When I search any conference schedule to choose sessions to attend I am always suspicious of those that are listed as for PreK-12. I am delighted that the NSTA 2016 national conference coming up next week in Nashville has many sessions focused on early childhood years, preschool through grade 2. I will have to make hard choices some days between sessions such as:

A session by the Council for Elementary Science International, “Building Towers and Structures! Using the Engineering Design Process with Young Children!” and “The Living Classroom: Turning Your Curriculum into an Outdoor Adventure Through Learning Gardens” are both on Thursday, March 31 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM.

On Friday my day will be book-ended by two events for early childhood educators: the Elementary Extravaganza in the morning and an informal gathering from 3:10 PM – 4:30 PM in the lobby of the Omni Nashville Hotel. This gathering brings co-facilitators and members of the NAEYC Early Childhood Science Education interest forum together with all other interested early childhood educators. I hope to meet you there!

I will also be at the NSTA store to talk with you about my book, Science Learning in the Early Years. The book includes many of the Early Years columns from Science and Children with descriptions of how they can become part of a science inquiry.

Don’t miss the Elementary Extravaganza! On Friday, April 1 from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, this grand ballroom will be filled with tables staffed by preK to elementary educators with engaging hands-on activities, strategies to excite and encourage your students, and resources for use in your classroom immediately. There will be a preview of the best trade books available, information about award opportunities, contacts with elementary science organizations, door prizes, and coffee. “Walk away with a head full of ideas and arms filled with materials.” Thank you to participating organizations and sponsors of this event!

On Saturday, April 2, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, I will have to miss the session, “We Are Engineers, Too!,” because I will be assisting Dr. Beth Van Meeteren in her session, “Ramps and Pathways: An Integrated STEM Activity.” I love it when presenters upload handouts on the conference site, allowing me to peek into the session even if I can’t actually attend.

Thank you to Conference Committee Leaders Becky Ashe, Conference Chairperson; Margie Hawkins, Program Coordinator; and Tanisha L. Wesby, Local Arrangements Coordinator!

If you can’t get to Nashville, consider attending the 5th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA in Denver in July 27–29, 2016   This event has an entire strand focused on Lower Elementary/Early Childhood.

“Students in the lower elementary grades are beginning to understand the world around them and the role they play in it. They are curious and want to make sense of their surroundings. By providing students with inquiry-based experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, we can unlock each student’s natural curiosity and help them understand the world in an engaging way. The foundational skills learned and mastered through the integration of STEM during the early years, if done right, will help these students be critical thinkers and makers that can innovate the future they will be a part of. Sessions in this strand will emphasize open-ended and active exploration, play, and investigation of the real world through the lens of NGSS.”

Well said!