STEM Lesson Plans

In this creative lesson, students will use a slinky to model two types of waves: longitudinal/compression waves and transverse waves. Through class exploration, students will first practice making the

In this creative and engaging lesson, students will create a card that incorporates a circuit design to add a light component.

In this engaging lesson, students construct a real solar oven, cook food, gather data, and analyze the data to interpret if their oven was successful or not. The lesson culminates with a presentation.

In this hands-on lesson, students will model transfer of kinetic energy by preparing and measuring the temperature of two equal quantities of water, before mixing them together and then measuring the

This hands-on lesson is geared towards an introduction to engineering and electronics in creating a simple nanobot from cardboard, a coin battery, and vibrating motor. Students use the engineering

In this hands-on lesson, students will plan, build and create a roller coaster from random materials that a Ping Pong ball can travel through. Students engage in the engineering design process as they

The scenario is that you are heading to the moon to do a year residency program. You desire a “radio tower” to be built so that you can communicate with your friends back on Earth. This Challenge

Students will predictions about what will happen when two objects collide and compare hypotheses to observations. Also, students will compare what happens when objects made of different materials

Nothing in space stands still. Everything either orbits around something else, or moves toward or away from something else. So how do space engineers aim a spacecraft so it lands on Mars or meets up

In this lesson, students will experiment with unseen forces and their effect on motion. Students will build a LEGO land sailing car that will be powered by wind produced from a fan. Students will

This the third lesson in a series of lessons that introduce the engineering design process to middle schoolers. In this lesson students will go through the design process twice modifying their

This is the second lesson in a series of lesson designed to introduce the engineering design process to middle schoolers. In this lesson students will use the engineering design process reverse

Today we will learn how ice cream is made and then make some ourselves. To do this we will: Listen to an informational text describing how ice cream made and compare that information with our prior

This is the 3rd lesson of a 4-part series. In this lesson the students will be using their gauge from their swatch to design a garment or accessory for a model. Using proportional relationships

In this lesson students will be creating a geometric design to create a stained-glass window. They will then assemble the window with pretzel rods, royal icing and melted Jolly Ranchers. Students can

This hands-on lesson uses vermicomposting to apply virtually all of the science & engineering practices as well as several in math. Enough for a unit but a few stand-alone pieces can help your

In this hands-on lesson, students will explore a solar panel kit. They will measure all aspects of the kit and create a scale drawing, using proportions.

This is part 3 of a unit. Links to the first 2 lessons are included. This lesson focuses on building the base for the Ferris wheel. Students are encouraged to design and create a base that is wide

In this lesson, students will begin by exploring how animals can damage the plants in a garden bed. They will view and discuss the structures of various framed garden beds. Finally, they will design

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the career of architecture. They will use the design process to create a city with peers.

Through the use of the Read Aloud, "Up in the Garden and Down by the Dirt" by Kate Messner, students will learn about all the elements that make up a garden. Students will also plant a seed into a

This lesson explores why architects and engineers use cylinders in building structures. Students will be introduced to the concept of biomimicry. They will observe cylinders in plants and compare and

In this engaging lesson, students use a voltmeter tool. They will measure the milliamps of electricity in sports drinks to see which brand or flavor has the highest concentration and therefore more

In this lesson, students will apply their knowledge from the prior day's lesson (Magnetic Marble Run Newton's Laws of Motion Day 1), to complete an Advanced Build of a Magnetic Marble Run. This lesson