Free middle school STEM lessons

Students will draw their own social networks, ponder the meaning of complexity and begin to notice unexpected patterns that emerge around them, unnoticed. Through hands-on activities and digital experiments, students will discover how complexity research enriches our daily lives.

Students will identify a problem with an existing product and investigate biological functions to inspire a product redesign. Through independent research using AI bots and scholarly sources, students will gain a new perspective on STEM, biology, and the human interface between.

Students will learn to think like chemical engineers as they delve into the dye technologies that allow us to express ourselves through colorful clothing. They will read and discuss complex texts, analyze concept maps and graphs, and develop an appreciation for indigenous (Māori) dye technology.

Crystals aren't magic, but they are amazing! In this student-driven, lecture-free lesson, students will do card sorts, build hands-on models, solve engineering design puzzles, and more! The whole experience is connected through a beautifully crafted comic and supporting videos.

Spark your scientific thinking by observing cute Australian bird behavior! Fun, interactive videos feature real biologists and student inquiry & observation. Analyze the scientists' real data to get a window into ongoing research on the evolution of group size in fairywrens.

Students will learn how data visuals tell a story. They will analyze real bird song data to try to understand why female singing behavior has been overlooked in one of the most common birds in the world. They will also gain a deeper insight into the scientific peer review process.

Food and climate are deeply connected. Students will dig into data to discover how our food choices impact greenhouse gas emissions. They will propose solutions to reduce their carbon “foodprint,” both as current consumers and as future food engineers. Students will eat this up in class and savor it for years to come!

Out of 8,000+ frog species, Guardian Frogs are one of the first to show females that call & males that care for offspring. Students will gain wonder and appreciation for how diverse animal mating systems are while doing fun activities and analyzing real data.

Students play an interactive gameshow alongside researchers to ID birds singing in video clips. They will learn how to use sound visualizations (spectrograms) and leave class excited to use the free Merlin app to ID birds in their neighborhood.

Students will learn that hybrids are not flukes—they’re commonly found in the wild and our grocery stores! By playing and reflecting on Foraging Frenzy (a research-inspired memory game) students will appreciate how climate change affects species ranges and the direction of evolution.

Students will conduct experiments and analyze real scientific data as they learn about themselves. They'll learn how our eyes and brains interact to determine what we like and dislike, and apply this knowledge to fish research and the art of character design.

Embark on a journey through time and space to understand what light really is and how humans use it. From starting fires with sunlight, to sending messages to other planets, to current research in photonics, students will become more curious about light in their daily lives!

Help students sharpen their skills of inquiry and critical thinking and see that science is all around them! This student-centered, active learning unit helps students build resilience and growth mindsets as they approach scientific methods. Features 3 early career women in STEM!

STEM is older and more expansive than you might imagine. Crafted materials, like knit sweaters and woven baskets, were our ancestors’ solutions to everyday problems. In this lesson, we learn the geometry and physics of traditional crafts, and explore how these technologies help us engineer new solutions for the future!

Explore the secret lives of nonmigratory winter birds! Use data, games, and simulations to uncover their unique adaptations for surviving the cold and reveal the 'feathered flurries of activity' in the dead of winter.