UtSTA Fall Conference

Event Dates: October 23, 2026

Location: Davis Conference Center, Layton, Utah

Event Description:

Switch Classroom will present at UtSTA’s “Sustain the Spark” Fall Conference, hosted by the Utah Science Teaching Association at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah, on Friday, October 23.

Scott Tinker, founder of Switch Energy Alliance, will deliver the conference keynote.

Switch Classroom will also present three sessions:

• Small Stories, Big Science: Engaging Students with Real-World Earth Science
  Participants explore how short, real-world science stories from EarthDate can serve as low-prep lesson openers, discussion starters, or unit entry points that connect Earth science content to real-world contexts.

• Fuel for Thought: Teaching Energy Tradeoffs and Transformations
  Participants dive into two popular Switch Classroom activities: Energy Resource Stations, comparing coal, wind, solar, and natural gas through evidence sorting and discussion of trade-offs, and Energy Transformations, tracing how energy changes form through models and real-world connections. Designed for grades 4–12.

• Zap! Squish! Light It Up! Play-Doh Circuits for Grades 4–12
  Using colorful Play-Doh, LEDs, and batteries, participants explore Switch Classroom’s Intro to Electricity lesson, investigating conductivity, resistance, and series versus parallel circuits. This adaptable lab supports NGSS science and engineering practices for elementary through high school classrooms.

Switch Classroom will also have a booth in the expo hall. Stop by to connect with our team and pick up free K–12 energy resources.

All sessions leave participants with free classroom-ready resources. Conference sessions are open to registered UtSTA Fall Conference attendees.