Top Take-Home STEM Resources for School Closings
Updated February 2024
As schools close in response to the coronavirus, classrooms are moving to online learning, and parents are scrambling to keep their children engaged in learning while stuck at home. To help both educators and parents, we have compiled a list of our top STEM resources including both online and offline take-home activities. We also provide resources for transitioning to online learning as well as teaching about the coronavirus.
How to Transition to Online Learning
Is your school moving to online learning? In the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation, many schools are making the transition online without proper preparation or training. In this unique situation, teachers are scrambling to figure out how to continue keeping students engaged and learning. We recommend the resources provided by the Kennesaw State University’s iTeach program that includes tons of links to apps, websites, and articles for transitioning classrooms to online learning including presenting, assessing, discussing, and other useful EdTech tools.
Does your school use Google? Check out this guide for G Suite tools and tips for distance education.
Another option is Microsoft Teams, available for free to educational institutions through the Office 365 A1 offer. Teams can provide an online classroom that brings together virtual face-to-face connections, assignments, files, and conversations into a single platform accessible on a mobile device, tablet, PC, or browser. Check out this best practices guide to get started.
Resources to Teach about the Coronavirus
Discovery Education has a section of activities and videos dedicated to learning about coronavirus (COVID-19). If your school does not have a subscription, administrators can reach out to the company to get free access. NPR has also created a comic to explain the virus to kids.
Take-Home STEM Activities (Offline resources)
PBS Design Squad: From balloon jousting to wind energy, download engineering design challenges and worksheets. Check out this build spinner that gives you challenges based on available supplies.
Makers Empire: A list of engineering design challenges related to the coronavirus such as designing a cough catcher or fever detector.
STEM Activity Calendar - Keep students learning at home with a calendar of 22 weeks worth of activities! We also have an editable, 6 week at-home calendar (which also now has a Spanish version included!) with both online and offline versions for PreK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The daily activities will incorporate math concepts, scientific thinking, critical thinking, communication, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Ask students to keep a journal or design notebook to record and reflect on activities.
STEM Careers BINGO (+ Distance Learning Versions): A BINGO career game for science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) careers! Includes career descriptions and fun facts about each STEM career. An easy, low-prep activity that can last from 20 - 60 minutes! Includes 32 game boards cover 24 STEM careers with a companion (editable) Google Slide presentation of each career! We offer Elementary School versions for Kindergarten through 6th grades or Middle School versions for 5th through 12th grades!
Distance learning version! Play during a virtual class! Send students a copy of the included Google Slides version of the game. Each student selects a slide. Call out a career, and students can use the drawing tools to mark out the career. When a student wins, they can send a message or even share their screen for proof.
Click image to access the EDITABLE calendar - now also available in Spanish!
STEM Space At Home Video Series: Want students to complete more in-depth engineering design challenges? Vivify is launching STEM Space At Home, a video series led by an engineer using materials you can find at home. The videos are intended to support elementary and middle school students through fun engineering design challenges with a real-world connection. Plus find more detailed challenges in our take-home STEM challenge packet as well as our free digital engineering design handouts.
Launchpad - Mission to Moon: Looking for a more complete STEM curriculum to try at home? Transform your middle school students into a team of astronauts on a Mission to the Moon! From launching rockets to designing a solar power tower, Launchpad STEM curriculum is provided for FREE through a partnership with NASA. Find the curriculum in our free library here . Launchpad works best in partners or small groups so ask siblings to join in the learning! For the elementary school version, go here.
Free Online Learning Resources
Many education companies are offering free subscriptions to support learning at home that include lesson plans, videos, games, and resources for parents and teachers. You can find our list of top STEM websites in our resource section. Here are some of our favorites:
Mystery Science: A starter set of science lessons for K-5 that can be used or shared remotely - all being offered for free.
Breakout EDU: Who doesn’t love a good escape room? These virtual games cover everything from the solar system, Newton’s laws, and chemistry in an immersive virtual world that requires problem-solving and quick thinking!
Coding: Being stuck at home is the best time to learn some coding! Code.org is an always free resource that includes games and full courses to teach coding skills for students of all ages. Other great options are Scratch, Scratch, Jr., Minecraft Education, and Tynker (who offered all closed schools free access).
Class Hook: A great resource for finding engaging video clips from popular media to enhance your virtual lessons! Plus they are offering free subscriptions.
Epic!: Free 30 day subscription for this massive digital library for kids under 12.
PBS: PBS Learning has a free library of engineering design videos, interactives, and lessons for grades K-8.
Nepris: An online community that virtually connects students with career professionals to bring real-world relevance and exposure to student learning. All live, virtual Industry Chats are now open to every educator and student through April 30, at no charge. (Nepris is now Pathful Connect and part of the Pathful College & Career Readiness System.)
BrainPop: Schools can now request free access to this library of lesson plans including an engineering and technology section.
STEM Apps: Have a tablet? Check out our list of top STEM apps by grade level.
Teachers have always worn many hats while pursuing a relentless passion for helping students succeed. During this time of uncertainty, we hope to alleviate any pressures and stress that are in our capacity. We will continue to focus our efforts to support YOU through resources, advice, and information. Please reach out to us if there are any needs that we may fill.
