This workshop engages middle school educators in an integrated STEM lesson that focuses on designing a vehicle that wins it all! Using only recyclable boxes and lids, participants will create a vehicle and use it to unpack concepts of energy, friction, and gravity while practicing the process of problem-solving.
This workshop will introduce techniques on establishing a learning environment that values and demonstrates the benefits of diversity, confronts bias and bigotry, and expands students’ access to STEM education so they can grow, learn, and to be challenged and reach their full potential.
Model My Watershed is a free, web-based application that invites students to explore the condition of their local watershed with a scientifically valid watershed model. The curriculum allows students to analyze data while they explore authentic science experiences in their local watershed, and use real-data simulations to teach Environmental Sustainability.
Hands-on learning offers unique opportunities to engage girls in science class. Middle schoolers use tech every day. By empowering students to create sensing technology in a few simple steps, we can turn teens into passionate scientists and inventors. We’ll share MA STE and NGSS-compatible lesson plans and research findings.
This session will help teachers and administrators develop their capacity to integrate the science and technology/engineering (STE) and ELA/Literacy standards. Participants will build a shared understanding of the complementary ELA/Literacy and STE standards by grade level and identify opportunities to integrate across content areas.
Shake lights are simply coils through which magnets are passed in order to generate electricity and light an LED. Working Model shake lights will be displayed and demonstrated. Methods for building and using as demonstrators will be discussed. Teaching and building materials and documentation will be provided.
Engage student inquiry projects with Web GIS Storytelling. Use the story within digital Geographic Information System maps to create a stronger narrative based on student-collected data. In this presentation, beginners are introduced to Web GIS mapping and the Story Maps application to analyze student data on community environmental issues.
The session will introduce early childhood teachers and administrators who work with children ages 4-6 years to a new, developmentally appropriate, STEM curriculum. Participants will be introduced to Problem Panda, to the many problems he encounters during the 8 units of the curriculum, and engage in solving the habitat challenge.
This workshop is designed to build awareness of the circular economy concept and how to incorporate systems thinking into the classroom. Participants will dissect the components in the manufacture, sale, and disposal of a common consumer item, and will brainstorm interventions to the system that will result in waste reduction.
