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Hands-On Science in K-5: Take the Mystery Out of Engaging, Manageable Programs
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Hands-On Science in K-5: Take the Mystery Out of Engaging, Manageable Programs
Presented by Maria Garrido Rojo, Former Teacher, Current Curriculum Product Developer, Carolina® Science; and Heather Witt, Former Teacher, Current Curriculum Product Developer, Carolina® Science
Sponsored by Carolina® Science
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Schools everywhere want to boost student engagement, raise science achievement, and connect science with literacy and math. But many educators and administrators worry that hands-on elementary science will eat up time, be hard to manage, or disrupt classroom routines. This edWebinar shows how to make hands-on elementary science practical, manageable, and effective.
Led by former classroom teachers, this session explores how phenomenon-driven investigations and purposeful literacy and math integration spark curiosity while raising achievement. Through real classroom examples and research-informed practices, attendees see how high-quality instructional materials and everyday phenomena turn students into active sense-makers of the world around them.
Viewers discover how to help K–5 teachers facilitate inquiry while keeping structure and meeting standards, all with manageable prep and lasting impact. Viewers will walk away with actionable ideas to strengthen their elementary science programs and build confidence in teachers and students alike.
During this session, viewers learn:
- How hands-on, phenomenon-based science sparks engagement and curiosity
- Strategies for integrating science, literacy, and math to make the most of instructional time
- Ways to turn everyday materials and real-world phenomena into meaningful learning
- Tips for running hands-on investigations that keep students engaged without sacrificing classroom structure
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K–5 school leaders and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Maria Jose Garrido Rojo is a science curriculum leader with a background in elementary classroom teaching and curriculum development. She has taught kindergarten and first grade in both in-person and virtual settings across North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina, working with frameworks including the IB curriculum, STEAM, and Understanding by Design. She served as a PLC lead, K-2 science lead, and mentor teacher for first-year teachers. Maria has been part of the Carolina Science team since 2022, serving as a Curriculum Product Developer who builds engaging, hands-on K–8 science curricula grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Heather Witt is a National Board Certified science educator with 12 years of classroom experience. She has served as a science department chair, mentor teacher, curriculum reviewer, and President of the Nevada State Science Teachers Association. Heather joined Carolina Science in 2023, where she develops engaging, coherent print and digital science curricula aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. She earned National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Science and is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
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Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
From its beginnings in 1927, Carolina® Science has grown to become the leading supplier of science teaching materials in the world, providing everything from curricula to lab supplies and equipment. Headquartered in Burlington, NC, Carolina serves customers worldwide, including teachers, students, and professionals in science- and health-related fields. The company is still privately owned by descendants of the founder, geology and biology professor Dr. Thomas E. Powell, Jr.
