• Using engineering practices to help engage all students in making sense of the genetics and physiology of the human body

Using the NGSS engineering practices to redesign a public school building to address the human body mismatches with our environment. Students will design a school to make it more sustainable for their body and the environment they live in.

• Climate Science in the High School Classroom: Active, Noisy & Messy

Roll up your sleeves, and join us for hands-on activities that help internalize the causes and effects of climate change. Brainstorm how to use them for the greatest impact in Environmental Studies, Physics, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, Oceanography, and Independent Research classes. Connect activities with disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices of NYSSLS.

• Summer Science Research

Columbia's Summer Research Program (www.sciernceteacherprogram.org), provides paid fellowships that enable secondary science teachers to participate for eight weeks in two consecutive summers in hands-on authentic laboratory research in the discipline they teach under the guidance of Columbia faculty. Outcome studies show that 3 - 4 years after program entry, 10% more students taught by Program graduates pass NY State Regents science exams than students studying the same subject in classes taught by non-participating teachers in the same schools at the same time.

• Sustainable use of materials

How do we reduce our footprint? Lab supplies, paper copies, disposable materials (at school and at home!) How can we motivate students to engage in discussions on working towards a more sustainable world?

• Climate Change and Earth Observation Applications for Resiliency

This session presents climate processes that affect urban environments, using remote sensing data that enhance resilience to urban heat stress. Participants will learn about NASA’s climate data, resources, and tools to incorporate land surface temperature projects and curriculum into their classrooms

• Food Sustainability and Our Ecosystems

This workshop will introduce participants to the concepts of food sustainability. The primary focus of this workshop is to teach about two sustainable food practices-reduce food waste and reduce, reuse, and repurpose. Participants will learn how to incorporate these concepts into a life science course, and they will also learn about an organization called Food Rescue Us.

• Engaging Students in Civic Science & Action

Connect your students to the local environment, culture, and civics through place-based learning. Apply CELF’s Inquiry to Action Framework within the context of your classroom to understand how human and natural systems interact. Become motivated and inspired to develop a project to engage student learning through inquiry, place, and action.

• Bridging the Gap Between Mainstream & Environmental Education

The climate crisis bleeds into every aspect of our lives. What role can education play in solving it? This presentation will explore middle school teachers' perceptions of Environmental Education (EE), the impact of EE on students, and how to integrate EE into the mainstream curriculum. You'll leave this presentation with support on cross-curricular EE! 

• Sustainable Making

You do not have to spend thousands of dollars setting up a makerspace. It's all about the maker mindset. Our Makerspace has become a collaboration hub for members across our school community by inviting all disciplines to converge in one place allowing students and faculty to learn together. This presentation will focus on low-tech science projects and activities that help students produce artifacts that reinforce academic and curricular goals using mainly highly recycled/reused material content.

• Making Sense of Science!

In this presentation, we will examine how NYSSLS (NGSS) requires changes in our teaching practices. What does an elementary science lesson look like, sound like? How can we overcome the challenges of implementing quality, accessible science in our classrooms? We will explore three significant changes in our teaching mindset and evaluate how to implement these changes for immediate classroom use.

• Introduce Coding with a Bee-Bot

Students are asked to navigate Bee-Bot to a specific spot and then asked if the thing is living or non-living and why. Students may discuss their ideas with their groups. This reinforces that some things are living, some were once living, and others have never been alive. Students may also review what it takes to be a living thing by naming the essentials for life. The activity will continue with students choosing pictures to create a food chain and moving their Bee-bots through the chain. The Bee-Bots are part of TCCW's loanable program for educators.

• Collaboration is Key

Educators can only expect students to learn how to work in groups by putting them in groups. Many individuals engaged in group work are still uncomfortable collaborating with others. Collaboration skills are similar to writing and math skills. Teaching students the skill of collaboration is KEY. During this workshop, we will work together to understand how to help students gain the skills needed to collaborate successfully.

• Engineering with Paper: Amazing Projects with just paper, tape & scissors

You don't need fancy equipment to teach Simple Machines, Force and Motion, and other physical science content. Using Engineering with Paper techniques, you can have your students make a wide variety of projects using just paper, tape, and scissors. From roller coasters to catapults, this session will show you how to make amazing projects that focus on core curricula using the simplest supplies. You will come away with lesson plans that you can use immediately in your classroom.