STEM Instructional Materials

We Are Wondrous

We Are Wondrous

In this 2nd Grade Integrated Unit focused around Social Emotional Learning, STEM, Art, and Language Arts, we present students with the driving question: How can we use art to celebrate each and every one of us? Students read a variety of literature that provides them with the opportunity to talk about and think about how each and every student’s uniqueness is beautiful and valued in the classroom community.

Sediment on the Move

Sediment on the Move

In the “Sediment on the Move” storyline, fourth grade students explore the hazards of volcanic sediment and solve the problem of managing these hazards. This robustly developed and problem-based learning unit supports teachers in creating a rigorous and rich experience for students through use of fully-developed teacher support resources (Google Slides for students ready to be used), rich media (videos, images, first-person narratives), and a plethora of engaging and 3-dimensional formative assessments.

Animal Sanctuary

Animal Sanctuary

Set your kindergarteners on a mission to help shelter an endangered species by creating an animal sanctuary for an animal in need. Students will create a physical model of an animal sanctuary (diorama) for an endangered animal while studying what that animal needs from its habitat in order to survive and thrive.

What’s for Lunch?

What’s for Lunch?

In this NGSS-aligned STEM storyline, students explore the physical and nutritional properties of different foods and engineer a healthy and yummy snack for their friends and families. This unit aids students in mastering the 5th grade Physical Science performance expectations for Structure and Properties of Matter (5-PS-1-1, 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-3, and 5-PS-1-4).

Save our Turtles!

Save our Turtles!

Set your students on a mission to help save the western pond turtles by first studying the ecosystems in which they thrive, and then designing solutions to help this species survive. This unit focuses on the NGSS Performance Expectations Bundle for 5th Grade Life Science (5-PS-3-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1).

Why Won’t Our Blueberries Grow?

Why Won’t Our Blueberries Grow?

This NGSS-aligned STEM storyline, students embark on a mission to help preserve the Western Pond Turtle from extinction! Students study the ecosystem in which this endangered species thrives and come up with a plan to help reduce negative human impact on their survival! Students master the NGSS Life Science bundle for Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems (PEs 5-PS3-1, 5-LS1-1, and 5-LS2-1).

Where Did the Beach Go?

Where Did the Beach Go?

This NGSS-aligned STEM storyline unit strives to help students explore the 2nd grade NGSS standards bundle Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth (2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS2-2, & 2-ESS2-3). Students make sense of the phenomenon of beach erosion and design a solution to help the residents of North Cove, WA.

Patterns in the Sky

Patterns in the Sky

This NGSS-aligned integrated storyline unit strives to help students explore the 1st grade NGSS standards bundle Space Systems: Patterns in the Sky (1ESS1-1 and 1-ESS1-2). Students learn about how changes in the sky affect the behavior and survival of different animals.

Inspired by Nature

Inspired by Nature

This NGSS-aligned STEM Storyline helps students understand the concept of biomimicry and how humans can use the traits and behaviors of plants and animals to create solutions to many human-related problems. The unit addresses NGSS Life Science performance expectations (1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2, 1-LS3-1).

Ecosystem Invasion

Ecosystem Invasion

This NGSS-aligned STEM Storyline addresses the NGSS Life Science bundles for Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, and 3-LS4-4) and Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits (3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, and 3-LS4-2). 3rd graders go on a mission to battle the local invasive species who are threatening the native species in their area!

Environments: Save the Pika!

Environments: Save the Pika!

This NGSS-aligned STEM Storyline focuses on the 4th grade NGSS bundle addressing Structure, Function, and Information Processing (Performance expectations 4-PS4-2, 4-LS1-1, and 4-LS1-2). Students go on a mission to create a campaign to help preserve the adorable (and threatened) Pika population who lives in the Columbia River Gorge.

Beyond Weather & Climate

Beyond Weather & Climate

This unit engages students in using real data, text, and inquiry to answer the question How does the weather in the Arctic, Antarctica, and [insert hometown] compare? Students investigate how scientists study the Earth’s climate while experiencing activities that integrate NGSS Standards for weather and climate with Common Core ELA Standards.

Waves and Energy

Waves and Energy

Students explore a 4th grade NGSS bundle of Physical Science performance expectations by engaging in project-based learning while using science and engineering practices to help solve everyday problems for their imaginary pen pal who lives in a village in India.