How to 3D Print a Keychain: A Fun, Hands-On Project for Middle School Makers

This image is titled, "3D Printing Keychain Project." The image shows a blue 3D printed keychain tag that reads, "Go Bears" and features a paw print. The keychain tag is next to a laptop that shows a 3D sketch of the same keychain tag.

By Trilby Looking for a beginner-friendly way to bring 3D printing into your classroom? A custom keychain is the perfect place to start. It’s small, personal, and packed with opportunities to build creativity and design thinking. Whether you’re brand new to 3D printing or looking to expand your maker activities, learning how to 3D print […]

Gain Valuable Insights with a Teacher Survey for Students

This image reads "Course Evaluation Student Survey: Print & Digital." It shows a paper survey and a computer screen with a Google form survey.

By Trilby Want to improve your teaching and create a better classroom experience? A teacher survey for students is the perfect way to gather meaningful feedback and understand what’s working and what could be even better. Why Use This Teacher Survey for Students? This survey helps teachers collect honest student perspectives on instruction, engagement, and […]

Newton’s Laws Project Ideas: Engaging STEM Activities for Middle School

This image is titled, "Ideas for Teaching Newton's Laws." The image shows a balloon rocket created with a string and straw. There is a worksheet with data recorded as someone changed the circumference of the balloon and measured how far the balloon traveled.

By Trilby Looking for Newton’s Laws project ideas to help your students apply physics in a fun and interactive way? These engaging activities allow students to explore Newton’s three laws of motion in an exciting and hands-on way. Two of the best STEM activities to demonstrate these concepts are the balloon rocket and the egg […]

The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activity

This image shows a set of worksheets titled "Snake Removal Tool." The worksheet is surrounded by a rubber snake, tape, and index cards. The image has text reading, "St. Patrick's Day STEM Activity."

By Trilby Are you looking for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day activity to celebrate the holiday in your classroom? A St. Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge is a great way to bring the legends of this holiday to life while engaging students in hands-on learning.  Teachers, Are you short on time? Grab the ready-to-go activity here. […]

Explain the Engineering Design Process: A Guide for Teachers

This image shows teens building robots. The text reads, "Teacher's Guide to the Engineering Design Process."

Imagine your classroom buzzing with the excitement of students tackling real-world problems, collaborating to brainstorm innovative solutions, and eagerly building prototypes to test their ideas. This is the reality of a STEM classroom! But it takes work to get there, and it starts teaching students how to solve problems. This guide will show you how […]

The Role of Criteria and Constraints in the Engineering Design Process

The background shows a child working with a circuit board. The text reads "Criteria and Constraints in the Design Process."

By Trilby Hillenbrand When students, engineers, or inventors start a new project, they are often excited to brainstorm ideas and create prototypes. However, one of the most important steps in the engineering design process is actually defining the problem. This means understanding what the problem is and figuring out the criteria and constraints that will […]

Quick STEM Challenge Idea for Middle School

This image shows two worksheets titled "Cell phone stand engineering design challenge." There is a notebook, pencil, scissors, and glue in the background.

By Trilby Hillenbrand Looking for a quick STEM challenge that you can throw together with minimal prep while still getting the fun and meaningful learning experience you love? Challenge your students to create a DIY cell phone stand. This quick STEM project combines creativity and engineering skills while developing 21st-century learners. Let’s dive in. Disclosure: […]

Middle School STEM Projects that Engage and Inspire

The text reads, "Middle School STEM Projects." The image shows DIY cars made out of household materials.

Are you facing the challenge of maintaining full engagement in your middle school STEM classroom? As educators, striking the right balance between rigor and excitement is an ongoing struggle. Luckily, we have the perfect solution to transform your STEM lessons into captivating experiences.

A STEM Curriculum to Inspire Middle School Scientists and Engineers

The text reads "STEM curriculum for middle school." The image shows a worksheet titled "Writing algorithms" next to a computer keyboard and writing utensils.

Are you seeking a comprehensive middle school STEM curriculum to captivate and motivate your students? Dive into our incredible bundle offering 30+ weeks of STEM lessons, activities, and projects designed to streamline your planning and inspire your future scientists and engineers.

How to Create Magical Valentines with LED Lights

This image shows 3 DIY Valentine's Day cards with LED lights. The text reads "LED Valentines." There is a hand pressing a button on the center card to light up the mini LED.

Check out this STEM project perfect for Valentine’s Day. Your middle school students students will love learning about circuits, using their creativity, and creating one-of-a-kind Valentines with LED lights to give to their family and friends. Read on for a step-by-step guide to this illuminating educational experience.