STEM Explorers Science Resources

Order Out of Chaos is a low-prep, hands-on activity that introduces students to the Periodic Table of Elements without ever directly mentioning it. This activity involves classification, patterns, and systems of organization using familiar materials like playing cards or Pokemon cards. Working with a partner, students design and refine a multi-level sorting system, learning how rules, categories, and structure help make sense of complex information. Students practice organizing information usin

An Intro to Chemistry Observation LabThis free, hands-on station activity is designed to slow students down and train them to observe matter like chemists. Before formulas, reactions, or atoms, students practice identifying and describing physical properties using everyday objects placed around the room. Students rotate through 12 stations, identifying at least four physical properties at each station using precise, science-appropriate language. Teacher Instructions: Set up 12 stations arou

Build strong scientific thinking skills from day one! This bell work resource helps students practice making clear, precise scientific observations and distinguishing them from interpretations or conclusions. Instead of relying on keywords or memorized definitions, students compare paired statements and decide which observation a scientist would actually use when describing the physical properties of matter. This activity is ideal for the beginning of an introductory chemistry unit, a physic

Labeling the Solar System - Student Diagram Activity - Asteroid and Kuiper Belt Included In this three-page labeling activity, students identify and label the eight planets, as well as the Asteroid Belt, Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, using a clear and kid-friendly diagram. Perfect for upper-elementary and middle school Earth and Space Science. This resource is designed with built-in differentiation, making it easy to support a range of learners in your classroom. Choose the version that work

Give your students the full CSI experience with this Blood Spatter Forensics Bundle, designed especially for middle school! This bundle includes everything you need to teach, practice, and apply blood spatter analysis in a safe, age-appropriate, highly engaging way. Students learn foundational concepts through the Introduction Slides & Worksheet, then put their skills to the test in the Hands-On Blood Spatter Lab, where they investigate how height, angle, and force affect droplet shape. Final

Crime Lab: Blood Spatter Analysis Lab: Heights, Angles & Mystery SamplesBring forensic science to life with this hands-on, student-friendly Blood Spatter Analysis Lab! Students safely explore how height, angle, and force affect droplet shape and then use their data to analyze teacher-made mystery splatter samples: just like real CSIs. Students conduct controlled tests, measure droplet diameters, compare straight vs. angled hits, and use evidence-based reasoning to determine the most likely h

Crime Lab: Blood Spatter Introduction — Slides, Worksheet & Answer KeyThis Crime Lab: Blood Spatter Introduction resource gives students a clear, safe, and accessible foundation before diving into a hands-on blood spatter lab. Perfect for STEM Lab classes, forensics units, or any teacher introducing evidence analysis for the first time. Students learn and practice the three essential features of droplet analysis: Diameter Shape Satellites The slideshow teaches each concept with visual example

Crime Lab: How CSIs Investigate a Crime Scene: Worksheet, Answer Key, Editable Slideshow & Teacher GuideThis independent, no-prep activity teaches students how real Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) approach an investigation, from first observations to final reports. Students work through the interactive slideshow featuring the fascinating “Dollhouse Nutshell” crime scenes created by Frances Glessner Lee, learning how CSIs: Step 1: Secure and observe the scene Step 2: Record everything thr

Everybody loves a movie day: students and teachers alike sometimes just need a break. This Goodnight Oppy Exit Ticket turns a well-earned breather into an equally meaningful learning experience. This no-prep activity keeps students engaged during the Goodnight Oppy documentary while reinforcing key facts about NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and their missions on Mars. The 10 simple, easy-to-follow questions are designed so that even students who ar

Help your middle school students master mechanical advantage with this print-and-go, differentiated resource! Focused on Levers, Pulleys, Inclined Planes, and Wheel & Axles, these worksheets are perfect for students just being introduced to simple machines. What’s included:Editable format: Easily adjust numbers, problems, or wording to fit your classroom.Two worksheets: Level 1 includes the MA equations for guided practice; Level 2 has more questions without equations for independent challen

Hypothesis Review Quiz – 10 Questions, 10 PointsTest and reinforce student's understanding of hypothesis concepts with this self-grading 10-question quiz! Designed to review the main ideas of what a hypothesis is, this quiz emphasizes distinguishing between null and alternative hypotheses. Each question is written to help students think critically and apply their knowledge, making it an ideal tool for practice, review, or assessment. Perfect for middle or high school science classes, it’s q

In this hands-on lab, students explore how the color of a balloon affects the way it absorbs light and how quickly it pops when sunlight is focused on it. The problem asks: How does the color of a balloon affect how quickly it pops when sunlight is focused on it? Students begin with background research, learning that sunlight contains all the colors of the visible spectrum. They discover that colors appear as they do because of how they interact with light: darker colors like black absorb mo

Bring hands-on excitement to your classroom with this all-in-one, ready-to-go, highly engaging Dry Ice Lab resource! This is one of the labs your students will never forget! Designed for middle school students, this resource combines safety, engagement, and scientific exploration to help students understand state changes, sublimation, and observation skills. Buyers will receive 9 pages of resources, organized into 7 distinct parts that make this lab complete and teacher-friendly: Teacher

Landforms & Water Matching Worksheet – Science and GeographyReinforce key geography vocabulary with this engaging matching worksheet! Students will work with 10 important landforms and water features— lake, valley, plain, island, plateau, canyon, peninsula, isthmus, crater, and volcano—and match them to brief, clear definitions presented in a mixed order. Perfect for middle school geography, Earth science, or science enrichment. Builds critical thinking and strengthens vocabulary retention. Read

Speed Equation Practice Problems (Speed = Distance ÷ Time)This worksheet gives students practice applying the speed equation in a variety of ways. With 10 practice problems, students will solve for speed, distance, and time—keeping them engaged and encouraging deeper understanding of the relationship between the three variables. The problems are mixed in order so students can’t just memorize a process; they need to think critically about which calculation to use. An answer key is included for

Work, Force, and Distance Practice Problems WorksheetThis worksheet gives students practice using the work equation ( W = F × d) to solve real-world science problems. It includes 5 practice problems with clear formatting and the equation provided at the top for easy reference. An answer key is included for quick grading or self-checking. Perfect as a class assignment, homework, review activity, or bell ringer in any physical science or introductory physics class.

Freebie: 3 Quick & Easy STEM Challenges Looking for low-prep, high-engagement activities that get your students thinking, building, and collaborating? This freebie includes 3 ready-to-use STEM challenges that can easily fill three class periods with hands-on fun! What’s Included: Marble Run Challenge – Students design a paper-and-tape marble run under their tables to see whose marble takes the longest to travel. Paper Airplane Challenge – Teams test designs and compete to see which airplane f

This self-grading Google Forms quiz is designed to help them practice distinguishing between qualitative observations, quantitative observations, and inferences. Students will read a series of statements and decide whether each one represents a qualitative observation, a quantitative observation, or an inference. This ready-to-use digital quiz provides instant feedback and automatically grades student responses, saving you time while reinforcing an important science skill. Covers: Qualitative v

Looking for a fun, hands-on way to help your students practice cardinal directions? In this creative activity, students design their own house floor plans and use North, South, East, West, and intercardinal directions, to describe locations within their homes. Students will apply map skills to answer questions like: Which room is in the northwest corner? Where is your bedroom compared to the kitchen? What room is directly south of the living room? Perfect for reinforcing spatial awareness and d

Keywords:l-day science lab helps students visualize the relative sizes and distances between the Sun, Earth, and Moon through an engaging outdoor activity. Designed for middle school students, this lesson uses sidewalk chalk, measuring skill, and teamwork to bring the solar system to scale in a way students won’t forget.K Students will: Work as a class to draw a 7-meter Sun using sidewalk chalk (based on a scale of 1 cm = 2,000 km) Calculate and draw a correctly scaled Earth (about 6.4 cm) and