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* S tudent and family members head count; filled out by students

Student abstracts due no later than Monday, March 13, 2023 by 3:00PM ( see Project Evaluation Criteria for more details )

MTSU Student Union Ballroom Floor Plan & Project Layout

* This is a first come, first served basis--only the first 800 students will be accepted.

Registration is $10 per student which covers participation, lunch, and award if applicable.

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This is a first come, first served basis--only the first 800 students will be accepted.

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Sponsored by TVA and BVI

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Tennessee STEM Innovation Network - Tennessee STEM Innovation Network

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Tennessee STEM Innovation Network - Tennessee STEM Innovation Network

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Robotics Award Program - Tennessee STEM Innovation Network

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Today’s youth will become tomorrow’s creators and thinkers. They will become the engineers and tradespeople meeting future energy industry challenges.

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3D Printed Combat Robot Competition.

Get all the details at kilobots.stemwise.net

https://www.instagram.com/kilobots_crl/

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Products and Registration information for the Robot Drone League and Robot Drone League Jr STEM Education Robot Drone

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About Us

TSA is a national, non-profit organization of high school and middle school student members who are engaged in STEM. Since TSA was chartered in 1978, over 5,000,000 members have participated through competitions, intracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, and community service.

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TSA is a national, non-profit organization of high school and middle school student members who are engaged in STEM. Since TSA was chartered in 1978, over 5,000,000 members have participated through competitions, intracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, and community service.

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https://richardsiegelfoundation.org/

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SkillsUSA Tennessee is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

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This folder contains the Safety Review I use with my students and a Safety Test. It can be completed in one class.

The test is a google form. To use it, just open it, click the three dots at the top right, and chose make a copy. Then you can make that one your own and save it under your own google account.

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Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair

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Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair

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About MTSEF

The Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair (MTSEF) is the premiere STEM competition for middle and high school students in Middle Tennessee. For the 72nd year, MTSEF serves as a forum for students to conduct research and experimentation and exhibit their scientific and engineering projects to the public. MTSEF is an affiliate of the Society for Science and sends grand prize winners to compete at the Regneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) competition each year. Top middle school projects move on to compete in the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering Rising Stars), the premiere national science and engineering competition for middle school students.

MTSEF is supported by the Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair Foundation, an independent Tennessee non-profit corporation funded by individual and corporate donations serving to advance secondary school science and engineering education and student research in Middle Tennessee.

Register as a Student, Teacher, Judge or Volunteer

Use the top menu to register or login to STEM Wizard. Sign up as a student, judge or volunteer to get started. Our fair will be starting in a few months, and it's time to get started with your project!

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STEM Wizard - Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair

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The Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair (MTSEF) is the premiere STEM competition for middle and high school students in Middle Tennessee. For the 72nd year, MTSEF serves as a forum for students to conduct research and experimentation and exhibit their scientific and engineering projects to the public.

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Funds may not be used for furniture, cash, gift cards, travel, salary, food, general office supplies not related to STEM activities, or sports (See more details below).

TVA does not provide grants to individual fundraising efforts, sporting events, school trips or transportation, construction projects, renovation projects or capital campaigns, political organizations, labor organizations, fraternal organizations, religious organizations directly tied to a place of worship, chairs, endowments, or scholarships sponsored by academic or nonprofit institutions.

NEW for 2023: All applications should be written and submitted by the teacher who will be performing the project. Although you may collaborate with others, the grant should not be written or submitted by a third party (such as a vendor or a district representative).

Funding Priority Areas

(Examples of projects funded in each category below.)

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Our mission is to promote and expand the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education in K-12 schools across Tennessee.

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2025-2026 STEM Teacher Distribution List

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2025-2026 STEM Teacher Distribution List

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2025-2026 STEM Teacher Distribution List

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2025-2026 STEM Skills Pacing and Sample Units

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CTE Administrative Assistant Contact Information

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CTE Administrative Assistant Contact Information

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26-27 CTE Administrative Assistant Contact Information with Middle School

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Due December 2nd!

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STEM Research Grants

STEM Research Grants provide support to middle and high school teachers engaging their students in authentic scientific research. Over 6 years, $775,000 has been awarded to 367 teachers. Priority consideration is given to schools that support students from low-income communities and demographics underrepresented in STEM fields.

Teachers can apply for up to $5,000 in order to purchase specialized equipment or $1,000 in preselected equipment including Arduino starter kits, soil test kits, and PocketLab sensors.

For the purposes of this grant, a research project is defined as an independent investigation by a student involving experimentation to answer a scientific question outside of regular classwork. Independent research projects are frequently entered into science fairs and other competitions.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ's here

2022 - 2023 STEM Research Grant Recipients

The Society for Science provided STEM research equipment kits and funding to 52 middle and high school educators to help their students conduct research outside the classroom. The teachers come from 24 states and the Northern Marianas Islands. Priority consideration is given to teachers at schools that support students from low-income communities and demographics traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.
Click here to learn more!

"The impact of this opportunity is truly invaluable. Many of this year's participants have never spent this much time in the outdoors and certainly have not conducted research in the field. The hope is that this experience will encourage these students to pursue science in their remaining years of high school as well as potentially college and careers!"

Jeremy Jonas, Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson, AZ

"Students interested in microbiology will have the opportunity to learn how to stain and plate bacteria. Many students in the past have shown interest, but we never had equipment to support their research. Now we do!"

Carrie Cox, Chamberlain High School, Chamberlain, SD

From the Society Blog

Questions?

Our Sponsors

More Ways the Society Supports Science Educators

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STEM Research Grants - Society for Science

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STEM Research Grants provide support to Middle and High School teachers engaging their students in authentic scientific research. Over 4 years, $440,000 has been awarded to 188 teachers.

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2025-2026 MS STEM Skills Pacing w/ suggested units

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2025-2026 MS STEM Skills Pacing w/ suggested units

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2025-2026 MS STEM Skills Pacing & Sample Units

(This is a live document)

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Students can create their own safety posters.

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Lab Techniques & Safety: Crash Course Chemistry #21

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Zombie College: The 5 Rules of Lab Safety

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Using specific tools in class that are higher risk (drill, saw, Exacto blades), create a task-based training certification program that students must pass for each tool before they are allowed to use that tool.

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Top 10 rules for electric safety

To play it safe around your home, remember the rules for using electricity the right way.

1. DON'T plug a bunch of stuff into one outlet or extension cord. It could damage the electrical system in your house or even cause a fire.

2. DO make sure all electric cords are tucked out of the way. Pets might chew on electrical cords, and people might trip and fall.

3. DON'T ever play near or on a green transformer box or climb the fence around an electrical substation. If a ball or pet gets inside the fence, ask an adult to call Alliant Energy or your electric company - they'll come and get it out for you.

4. DON'T yank an electrical cord from the wall. Instead, pull from the plug. Pulling on a cord can damage the appliance, the plug or the outlet.

5. DON'T fly anything like drones or kites near power lines or substations. A kite and its string may conduct electricity - sending it right through you to the ground.

6. DO ask an adult for help when you need to use something that uses electricity.

7. DO look up and look out for power lines before you climb a tree. The electricity can go right through the tree branch - and right through you.

8. DO have an adult put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. Covering outlets will also help save energy by stopping cold drafts.

9. DO watch out for power lines when using a ladder, chainsaw or other outdoor equipment.

10. DO keep electrical stuff away from water. Most electrical accidents around the house happen when people use electricity near water.

Why electricity is dangerous

Have you ever walked across a carpet and received a shock when you touched a doorknob or another person? What you felt was the shock of static electricity.
But a real electric shock is a lot more painful and can be deadly. Here's what can happen:

Muscles tighten up, making it almost impossible to pull away from the circuit

Lungs constrict, making it hard to breathe

Heartbeat is interrupted and blood vessels tighten

Burns

Internal organ damage

Death

It sounds scary, and it is, but if you remember the safety rules, you can use electricity without getting hurt.

Humans are good conductors

The human body is a good conductor of electricity. That means electricity flows easily through our bodies. Why? Because electricity moves quickly through water - and the human body is 70 percent water!

Another fact to remember is that electricity always tries to find the easiest path to the ground.

Overhead electric lines may cause serious injury or death if contacted. Maintain safe distances from electric lines at all times. Avoid using ladders, poles or other tools in situations where they may come in contact with overhead lines. Adults should call the electric company if they need to work near lines.

Accidents happen quickly

You might think that if you get shocked, you can pull away quickly and not get hurt. Electricity travels at the speed of light, 186,000 mile per second, so the effects of electricity can be felt immediately. A person has almost no chance of avoiding the shock.

If the electricity is strong enough, muscles tighten so much that a person can't let go.

Anyone who touches someone who is being shocked can become part of the circuit. That's why you should never grab anyone who's been shocked.

What to do if an electrical accident happens

It's important to know the rules of electric safety so you don't get hurt.

DO NOT TOUCH the victim because you might get shocked too.

Find an adult right away.

Turn off or unplug the circuit.

Call 911 and be sure to tell the person who answers that someone has been involved in an electrical accident.

If the accident happens near utility equipment like a power line or the green transformer boxes , keep others away and ask an adult to call 911 right away.

Even if a person seems OK after getting a mild shock, it's important to always go the hospital or see a doctor.

Electricity burns from the inside out, so some injuries might not be easy to see. The heart and other internal organs can be affected several hours after the accident.

Car accidents

If you're in a car or bus accident involving a power line, your first thought might be to jump out of the vehicle. But the safest thing to do is stay in your vehicle until help arrives.

Why? Because the metal parts of the car might be energized. If you touch the outside of the car and the ground at the same time, you could get shocked. The fire department or utility company will come quickly to move the power line safely away.

If you absolutely must leave the vehicle due to a safety concern such as fire, hop out with your feet together, making sure to land on both feet. Be very careful not to touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Continue carefully hopping with your feet together in short hops until you're as far away as possible.

Never approach or touch a vehicle with a downed power line on it.

Downed power lines

Downed electric lines may cause serious injury or death if contacted. All downed lines, including telephone and cable television lines, must be considered energized and therefore, should be avoided. Key steps to follow when you encounter a low hanging or downed power line:

Stay away; do not approach downed wires

Call 911 or your electric utility company

Keep other people away

If someone is in contact with the power line - Do NOT attempt to rescue them because you could become a victim as well

When "first responders" arrive, alert them to the situation

Storms

Wind storms, ice accumulations and heavy snows may reduce the normal space between energized electrical lines and the ground. Touching overhead electric lines may cause serious injury or death. People should be aware of sagging or downed wires and avoid contacting them.

Substations

Substations are fenced areas containing large electrical equipment. The electricity used in these substations is extremely dangerous. It can kill a person. Substations are marked with either "Danger" or "Warning High Voltage" signs.

NEVER enter a substation or go near the fence surrounding one. If you lose something into the substation area, like your pet, a ball or a kite, DO NOT climb the fence or enter the area. Have an adult call the electric company.

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To play it safe around your home, remember the rules for using electricity the right way. DON'T plug a bunch of stuff into one outlet or extension cord. It could damage the electrical system in your house or even cause a fire. DO make sure all electric cords are tucked out of the way.

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Rutherford Works Career Pathway Partners

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Rutherford Works Career Pathway Partners

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Career Pathways Partnership | Rutherford Works

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The Career Pathways Partnership program uses the Tennessee Department of Education Career & Technical Education Pathways

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Applications are in!

The application phase of the competition is now closed. Judges
are reviewing all applications. Tune back in on or around Dec. 5ᵗʰ to find out which schools will advance to the next phase of
the competition as State Finalists!

Five tech hacks to ace school work

After a year of uncertainty and change, we have some helpful advice on how to return to the classroom with renewed focus and even better tools.

Check out Samsung Solve for Tomorrow at our US Newsroom to learn more about the program
and to contact us for media opportunities.

No purchase necessary to enter or win in the Samsung "Solve for Tomorrow" Education Contest. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, 21 or older & currently employed at a public school teacher, grades 6-12. Contest begins 8/29/23. For Official Rules and judging criteria, click here.
Sponsor: Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung is registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. All other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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Solve for Tomorrow | Investing in Students | Samsung US

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Samsung's annual competition for public schools grades 6 - 12 encourages students to share their STEM project ideas for a chance to win prize money and mentorship.

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CTE Policies for Middle School STEM Programs

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*Middle School STEM Standards (p. 86-100)

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STEM Career Clusters - Pathways to College and Career Readiness

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STEM Career Clusters - Pathways to College and Career Readiness

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TN Department of Education information about 2025-2026 School Year

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Example CTSO Cover Letter for STEM Expo - Editable Word Doc

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Example CTSO Cover Letter for STEM Expo - Editable Word Doc

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Lesson Plan Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Lesson Plan Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Example Guest Speaker Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Example Guest Speaker Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Example Career Counseling and Advisement Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Example Career Counseling and Advisement Cover Letter - Editable Word Doc

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Career Counseling and Advisement Cover Letter

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*This brainstorming process is part of the Engineering Design Process (EDP) and Creative Engineering Design Process (CEDP).

Secondary link: Mark Rober Brainstorming Process.pptx

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Short unit of an overview of using calipers with an ending activity.

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This is a two-week unit gives students and introduction to the engineering design process and designing an experiment in which an independent variable is manipulated and the dependent variable is observed. This illustrates how a well designed experiment can allow one to make accurate predictions about

future outcomes.

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Students will learn to create 3D models using a basic but capable CAD (Computer-aided Design) program called Tinkercad. This cloud based program can be accessed from any internet connected computer’s web-browser and requires no software to be installed on the computer. Using Tinkercad, students will learn to design their own 3D models that can be used to illustrate ideas, simulate systems, or even be 3D printed.

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Deep Dive the physics behind a Mousetrap Car.

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Deep Dive the physics behind a Mousetrap Car.

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If you really want to get into the physics of a mousetrap car, Mark Rober has a video that will deep dive, and introduce you to the physics teacher who built a world champion Mousetrap Car.

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*This folder contains instructions and .stl files for 3D printing all parts.

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Forensic Science

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Gathering for Gardner

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Scaffold coding with these Ozobot tutorials and games: https://classroom.ozobot.com/

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Padlet: https://padlet.com/rcschools/tiny-houses-l6ask9bjign8js2b

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Presentation

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Presentation

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2025-2026 STEM Advisory Council Presentation

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2025-2026 STEM Advisory Council sign-in sheet

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Cool Place to get 3D models

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See how to compete on a world stage where teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot in a game-based engineering challenge

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The official website of Science Olympiad, one of the largest K-12 STEM organizations in the US. Find the latest info on events + competitive tournaments here.

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Step-by-step

We make it easy to learn how to make anything, one step at a time. From the stovetop to the workshop, you are sure to be inspired by the awesome projects that are shared everyday.

Made By You

Instructables are created by you. No matter who you are, we all have secret skills to share. Come join our community of curious makers, innovators, teachers, and life long learners who love to share what they make.

A Happy Place

Making things makes people happy. We can't prove it, but we know it to be true. Find your happy place, and join one of the friendliest online communities anywhere.

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Instructables is a community for people who like to make things. Come explore, share, and make your next project with us!

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Tinkercad | From mind to design in minutes

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Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding.

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Fusion 360 | 3D CAD, CAM, CAE & PCB Cloud-Based Software | Autodesk

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Fusion 360 is software for 3D CAD, modeling, manufacturing, industrial design, electronics & mechanical engineering. Subscribe for $495/year or download for free.

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Short 1-Day build in which students follow directions to build a 3d Printed propeller launcher. *Requires 3D printed parts (models included.)

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This is a 1-Day short activity that lets groups practice collaboration and deliberation to solve a problem. Groups are put in a scenario in which they have survived a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. They will have to inventory and rank the importance of their resources in the competitive challenge.

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This is a 1-3 day short build in which students follow directions to assemble a wind up car. Then they are given time to make refinements before pitting their car against others in a race. *Requires 3D printed parts (models included.)

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Short 1-2 Day challenge in which student build a cable car from a variety of materials you choose to provide.

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This is a fun 1-day game that helps students practice developing spacial awareness and the ability to conceptualize the way a multi-part system can be arranged to form a full vision. *Requires 3D printed parts (models included.)