The Center for Teaching and Learning is dedicated to supporting educators throughout the year.
Especially during this time of e-learning, our staff wants to provide as much support as possible. On this page you will find a variety of resources and offerings. We are all learning together and our team is here to help!
STEM a la Carte
STEM a la Carte is a series of STEM units for kindergarten through fifth grade students, which
provide educators and students with meaningful, standards based, hands-on, and inquiry based
units. The lessons are developed so they may be implemented in a variety of settings, including
formal and informal education as well as STEM clubs. In addition, units are developed for in
person, virtual, and/or hybrid learning scenarios. Each series of lessons is designed around a
theme and for a specific grade band (K-1, 2-3, and 4-5). Materials needed for implementation
are easy to obtain and frequently found at home. STEM a la Carte offerings are engaging and
uncomplicated to implement.
STEM a la Carte Units |
Sound of Music
Students begin this unit by exploring the different types of noises and sounds around them. They then explore the concept of vibrations and how they are related to sound, how sound waves travel, and how the pitch and volume of sound can be changed. This is a great way for young minds to explore physics concepts through a series of safe, connected activities and investigations. More Info and Pricing
Preventing Illness
This unit will explore student knowledge of germs as well as the importance of preventing or slowing the spread of an illness by wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance between people, and washing hands in a proper way. Students will be involved in hands-on, interactive, and kinesthetic simulations during this unit. More Info and Pricing
Nature and Me
This unit will guide students as they explore the relationship between nature and weather, the amount of food required for survival, and protecting food from weather phenomena such as extreme heat and storms. More Info and Pricing
My Friends Push and Pull
This unit will guide students in the exploration of the physics behind the concepts of pulling and pushing. This unit provides hands-on, interactive, and kinesthetic learning experiences around applying a force to an object and the resulting effects. More Info and Pricing
Properties of Matter
Students begin this unit by exploring the different types of matter that are all around them. They then explore various properties of matter such as how much space various types of matter take up, what types of matter float and sink in water, and what types of matter mix well with water. This is a great way for young minds to explore chemistry concepts through a series of safe, connected activities and investigations. More Info and Pricing
Forces and Motion
Students begin this unit by exploring the idea of forces and how unequal forces result in movement. Then, they explore various invisible forces that can cause motion: air pressure, magnetism, and static electricity. This is a great way for young minds to explore physics concepts through a series of safe, connected activities and investigations. More Info and Pricing
Properties of Water
Students begin this unit by exploring which type of materials absorb water. They then explore cohesive and adhesive properties of water, how to make a material more water resistant, and how to move and separate colors via capillary action. This is a great way for young minds to explore biochemistry concepts through a series of safe, connected activities and investigations. More Info and Pricing
Climate Challenge
Students begin thinking about how they use the land, air, and water for different activities, what resources each of these provides, and that the earth is a system. They also explore how water moves through the soil and that the shape of the terrain helps create bodies of water we reply on, as well as how pollutants travel from soil to drinking water. More Info and Pricing
Something Old, Something New
Students will focus on some of the ways we gather and use our natural resources and grow new resources. More Info and Pricing
Coding the STEM Language
Communication is essential, but was difficult to do over a long distance. Therefore, an alternative communication system was necessary and Morse code was the solution. During this unit, students will learn how dots and dashes are used to communicate, read, interpret, create, and send messages using Morse code. More Info and Pricing
Let's Get Ready to Winter
Students will engage in an exploration of winter related concepts. Effectiveness of melting snow and ice, containing drifts, and avalanches will be modeled. More Info and Pricing
IMSA Snack Boxes | Download HERE
The Snack Box Series is designed for teachers and families to provide STEM focused activities for students of all grade levels. Please see the links below for free access to all snack boxes.
19-19-19 “COVIDeos 19” E-Learning Webinars
FREE! We will be offering 19 minute webinars for 19 days at 1900 hours (7:00 PM, CDT). These webinars will focus on remote teaching tools are strategies for educators — i.e. Google Tools, Zoom, FlipGrid, Kahoot!, Biteable, screencasting, e-assessment, the student experience and more.
