Centering Racial Equity Issues in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Can We Make Decisions to Care for Ourselves, Our Families, and Our Communities?

Learn how students in grades 3–5 can explore issues of racial equity while investigating the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by family engagement and social-emotional learning.

Takeaways: Participants will learn that: 1. students’ own questions about COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact motivate them to authentically engage in NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and other connected multidisciplinary standards; 2. students can be supported in their exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic and inequities it has amplified by inviting families to be partners and incorporating social-emotional learning; and 3. students use the science they learn to explore ways their own decisions can help them care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Speakers

Gail Housman (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Carrie Tzou (University of Washington Bothell: Bothell, WA), Ashley Stanley (Dewey Elementary School: Evanston, IL), Brian Reiser (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Megan Bang (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Jamie Noll (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Sara Ivory (The Ogden International School of Chicago, East Campus: Chicago, IL), Tyler Scaletta (Alcott Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Dan Voss (Dallas Center-Grimes High School: Grimes, IA), Amy McGreal (James Ward Elementary School: Chicago, IL), Katy Fattaleh (The Nora Project: Highland Park, IL), Leah Bricker (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Blakely Tsurusaki (University of Washington Bothell: Bothell, WA)