Teach Green: Eco-Schools USA Wraps Up NSTA Conference

Author Jennifer Hammonds at the NSTA Area Conference in Baltimore
This past weekend, I wrapped up my experience at the 2010 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Area Conference in Baltimore. I represetened Eco-Schools USA at the conference, whose theme this year was “Charting the Course to Excellence“.

The conference on science education brought together K-college teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists to provide opportunities to deepen their content knowledge, strengthen their pedagogy, and network with peers and others in the educational profession.

Day 2 proved to be an exciting day, attending great sessions and talking with green minded vendors.  Windows to the Universe, sponsored by the National Earth Science Teachers Association, specializes in Earth and space science resources for formal and informal educators.  One of the best tips came from a resource page called Energy Choices and Climate Change: An online module to explore the impact of energy choices on our planet’s climate.  You can explore the scenarios in two ways, as a family or as the king of the world.  Great material – check it out today!

Siemens sponsored STEM Academy: The Top 10 STEM Resources, which listed several repositories touted as the crème de la crème of what’s available to assist educators as they incorporate  science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education into their classes.  Need help?  Go to Siemens STEM Academy and check out opportunities for teachers and students: Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge and Siemens Science Day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) education department presented Meeting the Climate Challenges Ahead. After discussing current research in climate change, the presenters shared available climate education resources found on their site, NOAA Climate Services.

An NSTA conference wouldn’t be complete without the wonderful exhibit hall.  Rows and rows of science education materials, continuing education opportunities, teachers as researchers, and science focused organizations such as NSF, Discovery Education, NOAA, and NASA.

Lastly, I want to highlight WE ADD UP.  This is a unique t-shirt company that is committed to people and the planet.  Their products are made of eco-friendly materials, and the company is certified carbon neutral by carbonfund.org. 10 percent of profits each year are donated to environmental charities.

Thank you Baltimore and thank you NSTA for a wonderful conference; I leave the conference having deepened my pedagogy and strengthened my content knowledge as well as having met new interesting people with whom I shared our Eco-Schools USA story.

Click here to read “Charting the Course to Excellence“, my blog post from Day 1.