Description:

Empower students to think and act like scientists by integrating the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) into your daily instruction. This session immerses educators in practical strategies to make student thinking visible, foster collective meaning-making, and promote deeper understanding of scientific concepts.

Participants will engage in hands-on, minds-on activities that model how to embed student discourse, observation, investigation, and reflection into every phase of the learning cycle. Learn how to create space for student voice, support productive collaboration, and build conceptual understanding through phenomenon-driven instruction.

By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use tools that enhance student agency and align with 3-dimensional learning. Transform your classroom into a space where students question, wonder, explain, and truly own their learning.

Delivery Format: In-Person|Virtual|Hybrid

Target Audience: Pre-Service Teacher|Classroom Teachers|Instructional Coaches|School Administrators|District Administrators

Duration: Workshop (60-90 minutes)|Half-Day (3 hours)|Full Day (6 hours)

Facilitators:

Learning Intentions:

• Design science instruction that centers student thinking and engages learners in the Science and Engineering Practices.

Grade Level: Elementary|Middle|High

Success Criteria:

• Identify and implement strategies that promote student-centered discourse.
• Embed SEPs into lessons in ways that support deep sensemaking.
• Use student ideas and questions to guide instruction formatively.
• Design opportunities for collaboration and choice to elevate engagement.
• Plan learning experiences grounded in real-world phenomena.

Expected Impact:

This professional learning will empower students to actively investigate and question, moving beyond passive learning. Teachers will gain strategies for student-led inquiry, fostering deeper scientific understanding and enhancing student agency. Ultimately, the school will see transformed classrooms where students own their learning, leading to a more dynamic science education program.

Testimonials: <p>“This session was a game changer. For the first time, I saw how to move from teacher-led labs to true student investigation. My students now ask the questions, and they’re invested in figuring out the answers. The strategies I learned are helping me build a classroom where science is something we do, not just read about.”<br />— Middle School Science Teacher, Virginia</p>