Library
Welcome to the STEM activities library! With these ready-to-teach STEM lessons, you can fuel students' passion for discovery as they build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With these activities, you'll introduce experiences that go beyond project-based learning. Utilize them as a supplement to everyday lesson plans, for substitute teachers, and in after-school programs. Check back for more options as we grow this library of fun, easy-to-use STEM activities.
- PLTW Launch
- Available in Spanish
Rosie's Runtime
In the Rosie’s Runtime activity, Rosie the robotic dog wants to get her bones and bring them back to her doghouse, but she must not get her paws dirty! Use the Rosie code cards to make a program that tells Rosie how to get to her bones and then go to her doghouse. Remember to jump over mud puddles!
Recommended Grade Levels
K-5
Activity Length
60-75 minutes
- PLTW Launch
- Available in Spanish
Prepare for the Weather
In the Prepare for the Weather activity, students learn how to dress appropriately for the weather outside. Students learn definitions for weather-related terms and read audio-supported forecasts, which they use to choose clothing for one of three printable or virtual characters: Angelina, Mylo, or Suzi. This activity is adapted from the PLTW Launch module, Sunlight and Weather.
Recommended Grade Levels
PreK-1
Activity Length
90 minutes
Note: To ensure audio is playable, the PDF must be downloaded and opened from your device.
- PLTW Launch
Science of Flight
In Science of Flight, students play an instructional game that puts them in a remote-controlled pilot's seat to deliver supplies to a local community, exploring and learning more about the forces of flight along the way. Also available in Spanish translation. This activity is included as part of the PLTW Launch module, Stability and Motion: Science of Flight.
Recommended Grade Levels
3-5
Activity Length
45 minutes
- PLTW Gateway
Mechanical Valley
Recommended Grade Levels
6-8
Activity Length
75 minutes
- PLTW Gateway
- Available in Spanish
Automation & Robotics
Creating Virtual Art with VEXcode VR
Put your students’ coding and creative muscles to work! In this activity they will design and develop a program to make a virtual robot draw a picture using VEXcode VR. They’ll learn and practice block coding to explore their creative sides.
Recommended Grade Levels
6-8
Activity Length
45 minutes
Start Creating Virtual Art with VEXcode VR Today
- PLTW Gateway
Flight & Space
Paper Airplane Challenge
In this activity, you and a partner will work to solve an instant design challenge about flight. You will design, build, and test a prototype of a paper airplane glider that will consistently and accurately land on a target.
Recommended Grade Levels
6-8
Activity Length
45 minutes
Start Paper Airplane Challenge in FS Today
- PLTW Algebra 1 Advantage
Path Predictor
This problem is based on the scenario of students testing and analyzing a game to provide feedback to the game developer. The students will work with linear functions as well as absolute-value functions.
Recommended Grade Levels
6-12
Activity Length
90 minutes
Start Path Predictor Problem Today
- PLTW Algebra 1 Advantage
Clock Towers
This investigation focuses on modeling relationships through expressions. Students begin by sorting clock towers based on their size. Then students model the clock towers' heights with expressions. Then, students determine the height of each clock tower with an equation based on the sum of the clock tower heights.
Recommended Grade Levels
6-12
Activity Length
20 minutes
Start Clock Towers Investigation Today
- PLTW Algebra 1 Advantage
Saving Up
This project is based on the scenario of students saving to buy a car and the types of expenses that go into buying a new car.
Recommended Grade Levels
6-12
Activity Length
45 minutes
Start Saving Up Project Today
- PLTW Biomedical Science
Pathogen Patrol
In Pathogen Patrol, students take on an active role in responding to a pathogen invasion to learn the unique abilities of five different white blood cell types. In this CODiE award winning PLTW learning experience on Roblox, learners work together to respond to the pathogen and protect the health of the host.
Recommended Grade Levels
9-12
Activity Length
2 days
- PLTW Biomedical Science
Human Body Systems
Ready, Set, React!
In this experiment, students test their own reaction time to four tasks, each involving increased discrimination or decision-making.
Recommended Grade Levels
10-12
Activity Length
2 classroom days (45 minutes/day)
Start Ready, Set, React! in HBS Today
- PLTW Biomedical Science
Principles of Biomedical Science
Mimic Me
This challenge is a brief biomimicry design exercise aimed at giving students practice in developing and evaluating ideas, as well as using a decision matrix. It focuses on engaging students in creativity, collaboration, and detailed documentation, emphasizing the process and teamwork over the final inventions.
Recommended Grade Levels
9-12
Activity Length
1-2 classroom days (45 minutes/day)
Start Mimic Me in PBS Today
- PLTW Computer Science
Game Design and Development
In Game Design and Development, students create online experiences using Roblox Studio to learn the basics of coding and game design. This self-paced module guides students through basics such as goals, rules, advancement, and feedback to ultimately design an engaging experience of their own creation.
Recommended Grade Levels
9-12
Activity Length
22 classroom days (45 minutes/day)
Start Game Design and Development Today
- PLTW Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Cryptography
Students learn the history of cryptography and the different types of ciphers. Then they’ll develop their own ciphers and attempt to decrypt each other's encrypted messages.
Recommended Grade Levels
9-12
Activity Length
4 classroom days (45 minutes/day)
Start Cryptography in Cyber Today
- PLTW Computer Science
Computer Science Essentials
Careers, Innovations, and Ethics in Computer Science
Students explore careers and innovations that are changing our society. They begin to investigate the wide range of careers in computer science and how computational thinking is an important part of many professions today and in the future.
Recommended Grade Levels
9-12
Activity Length
4 classroom days (45 minutes/day)
Start Careers, Innovations, and Ethics in CSE Today
Infinite Possibilities: U.S. Recycling Module
Students learn about recycling, circular economy, and making resource decisions through an engaging group activity. They identify preferred snacks, create a student-friendly snack bar menu, and update their choices to maximize recyclability where possible.
Recommended Grade Levels
5-12
Activity Length
45 minutes
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