STEM Lesson Plans

In the STEM Pine Cone Decoration lesson, students will embark on a creative and hands-on exploration of nature-inspired crafting, integrating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts

Students will combine science and art by using an alternative photographic process called cyanotypes or sun prints. After a short introduction to the history of cyanotypes and the process of creating

This is a lesson geared toward junior high and high school classes to introduce students to the idea of cryptography and encryption. This lesson could be simplified for younger students by removing

What would you do if you were dropped into the wilderness, with nothing but what you could fit into a backpack, and had to survive harsh weather, a hostile location, and possibly aggressive wildlife

Students will create an engineering notebook that documents their progress through the engineering design process as it applies to their choice of project, either creating a toy from “trash” or a

This is an introduction to exoplanets and their discovery. In the hands-on activity, students make a lightcurve for an exoplanet transit using data from the DIY MicroObservatory Telescope Network.

Multiple-day Respiratory System lessons that cover the anatomical design of the respiratory system. Includes a basic model project to simulate breathing action and diaphragm. Includes muscles of the

In this engaging lesson, students will use Sphero robots and a Solar System map to learn intermediate level solar system geography. Students program the robots to move from one location on the map to

Students will investigate the properties of different types of matter and apply the concept of "P1: Matter" to design, model, and 3D print an object using a MakerBot 3D printer. Hands-On STEM Design

This lesson is designed because kids love to compete and it primes them to use the Engineering Design process to build a boat and revise their design as needed. Students must use at least one rubber

This STEAM lesson is ideal for Tucson/Pima County Middle School Students who can participate in the annual KIDStruction building contest, but you can also duplicate many of the learning opportunities

This lesson helps students understand the properties of 3D solids from their 2D base shapes and teaches them how to use CAD software to build their own 3D models of real world objects by breaking them

Students get to investigate how energy transfers using different phenomena. They practice using a Colorado PhET simulation on the differences between potential and kinetic energy. Students will

Students read the story "Just a Second" to introduce students to geologic time. Next, they are given an activity to understand how long is 4.6 billion years. Then students complete a lab that allows

Lesson plan integrating Arizona Science and ELA standards for comparing and researching animal cells and plant cells, followed by a creative video project where students personify the parts of a

This lesson is part 2 of 2, Days 3 and 4. This lesson is set up to have students explore the friction bridge designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Students have discovered the inventor and become familiar

This lesson is part 1 of 2. This lesson is set up to have students explore the friction bridge designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Students first discover the inventor and become familiar with his life

This lesson begins the students' adventures into the wide world of drones. The lesson starts by exploring how drones (UAVs) are used in different fields. This lesson helps to gauge interest in

This project sets students up to explore animal anatomy and physiology with the idea of replacing a lost appendage (beak, leg, tail, fin, etc.) This is used in small groups of 2 or 3 over the course

The lesson plan goes beyond the conventional boundaries of art and science, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of these fields. Students will discover the synergies between art (A) and STEM

Students will use evidence from an investigation to model and explain how thermal expansion of land and sea ice impact the sea level. They will quantify the impact of land ice melt and thermal

In this lesson students will use the Engineering Design Process to create a working foosball table. Students will also code a Micro:bit that they will use to keep score between the two teams.

Students use an interactive map and ArcGIS software to analyze the impacts of climate change on global populations.

This lesson walks students through the movement of air in the atmosphere and the energy that drives it. It contains a PowerPoint, activity, worksheet and assessment.