Experience the impact of science instruction that directly engages and affirms the student scientists in your classroom. Learn how to ground daily lessons in meaningful community issues without overhauling your curriculum. Enable all students to advocate and create changes in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
We'll share two strategies for grounding lessons in relevant contexts: (1) Anchor the lesson in a question and (2) Connect daily lessons to meaningful community issues using a three-step process. Participants practice both strategies and leave with an adapted meaningful lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ), Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD)

Students must use discourse to engage with the Science and Engineering Practices, but what if students do not speak the language of instruction? Learn specific strategies and supports to create a welcoming environment for student language use and acquisition in inquiry-based science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the instructional practices designed to support language use for newcomer students in inquiry-based science. They will leave with ready-to-use strategies to implement in their classroom or district to support students who do not speak the language of instruction.

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

The NGSS requires students work with big datasets. Yet time constraints limit trials during the hands-on labs that excite our students. You needn’t sacrifice one for the other! Join me to generate a robust dataset from a collaborative lab and to craft prompts about it that foster data literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the importance of having students interact with more robust datasets, how to efficiently pool student-collected data, and how to prompt students to practice skills needed by STEM professionals, such as questioning, describing variability, and identifying relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran (Tuva)

Participants will collaboratively engage in a series of model activities to increase discourse in middle school science classrooms. These strategies will help foster regular talk opportunities that honor student voice and increase student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding and internalize discourse strategies that enhance student talk to increase engagement and instill ownership in their science learning. These strategies can be easily adapted for any content area and topic.

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

This hands-on session explores innovative techniques to incorporate data visualization tools into science curriculum. From artistic graphs to creative infographics, participants will learn fun ways to unleash the power of data, fostering critical thinking and inquiry-based learning among students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will gain confidence in designing data visualizations activities that ignite curiosity and deepen understanding of scientific concepts, and walk away with a toolkit of resources that can be modified to fit a wide range of classes and topics.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack (I.S. 223 Montauk Intermediate School: Brooklyn, NY)

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about creating a culture and instructional strategies to support all students and the assets they bring into the classroom through science sensemaking discourse and notebooking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will first experience an anchor from OpenSciEd 6.4 unit to create their model to describe their thinking in a notebook and then use the discussion diamond to come to a consensus and revise. Educators will review different student samples and discuss how these support all students' ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Christy Krenek (Santa Fe Public Schools: Santa Fe, NM)

When students encounter intriguing phenomena, their innate instincts to question and explore are activated. To truly grasp this concept, you have to experience it! We're going to go through a set of learning experiences (shortened for time) that are based on a phenomenon.

TAKEAWAYS:
This immersive journey into the heart of science education, where phenomena are the gateway to deeper understanding and lifelong curiosity, can be integrated into any science classroom. Invaluable phenomena resources will be shared to enrich lessons and foster a culture of inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Tolman (SET2Teach, LLC/Idaho Department of Education: Boise, ID)

Experience a variety of engaging STEM activities that can be done in any science content class in 45 minutes or less.

TAKEAWAYS:
Expose your students to STEM skills through short, easy, and engaging STEM activities that can be completed in a single class period.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Posnanski (Comsewogue High School: Port Jefferson Station, NY), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Participants will explore the BioEd Online website’s free STEM+M (medicine) classroom learning resources created and/or curated by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach, engage in activities from a student lens, then complete a scavenger hunt to identify/organize resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore BioEd Online and leave with free STEM+M (medicine) learning resources ready to be implemented into their classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jimmie Thomas (Baylor College of Medicine: Houston, TX)

Explore tailored strategies for secondary science teachers to differentiate instruction effectively for emergent bilinguals. Engage in hands-on activities and collaborative planning to enhance student comprehension and engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Differentiation strategies for emergent bilingual students in secondary science

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Borunda (New Caney ISD: Porter, TX), Katherine Meraz (The University of Texas at El Paso: El Paso, TX)

Participants will engage in dynamic, hands-on science and technology activities, merging STEM concepts with popular children's books. Discover how interactive STEM and literacy activities can support and encourage the development of STEM career pathways in young learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will connect impactful STEM activities with children’s literature. They will be shown ways to strengthen equitable learning outcomes and foster excitement for career exploration. Educators will have the opportunity to explore lessons and will leave with materials for their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman (Louisiana Board of Regents: New Orleans, LA)

No curriculum is perfect out of the box. Explore how one district utilized a local frog expert to enhance a newly adopted curriculum. Let hands-on lessons inspire you to find your own Frog Guy, place student inquiry at the center, and go beyond a guest speaker. Extend your storyline and engagement!

TAKEAWAYS:
After a learner-lens experience with frogs, participants will gain insights in identifying areas within a unit storyline and developing customizations aligned to the NGSS and teaching practices to reach all learners. Participants will then have time to apply this process to their own organization.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Perrelli (STEM Instructional Coach: No City, No State)

Finding authentic, relevant & engaging phenomena that requires students to use key science ideas to explain them is challenging & timely. Step into prompt engineering to discover how to use AI to help find phenomena to redesign/adapt learning experiences to increase equity & student interest.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use a new phenomenon heuristic and AI to generate ideas of phenomena for your classroom and learn some strategies to help learners use both the phenomenon heuristic and AI as tools for their sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

Reading and writing skills are best developed when students are able to practice these skills across all content areas. Come hear from an experienced science and special education teacher about how to easily add literacy activities to your science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with multiple examples of in class activities that can help students develop reading comprehension and writing skills within the science content areas. These activities are easy to implement, are low cost, and supported by current research.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Zito (Miller School of Albemarle: Charlottesville, VA)

In this workshop, you will learn about our "Students as Scientists" unit, the science process, & how to help your student's questions get off the ground. Asking testable questions will help your students launch interesting, relevant, & achievable investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to help their students think like a scientist and move from a curious question into a testable question that will launch a student-led investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Blacksburg, VA)

Assessing student sensemaking can be time-consuming, and applying standards-based grading can seem overly vague. In this session we’ll analyze 3D assessment scenarios to uncover their scaffolded structure, and use that structure to develop leveling rubrics that quickly convert to traditional grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with samples of high-quality, scaffolded three-dimensional assessment scenarios, and strategies to make standards-based grading quick and consistent.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre (Michigan Technological University: Midland, MI), Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

Remix CER to drive inquiry-based learning with the Question, Evidence, Claim, Reasoning (QECR) approach! Use science skills, like analyzing data and arguing with evidence, to solve a mystery in a sample lesson, and access more samples, student work, tools, and resources to design your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
A comprehensive toolkit including digital sample lessons, student samples, editable templates, and tips and tricks for QECR lessons that integrate phenomena, SEPs, science ideas, and students’ ideas and critical thinking in engaging and hands-on ways.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX), Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX)

Elementary teaching can be very busy. This session will have engaging activities and practical strategies for making time for elementary. We will provide examples of long-term investigations, how science can be a foundation for math/literacy, how teachers can utilize science station work, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn practical strategies and see examples of making time for science in elementary.

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)

Sensemaking with the three dimensions is the focal construct we want to measure in science assessments - not just the phenomenon or problem or the three-dimensions. Join us for a deep dive into how we center sensemaking in 3D assessment design for more equitable learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with examples of 3D sensemaking in assessment tasks and tools for building better assessments that elicit student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA)

Explore how leaders can use the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model to support teachers in creating learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL cycles of inquiry and sensemaking culminate in student agency!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and forms the basis for high-quality instructional materials. Leaders can leverage this model to support teachers in creating a student centered classroom that provides effective teaching and learning for all.

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

Discover practical strategies for integrating AI in education in this workshop and explore innovative lesson designs to engage students interactively. Resources, tips, and bad puns will be provided to all attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
Artificial intelligence is here to stay. By experiencing an AI-focussed lesson from the student perspective, educators will leave with a better sense of the potential for this incredible new tool in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby (Senior Director of Engineering, Technology, and Design: Chattanooga, TN), Jessica Dobrin (McCallie School: Chattanooga, TN)

Engaging middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
PEEPs impact student engagement resulting in increased proficiency results in science and engineering assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Carri Wissman (Hilo Intermediate School: Hilo, HI), Pascale Pinner (Hilo Intermediate School: Hilo, HI)

Unleash their potential! Middle School is an exciting time for trial and error! Students are beginning emerge into the leaders they will one day become. This session is designed to explore teaching moves to improve classroom collaboration and develop future leaders!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with a few new teaching moves for improving collaboration and discourse among students in the science classroom. The use of these moves will tap into the leadership potential inside each of your learners.

SPEAKERS:
Kat Chamberlain (Ridgetop Middle School: Silverdale, WA)

Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Graham (Assistant Professor: Jackson, MS), Hannah Meyer (Student: Jackson, MS), Kristina Stensaas (Millsaps College: Brandon, MS)

TeachEngineering will lead STEM educators through a hands-on activity that integrates engineering with science learning. Utilizing the seven steps of the engineering design process, participants see how they can combine engineering design to enhance their students' learning of scientific concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the seamless integration of design and design-thinking with science learning as they use the engineering design process to ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve their own wind-powered sail cars!

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering), Ellen Parrish (Teach Engineering: ERIE, CO)

How do you know if you are effectively implementing the science and engineering practices (SEPs)? What should teachers and students be doing? We will assist teachers in reflecting on their classroom activities and learn new approaches to practices, specifically questioning and engaging in arguments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with immediately applicable strategies and ideas for evaluating their practices in alignment with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC), Augustine Owusu Achiaw (Graduate Assistant: Clemson, SC)

Have you always wanted to try project-based learning… but you aren’t sure how to start? Join the News Literacy Project as we walk attendees through the PBL design process to create an extension for our FREE news and media literacy educator resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Presenters will engage educators in the development of a PBL experience for their students. Attendees will receive a demonstration of “Be Health Informed,” one of NLP’s STEM Checkology® lessons, and explore creating a PBL extension. Attendees will leave with a PBL planning template and project ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Brittney Smith (The University of South Carolina: Cincinnati, OH)

Let’s work together to figure out how to Problematize phenomena in ways that pose productive uncertainties that motivate students toward productive sensemaking throughout a task. Walk away with strategies, example problematized tasks, and tools to use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Analyze multiple tasks to understand what it means for a task to be problematized. Reflect on how this leads to increased engagement and opportunities for more equitable access for all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Researchers at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have been collecting data through repetitive photographs since the 1970's to evaluate the change in the ecosystem over time. Participants will identify habitat changes in reef monitoring images and infer potential causes of those changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental monitoring is a challenging activity, especially underwater. This activity will introduce students to the methods used for evaluating underwater habitats and the kinds of information that can be learned from those efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Taylor Galaviz (Constituent Engagement Specialist: Galveston, TX), Sandra Metoyer (Environmental Institute of Houston at University of Houston Clear Lake: Galveston, TX)

Experience how discussion diamonds can help support students’ argumentation skills and Claim Evidence Reasoning writing through peer discourse. This workshop will introduce the discussion diamond protocol and allow participants to engage in the activity from the students’ perspective.

TAKEAWAYS:
The discussion diamond protocol is a versatile tool that can be adapted for students of varying skill levels and across any subject. It provides a supportive environment for students to engage in discourse and develop their argumentation skills.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Ciccarello (Beverly Hills High School: Los Angeles, CA)

This session on how to use EcoRise tools and your classroom and how to teach students to write successful EcoAudit grants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use resources available from EcoRise and how to empower their students to write and receive a grant for an environmental issue in their area.

SPEAKERS:
Cecelia Gillam (Benjamin Franklin High School: La Place, LA)

Looking for ways to enhance a high-quality curriculum? This session provides teacher-tested strategies that can be used to augment a curriculum without adding more to a teacher’s plate. Come experience these practical, engaging strategies that help bring a curriculum to life!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a variety of classroom-tested strategies that can expand the menu of options for student-centered learning while covering the same material required within the curriculum used to teach standards.

SPEAKERS:
Missy Wooley (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA), Cathi Cox-Boniol (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA)

This session will explore how formative assessment tasks can reveal students’ 3D learning as well as students’ ability to use language to demonstrate their learning. Come learn how students’ use of language can be an asset for making sense of science learning and literacy growth for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with new knowledge about how 3D assessments can elicit important information about students’ 3D learning as well as students’ ability to use language to demonstrate their learning. This knowledge is highly valuable for using assessment to support ongoing learning.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Damelin (The Concord Consortium: Bolton, MA), Christopher Harris (WestEd: Menlo Park, CA), David McKinney (Senior Research Associate: Albany, CA)

Immerse yourself in the power of explore-before-explain, even during "notes" days! Discover the magic of student-driven learning as we guide you through a sample lesson featuring an AI chat space and innovative note-making strategies. Transform direct instruction into dynamic, active learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
Toolkit with engaging strategies, intentional chunking, and AI tools, enhancing student sensemaking, particularly during direct instruction. Gain access to digital sample lessons, templates, and implementation tips for maximum impact and effectiveness.

SPEAKERS:
Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX), Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX)

In this session teachers will focus on implementing anchor charts into instruction to develop deeper scientific reasoning skills for students. Participants will create and modify anchor charts to show the progression of student learning and the deepening of scientific reasoning during learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Anchor charts can increase student scientific reasoning skills and teachers ability to assess student learning when used effectively. This session will demonstrate how to use anchor charts to increase student scientific reasoning skills.

SPEAKERS:
Morgan Dallas (Caddo Parish Public Schools: Shreveport, LA)

Create large scale models and diagrams on a wide variety of subjects in open spaces both on inside floors and outdoors. Learn how to get the most out of your school building spaces and engage your students’ interests using inexpensive materials and kinesthetic activities!

TAKEAWAYS:
You and your students will learn how to make and use large scale models to explore many scientific topics. Using materials like electrical tape, sidewalk chalk, rope and other simple materials, we will make and use large scale models of an ellipse, heart and body systems, cells, water cycle.

SPEAKERS:
David Ebersole (Greece Athena Middle School: Caledonia, NY)

Join us as we delve into the transformative power of manipulatives in science education. This workshop offers a hands-on approach to teaching intricate scientific concepts. Discover how simple no-cost paper models can transform your teaching method and enhance student comprehension.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will allow attendees to increase their teacher toolbox by learning about several no-cost hands on activities. Participants will take part in paper folding, coloring, and cutting to create materials that can be used to teach a wide variety of science topics.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Swanson (Teacher: , AB)

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

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

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

Recognizing and valuing the assets students bring to assessment tasks is critical for understanding how to move their thinking forward and support continued sensemaking. Use a new tool to see student work through an asset-based lens that recognizes what students are using to make sense of phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with tools you can use in your classroom to tend to student work in ways that change the culture of assessment in ways that are more caring and supportive and can make assessment a joyful experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

Join us for a hands-on session tailored for educators/coaches to discover what inquiry-based learning SHOULD look like in the classroom! Discover how to recognize best practices and evaluate 3D learning in action. Equip yourself with tools and insights needed to conduct exceptional investigations!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will evaluate their own teach practices in the context of inquiry-based learning to determine what exception science instruction looks like, sounds like, and feels like for students in a 3D learning environment.

SPEAKERS:
Leah Pinto (Director of professional development: Gilmer, TX)

Chat GPT is a powerful language model that can be used to create background knowledge for lessons. By using Chat GPT, educators can help students get a starting point for their research and provide them with the necessary information to explore various topics such as periodic table, environment issu

TAKEAWAYS:
One takeaway from this session is that you will understand that ChatGPT is a powerful tool for teachers. This application will allow you to answer questions or ideas you have and improve research activities that might be difficult for students.

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

Join us for an interactive workshop where we delve into research-based methods for seamlessly weaving student discourse and writing into hands-on activities. Discover strategies to engage students in discussions and foster writing skills while they actively participate in learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to incorporate strategies that promote student discourse and writing when students engage in hands-on activities. These strategies are research based and focus on ensuring students walk away with deep content understanding while engaging in an interactive learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Shine (Garland Independent School Dis: Richardson, TX), Jawan Wiltz (Science Instructional Design Facilitator: Wylie, TX), Leon Chatman (Garland Independent School District: Garland, TX)

Participants will learn how to break down 3-dimensional standards for their grade level/content into the crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas and what mastery of the standard looks and sounds like in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of internalizing and breaking down 3-dimensional standards so that they can be more intentional when planning their lessons. Intentionally teaching the 3-dimensions leads to students getting more “at bats” doing science, which helps builds joy and investment.

SPEAKERS:
Melvenia Martin (Ochsner Clinic Foundation: New Orleans, LA), Rachel Thomas-Little (Manager: New Orleans, LA), Carlin Czerniak (Ochsner Health)

Students’ notebooks should be more than just piles of papers! In this session we’ll discuss the multiple ways available to organize students’ science notebooks, ultimately making it students' go-to tool for sensemaking, evolving their use from more than just papers, into their daily essential tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with specific strategies and ideas to help students manage and use their science notebooks as resources for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Tonya Brainsky (OSE Massachusetts Community: Rehoboth, MA), Ann Guglielmo (Taunton Public Schools: Taunton, MA)

We know that a 3D aligned classroom looks different than classrooms of the past, so why shouldn’t the way we provide feedback and grades to our students change? If you want to begin changing your grading practices, join us in rethinking shifts in feedback & grading to support equitable practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage with authentic student work and consider different ways of providing feedback to identify features that support students in sharing where they are in their sensemaking process. Participants will leave with some ‘tools’ they can use in their classroom to provide caring, collaborative feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

Experience how classroom agreements can create productive and safe spaces for elementary students to share their ideas, let those ideas change and grow, and engage with each other as a community of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Elementary students can co-construct classroom agreements that support an environment where they recognize that science can be done in many ways, feel safe and compelled to share their ideas and questions, listen/look/respond to others' ideas, and let their ideas change and grow.

SPEAKERS:
María González-Howard (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Amy Belcastro (Science Educator/Grad Student: Fort Collins, CO), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Laveen, AZ)

Wondering how to customize your curriculum to be more relevant for your students? Using examples from OpenSciEd as a context, we’ll share tools and strategies for customizing curriculum to increase relevance. Come ready to work! 90 minute session

TAKEAWAYS:
If curriculum enactment pairs great materials with support for teachers to make those materials even better, amazing things can happen. Customizing the use of phenomena in quality materials to support relevance for students is a great way to increase engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: Palatine, IL), Austin Moore (Boston College: Watertown, MA), Renee Affolter (OpenSciEd: Montpelier, VT), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

In this session, attendees will practice and create a lesson using one of 5 AI tech tools that empower educators to craft personalized science classrooms. Each tool will be presented along with classroom strategies tailored to maximize their potential for scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be able to create personalized learning experiences, enhance student engagement, and improve academic outcomes by utilizing AI tools for tailored curricula.

SPEAKERS:
Stefany Palomba (Choices High School: canton, OH)

This session will provide a conceptual framework for transdisciplinary learning and share a template for designing project-based learning tasks, in which students assume a STEM-related career role to create a product for an authentic audience and in response to a real-life question or problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to create a transdisciplinary task that can be brought back to their schools, utilized in practice with students, and shared with colleagues in their school building.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway (Greater Oregon STEM Hub: La Grande, OR)

Models are essential resources for encouraging deeper knowledge, simplifying challenging concepts, and encouraging critical thinking in students. This workshop explores how effective development and utilization of models can enhance learning outcomes by offering specific classroom strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with applicable and useful knowledge and strategies for developing and using models in the classroom. Resources will be provided at the conclusion of the session.

SPEAKERS:
Augustine Owusu Achiaw (Graduate Assistant: Clemson, SC), Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Adrian Baez-Alicea (Educurious Partners: Portland, OR), Hanna Jaramillo (Educurious Partners: Kirkland, WA)

We live in a 3D world. Do your assessments? Come learn how to measure the dimensionality of your assessments and how to write two- and three-dimensional questions. Participants will be given time to apply their learning to their own assessments to integrate the CCCs and SEPs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to write two- and three-dimensional questions and edit current assessment questions to integrate the cross-cutting concepts and science and engineering practices.

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

Integrating authentic and meaningful hands-on maker projects into science classes can be challenging, but rewarding for both students and teachers. These types of projects offer us the opportunity to alternatively assess student learning, infuse creativity, and focus on student choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in the engineering and design process and will leave with successful example projects, a working knowledge of the project-design process and can utilize the various strategies for implementation of maker projects in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bischoff (Rye Country Day School: Rye, NY)

Participants will use patterns seen through the use of red, green, and violet lasers being shown at copper wires and strands of hair to learn about diffraction of light. Briefly learn how technology-mediated lesson study has helped rural science teachers collaborate to design 3 dimensional lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the session, participants will shine lasers at copper wire and strands of hair to construct an explanation for how diffraction patterns can be used to make sense of the phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Sansom (Texas A&M University: College Station, TX), Douglas Morris (Carbon High School: Price, UT)

Empower your teaching with Scientist Circles! Discover research-backed strategies to foster collaborative learning, critical thinking skills and ignite curiosity in the classroom. Engage in hands-on-activities, share best practices and leave empowered to implement Scientist Circles effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with proven methods and practical implementation tips to enhance student engagement and communication skills in the middle school classroom. Elevate your classroom experience and inspire lifelong learners.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Guglielmo (Taunton Public Schools: Taunton, MA), Tonya Brainsky (OSE Massachusetts Community: Rehoboth, MA)

Engage in a new OpenSciEd Elementary unit and see how classroom discussions can support ALL students’ in using their ideas, experiences, and evidence for collective sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about how to engage elementary students in classroom discussion to share initial ideas, build understanding and come to consensus about the phenomenon they are trying to collectively figure out.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Laveen, AZ), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA)

Advancing equity and increasing accessibility for all students in assessment is a key aspect of the vision for science education. Analyze example assessments with the newly developed culturally responsive framework for alignment to multiple equity goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use culturally relevant design principles to evaluate and adapt three-dimensional assessment tasks to meet the needs of the students in your classroom and support them in developing cultural competence.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

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

TAKEAWAYS:
For Upper Elem through HS. Participants will experience the strategy from a student POV and learn the process of implementation for a variety of settings (traditional and digital) and materials. Examples of student work will also be shown.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Thomas (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Simone Nance (University of Southern Indiana: Newburgh, IN)

Participants will learn data analysis/collecting techniques to help students young and old to learn the relationships between types of data and analysis of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Concrete hands on examples linking types of data being collected with types of graphical representations to use. These were developed in response to research which demonstrated that students do not have a conceptual foundation to make decisions about which type of graph to use.

SPEAKERS:
G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

Discover how the fusion of circuitry and spatial concepts, in illuminating a piece of art, impacts student innovation in STEAM Education. This session will explore the intersection of art and science with practical strategies to promote student accessibility and understanding of STEAM concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will create illuminated artwork using a simple circuit (copper tape, LEDs, coin battery). They will reflect and gain insights on how to make complex concepts accessible, blending STEAM and Maker Education that will foster inclusive learning for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Merinda Baker (Engagement Manager: Atlanta, GA)

Using phenomena to teach Wave Particle Duality (WPD) helps students understand this crazy property of light that is critical for understanding how technology works. By sequencing several activities appropriately, students can understand that light is both a particle and a wave. Mystery solved.

TAKEAWAYS:
Clarification of how light has dual properties; sequencing of phenomena, and activities help guide students to a deeper understanding. Teachers will have instructional resources to teach WPD.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: Arlington, TX)

This workshop explores various ways to integrate place-based learning in elementary science methods classes as a means for preparing preservice elementary teachers while also demonstrating theories, activities, and strategies for effective place-based science integration in the elementary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will explore the benefit of using place-based learning as a lens for teaching science methods, as well as provide strategies and examples of how to integrate place-based learning in the elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Downing (The University of Southern Mississippi: Hattiesburg, MS), Rachel Gisewhite (The University of Southern Mississippi: Long Beach, MS)

Are you looking for an opportunity to bring free hands-on engineering experiences to your students? The labs available work for biology, environmental science and physical science classes with cross curricular application in math.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, teachers will don their student caps as an engineer guides us through Engineering Tomorrow’s most popular lab - Phototherapy! Teachers will have an opportunity to register for this free program during this workshop and leave with a goodie bag of supplies!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Maggio (Stuyvesant High School: New York, NY)

In this session, participants will explore the principles behind Eduprotocols and how these frameworks can be adapted to various subjects and grade levels. Through hands-on activities, attendees will discover practical techniques for integrating EduProtocols into their teaching practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with several templates that can be used immediately to increase student engagement, foster deeper learning, and promote inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Simmons (Klahowya Secondary School: Bremerton, WA)

Discover AI's power in education with seven hands-on strategies that boost learning. See how top teachers use AI for deep thinking and engagement. Leave equipped to make learning with AI memorable, meaningful, and fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a feel for how AI can be used to promote deeper and more scientific thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Ben Talsma (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

In this workshop teachers will get a hands-on experience using Harvard's Project Zero Thinking Routines, which are routines designed to guide students as they explore and organize their thoughts about a new topic. Teachers will leave with routines and activities they can start implementing ASAP!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain familiarity with and learn how to embed Harvard's Project Zero Thinking Routines into their curriculum, which help them to successfully have all students explore and organize their thoughts around a topic while participating in academic lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Dani Maloney (Mamaroneck High School: Stamford, CT)

We have developed a framework of pedagogical practices that can be leveraged to support teaching with the NGSS no matter what curriculum is being used. Come hear about our research-backed framework, and experience a sense-making lesson that models high leverage pedagogical strategies!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience and gain a deeper understanding of high leverage pedagogical practices that directly support teaching with the NGSS, and strategies to implement some of these practices in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Fattaleh (Senior Manager, School and Teacher Programs: Chicago, IL), Tara Flett (Sr. Educator IQST: Chicago, IL), Karin Klein (Museum of Science and Industry: CHICAGO, IL)

Learn to effectively integrate ideas from the science of reading and sense-making in science. This session will introduce a framework for aligning 5E lessons with a reading comprehension checklist and engage participants in strategies that support sense-making, reading comprehension, and writing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants learn to integrate the science of reading in sense-making lessons. Participants learn how to use phenomena to frame integrated lessons, when to introduce vocabulary, and how to use sentence anagrams, graphic organizers, sorts, and paragraph frames to support comprehension and writing.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Black (Granite School District: Park City, UT)

How can K-5 teachers directly address and utilize ELA and Math while students are deeply immersed in science learning? Join us to explore how phenomena-based teaching and learning authentically lends itself to content integration and take away tools to implement this approach in your own context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain ideas about how ELA, math and science play a mutually supportive role in figuring out scientific phenomena, and will take away a three-step process to be able to apply these ideas to their own context.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

The focus of this presentation will be on elementary level strategies to engage students in 4 elements of scientific argumentation: 1) Evidence, 2) Reasoning, 3) Student Discourse, and 4) Competing Claims.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will experience strategies to engage elementary level students in discourse, sense-making and problem solving through argumentation. Teachers will have access to multiple resources to enhance their strategy toolkit.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Wray (Wellston Public Schools: Guthrie, OK), Karla White (Earl Harris Elementary: Bethany, OK), Lisa Pitts (Oakdale School: Midwest City, OK)

Encountered something you want to buy? Use a bite-sized approach to literacy to discuss the nature of scientific research. This lesson is designed for a high school science course. You will leave with selected literature and a lesson plan that is all about asking questions and scientific discourse.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to engage in asking scientific questions and will be able to participate in discourse using literature and a phenomenon common to people of various backgrounds. They will leave with a lesson plan and associated materials to implement in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC), Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Ashley Hunter (Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant: Clemson, SC)

Looking to get involved with community partners? Learn how school districts partner with Louisiana Sea Grant to co-create customized place-based explorations in community wetland areas where students apply scientific principles to locally relevant phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from formal and nonformal educators about how to co-create place-based learning experiences for students which enhance K-8 curriculums, explore hands on learning with a locally relevant context, and take away resources, tips for success, and lessons learned.

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Cotten (Terrebonne Parish School District: Houma, LA), Vanessa Van Heerden (Engagement Specialist: Baton Rouge, LA), Cheyenne Autin (Education and Outreach Coordinator | AmeriCorps: Baton Rouge, LA), Alvera McMillan (Louisiana Sea Grant: Saint Francisville, LA)

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

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

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

The National Center for Science Education has developed a free tool called DataWISE that can be used by students to critically examine data-based claims. Participants will practice using the tool as they engage in activities to teach critical data literacy skills (aligned to NGSS SEPs and CCCs).

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

SPEAKERS:
Blake Touchet (National Center for Science Education: ABBEVILLE, LA)

This workshop will introduce key strategies for supporting students with different learning needs (kinesthetics, visuals, hands-on activities, explicit instruction, simplified language) in order to meet NGSS standards. The workshop will include specific examples from a unit on honeybees.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience firsthand how the above-mentioned strategies for special education support learning for all students in an elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Marx (Stephen Gaynor School: New York, NY), Cristina Fabricant (Science Specialist: New York, NY)

Students are more excited to learn science when they see the ways the learning experience is motivated by their own curiosities. Come interact with and explore strategies to anchor your students’ sensemaking throughout a science unit in questions that the class community has collectively developed!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with strategies to 1) elicit, 2) make public, and 3) value all students’ questions about a unit’s anchoring phenomenon, and to 4) collaborate with students to shape their questions into investigable questions that can motivate their ongoing sensemaking throughout a unit.

SPEAKERS:
María González-Howard (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Carla Robinson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Sage Andersen (The University of Texas at Austin: Buda, TX)

Explore through six hands-on stations just as your students would! Confidently teach energy forms and transformations to elementary students with experiments that showcase the science behind everyday objects – batteries, toy cars, glow sticks, an apple, yo-yo, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to take hands-on experiments and background information that allow elementary students to explore the different forms of energy and how they are transformed right back to their classroom.

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

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

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

SPEAKERS:
John Hutchens (Ruth Patrick Science Education Center: Aiken, SC)

Seaworthy STEM in a Box revolutionizes PreK-12 STEM education with Department of Navy and NGSS aligned activities, fostering science inquiry and engineering skills. Designed for versatility, these kits and curriculum accommodate various grades and settings. Session lead by DON staff/ STEM educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover how to seamlessly integrate Navy-aligned STEM activities into diverse educational environments. With expert-led workshops and comprehensive resources, educators can cultivate problem-solving skills in students, empowering them for future success in science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thompson (Department of Defense: Stevensville, MD), Nathan Diehl (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division: Boyds, MD)

Wondering how to make science more meaningful? Learn how to easily adapt a unit to affirm student experiences in daily lessons. We'll show you how to create a student survey and use the data to make small but impactful changes to your plans. See examples and leave with a template for trying it out!

TAKEAWAYS:
We’ll show participants how to choose a focus unit and create a survey focused on the same theme. We’ll use the collected data purposefully to make upgrades to our lessons by incorporating student experiences and interests into the learning, all while expanding their scientific understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ), Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD)

In this workshop you will learn how to incorporate the world of STEM into any discipline from ELA and Social Studies to Art. You will get a hands-on experience along with ideas ready to use in the classroom. You will see how one idea can be used in multiple academic and non-academic classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will leave the workshop with ready to use materials and ideas of how to incorporate hands-on STEM ideas into your classroom

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Messina (Teacher: West Haven, CT)

This dynamic session inspires, empowers, and equips educators with a plan to create an enriching learning environment to start the year. Embrace an approach that centers on nurturing curiosity, exploration, and inquiry in the classroom while establishing clear expectations and standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in discussions and hands-on activities to foster a positive classroom culture where students are encouraged to wonder, explore, and ask questions. Discover ideas and techniques for seamlessly integrating 3D lessons into your curriculum, enhancing student engagement and comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Tolman (SET2Teach, LLC/Idaho Department of Education: Boise, ID)

Learning and practicing data literacy skills creates a literacy-science crosswalk. Using the Checkology® lesson “Making Sense of Data,” and with the support of NLP experts, participants will develop a cross-curricular lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Presenters will support attendees as they develop an ELA and STEM cross-curricular lesson extension. Presenters will give attendees a live lesson demonstration and facilitate a QFT (question, formulation, technique) session to crowd-source the development of the lesson extension.

SPEAKERS:
Brittney Smith (The University of South Carolina: Cincinnati, OH)

CODAP is a free and easy-to-use online data visualization and analysis platform accessible to middle school students. In this session, participants will learn how to leverage CODAP to engage their students in authentic and meaningful data analysis and interpretation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with new knowledge about how to use CODAP to bring authentic and meaningful data analysis and interpretation to their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
David McKinney (Senior Research Associate: Albany, CA)

This workshop will engage participants in a hands-on exploration of phenomena and practices to support teaching and learning in middle school. We will investigate how educators can use Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to help students make sense of the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session equipped with practical strategies, specific examples, and valuable resources to effectively use Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to support phenomena-based learning in middle level classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Aimee Spahos (Waunakee Intermediate School: Madison, WI), Jessica North (Waunakee Community Middle School: Waunakee, WI)

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)

Discover how to enhance your students' sensemaking of scientific concepts through powerful modeling strategies that align with NGSS standards. Gain valuable insights into how models can be used to deepen understanding and transform everyday lesson activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to upgrade traditional modeling activities to ensure alignment to performance expectations. They will leave with multiple examples of utilizing modeling to make sense of science concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ), Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD)

Join us to master the art of leading interactive and impactful workshops with facilitation checklists and planning templates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use a facilitation checklist and planning template to plan, deliver, and receive feedback on a mock professional learning activity for disseminating best practices for NGSS instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Cherry (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL), Sarah Stults (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL)

From wolf to husky to chihuahua, the genetic relationships between wild canids and their diverse domesticated descendants provide a fascinating window into the science of evolution and heredity. We'll explore strategies for using the story of dogs to engage students and teach genetics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with lesson plans that can be used to support mastery of standards related to genetics and heredity, including how genetic variation leads to physical and behavioral differences and how evolution can only take place in the presence of this variation.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack (I.S. 223 Montauk Intermediate School: Brooklyn, NY)

Innovative strategies and practical approaches to integrate real-world problems into classroom activities for kindergarten to 2nd-grade educators. Discover how to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity in young learners as they tackle authentic challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Gabriella Lamothe (Teacher: Atlanta, GA)

Bring student learning to life with green screen and augmented reality technology. Learn easily replicated cross-curricular projects for K-8 to virtually put students IN their creations.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will explain step-by-step how the green screen and augmented reality combination can be utilized together to facilitate creative learning experiences for science standards. Participants will leave with resources and ideas to allow them to replicate projects to meet their academic needs.

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

Explore density with hands-on activities in 'Layers of Learning: Exploring Density through Student Sensemaking.' Engage in creating density columns to understand matter and enhance science teaching with practical strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to use density columns for teaching, apply sensemaking in science education, and integrate student-driven inquiry to boost understanding and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Anthony Cohutt (Thurston Middle School: Sharon, MA)

This session will give participants the opportunity to interactively and collaboratively engage in a sampling of simple activities to promote explicit instruction in the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. It is important to explicitly teach the nature of science to students; 2. The nature of science should be presented in an accessible way to all students; and 3. Attendees will walk away with activities they can use in their class immediately to teach the NOS.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Inquiry-based learning is fundamental to student success but for teachers new to science or inquiry, the commotion this style of learning creates can be a little scary!! Learn how to implement IBL in every step of the 5E process from driving questions to project-based assessments!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn best practices for inquiry-based learning in science including introducing driving questions, facilitating effective classroom discussion, student-led inquiry, and incorporating literacy in the inquiry process.

SPEAKERS:
Leah Pinto (Director of professional development: Gilmer, TX)

Experience the fascinating world of color perception through two intriguing phenomena: colored shadows and afterimages. Experience light color through hands-on exploration and captivating demonstrations. These are ready-to-implement activities for your class (NGSS-aligned).

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers engaging in this fun activity will gain insights into the mechanisms of human color perception, providing them with engaging ways to use these hands-on experiments and captivating demonstrations into their curriculum to enhance students' understanding of waves, light, color and vision.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Crook (LIGO Livingston Observatory: Livingston, LA), Mishael Sedas (LIGO Livingston Observatory: Geismar, LA)

To ensure a resilient future, we must engage students with phenomena and problems found in food systems and agriculture. This session explores how food and agriculture connect to students’ lives and presents a highly relevant and authentic science context immersed in the Three Dimensions of NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will see successful examples of authentic phenomena and problems found within food and agricultural systems that are relevant to all students. We will demonstrate how all three dimensions of NGSS are used to make sense of these real-world phenomena and problems.

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

Struggle with new science teachers or student engagement? This 60-minute workshop puts YOU in the student role! Explore a hands-on science activity & learn how to design lessons that ignite student curiosity & sense-making. Leave with practical strategies & a support network!

TAKEAWAYS:
Tired of passive learners? This 60-minute workshop equips you to design student-driven science experiences! Engage in a simulated student investigation, analyze real student work, and discover formative assessment strategies to boost sense-making! Leave with practical tools & a support network!

SPEAKERS:
Sharonda Eggleton-McNeil (Guilford County Schools: Greensboro, NC)

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

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

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

Through the use of classroom transformations and research-based strategies, this workshop will enable primary classroom teachers to establish a classroom based on inquiry and the belief that young children can develop complex science understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session provides actionable steps for primary classroom teachers to develop a classroom that fosters curiosity, reasoning, and problem solving in science. The aim is to erase the idea that very young students are not ready for complex science concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Spahr (College of Charleston: North Charleston, SC)

Middle school special educators share strategies to support reading, writing, and executive functioning in a science classroom. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice skills based on Orton-Gillingham, Writing Revolution tools, and Sarah Ward supports for executive functions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience classroom strategies that support students with language-based learning differences.

SPEAKERS:
Cristina Fabricant (Science Specialist: New York, NY)

Come experience a new way to review that will have your students saying, "YES! IT'S REVIEW DAY!" Teachers will be introduced to a variety of games that can be applied to any subject area! These games have proven to increase student engagement with material and retention of knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with new ways to engage students in reviews through using games in the classroom which support students of all levels and lead to increased retention of information.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Goodwin (Olive Branch H.S.: Southaven, MS)

BYOD to explore CODAP, a free web-based data exploration tool designed for engaging students in inquiry with data. Import data from anywhere, create multiple linked visualizations through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and move your students beyond spreadsheets into the realm of data inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
CODAP moves data exploration from cumbersome graph wizards to inquiry-based discovery. As students make data moves—using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to create graphs, maps, and more—they are able to find patterns and make sense of data in unique ways not possible with other tools.

SPEAKERS:
Jacob Sagrans (Senior Research Associate: Weston, MA), Zac Opps (Data Science Education Project Manager: Concord, MA), Daniel Damelin (The Concord Consortium: Bolton, MA)

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

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

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

Video shorts (Reels, TikTok, etc.) are one of the best ways to reach today's youth. In this workshop we will share how we have used this technology to create mini-lessons and how your students can use it as a UDL multiple measures assessment. These methods can be used for middle school and up.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the knowledge and confidence to create video shorts for use in instruction and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Julia Lewis (STEM Communications Specialist: Sylva, NC), Matthew Cass (Physics and Astronomy Instructor: Sylva, NC)

We encourage and sometimes require teachers to differentiate in the classroom; however, we rarely consider the importance of differentiating professional learning for teachers. But, teachers need it too! In this session, several strategies for differentiating professional learning will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Differentiation is not just for the classroom; it is also a component of designing effective professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC)

Forrest Bird is the inventor of the first convenient and reliable, low cost, mass-produced medical respirator. Join us in this workshop as we model hands on activities to get your students excited to learn more about respiratory system basics as well as invention education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students are less likely to be what they cannot see. Everyone can be an inventor and diverse inventor stories and activities with a transdisciplinary approach can aid elementary educators in creating high-quality, equitable learning experiences even with constraints to "Science time."

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: Rio Rico, AZ), Christine Lawlor-King (MIT, InventEd, Invention Convention, STEMisED: Manchester, CT)