STEM Lesson Plans

This hands-on lesson introduces students to gardening and the sustainability of food. Students will grow small gardens and manage them.

This lesson is about exploring Arizona's state bird, the cactus wren, that lives in the desert, has special body parts and behaviors that help it survive in its harsh environment. Students will learn

In this lesson students will discover harmful effects and chemical makeups of artificial ingredients, specifically food coloring and red dyes. Students will experiment with and demonstrate capillary

Students will be able to recognize that living things are made up of parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to

Students will develop and use models to explain the growth stages of a corn plant, identifying internal and external structures and functions. They will also generate measurement data by measuring

In this unit, students will explore the interdependencies in a system and uncovers circular causal connections. Students will use a stock-flow game, specifically the “Mammoth Game” to simulate how

This is the first of two lessons. The focus is to engage students in the hands-on activity of growing corn in water and study the germination process. Students will discuss and learn about the

In this unit students will observe how elements within a system changes over time, generating patterns and trends that affect the ecosystem of bees. Students will use Stock-Flow Maps to show the

Using The Wild Robot by Peter Brown as provocation, students will develop a project integrating math, science, engineering and ELA standards. Students will build a robot prototype and take it through

This lesson plan engages students in beginner composting. Students will discuss, design, and create a homemade composter. The lesson will also engage students in collecting and recording data to

This lesson is for 2nd-5th grade students. It covers a range of AZ science standards and connects to math, reading, and social studies concepts. It also incorporates STEAM hands on activities to

Students will understand the concept of Scoville units, learn about the scale's origin, and explore the factors contributing to the heat of peppers. They will also engage in hands-on activities to

Teach students about the unique and amazing structures of plants and animals in the Sonoran Desert. Students will learn about how specific structures help animals and plants survive the unique

Students will use an understanding of the sun as an energy and heat source to design a device to direct the sun's heat to aid with growing plants. The students will go through the 5 E's and the

Students will be exploring the different structure and functions of both plants and animals. After some researching and hands on activities students will create a glider inspired by a bird of their

This lesson, is one to make your students taste buds jump for joy as they get to create their very own edible eyeball cookie. This is a great STEM lesson to use when learning about the parts and

In this engaging and interactive lesson, students explore adaptation and creative problem-solving. Inspired by "The Great Turkey Race," students will engage in a hands-on engineering lesson to design

The "From Farm to Table" unit will provide 2nd grade students with an understanding of the journey food takes from the farm to their tables. Students will explore the water cycle, plant life cycle

This is a 3rd-4th grade STEM lesson. It is part of the Life Science standards. It shows how different plants, animals and people depend on the Saguaro Cactus for survival. The Saguaro also depends on

In this third-grade lesson, students will make educated guesses about the "mystery object." Students will record what they notice and wonder about Mexican Jumping Beans. Students will create a game

This lesson incorporates Math, Science and Reading standards into a pumpkin themed third grade lesson. Students will use a mentor text to relate to the life cycle of a pumpkin, create, compare and

This lesson provides the students an opportunity to learn hands-on. They work as a worm biologist or Annelidologist, observing how the external features of the worm, such as its segmented body and

Students will use engineering skills, critical thinking, math and balance, and collaboration to build a home for a visiting Hedgehog. The materials are straws, string, wooden blocks, material/fabric

In this lesson, students will participate in a hands-on activity to learn about area and perimeter while also learning about structures and functions of plants by designing a garden space that