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Roller Coaster Engineering & Physics BundleTake your students from the history of "Ice Slides" to the high-stakes world of modern engineering with this Complete Roller Coaster STEM Unit. This bundle includes everything you need to teach the physics of energy, the biology of G-forces, and the hands-on engineering of marble coasters. Developed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), these resources emphasize the "integration of play and real-life simulations," ensuring that complex concepts lik

Engage your students in real-world ecology & evolution connections with this Wall-E Viewing Guide! Designed for middle school life science, this resource breaks the movie into three 40-minute class periods, helping students analyze environmental themes, sustainability, and human impact on ecosystems. Perfect for life science, environmental science, or STEM enrichment, this guide fosters deep discussions while making learning fun & relevant! How This Resource Connects to Science! Day 1: Earth’

The ultimate physics finale! This Paper Roller Coaster STEM Project is a comprehensive, 7-day engineering challenge where students design, budget, build, and safety-test a functional marble coaster. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this project turns your classroom into a professional engineering firm. Students aren't just building a toy—they are managing a budget, navigating "Government Safety Inspections," and proving the laws of physics. ⚠️ IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT: T

Turn your students into environmental advocates! This Save Our Water Poster Project combines scientific research with creative graphic design to help students communicate the importance of water conservation. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this resource is perfect for Earth Day, environmental science units, or as a creative capstone for a water cycle module. What’s Included?Project Planning & Research Guide: Students are prompted to select a specific conservation "t

Rubric Included! Can your students engineer a solution to one of the most significant public health crises in modern history? This DIY Water Filter STEM Project serves as the final summative assessment for the Flint Water Crisis unit. Students move beyond the history books to act as environmental engineers, designing and testing filtration systems to combat various types of pollutants. Developed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this 5-day project focuses on "real-life simulations," cha

"Houston, we have a problem!" Challenge your students to become NASA engineers with this Apollo 13 Egg Drop Project. This high-engagement STEM simulation tasks students with building a lunar capsule strong enough to survive a "re-entry" fall back to Earth. Designed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5–8), this resource perfectly integrates physical science concepts like forces and gravity with the historic drama of the Apollo 13 mission. The Mission:Your students' goal is to land their spacecr

Can your students build a structure that stands up to the storm? This Tornado-Proof Structure STEM Project is a high-engagement, hands-on simulation that tasks students with designing, building, and testing a free-standing structure against simulated tornado-force winds. Developed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8) specializing in math and science, this project emphasizes the "integration of play and real-life simulations" to make complex engineering concepts accessible and fun. The Engin

The ultimate capstone for your botany unit! This Seed Dispersal Project challenges students to move beyond definitions and become biological engineers. Using the STEM design process, students will invent an entirely new plant species adapted to a specific biome and engineer a working device to disperse its seeds. Designed by a middle-level science educator (Grades 5-8), this 7-day project is the perfect way to assess student mastery of adaptations and plant reproduction in an engaging, hands-

How did we go from "Ice Slides" in Russia to 100+ MPH giga-coasters? This Roller Coasters Throughout History research project takes students on a chronological journey through the evolution of amusement park engineering. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this activity challenges students to investigate the designers, safety innovations, and mechanical breakthroughs of each century. What’s Included?6-Century Comparative Research Packet: A structured guide that tasks stu

Inspire your students to see themselves in the future of innovation! This Careers in STEM Poster Project is a high-interest research and graphic design activity that challenges students to become "career detectives." Whether they are interested in the depths of the ocean or the reaches of space, this project helps them uncover the "Path There"—mapping out the education, tools, and daily tasks required to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Designed by an Illinois middle-level

Turn your classroom into a virtual physics lab! This Roller Coaster Physics activity uses an interactive simulator to help students visualize the invisible forces that make thrill rides possible. Instead of just reading about energy, students will manipulate variables in real-time to see how they impact a coaster’s performance. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this resource focuses on the "integration of play and real-life simulations" to master the laws of thermodyna

Engage your students in a powerful real-world case study on environmental science, public health, and social justice. This "Don't Drink the Water" literacy activity dives deep into the history and consequences of the Flint Water Crisis, helping students understand how science and policy intersect in our daily lives. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this resource focuses on the heavy-hitting realities of lead contamination and the importance of advocating for safe reso

Before students can build a filter, they have to understand the science behind it! This How Do Water Filters Work? literacy activity dives into the mechanics of physical and chemical purification, exploring how everything from charcoal to UV light is used to make water safe for human consumption. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this resource focuses on the "science of the solution," making it a perfect pre-lab activity or a standalone lesson on environmental technolo

Why don't we fly out of our seats during a loop? How much pressure can the human body actually handle? This Roller Coaster Safety resource dives into the high-stakes world of "G-force" engineering and structural safety. Designed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this activity bridges the gap between fun theme park thrills and the rigorous physics required to keep riders safe. It is the perfect reading companion for any hands-on rollercoaster build. What’s Included?20 Targeted Comprehens

Take your students on a botanical journey across the globe! This Plants Around the World research project challenges students to investigate how plants survive and thrive in vastly different environments. From the frozen Tundra to the depths of the Marine biome, students will analyze the specific traits that allow flora to conquer every corner of the Earth. Designed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8) based in Illinois, this resource is perfect for teaching biomes, biodiversity, and the re

Expand your students' horizons beyond "Tornado Alley" with this Tornadoes Around the World research project. While the U.S. sees the most activity, tornadoes are a global phenomenon. This resource challenges students to investigate how different countries and continents experience, track, and survive these powerful storms. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this activity turns students into global meteorologists as they compare international storm data. What’s Included?

How do we build to survive nature’s most violent storms? This Tornado-Proof Structures resource challenges students to analyze real-world engineering and apply those lessons to their own designs. Designed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8) specializing in math and science, this activity bridges the gap between meteorological research and structural engineering. What’s Included?Engineering Case Studies: A structured 5-part research guide where students analyze existing buildings, bridges, o

Engage your students in an immersive exploration of lunar phases and eclipses with this captivating Moon Popsicle Lab! This hands-on activity allows students to embody the Earth's motion while observing the changing phases of the moon and experiencing both lunar and solar eclipses. In this lab, students stand in front of a powerful lamp (or a house lamp without a shade), holding moon popsicles made from Styrofoam balls on barbecue skewers. As they rotate in sync with the moon's orbit around the

Who designs the thrills? In this Theme Park Engineering research activity, students explore the science, creativity, and career paths behind the world’s most famous attractions. From mechanical integrity to thematic storytelling, students will see how "fun" is a serious feat of engineering. Designed by an Illinois middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this resource is an excellent way to introduce students to specialized STEM careers beyond the traditional lab. What’s Included?Guided Career Explo

Take your students on a journey through one of NASA’s most intense missions! This "What is Apollo 13?" resource is a comprehensive literacy activity that explores the bravery, science, and engineering required to bring three astronauts home safely. Designed by a middle-level educator (Grades 5-8), this activity fits perfectly into your Earth and Space science units or a history block. 🚀 Perfect Pair: The Apollo 13 Egg Drop Challenge!Looking to turn this reading into a full STEM simulation? Che