Stephen M. Tomecek (a.k.a. "The Dirtmeister") is the Executive Director and founder of Science Plus, Inc., a company that develops science curriculum, and provides science enrichment and staff development programs for schools, museums and organizations throughout North America. Steve is a geologist specializing in soils, hence the name "Dirtmeister ". Steve worked as a Science Instructional Specialist and coordinator in New York City. He also has served as the Associate Director for the Science Museum of Long Island and as the Science Program Supervisor for the New York Hall of Science. Steve also works as a science consultant for Scholastic, Inc., Discovery Communications and The National Geographic Society and has worked as a consultant for a variety of popular television series including 3-2-1 Classroom Contact, Newton's Apple and Scholastic's Magic School Bus. Steve was the writer and host of Phantastic Physical Phenomena, an Emmy Award winning television series.

Steve's Sessions Presented at N. C. Middle School Association Conference 2009:

"Bridging the Science/Literacy Gap: The Use of Non-Fiction Trade Books in the
Classroom"

This presentation took a slightly serious look at how non-fiction trade books could be used to promote a love of reading while improving the science literacy of middle school students. Steve presented a variety of strategies for effectively using trade books to help round out a science curriculum showing how they can augment (and frequently replace) traditional science textbooks. By using the stories of actual scientists and their discoveries, coupled with some simple hands-on science activities, Steve demonstrated how the pages of non-fiction books could be brought to life, inspiring students to go “where no kid has gone before”.

"Dirt Cheap Science – Some Survival Strategies for the Low Budget Science Classroom"

This hands-on workshop offered a plethora of “dirt cheap” science activities using materials commonly found around the house and school. Drawing on his books Soda Bottle Science, Sandwich Bag Science, Coffee Can Science and Teaching Science – Yes You Can!, Steve presented a wide range of simple demonstrations in the physical, life and earth sciences that could easily be turned into inquiry based lesson plans. All of the demonstrations fit the National Science Standards and have been tested with students in actual classroom situations.