Does teaching middle school science require superhuman powers? Maybe, but no matter how you answer this question, one thing is certain—three days away from the classroom surrounded by educators who understand and can teach you tried-and-true ways to reach this unique bunch of people we call tweens may just save your sanity and will definitely make your career more rewarding.  NSTA Area Conferences on Science Education bring together educators at every level, with dozens of sessions and workshops crafted just for middle school teachers. Plus, you’ll get to try all kinds of new products and pick up great freebies in the exhibit hall. There are three dates and cities:

• Salt Lake City, UT | October 24–26 | more info
• Cincinnati, OH | November 14–16 | more info
• Seattle, WA | December 12–14 | more info

Browse below for events and opportunities that middle school teachers will love at our fall conferences.

Dozens of sessions designed for middle school educators. Below is a small sampling of what you’ll find when you search each conference’s session browser for events targeted for midle school science teaching. Salt Lake City Sessions | Cincinnati Sessions | Seattle Sessions

• STEM-ify Your Middle School Science Classroom
• Making Detectives in Middle School: Using Ecology Mysteries to Explore Content and Integrate Writing Practices
• Middle School Magic: Choice, Song, and Play
• NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: Engaging Students with Authentic Data
• Food Chains: Using Field Surveys That Give Real Results
• ASEE Session: Literacy-Infused Engineering for Middle School and Elementary Students
• Makerspaces: Why, What, How
  
  Keynote speakers: Kick off each conference with high energy and talks that make you proud to be a science teacher! (See pages 5, 13, and 21 in the program preview.)
  
  • Salt Lake City, UT | Mireya Mayor, Primatologist and National Geographic Explorer
  • Cincinnati, OH | National Geographic Explorer and Bashore Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Environment and Sustainability, Catawba College; and Adjunct Professor of the Environment, Duke University
  • Seattle, WA | Nalini M. Nadkarni, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City
    
    Meet the NSTA staff and leadership in the bookstore and at the membership area. Ask about NSTA’s awards for middle school science teachers and students, including the Angela Award and many others. Applications are open now!
    
    Seattle-bound conference goers may enjoy this educational trip: Fermentation Science: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hale’s Brewery and Westland Distillery. In the spirit of STEM, you’ll learn firsthand from master brewers how biology, chemistry, and physics converge in the different processes of brewing beer. (See p. 26 of the program preview for more information.)
    
    Short Courses
    These half- or full-day content-focused sessions are held in addition to all the regularly scheduled presentations on all aspects of science education. These require tickets and are worth the extra planning if you want to take a deep dive into areas like three-dimensional teaching and STEM, citizen science, increasing student engagement through “aha” moments, and more. (See pages 9, 17, and 25 of the program preview for more information.)
    Graduate-Level Credit Opportunities are available at each conference from local universities.
    (See pages 10, 18, and 24 of the program preview for more information.)
    
    The Exhibit Hall—Daily
    Check out the VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HALL
    Preview and create your own list of exhibitors before the conferences using these links: www.nsta.org/saltlakecityexhibits
    www.nsta.org/cincinnatiexhibits
    www.nsta.org/seattleexhibits
    
    The NSTA Exhibit Hall, with more than 125 of the leading science education companies and organizations in the world, has the newest products to show and share with educators. Don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for all the swag.
    (See p. 30 of the program preview for more information.)
    
    Meet your fellow middle school teachers at the First-Timers Session
    Look for tables marked “Middle School” (among other topics you may choose from like STEM and NGSS), where you can meet other attendees with similar interests, get to know the NSTA leadership, win prizes, and have a lot of fun. It’s the best way to kick off your conference experience. (See p. 3 of the program preview for more information.)
    
  • Salt Lake City
    Thursday, October 24, 8:00–9:00 AM  | 155F, Salt Palace Convention Center
  • Cincinnati
    Thursday, November 14, 8:00–9:00 | Junior Ballroom D, Duke Energy Convention Center
  • Seattle
    Thursday, December 12, 8:00–9:00 AM | Ballroom 6B, Washington State Convention Center

Can’t Attend But Want the Experience?

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram using #NSTA19, like NSTA on Facebook, and check out our area conference albums. And don’t forget, NSTA members save up to $90 off the price of registration. Not a member? Join here.