24-25 STEELS Standards Resources
2024-2025 School Year
Are you interested in enhancing your STEELS standards? We invite all science educators to join a dynamic statewide Professional Learning Community (PLC) designed to transform science education.
These sessions offer science educators the opportunity to collaborate on the exploration of STEELS standards to tackle implementation challenges. Sessions will focus on:
- STEELS standards implementation
- Real classroom experiences
- Innovative teaching solutions
- Enhanced teaching practices
- Connections with science educators statewide
PLC Session Details
Session 1: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Virtual via Zoom
Session 2: Monday, February 3, 2025 - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Virtual via Zoom
Session 3: Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Virtual via Zoom
Session 4: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Virtual via Zoom
Sessions are FREE for all attendees and will be held virtually via Zoom.
Zoom link will be sent to registrants one week before each session.
PENNSELA Statewide STEELS Admin PLC
The PENNSELA Statewide STEELS Admin Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a collaborative network designed to support administrators across Pennsylvania in implementing the PA STEELS Standards with fidelity and impact. This PLC provides a space for educational leaders to engage in targeted discussions, share best practices, and develop actionable strategies for fostering three-dimensional, equity-centered science education.
Through regular meetings, expert-facilitated sessions, and peer learning opportunities, participants will deepen their understanding of the STEELS framework, explore ways to lead systemic change, and build capacity to support educators and students in achieving the vision of the standards. The PLC emphasizes practical solutions, data-informed decision-making, and the development of sustainable leadership practices that prioritize inclusive and effective science teaching and learning statewide.
This initiative is driven by the Pennsylvania Science Education Leadership Association (PENNSELA), in partnership with key stakeholders, to ensure that all administrators are equipped to champion high-quality science education in their schools and districts.
Regional STEELS In-Service
Calling ALL STEELS educators K-12! We are very excited to offer a regional opportunity to gather and learn together across districts and IU boundaries. Join us on Monday, March 17th at Franklin Regional Intermediate School from 8:00am-3:00pm to experience immersive, grade-banded and content specific sessions and networking opportunities.
Session Topics Include:
- Chemistry of Stars
- Inheritance & Variation of Traits
- Navigating the STEELS T&E Standards, Implementation Support, and Assessments
- Metabolic Reactions Immersive Experience
- Everest Immersive (6-8)
- What is happening to our corn? (An immersive session for K-2 science teachers)
- Physics and STEELS: Increasing understanding, and interest in physics
- 3D Photosynthesis Lessons as a Link Between Life, Earth and Space, and Environmental Literacy Standards
- An Administrators Guide for Implementation and Support of STEELS
- Elevating Learning: Engaging Students through Engineering Practices
- Phenomenon-based, 3D Science Immersion Grades 3-5
This event is made possible through grant funding. Registration for this event will close on January 3rd, 2025, at 5:00pm.
OpenSciEd Meets PA STEELS
The following webinars will be offered in the coming months to support PA Educators as they look to utilizing OpenSciEd's curricular resources. These webinars not only will support the use of these Open Educational Resource (OER) materials, but also provide additional ideas and support regarding their use in meeting the PA STEELS standards and local phenomena. Recorded webinars and more information can be found at this link.
Webinar hosts and contributors are members of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU). Pennsylvania has 29 intermediate units that work to support educators and schools across the state.
Paperscreening STEELS Curriculum Resources
On October 10, 2024, ARIN will host, at the Indiana County Conservation District, a session for science teachers and administrators on the paperscreening process. The Paperscreen Phase is a process and series of tools for gathering data from print or digital media, comparing that data to indicators found in the NextGen TIME rubrics, and analyzing the evidence based on a critical examination of the instructional materials.
Participants will analyze instructional materials from various sources throughout this session.
To register, please click on this link. For additional details click this link.
Elementary Science Liaison Network
Elementary Science Teachers Liaison Networks - 8:30 am - 3:00 pm at the ARIN Central Office.
During the 2024-2025 school year we will provide networking opportunities for elementary science teachers to learn more about the PA STEELS, 3-dimensional, phenomena-based teaching and learning and uncover classroom resources.
This group will meet four times during the year:
- October 24, 2024
- February 27, 2025- This session will be hosted at the Armsdale Center (Slides)
- March 11, 2025
- May 8, 2025 (at the Indiana County Conservation District located at 435 Hamill Rd, Indiana, PA 15701) This will be a joint session with middle and high school liaison network.
To register, click a date above. You must register separately for each session.
Science Liaison network is for science teachers who are willing to share the information gathered at the network session with their school administrators and teams.
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Technology and Engineering Session with Brandt Hutzel
On September 19, 2024, ARIN will host Brandt Hutzel for an in-person session on the Technology and Engineering pieces of the PA STEELS. To register please click on this link.
Recording Link from Brandt Hutzels Technology and Engineering STEELS session on February 21, 2024.
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Technology and Engineering Immersive Experience
On November 6, 2024, ARIN will host a Technology and Engineering Immersive Experience for teachers and adminstrators. During this session, participants will refine their shared vision of key features of effective technology and engineering teaching and learning as reflected in the PA STEELS standards.
Participants will also increase knowledge and awareness of tools and resources that can lead to more effective technology and engineering teaching and learning. To register for this session please click here.
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2024-2025 STEM Network
These sessions are appropriate for any teacher, K-12 who will address the Technology & Engineering standards from STEELS. If you are a STEM teacher or any teacher interested in addressing the T&E standards, this network is for you!
STEM Networking sessions are free and will be in collaboration with Westmoreland County IU7. Click here to register.
September 23, 2024
November 19, 2024
February 3, 2025
April 30, 2025
25-26 Dates:
September 26, 2025
November 10, 2025
February 9, 2026
April 9, 2026
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Zero Barriers in STEM using a UDL Approach
December 16, 2024 at ARIN IU28
9am - 3pm
During this session designed with STEELS in mind, educators will collaborate to:
- Create STEM classrooms that are inclusive of all learners.
- Reduce barriers for students who may not otherwise have access to robust STEM experiences.
- Raise teachers’ awareness of inclusive design practices by using museum exhibits as exemplars.
- Encourage all students who engineer solutions to problems to use universal and inclusive design practices.
discoverED 2025 Building Bridges Across Pennsylvania
Building Bridges Across Pennsylvania
discoverED 2025, scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, May 6, 2025, is a virtual collaborative design challenge organized and led by the Fox Chapel Area School District. This event marks the official kickoff of Remake Learning Days in Pennsylvania, a learning festival for students and families. Remake Learning Days will be held across Pennsylvania from May 1-May 23, 2025.
During the discoverED 2025 celebration, schools across the state with diverse demographics will partner and "exchange" students in the afternoon, both in-person and virtually. Together, they will explore how STEAM and maker practices positively impact children. These virtual collaboration opportunities aim to create meaningful connections between teachers and students for years to come.
The highlight of discoverED 2025 will be a culminating joint activity. Participating schools will connect virtually as students plan, create, and refine their creation of a bridge to help an animal at risk of becoming endangered. Images and videos of the event will be shared using the hashtags #discoverED, #RemakeDays, #RLD10, and #CareerReadyPA.
Want to Join Us?
discoverED 2025 is just one part of the incredible Remake Learning Days in Pennsylvania! Visit www.remakelearningdays.org to learn more about these exciting educational opportunities for all students.
Environmental Literacy for your Elementary Classroom
On November 12, 2024, ARIN will host a session called Environmental Literacy for your Elementary Classroom. We will unpack the PA STEELS standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability and participate in activities that can be used in the classroom. We will also share resources from ARIN STEAM Lending Library. To register for this session click on this link.
Learning without Walls Summit (EL&S)
This summit will be held on June 10, 2025 and is free to attend.
The deadline to register as a participant is May 23, 2025.
Please do so at this link: Registration
Here is a link to the flyer for additional details.
If you are interested in presenting at this summit please go to this registration link. The deadline for presenters to indicate their session interest is March 31, 2025. We would love to have teachers who are willing to share their best practices and community partners presenting at this conference. The more model lessons or programs the better!
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Grants to Support EL&S
The Indiana County Conservation District (ICCD) is reaching out to schools to assist with the application process for various grants to create opportunities for programs that align with the EL&S standards. Grant application windows run from May - August 2025.
For more information, please see the attached brochure or contact Blake or Alexis.
Contact Information:
Blake Mauthe
District Educator ICCD
Alexis Shank
Special Programs ICCD
Storytime STEM-packs
Are you looking for something for your youngest learners that addresses the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Standards while also focusing on STEM and Computer Science? Storytime STEM-packs are it! They are designed for PreK-2 children, connecting children’s literature with STEM and computer science. They are easy to use, effective, and your kids will love them! STEM-packs each take 45 minutes to implement. They include a popular children’s book, a facilitator guide, and all hands-on and print materials for 24 children.
Check out The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind from the Lending Library today!
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