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Thursday, April 3
 

7:00am CDT

Registration
Thursday April 3, 2025 7:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Registration Desk
Thursday April 3, 2025 7:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Registration Desk
  General

8:00am CDT

Modeling DNA in the science classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Dixie
In this session I will show you how I use the various DNA Kits in my classroom from 3D Molecular Designs. I will also show you how I tie them together. I use these kits with my students in Project Lead the Way Principles of Biomedical Science when we discuss DNA structure and function and genetics. I use them to demonstrate types of chromosomes, where genes are located and the why behind the letters we use in Punnett Squares. I use these models to show the differences between heterozygous and homozygous alleles to allow the students to see what happens at the DNA level so they understand why we have those differences and how they show up in proteins. I use this kit with the Flow of Genetic Information kit and protein folding when we talk about protein synthesis and the dynamic DNA kit when we talk about genetics and DNA.
Speakers
SR
Sponsors
3M
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Dixie
  Biology/Life Science   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

8:00am CDT

Using The Physics Classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
The Physics Classroom is a one stop shop. It is an interactive up to date text book, it has on line lab simulations, it has differentiated progressive on-line concept builders, it has a test generator that can grade, it ties in with Modeling Curricullum, ACT Prep sections, Lesson plans for all levels of Physics including beginning teachers, video tutorials, it is continually being improved and updated, and all this for much cheaper than any textbook on the market. This presentation will demonstrate the diverse set of learning tools that TPC has for teaching Physics and Chemistry. While TPC is always free, the low fee of using the Task Tracker system to monitor student progress will be emphasized only because it is a great tool and gives you more time to do what you love...helping students learn! TPC has a diverse set of tools and resources that litteraly cover almost every aspect of teaching Physics and is progressing to providing Chemistry rources too. The presenters will be the Owner/Software designer Trevor Fayas and a regular classroom teacher who uses it.
Speakers
GF
avatar for Trevor Fayas

Trevor Fayas

President, Physics Classroom LLC
Owner of PhysicsClassroom.com, our site has been offering time proven tools, lessons, interactives, and learning modules for teachers and students in Physics (and now Chemistry!).  Come learn about our resources and how they help students learn and grow.
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
  Chemistry   Physics   Any level of Physics and basic Chemistry

8:00am CDT

Phenomena-Based Learning in 30 Minutes or Less
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Herietta
In this session designed for K-5 educators, we will explore the power of phenomenon-based learning through hands-on activities that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Using the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), we’ll demonstrate how authentic science content can be seamlessly incorporated into 30-minute lessons, making science accessible and engaging for students. Participants will actively engage in a real-world, hands-on lesson, gaining practical experience with inquiry-based learning that sparks curiosity and promotes deeper conceptual understanding.

Our session will showcase how these lessons are designed to align with any curriculum goals, providing strategies for integrating authentic science phenomena into your classroom. By the end of the session, participants will walk away with easy-to-implement, NGSS-aligned strategies that can transform their teaching approach and ignite student interest in the world around them. Learning objectives include understanding how to implement the 5E model, exploring ways to integrate phenomena into daily lessons, and gaining tools for delivering engaging, real-world science experiences in under 30 minutes. This session will feature presenter-audience interaction to foster discussion and encourage collaboration, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights.
Speakers
ME
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Herietta
  Elementary   General

8:00am CDT

Workshop: Engaging Students in the Science and Engineering of Food - IL Ag Ed Apples Storyline
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
BF Carter
Obtaining food to meet our energy and matter needs is a basic requirement of humans, in addition to helping define our cultural practices and ways of life. This presentation will share how to use elements of the three dimensions of the NGSS and Framework to engage students in making sense of phenomena and problems related to the production and consumption of food. Strategies for how to use driving question boards, 3-dimensional learning outcomes, and engagement of all learners will be shared.
Students will ask questions for how perfect apples are mass produced, how nutrients and environmental factors affect the quality of fruit, and how to attain the right balance of sweet-tart flavor. This storyline weaves together concepts such as meiosis and mitosis, pedigrees and probability, plant structure and function, nutrient cycles, and the role of photosynthesis in producing food in order to explain why it took 30 years to produce the Honeycrisp apple.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Van Hoeck

Kathy Van Hoeck

Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science
CE
avatar for Shane Cullian

Shane Cullian

Teacher, Badger High School
Sponsors
IA
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
BF Carter
  General, workshop |   Biology/Life Science, workshop |   Engineering, workshop |   Environmental, workshop |   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies, workshop |   Diversity/Equity, workshop |   Workshop, workshop

8:00am CDT

Building a Science Classroom Culture to Support Student Engagement
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Thistle
Have you ever posed a scientific question to your students only to hear crickets? Have you ever planned an intriguing investigation only to have it flop because of lack of student engagement? In this session, science teachers will explore practical strategies to cultivate a classroom culture that inspires curiosity, fosters collaboration, and maximizes student engagement. Participants will learn how to create an environment where students feel valued, safe to take risks, and excited to explore the wonders of science. Through guided discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, teachers will discover techniques to promote active learning, build a sense of community, and develop classroom routines that support inquiry-based and student-centered teaching. By the end of the session, educators will leave with a toolkit of strategies to strengthen student connections, enhance participation, and create a dynamic classroom atmosphere where students are motivated and eager to learn.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Mayenschein
KL
CJ
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Thistle
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

8:00am CDT

The OpenSciEd Instructional Model: Routines for Advancing Students Through a Storyline
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Hutchinson
In the OpenSciEd Instructional Model students are presented with puzzling phenomena that elicit a variety of questions that motivate the learning in the unit. These anchoring phenomena draw students into the storyline by presenting the natural challenge of explaining something or solving a problem. Other phenomena may be introduced at key points in a storyline to maintain interest or push students to delve more deeply. To help teachers and students advance through a unit storyline, the instructional model takes advantage of five routines—activities that play specific roles in advancing the storyline with supports to help students achieve the objectives of those activities. The routines typically follow a pattern as students kick off a unit of study, surface and investigate different questions they have, put the pieces together from those investigations, and then problematize the next set of questions to investigate. In this session participants will engage as “students” with an OSE lesson to experience these routines from both the teacher and student lens. Additional supports and resources will be shared so that teachers can go back to the classroom ready to teach a 3-dimensional lesson.
Speakers
BK
Sponsors
AL
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Hutchinson
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

8:00am CDT

Workshop: Simplify NGSS: Adaptable Curriculum to Save Time and Boost Student Success
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Lefevre
Many science teachers feel overwhelmed by the challenges of implementing NGSS, as local and district demands often make alignment more challenging. To address this, we’ve created free, open-source NGSS-aligned materials through a research-practice partnership. These resources are designed to save time, reduce stress, and adapt to diverse teaching needs.

Grounded in educational research, our instructional design consistently helps students achieve NGSS outcomes. Teachers report reduced workloads, enhanced effectiveness, and greater confidence in meeting standards.

In this workshop, we’ll clarify NGSS goals, showcase ready-to-use curriculum examples, and guide you through examples of engaging classroom activities. You’ll leave with access to free, customizable content to streamline NGSS implementation in your classroom. We will focus on examples in biology, but will also provide access to other subjects, including chemistry, physics, astronomy, and agriscience.
Speakers
CK
Sponsors
WU
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Lefevre
  General   Biology/Life Science

8:00am CDT

Workshop: Media for a Changing Climate: Behind the Scenes of PBS Wisconsin Education’s New Climate Collection
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Evelyn
We’re all learning all the time, as we encounter new opportunities and challenges, and envision new possibilities for ourselves and our world. Over ten years ago, the series, Climate Wisconsin offered stories of Wisconsinites’ experiences of climate change at home, at work, and at play, as a way to bring climate education from communities into classrooms. Today, PBS Wisconsin Education is rebooting the effort of that collection, but with a twist. As climate change impacts have become even more present and urgent, we’re now looking to the next generation, young people in communities across the state, to see how they are learning about what’s going on, how they are feeling about the challenges we face, and how they are taking action to get us (back) on track to a future we can look forward to. We’re making a new multimedia collection that will relate these stories to efforts with local and global impacts, engage multiple ways of knowing, and support critical cross-curricular thinking skills along the way. Join us for this preview and discussion session to help shape the project, and be in conversation with fellow educators around how this work connects with what we experience in our learning spaces.
Speakers
MF
Sponsors
PW
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Evelyn
  Workshop

8:00am CDT

Workshop: Threats to Biodiversity~ Designing Solutions Using HHMI Biointeractive Resources
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Anna M

In this workshop, we will explore threats to biodiversity (HIPPO) using
HHMI Biointeractive resources, including Designing Solutions to Preserve Biodiversity and Wild Hope short films. We will also model solution-design strategies that consider personal values, as well as social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

Using NGSS three dimensional design, this workshop will focus on what students need to know, how they process that knowledge and how that knowledge guides their solutions. Participants will use the jigsaw approach, a cooperative learning strategy in which “expert groups” familiarize themselves with a specific concept, then recombine into “jigsaw groups” to share and synthesize
knowledge.

Participants will
Use HHMI Biointeractive resources to assist students in identifying the key threats to biodiversity loss: Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, Population Growth and Overharvesting.
Learn instructional methods for analyzing and devising potential solutions to these threats.
Collaborate with fellow educators to discuss effective practices for teaching about biodiversity loss.
Learn about additional HHMI Biointeractive tools and resources.
Speakers
avatar for Dawn Norton
AF
Sponsors
SD
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
Anna M
  Workshop

8:00am CDT

Workshop: Wisconsin High School Earth Science Storylines
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
John Lynch
Wisconsin High School Earth Science Storylines will share with you recently developed and created activities that use collaboration of students who will analyze data sets as they work to understand the phenomenon that focuses on the landforms and geological history of Wisconsin. These activities are designed to address NGSS standards for High School Earth Science. They will focus on three separate storylines - Bedrock to Glaciers, Feedback in the Arctic, and Wisconsin Groundwater. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to work through a number of activities and take with them knowledge of how to use the storylines with their students. The storylines will utilize many local data sets and GIS map layers.
Speakers
avatar for Dennis Rohr

Dennis Rohr

Seymour High School
JB
Sponsors
SC
Thursday April 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:50am CDT
John Lynch
  Workshop

9:00am CDT

Engaging Students with Land and Soil Data through Hands-On Lessons and 3D Assessments
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Dixie
In a world where declining water quality threatens ecosystems, food security, and public health it is imperative that we as teachers are prepared to educate the next water leaders. This session will dive into a hands-on lessons from Nourish the Future where students analyze soil, water, and land use data to construct solutions for real-world land management challenges. We will showcase how students engage in science and engineering practices, such as analyzing data and constructing explanations, to tackle a relevant phenomenon, while highlighting student examples.
Through NGSS-aligned strategies, participants will observe how sensemaking guides students in proposing solutions to improve soil and water quality. Teachers will leave better equipped with strategies for using the lesson as an activity or as a 3D assessment, The lesson is great for student engagement, phenomenon/storyline based teaching, and encouraging deep learning across diverse classrooms. Teachers will walk away with an activity that can be easily modified for any classroom or science topic.
Speakers
avatar for Megan Sprague

Megan Sprague

Teacher, Onalaska High School
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Dixie
  Biology/Life Science   Environmental

9:00am CDT

Standards Based Grading with NGSS
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Herietta
How do you assess young elementary students in science? How do you measure progress in the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices? I have developed rubrics that allow me to chart the growth of my grades 1-4 students, using the SEP as my standards. I will share students' work samples from a variety of units and show how I use the rubrics to record and share their progress. My rubrics can be used with students to set goals, clarify expectations, and teach explicitly. They can also be used to share progress with parents, and they can support a standards based report card system. This session will allow participants to review the rubrics and discuss the pros and cons of using them in their own teaching practices.
Speakers
SP
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Herietta
  Elementary   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

9:00am CDT

Newcomers Meeting
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
Are you new to the WSST Conference? We’re excited to have you join us! To help you make the most of your experience, we invite you to a special Newcomers’ Welcome session where you can learn the ins and outs of the conference.
This session is designed to help you:
  • Navigate the conference schedule and key events
  • Connect with fellow educators and network with ease
  • Discover tips for maximizing your professional development experience
  • Get answers to any questions you may have
Whether it’s your first time attending or you’re returning after a while, we’re here to ensure you feel welcomed and well-prepared. We look forward to meeting you and making your WSST experience unforgettable!
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
  General

9:00am CDT

Workshop: Making Sense of Milk: Unpacking a 3-dimensional Agriculture Biology Storyline on Dairy
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
BF Carter
Milk is an important food product that provides all of the nutrients that young mammals need to survive early in life. Learning from populations that can digest dairy can help provide solutions to humans who choose to consume it into adulthood, despite the inability to do so naturally. Because of this demand, milk and dairy products altogether continue to be an important aspect of agriculture.

Participants will engage in a new storyline that tasks students with constructing and revising explanations based on evidence for why dairy is such an important agricultural product and source of food energy. The Milk storyline is the 7th in a series being developed by a group of 25+ educators from the midwest for science and agriculture teachers that engage students in developing explanations for agricultural phenomena and solving real-world problems. Students utilize the three dimensions of NGSS as they learn about food systems or the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food products and interactions with the natural environment. Intentional emphasis is placed on developing skills related to the Scientific & Engineering Practices and building Crosscutting Concepts.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Van Hoeck

Kathy Van Hoeck

Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science
CE
avatar for Shane Cullian

Shane Cullian

Teacher, Badger High School
Sponsors
IA
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
BF Carter
  General   Biology/Life Science   Environmental   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Workshop

9:00am CDT

Making Student Thinking Visible through Notebooking
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Thistle
In this professional learning session, participants will explore the power of science notebooks as tools to deepen student sensemaking and engagement in the science classroom. Science notebooks offer students opportunities to document their observations, make connections, and reflect on their learning in ways that support critical thinking and collaboration.
Through interactive activities and real-world examples, you’ll leave with ideas and resources to make science notebooking a meaningful part of your students’ learning journey. This session is ideal for educators seeking to empower their students as independent thinkers and problem solvers in the science classroom.
Speakers
KL
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Thistle
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

9:00am CDT

Reach New Heights with Activate Learning’s Interactive Digital Edition of OpenSciEd
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Hutchinson
Activate Learning has partnered with OpenSciEd to create a digital learning platform where students can benefit from an interactive, engaging online experience when using the OpenSciEd curriculum. Students can record their observations and reasoning and receive feedback from teachers. Students benefit from modeling supports like drawing tools and stamps, as well as writing supports with sentence starters and reading supports through recorded audio, highlighting, and annotations. The OSE lessons are designed and aligned to the Framework and the NGSS. They are based on research regarding how students learn, what motivates learning, and the implications for teaching. Participants will experience first-hand our intuitive digital platform with features that enhance the OSE curriculum and help make science teaching and learning more accessible.
Speakers
BK
Sponsors
AL
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Hutchinson
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

9:00am CDT

FT2: Alliant Energy Wind Turbine, Solar Farm
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA
Cost $10, Prior registration required
Energy Tour = solar + sheep + wind!

Visit 2 utility-scale Renewable Energy generation sites and discover multiple energy education resources during this unique trip coordinated by KEEP and Alliant Energy. We will visit a farm that has on-site solar PV and sheep are integrated into vegetation management. The farm visit coincides with lambing season and will include a visit to the birthing barn. Next, we will visit a wind farm where we will see the control room for turbine operations and we will enter the base of a wind tower. Participants will learn how they can request similar field trips for their classes and KEEP staff will share relevant energy education lessons and kits which are free to Wisconsin teachers.

Must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Dress for the weather. We will be outside and walking on uneven surfaces. Please do not wear shoes that have visited any other farm or fair surfaces.

Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA
  Fieldtrip

9:00am CDT

FT3: EAA Museum Tour & Elementary Activity
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA
Cost $10, Prior registration required
Discover the rich history and cutting-edge technology of aviation by joining a guided tour of the EAA Aviation Museum, where you can explore both modern and historic aircraft from throughout the ages.
Join EAA Educators for making airfoil and balloon cars that you can bring back to your classroom, helping you incorporate the excitement of forces of flight into your lessons. EAA's educational programs, crafted by licensed educators, are designed to engage, and inspire students while challenging them to learn.
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA
  Fieldtrip

9:00am CDT

FT1: EAA Museum Tour & Wittmann Airport Control Tower Tour
Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am CDT
TBA
Cost $10, Prior registration required
Discover the rich history and cutting-edge technology of aviation by joining a guided tour of the EAA Aviation Museum, where you can explore both modern and historic aircraft from throughout the ages.

Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the Wittman Regional Airport control tower. Did you know that for one week each year, during the EAA AirVenture airshow, this tower becomes the busiest in the world?

Thursday April 3, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am CDT
TBA
  Fieldtrip

10:00am CDT

Exploring Phospholipids and Membrane Transport
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
BF Carter
One of the most fundamental concepts in biology is cell membranes. Model with us as we gain a deeper understanding of the structure of phospholipids, their role in the cell membranes, and membrane transport proteins while gaining hands on experience and classroom strategies in modeling to help make abstract concepts tangible. This session will feature the use of our Phospholipid and Membrane Transport Kit and give you a first look at our new Articulated Membrane Model.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Arnholt

Mark Arnholt

Science Educator, 3D Molecular Designs
I was a classroom teacher for 25 years. I am now the National SMART team coordinator and Science Educator for 3D Molecular designs.In my free time, I am an avid fisherman and obsessive vinyl record collector.
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
BF Carter
  Biology/Life Science

10:00am CDT

The Wauwatosa Biology Story - The power of strong vision, curriculum, coaching, and teamwork
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Dixie
This presentation highlights the journey of the Wauwatosa School District Biology team as they transformed from a fragmented collection of experts to a strong, mission and vision-aligned force. The Wauwatosa Biology team has become a lighthouse within the district and across the state as they are deeply committed to continuous improvement and providing a rigorous, 3-dimensional, storyline experience for all students, through the use of OpenSciEd curricular resources.

In this session, we will discuss the importance of a strong vision, sound process for selecting curriculum, ongoing instructional coaching, teamwork, and strategies for building system-wide capacity in building a movement and driving change. We will share ideas and tools, including grading practices, for districts or departments interested in transforming the student experience in science to be more coherent, impactful, rigorous, and equitable.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Blechacz

Sarah Blechacz

K-12 Science Curriculum Coordinator, Wauwatosa School District
RD

Rachel Duellman

Instructional Coach, Wauwatosa School District
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Dixie
  Biology/Life Science   Chemistry   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Diversity/Equity   Grading

10:00am CDT

Forest History Didn’t Start in 1850: A Fresh Look at How Forests Built Our State
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Herietta
In this session we will overview the recent revisions made to the LEAF K-12 Forestry Education Program’s 4th grade guide. We will explore why and how the revisions were made in an effort to produce a broader, more inclusive approach to teaching about Wisconsin’s forest history. Participants will then try some of the new hands-on activities together, then look at how an activity that has students trace the human use history of a forest plot through simple observations and measurements fits into a three-dimensional approach to teaching and learning. Finally, we will take a little time to reflect on how Wisconsin forest history and information about the Indigenous people of our state fit into their elementary science curriculum.
Speakers
avatar for Nicole Filizetti

Nicole Filizetti

LEAF K-12 Forestry Education Program Outreach Educator, Wisconsin Center For Environmental Education
Nicole has a B.S. in Biology/Ecology, a secondary science teaching certificate, and an M.S. in Science Education from Northern Michigan University. She has been with the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education since 2013, assisting with professional development for the LEAF... Read More →
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Herietta
  Elementary   Diversity/Equity

10:00am CDT

Workshop: Leading Through STEAM: Empowering Middle School Mentors with NGSS and the Engineering Design Process
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
John Lynch
Transform your classroom into a hub of innovation and leadership with a STEAM mentorship program! In this dynamic workshop, discover how middle school students can develop hands-on STEAM challenges for younger peers, fostering confidence, communication, and cross-curricular learning while implementing the engineering design process. Using real-world examples from St. Mary School in Richland Center, where students created agricultural-based projects like the Cranberry Bog, you’ll explore how to guide your students in crafting and presenting their own challenges to elementary students.

Learn essential tips and tricks for building students’ presentation skills, encouraging them to take ownership of their work, and differentiating activities to meet diverse learning needs. Discover how to introduce college and career readiness skills through mentoring opportunities that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

You’ll also dive into strategies for gaining stakeholder buy-in, building community partnerships, and organizing lesson plans across multiple grade levels using Google Drive. This interactive session will provide you with practical tools, templates, and strategies to inspire your students to lead, mentor, and create—while promoting a love for STEM and agriculture. Walk away with everything you need to launch a successful cross-curricular STEAM mentorship program in your school!
Speakers
avatar for Beth Schaefer

Beth Schaefer

Coordinator, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom - Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
I am passionate about food, farming, and people. For the past 22 years I have worked in both formal and informal roles related to agriculture literacy and education. I spent five years as an Agriculture Educator and Biology teacher in both rural and urban schools and for the past... Read More →
MC
Sponsors
WA
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
John Lynch
  Engineering   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Workshop

10:00am CDT

Retirees Meeting
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
We’re excited to invite you to the WSST Retirees Meet & Greet, a special gathering to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate the lasting impact of science educators like you!
Come enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where you can:
  • Reconnect with fellow retired educators
  • Share your experiences and wisdom with current members
  • Learn about opportunities to stay involved with WSST
Let’s celebrate the incredible community you’ve helped build and continue inspiring the next generation of science educators. We can’t wait to see you there!
Speakers
avatar for Kristin Michalski

Kristin Michalski

Online App Chair, East Troy High School
avatar for Karyl Rosenberg

Karyl Rosenberg

Historian, WSST
I am Historian of WSST, which means that I am responsible for keeping the archives of the organization.  This includes newsletters, lists of officers, long term conference records and anything else that the Board of Directors deem worthy of saving for the good of the organization... Read More →
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
  General

10:00am CDT

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Cloud!
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Thistle
In this hands-on presentation, we will model the amount of water content in a cloud, formation of clouds in a container, and identify clouds in the sky. You’ll walk away with activities and resources you can use in your classroom. These lessons and activities can be used from the elementary grades to high school. Closely tied to the Wisconsin Science Standards, students make predictions, carry out investigations, use models, and construct explanations. I have used these activities in Earth and Space Science classes during the meteorology unit and in Weather & Climate classes while we are investigating the formation of clouds and precipitation. Time permitting, we will look into how reading the clouds in the sky and their movement can help in the weather prediction process and give us an idea of future weather patterns.
Speakers
TD
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Thistle
  General   Earth Science

10:00am CDT

Collaborating for Success: Navigating the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of OpenSciEd
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Hutchinson
Join us for an engaging professional development session designed for teachers to come together, share, and brainstorm solutions around the OpenSciEd instructional materials. This workshop provides a collaborative space where educators can discuss their experiences—the good, the bad, and the challenging. Bring your successes and amazing resources to share with fellow teachers, and don't hesitate to bring your concerns and problems. Together, we will explore practical solutions, offer support, and enhance our collective understanding of how to best implement OpenSciEd in the classroom. Let’s turn challenges into opportunities and elevate our teaching practice as a team!
Speakers
MH
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Hutchinson
  Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

10:00am CDT

Workshop: The Fungus Among Us! Investigating Valley Fever Using MiniOne Gel Electrophoresis to Detect Fungal Hotspots.
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Anna M
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms commonly found in soils and can act as pathogens, leading to diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection prevalent in arid and semi-arid areas. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that the distribution of this fungus may be shifting due to changing environmental conditions.
During this workshop, participants will:
Explore the ecological role of fungi and learn about Valley Fever's genetic links to specific populations.
Engage in a role-playing exercise as researchers conducting a collaborative study to test soil samples for the Coccidioides fungus.
Understand the procedures for extracting and amplifying fungal DNA samples.
Perform agarose gel electrophoresis using MiniOne equipment to check for the presence of Coccidioides in soil samples.
Analyze group data to identify areas with high rates of Valley Fever infections.
Discuss how climate change affects the spread of fungi and the occurrence of Valley Fever.
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions to minimize fungal infections.
Discover teaching strategies to inspire students and incorporate an engaging biotechnology narrative
Speakers
AF
Sponsors
M
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Anna M
  Biology/Life Science   Environmental   Workshop

10:00am CDT

Workshop: Cast a Line for Science & Civics
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Evelyn
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Angler Education Program provides training and materials for adults to offer fishing programs in their schools and communities. This workshop will keep you busy with hands-on activities, and we’ll even go fishing! You’ll go home with a boatload of program materials that link fishing to science through investigations of fish and their habitat and provides opportunities for interdisciplinary unit development with social studies, language arts, fine arts and physical education. Fishing equipment and other supplies are available for loan to instructors at more than 50 tackle loaner sites run by the DNR and partners. The program has two main levels, Junior Angler for grades 4 – 8 and Hook, Line & Thinker for high school. A subset of materials appropriate for younger learners is also available. The materials are aligned to Wisconsin’s state academic standards making the program an easy fit in the classroom. Successful program models include after-school fishing clubs, summer enrichment classes, and school-family events, in addition to classroom use. [I would like this to be an all-day workshop. What are my options?]
Speakers
TS
Sponsors
WD
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Evelyn
  Diversity/Equity   Workshop   social studies and more.

10:00am CDT

Workshop: Using the IL Biology Storylines for Coherent Instruction - Melanin Updates
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Lefevre
The IL Biology Storylines provide a free, complete curricular replacement for any introductory biology course. 3-D learning incorporates the disciplinary core ideas, the science practices and the crosscutting concepts and is the driving force of the Next Generation Science Standards. In order to better integrate the different topics typically taught in the high school biology classroom, storyline units that are coherent and phenomenon-driven have been created so that students can make sense of how science works in real world situations. This workshop serves to introduce attendees to how the IL Biology Storylines have proven to be incredible models for sensemaking opportunities, equitable instruction, and how to lead to students becoming self-directed learners and critical thinkers in an ever-changing world.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Van Hoeck

Kathy Van Hoeck

Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science
KR

Kristin Rademaker

Consultant, All Species Education Consulting
avatar for Shane Cullian

Shane Cullian

Teacher, Badger High School
Sponsors
AS
Thursday April 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Lefevre
  High Ed   General   Biology/Life Science   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

11:00am CDT

Anatomy and Physiology Teachers Roundtable
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Dixie
This roundtable invites educators to share strategies, curriculum resources, and innovative teaching ideas for anatomy and physiology. Discuss challenges, exchange effective practices, and help to create a shared drive with valuable teaching materials.
Speakers
SG
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Dixie
  Biology/Life Science   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

11:00am CDT

Explore Free Elementary Resources from the Food + Farm Exploration Center
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Herietta
Participants in this session will take a hands-on approach to learning about the many free elementary resources that are offered by the Food + Farm Exploration Center that teaches science with an agricultural focus. Participants will take part in small group discussions and hands-on activities as they learn more about the connection of agriculture to curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the connection that agriculture has to science curriculum.
2. Explore the many ways that agriculture examples can be used to highlight content.
3. Conduct investigations and do activities that highlight the connections between agriculture and science.

Standards:
2-LS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.

3-LS-1 Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.

4-LS-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

5-LS-1 Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.

5-ESS2-2 Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
Speakers
avatar for Jenn Scott

Jenn Scott

Education Outrerach Manager, Food + Farm Exploration Center
I have a passion to spread the word about the importance of agriculture to everyone! As an education outreach manager, my goal is to educate students and teachers about the role agriculture plays in their daily lives and to inspire a passion for the field and a desire to pursue a... Read More →
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Herietta
  Elementary

11:00am CDT

Fermenters of WSST Unite
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
Discuss and share samples of various fermented beverages/foods and smoked meats. Designed to be a social gathering for those to share samples and ideas with fellow fermenters and meat smokers.
Speakers
RS
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Lake Poygan
  General

11:00am CDT

Workshop: From Farm to Form: Creating and Comparing Bioplastics from Everyday Resources
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
John Lynch
As concerns about plastic pollution grow, educators are uniquely positioned to inspire students with innovative solutions like bioplastics. This workshop delves into the science and engineering behind biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources, focusing on bioplastics made from milk and soybean oil. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to create these bioplastics, gaining insight into their properties, production processes, and applications.

Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the session will emphasize key practices such as constructing explanations, analyzing data, and exploring the crosscutting concepts of sustainability and resource management. Participants will leave equipped with classroom-ready resources, lesson plans, and access to food and agriculture education kits. They will also discover grants, training opportunities, and student engagement programs to deepen agricultural literacy.

Participants will actively make bioplastics from milk and soybean oil during the session, work collaboratively to explore the material properties, and discuss ways to adapt the lesson for various grade levels. A dedicated Q&A and resource-sharing segment will provide further opportunities for interaction and feedback.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Biernat

Kathy Biernat

Curriculum Designer, Instructional Coach, Zanilu Educational Services, LLC
#ScientistMakerI am an award-winning educator with over 18 years of teaching experience and 30 years of curriculum design expertise. I am passionate about integrating real-world problems into the curriculum, fostering authentic learning experiences, and connecting students with professionals... Read More →
avatar for Beth Schaefer

Beth Schaefer

Coordinator, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom - Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
I am passionate about food, farming, and people. For the past 22 years I have worked in both formal and informal roles related to agriculture literacy and education. I spent five years as an Agriculture Educator and Biology teacher in both rural and urban schools and for the past... Read More →
Sponsors
WA
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
John Lynch
  General

11:00am CDT

Fueling Curiosity and Engagement: Building a Dynamic Driving Question Board
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Hutchinson
This presentation will explore the development and implementation of Driving Question Boards (DQB) to foster student-led scientific inquiry. Attendees will gain insight into how DQBs serve as a powerful tool to inspire curiosity and drive learning through real-world phenomena that connect to students’ cultural resources. The session will feature classroom examples of student-created DBQs and practical strategies and procedures for guiding students in the question development process.

Participants will engage actively by stepping into the shoes of students and experiencing the DQB process firsthand as I model the teacher’s facilitation techniques and preparation. Through this interactive approach, attendees will observe how DQBs align with the Next Generation Science Standards by emphasizing student-centered inquiry, phenomenon-based learning, and three-dimensional teaching practices.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical knowledge, sample student work, and ready-to-use resources for implementing DQBs in their own classrooms. This session is designed to equip educators with the tools and confidence to harness the power of student questions in driving deeper scientific understanding.
Speakers
avatar for Stacey Balbach

Stacey Balbach

Chemistry, Biology, Physics, AP Chemistry, and CAPP Dual Credit Chemistry 105/106, Cuba City High School
Chemistry, Dual Credit Chemistry UWO, Physics, and Biology TeacherI am passionate about creating space for student sense-making through strategic planning and student wondering.
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Hutchinson
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

11:00am CDT

Lab Safety in the K-8 Classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Thistle
Facilitators will bring their 15+ years of background in science to help lead discussion in lab and investigation safety. In this session attendees will share ideas for science investigation facilitation. This will include informal exploration activities as well as formal and multiple day investigations. Ideas will be shared as to how to make classroom safety student centered. Attendees will also test their knowledge on best practices and apply new understanding of best practices to their science classroom by exploring science classroom safety plans.
Speakers
AB
KK
Thursday April 3, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Thistle
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

1:00pm CDT

Monitoring Aquatic Invasive Species Using Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Thistle
Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is an emerging technology and important conservation tool of natural resource professionals used to monitor the presence or absence of species, such as invasive carp. This session will engage participants in portions of the field and laboratory experience and in the curriculum refinement process for utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect the presence of invasive carp in the Wisconsin River. When finalized, participants will receive the field and laboratory investigation protocols and additional educational materials. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school students. Participant objectives are to experience portions of the curriculum and provide critical feedback for refinement. This session connects to NGSS Science Practices 1 & 4 (Plan, justify, and carry out an investigation & Apply reasoning from evidence to support a claim) and Cross Cutting Concept 1 (Interpret cause and effect relationships.)

This project is a collaborative effort between the UW Madison Division of Extension, UW-Madison Genetics & Biotechnology Center, Freshwater@UW Collaborative, Wisconsin 4-H, Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, and the U.S. Geological Survey, and was made possible by a Wisconsin Sea Grant and Division of Extension Innovation Grant.
Speakers
AW
JS
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Thistle
  Biology/Life Science   Environmental

1:00pm CDT

Workshop: Forest Measurement: Tools You Can Use
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Evelyn
Forest measurement is beneficial to students as they use tools, apply geometry and accounting, and begin to understand the importance of sustainable forestry and connections to healthy forests of Wisconsin. Participants will practice with a variety of tools used to measure trees and estimate density, make management decisions, and consider what products can come from a harvest. LEAF Field Lessons (grades 5-12) that incorporate measurement will be introduced. Depending on weather and proximity to trees, this workshop may go outside for part of the time.
Wisconsin Science Standards connections:
SCI.ESS3.A: Natural Resources
SCI.ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
SCI.ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Speakers
SS
Sponsors
LW
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Evelyn
  Earth Science   Environmental

1:00pm CDT

Bridging Literacy and Science
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Herietta
Let's face it: Literacy is a top priority in most K-5 classrooms. What if science instruction could not only support your literacy initiatives, but truly help your students become better readers and writers? Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your teaching journey, join us for this workshop as we discover how teaching science can foster academic achievement across disciplines.
Speakers
ML
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Herietta
  Elementary

1:00pm CDT

Workshop: Empowering Students to Lead: A Green Team Toolkit for Energy Savings
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
John Lynch
Green teams empower schools to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, resulting in cost savings, reduced environmental impact, and enriched educational opportunities. By engaging students and staff, these teams cultivate responsibility and foster a culture of sustainability within the school community.

FOCUS ON ENERGY® developed the Green Team Toolkit to support these efforts. This comprehensive resource empowers K-12 students as sustainability leaders, offering step-by-step guidance for forming and managing green teams, practical energy-saving strategies, and tips for competitions like Renew Our Schools. The toolkit highlights low-cost, no-cost measures with quick paybacks, enabling schools to optimize building performance while providing meaningful learning experiences for students.

Wisconsin’s K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) complements these efforts with Green Team Mini-Grants designed to fund energy education and efficiency projects, offering schools tangible support to turn ideas into action.

In this session, Focus on Energy, KEEP, and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District will showcase the benefits of green teams, the impact of the toolkit, and how these mini-grants can amplify these initiatives. Attendees will be equipped with actionable strategies, real-world examples, and the inspiration to transform students into sustainability champions, benefiting facilities, education, and the broader community.
Speakers
avatar for Nick Gagnon

Nick Gagnon

Teacher, Chippewa Falls High School
I've been teaching Physics, Chemistry and Remote Pilot classes at Chippewa Falls High School for 20+ years. Over the past 5 years I've been advising our Green Team. These students have accomplished more than I ever could have imagined!
avatar for Heather Feigum

Heather Feigum

Heather oversees Focus on Energy's Agriculture and Schools/Government programs. With a background in energy and project management, she previously served as an Energy Advisor for schools and government facilities. Heather's educational experience includes being a Renewable Energy... Read More →
LL
avatar for Heather Phelps

Heather Phelps

Student Resource Specialist, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
Sponsors
FO
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
John Lynch
  Elementary   High Ed   General   Energy Savings and Sustainability

1:00pm CDT

Collaborative Water Research in the Classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Dixie
Members of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin invite 8-12th grade educators to learn about university programs that provide middle school and high school students with hands-on opportunities to study freshwater science.

Topics will include high school freshwater camps, aquaculture in the classroom, wild rice in the classroom, water-focused educator workshops, and water-monitoring programs that link educators and students to statewide water experts. Panelists will represent programs led by faculty and staff at UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee UW Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point.

Learn how to prepare your students for STEM programs in college and create a network that connects them and you to faculty and undergraduate scientists in the Universities of Wisconsin. Intended outcomes include ideas for bringing hands-on water science activities into your classroom and building skills in students at all levels, an enhanced ability to provide knowledge about water careers to your students, and an increased connection to universities who would like to engage K-12 students and educators in freshwater science activities.
Speakers
MJ
LS
GK
SM
LT
HL

Heidi L Jeter

Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Dixie
  Environmental   Freshwater Science

1:00pm CDT

Enhancing Science Education Through Data Collection: Innovative Approaches with TI Technology
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Lefevre

In an era where data-driven insights are critical for scientific discovery and understanding, the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data has become a fundamental skill for students. This workshop will explore how you can empower students to
actively engage in data collection across diverse science disciplines, including physics,
chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
Participants will learn hands-on techniques for integrating data collection into their science
curricula using sensors, which provide real-time data and enhance students’
learning experiences. This session will offer insights on inquiry-based learning that develops
students’ scientific literacy and problem-solving skills.

Objectives:
1. Understand the Role of Data Collection in Science Education
2. Explore TI Technology for Real-Time Data Collection
3. Design and Implement Data-Driven Experiments
4. Integrate Data Collection into Standards-Based Instruction

By the end of this session, participants will:
• Gain confidence in using technology for data collection in science education.
• Acquire practical strategies for designing and implementing data-driven science experiments.
• Understand how to integrate data collection with standards-based instruction to enhance
student engagement and scientific literacy.
Speakers
MG
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Lefevre
  General   Biology/Life Science   Chemistry   Earth Science   Environmental   Physics

1:00pm CDT

Skills Based Grading
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
By combining the best of NGSS and Ambitious Science Teaching, we will show you how our department revolutionized our assessments to grading to the skills. We will share sample activities, grading rubrics, gradebook set-up, and stories along the way.
Speakers
avatar for Brad Roost
TM
RS
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

1:00pm CDT

Workshop: 3D Learning Unleashed: Integrating Simulations for Captivating Science Experiences
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
BF Carter
Join this session to discover how incorporating simulations into your 3D learning experiences can revolutionize Grades 3-12 science lessons. Join this session to discover how incorporating simulations into your 3D learning experiences can revolutionize science lessons for Grades 3-12. We'll create an environment where students become inquisitive explorers, tackling challenging concepts and phenomena through engaging discourse, modeling, and designing solutions to real-world science problems.

This interactive session will demonstrate how simulations can enhance conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. We will reflect on how the experiences connect to the 3-dimensions of NGSS. Don't forget to bring your device to make the most of this hands-on experience!
Speakers
CH
Sponsors
E
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
BF Carter
  General   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

1:00pm CDT

Teaching Climate Change in all subjects using the Wisconsin Climate Change Education Hub
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
This session focuses on empowering educators to teach climate change in a locally relevant, meaningful way by leveraging the Wisconsin Climate Hub as a resource and connecting climate educators across the nation. Participants will explore how collaboration among state leads fosters state-specific climate education while offering opportunities for nationwide connections. The session will begin with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities in teaching about climate change, followed by a deep dive into the Wisconsin Climate Hub—a platform designed to support educators with credible, engaging resources, lesson plans, and professional development opportunities. Attendees will be guided through a walkthrough of the Hub, including its navigation tools, state-specific resources, and pedagogical support articles. The session will also provide an opportunity for educators to create accounts, explore resources, and share their discoveries with peers. Key topics will include Earth Day, math integration, plastic pollution, and climate education for younger students. Finally, attendees will be introduced to the free SubjectToClimate courses available to educators, empowering them with additional tools to enhance their climate education curriculum. The session aims to foster collaboration, build knowledge, and inspire action in the classroom.

Learning Objectives:
1. Reflect on the challenges and opportunities of teaching climate change.
2. Navigate and utilize the Wisconsin Climate Hub for state-specific resources and professional development.
3. Engage in hands-on exploration of resources, with an emphasis on pedagogical strategies and local context.
4. Discover additional tools and courses to enhance climate education in the classroom.
Speakers
DM
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
  Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   K-12 Climate Change Education

1:00pm CDT

Workshop: What's In the Trunk? An Elephant Conservation Expedition to Identify Poaching Hotspots Using MiniOne Gel Electrophoresis.
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Anna M
Elephant populations are facing threats from many sources, including illegal ivory poaching. This workshop introduces participants to the work of scientists who are tracking African elephant populations and identifying factors leading to their decline. The workshop session will integrate concepts of population ecology, biodiversity, ethics, and molecular ecology. The workshop will emphasize integration of NGSS science practices including: asking questions and defining problems, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, and constructing explanations and designing solutions.
Participants will run gel electrophoresis to determine where illegal poaching is occuring, bringing an engaging story and biotechnology skills to their students. In this hands-on session participants will
Examine the role of elephants as a keystone species and reasons for population decline.
Take on the role of Wildlife Crime Scene Investigators to analyze DNA samples from confiscated ivory using gel electrophoresis.
Identify the elephant population the tusks came from by comparing the genotype to an elephant DNA database compiled from dung samples representing various forest and savannah elephant populations.
Compile data to determine the location of ivory poaching hotspots.
Evaluate possible solutions to the elephant poaching crisis
Speakers
AF
Sponsors
M
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Anna M
  Biology/Life Science   Environmental

1:00pm CDT

FT5: EAA Museum Tour & Redbird Flight Sims
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Cost $0, Requires advanced registration
Discover the rich history and cutting-edge technology of aviation by joining a guided tour of the EAA Aviation Museum, where you can explore both modern and historic aircraft from throughout the ages.
Participants will also have the chance to experience flying on our Cessna 172 Skyhawk Redbird Flight Simulators. These advanced simulators offer an immersive experience and are used by certified pilots for currency and proficiency training.

Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
  Fieldtrip

1:00pm CDT

FT7: Fifth Ward Brewing
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Cost $10, Advanced registration required
Just a short walk from the conference, Fifth Ward Brewing offers a closer look at the science and creativity behind their craft beers. Explore their brewing techniques, fermentation process, and commitment to bold flavors. End the tour with a tasting of their signature brews, perfect for science enthusiasts!
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
  Fieldtrip

1:00pm CDT

FT8: EAA Museum Tour & Middle School Activity
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Cost $10, Advanced registration required
Discover the rich history and cutting-edge technology of aviation by joining a guided tour of the EAA Aviation Museum, where you can explore both modern and historic aircraft from throughout the ages.

Join EAA educators for soldering and riveting small airplanes that you can bring back to your classroom, helping you incorporate the technology and science of aviation into your lessons. EAA's educational programs, crafted by licensed educators, are designed to engage, and inspire students while challenging them to learn.

Thursday April 3, 2025 1:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
  Fieldtrip

1:30pm CDT

FT4: Willow Creek Cheese Factory and Pine River Winery
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
Cost $15, Prior registration required
1st stop- There are less than 100 certified master cheesemakers in Wisconsin. Willow Creek cheese factory has two of them. With ingredients sourced from the finest local dairy farms, the Willow Creek Creamery crafts the most authentically Wisconsin cheese you will taste. 
2nd stop- Visit a small artisan winery specializing in local Wisconsin grape and fruit wines. Learn how to prune a spring grapevine out in the vineyard, all the steps in the wine-making process, and enjoy samples in the cozy tasting room.
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
TBA
  Fieldtrip

1:45pm CDT

FT6: UWO - Engineering Lab
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Cost $10, Advanced Registration Required
Visit the Intelligent Biomedical Engineering (IBMEL) and the Environmental Engineering Labs at UW Oshkosh and explore cutting-edge healthcare and Environmental Engineering. 
The IBMEL focuses on advancing instrumentation and algorithm development. During your visit, you will experience:A demonstration of UV-excited fluorescence microscopy using porcine or chicken tissues. The UV-excited fluorescence imaging enables rapid characterization of fresh specimens, which can be used to achieve slide-free histopathology assessment and tumor margin detection.
A demonstration of artificial intelligence (AI) models. The emergence of deep learning has revolutionized medical imaging, including segmentation, classification, reconstruction, etc. This demo showcases the potential of AI in healthcare.
Environmental Engineering Lab will focus on drinking water:
Would you drink water from the Fox River, WI?
In this lab activity we will show you the steps that drinking water treatment plants follow to provide clean and safe drinking water to their customers. We will demonstrate the removal of particles by coagulation / sedimentation / filtration. The dissolved chemicals like pharmaceuticals, pesticides PFAS will be removed using granular activated carbon (GAC). This is an interactive demonstration with a stunning visual result.
Thursday April 3, 2025 1:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
  Fieldtrip

2:00pm CDT

Managing a Flipped Classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Thistle
Time tends to be the limiting factor on how well a teacher can truly dive into using the NGSS standards. A flipped classroom can give time back to the class period and allow for more student collaboration in their learning. In my presentation, I will go over the key elements of managing a flipped classroom. These elements include: the pre-class learning and the technological logistics involved, how to hold students accountable for the pre-class learning, the way a teacher's role is shifted from direct instruction to facilitator, and how to fully utilize the freed up class time for group work, case studies, review activities, and hands-on learning. I will make sure to address the difficulties that also come with a flipped classroom. To keep this session interactive I will have audience members model numerous examples of the interactive review activities that I have used over the years.
Speakers
SS
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Thistle
  Biology/Life Science   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

2:00pm CDT

Workshop: Ignite Curiosity and Cultivate Tomorrow's Scientists
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
BF Carter
Ignite the natural curiosity of young minds as they explore the wonders of the living world, the principles that govern it, and the secrets of our planet. Join us for an exciting session where we dive into literacy-infused science lessons designed to build essential foundational skills for our future scientists.
Experience a variety of captivating activities, including interactive games, catchy songs, virtual notebooks, and hands-on experiments. These tools are crafted to make science seriously fun for Kinder through Grade 2 students.
Let’s transform your classroom into a vibrant hub of exploration and discovery!
Speakers
CH
Sponsors
E
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
BF Carter
  Elementary

2:00pm CDT

Books to Builds: STEM Activities to Compliment Your Favorite Read-Alouds
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Herietta
Discover innovative STEM activities tailored to complement popular read-alouds. Participants will experience firsthand three engineering challenges inspired by beloved books. This hands-on workshop empowers educators to confidently integrate STEM into their existing curriculum, enriching students' learning experiences. Leave equipped to inspire young minds with the magic of reading and the excitement of engineering.
Learning Objectives
·       Discover how to transform activities from arts and crafts to rich, STEAM experiences that meet the NGSS engineering standards
·       Explore 3 popular read-alouds and 3 follow-on STEM activities
·       Conduct the STEM activities during the session so you leave confident and ready to implement in the classroom
Speakers
TT
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Herietta
  Elementary   Engineering

2:00pm CDT

Designing a Digital Mood Ring: Exploring Science Concepts with Coding
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Lefevre
Discover how to engage students in scientific inquiry and coding by designing a digital mood ring! This hands-on session will guide participants
through the process of creating a “mood ring” that changes color based on temperature
readings from a sensor. With simple coding teachers will
explore foundational science concepts—such as temperature sensing, data collection, and
thermodynamics—while introducing students to basic coding and data visualization skills.
No coding or advanced technical experience is needed; this session is designed to equip all
teachers with the tools and confidence to bring this interactive project into their classrooms.
Teachers will leave with a project outline, sample code, and step-by-step instructions, making
it easy to replicate in a science or STEM curriculum.
Speakers
MG
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Lefevre
  Engineering   STEM

2:00pm CDT

Navigating OpenSciEd Implementation
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Dixie
Transitioning to NGSS is a huge cultural shift. Fully aligned NGSS instruction looks and feels very different from traditional science instruction. In this session, one or more current science teachers from Cameron Middle School will share, and answer questions about their journey into NGSS via the OpenSciEd Curriculum. This session will include information on the following:
1. Why OpenSciEd (OSE)?
2. Accessing OSE and using the resources to discuss the remaining topics.
3. Aligning curriculum sequence, including discussion on following OSE sequencing vs maintaining your current curricular sequencing.
4. Strengths and challenges of OSE.
a. Planning and Prep
b. Classroom instruction time
c. Transitioning from tradition to NGSS-aligned curriculum
d. Assessment
5. How we each adapt OSE to make it ours:
a. 6th grade: science and social studies time is shared; only teach science half of the year
b. 7th grade: "I am a teacher of Science not a Science teacher".
c. 8th grade: "I hate being tethered to the front of the room!"
Question and Answer time!
Speakers
JE
AR
avatar for Valerie Pumala

Valerie Pumala

8th grade Science Teacher, Cameron Middle School
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Dixie
  General

2:00pm CDT

Workshop: Rural Schools Talk Science
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
John Lynch
This session brings together science educators from small rural schools to explore shared challenges and solutions, focusing on best science practices for grades 6-12, school day scheduling issues with limited content teachers, variety of electives/preps taught, and standards-based grading implementation in small schools. Participants will engage in collaborative discussions to share strategies and experiences while addressing unique aspects of rural education. Connections to the NGSS will emphasize practical implementation of standard based grading. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, enhanced understanding of NGSS integration, and strategies for fostering collaboration within their schools. Interactive elements will include brainstorming sessions and guided resource-sharing.
Speakers
avatar for Nick Wall

Nick Wall

Teacher, Cashton High School
ScienceHOSABaseball
avatar for Julie Lundeen

Julie Lundeen

Science Teacher, Cashton High School
Science teacher for 16 years-Teach in a small, rural school-Has been implementing and "tweaking" flipped classroom for several years-Implements flipped in chem and bio classes. Has developed new curriculum for Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Physics, Environmental Ed and... Read More →
Sponsors
CH
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
John Lynch
  General

2:00pm CDT

Workshop: Exploring OpenSciEd HS from Carolina Biological (9-12)
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Evelyn
Come experience a hands-on model lesson from OpenSciEd for High School and discover how the new Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, and safer for classroom use. Participate in the featured Serengeti board game from the Biology 1 unit and walk away with valuable resources that you can take back to your classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Bob Friedel

Bob Friedel

SciEd Consultant, Carolina Biological/Smithsonian
Bob is a Wisconsin lifetime science educator and has taught at the elementary, middle and high schools levels. He presently is consulting for The Smithsonian and Carolina Biological.
RB
Sponsors
CB
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Evelyn
  High Ed   Chemistry   Engineering   Physics

2:00pm CDT

Learning for Justice
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
Attendees will look closer at the CASEL SEL competencies and the Learning for Justice Standards, both of which aim to bring equity and SEL into the classroom. This presentation is step one of getting familiar with the resources, as well as having time to implement one of the strategies in their current curriculum.
Speakers
avatar for Claire Bernatz
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
  Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Diversity/Equity

2:00pm CDT

Physics Roundtable
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
Join us for a roundtable discussion centered around Physics, Physical Science, or teaching in general. Have ideas to share? Great! Have questions you need help with? Bring them! Looking to connect with Physics teachers and grow your network? Fantastic!
Speakers
avatar for Terry Schwaller

Terry Schwaller

Teacher, Mentoring Coordinator, Shiocton High School
I'm interested in Physics and Chemistry instruction, as well as interesting ways to increase student talk and alternative assessment. I'm also a foodie and comic book nerd.
Thursday April 3, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
  Physics   Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies

3:00pm CDT

Determine the Genetics of a CA$H-Cow - Connect Genetics Real-World Dairy Phenomenon
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Anna M
Discover how DNA evidence plays a pivotal role in optimizing agricultural practices and selective breeding to benefit both farmers and consumers. Use agarose electrophoresis to determine genotypes for bulls and cows for a gene responsible for a key milk protein needed for quality cheese production. After genotyping, use Punnett Squares to see the possible outcomes after crossing, then make a recommendation to a dairy farmer which bulls and cows to invest in to increase the chances of having the ultimate Ca$h Cows!
Speakers
SS
SG
Sponsors
MS
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Anna M
  Biology/Life Science

3:00pm CDT

The Mighty Oak (is no joke)
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Dixie
Participants will learn about Wisconsin’s oak forests and why they are ecologically and economically important. Through the phenomenon of growth and development of a single oak tree from acorn to old growth, participants will analyze and interpret its life history to understand the challenges facing oak forests. Questions to be answered include how an acorn survives to become an old oak tree, what ecological and human forces improve the tree’s chances for survival, and how these same forces apply to oak ecosystems. Participants will read brief accounts and review diagrams of oak natural and life history and review maps of presettlement and current oak forests. They will hear from a forest ecologist explaining how oak forests operate and how the sun-loving oak forests face challenges from vegetative competition, invasive plants, deer browsing, and a poor market for small diameter forest products. We will discuss what steps can be taken to insure the future of oak forests. Resources will be shared so teachers can find local data for different kinds of forests. Standards that are addressed include MS ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems, MS & HS LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans and HS LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience.
Speakers
KM
CM
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Dixie
  Biology/Life Science   Environmental

3:00pm CDT

Workshop: Bring Wisconsin Wildlife Into Your Classroom
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
BF Carter
Snapshot Wisconsin is a statewide community science project that utilizes a network of trail cameras to produce wildlife management data. This workshop will discuss ways to bring Wisconsin wildlife to a wide range of grade levels, from grades K-5 to higher education. Snapshot staff will walk you through the various lesson plans and activities available to educators.

Please bring a computer/tablet, if possible. We will also have some print outs, for those unable to bring a computer/tablet.

All Snapshot Wisconsin lesson plans and activities are free. Lesson plans are available for grades K-12 and outline curriculum connections in each educator handout, including NGSS (April 2013), Common Core (2010), AP Biology (2012-2013), IB Biology (2016), Environmental Science (2013), Environmental Systems & Societies, and Wisconsin’s Standards for Science.

Learning Objectives:
- Learn about Snapshot Wisconsin and how to get involved as a community scientist
- Learn about how Snapshot Wisconsin data is used to support management decisions at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Learn about how to access Snapshot Wisconsin’s free lesson plans and activities and incorporate them into your classroom or educational programming
- Learn about how to access and explore the Snapshot Wisconsin Data Dashboard as well as how it can be used to teach about science and math concepts, data literacy, and science communication.
Speakers
MM
LG
Sponsors
SW
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
BF Carter
  Elementary   High Ed   Biology/Life Science   Environmental

3:00pm CDT

Quantum Information Science and Engineering in High School
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Herietta
Quantum information science and engineering (QISE) is the use of quantum mechanics across a variety of fields, including physics, computer science, math, and engineering. This includes quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum-based measurement devices. Given the increasing relevance of quantum technology to our day-to-day lives, it is important to expose students to these topics before college. Quantum mechanics has a reputation of needing higher level math skills to understand it, but basic ideas of quantum mechanics can be taught with simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication. We will explore this simple approach for teaching the basic ideas of quantum mechanics in high school courses. We will also look at resources for incorporating QISE topics into the high school curriculum. While QISE is most applicable to the NGSS related to physics and with AP Physics, there are applications in chemistry, math, and computer science for QISE topics. Attendees will take away an understanding of how quantum mechanics can be taught using simple math, as well as a list of resources for curricular material to add into their courses.
Speakers
TZ
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Herietta
  Engineering   Physics

3:00pm CDT

Workshop: New Teacher Network
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
John Lynch
This workshop offers new teachers an opportunity to connect with peers, share challenges, and explore solutions. Participants will engage in discussions, build a supportive network, and learn about valuable resources to enhance their teaching practice. Gain insights, share experiences, and leave with tools to navigate the early years of your career with confidence.
Speakers
SR
avatar for Megan Sprague

Megan Sprague

Teacher, Onalaska High School
Sponsors
NT
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
John Lynch
  General

3:00pm CDT

Workshop: Stress Free Differentiation - Utilizing AI for planning and teaching
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Evelyn
This program, Stress-Free Differentiation: Utilizing AI for Planning and Teaching, equips science teachers with the tools and knowledge to simplify differentiation using innovative AI solutions. Participants will explore DiffIT and Brisk AI, two user-friendly platforms designed to streamline lesson planning, instructional delivery, and assessment. By incorporating these tools, teachers can efficiently tailor their instruction to meet the diverse needs of students, aligning with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)** by promoting inquiry-based learning and real-world application.

Additionally, this program integrates MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) principles by providing strategies for differentiated instruction across all tiers, ensuring equitable access to high-quality learning experiences. Educators will learn how to create personalized tasks, scaffold instruction, and design formative assessments that address both academic and social-emotional needs. By leveraging AI, science teachers can spend less time on planning and more time fostering student engagement, growth, and success in the classroom.
Speakers
MC
Sponsors
TM
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Evelyn
  General   elementary -high school

3:00pm CDT

Using Case Studies to Teach Human Body Systems
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Lefevre
Case studies are a great tool to engage and spark students' interest in learning about the human body systems and to learn about different diseases and conditions that affect those body systems. I will present the advantages and reasons for using case studies in a biology or anatomy class. Several case studies from different body systems will be shared and one case study will be conducted in the session. Teachers will also be given directions on a project for students to create their own case study and solve another student’s case.

Learning objectives include
Attendees will learn why case studies are a good way to teach human body systems and diseases associated with those body systems.
Attendees will learn how to incorporate case studies as a way to introduce a body system or as a way to review a specific body system.
Attendees will solve a case study.
Attendees will learn how to have students create their own case study for classmates to solve.
Speakers
JM
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Lefevre
  High Ed   Biology/Life Science

3:00pm CDT

Using Graphs to Read Real Weather Data
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
Are you looking at making your lessons impactful? Are you struggling to find good graphs to help your students practice? You can generate real world graphs that will paint pictures for students. Using these tools, students can make their own weather predictions, discover real time weather information, and verify weather data after weather events. You will learn how to make your own weather collection tools and have students gather real time weather data to compile over time. Help prepare students for the ACT by having them analyze data from one of the most difficult graphs to read, the SKEW-t. By reading this graph, students can analyze the weather at your school and determine the cloud heights, whether it will precipitate, what kind of precipitation, and whether severe weather is on its way. Students will also be able to explore various climates around the country and around the world by analyzing these graphs and comparing them to other regions. The weather in Wisconsin is drastically different from Saudi Arabia. Come explore how students can read graphs for real.
Speakers
ED
NF
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Lake Poygan
  High Ed   General   Earth Science   Environmental

3:00pm CDT

Universal Design in Science
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
Attendees will learn the core principles of Universal Design. From there, attendees will have an opportunity to 3D think and implement how to connect NGSS standards to strong UD principals in a practical, realistic, sustainable way. With extra time, attendees will take an upcoming lesson they are planning and apply these principles to that time to ask questions while integrating.
Speakers
avatar for Claire Bernatz
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Hutchinson
  Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Diversity/Equity

3:00pm CDT

Making Your Classes More Ambitious!
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Thistle
After reading Ambitious Science Teaching in 2022, I began to approach my classes much differently. Ambitious Science Teaching is a methodology which encourages student engagement, discussion, problem solving, and modeling. As with any new pedagogy, the desire to implement change can be daunting. Do I need to start from scratch? Can I implement new methods, without having to find new curriculum and materials?

I say you can! Come and hear about my journey to implement Ambitious Science Teaching methodologies, increasing student engagement without completely reinventing the wheel. Student work samples will be shown, so you can get an idea of how implementation of these ideas has increased student achievement as well.
Speakers
avatar for Terry Schwaller

Terry Schwaller

Teacher, Mentoring Coordinator, Shiocton High School
I'm interested in Physics and Chemistry instruction, as well as interesting ways to increase student talk and alternative assessment. I'm also a foodie and comic book nerd.
Thursday April 3, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Thistle
  Pedagogy/Teaching Strategies   Physical Science

4:00pm CDT

Social: Vender Hall Social
Thursday April 3, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Thursday April 3, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
  Social

6:30pm CDT

Social: Membership Social sponsored by the President of WSST
Thursday April 3, 2025 6:30pm - 8:30pm CDT
Thursday April 3, 2025 6:30pm - 8:30pm CDT
  Social
 
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