2025 National Science Teachers Association Conference Workshops
Engineer Inquiry with DIY Bird Feeders
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 3:40 – 4:40 pm EST
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center – 120 A
Strand: #Trending in Science Education
Description: Feeding birds can spark kids’ curiosity, interest in the outdoors, and engagement with science. You can make the experience more meaningful by incorporating engineering practices and challenging students to design their own feeders to help their local birds by using our Feeder Design Guide.
Takeaways: Learn how to develop students’ science and engineering skills with a feeder design challenge. Students will work together to consider the needs of birds, develop an understanding of what makes a good bird feeder, brainstorm designs, build the feeder, and evaluate its performance.
Participatory Science: Engaging All Students in Authentic Outdoor Science
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: 8:00 – 10:00 am EST
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center – 303 B
Strand: Curriculum-Based Professional Learning
Description: Discover how birds and participatory science connect kids to nature while providing exciting gateways to authentic science learning for all students. We’ll explore the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s participatory-science projects, share free resources, and go on an eBird walk. Bring your smart device!
Takeaways: Participatory-science projects, like eBird, provide an authentic way to meet science standards while building a lifelong passion for science and nature. We’ll discuss strategies for engaging students typically underrepresented in STEM fields.
Nurtured by Nature: Supporting SEL through Participatory Science and Outdoor Exploration
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: 1:20 – 2:20 pm EST
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center – 118 C
Description: Outdoor exploration and participatory science can help shape the STEM leaders of our future! Discover the benefits of outdoor learning as we explore free lessons, activities, and participatory-science projects that support social and emotional learning (SEL) while meeting science standards.
Takeaways: Discover free resources and strategies to ensure outdoor exploration and participatory science experiences give all students authentic opportunities to build life-long skills that help them thrive in and out of the classroom.
Conference website: https://www.nsta.org/national-conference-science-education-philadelphia-2025
Conference location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA.
