Accessing the Outdoors with Elementary Students

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Life Science, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3125

Are you nervous about taking your young scientists into the field? Develop techniques for orienting students to your field site, simple yet meaningful activities to explore nature, and tools for collecting data at the K-5 level.

Edward Nichols, North Bend School District, Christina Geierman, North Bend High School

Drawing Connections: Integrating Science and Literacy Through Nature Journaling, Scientific Observation, and Student Sensemaking

Audience: General Audience, Life Science, General Science, Environmental Sciences, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3127

Experience how nature journaling can deepen students’ scientific thinking and literacy skills through firsthand observation, curiosity-driven questioning, and evidence-based writing. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity that models how students make claims, support them with data, and explain reasoning, bridging science and ELA through purposeful, place-connected learning.

Emily Coleman, Southern Oregon STEAM Hub, Heather Armstrong, STEM Integration Specialist, SO STEAM Hub

AI-Proof Assessments: How Socratic Seminars Can Save the Day

Audience: STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3128

Tired of your students relying on AI to think for them? Use AI as a springboard to better student engagement. Harness the power of Socratic Seminars— where technology meets authentic conversation. Imagine your classroom alive with rich student-led discussion that challenges perspectives and builds comprehension. Put an end to cookie-cutter responses and build more critical thinking.

Kat Gentry, Head of Stile USA, Stile Education, Julianna Jimenez, Director of School and District Partnerships, Stile Education

Voices & Objects: Collecting and analyzing stories as qualitative oceanographic data

Audience: General Audience, Life Science, Environmental Sciences, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3129

Data is information that captures a moment in time and records it for the future. Collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data is more important than ever in times of great change. This lesson will discuss stories and photographs as sources of oceanographic data, explore online oral history archives, and ask participants to create their own dataset by telling stories about objects. Participants will also learn techniques for analyzing and communicating qualitative datasets.

AJ Mallozzi, Oregon State University

Lesson Makeover: Strategies and Reflection Tools to Elevate Your Teaching

Audience: General Audience, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3130

Ever wonder how great lessons come together? In this session, we’ll walk you through how we design engaging activities and share simple strategies you can use to level up your own. You’ll leave with easy-to-use reflection tools that’ll help you tweak and improve your lessons right away.

Erin Doney, OSU SMILE Program

Bioengineering

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Life Science, Engineering & Technology

Location: Room 4011

Be a bioengineer! Preview a free middle school curriculum module that merges engineering design with life science standards. Students learn about sensory and motor systems through multimedia and kinesthetic activities, and complete a scaffolded challenge to design, test, and improve prosthetic hand models made from common inexpensive materials.

Molly Malone, Genetic Science Learning Center- University of Utah

How to build belonging in science

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4012

How to include student voice when inviting students in school science clubs, effectively including parents on student-led projects.

Amina Senge, Bridger Creative Science School, PPS,

Exploring OpenSciEd

Audience: Middle Level (6-8) General Science

Location: Room 4014

Come experience a hands-on lesson from OpenSciEd from each grade span, kindergarten through high school. Discover how the new Carolina Certified Version enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, and safer for classroom use. These enhancements include easier to use materials for less prep, additional assessment to support student understanding, support for over 200 languages, and more. Leave with support so you can try OpenSciEd in your classroom immediately.

Jeff Frates, Carolina Biological Supply

Exploring Open-Access Natural History Resources for Science Education

Audience: General Audience, Earth & Space Science, General Science, Environmental Sciences, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4015

This session explores how educators can integrate digitized natural history data and museum resources into science lessons. It highlights platforms with specimen data, curated materials, and outreach programs that connect students with scientists. The goal is to foster engaging, inquiry-driven learning and strengthen connections between classrooms and the natural history community.

Shyla Davison, Education and Outreach Coordinator, iDigBio

New Tricks from an Old Dog

Audience: High School (9-12), General Science

Location: Room 4020

New to teaching? Skip the trial-and-error. Get 25 years’ worth of tested tips, tricks, and hacks in one fast-paced session. From classroom culture and management to safety, grading, deadlines, and lesson design, walk away with practical strategies that save time, reduce stress, and improve student outcomes.

Greg Craven, Central High School, Central SD 13J

Title PhET for All: Fostering Deeper Learning and Accessibility in Science & Math

Audience: High School (9-12), Physical Science, Life Science, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4022

"PhET for All" empowers teachers to foster deeper, more accessible STEM learning. Discover how PhET simulations leverage evidence-based strategies, including culturally sustaining practices, to make complex concepts engaging and equitable for every student, ensuring scientific understanding is within reach for all.

Shannon Adams, PhET Simulations (I teach at Donald E Long, Multnomah Education Service District)

Storybook STEM: Creating engineering experiences using our favorite children's books

Audience: Elementary (K-5)

Location: Room 3125

Storybook STEM is a hands-on session designed for educators who work with young learners. Discover how to use children’s literature as a springboard for engaging, age-appropriate STEM explorations. You'll leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use ideas that integrate storytelling with science, technology, engineering, and math in meaningful, playful ways.

Carolyn Feldman, Columbia Gorge STEM Hub

Escape Room: Species Survival

Audience: STEM (Integrated)

Location: Room 3128

Ever wished you could bottle that “A-ha!” moment? Jump into our speedy escape room and feel it for yourself. Race through 8 science challenges—cracking DNA codes, digging clues out of sand, testing water samples—to save a zoo from chaos. Leave with access to the materials needed to run the same lesson with your class on Monday morning (if you escape). 

Heather Nielsen, Science Education Outreach, Stile Education, Hailey Carvajal, Teaching & Learning Specialist, Stile Education

Using Oregon Forests as a Context for Teaching and Learning

Audience: General Audience, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Sciences, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3129

Nearly half of Oregon is forested, so forests and trees are a context most students understand. And, there are related teaching materials and curricula for educators to use. In this session, you will get an overview of what is available, try out some activities and leave with free materials and resources.

Rikki Heath, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Jenna Mendenhall, Environmental Educator, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, LeeAnn Mikkelson, Director of Oregon Natural Resources Education Program

Evolution for Middle School Educators

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Life Science

Location: Room 4011

Any teacher is a click away from high-quality resources for free. We offer free live webinars where all students can interact with scientists and authors. Our units on evolution for middle and high school students in Spanish means English Language Learners have access to engaging content.

Kenny Coogan, The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science, Kim Abraham, Generation Skeptics

Strengthening Science Instruction Through OSAS Interim Assessments

Audience: General Audience, Physical Science, Life Science, Earth & Space Science, Engineering & Technology, General Science, Education Research, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3130

Interim assessments are essential tools in a balanced assessment system that place student learning at the forefront of instructional decision-making. This session focuses on the Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) Interim Assessments for Science, specifically designed to support K–12 educators. These no-cost tools provide timely, actionable insights into student progress, enabling educators to make informed decisions that enhance teaching and learning throughout the school year. Aligned with Oregon’s K–12 Science Standards, the interim assessments feature grade-appropriate, meaningful science phenomena and reflect the structure and rigor of statewide summative assessments, ensuring alignment and relevance. Participants will leave the session equipped with strategies to effectively implement interim assessments in their classrooms. They’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to use these assessments to modify or scaffold instruction, promote equitable learning opportunities, and support a student-centered educational experience.

Mariela Bao, Oregon Department of Education, Jamie Rumage, ODE 

Asking Questions Routine: Using QFT with UL Research Institutes Lab Footage

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Physical Science, Engineering & Technology, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4012

Participants will practice the Question Formulation Technique alongside lab footage from the Xplorlabs pathways and consider its potential as part of their classroom content and curriculum. Xplorlabs is a free, STEM-focused experience that creates opportunities and resources that inspire action in the science of safety.

Daniel Sternberg, UL Research Institutes

Engaging Students with 5E Marine Science Lessons

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4013

Come explore free marine science curriculum from Oregon Sea Grant! More than 30 NGSS-aligned lessons for grades 4-12 are available on our searchable website. Most lessons follow a 5E format, center around locally relevant anchoring phenomena, use real data, highlight local scientists and community partners, and engage students in problem-solving.

Cait Goodwin, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University

Pulling it together: Launching a Phenomenon with Non-Fiction Literacy, Student Talk, and Modeling (Part 1)

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), General Science

Location: Room 4021

Attendees will participate in a unit launch with a phenomenon, literacy strategies, student talk strategies, and modeling in the context of an NGSS MS Performance Expectation.

Melody Childers, Beaverton School District

The Patterns Science Sequence: Vision, Updates, and Opportunities

Audience: High School (9-12), Physical Science, Life Science, Earth & Space Science, Engineering & Technology

Location: Room 4019

This session unpacks the guiding revised vision, previews new resources and equity-driven design updates, and spotlights upcoming PD and research opportunities for educators eager to cultivate sense-making, coherence, and equitable science learning.

Bradford Hill, Science Educator, BSD + PMSP, Susan Holveck, Science Educator, PMSP, Charlotte Denis, Science Educator, BSD, Matt McCollum, Science Educator, BSD, Kristen Harrison, PMSP

Science Fair in 15 Minutes Per Week

Audience: High School (9-12), General Science, Education Research

Location: Room 4020

Help your students tackle science fair projects without the chaos! This session introduces a POGIL-style workbook (totally free to use and modify) that guides students through every step of a science fair project in just 15–30 minutes a week. Walk away with a ready-to-use resource that builds independence, inquiry skills, and scientific confidence.

Danielle Schroeder, West Linn - Wilsonville School District 

Brains-on Learning: Anatomy in Clay Meets Neuro 101

Audience: High School (9-12), Life Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4021

Explore the brain as the body’s command center—and what happens when it malfunctions. Participants will model brain structures using clay and MANIKEN® models while learning to teach directional terminology. Discover how brain anatomy connects to sensation, memory, and behavior, and how dysfunction in one region can impact the whole system.

David Valenzuela, Lincoln High School

Engage high school students in STEM through the lens of the ocean

Audience: High School (9-12), Physical Science, Life Science, Earth & Space Science, Engineering & Technology, General Science, Environmental Sciences, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4022

Are you a high school teacher looking for a fun and creative way to teach students marine science, biology, chemistry, or math? Learn how the National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB), an academic competition that promotes STEM literacy using the ocean as a teaching tool, could be a great fit for you and your students.

Lindsay Carroll, Oregon Sea Grant, Jace Bell, Graduate Student, Oregon State University, Laura Saxe-Obrien, Professor of Practice, Oregon State University

Engage Every Learner: Dynamic Science Instruction with BIOZONE

Audience: High School (9-12) Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4022

Maximize student outcomes and elevate your science instruction! BIOZONE's innovative tools, practical strategies, and comprehensive Teacher Toolkit offer interactive worktexts, dynamic digital resources, and compelling real-world case studies. Apply these to foster truly engaging, hands-on learning, strengthening vital scientific skills for all students.

Dan Taylor, Biozone

Flows are All Around Us (Part 1)

Audience: General Audience, Physical Science, Life Science, Earth & Space Science, General Science

Location: STEAM Room

Various types of abstract flow will be described using water flow as a metaphor. Live demonstrations with flowing water will illustrate energy flow, electrical flow, heat flow, blood flow, and the physics of global warming.

Peter Graube, Retired - NASA

Student Made Science Tutorials (Part 1)

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Engineering & Technology, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3125

In this session, I will demonstrate step by step how to integrate reading, writing, listening, and speaking with science through student-made science tutorial videos. Using free tech tools such as Adobe Express and YouTube, students can show their expertise in various science topics to an authentic audience.

Eliana Belle, Gervais School District

Tinkering, Making and Designing

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Engineering & Technology, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3128

Have you heard about Tinkering and Making? Are you wondering how they might be similar to (or different from) Engineering Design? During this interactive session, we will explore how Tinkering, Making and Designing can be emphasized intentionally to scaffold engineering design for your students. Through our explorations, we will attend to social emotional learning needs and opportunities, and discuss common issues that may arise. You will have the opportunity to try fun and simple ways to bring Tinkering, Making and Design to life in your classroom or program!

Leah Plack, Portland Metro STEM Partnership, Lena Fox, Community STEAM Navigator, PMSP

Got Data?: Engaging students in data collection and analysis to increase student performance

Audience: General Audience, Life Science

Location: Room 3129

Through a professional development opportunity from Oregon Coast STEM Hub and DataSpire, we learned and implemented data science in our classrooms this year. We would like to share some of the strategies and lessons developed from this experience, and discuss how understanding data can improve student understanding and increase engagement.

Micki Halsey Randall, Blanchet Catholic School, Carrie Averill, Science and Agriculture Teacher, Tillamook Junior High School

Integrating Science and Geography: Using Maps in Science

Audience: General Audience, General Science

Location: Room 3130

Maps can be used to explore a wide range of science concepts and can incorporate visual learning, spatial thinking and quantitative skills into a lesson. Participants will explore a selection of maps and learn how integrating mapping will help you create innovative lessons.

Alfonso Garcia Arriola, ACCESS Academy, Portland Public Schools

Don’t Believe Everything You Believe (Part 1)

Audience: General Audience, Education Research, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4011

The abundance of misinformation demands that educators help students differentiate between tested truths and falsehoods. Generation Skeptics curriculum teaches students the importance of substantiating claims with evidence. Check out our free lessons and opportunities for educators to make $500 stipends starting GenSkeps clubs or after-school programs. www.generationskeptics.org

Kenny Coogan, Generation Skeptics, Kim Abraham, Generation Skeptics

Our Changing Planet-Salmon Connection

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Life Science, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4013

Pacific Salmon- The PNW Connector:  Salmon are an important keystone species and are widely studied across the state of Oregon with the ODFW Fish Eggs to Fry program. And, salmon are an amazing entry point into beautiful integrated study with science, social studies and ELA. Participants will learn ways to integrate this local phenomena into the teaching and learning in their classrooms. Resources and lesson integration ideas will be a key take away.

Tana Shepard, 4J/EWEB Education Partnership/Eugene 4J

Immersive films to spark awareness and inquiry in freshwater science

Audience: General Audience, Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4014

From salmon to salamanders, come see a sample of our freshwater-focused films and how our Water Teachers Initiative makes these immersive stories more impactful for elementary through high school learners in the classroom and beyond.

Kathy Chambliss, Freshwaters Illustrated

Pulling it together: Launching a Phenomenon with Non-Fiction Literacy, Student Talk, and Modeling (Part 2)

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), General Science

Location: Room 4015

Attendees will participate in a unit launch with a phenomenon, literacy strategies, student talk strategies, and modeling in the context of an NGSS MS Performance Expectation.

Melody Childers, Beaverton School District

Who’s Baby Luna’s Father? Using DNA Fingerprinting to Solve a Mystery

Audience: High School (9-12), Life Science, Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4019

Embark on a hands-on adventure and join marine biologists in their quest to uncover the mystery of Luna's father! Meet Luna, an adorable whale calf,  and become part of a passionate team determined to solve this heartwarming puzzle using gel electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting.

Erika Fong, MiniOne Systems

Beyond the Bubble Sheet: Designing 5D Assessments that Center Students

Audience: High School (9-12), General Science

Location: Room 4020

In this session, explore how to design 5D science assessments that center students, promote sensemaking, and align with NGSS. Learn practical strategies for creating equitable, phenomena-driven tasks that reflect student thinking and support deeper learning—moving assessment beyond sorting toward a caring, inclusive, and meaningful learning experience.

Kristi Miller, Beaverton School District, Teaching & Learning (and co-presenter is at Mountainside High School), Jomae Sica, Science Teacher, Beaverton School District

Bridges to Success: Experiences in Alternative Education

Audience: High School (9-12), Life Science, Earth & Space Science, General Science

Location: Room 4021

Alternative education can be a crumb catcher for students who aren't successful in the traditional school model for a wide variety of reasons. How can we identify them, re-engage them in school, and help these students chart a path forward? Science offers an effective entry point.

Bristol Underwood, North Bend School District

Gadget Fest: A Maker Approach for Engaging ALL Students in STEM

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Physical Science, Earth & Space Science, Engineering & Technology, General Science, Education Research, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4022

"Just as natural phenomena motivate inquiry, everyday gadgets are powerful systems for STEM engagement. Learn the “make your own gadgets” approach from the “Gadget Fest” program, sponsored by PSU’s College of Engineering and IEEE, the world’s largest technical society. Bring your curiosity and work with new friends to build three engaging examples suitable for middle/high school and adaptable from days to weeks length: LED Headlamps (energy), Electric Vehicles (forces), and Audio Speakers (waves). While the examples are for physical sciences, you’ll discover this is a powerful strategy applicable across STEM. Come for the fun, and leave with cool gadgets and a new strategy for creating memorable learning experiences."

Mihir Ravel, Portland State University College of Engineering, Dan Robinette, Physical Sciences Advisor, N. Clackamas School District, Crystal Boles, STEAM Teacher, Gresham Barlow School District, Stephen Scannell, Science Coach, Gresham Barlow School District 

Eco Engineers Building Wind Turbines with KidWind

Audience: High School (9-12), Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Physics

Location: Room 4023

Discover how to create phenomena-based, 3D learning opportunities with KidWind and investigate this question! Explore the engineering design elements of a wind turbine, build prototypes, and test and optimize them for design efficiency. Get strategies to sharpen students’ creativity, problem-solving skills, and engineering skills through relevant, real-world applications.

Tom Smith, Solutions Engineer, Vernier Science Education

Flows are All Around Us (Part 2)

Audience: General Audience, Physical Science, Life Science, Earth & Space Science, General Science

Location: STEAM Room

Various types of abstract flow will be described using water flow as a metaphor. Live demonstrations with flowing water will illustrate energy flow, electrical flow, heat flow, blood flow, and the physics of global warming.

Peter Graube, Retired - NASA

Student Made Science Tutorials (Part 2)

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Engineering & Technology, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3125

In this session, I will demonstrate step by step how to integrate reading, writing, listening, and speaking with science through student-made science tutorial videos. Using free tech tools such as Adobe Express and YouTube, students can show their expertise in various science topics to an authentic audience.

Eliana Belle, Gervais School District

Youth Land Stewards Education Program (YLSEP)

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Life Science, Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 3127

YLSEP is a free, 7-lesson series for 4th and 5th grade students that is designed to prepare students for Outdoor School, teach students about the critical habitats and threatened and endangered species of the Willamette Valley, and encourage them to pursue diverse careers in environmental stewardship. Students wrap up the program by participating in a career-focused field trip in the West Eugene Wetlands. This program is offered in English and Spanish and includes NGSS, ELA, and Math standards.

Each lesson focuses on a different topic and highlights a different ecological career. Students will be wildlife biologists surveying and classifying the plants and animals of the West Eugene Wetlands, hydrologists learning about the Missoula Floods, and ornithologists studying the importance of wetlands for migratory birds!

Rachel Schneiderman, WREN (Willamette Resources and Educational Network)

Tinkering, Making and Designing

Audience: Elementary (K-5), Engineering & Technology, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3128

Have you heard about Tinkering and Making? Are you wondering how they might be similar to (or different from) Engineering Design? During this interactive session, we will explore how Tinkering, Making and Designing can be emphasized intentionally to scaffold engineering design for your students. Through our explorations, we will attend to social emotional learning needs and opportunities, and discuss common issues that may arise. You will have the opportunity to try fun and simple ways to bring Tinkering, Making and Design to life in your classroom or program!

Leah Plack, Portland Metro STEM Partnership, Lena Fox, Community STEAM Navigator, PMSP

Advancing Oregon K–12 Science Together: From Vision to Action

Audience: General Audience, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 3129

Last April, nearly 100 educators from across Oregon gathered to discuss and develop a statewide vision for K-12 Science education. This is a joint venture by ODE, the STEM Hub Network, ESD’s, Oregon Science Leaders, and the OSTA. We will share progress and gather feedback.

Dustin Dawson, Lane ESD, Gabriel Gellon, Lane STEM Director, STEM Hub

Don’t Believe Everything You Believe (Part 2)

Audience: General Audience, Education Research, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4011

The abundance of misinformation demands that educators help students differentiate between tested truths and falsehoods. Generation Skeptics curriculum teaches students the importance of substantiating claims with evidence. Check out our free lessons and opportunities for educators to make $500 stipends starting GenSkeps clubs or after-school programs. www.generationskeptics.org

Kenny Coogan, Generation Skeptics, Kim Abraham, Generation Skeptics

3D Science Education for a Sustainable World

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Life Science, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Sciences

Location: Room 4012

Empower students to address human ecology issues with experiential activities focused on three-dimensional learning. Engage in simulations, modeling and interpreting data on natural resource use, population ecology, food and agriculture, and more. Receive lessons and background materials aligned to Oregon Science Standards.

Denise Dumouchel, Oregon Episcopal School

Making 2D Models 3D in Practice: Food Webs and Introduced Species

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), High School (9-12) Life Science

Location: Room 4013

Attendees will dive deep into the practice of modeling and learn ways they can develop these skills with their students. We will examine how to bring students' understanding of models and their limits to a deeper level even when using a 2-dimensional model drawing of a phenomenon. 

Stephanie Wallace, Lab-Aids

Explosive Eruptions

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Earth and Space Science, K-5 Science Coaches

Location: Room 4014

Engage students with both hands on and digital investigations to explore the relationship between gas, viscosity, and explosivity. 

Cameron Barger, Curriculum Advisor, Allyson Mayer, Imagine Learning Twig Science

Using Scripts to Support Equitable Discussions in Patterns Physics

Audience: High School (9-12), Physical Science

Location: Room 4015

Learn how to use structured scripts and discourse maps to facilitate equitable data discussions in physics classrooms. This session offers practical tools to engage all learners in meaningful talk about science, helping teachers support student voice and build a culture of collaborative sensemaking.

Matt McCollum, Mountainside High School, Beaverton School District, Dave Savage, Teacher, Hillsboro School District

Electrophoresis and Genetics: Testing the Bitter Taste of PTC

Audience: High School (9-12), Life Science

Location: Room 4019

Join us for an engaging exploration of genetic inheritance through the lens of taste perception in our session, Electrophoresis and Genetics: Testing the Bitter Taste of PTC using MiniOne Elecropheris and Embi Tech (partnership). This interactive presentation will delve into the science of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) tasting, showcasing how genetic variations influence our ability to perceive bitterness. Attendees will learn about the TAS2R38 gene, the role of electrophoresis in genetic analysis, and the use of pedigree charts to uncover familial traits. Through hands-on activities and real-life scenarios, participants will develop hypotheses and analyze data, fostering a deeper understanding of genetics and its practical applications in the classroom. Join us to discover how taste and genetics intertwine in the fascinating world of inheritance!

Jason Baca, Patterns Biology, Charlotte Denis Co-Presenter Council Member, Kim Anderson Co-Presenter Council Member, Secret Belanger Co-Presenter Council Member

Field & Classroom Connections

Audience: High School (9-12), Life Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4020

Make your field experiences more meaningful by practicing techniques on campus first. We will practice gathering data with transects and quadrats using materials you already have on hand. We will use data reasoning and explore how these field techniques can guide students to perform their own research.

Christina Geierman, North Bend High School, Edward M. Nichols, North Bend School District

Free, Flexible, and Factual: A Classroom Resource on Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation

Audience: High School (9-12), Physical Science, Life Science, General Science

Location: Room 4021

Interested in saving lives? As your local Organ Procurement Organization, we offer a FREE lesson plan that educates on organ, eye, and tissue donation in a comprehensive, factual, and culturally sensitive way. Learn more about our adaptable and accessible curriculum and how you can host an expert in your classroom.

Carolyn Williams, Cascade Life Alliance

Gadget Fest: A Maker Approach for Engaging ALL Students in STEM

Audience: Middle Level (6-8), Physical Science, Earth & Space Science, Engineering & Technology, General Science, Education Research, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4022

"Just as natural phenomena motivate inquiry, everyday gadgets are powerful systems for STEM engagement. Learn the “make your own gadgets” approach from the “Gadget Fest” program, sponsored by PSU’s College of Engineering and IEEE, the world’s largest technical society. Bring your curiosity and work with new friends to build three engaging examples suitable for middle/high school and adaptable from days to weeks length: LED Headlamps (energy), Electric Vehicles (forces), and Audio Speakers (waves). While the examples are for physical sciences, you’ll discover this is a powerful strategy applicable across STEM. Come for the fun, and leave with cool gadgets and a new strategy for creating memorable learning experiences."

Mihir Ravel, Portland State University College of Engineering, Dan Robinette, Physical Sciences Advisor, N. Clackamas School District, Crystal Boles, STEAM Teacher, Gresham Barlow School District, Stephen Scannell, Science Coach, Gresham Barlow School District

Fromage Blanc-Introduction to Cultured Cheesemaking

Audience: General Audience, Physical Science, Life Science, General Science, STEM (integrated)

Location: Room 4023

Please join us for this part demo, part hands-on session to learn about and make cultured cheese to bring STEM concepts to life for your students!

Crista Hawkins, Oregon Dairy Council, Claudia Lucero, CEO Urban Cheesecraft