STEM Instructional Materials
Weather & Climate
Introduce kindergarten students to the patterns and variations in local weather by engaging them in this unit which integrates K NGSS standards for physical science (K-PS3-1, K-PS3-2, K-ESS2-1) with CC ELA standards.
Forces and Interactions
In this Units, students embark on a mission to create a campaign which promotes seat belt use for a teenage audience. In the context of this project, students explore NGSS PE’s 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-PS2-3, and 3-PS2-4.
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.
How can we use solar energy to improve the lives of people living “off-the-grid” in Kenya?
This unit explores the NGSS Middle School bundle for Engineering Design (MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4) by engaging students in a Project-Based engineering task where students develop and apply their understanding of solar energy to create a solar device which can generate electricity for people who have lost power due to a natural disaster.
Tornado Alley!
This unit explores Performance Expectations MS-ESS2-5 and MS-ESS2-6 to engage students in constructing an explanation through modeling and analyzing data for why so many tornados occur in the United States, and specifically ‘Tornado Alley!
Is my Local Stream a Healthy Habitat?
This unit explores Performance Expectations MS- LS2-4, LS2-5 by having students collect local ecosystems data with a variety of computational tools: pH sensors, turbidity, oxygen levels and temperature – and to develop a presentation to communicate how and why their stream is a healthy habitat, or not!
Is the Pacific Northwest a Safe Place to Live?
This unit explores Performance Expectations MS- ESS3-2, ESS2-3 and ETS1-4 by engaging students in Project-Based learning to develop a community presentation that examines whether your community is ready to respond to a major tectonic event.
How can we harness the wind to create reliable energy source?
This unit engages students in designing solutions to transform the wind into usable energy. Students experience instruction to support Performance Expectations MS-PS2-1, PS2-2, PS3-1, PS3-5 and ETS1-4.