Idaho Annual STEM Conference: The Magic of STEM 2026

Experience how sentence-level writing can transform passive observers into active sensemakers. Bring the joy of having something to say into your classroom writing experiences!  In this session, you'll experience lesson activities that use powerful strategies from The Writing Revolution 2.0 and explore practical techniques that strengthen critical thinking, academic discourse, and writing across all content areas. Whether you teach upper elementary, middle, or high school, you'll leave with ready-to-use strategies that make student thinking visible and deepen conceptual understanding.

Bonus: Thanks to the Idaho Department of Education, every participant will receive a complimentary copy of The Writing Revolution 2.0.

This session invites educators to reimagine science instruction through storytelling, hands-on exploration, and inquiry-driven learning. In this interactive session, participants will experience how their narratives can spark curiosity and provide meaningful context for science content in their classrooms. We will engage with simple, adaptable models that make abstract ideas tangible and accessible for all learners. Grounded in the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), the session will demonstrate practical strategies for guiding K-8 students from initial wonder to deeper understanding and application. Educators will leave with classroom ready approaches that foster student questioning, critical thinking, and ownership of learning. Whether teaching elementary or middle school students, participants will gain tools to create science spaces where curiosity drives discovery and students begin to see themselves not just as learners of science, but as scientists.

Participants will connect with the local community and larger scientific community using Seek and iNaturalist to identify plants, animals, bugs and fungi in the school yard or neighborhood.  The apps are fun and user-friendly, with endless opportunities.  Then, we'll discuss how we can use these apps--and other citizen science projects--to make science relevant to our student's real lives.  Participants should bring a smartphone or tablet with data to fully participate in the workshop.

This session explores the development of a future‑ready clean‑energy pathway built through industry collaboration and teacher co‑design. The Renewable Energy Vehicle and Infrastructure Technician (REVIT) program shows how districts can prepare students for emerging careers in renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, and sustainable infrastructure while strengthening secondary science learning.


REVIT was created in response to regional demand for a skilled hydrogen‑energy workforce and integrates project‑based learning, NGSS, CTE standards, and industry input to create a coherent, multi‑year sequence. The pathway equips students with real‑world problem‑solving skills and deepens understanding of energy systems, engineering design, and sustainability.


Beginning with a lab‑based exploratory science course, students investigate clean‑energy and sustainable‑design challenges before progressing into more advanced technical studies. Participants will leave with curriculum examples, resources, and implementation insights to adapt this model locally and connect science learning with meaningful career pathways.

In this hands-on, outdoor workshop, participants will investigate heat islands, map temperature data, and draw conclusions about how urban green spaces impact community health. Participants will have time to adapt the investigation to their own school setting, outdoor space, and community context. They will receive the lesson plan + a copy of Project Learning Tree’s “Forest in the City” activity to continue exploring the benefits of urban trees.

Air quality - while part of our session requires us to be outside, we will limit our time as much as possible (about 15 minutes). 

In this interactive session, you’ll experience the Fast & Curious EduProtocol and see how it can be used to build math vocabulary across all grade levels. Through engaging strategies like the Great American Race, Thin Slides, and more, you’ll explore simple, repeatable activities that get students actively using and understanding math language. We’ll also look at the research behind why vocabulary is critical for math success and how strengthening it can improve student outcomes. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas to bring math vocabulary to life in your classroom right away. (These strategies can be used in any subject area, but our focus will be math.)