STEM Lesson Plans

Investigate how red wigglers rebuild soil by processing food scraps and depositing their casts into the soil. Student groups will have their own worm bins to care for and they will gather data about

In this lesson, students will embark on an investigative journey to explore the geological history of their local community. Through hands-on activities and research, students will analyze rock layers

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

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

In this hands-on engineering and science project, students will become earthquake engineers tasked with designing and constructing earthquake-proof structures using toothpicks and mini marshmallows

In this project, 8th-grade students will engage in hands-on exploration of elastic potential energy and its conversion to kinetic energy using small catapults. Through experimentation and data

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

In this introductory lesson to computer science, students will learn about the computing process of input→memory/processing→output.

In this lesson, students will work in groups to design a model that will demonstrate the best erosion techniques for the model of a road experiencing flooding or heavy rainfall. Students will be given

In this lesson students will use everything they've done in parts 1-3 to analyze how mutations affect proteins. Students will build the mutated proteins that they sequenced in part 3. They will test

In this lesson, students will be introduced to mutations in DNA. They will create beaded or illustrated "codes" to represent 5 different mutations to their original protein codes. These codes will be

In this lesson students will continue to learn about protein synthesis. At the beginning of this lesson students should know that genes have the code to make proteins. Today they will be introduced to

Students will learn and recall about the different parts and components of an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express. Students will be able to program an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

Students will be able to learn how the hydraulic system works. With this in mind, you will be able to design a hydraulic marble game using materials provided. At the same time, they will be able to

In this lesson series, students engage with the process of photosynthesis through making observations and processing data through the collection and measurement of gases. Students will integrate data

Engage students with competitive activities. Students will be predicting measurements, collecting data, and determining the difference between the estimation and the actual. Students will create la

Students will learn how fingerprints are used to solve crimes. Students will then take their own prints, examine patterns within their prints, and compare/contrast the percentages for each type of

As an intro to Thermal Energy, students are challenged to create a warmer that will keep my coffee warm. Students project will be tested in class, data will be collected, compared, and graphed.

An introduction to Newton's Laws of Motion. Students will utilize two or three options to move a balloon across a tethered line. Students will compare and contrast two different size balloons moving

This lesson is based on the Fibonacci sequence. Overlapping concepts of pattern, repetition, structure, scale, proportions are considerations for constructing an artistic, math-based sculpture

The basics of natural selection will be highlighted using the Natural Selection PhET simulation where students complete a series of challenges. As a result of this experience, students will be able to

This lesson is intended to build on existing knowledge about a previously learned topic. Students should already know about and be able to apply specific information about a bird species based on a

Students explore different types of bridges and then practice building them with K'Nex sets.