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videos, lessons, interactive activities

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PBS LearningMedia | Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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List of latest top STEM trade books

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Best STEM Books 2020 Submission guidelines
Reading science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) trade books is the perfect way for students to develop literacy skills while learning STEM content. Building upon a strong legacy of several decades of recommending outstanding science trade books, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) appointed a judging panel that has selected its second annual list of Best STEM Books. The list was chosen by volunteer educators, identified in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC).

STEM is more than a concept diagram with connections among four (or more) subject areas. It's a unique way of knowing and exploring the world. The STEM approach involves the essence of the practices of science and engineering. Tools like mathematics, technology, and communication skills are interwoven in STEM explorations. That seamlessness is what challenges educators around the world. And nowhere is that more obvious than when teachers look to find literature to integrate into a STEM curriculum.

Through almost a year of study, the NSTA group came up with these criteria for selecting the best STEM literature for young readers:

Modeling real-world innovation

Embracing real-world design, invention, and innovation

Connecting with authentic experiences

Showing assimilation of new ideas

Illustrating teamwork, diverse skills, creativity, and cooperation

Inviting divergent thinking and doing

Integrating interdisciplinary and creative approaches

Exploring multiple solutions to problems

Addressing connections between STEM disciplines

Exploring Engineering Habits of Mind

Systems thinking

Creativity

Optimization

Collaboration

The best STEM books might represent the practices of science and engineering by

Asking questions, solving problems, designing and redesigning

Integrating STEM disciplines

Showing the progressive changes that characterize invention and/or engineering

Demonstrating designing or redesigning, improving, building, or repairing a product or idea

Showing the process of working through trial and error

Progressively developing better engineering solutions

Analyzing efforts and making necessary modifications along the way

lllustrating that, at points, failure might happen and is acceptable-provided reflection and learning occur

Communication

Ethical considerations

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Best STEM Books 2020 Submission guidelines Reading science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) trade books is the perfect way for students to develop literacy skills while learning STEM content. Building upon a strong legacy of several decades of recommending outstanding science trade books, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) appointed a judging panel that has selected its second annual list of Best STEM Books.

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Video resource, huge library that contains other topics like SEL, blended learning, teaching strategies...

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Engage students with this successful approach to integrated studies that combines science, technology, engineering, and math.

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Videos, lesson plans, games and more for all NGSS topics

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Find Next Gen STEM learning opportunities for students in multiple settings - in school, afterschool programs informal institutions like museums and science centers, and at home.

NASA Express Newsletter Sign-up

Are you looking for the latest NASA resources for teachers, parents, caregivers, and students? Subscribe to the NASA EXPRESS newsletter to get the latest NASA STEM opportunities delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Learn More about NASA Express Newsletter Sign-up

get social with nasa stem engagement

Discover More STEM Topics From NASA

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NASA offers a wide array of unique experiences for educators designed to engage K-12 students nationwide in the agency's missions, people, and resources.

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1-ESS1-1: Patterns in the sky that can be predicted

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1-ESS1-1: Patterns in the sky that can be predicted

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https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/what-are-the-northern-lights#:~:text=The%20northern%20lights%20are%20caused,atmosphere%2C%20which%20makes%20them%20glow.

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You've probably heard about the northern lights. You may have even been lucky enough to see them. But you probably don't know what causes them. The northern lights - also called aurora borealis (say "ah-ROAR-ah bore-ee-AH-lis") - are coloured lights that appear in the northern sky. Kind of like nature's fireworks.

So...what causes them?

The northern lights are caused by electrons being blown out by the solar wind. Sounds technical, right? Think of it this way: it's like the sun burping out these really small particles (the electrons) into the air. These tiny electrons mix with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, which makes them glow.

When can I see them?

The best time to see the northern lights is when the skies are clearest. Winter and spring - or between December and April - are the best times to see them. You'll have to stay up late, though. You can see the lights best between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. (way past your bedtime!). And you should dress warm - the best place to see the northern lights in Canada is way up north in the Yukon Territories, so you're going to get chilly!

Aurora borealis or northern lights?

The auroral borealis in Estonia. (Wikimedia/Kristian Pikner/CC BY-SA 4.0)

They're both right! The name "aurora borealis" comes from the French astronomer and scientist Pierre Gassendi. He called it aurora for the Roman goddess of the dawn, and boreas, which is the Greek word for the north wind.

Northern lights mythology

A painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo of a Valkyrie - a female Viking warrior, 1869, National Gallery of Norway. (Wikimedia/public domain)

There are many different folktales about the northern lights. The Vikings believed that the lights were the reflection of the shields and armour of the female warriors - also known as the Valkyrie - who were immortal, or that it was the Bifröst Bridge that led those who fell in battle to their final resting place in Valhalla.

It would have been rare to see the northern lights in China, but early Chinese legends about the northern lights have to do with dragons! The lights were believed to be a celestial battle between good and evil dragons who breathed fire across the sky.

There are many Indigenous legends about the northern lights all across North America. Some spoke of them as torches of giants in the sky or the souls of animals they hunted like deer, whales or salmon. Other legends spoke of the lights as a powerful spirit who assisted shamans; a torch-lit path to help souls along their journey; or the light from the fire built by the creator.

In Finland, where the northern lights are very bright, their myth involves a sly little arctic fox. It ran so quickly across the snow that its tail made sparks fly into the night sky, creating the northern lights. Which makes sense, since the Finnish word for northern lights is revontulet - which literally means " fox fire"!

Did you know?

You can see the northern lights from space. (Photo via Visual Hunt)

The northern lights appear 200 to 300 kilometers above the earth and are bright enough to be seen from space.

The most common colours of the northern lights are green, pink, purple, red, yellow and blue.

You can also see southern lights - or aurora australis (say "ah-ROAR-ah os-traw-lis") - if you're close to the southern pole.

Earth isn't the only planet to have auroras - scientists have found them on Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.

No two northern lights will ever look the same - you will always see different patterns and colours in the lights.

The northern lights don't just produce beautiful colours, they also make sounds like claps, crackles and static. But these are hard to hear with all the other noise around us.

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What are the northern lights? | CBC Kids

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You've probably heard about the northern lights. You may have even been lucky enough to see them. But you probably don't know what causes them. The northern lights - also called aurora borealis (say "ah-ROAR-ah bore-ee-AH-lis") - are coloured lights that appear in the northern sky. Kind of like nature's fireworks.

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1-ESS1-1: Patterns in the sky that can be predicted

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1-ESS1-1: Patterns in the sky that can be predicted

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbzCA0Lgf3Y

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Constellation Location: Crash Course Kids #31.2

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https://sciencing.com/science-project-effect-mass-distance-ball-travels-2550.html

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Science Project: The Effect of Mass on the Distance a Ball Travels

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Conducting a simple science project to show how the mass of a ball affects how far it will travel after rolling down a ramp reveals an important fact about gravity.

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virtual labs and simulations

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Interactive STEM Simulations & Virtual Labs | Gizmos

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Unlock STEM potential with our 550+ virtual labs and interactive math and science simulations. Discover engaging activities and STEM lessons with Gizmos!

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hands on science resources including science kits sorted by grade level and topic

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Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools

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Free Topic Selection Wizard, science fair project ideas, step by step how to do a science fair project, Ask an Expert discussion board, and science fair tips for success.

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Three dimensions of science learning

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Improving Science Education Through Three-Dimensional Learning

Quick Search Next Generation Science Standards

THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF SCIENCE LEARNING

Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard-or performance expectation-and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time.

Crosscutting Concepts help students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.

When these concepts, such as "cause and effect", are made explicit for students, they can help students develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world around them.

Science and Engineering Practices describe what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The practices better explain and extend what is meant by "inquiry" in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires. Students engage in practices to build, deepen, and apply their knowledge of core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) are the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These core ideas build on each other as students progress through grade levels and are grouped into the following four domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering.

More about 3D Learning

GET TO KNOW

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K-12 science content standards. Standards set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science education for all students.

A goal for developing the NGSS was to create a set of research-based, up-to-date K-12 science standards. These standards give local educators the flexibility to design classroom learning experiences that stimulate students' interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship.

Get to Know the Standards

IMPLEMENT

The NGSS call for a three-dimensional approach to K-12 science instruction. This represents a significant transition from previous state standards. That's why effective implementation demands a great deal of collaboration and patience among states, districts, schools, teachers, and students.

Thoughtful and coordinated approaches to implementation will enable educators to inspire future generations of scientifically literate students. That is the vision of the NGSS. This website provides a range of high-quality resources that empower educators, administrators, parents, and the general public to help bring this vision to life.

Find Tools and Resources

WHY

Science-and therefore science education-is central to the lives of all Americans.

A high-quality science education means that students will develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills-communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem solving, and flexibility-that will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives.

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Home Page | Next Generation Science Standards

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Improving Science Education Through Three-Dimensional Learning Quick Search Next Generation Science Standards Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard-or performance expectation-and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time.

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Planning tools based on NGSS

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Check out the guidance for the steps to designing a coherent NGSS aligned storyline. Explore unpacking, identifying phenomena, and sequencing investigations to help students build science ideas, step by step.

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STEM teaching tools. Includes additional topics such as equity, assessments, instruction, background...

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The STEM Teaching Tools site has tools that can help you teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We are currently focused on supporting the teaching of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) . Each tool is focused on a specific issue and leverages the best knowledge from research and practice.

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Expeditions: Science - Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world’s treasures online.

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Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

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Mystery Science offers open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hook, visuals, and activity have all been prepared for you. Less prep, more learning.

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By converting our sims to HTML5, we make them seamlessly available across platforms and devices. Whether you have laptops, iPads, chromebooks, or BYOD, your favorite PhET sims are always right at your fingertips.Become part of our mission today, and transform the learning experiences of students everywhere!

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Audiobooks, ebooks, and documents. Can be used for personal learning or read alouds

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Rosie may seem quiet during the day, but at night she's a brilliant inventor of gizmos and gadgets who dreams of becoming a great engineer. When her Great-Great-Aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) comes for a visit and mentions her one unfinished goal-to fly-Rosie sets to work building a contraption to make her aunt's dream come true.

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Helps to locate any book at store or library

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StoryMap of different subcategories of Biomes