Resources from Innovators Everywhere
We’ve compiled a list of STEM resources to encourage students and educators to engage with STEM in new ways. From curriculum and classroom activities to teacher discounts and science ambassador programs, we have something for everyone. Included in our resources are resources targetted at girls and minority groups in STEM, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to engage in the world of STEM.
Curriculum & Classroom Resources
FUTURE U provides educators with the tools they need to inspire their students to use creativity, collaboration, persistence, and problem-solving to change the world. Geared towards students in grades 6–12, FUTURE U. uses hands-on, experiential learning to ignite excitement and inspire them to become tomorrow’s innovators.
Center for Probing the Nanoscale
Middle level: Introduce students to all things nano with these hands-on activities developed by teachers who attended Stanford University’s Center for Probing the Nanoscale summer educator workshop.
Download Lesson Plans | Energy4me
K-12 grades: Explore energy concepts with K-12 students with lessons from The Society of Petroleum Engineers. For example, in Fish Fossils, and Fuel: Where Does Oil Come From? (elementary students). In Pump It Up—Getting the Oil Out, middle-level students model the process of removing oil from the ground.
How to Identify Effective STEM Activities for Children
World progress and development depend on science, technology, engineering, and math, she says, and the skills STEM education emphasizes — critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity — can apply not only to these fields but also to other disciplines. Check out this article to learn more about how to make STEM activities effective for kids.
K-8 Intro to Computer Science | Code.org
K-8th grades: Intro to Computer Science: Looking to demystify computers for elementary and middle-level students—and their teachers! This is a 20-hour course from code.org introduces basic programming concepts and computational theory through hands-on tutorials and unplugged activities emphasizing the creative and collaborative nature of computer science.
Masters in Data Science STEM Book List
The Masters in Data Science has compiled a list of 47 STEM books for readers of all ages. Children in kindergarten can solve math mysteries or read about how the color purple was invented. Older readers can explore physics in everyday life and the lives of women who changed the study of DNA. From picture books to memoirs, STEM books have something for every creatively minded reader.
National Science Teaching Association
These classroom resources, including lesson plans, book chapters, videos, simulations, and more—are compiled by NSTA curators.
Learning to code is easier than you think. Whether you’re a novice who’s just starting out or already have prior experience with industry concepts and tools, these coding resource articles and web design tutorials can help further develop your existing skillset.
Middle level: Bionic arms? Rainwater harvester? Solar cars? Wireless alarms? As diverse as these technologies are, they all involve engineering. These learning modules explore a wide range of engineering technologies.
Instructional Videos
High School: Award-winning biology educator and YouTube education guru Paul Andersen shares his passion for teaching and technology through videos explaining concepts in AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Statistics, and Graphing.
Utah STEM Bus Robotics Tutorials
The Utah STEM Action Center Bus team has put together a list of video tutorials on how to use LEGO Mindstorms, Ozobots, or Bee-Bots.
STEM Purchases
Clever Octopus Creative Reuse Center
Clever Octopus Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering creativity and environmental awareness through art, science, technology, engineering, and math. Our multi-tentacled approach includes the Clever Octopus Creative Reuse Center and the Octopod mobile outreach vehicle.
The Dealhack Teacher Discounts List
Attention teachers! Check out this great list of all of the discounts that are available for current teachers. Maybe it can help you get some supplies for a STEM project in your classroom!
This is a great website full of fun and exciting science toys and experiments. Check it out!
Volunteer as a Science Ambassador
When you volunteer to be a Bio-Rad Science Ambassador, you become an advocate for science education and inspire our next generation of scientists.
Diverse STEM
For Female Students
The saying, “If she can’t see it, she can’t be it,” speaks to the importance of introducing girls to female role models, especially in areas where women’s accomplishments were often overlooked or minimized such as in science, mathematics, and technology. A new poster collection aims to bring more of these women’s stories to light — and inspire today’s Mighty Girls with the knowledge that she can be whatever she aspires to be!
GoldieBlox is a disruptive children’s media company challenging gender stereotypes with the world’s first girl engineer character. Through the integration of storytelling and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles, GoldieBlox is building a global character franchise with videos, animation, books, apps, curriculum, and merchandise; the tools that empower girls to build their confidence, dreams and ultimately, their futures.
The mHelpDesk Girls on STEM page covers different subjects along the lines of what STEM is, important women scientists, different careers, and improving girls/women’s interest in STEM. The page also has a little section for experiments and games that we know you’ll enjoy.
For Students with Disabilities
AccessSTEM helps students with disabilities succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and reach critical junctures on paths toward college studies and careers in STEM. AccessSTEM shares promising practices to help K-12 teachers, postsecondary faculty, and employers make classroom and employment opportunities in STEM accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Other Resources
Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D., translates his passion for science and entertainment, along with his curiosity for new innovation, into engaging STEM activities for underrepresented students. Noticing a lack of minority involvement in the S.T.E.M. fields, he created Hip Hop Science with the goal of encouraging minorities and youth to pursue more advanced career paths. His background in engineering, acting, business, and credible work within the music industry as an artist, make him uniquely qualified to engage on a wide variety of topics from an entertaining perspective.
STEAMatwork4kids.org is a new website helping students ages 8 – 12 to “explore the rich diversity of topics and people in STEAM careers.” Each page highlights a person and their work, suggests kids’ books to read on the topic, and kid-friendly websites you can visit to learn more.
Black scientists have made enormous contributions to humanity. With so much sadness and horror in the world, we wanted to celebrate people who made the world a better place. Here are images, quotes, and brief backgrounds on notable Black scientists.
Professional Learning
Infosys Foundation Virtual Pathfinders Winter Institute
We are thrilled to announce that the Pathfinders Winter Institute is back! This unique and engaging professional development opportunity for K-12 teachers in computer science and making will take place from February 12-15, 2021 on our virtual campus. Applications are open today so we encourage you to apply now or to spread the word to a teacher in your community who could benefit from this amazing experience.
> Engaging Learners with Sound! Use this link to access the resources for our Oct. 22 session at Utah Afterschool Network’s JumpStart conference!
If you would like to recommend an additional resource to us, you can contact us or email us directly at stem@utah.gov.