Special Programs
ESP Symposium
NSTA's Exemplary Science Program (ESP) was initiated to highlight programs that have been proven to produce superior student learning. Under the guidance of Robert E. Yager, 1982–1983 NSTA President, five monographs have been produced thus far—PreK–4, 5–8, 9–12, informal education, and best practices in professional development—each detailing exemplary programs selected by a national advisory board of NSES and NSTA leaders.
Three ESP symposia have been scheduled at the Phoenix conference, each featuring brief descriptions of programs that exemplify how the four NSES goals have been met. The discussants will be drawn from authors of chapters from several monographs in the series. Discussion will center on how NSES More Emphasis suggestions have guided instruction.
Biology Day at NSTA
Friday, December 4, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
226B, Phoenix Convention Center
Sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers
NABT is proud to present Biology Day, a full day of programs designed exclusively for life science/biology teachers. Featuring dynamic speakers, hands-on workshops, and informative presentations, Biology Day offers content information and pedagogy for every biology teacher at every level.
Highlighted sessions include Infect Your Biology Classroom with Math; Mechanisms of Evolution: Genetic Switches and Natural Selection; and Using Hardy–Weinburg Equilibrium to Illustrate Evolutionary Change.
Engage your students and enhance your teaching—join NABT for Biology Day!
Chemistry Day at NSTA
Chemical Bonding and Its Consequences
Friday, December 4, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
127A/B, Phoenix Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Chemical Society
Education research indicates a positive correlation between teacher content knowledge and student learning. The goals of Chemistry Day are to enhance and enrich secondary chemistry teachers’ knowledge of chemical bonding and its effects on the properties of matter and to engage teachers in activities, discussion, and analyses that demonstrate how lessons on chemical bond properties can be presented in a way that stimulates student thinking and prompts exploration of the complexity of the concepts in advanced and honors level courses. The content and structure of Chemistry Day draws on several decades of experience the American Chemical Society has in activity-based curricula development. Chemistry Day is a daylong series of lessons on the chemical bond and its relationship to the properties and reactions of molecules—topics central to understanding the behavior of matter and chemical change. A complementary theme of Chemistry Day is incorporating activities as part of the assessment of student learning.
Physical Science Day at NSTA
Matter, Energy, and Interactions: A Day of Physical Science for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Friday, December 4, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
225B, Phoenix Convention Center
Sponsored by the Education Divisions of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Physical Society (APS)
Based on the National Science Education Standards for Inquiry and Physical Science, this all-day program features six sessions focusing on inquiry-based activities to teach basic topics in chemistry and physics. On Friday, December 4, the Education Divisions of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Physical Society (APS) will facilitate sessions in which elementary and middle school teachers will participate in activities to improve their own content knowledge, discuss and share ideas about how to conduct the activities with students, and receive free resources for physical science teaching. These sessions are open to all conference attendees.
Physics Day at NSTA
Friday, December 4, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
226C, Phoenix Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers
The American Association of Physics Teachers offers a full day of physics content at each NSTA area conference. Physics Day consists of presentations on physics topics of current interest, physics demonstrations for the precollege classroom, and a make 'n' take session where participants can construct a piece of physics apparatus for use as a demonstration or as laboratory experiment. Physics Day in Phoenix is being organized by the Arizona Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers.