Due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. school districts have been forced to shut down. In addition to ski areas and school, UC Davis TERC has been required to close its science centers and regular program offerings. We would still like to be a resource to the millions of students and parents that are now sheltering at home and trying to continue getting through the normal day-to-day for an indefinite period of time. With seven days a week on the schedule for full-time child-rearing, we recommend creating a routine and sticking to a schedule. If you're looking to incorporate science into your child's daily routine, look no further. We have been searching for free STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) resources and have compiled a list. Check out the links below for some of our top choices for at-home, STEM educational resources. Below you will find a combination of indoor and outdoor activities that can be done in or around your home, as well as instructional videos. Please note that this is a working list and a live document and we will be constantly adding new resources. Everyone is welcome to suggest thoughts and comments to this live document available at https://tinyurl.com/scienceathomeresources. We wish we could do more and hope that this will be helpful to families and students during this difficult time.
Science activities and more to share:
Science Expo (Direct Student use for Grades 3-5): https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/science-expo Science activities designed for third, fourth, and fifth-grade students outlined at https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/science-expo. Videos available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa3BRSex0pXzgivsqrJuvjyXCFKylfmUu.
SWEP Snippets (Direct Student use for Grades K-8): https://www.4swep.org/swep-snippets Over the next few weeks (and beyond; if necessary) SWEP will be releasing daily SWEP Snippets to support virtual homeschool education. Each SWEP Snippet will feature an inquiry-based, hands-on activity that can easily be done in students’ backyards, in their home or online. These snippets include easy to follow instructions, video resources and links that support learning as well as extension activities for students who are eager to do more.
How to Smile (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-12): Howtosmile.org Search over 3,500 of the very best science and math activities on the web. Find handpicked activities from your favorite science museums, public television stations, universities, and other educational organizations. All activities are available to anyone, free of charge. Start searching now and filter by age, material costs, and learning time to find exactly what you need for your class, educational program, or family.
Science at Home with the Family (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-12): https://www.crscience.org/educators/Family Science isn't just for school! Science is the process of learning about the world around you and how it works. Community Resources for Science helps teachers build on that enthusiasm and bring meaningful science learning experiences to life in their classrooms.
Mystery Science (Direct Student Use after Parent or Teacher signs up for Grades K-5): https://mysteryscience.com/ Mystery Science offers open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hook, visuals, and activity have all been prepared for you. Free membership gives you access to some, but not all, Mystery unit videos.
Legends of Learning (Resources for Students and Teachers for Grades 3-8): https://www.legendsoflearning.com/ Math and science games for grades 3-8 that increase engagement and test scores. Curriculum aligned. Backed by Research. Teacher Reviewed. Fun.
Amplify Science (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-8): https://amplify.com/programs/amplify-science/?state=CA With Amplify Science California, students don’t just passively learn about science concepts. Instead, they take on the role of scientists and engineers to actively investigate and figure out real-world phenomena. They do this through a blend of cohesive and compelling storylines, hands-on investigations, collaborative discussions, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools.
Exploratorium Science Snacks (Instructions Show How to Facilitate Activities for Grades 6-12): https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks Hungry for fresh, exciting science activities based in amazing phenomena? Science Snacks are hands-on, teacher-tested, and use cheap, available materials. Science Snacks are well detailed to show all educators how to facilitate the activity and talk through the main learning objectives.
SnowSchool (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-12): https://winterwildlands.org/homeschool-snowschool/ SnowSchool has compiled some of their favorite SnowSchool activities that parents can use at home with their own kids. Some of these activities are hands-on and designed to be done in a snow-covered backyard or local park, others can be done online and don’t require snow.
Science Videos:
Physics Girl Videos (Videos for Direct Student Use for Grades K-12): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DdEm33SyaTDtWYGO2CwdA Physics Girl is a YouTube channel created by Dianna Cowern that adventures into the physical sciences with experiments, demonstrations, and cool new discoveries.
Bill Nye the Science Guy (Direct Student Use for Grades 2-6): https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealBillNye/featured Bill Nye the Science Guy delves into a variety of different science topics ranging from the atmosphere to momentum. His Youtube channel features short educational clips from full length episodes.
Mystery Doug (Direct Student Use once Parent or Teacher signs up for Grades K-5): https://mysterydoug.com/ This is the opportunity to nurture each child’s burning curiosity, guide them as they explore their world, and ensure they develop the most important skill of all: the ability to figure things out for themselves. Mystery Doug focuses on taking children’s burning questions and answering them well.
Crash Course Kids (Direct Student Use for Grades 4-7): https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids/featured Crash Course Kids shares easy to understand science videos on topics for 4th-7th graders.
Minute Physics (Direct Student Use for Grades 6-12): https://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics/featured Brief dives into essential topics related to the physics of our world. Topics ranging from “What is gravity?” to “Is it better to walk or run in the rain?”. Covering topics in an in-depth level in a short amount of time makes these videos best designed for high schoolers who are beginning to learn more specifically about chemistry, physics, and biology.
Citizen Science:
Citizen Science Tahoe app (Students, Parents, or Teachers for Grades K-12): https://citizensciencetahoe.org/ Download the Citizen Science Tahoe app and share your observations with scientists at Lake Tahoe.
Citizen Science/Plant phenology (Parents or Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-12): https://www.usanpn.org/usa-national-phenology-network The USA-NPN brings together citizen scientists, government agencies, non-profit groups, educators and students of all ages to monitor the impacts of climate change on plants and animals in the United States.
SciStarter (Students, Parents, or Teachers for Grades K-12): https://scistarter.org/ Over 3,000 citizen science projects and events are searchable by location, scientific topic, and age level, and by joining SciStarter, members can track their contributions and provide valuable feedback. Learn more about citizen science and check out these Ten Principles of Citizen Science.
iNaturalist (Students, Parents, or Teachers for Grades K-12): https://www.inaturalist.org/ Connect with nature and share your observations. Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. iNaturalist shares your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.
Merlin (App for Students, Parents, or Teachers for Grades K-12): https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ The Cornell Lab of Ornithology created this app to help you identify birds by answering three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will come up with a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers to learn about the birds across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Coding:
CODE (Students, Parents, or Teachers for Grades K-12): https://code.org/ Get your kids started with general coding with Code.org. Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth.
Khan Academy (Direct Student Use for Grades 4-12): https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming Students can begin to learn basic coding principles or delve deeper into learning specific languages.
Scratch (Direct Student Use for Grades K-12): https://scratch.mit.edu/ Use code to create stories, games, animations and share your creations with people around the world.
Resources for Parents and Teachers:
Smithsonian Resources (Resources for Parents and Teachers for Grades K-12): The Smithsonian has prepared a Distance Learning Resources Guide to consolidate resources from across the Smithsonian and will continue, over the coming days and weeks, to add new relevant teaching and enrichment resources to it, including high tech, low tech, and technology-free activities. The Resource Guide is available as part of the Smithsonian Learning Lab, a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources from across the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers, libraries, archives and more. For an introduction to using the Learning Lab, download the new Getting Started Guide here.
Homeschool Hideout (Tips for Parents and Teachers for Grades K-12): https://homeschoolhideout.com/ Experienced homeschool teacher shares cheap and free homeschool resources with her readers. Additionally, she shares homeschooling tips and tricks to keep students engaged and ready to learn. A great resource for families starting to do at home learning.
Other Resources:
Sheppard Software (Direct Student Use for Grades K-12): http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/ Sheppard Software is an educational website, with hundreds of free, online, learning games for kids. But anyone interested in online learning can use the site - with so many subjects - (geography, math, animals, science, language arts, creative activities, health) and lots of levels for all abilities - loads of games and activities for learners of any age.
Earth Science Week Classroom Activities (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades K-12): http://www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities A compiled list of Earth science activities for students of all ages. Most activities are categorized based on the Next Generation Science Standards, and the earlier National Science Education Standards. Activities are also marked with the appropriate grade levels for your learning or teaching needs.
From ABCs to ACTs (Homeschooling Crafts and Activities for Parents of Grades K-5): https://fromabcstoacts.com/ You’ll find crafts and activities for toddlers and preschoolers, free resources for new homeschoolers, and tons of fun printables to add to your homeschooling day.
The Best Ideas for Kids (Educational Craft Ideas for Parents of Grades K-12): https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/ The Best Ideas for Kids is an online community where mostly craft ideas are shared for kids of all ages! They also create and share activities, recipes and other ideas for kids. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver or teacher, there is something for everyone.
NASA Space Place (Parents and Teachers Facilitate Activities for Grades 3-5): https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/parents-and-educators/ NASA Space Place's mission is to inspire and enrich upper-elementary-aged kids' learning of space and Earth science online through fun games, hands-on activities, informative articles and engaging short videos. With material in both English and Spanish and resources for parents and teachers, NASA Space Place has something for everyone.
PBS Design Squad (Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades K-4): https://pbskids.org/designsquad Videos, games, and activities for students to do at home. PBS is also sharing a daily newsletter on activities and tips to help kids play and learn at home. Sign up here (https://www.pbs.org/parents/pbskidsdaily) for that newsletter.
Khan Academy Computer Animation and Pixar in a Box (Direct Student Use for Grades 3-12): https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/pixar Pixar in a Box is a behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists do their jobs. You will be able to animate bouncing balls, build a swarm of robots, and make virtual fireworks explode. The subjects you learn in school — math, science, computer science, and humanities — are used every day to create amazing movies at Pixar.
Greg Tang Math (Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades K-12): https://www.gregtangmath.com/index Games for students and resources for parents and teachers. Some books and resources are for purchase. Greg Tang also hosts workshops on how to make teaching math engaging for students.
Storyline Online (Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades K-5): https://www.storylineonline.net/library/ Videos show children’s stories narrated by celebrities. Activity guides have exercises students can work through before, during, and after hearing the story.
Science Rules Podcast with Bill Nye (Listening for Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades 7-12): Bill Nye is on a mission to change the world— one phone call at a time. He’ll tackle your curliest questions on just about anything in the universe. Perhaps you’ve wondered: Should I stop eating cheeseburgers to combat climate change? How often should I really be washing my pillowcase? Can I harvest energy from all those static-electricity shocks I get in the winter? With a little help from his co-host Corey S. Powell, field experts, and special celebrity guests, Bill will answer those questions and convince you that science rules.
Duolingo (Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades K-12): https://www.duolingo.com/ Learn a new language for free!
Scholastic Learn at Home (Students, Parents, and Teachers for K-12): https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-1-2.html Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.
Engineering Challenges Activity Guide (Parents and Teachers Facilitate for Grades 4-7): https://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/DS_Act_Guide_complete.pdf PBS offers insight to parents about how to engage their kids in engineering.
Brains On! Podcast (Students, Parents, and Teachers for Grades 3-12): https://www.npr.org/podcasts/414697070/brains-on Brains On! is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions ranging from the science behind sneezing to how to translate the purr of cats, and go wherever the answers take us.
Science Gizmos (Direct Student Use Following Parent or Teacher sign up for Grades 3-12): https://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspResourceCatalog Gizmos has a variety of videos on science and math topics for students in 3rd through 12th grade. Gizmos breaks down content by age group and subject matter to make it easy for you to find the subject you are wanting to learn or teach on.
