Stem Resources

Straight Facts

Student Resources Parent Resources Teacher Resources Stem Activities & Games

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Student Resources

Click on the titles below to discover awesome STEM resources!

How Stuff Works

A source for clear, reliable explanations of how everything around us actually works.

Brain POP™

Educational animated movies for K-12 created to help explain concepts and to demystify math, science, health, technology, and English topics in an entertaining way for both children and adults.

Enter the NASA portal to explore the many facets of NASA. Learn the latest in space news; find math, science, and technology activities for home or the classroom; shoot a cannonball into orbit; or design your own mission to Mars. It’s all just a few clicks away.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

An organization representing women in engineering and technical fields.

Association for Women in Science (AWIS)

An organization dedicated to achieving equity and full participation for women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.

Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)

A nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging women and girls in the mathematical sciences. AWM also offers a mentoring program.

The JASON Project

Connects students with scientists and researchers in real- and near-real time, virtually and physically, to provide mentored, authentic and enriching science learning experiences. JASON and its partners create these connections using multiple platforms and technologies, including award-winning, standards-based classroom curriculum developed with NOAA, NASA, National Geographic Society and others; after-school and out-of-school activities; camp experiences; and exploration programs for museums, aquariums, libraries and community centers. The result is a year-round continuum of classroom and out-of-classroom learning.

What Engineers Do

Discover what engineers do, what the job is like, and even how much they are paid.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame

Celebrate the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of great inventors showcased on this web site through exhibits and presentations.

The Tech Museum of Innovation

A hands-on technology museum devoted to inspiring the innovator in everyone.

Exploratorium

With over 12,000 web pages exploring hundreds of different topics, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits.

Imagiverse

Imagiverse.... the universe of our imaginations has no boundaries. Imagiverse believes that imagination is the key to learning. Teachers can teach, but learning comes from within. The web site's goal is to spark the flame that will lead young and old to pursue learning as an adventure through imagination. Activities, resources, and lots of information are available for all to see and use.

The Library of Congress

More than a library. . .an on-line collection of the words, pictures, and sounds of our country in a library that never closes.

Coral Reefs and Climate Change

Learn what coral is, how groups can grow into a reef, and what threats they face with climate change and changing ocean temperatures with Smithsonian experts.

Clickety-Clackety Coin Experiment

All you need is a quarter, a soda bottle, and a little water to do this science experiment.

Crystal Cave

Play this game to learn about the structure of crystals and how they grow.

Extract DNA

DNA is usually too small to see, but with this experiment, you can extract it from spinach and see it with your own eyes.

Fun Science Experiment: Crystal Suncatchers

This craft can help you explore the structure of crystals and understand how they are created.

How to Make Magnetic Slime

Slime is fun to play with, but when you make this slime, you can also learn about magnetism.

Life of a Can

Explore the life cycle of a soda can, from raw aluminum to a store shelf to your recycle bin and back into raw metal again.

Make Your Own Volcano

This is a popular science experiment because it's fun to watch! You can also play around with different variables, like changing the temperature of the vinegar or the amount of baking soda, to see what results you get.

Monarch Waystations

Learn how you can help monarch butterflies by planting food for them.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Can you spot all of the different things on this list in one trip outside?

Pages of Inertia

Bill Nye the Science Guy created this experiment that only requires a big book and a table.

Photosynthesis Mystery

Watch Mosa Mack, Science Detective, solve the mystery of why one fern is growing and the other is dying.

Soil Quest

Understanding why soil is important to every living creature on Earth and what we need to do to keep soil healthy is the basis of this activity.

Static Electricity

Electricity can be dangerous, but if you follow the instructions in this video, you can play around with static electricity safely and learn about how it works.

Weather Science How to Make a Cloud in a Jar

See for yourself how clouds form by making a miniature cloud in a jar.

Parent Resources

Click on the titles below to discover awesome STEM resources!

The Carnegie Mellon Robots Academy

This website is an excellent resource for everything robotics. Curriculum can be previewed, robotics equipment purchased, and information on the latest robotics news.

Kidsites For Parents

Your kids will think you are the BEST parent when you show them fun web sites. The web sites have been selected as kid-safe and kid-friendly.

FirstGov Web Sites

The U.S. government’s official web site portal. Includes links and general information about web sites relating to every part of your daily life.

Teacher Resources

Click on the titles below to discover awesome STEM resources!

Defined STEM

They take a cross-curricular approach to addressing the concerns dealing with STEM, using performance tasks, career-based video, guiding questions, lesson plans, student activities, and web resources.

Girls Who Code

At-home guides and free STEM education games

Code With Anna and Elsa

Start learning about coding and help Elsa to create shapes and patterns in the ice.

Code Combat

Use your coding skills to get through the dungeon!

Coding a Lego Maze

You don't even need a computer to learn about coding. In this activity, you only need printed instructions and some Lego bricks.

Getting Started With Scratch

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology created this free platform where you can learn how to code and create fun animations and games.

Robot Islands Plus

Give the robot commands to help it get through each level.

Mars Perseverance Parachute Coding Activity

The parachute of the Mars rover Perseverance contained a secret code. Can you use the same code to create your own secret messages?

Google Earth Studio

Earth Studio uses keyframes, just like other industry-standard animation tools.

STEM ACTIVITIES & GAMES

Click on the titles below to discover awesome STEM resources!

STEM GAMES: ENGINEERING

Marshmallow Challenges

See steps for several different STEM projects with images

Balloon Car Activity

Make your own balloon-powered car, then challenge your friends to make their own and have a race!

Paper Airplane Designs

Different paper airplane designs fly in different ways. Try out a few to see which ones fly the farthest, stay in the air the longest, or even do interesting stunts when you throw them.

Egg Drop Project

Can you build something that will protect a raw egg if you drop it on the ground?

Seismic Shake-Up

People who live in places that get a lot of earthquakes must build buildings that will stay standing when the ground shakes. Try to do the same and put your engineering skills to the test.

Build a Mini-Catapult

Create your own catapult and see if you can hit a target that's 4 feet away.

Wright Flight

The Smithsonian has lots of online STEM activity resources, including activities to help you learn how airplanes fly.

STEM GAMES: MATH

Six Math Games to Play on the Go

Try out these math games next time you're on a road trip with your family.

15 Hands-On Math Activities for Preschoolers

Even little kids can learn about math in fun ways, and some of these skills are also helpful to work on for older kids.

Alien Addition

Practice adding numbers while fighting off alien invaders in this game.

Decimal Detective

Follow the clues to figure out the right numbers.

The Multiplication Zombies of the Brittany Graveyard

Defeat the zombies using your multiplication skills to save the day!

Post-It Number Match

This activity can get you up and moving around while you practice your counting skills. You could also adapt it to work on other types of math problems.