Below are the workshop sessions we plan to offer at the 2027 STEM PD Retreat. Sessions run for either 1 hour or 45 minutes and will be facilitated by MMSA staff, with some co-facilitated by teacher leaders.
The session schedule and additional details will be provided in February, at which time participants will choose the four sessions they would like to attend.
Sessions
Building Productive Science Discourse
Foster rich, inclusive scientific discourse that empowers elementary students to share their thinking, reason together, and build on each other’s ideas. Explore talk moves, classroom norms, and scaffolding strategies that help young learners explain their thinking, consider different perspectives, and evaluate claims. Analyze videos of classroom discussions to identify effective practices and leave with practical discussion protocols and sentence frames to foster vibrant scientific dialogue in your classroom.
Grade Span: K-5
Career Connected Learning
Discover practical strategies to weave authentic STEM career connections into learning. Using resources from STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning framework, we’ll explore how youth cultivate STEM identities, engage in hands-on strategies such as photo elicitation, and examine approaches for aligning curriculum across grade spans. Walk away with actionable facilitation tools, classroom-ready activities, and a framework to inspire future STEM pathways.
Grade Span: K-12, Administrators, Out-of-School
Panel: Planning and Partnering for Stronger STEM Programs
Designed for school administrators and out-of-school time (OST) coordinators, this interactive panel explores strategic collaboration opportunities with MMSA. Attendees will discover customized consulting services, examine pathways for partnering on grant-funded initiatives, and have the chance to voice local district needs. We’ll also dive into how Planning Partnerships support districts in identifying strengths, clarifying priorities, and developing actionable plans to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning.
Join us to help shape future programming and learn how to leverage MMSA partnerships to expand regional STEM opportunities.
Grade Span: K-12 + Administrators
Developing Doable Research Projects with the Four-Question Strategy
Guiding students from broad curiosity to viable, focused scientific investigations can often be a challenge. In this session, you’ll learn the Four Question Strategy, a practical framework for shaping general interests into realistic resource-aligned research questions. Leave with classroom-ready tools to support student-driven STEM projects and science fair investigations.
Grade Span: 5-12
Engaging Students in Math
Explore practical strategies, engaging tasks, and classroom routines that invite students in grades 6–12 to reason, collaborate, and share their mathematical thinking, building confidence and curiosity while deepening understanding.
Grade Span: 6-12
EnVISIONing CS Integration in Your School
Chart a clear, actionable pathway for embedding computer science (CS) into your school’s culture and curriculum. In this highly interactive workshop, we’ll envision ideal CS pathways, identify institutional barriers, and collaboratively design practical solutions. Experience key elements of MMSA’s CS Visioning program and leave with initial roadmaps to champion equitable CS education in your schools and districts.
Grade Span: K-12 + Administrators
Exploring OpenSciEd Computer Science (CS) Integrated Units
Discover how OpenSciEd integrates computer science into its free, NGSS-aligned middle school science units. Explore lessons where students use tools like micro:bits and simulations to collect and analyze data, model systems, and investigate real-world phenomena through both scientific and computational thinking. Experience the curriculum from a student perspective and gain practical strategies for navigating unit resources, supporting implementation, and bringing authentic, cross-disciplinary STEM learning into your classroom.
Grade Span: 6-8
From Curiosity to Community: Data-Rich Math Routines
Bring data science to life through math routines that get students thinking, discussing, and moving. Participants will engage in 3-Act tasks, data talks, and movement-based routines using authentic local datasets drawn from the Rural Energy Futures project. Get classroom-ready routines that deepen quantitative reasoning, motivate peer collaboration, and connect math to real-world community issues.
Grade Span: 6-12
Game Theory and Coding with AI
Step into the fascinating realm of strategic decision-making and computer science (CS) through a classic game theory challenge: the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Working in teams, participants will use AI-assisted Python coding tools to design autonomous game strategies and compete in a simulated tournament inspired by Robert Axelrod’s famous research. Gain hands-on experience with AI vibe coding, explore core concepts of mathematical game theory, and acquire a dynamic, competition-based STEM unit for high school classrooms.
Grade Span: 9 – 12
Get Energized: Connecting Students to Maine Energy Topics
Connect your students to Maine’s rapidly-growing clean energy and energy efficiency sectors. Explore classroom resources that spotlight local green careers, build youth STEM identity, and link science concepts to regional sustainability efforts. Leave with adaptable activities, project ideas to engage the community, and career exploration toolkits.
Grade Span: 6-12
Green Campus
Explore a simulator co-designed with AI to support student-led plan development and design for a clean energy transition project based at a Maine school. You’ll receive resources that educators participating in the High School Rural Energy Futures project have created or found useful for facilitating conversations with students about energy transitions in their communities.
Grade Span: 6-12
How Our Math Stories Shape Theirs
Explore how adults’ beliefs, attitudes, and personal math journeys shape students’ mathematical identities and mindsets. Through guided reflection and discussion, we’ll consider how educators’ and caregivers’ experiences influence students’ relationships with math and identify strategies to foster positive math narratives, build student confidence, and create an inclusive, empowering math culture across classrooms, homes, and communities.
Grade Span: PreK-12
Introduction to EverdayAI
Explore foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) in education through EverydayAI. This session introduces accessible frameworks and hands-on tools for bringing AI literacy and computational thinking into middle and high school classrooms. You’ll gain practical insights into ethical considerations, curriculum entry points, and strategies to prepare students for an AI-infused future.
Grade Span: 6-12
Leveraging Environment & Outdoor Learning Data for Grant Writing
Turn statewide environmental education data into compelling grant proposals for your school or organization. Using Teach ME Outside’s(opens in a new tab) 2026 Census of Community-Based Outdoor and Environmental Learning, participants will explore trends, connect findings to school priorities, and develop evidence-based narratives to secure funding for equitable outdoor learning .
Grade Span: K-12 + Administrators
Math Routines that Get Students Talking
Energize your math block with high-impact, 5 to 10-minute warm-ups designed to get every student talking and thinking mathematically. You’ll experience and analyze vetted K–8 routines—such as Which One Doesn’t Belong, Number Talks, and Notice & Wonder—that build numeracy and communication skills. Leave with a curated toolkit of ready-to-use math routines and facilitation strategies to promote equitable classroom discourse.
Grade Span: K-8
Modeling as a Tool for Science Sensemaking
Elevate student thinking by leveraging modeling as a powerful tool for helping students make sense of scientific phenomena. We’ll experience modeling as a learner and explore how students develop, use, and revise models to make their thinking visible, surface misconceptions, and identify gaps in their understanding. Discover how modeling can support formative assessment, help students recognize how their thinking changes over time, and generate questions that drive further investigation and deeper scientific understanding.
Grade Span: 6-12
Numeracy in Nature
Discover how the outdoor environment can spark mathematical thinking. We’ll explore practical strategies for using local natural materials to model math problems, identify patterns in nature, and investigate authentic mathematical questions outdoors. Leave with ready-to-use activities that connect math concepts to the natural world.
Grade Span: PreK-6
Phenomena Adaptation to Make Learning Relevant for Students
Ground science instruction in local contexts by adapting national curricula to highlight regional phenomena. Learn first-hand how Maine educators are adapting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned materials to reflect local ecosystems and communities. Explore practical protocols that make science investigations relatable, culturally meaningful, and rigorous for elementary learners.
Grade Span: K-5
Remarkably Bright Micro:bits
Dive into physical computing with BBC micro:bit by connecting external sensors and output devices to solve real-world problems. Drawing inspiration from MMSA’s Smart Greenhouse project, participants will get hands-on experience wiring and coding sensors to create connected monitoring systems. Educators will leave with project templates, troubleshooting tips, and inspiring ideas for integrating embedded devices into middle and high school STEM classrooms.
Grade Span: 6-12
Seeing the Science in Children’s Play
Uncover the intuitive ways young learners engage in authentic science and engineering through spontaneous play. Using real-world classroom video case studies, participants will practice noticing and naming early Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) such as asking questions, analyzing data, and designing solutions. Walk away with field-tested SciEPlay tools, developed in collaboration with Bowdoin College, MMSA, and Samara Early Learning, to help you recognize and facilitate play-based science sensemaking in your own setting.
Grade Span: PreK-5
Setting the Stage for Inclusive, Play-Based Science
Create intentional and playful learning environments that invite scientific investigation and engineering design. Drawing from a PreK special education case study, participants will examine how outdoor play, open-ended materials, schedule shifts, and wonder walls empower neurodivergent learners to thrive. Leave with practical facilitation moves and adaptable classroom design strategies to support play-based science for all learners.
Grade Span: PreK-5
Sketch, Write, Wonder: Nature Journaling Meets NGSS
Experience how nature journaling supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by sketching, writing, and wondering about your local environment. Through guided observation and inquiry, you’ll see how journaling helps students notice patterns, construct explanations, and document real-world phenomena. Leave with adaptable prompts, instructional scaffolds, and assessment ideas suitable for both indoor and outdoor learning.
Grade Span: K-12
Sneak Peek of CS Summer of Fun
Interested in learning more about computer science (CS) or thinking about attending CS Summer of Fun?
Experience the kinds of hands-on activities offered at CS Summer of Fun(opens in a new tab), a weeklong dive into computer science integration for everyone from newbies to longtime CS champions. You’ll also learn about the 2027 event, including details on how Maine educators come for FREE with room and board included, plus stipends.
Grade Span: K-12 + Administrators
Taking Science and Math Outdoors
Connect outdoor exploration to minds-on science and mathematics learning. This interactive session introduces open-source lesson plans that engage elementary students in sense-making through local environmental phenomena. Engage in activities that bridge outdoor observations with curriculum standards, and leave with ready-to-teach interdisciplinary lesson plans.
Grade Span: K-6
Teach ME Outside: Building a Culture of TeachingOutside
Take your teaching beyond classroom walls and build a thriving, school-wide culture of outdoor learning. In this collaborative session, we’ll explore effective methods to navigate challenges, build buy-in with administrators and colleagues, and connect with others who are doing similar work. You’ll leave this session inspired to take the next step in your outdoor education journey.
Grade Span: K-12
Using Clean Energy Data and AI with CODAP
Discover how to blend clean energy concepts, artificial intelligence, and interactive data analysis using CODAP (Common Online Data Analysis Platform). Developed through MMSA’s Rural Energy Futures initiative, this session models classroom-tested activities designed specifically for middle school learners. You’ll explore student-friendly datasets and gain access to free digital curricula that build statistical literacy and AI awareness.
Grade Span: 5-9
Visually Rich Math Games
Explore games that build fluency and flexible thinking with integers, rational numbers, proportional relationships, and linear functions. Use visual models, contexts, and symbols to help students make decisions, compare representations, and explain mathematical relationships. Leave with adaptable activities that connect conceptual understanding to accurate, efficient, and flexible reasoning.
Grade Span: K-5