NSTA’s position statement on elementary school science recognizes that elementary science instruction often takes a back seat to math and reading and receives little time in the school day. But it’s also the time when children are easily interested in science and have extraordinary sense of wonder. Join us to learn how to make the most of the time you have for science and children’s innate sense of curiosity. NSTA Area Conferences on Science Education bring together educators at every level, with dozens of sessions and workshops crafted just for elementary 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 designed for elementary school teachers at our fall conferences.

NSTA Press sessions that will give teachers an “aha” moment! Below is a sample:

• Argument-Driven Inquiry in Grades 3–5: Three-Dimensional Investigations That Integrate Literacy and Mathematics
  Salt Lake City, UT | Thursday, October 24, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | Salt Palace Convention Center, 155B
• Eureka! K–2 and Grades 3–5 Science Activities and Stories
  Cincinnati, OH | Thursday, November 14, 3:30 PM–4:30 PM | Duke Energy Convention Center, Junior Ballroom A
• Picture-Perfect Science Lessons, Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry K–5
  Cincinnati, OH | Thursday, November 14, 9:30 AM–10:30 AM | Duke Energy Convention Center, Junior Ballroom A

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

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

• Nurture Through Nature (How Four Teachers Stumbled Their Way into Building the Most Innovative School Club in the Country)
• Fairy Tale Forensics
• Full STEAM Ahead
• Inquiry in Action: Investigating Matter K–5
• ASEE Session: Literacy-Infused Engineering for Middle School and Elementary Students 
• Experience Three-Dimensional Learning in the K–2 Classroom Around the Principles of Flight
• Inviting Play into the Classroom
  

Meet the NSTA staff and leadership in the bookstore and at the membership area. Ask about NSTA’s awards, including the Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers 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 elementary school teachers at the First-Timers Session
Look for tables marked “Elementary 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.