WSST Conference 2025

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.

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

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.

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.

This presentation will explore how the Growing Beyond Earth (GBE) citizen science project has been integrated into a middle school science classroom. GBE, a collaborative effort between NASA and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, offers students a unique opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research by growing plants in controlled environments. By participating in this project, students are exposed to real-world science practices, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Through a series of hands-on activities, students learn about plant biology, environmental factors, and the challenges of growing plants in space. The project aligns with NGSS by addressing core ideas in life science, earth and space science, and engineering design.

This session will delve into the specific activities and lessons implemented to engage students in the GBE project, including:
--Plant Growth Experiments
--Data Collection and Analysis
--Scientific Inquiry
Student Learning Objectives
--Understand the basic principles of plant growth and development.
--Develop data collection and analysis skills.
--Apply scientific inquiry to investigate real-world problems.
--Appreciate the challenges of growing plants in space.
--Develop a deeper understanding of the role of science in society.

Through this project, students have been able to contribute to real NASA research while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Abstract: Unearthing Fossil Discoveries: Engaging Students with Interactive Science Notebooking and a Fossil Museum Project
Dive into an interactive journey of paleontological discovery as I share how a generous donation of fossils from the Pit 11 Mazon Creek Formation transformed my classroom into a hub of hands-on scientific exploration. This session will detail how I integrated an original 1970s fossil hunter’s journal—complete with detailed sketches and field notes—into lessons that introduced students to scientific sketching, fossil identification, and museum curation.
Participants will learn how students:
Reflected on a non-scientist’s authentic field journal to connect with the documentation process.
Created detailed scientific sketches of fossils, then engaged in peer-matching activities to hone observational skills.
Identified, sorted, and selected fossils to design and curate a school library fossil museum, including 3D-printed models and student-created exhibits.
Explored the process of uncovering unopened concretions using the freeze-thaw-bake method, resulting in exciting discoveries like additional Tully Monsters.
Attendees will engage in hands-on activities adapted from these lessons, including scientific sketching and fossil identification, and discuss connections to the NGSS, including:
MS-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record.
MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and refinement.
This session emphasizes presenter-audience interaction, sharing adaptable strategies for classroom implementation, and fostering inquiry-based learning that inspires students to think like scientists.

You will build a soil moisture sensing system using the Arduino UNO. First you will design and code the project in Tinkercad using the Arduino simulator. Then you will build and code the project using an Arduino UNO and a soil moisture sensor. You will wire your projects and code in C++. You will learn the basics of the electronics behind Arduino connected sensors and the limitless possibilities for your science labs, fairs and national competitions. The workshop will demonstrate 3D learning and how to spark innovation and creativity using the Arduino platform.

Kevin will share NGSS-aligned resources for teaching climate change, vaccines, and evolution. We'll discuss strategies to teach them to students in ways that will be approachable for all. We'll also discuss how to support general media literacy for students - weeding out the fuzzy from the evidence-based. Finally, we'll discuss the psychological barriers that make people want to believe certain things and keep them believing it despite the evidence. It's important to note that private school teachers also teach these topics!

We have a 0.5 credit Science Intern Course at Hartford Union High School which allows students the opportunity to learn alongside a science teacher. They are responsible for laboraory set up, preparation and clean-up for our department in addition to being a teaching assistant during labs or activities in our introductory level courses. We have an application and interview process along with a reflection document that is filled out during their internship. Several former students have secured lab interns jobs as freshman at their respective universities. Learn how to propose and execute this course to help develop students as leaders in science.

We will explain how educators can sign up and become a Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Member. We will explain all the benefits of being a member. We will also explain all the free things you are entitled to as a member. After the first year you renew as a member for free annually. There are stem kits, Lessons for your classroom, free teacher orientation flights.

Lessons have NSSG objectives and areas listed. Our goal is to get teachers teaching aerospace education lessons to give students a taste for learning more about aviation. We have frees stem kits and lessons for their classrooms. We try to show them how they can maximize their efforts in getting stem kits. We also demonstrate the ease in which you can get free materials and a flight in a Civil Air Patrol plane.

We explain how you pay only once, and can then sign up annually free of charge every year after the first year. We also like to give Teachers Airplane rides. When you get a chance to fly it becomes an experience you want to share with your students.

Wisconsin residents have extensive, high quality water systems and a broad range of individuals and organizations working to understand, protect and enhance them. The Milwaukee Waters Investigation Project (MWI) is a multidisciplinary STEM project focusing on a semester of teacher support, four professional development meetings, and ending with a one day field investigation with over 325 students supported by partners from more than 15 organizations. There is no cost to teachers to participate. The Freshwater Tool Kit.org website, project activities, water systems review, and water quality and water habitat monitoring and the opportunity to reveal and inspire potential career pathways in the water sector connect this project to the NGSS standards.
This presentation includes an overview of the MWI Project, and the experience of a teacher involved in the project. There will also be an exercise for conference attendees to share what they are doing with their students in this space, to identify partners they do or might want to work with, and explore opportunities for collaboration within their community or with peers in other parts of the state to develop real-world projects centered on this vital resource.

Many students aren’t aware of the breadth of jobs in natural resource conservation. From scientists to artists and GIS specialists to bloggers, conservation agencies and organizations are seeking passionate individuals with a wide variety of skills to help address growing soil, water, air, and wildlife challenges. In this session, we will introduce various educational resources, case study materials, and practical classroom demonstrations to integrate into your current curriculums to highlight potential natural resource career paths. At the end of the session, you will be able to identify diverse examples of natural resource conservation professionals and describe their general qualifications and job duties, as well as discuss how the knowledge and skills learned in your courses are applicable to a career in conservation.

Think outside the box! As we continue to face decreasing levels of student engagement, can we design new course offerings to captivate students in a variety of ways?

Science electives offer high school students a unique opportunity to explore their passions and delve deeper into specific scientific fields. Beyond meeting graduation requirements, these courses provide invaluable benefits, such as gaining in-depth understanding of a specialized science area, developing practical skills through laboratory work, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, exploring potential career paths, and simply satisfying a natural curiosity about the world!

Attendees will hear about the development process for three unique electives including: Cultivating student interest, encouraging exploration and interest-based course selection, and providing opportunities for students to contribute to curriculum development.

Presenters will share reflections on the preliminary offerings, including successes, challenges, and the need for cultural shift in order to maximize the benefit of these courses.

Calling all EARTH SCIENCE teachers to a round table discussion session to collaborate, share resources and build future connections! We will explore different phenomena based storylines in Earth science, focusing on those that are free to teachers and learn how to join online communities for questions, modified documents and so much more! Bring your computer and any resources you would like to share, as well as gain access to many free resources and google drives for teaching hands on Earth science at any level!

Discover an engaging, NGSS-aligned activity that introduces students to the science of light pollution and empowers them to develop design solutions to real-world problems. In this presentation, participants will explore light pollution. We will look at the causes and effects of lighting up our night sky. They will then be challenged to use the Engineering Design Process to provide a solution to our current light pollution problem.

Attendees will:
1. Investigate the phenomenon of light pollution and why it matters.
2. Engage in a hands-on activity, constructing and testing mini streetlights in a homemade planetarium.
3. Explore the engineering design process, focusing on optimizing light shields to reduce light pollution while maintaining safety.
4. Learn how skills are used for assessment at Racine Unified School District

Through collaboration and interactive problem-solving, participants will experience the lesson from the student perspective while gaining practical resources to bring this learning to their own classrooms. This activity connects STEAM learning with Earth Science, engineering, and astronomy.

I will present for 30 minutes on how I use transects to get kids outside collecting data along a stream corridor. I have found transects are engaging for students without the expectation that they are an expert on identifying plant or animal species. Transects are often the building blocks for our field observations within an outdoor freshwater ecology course I teach and useful to build skills required for the rest of the semester. I will share several different transects that I have found to be effective for mapping, analyzing and collecting field data all within a 45 minute class period (so quick turn around). I will talk about common barriers and future connections with transects as well. The last 15 minutes will be open discussion or time for any questions you may have for me.

HS LS2- 2 Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on
evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of
different scales.HS LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.