Kate O’Donnell, a Spanish teacher at U-High, presented at the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages state conference. Her session, “Incorporating Movement in the Language Classroom,” was designed for world language educators interested in integrating physical activity into their lessons. O’Donnell shared research highlighting the negative effects of prolonged sitting and the physical, emotional, and academic benefits of movement during the school day. She demonstrated how to incorporate engaging activities and classroom procedures that add movement, helping educators boost student energy, combat apathy, and foster stronger relationships. Attendees received practical resources to support the implementation of these strategies in their own classrooms.

Maggy Proctor and Kayla Schahrer, both science teachers at U-High, presented at the Northern Illinois Science Educators Conference with a session titled “Problem-Based Learning: Engineering a Water Filtration Device.” Their presentation offered educators practical strategies for implementing engineering design principles through a hands-on, project-based learning (PBL) approach. The session focused on guiding students through the design and construction of a water filtration device, addressing the real-world issue of clean water access. Proctor and Schahrer outlined how to break the engineering design process (EDP) into manageable stages, including problem definition, research, brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and refinement. Attendees learned how to frame the project as a student-centered challenge that fosters inquiry, collaboration, and critical thinking. The presenters also highlighted the importance of reflective activities, encouraging students to evaluate and iterate on their designs. Participants left the session with a complete unit schedule and ready-to-use teaching materials.