STEM Lesson Plans

In this hands-on lesson, students explore engineering and art as they use the same materials as the three little pigs to create a structure that would survive the blowing of a wolf (fan). Students

Students will learn the principles of flight while also incorporating the Engineer Design Process as they construct gliders using pressed Styrofoam. In this hands-on lesson, students read a book about

This thematic unit has four lessons which will introduce students to phenomena we encounter in the real world. Students will learn about high interest phenomenon’s through hands-on investigations

Students will learn about nanotechnology in medicine and the use of nanorobotics. In this hands-on STEM lesson, students create nanobot using simple materials like toothbrush heads, motors, and

In this engaging STEM lesson for 4th - 5th graders, students explore nanotechnology through hands-on activities, discussions, and a creative project. They learn about the tiny world of nanoscale

In this lesson, students create paper rockets and measure the distance launched. Students are using the engineering design process and get to modify their design in order to increase the distance

Students will investigate the geological features of the Santa Catalinas. Specifically the phenomenon of Catalina Gneiss. Students will research the formation of the Tucson basin and Santa Catalinas

Students will learn about kinetic and potential energy and how energy transfers. They will use that knowledge in order to collaborate with peers to create a roller coaster that will demonstrate this

This multi-day activity is designed for an introductory 4th grade STEM after school club. It can be easily modified for whole classes and for lower and upper grade levels. The activity has students

In this lesson, students focus on the engineering design process to help them design, build, and test a functional bow and arrow system like the character Brian Robeson in the book "Hatchet". Students

In this lesson plan, students will be able to build a simple electric motor and study how simple changes affect the motor's rotation. They will learn how energy comes in many forms, and how electric

In this lesson plan, students will be able to investigate battery cells as they construct their own simple batteries: They will know that batteries are a common store of energy for many devices that

This is the culminating activity of the 8 part lesson series on simple machines. Students will put together everything they have learned about each individual simple machine to create a complex chain

In this lesson students will: Identify screws in our world; Discuss how screws make work easier; Plan and construct an Archimedes Screw Provide and receive feedback through peer critiques

In this lesson students will: Identify wedges in our world; Discuss how wedges make work easier; Plan and construct a canoe of their own design that incorporates a wedge shape to make it more

In this lesson students will: Identify wheels and axles in our world; Discuss how wheels and axles make work easier; Plan and construct a wind powered care of their own design that uses wheels and

In this lesson, students will: Identify levers in our world; Discuss how levers make work easier; Plan and construct a catapult that uses a lever Provide and receive feedback through peer critiques

In this lesson, students will: Identify inclined planes in our world; Discuss how inclined planes make work easier; Plan and construct a marble maze of their own design that uses inclined planes

In this lesson, students will: Identify pulleys in our world Discuss how pulleys make work easier Plan and construct an elevator of their own design that incorporates a pulley Provide and receive

This lesson serves as the introduction to an 8 lesson series or unit on simple machines. This series will present dozens of activities to introduce your students to simple machines, culminating in the

Students will use engineering, art, science, and 21st century skills to create a support system to keep Santa safe on Christmas while delivering gifts down the chimney!

This is part 2 of a two part lesson called Sailing Down the Road. In this lesson students will design a sail that can successfully catch the wind and cause their cardboard car (from part 1) to drive

In part one of this two part lesson series, students will learn about (or review) the force of push and pull and how this applies to energy transfer. Students will gain an understanding of these

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