Virtual Workshop

This is Option 2. OpenSciEd Middle School Unit 8.5 Unit Launch AND Facilitator Workshop Series

NSTA is providing an OpenSciEd Unit Launch Workshop series for educators who plan to implement the Middle School Unit 8.5 Genetics in their classrooms. Five live sessions are scheduled on November 17, 20, 24, and December 1, and 4, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern time.

This dynamic professional learning experience will immerse you in OpenSciEd’s Unit 8.5 through a compelling phenomenon to answer the question: Why are living things different from one another?

In this virtual workshop series, you’ll experience key lessons just as your students would through hands-on investigations, data analysis, and modeling that reveal how both genetics and environment interact to influence traits. You’ll uncover the story behind genetic mutations, inheritance patterns, and the role of selective breeding.

Whether you’re new to OpenSciEd or looking to deepen your implementation, this session will equip you with tools and insights to guide students in making sense of genetics through authentic, phenomenon-driven learning.

This virtual workshop series will prepare you to implement this OpenSciEd unit successfully by:

• Providing practical strategies to support student thinking, sensemaking, and engagement
• Letting you experience lessons through a student lens to better understand the learning process
• Showcasing real classroom examples through student work, videos, and discussions
• Sharing insights, tools, and best practices from experienced OpenSciEd educators

Let’s make science meaningful and connected to the world around us—join us!

In this Option, two additional seminars are scheduled for Facilitators on Saturdays November 22 and December 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Eastern time, for a total of seven live sessions.

The Facilitator Workshop Series is for educators who plan to implement the Middle School Unit 8.5 Genetics in their classrooms and/or want to develop a professional learning facilitator “tool kit” to provide the Unit Launch workshop for middle school science teachers in their school or district.

Program dates and times:

The five live sessions are scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern time. Two additional live sessions are scheduled on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Eastern time. Specific program dates are below: 

• November 17, 20, 24, and December 1, and 4 (Mondays and Thursdays)
• November 22 and December 13 (Saturdays)

During the program participants have access to:

• Digital resources and all NSTA online community tools (My Library, My Profile, Community Forums)
• All archive versions of the sessions to watch on-demand.

Participants will receive a certificate from NSTA for attending the live sessions.

Note about Option 1 of the OpenSciEd Middle School Unit 8.5 Unit Launch Workshop Series:

You may instead register to attend only Option 1 of this program, the Unit Launch Workshop Series, which includes only the five live sessions on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern time.