STEM Teaching Tools at NSTA in Anaheim, 2026
Posted on April 29, 2026
STEM Teaching Tools at NSTA in Anaheim, 2026
Our team with our collaborators presented at the NSTA National Conference in Anaheim! We offered a series of 12 sessions inspired by STEM Teaching Tools and designed to help educators engage in climate justice instruction, leverage student sensemaking resources, take learning outside, and more! At all sessions, participants received resources and strategies they can use in their classrooms. Those are all shared at the links below.
Thursday, April 16
8-9 AM: Supporting Equity and Justice Through Science Instruction: The Road Traveled and the One Ahead Presenter: Philip Bell & Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington Seattle)
All students have the right to develop a deep understanding of how the world works in ways that support their personal goals and the interests of their community. Come explore how instruction can more equitably support science learning that is consequential to your students and their communities.
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Supporting All Students in Making Sense of Phenomena By Building All of Their Intellectual Resources
Presenters: Philip Bell (University of Washington Seattle)
This session highlights cultural dimensions of meaningful science learning. It showcases a powerful instructional technique for formative assessment called “self-documentation”—where students collect information related to a particular theme or topic in their everyday lives.
2:20-3:20 PM: Adapting OpenSciEd Curriculum to Focus on Climate Justice, Local Solutions, and Issues of Indigenous Self-Determination. Presenters: Philip Bell (University of Washington Seattle), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington Seattle)
We show how instructional materials can be adapted for local contexts—and how to elevate issues of climate justice and ethical responses to the climate crisis. Participants will learn about how a high school physics unit from OpenSciEd was adapted to attend to Indigenous land rights and sovereignty.
3:40-4:40 PM: How Should We be Using AI in Education? Ethical, Pedagogical and Professional Considerations of Artificial Intelligence. Presenters: Philip Bell (University of Washington Seattle), Deb L. Morrison (University of Washington Seattle)
All students have the right to develop a deep understanding of how the world works in ways that support their personal goals and the interests of their community. Science education can help build a more just and equitable world. Come explore how instruction can support science learning that is consequential to your students, their communities, and the broader world.
Friday, April 17
9:20-10:20 AM Teaching Climate Justice: Priority Areas and Educational Approaches
Presenters: Philip Bell (University of Washington Seattle), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington Seattle), Deb L. Morrison (University of Washington Seattle), Nancy Price (University of Washington Seattle)
Science education has a key role to play in supporting a just transition to the climate crisis. Participants will learn about 20 priority areas associated with climate and environmental justice—and explore educational approaches, resources, and groups related to these areas.
10:40-11:40 AM: Engaging Students in Talking about Indigenous Sovereignty and Climate Systems
Presenters: Philip Bell & Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)
Youth need opportunities to learn about green colonialism and how Native Science and Indigenous sovereignty are fundamental to addressing the climate emergency. Workshop participants will engage in talk activities designed to support non-Indigenous youth in learning and processing these topics.
1:20 - 2:20 PM: Get Your Students Outside to Learn Science and Care for the Living World!
Presenters: Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Nancy Price (University of Washington: Seattle, WA), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)
How can science learning experiences help students develop ecological caring approaches to the living world? Come explore educational approaches to multispecies justice with us! Expanding how students connect to and care for the living world around them is vital at this time of climate crisis.
2:40-3:40 PM: Youth As Climate and Environmental Scientists: Collecting, Analyzing, and Reporting on Local Community Climate and Environmental Justice Data
Presenters: Deb L. Morrison (University of Washington Seattle), Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington Seattle), Katie Boyd (Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington Seattle), James Kostka (United Charter School, Bronx, NY)
Without local data it is impossible to fully understand community environmental and climate problems and their effects on different groups. Attendees will explore different environmental and climate data sets and learn how to use these with students to create well-informed solutions.
4:00-5:00 PM: Designing Learning for Climate Action
Presenters: Deb Morrison (University of Washington Seattle) Sarah Sterling (New Jersey Department of Education)
Come explore ways to engage students in community centered collaborative climate action now and on into the future. This workshop will engage participants in frank conversations about avoiding indoctrination, designing for varied forms of action, and building community collaborations.
Saturday, April 18
9:30-10:00 AM: Climate Learning Share-a-Thon
Philip Bell, Deb L. Morrison & Kelsie Fowler (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)
Are you interested in teaching about climate change, sustainability or the environment? Come explore open educational resources and design practices from a variety of organizations with expertise in these areas! These include professional learning, curriculum, and pedagogical resources!
10:20-11:20 AM: Supporting Youths’ Climate Emotions as Authentic Dimensions of Sensemaking
Presenters: Kelsie Fowler & Deb L. Morrison (University of Washington Seattle)
Understanding how to constructively respond to the diverse emotions youth express and experience as they engage in climate learning is essential work for educators. We will explore approaches for responding to youths’ eco-emotions, and how these can help students make better sense of the world.
11:40 - 12:40 AM: Core Practices that Center Justice in Ambitious Teaching
Presenters: April Luehmann (University of Rochester, Rochester, NY), (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT)
This session highlights cultural dimensions of meaningful science learning. It showcases a powerful instructional technique for formative assessment called “self-documentation”—where students collect information related to a particular theme or topic in their everyday lives.