Practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Libov (CEO: Chappaqua, NY)

Should we tailor instruction to learning styles? Should we reduce tests to avoid test anxiety? Research shows that some common beliefs we develop about learners are wrong. I will debunk 3 common learning myths and provide concrete research-based guidelines for what to do in classrooms instead.

TAKEAWAYS:
As a former HS teacher, I will detail how to use current research-based strategies to support student learning. Teachers will learn how to present information in multiple ways to help diverse students. Teachers will use desirable difficulties to build equitable instruction in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Tullis (The University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ)

Come see how you can make a shift to storylines in your classroom where students make sense of phenomena, see how this motivates them to engage in science and engineering practices, and learn disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
How having students make sense of phenomena leads to greater engagement and better understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Dialogues are a conversation among two students. There are a number of ways dialogues can be presented. This session will show how dialogues can be used to find student preconceptions, misconceptions, introduce environmental issues, bring in historical events, and introduce concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the different types of dialogues and how to use them in the classroom from introducing a topic or as an assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ray Scolavino (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: East Troy, WI)

Gulf Shores City Schools teachers will share how we teach science to students through a district program called Science by the Shore. This program is an innovative approach to science instruction that inspires students to develop a love for our natural resources through outdoor place based learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how we use our school and surrounding community as a science lab and integrate social, emotional, and cognitive well being into teaching outdoors. We will share strategies and ideas for using their own school grounds as outdoor classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Sampley (Academies and CTE Director: Gulf Shores, AL), Anthony Schaff (Life Science Teacher: Gulf Shores, AL), Krista Fleming (Gulf Shores City Schools: Gulf Shores, AL)

Explore how Canva sparks creativity in high school science classes. Learn to captivate students with interactive lessons, foster teamwork through collaborative projects, and share resources effortlessly.

TAKEAWAYS:
Transform your science teaching with Canva's creative tools to enhance student engagement, collaboration, and resource sharing.

SPEAKERS:
Misty Lewis (Northside High School: Northport, AL)

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can help educators be critical consumers of instructional materials and create/revise lessons that reflect the shifts required by new standards (sensemaking). Gain experience using the tool and facilitating criteria-based consensus conversations with your colleagues!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recognize the critical aspects of sensemaking in science lessons.

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

Practice three structured talk routines while engaging in collaborative sensemaking around research that centers how students acquire the language of science and develop their science identity. (K-12th Grades)

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with insight into educational research and resources for planning and implementing well structured student talk as a tool to support science language acquisition and foster the development of students' science identity.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Johnston (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO)

Engage with resources that cultivate nine Learning Conditions which support students’ identity development, engagement, and academic growth. Produced by the Chicago Public Schools Office of Student Voice and Engagement and informed by the University of Chicago’s Cultivate Survey and Framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will receive a resource guide for each Learning Condition, which provides the definition and rationale, along with specific teacher-ready, student-friendly resources that foster enhanced student sensemaking in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Niranjani Prabhakar (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL), Kori Milroy (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL), Sarah Millette (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL), Chantell Windham (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Science Club is an equity-based innovative approach to science professional learning that fosters hands-on, minds-on science engagement in preschool classrooms. Our approach embraces young children’s natural curiosity to engage in science as well as integrates children’s local context and culture.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn from project staff and teachers how to leverage young children’s interests, local context, and local culture to support engagement through intentional, flexible science experiences using our equity-based early childhood adaptation of the 3-D Framework for K-12 Science Education.

SPEAKERS:
Daryl Greenfield (University of Miami: Miami, FL), Cynthia Parker (consultant - coach: Woburn, MA)

In this session participants will examine and discuss the Teacher Leader Model Standards. Digging into the standards they will describe key actions and practices for each of the seven domains. Participants will be asked to reflect on their role as a teacher leader in science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of the Teacher Leader Model Standards, as well as ways to become an effective leader improving science instruction for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Jenne VandePanne (Michigan Technological University/Newaygo Public Schools: Newaygo, MI), Jessica Wagenmaker (Holton Middle School: Twin Lake, MI)

Immersing educators in a locally relevant context is a powerful way to foster professional learning, enhance curriculum, and boost student engagement. This session will present successful examples of immersive professional learning that have impacted hundreds of educators across the country.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the benefits of immersive and place-based learning and how it can bring the sensemaking process to life. We will explore how immersive professional learning can surface local phenomena that can be leveraged to support curricular modifications and enhance relevance.

SPEAKERS:
Rick Henningfeld (Vivayic, Inc.), Craig Rebich (Relevant Classroom: Lawrenceburg, IN), Brian Beierle (Relevant Classroom, a Division of Vivayic, Inc.: Wauwatosa, WI)

Looking to add rigor to your elementary science lessons? Come learn how slight tweaks to how you use phenomena might be the answer for you. We’ll explore how to use phenomena to make science relevant to students, support sensemaking talk routines, and ground the development of academic vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be able to improve how their lessons engage students with phenomena and adjust their curriculum to better support student engagement, sensemaking, and vocabulary development with phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

How can we shift the culture of science teaching and learning in an elementary school or district? Explore how transformative leadership practices can build the capacity of teacher leaders and create the conditions for equitable opportunities for 3D phenomena-based science in K-5 classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away ideas and next steps for building the capacity of educators in their own school or district context, including how teacher leadership fits within a broader set of conditions that support the teaching and learning of science in that context.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA), Matthew Christiansen (Oceanside High School #7: Oceanside, NY)

Explore and apply methods to restructure 3D HQIM assessments and grading guidance to efficiently and objectively grade student responses and offer clear, concise feedback. Participants will also engage with an evaluation tool to ensure that restructuring the assessments and grading guidance does not change the integrity, rigor, and 3 Dimensional quality of the tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the process behind the LDOE/NSTA Partnership and explore practical strategies for using NSTA resources to build science leader capacity. Attendees will walk away with skills and tools necessary for restructuring the format and grading guidance of HQIM embedded assessments in a way that ensures maintenance of rigor and standards alignment.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Sutton (science teacher/instructional coach: Ruston, LA), Molly Talbot (Louisiana Dept. of Education: New Roads, LA), April Winstead (District K-12 Science Facilitator: Ruston, LA)

Unlocking the Power of Integration: Enhancing Scientific Writing Through a Hybrid Approach. Learn how merging innovative AI tools like ChatGPT with traditional methods such as Thinking Maps and rough drafts enriches students' scientific writing skills, fostering critical thinking and creativity.

TAKEAWAYS:
One takeaway from this session is that you will discover a template for integrating ChatGPT into scientific writing instruction, preserving traditional methods while enhancing student outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Ricardo Padilla (Brookhurst Jr HIgh School: Placentia, CA)

This session will explore a process for creating NGSS aligned IEP science goals using the Science & Engineering Practices. Attendees will be presented with a prototype tool for collecting data, writing goals, and monitoring progress that has been created for use across Chicago Public Schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore a process for writing science IEP goals that goes beyond simply recreating math and literacy based goals.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Brady (Dept. of STEM, CPS Bridgeport: Chicago, IL), Joseph Seabloom (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Still confused about the basics of the NGSS? Need a refresher about what it is and why it matters? Come learn from the experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with a basic understanding of the structures of the Next Generation Science Standards and how they inform 3-dimensional standards and 3-dimensional science teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Fattaleh (Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: Chicago, IL), Tara Flett (Sr. Educator IQST: Chicago, IL), Karin Klein (Museum of Science and Industry: CHICAGO, IL)

Students are given questions to answer about a scientific phenomenon. They must dig through research and investigations to find their evidence for a group seminar. Students come to the circle prepared to discuss their CER and their own questions. Peers agree or disagree, with evidence of their own.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in a Seminar that teaches the process of how to facilitate. They will also get to participate in one first hand as a demonstration. Attendees will have access to editable google slide presentations, self and peer assessments, and a rubric.

SPEAKERS:
Jodie Landry (STEM Lab K-5: Lafayette, LA)

In this session, we review the importance of exit tickets as tools for guiding instruction. Assessments should inform teaching, not just evaluate students. Learn to adjust daily instruction by making learning visible.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use formative assessments to adjust daily instruction, ensuring it meets the specific learning needs of students in grades 3-12 science, math, and engineering courses.

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

Can service learning opportunities for students enhance your science content? Yes, it can make it relevant, interesting, and impactful for the student experience! Creating essential questions is the foundation to linking science content with service Learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will create broad essential questions that will link their science content with service learning opportunities in their respective geographic regions.

SPEAKERS:
Kenta Ferrin (American School Foundation of Guadalajara: Guadalajara Jalisco, Jal.)

By intertwining the principles of inquiry with the interdisciplinary nature of science and social studies, students will develop a holistic understanding of the world around them, its scientific underpinnings, and its societal implications.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will have the opportunity to start creating inquiry based interdisciplinary units in STE and H/SS, to maximize their time on learning in a culturally aware, critical thinking and sensemaking lens.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Orlinski (H-SS Dept Chair 6-12: Norwood, MA), Elizabeth Warren (Framingham Public Schools: Milford, MA)

By 2025, it’s estimated that 463 exabytes of data will be created daily; that’s like 212,765,957 DVDs/day! How can our students know if the information they receive is credible? Generation Skeptics teaches the necessary skills with lessons and guest speakers. (www.generationskeptics.org)

TAKEAWAYS:
Generation Skeptics arms educators with free resources to instill skepticism in students. Recognizing the proliferation of misinformation, GenSkeps seeks to equip the next generation with the enduring principles of the scientific method and the importance of substantiating claims with evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Want to learn how LSTA is representing science educators in our state? Interested in being involved in science education in your region and/or at the state level? Join us for the annual LSTA meeting! Hosted by BrainPOP Science, LSTA members will mix and mingle with regional representatives, other members of the board and network with both formal and informal science educators to get the inside scoop on upcoming LSTA events, science opportunities and much more. During the meeting we will also take a closer look at the BrainPOP Science platform and get a peek at the new engineering projects. You don’t want to miss this special LSTA members only event. If you aren’t an LSTA member, you can join at the door! See you there!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will mix and mingle with regional representatives, other members of the board and network with both formal and informal science educators to get the inside scoop on upcoming LSTA events, science opportunities and get a sneak peek of the new BrainPop engineering projects.

SPEAKERS:
Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA)

Are you a preservice teachers’ instructor? Learn how NSTA's digital resources, web seminars, and online community can help students become the BEST teachers they can be. We will discuss what’s available in the NSTA and how to easily access it from your own Class Landing Page. Membership is included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructors using NSTA as their Textbook (or as a supplement) have students who create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

Engaging students in phenomenon-based 3D science learning is challenging; when students are absent, it can feel impossible. In this session, participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD), Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Are you looking for ways to make your Introductory/General Education College Science Classes more engaging for students with special needs? Join your colleagues as they share how they use culturally relevant pedagogies, anti-bias teaching, and other resources to support STEM instruction for students

TAKEAWAYS:
Science Learning and Teaching for All! Come learn how to use culturally relevant pedagogies, anti-bias teaching, and other resources to support STEM instruction in your college science courses.

SPEAKERS:
Elesha Goodfriend (Walters State Community College: Morristown, TN), Kelly Moore (Walters State Community College: Rutledge, TN), Richard Jones (University of Hawaii-West Oahu: Kapolei, HI)

Bring Science alive to ALL students by aiming to transform special education with innovative strategies that integrate UDL and STEM, fostering inclusivity and transdisciplinary problem-solving with special day classes and alternative settings that focus on inclusion and belonging.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding and application of innovative, evidence-based teaching strategies that facilitate sensemaking among special education students. Participants will learn how to create inclusive learning environments that leverage Universal Design for Learning in the science exploration stage.

SPEAKERS:
Neotha Williams (STEM4Real: Addis, LA), Jennifer Munoz (STEM4Real: Carlsbad, CA)

Are you looking for ways to enhance your lessons and make them more 3-dimensional? We are taking a well known curriculum and integrating appropriate SEPs and CCCs to deepen learning. Participants will receive Framework-aligned resources to help guide their planning for future lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain ideas on how to enhance curriculum to reach all state science standards. We will show them affordable resources that can be used in any classroom. Educators will have the opportunity to review the gaps in their curriculum with framework-aligned resources during the session.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Mahl (Jane Addams Elementary School: Redford, MI), Katie Stevenson (South Redford School District: Livonia, MI)

Learn about 5 fairy tale based units that were created as part of my dissertation, to help Kindergarten students learn about Nature of Science aspects. Mock crime scenes and digital science notebooks helped to engage students in discussion & learn from peers along with capturing student thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with access to five fairy tale based units that can be used right away in an early childhood classroom to engage students in learning about Nature of Science.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Poindexter (Allisonville Elementary School: Indianapolis, IN)

Inspire students' ingenuity and encourage sensemaking. Leverage learners’ STEM and engineering skills to foster a sense of wonder and inquiry about the world around them. Elevate best practices while engaging students to design, build and find joy in nature. Place-based + engineering = best day ever.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with creative ideas to integrate design thinking and engineering skills in the classroom and natural world, instilling a sense of curiosity, awe and wonder for the great outdoors. This project encompasses several of the sensemaking pillars for best teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Morgan (Detroit Country Day School: Bloomfield hills, MI), Diana Matthews (Detroit Country Day School: Farmington Hills, MI)

Looking to help your elementary students connect and apply what they learn across content areas? Come learn how to use phenomena to launch interdisciplinary learning journeys. We’ll explore practical ways to integrate science, social studies, and literacy using anchoring and everyday phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be equipped to improve how they engage students with phenomena and adjust their lessons to better support interdisciplinary learning in science, social studies, and literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

This session focuses on developing and using multilingual science books.. A study to identify misconceptions was implemented with elementary students. Based on these misconceptions multilingual books were developed. Participants will be given free access to these.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn contemporary approaches to integrating science and language with multilingual learners with open resource multilingual science books.

SPEAKERS:
Candice Burkett (Assistant Professor: Indianapolis, IN), Sally Blake (NIU: Dekalb, IL)

Louisiana leads the nation in coastal wetland loss. They also lead in approaches to address this crisis through development of updated five-year Coastal Master Plans. In this activity, participants take on the role of a regional coastal planner and put forth projects that seek to protect the coast.

TAKEAWAYS:
This is a hands-on, interactive activity that allows students to understand and address a complex environmental challenge while analyzing project costs and benefits. All tools represent real projects in the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan and show future workforce opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Dani DiIullo (Louisiana Sea Grant: Baton Rouge, LA)

Do you want more time for science yet worry about meeting literacy goals? We'll explore some principles of integration that ensure preK-6 students practice three dimensional science while building disciplinary language and literacy skills and engaging in deep knowledge building.

TAKEAWAYS:
When science is used as the primary context for learning, both literacy and science goals can be achieved in ways that would not be possible separately.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Coskie (Professor: Bellingham, WA), Stephanie Strachan (Associate Professor: Bellingham, WA)

This session will focus on one district's approach to building a comprehensive K-5 science curriculum by piecing together high quality resources. Participants in this session will learn about the district plan for this change, as well as get access to all resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees in this session will learn about how to begin implementation when shifting curricular resources at the elementary level, as well as resources for supporting this change.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Rolater (pK-12 District Science Coordinator: Aurora, CO)

Ever wondered where to find FREE Federal STEM education resources that can provide authentic learning experiences for your K-12+ students? Join Federal agencies, including but not limited to the Dept of Education, NOAA, EPA, NIH, USGS, USPTO and NSF to learn more and to receive a resource guide!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers and educators will learn about FREE K-12 STEM learning resources offered by federal agencies. Attendees will engage in two-way conversations with federal representatives about STEM resources, programs, and opportunities, and will leave with a one-page resource guide.

SPEAKERS:
Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: College Park, MD), Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Jennifer Sizemore (Team Lead, Content Management: Laytonsville, MD), Melissa Anley-Mills (U.S. EPA: Washington, DC), Elizabeth Williams (U.S. Geological Survey: Golden, CO)

Learn a variety of implementation strategies to include debating/ argumentation into your science curriculum. Strategies include ideas such as Four Corners, tabletop debate, and full class debate. Ways to differentiate strategies to accommodate different learning abilities will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will be able to implement different debating/ argumentation strategies into their science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Craig (Croatan High School: Newport, NC)

30 years of teacher leadership development have generated impressive results in Wisconsin. Three iterations of summer institutes shaped the science education field, formed lifelong professional networks of educators, and cultivated teacher leaders that steer our state science teachers' association.

TAKEAWAYS:
Fueling educator’s passion and building strong professional networks can work hand-in-hand to develop leadership in your region or state. This session will provide a recipe for a leadership development program certain to transform careers and invigorate your state science teacher association.

SPEAKERS:
Sue Whitsett (NSTA: Waupaca, WI), Chad Janowski (The Einstein Project: Green Bay, WI), Matthew Christiansen (Oceanside High School #7: Oceanside, NY), Dennis Rohr (Seymour Community High School: Seymour, WI)

Embrace a competency-based approach to any Advanced Placement science course by focusing on the practices without sacrificing content or pace. The strengths-based, feedback-oriented assessment approach supports student success on the AP exam, transitioning from a traditional grading to the LPM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create learning progressions based on the SEPs and adjust the target levels to provide enough time for students to grow to AP expectations. Attendees will leave knowing how they can implement this consistent, reliable method immediately in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Saddle River, NJ)

Elementary schools have neglected science locally, statewide, and nationally. With science soon to be included onto California’s 2025 dashboard, elementary schools are experiencing pressure to fit science into daily schedules somehow. Learn how to budget and integrate science into daily schedules.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to increase science instruction in your K-6 classes through integration and schedule creativity.

SPEAKERS:
Marcus Sherman (Stockton Unified School District: Stockton, CA)

Make your lessons more impactful by leveraging what students already think, believe and know. We all know that students have misconceptions, but guidance on how to work with them is sparse. They can be the greatest barriers to learning yet by embracing them, teaching can be much more effective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away with classroom strategies that will improve science instruction by embracing students' misconceptions. Ideal for teacher trainers, coordinators, and specialists.

SPEAKERS:
Clayton Chamberlain (Utah State University: Highland, UT)

Participants will learn how to allow students to take ownership of their learning, build their own science resources, and foster creativity. We will delve into strategies for differentiation, language support, and fostering a safe and inclusive learning space.

TAKEAWAYS:
Supporting MLs and high-needs students by embracing flexible and differentiated science notebooks, fostering creativity, and promoting inclusivity in science education by allowing students to work through problems and build their own science resources.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Warren (Framingham Public Schools: Milford, MA)

Searching for engaging and effective activities to teach students about misinformation? This presentation provides examples of active inoculation assignments that help students understand pseudoscience, science denial, conspiracy theories, etc., and teaches you how to design your own assignments!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use (and design) active inoculation activities to protect their students from misinformation, such as designing an advertisement for a health pseudoscience product and creating conspiracy theories.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Starting a STEM research course or including authentic student research opportunities in an existing course can be daunting. The learning curve is steep, so let me help! I have built my school's STEM Capstone course from the ground up and am excited to share what I have learned with you.

TAKEAWAYS:
I will share my experiences, course outline, and the resources I have created to give structure to an unstructured endeavor. One such resource is a lab notebook that guides students through their independent research journey. I will also share tools for tracking progress and accessing mentorships.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Elliott (Vernon Hills High School: Mundelein, IL)

Cell phone cameras can be excellent collectors of qualitative lab data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Photos from the lab allow students to look closer at phenomena at a small scale. Slow-motion and time-lapse video allow students to see processes that are too fast or slow to see normally. Photographs allow students to more deeply analyze data obtained in the lab.

SPEAKERS:
Larry McAfoos (Jack Barrack Hebrew Academy: Bryn Mawr, PA)

Pulling off an awesome field trip seems like a daunting task - but what better way is there to expose students to phenomena and have them think like scientists? With a few ground rules in mind, let's go places!

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas and strategies for putting together a meaningful and tear-free trip for your students.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Swiatkowski (Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School: Lindenhurst, NY)

The current study provides a content analysis of science lesson plans created by ChatGPT to address misconceptions for elementary students. Results highlight content similarities and differences and demonstrate potential for chatbot use in guiding lesson plans when used with appropriate skepticism.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation emphasizes an empirical perspective toward evaluating content generated in lesson plans created using ChatGPT to address misconceptions in elementary science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Sally Blake (NIU: Dekalb, IL), Candice Burkett (Assistant Professor: Indianapolis, IN)

In this session you will learn learn about two real world engineering projects happening on opposite sides of our world, and how students can draw inspiration from cultures that may be different than their own.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session you will be able to take away two engineering lessons, and a rejuvenated enthusiasm for real life problem solving with science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Smith (Tri-Village Schools: New Madison, OH), Justin Stout (Teacher: Xenia, OH)

High quality STEM in afterschool programs engages and energizes students. Presenters are 2 Title 1 public school educators with 36 years of combined experience as science teachers and 20 years as after school program coordinators and instructors. Successful strategies and ideas will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how a variety of STEM resources can be used to meet the needs of students in afterschool and summer programs. Engaging lessons and activities that are well-tested with students will be highlighted. Educators will walk away with useful ideas to excite students about STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Javan Winston (Clarke Middle School: Athens, GA), Audrey Hughes (Clarke Middle School: Athens, GA)

Explore a model for co-production of science education resources by tribal community-based Indigenous culture bearers and university-based science outreach teams. Gain access to free hands-on lessons, educational videos, and Indigenous science terminology guides.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to implement the Cultural Connections Process Model to co-produce Indigenous community-driven, culturally relevant, place-based and standards-based science curriculum. Explore a variety of free resources developed using the model.

SPEAKERS:
Doreen Hayward (Geophysical Institute: Fairbanks, AK), Lori Schoening (Geophysical Institute: Fairbanks, AK)

A science task force is a district initiative to enhance and prioritize science instruction in elementary classrooms. The task force is comprised of teachers at all levels to ensure best practices and vertical instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide a structure for other districts to bring science instruction to the forefront, allow for collaboration among colleagues, and discover vertical grade level curricular alignment.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Kelsey (Oneida City School District: Oneida, NY), Shannon Terrier-Weaver (Oneida City School District: Oneida, NY), Eric Coriale (Oneida City School District: Oneida, NY), Carly Hein (Oneida City School District: Wampsville, NY), Matthew Arthur (Oneida City School District: Rome, NY)

We present a dynamic facilitation scaffold as a teacher tool to support students scientific sensemaking. The scaffold uses disciplinary language as means to develop student reasoning as they engage in science practices. The research based scaffolds support integrated Science and ELA instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Elementary teachers will learn about facilitation scaffolds to support student sensemaking when engaged in science practices. Teachers will study a sample scaffold that uses disciplinary language related with the practice of constructing scientific explanations, in context of a force & motion unit.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Paugh (University of Massachusetts Boston: Worcester, MA), Tejaswini Dalvi (University of Massachusetts Boston: Dorchester, MA)

Explore STEM units and their personalized major unit projects that allow students to choose projects aligned with their academic interests and personal passions. Promote interdisciplinary learning by encouraging students to explore connections between different STEM fields.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to provide students with choices for major unit projects that showcase their learning and allow collaboration and community involvement to be at the forefront. Include student feedback in grading for themselves and their peers.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Schifsky (Academy of Exploration: Nixa, MO), Alexandra Robbins (Teacher: Springfield, MO)

In this session, participants will explore strategies for fostering emotional engagement among undergraduates on climate change. Through social-emotional learning, we learn how mindfulness activities, videos, and readings deepen emotional connection and enhance understanding of climate science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will grasp using mindfulness, videos, and readings to engage undergraduates on climate change emotionally and cognitively. They will gain strategies for integrating SEL into teaching, empowering students to deepen environmental connections and climate literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Gayle Buck (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN), Tajinder Saroya (Graduate Student: Bloomington, IN)

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons teach graphing, data analysis, engineering practices, etc. They include teacher notes, standards, rubrics, and lesson plans. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Too often, our students view science as a cold, calculated endeavor. We have lessons that show how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations, like open-heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. Our goal is for students to see themselves as future scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Discover NSTA’s K-5 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) instructional materials! These materials allow students to explain phenomena or design solutions to problems while developing and applying the knowledge and practices of multiple STEM disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon or problem-driven instructional materials allow students to use the knowledge and practices of multiple disciplines to construct explanations and design solutions.

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

Paper labs get lost SO easily. Lab notebooks help prevent this! Come explore lab notebook templates, sample labs, and modifications that can be made to best support students and their lab experience! Labs will be Chemistry focused, but all sciences welcome!

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore a lab notebook template and its modifications that can support the needs of various learners, including IEP and English Language Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Pavletich (Esperanza Preparatory Academy: New York, NY)

This session will focus on using your state's forensic science standards in conjunction with *free* educational AI resources to build exciting new activities to meet the needs of your learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will leave the session with 3 or more exciting AI tools to build new activities for your forensics classroom. In addition, you will be given time to explore these tools so you can leave with a new activity to implement when you return!

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Mullen (Sprayberry High School: Marietta, GA)

Discover NSTA’s 6-8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) instructional materials! These materials allow students to explain phenomena or design solutions to problems while developing and applying the knowledge and practices of multiple STEM disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon or problem-driven instructional materials allow students to use the knowledge and practices of multiple disciplines to construct explanations and design solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Discover innovative methods and practical tips to elevate teacher excellence and effectiveness. Explore strategies for optimizing learning experiences and engaging students fully in every classroom interaction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Access advanced pedagogical methods and actionable insights to boost teacher efficacy. Dive into strategies for maximizing learning outcomes and cultivating strong student engagement in every classroom interaction.

SPEAKERS:
Terri Hebert (Indiana University South Bend: Harbert, MI)

Students often lack skills to study effectively or generate study guides aligned to the range of questions encountered in NGSS 3 dimensional assessments. Students fill in this template of Bloom's taxonomy prompts alongside AI, lecture, lab, and text resources to elevate their preparation.

TAKEAWAYS:
First, attendees will learn how I arrived at this process to improve student learning and be able to look at samples of student generated study guides before and after implementing this learning strategy. Second, attendees will see how they can add this strategy to their toolkit.

SPEAKERS:
Jasper Steenhuis (Abraham Joshua Heschel Middle School: New York, NY)

Engage students, families, and the community in STEAM through Family STEAM Nights in order to equitably build understanding and interest in STEAM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to create, recruit, and implement a Family STEAM Night to engage students, families, and the community in STEAM.

SPEAKERS:
McKenna Serowka (Lake Zurich High School: Lake Zurich, IL)

Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies in Computational Thinking-Infused Elementary Science Lessons

TAKEAWAYS:
We will present practical CRT strategies and activity examples and hope to share our findings with teachers to provide insights for their future teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Yue Xin (Doctoral Student: Silver Spring, MD), Lin Yan (Arizona State University: Chandler, AZ)

Tired of hearing: Why are we learning this? When will we ever use this? This session will discuss using news articles to teach reading comprehension and improve science literacy in secondary students of all levels. We will connect 3D lessons and Science and Engineering Practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with multiple ways of implementing science in the news into their classrooms. Science will become dynamic and applicable.

SPEAKERS:
Misty Heredia (UTRGV: Brownsville, TX)

Host a STEM Fair promoting student-centered learning with equitable access to resources and a focus on the scientific method or engineering design process. Students investigate topics that interest them as part of the curriculum, culminating in an all-school celebration of student research.

TAKEAWAYS:
A school based STEM Fair allows students to engage in a four year scaffolded series of research projects ensuring that all have the same access to resources and time to experiment at school. The culminating fair offers students authentic feedback and celebrates their research.

SPEAKERS:
Nichole Lazor (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH), Kelly Wilson (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH)

This brief introduction to free OER integrated science curricular units for Grades K-5 will highlight how the features of Project-Based Learning provide the tools and routines to support sensemaking. Learn more about the research behind the resources and available supports for implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will get a detailed description of the free resources, look at how PBL works, hear examples from the Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL) Research and Development Project, learn how to access the free resources for later review, and connect with free support.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Codere (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, Retired: Lansing, MI)

Explore all the ways TinkerClass’s FREE, audio-based framework brings the “WOW” to science curricula. We’ll show you how to get your K-5 students excited about hands-on, scientific inquiry and engineering design using TinkerClass’ modular LISTEN, WONDER, TINKER, and MAKE experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with practical ideas for how to ignite Curiosity, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking in their classrooms and leave the session feeling empowered to incorporate podcast learning into their curriculum right away.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Caban (Educational Producer: Brooklyn, NY)

In this session, participants will learn how to develop a problem-based learning cross-curricular curriculum to provide students with inquiry-based learning opportunities with real-world applications.

TAKEAWAYS:
Real-world lessons show students how the lessons in the classroom relate to their everyday lives.

SPEAKERS:
Scarlett Kibler (Redbud Run Elementary School: Winchester, VA)

This study aims to develop an instructional approach integrating historical and contemporary case studies with scientific inquiry. The goal is to enhance students' understanding of the nature of science (NOS) concepts and facilitate their acquisition of content knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance and necessity of engaging students with real-life science examples from both historical and recent contexts is paramount in evaluating students' understanding of the nature of science and their acquisition of content knowledge.

SPEAKERS:
Huseyin Colak (Northeastern Illinois University: Chicago, IL)

Turbocharging ELL Learning with Quizizz, Nearpod, Edpuzzle & More! Unleash Quizizz AI's magic in these tools for personalized support & tracking. Plus, discover top strategies for empowering ELL students' success. Get ready to revolutionize your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn dynamic teaching strategies that accommodates ELL students' learning.

SPEAKERS:
Luis Jaua (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Hialeah, FL), Valdwin Etienne (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Hialeah, FL), Diana Ocampo (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Cutler Bay, FL)

Learn how upper elementary students created video research projects to interview a diverse field of professionals in a multitude of careers. Students learned how the experts “do science” in their jobs and explored research projects to expand how they view science and scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to organize students for group research projects related to careers to provide learners with a library of engaging collaborative videos. Attendees will learn how to help connect students with experts to help broaden their career understanding, goals, and aspirations.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer O'Sullivan (A. D. Henderson University School: Boca Raton, FL)

Explore how Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) can be effectively implemented in the early grades. This session will demonstrate how to introduce and scaffold ADI for young learners, emphasizing critical thinking and scientific reasoning.

TAKEAWAYS:
ADI is a powerful instructional model that fosters scientific thinking and argumentation skills. While traditionally used in upper grades, ADI can also be adapted for younger students. This session will provide practical strategies and resources for implementing ADI in the K-2 classroom.

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

Discover NSTA’s 9-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) instructional materials! These materials allow students to explain phenomena or design solutions to problems while developing and applying the knowledge and practices of multiple STEM disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon or problem-driven instructional materials allow students to use the knowledge and practices of multiple disciplines to construct explanations and design solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

If you live in North America, do your students know that a lot of people on Earth are having summer on December 25th? This lesson can be taught with just a lamp and a globe yet deeply challenges your students' concept of the seasons, no matter what hemisphere they live in.

TAKEAWAYS:
This lesson guides students towards making a claim about why there are opposite seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere on a date that is familiar to most students (Dec 25). Using simple materials, students make a model to test their hypotheses and gather evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Sullivan (St. Luke's Episcopal Day School: Baton Rouge, LA)

Accurately assessing students’ scientific thinking without language ability getting in the way is a challenge. This session will share exemplar three-dimensional assessments for middle school science and provide practical tips for updating your existing assessments for all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with 3D assessments and grading rubrics ready for their middle school classrooms, as well as research-based strategies for adapting their existing assessments for struggling readers and English Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Malkin (University of Wisconsin-Madison: Middleton, WI), Katrina Pommerening (Outreach Specialist: Madison, WI)

Elementary level teachers can be both learners and leaders who collaborate with colleagues to improve their science instruction. Learn strategies to lighten the load of siloed science teaching. Brainstorm and envision processes of collaboration for your own setting. We are strongest together!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn a protocol that improves their science content knowledge and teaching practices via group study. They will develop ideas to leverage their collective teaching experiences/skills and thus improve student engagement, student achievement, and teacher satisfaction.

SPEAKERS:
Carmen King (Mercy Center for STEM Education: Bronx, NY)

In this session, attendees will discuss perhaps unseen sides of assessment and learn how to use them to boost confidence and motivate students. Join us for strategies on how to make minor changes for big effect in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away with strategies that allow students to share their input, share what they know, and share in the wealth that can be assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

The goal of this project is to use engineering design principles to teach ecology and sustainability through active student involvement in an urban garden.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students learn the engineering design process and apply it directly in practice through the creation of an urban garden.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman (The Ramaz School: Fresh Meadows, NY)

This session will present field-tested approaches for the implementation of an elementary school STEM club run by high school science students. A STEM club is an excellent way to supplement experiential STEM learning and can be adapted to a variety of settings with or without student volunteers.

TAKEAWAYS:
An elementary school STEM Club facilitated by high school volunteers is easy to implement and can encourage students of all ages to see themselves as scientists and engineers, innovators and leaders, while enhancing opportunities for rigorous STEM exploration at the elementary level.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Sullivan (Mounds Park Academy: St. Paul, MN)

What criteria do you use to select supplemental lessons and activities? Participants will explore using a checklist for evaluating resources from online marketplaces. The checklist features five criteria based on recommendations for developing high-quality science instructional materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to evaluate resources from online marketplaces (e.g., TPT, Pinterest) using the SMART Shopping Checklist.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Stark (University of West Florida: Pensacola, FL)

Come learn about research into how students conceptualize data structure, how hierarchical/grouped structures can help support learning and analysis, and explore potential pedagogical moves and technical scaffolds to aid in student sensemaking with data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many datasets inherently have a hierarchical structure or can be grouped in a way that creates hierarchy. Spreadsheets are poorly suited for the exploration of such datasets. However, new tools with flexible ways to organize and visualize hierarchically grouped data can support student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Damelin (The Concord Consortium: Bolton, MA)

Build environmental literacy skills by engaging students in real-world projects based in citizen science, place-based learning, hands-on research, and case studies addressing conservation initiatives conducted by indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will use citizen science tools and research projects to engage students in understanding their role as environmental stewards in local and global ecosystems, using sustainable practices implemented by indigenous groups in the Peruvian Amazon as a case study.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Rivenbark (Teacher: Dunnsville, VA)

Join us to see examples of STEM picture books that can be used to accurately teach science concepts, as well as, accomplishments of scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds. We will share books from the NSTA’s Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students webpage.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our goal is to provide attendees with a list of engaging, high-quality picture books to use in the classroom with their students when teaching STEM concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Perihan Fidan (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Stephanie Wendt (Tennessee Tech: Baxter, TN)

Build skills and capacity for a community of educators to mentor diverse groups of students in STEM research. Participants will share how they might utilize local resources to maximize student sense-making of phenomenon while supporting student participation in science fairs and other competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with support for student sensemaking to develop and enhance STEM research programs that reach all learners, not just high achievers.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Andersson (University of Nebraska at Omaha: Omaha, NE)

Learn how one program developed and sustained classroom-based partnerships with scientists to strengthen teacher practice. PlantingScience is a free online resource for teachers. It provides volunteer scientists, resources, and activities to support innovation in teaching, learning, and mentoring.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Planting Science Student Teacher Scientist Partnership provides a unique opportunity for teachers to provide inquiry experiences for their students, by connecting volunteer scientists to student teams for student-centered research projects. Learn how to access the free PlantingScience resources.

SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

Explore useful tools to incorporate into intentional planning for science instruction and curriculum implementation. Examine how to support teachers in intentional planning of science instructional routines. Provide examples of how the science instructional routines can show up in teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
With the use of intentional planning, participants will learn how to use instructional routines in the classroom to support student science sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Kellie Boquet (Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy: Broussard, LA)

In the dynamic environment of a science laboratory, effective classroom management is paramount to fostering an environment conducive to learning. This session will explore innovative strategies and best practices in classroom management tailored specifically for science laboratories.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will offer practical insights, real-world examples, and interactive discussions to equip attendees with the tools and techniques needed to cultivate a positive and productive learning environment in their science labs.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl Robertson (University of Tennessee, Knoxvile: Knoxville, TN)

Improve the effectiveness and efficacy of your classroom demonstrations, by using research-based methods of engagement within the demonstrations. Hear in students’ own voices what they think about demonstrations. Small changes DO make a big difference!

TAKEAWAYS:
Engaging students through questioning and physical interactions help students build positive mental models and associate these models with the practice of doing science. Second takeaway: In building a series of demos, the more complex anchoring phenomena should go first to decrease misconceptions.

SPEAKERS:
William Katzman (LIGO's Science Education Center: Baton Rouge, LA)

Join us to explore how to engage students, pre-screen activities, and upgrade your hands-on tasks to meet 3D expectations for deeper understanding of the related content with a few quick changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain experience to implement tomorrow! Attendees will engage in a sample task, explore examples, and spend time expanding on the strategies using standards-based inspirations before taking home helpful guides.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)