A collection of 40 STEM activities and experiments for learners in PreK to Grade 8+ which are separated into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic subject areas (8-12 activities each). Each card includes a materials list, instructions, reflection question, and a fun fact, tip, or extension.

How does energy move around an ecosystem? Students will be able to visually represent how moves through an ecosystem and predict how changes to one part of a food web will impact other populations.

Death Valley is one of the driest places in North America - but it's only about a 100 miles from a forest of Giant Sequoia trees. How can these two different ecosystems exist right next to each other?

What do a lab and an orchestra have in common? What is the link between air pollution and COVID-19? In this episode of the Xchange, Rob Lue and pioneering data scientist Francesca Dominici discuss these topics and more. Co-director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative and Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population and Data Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, this is Francesca Dominici in the Xchange. A new virtual interview series from LabXchange at Harvard University, the Xchange showcases the diverse roles, projects, and initiatives that make up the intersecting fields of science, education, and health. Hosted by LabXchange Faculty Director Robert Lue, our first season features a range of perspectives on the impact of COVID-19.

This site provides interesting data about how drugs alter the brain. Find facts, pictures, and animations to help portray the critical information about drugs of abuse. Also link to teacher resources and lesson plans.

What types of 2D and 3D shapes make up the products all around you? This challenge will explore how different shapes can be put together to create a product. All the products that humans design and produce are a combination of different shapes. To design a product, engineers and designers must understand how combining, subtracting and adding shapes can make new and unique objects. This challenge will have students use a 3D design tool to create a new and unique shape.

This is a 60-minute lesson that includes a self-paced interactive module and classroom activities. The teacher guide includes a challenge sequence (timeline), relevance to standards, materials list, assessment, resources like cut-outs template, and learning extensions.

Lesson objectives: (1) Explore and interact with 3D shapes in a design plane. (2) Compose unique 3D shapes by decomposing other shapes. (3) Build a 3D shape from a 2D net.

How do simple machines and gears help devices work? In this challenge, learners will explore how gears are used in machines and mechanisms. Gears are closely related to simple machines and provide a mechanical advantage in machines. Devices worldwide contain gears and are components critical in mechanical engineering design.

This is a 3-hour lesson that includes a self-paced interactive module and classroom activities. The teacher guide includes a challenge sequence (timeline), relevance to standards, materials list, assessment, evaluation rubric, and learning extensions.

Lesson objectives: (1) Explore the connection between gears and simple machines. (2) Differentiate how different gears do work, transfer power, speed and direction. (3) Design, build and demonstrate a simple model of a gear train.

BuildIT capitalizes on girls' inherent interest in design and communication technologies, engaging girls in hands-on, collaborative, real-world experiences as they progress through 3 stages - Apprentice, Journeygirl, and Specialist. Here we see girls at the Specialist stage tackling game design challenges, their level of engagement invigorated by accountability to a "client". [6:53]

A group of female teachers were inspired to start The Girls Rock Science, an enrichment program are to foster scientific curiosity and boost girls' confidence. In this episode, observe the group members completing an activity in which they use playdough to visualize the relative sizes of planets. [5:23]

How do glaciers change the surface of the Earth? Students will be able to explain how glaciers impact sea levels, coastlines, and climates.

This basic graphic design content package is intended to support educators in discovering new resources and lessons for grades 9-12. These resources could also be used to supplement technology and STEM lessons. 

Globally, fish consumption has nearly doubled in the last 40 years. At the same time wild fish capture has leveled off. This is due to decreasing wild stocks and high scrutiny of fishing practices. As a result, aquaculture has become one of the primary solutions to the worldwide demand for seafood. Students will “engineer” a fish feeder to make an aquaculture operation more efficient. This unit features 1 lesson and 3 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

It takes 30 million eggs a day to satisfy the US consumer! Ohio is #2 in the nation in egg production and ag engineers have helped to design facilities that keep chickens safe from predators and disease, comfortable in all kinds of weather and allow the animals easy access to water and food made from soybean meal. In addition, the eggs the animals produce must be safely transported, cleaned and packaged. In this activity students will use the engineering design process to imagine, plan and test a prototype egg catcher. This unit features 1 lesson and 2 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

International markets are very important to soybean farmers across the globe. In this unit, students in a Spanish language class will explore the idea of a bioeconomy and research case studies of Spanish-speaking countries trying to compete in the global marketplace by growing soybeans. This curriculum has been designed as a transdisciplinary 2-week unit using the theme of sustainability to combine proficiency-based world language pedagogy with the real-world relevance of problem-based learning at the heart of STEM education. This unit features 5 lessons and 17 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Drones (or UAVs-unmanned aerial vehicles) are taking to the skies. What are they doing up there? What other technologies are there that help growers become more productive, yet more thoughtful about the effects on the environment, on which they depend on to continue producing food? This unit features 3 lessons and 5 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Looking for an activity that combines robotics, coding, and engineering with a real life problem? This unit uses MakeBlock parts, Scratch programming, and modeling to help students design a solution to soil compaction. This unit features 2 lessons and 2 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Society and cultures revolve around food. There are television networks solely focused on food and it is almost impossible to take a drive without passing a fast food chain. Billions of dollars are spent annually to market and advertise food. Around the world, demand for food, specifically protein sources, is increasing without a foreseeable stop. This unit features 4 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

“Soil” doesn’t just mean “dirt.” It is a mixture of minerals like rocks and clay, organic material like dead leaves, living organisms like worms, microbes, and insects, and even air and water. There is an entire world beneath your feet! Soil quality is important because it helps to sustain an ecosystem responsible for our food and fiber needs, environmental quality, and human health. This unit features 1 lesson and 1 file. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Make biodiesel and create a scale model of an anaerobic digester, while investigating bioenergy and how it is produced. This unit features 5 lessons and 16 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Current trends in consumer behavior show that people want to eat healthier and are looking for simple ways to transform their diets. High oleic soybean oil features lower saturated fat while maintaining 0 grams of trans fat, which may lower cholesterol and support heart health. This unit features 2 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.