STEM Activity Builder
K–12 standards-aligned STEM investigations with built-in differentiation
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Ready-to-use STEM investigations for Grade 3-5 — free for all educators.
Soil Scientists
Students investigate soil types and write a scientific report.
Investigation
Students compare sand, clay, and loam for texture, water retention, and plant growth. They hypothesize which is best for growing beans, plant seeds in each type, and track growth weekly.
Materials
3 soil types (sand/clay/loam), clear cups, bean seeds, ruler, lab notebooks
Assessment
Scientific report rubric: hypothesis, procedure, data table, conclusion with peer review.
📋 NGSS 5-ESS2-1 · CCSS ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
💼 Soil Scientist, Agricultural Engineer, Environmental Consultant
Code a Science Story
Students use Scratch to create an animated story that teaches a science concept.
Investigation
After studying a life science topic, students storyboard an animation, then code it in Scratch with sprites, backgrounds, and dialogue that explains the concept to a younger student.
Materials
Computers with Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), storyboard template, headphones
Assessment
Peer assessment using Two Stars and a Wish: Does the animation teach the concept accurately?
📋 ISTE 1.4 · NGSS 3-LS1-1
💼 Software Developer, Animator, Science Communicator