Free Science Resources
To use at home and in classrooms
We hope you enjoy these hands-on educational activities that the children in your life are sure to love. You can rest assured knowing our curricula and activities are developed and tested by math and science research and curriculum experts.
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Head Start on Engineering, preschool + bilingual
Head Start on Engineering is a bilingual, family-centered program that engages preschool children and their caregivers in the engineering design process, highlighting it as a relatable, everyday skill that naturally connects to early childhood play and learning.
Storytelling Math Books, preschool - 2nd grade + bilingual
National Science Teachers Associations Best STEM Books
Storytelling Math Books show that all children can be mathematical thinkers. Stories feature children of color using math as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Each book offers free activities, author chats, webinars to help explore the concepts further.
Focus on Energy, elementary
Focus on Energy engages elementary students in learning about energy through hands-on investigations. The curriculum explores motion, elastic, thermal, and electrical energy, with each unit framed by a guiding question and interactive activities. Students build understanding of energy forms, transformations, and transfers by creating “energy stories” based on real-world scenarios like ball collisions, solar panels charging capacitors, and warming air with a cup of hot water.
Inquiry Project, grades 3-5
The Inquiry Project takes a unique approach to the study of matter for grades 3–5. It brings together core ideas, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts. The curriculum for each grade is built around a network of science concepts. These concepts are relevant to understanding matter and include ideas about material, weight, and volume.
Evolving Minds, grade 3
Evolving Minds teaches evolution by natural selection in 3rd grade classrooms. Elementary school teachers can request for free the research-based book about natural selection, How the Piloses Evolved Skinny Noses. Teachers can also download classroom simulation activity guides, materials, adaptation worksheets, and an assessment packet.
Robots in Science
Robots in Science supports middle school science teachers who are interested in integrating robotics and computational thinking skills (abstraction, decomposition, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, and data practices) into their science classes. Classroom and Professional Development resources provide ideas, support, and templates for educators interested in enacting enhanced science units that will support student learning.
BioRobots, middle school
In BioRobots, middle school students explore how animals accomplish different tasks in the natural world, then apply what they learn to design and build their own biomimetic robots. Along the way, they gain experience in robotics and programming, while practicing computational thinking, scientific reasoning, and engineering design skills. The program includes a one-hour activity, a full curriculum, and a variety of supporting resources.
ExIST, middle school + professional development
ExiST helps middle school biology teachers make learning more engaging by integrating game design into their curriculum. Through professional development, teachers collaborate with students to create games using Scratch. Students take the lead as experts in coding and design while teachers provide content expertise. This approach not only strengthens systems thinking in biology but also builds students' confidence as creators and problem solvers.
EarthLabs, high school
EarthLabs is a set of high school earth science modules that incorporate hands-on activities, data collection and analysis, and interactive visualizations to engage students in an exploration of the earth system. The units offer both student and teacher handbooks.
Astrobiology, high school
Astrobiology is a full-year, truly interdisciplinary science curriculum that connects biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and Earth science with topics in sociology, ethics, and the psychology of human thought and behavior. Designed to spark curiosity and engagement, it offers an exciting and accessible entry point into high school science.
Investigating Astronomy, high school
Investigating Astronomy is the first comprehensive astronomy textbook developed specifically for high school students. It covers all major topics typically found in an astronomy course and includes hands-on investigations and interactive tools that support meaningful learning. The book emphasizes scientific inquiry, guiding students to make claims, support them with evidence, and use reasoning to justify and refine their ideas.
Biocomplexity, high school
Biocomplexity is an integrated, inquiry-based curriculum that engages high school students in exploring the complex relationships between climate change, land use, and natural resources. Through a series of case studies set in urban, suburban/agricultural, tropical, and polar systems, students investigate real-world challenges that communities around the world are increasingly facing.
CLEAN, grades K-12
CLEAN is a high-quality and rigorously reviewed collection of climate and energy education resources aligned with the Climate Literacy and the Energy Literacy frameworks, and the Next Generation Science Standards.
Signing Science Glossaries, ages 5-12
Six signing glossaries provide visitors ages 5-12+ who are deaf or hard of hearing access to STEM vocabulary during visits to aquariums, botanical gardens, natural history museums, nature centers, science museums, and zoos.
Signing Math and Science, grades K-8 and 9-12
Signing Math & Science uses SigningAvatar® assistive technology to develop illustrated, interactive 3D standards-based sign language dictionaries that offer students in grades K-8 and 9-12 who are deaf and hard of hearing increased access to the same learning opportunities that hearing students enjoy.
What's the Weather, grades 3-5
What’s the Weather consists of six chapters that are designed to supplement grades 3-5 core science curriculum. It encourages students to build ideas of science content and process through hands-on and online investigation of the weather in their location. Students collect data about moisture (humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation), air temperature, wind, and air pressure.
Investigating Science Outside, grades 7-9
Investigating Science Outdoors is a supplementary science curriculum, for grades 7-9, that engages students in authentic explorations of a study site—a small piece of land near their school.
Study of Place, middle school
Study of Place is a collection of two environmental science modules (Antarctic Exploration and Currents Exploration) for middle schools that are approximately two-weeks-long.