Vaccines! is a freely available community research guide developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) in partnership with the InterAcademy Partnership as part of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project. The Vaccines! guide helps young people learn more about the concerns of their community in order to communicate accurate, helpful, and trusted information about vaccines.

Vaccines! features 8 tasks that incorporate investigations and hands-on science to help students discover, understand, and take action. Students learn about the science of vaccines throughout history; understand the science of how vaccines work; explore how vaccines are developed; examine issues of equity, access, and misinformation; and develop an action plan for addressing vaccines concerns in their communities.

Purpose of UnitThe purpose of this Climate Science NTC Project GLAD® unit is a call to action, providing equity of access for all students. Through a model of instruction that promotes language development within core content, the Voices of Hope unit teaches students the science behind climate change and equips them with the tools necessary toward making a positive impact on our planet. This unit was written for 4th - 7th grade.

What makes rockets fly straight? What makes rockets fly far? Why use water to make the rocket fly? Students are challenged to design and build rockets from two-liter plastic soda bottles that travel as far and straight as possible or stay aloft as long as possible. Guided by the steps of the engineering design process, students first watch a video that shows rocket launch failures and then participate in three teacher-led mini-activities with demos to explore key rocket design concepts: center of drag, center of mass, and momentum and impulse. Then the class tests four combinations of propellants (air, water) and center of mass (weight added fore or aft) to see how these variables affect rocket distance and hang time. From what they learn, student pairs create their own rockets from plastic bottles with cardboard fins and their choices of propellant and center of mass placement, which they test and refine before a culminating engineering field day competition. Teams design for maximum distance or hang time; adding a parachute is optional. Students learn that engineering failures during design and testing are just steps along the way to success.

Overview: Developed in partnership with the Jamerson Center for Engineering and Mathematics and ESD112 STEM Initiatives, this unit explores NGSS Performance Expectations for Kindergarten Weather and Climate, including an engineering design performance task.

This unit introduces kindergarten students to the patterns and variations in local weather by engaging them in this unit which integrates K NGSS standards for physical science (K-PS3-1, K-PS3-2, K-ESS2-1) with CC ELA standards.

Developed in partnership with the Jamerson Center for Engineering and Mathematics and ESD112 STEM Initiatives, this unit explores NGSS Performance Expectations for Kindergarten Weather and Climate, including an engineering design performance task.

This professional development course consists of a series of workshops focused on NGSS-aligned & local phenomenon-centered curriculum, developed by IslandWood with funding from the OSPI ClimeTime Grant. It is currently structured to be delivered online and for Upper Elementary (3-5) educators. A slide deck and accompanying handouts are available to complement the course outline. 

As our 5th grade students start the shift from childhood to adolescence, it is important for them to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to take care of their bodies by making healthy eating choices! This unit strives to engage students in the task of crafting a healthy and delicious snack for younger students in their building. Students master Physical Science performance expectations (5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4), while learning about the properties of different foods that make them healthy or not! The unit culminates with students constructing a snack for their 1st grade buddies.

Meaningful STEM learning can happen at home as we problem-solve around the house and make sense of intriguing phenomena around us! Join us as we embark on a mission to create a healthy and nutritious meal for our family! This STEM mini-project can be launched by the teacher and can provide families with a fun project to do in the kitchen.

Shellfish like oysters and clams are an important part of Washington State native traditions, the economy and coastal ecosystems. Shellfish have faced and continue to face many challenges including overfarming, pollution and ocean acidification. Shellfish also have an important role in addressing these challenges because of their ability to provide habitat for other species and filter pollutants, bacteria and excess nutrients from the water.In this unit students learn about the stakeholders, history, economics and cultural importance of shellfish in the Puget Sound/Salish Sea regions. Then they learn about how shellfish interact with their environment and their importance in local ecosystems. Finally they learn about some of the current environmental challenges and some solutions linked to shellfish. They will create a persuasive product from the viewpoint of one of the stakeholder groups. They should argue from evidence why shellfish are important to that group and what should be done with shellfish in the future. 

Meaningful STEM learning can happen at home! Embark on a journey with your students to answer the driving question: How can we design a solution to prevent Washington’s coast from eroding?

This lesson supplements the Women Who Changed the World website from the Nobel Prize Organization. A video and link to an interactive activity is accompanied by project ideas, topcis for extension, and additional resources.

A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring women's contributions to science and technology. This set also includes a Teachers Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions. Photos, film footage, newspaper articles, interviews, and manuscripts explore women's contributions to science and technology.