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Digital Content Resources - Science

These resources have not been examined for compliance with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)  and Education Law 2-d, therefore schools that choose to utilize any of these resources must ensure compliance where applicable. For more information on Education Law 2-d and data privacy and security in general  please refer to NYSED’s Data Privacy and Security webpage.

The sites below are provided as options and sources for ideas and inspiration only. The list is also not exhaustive; there are many quality resources and learning activities available online.

  1. National Science Teachers Association(link is external) (Grades K-12) 
    • This site offers science K-12 Classroom lessons and other resources aligned to the NGSS standards that may be applicable to the New York State – P-12 Science Learning Standards These are free resources.
  2. NGSS Resources(link is external) (Grade K-12)
    • Spotlight on Quality Science Lessons and Units – peer review process;
       * NYS P-12 Science learning Standards were developed based on two foundational documents: A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards; many of the free resources emerging and available are aligned to NGSS and is at the discretion of local level educators.
  3. NASA(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • NASA works collaboratively to promote education as an integral component of every major NASA research and development mission. These efforts result in innovative and informative educational materials that engage student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. NASA makes these resources available in convenient ways.​
  4. ​ Mystery Science(link is external) (Grades K-5)
    • This site houses lessons to rely on simple supplies. Parents might have many of the materials at home or can readily find them at local stores or on Amazon. If you’re planning to have parents do activities at home, you may want to send students home with the needed printouts. To make printing easier for multiple lessons at a time, we’ve created grade-level PDFs with all printouts(link is external).
  5. Smithsonian Science Education(link is external)*
    • Various types of science resources are available to explore (video, games, e-books, curriculum) targeting for K-8 students by grade level and by different topics  
  6. Twig Science(link is external) (Grades K-12)
    • An award-winning supplemental resource with short videos in English and Spanish, visuals, and hands-on investigative activities. Twig Science Tools allows you to sort ready-made resources by NGSS standard or grade level, ideal for extending or reviewing prior Performance Expectations and standards.
  7. Virtual Labs(link is external) (Grades 8-12)
    • Helpful website that provides links to virtual science labs including Glencoe and Pearson.
  8. U.S. Dept. of Energy-Explore Online Learning Resources(link is external)
    • STEM Rising is an initiative to inspire, educate, and spark an upwards trajectory to lifelong success in STEM through sharing the Department's National Labs, National Nuclear Security Administration, and program office's programs, resources, competitions, events, internship opportunities and more.
    • Additional resource from this site: Energy Kids(link is external)
  9. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Education(link is external) (Grades 6 & Above)
  10. New York State Museum
    • The New York State Museum offers standards-based lessons inspired by the research, collections, and exhibits of the museum, developed by cultural educators, and vetted by classroom educators. Enjoy lessons that support Science, Social Studies, and Art subjects for a variety of grade levels at the Education Page.
    • Education
      • The New York State Museum offers standards-based lessons inspired by the research, collections, and exhibits of the museum and developed by cultural educators and vetted by classroom educators. Enjoy lessons that support Science, Social Studies, and Art subjects for a variety of grade levels at the Education Page. 
    • Research and Collections
      • To learn more about the collections and research of the Scientists, Historians, and Collections Technicians of the New York State Museum, visit the Research & Collections Page of the museum. Access to additional research, publications, and online collections are available as well as contact information for the Museum’s Scientists, Historians, and Collections Technicians. 
    • Exhibitions
      • For content specific interests based on exhibits, enjoy a listing of the Art, Science, and History-based exhibits along with additional resources and educational activities on the New York State Museum’s Exhibitions Page.
  11.  STEM FOR ALL MULTIPLEX(link is external) - COVID-19: Providing STEM Resources to Teachers and Families (Grades PK-12)
    • ​​STEM for all video clips – for families to use. This includes playlists of 3-minute video presentations created by federally funded projects. These projects have developed quality STEM resources for teachers, students, and parents. A list of appropriate grade-levels starting from Pre-K(link is external) and continuing to High School(link is external) are available. They may be useful to many during this time of school closures. The site provides
  12. NYSED DEC Resources(link is external) (Grades PK-12)
    • While at home, educators, caregivers, and families, can engage students in activities at home. Explore lessons, popular sites to watch wildlife and other community science resources for all ages. Access Animal Cams links, zoo projects, and NY Botanical Gardens, and Education tools like to name a few.
  13. National Institute of Health – Science Education (link is external)(High School)
    • Access free, easy-to-access, SEPA-funded resources that educators can use to engage their students in science, like “Being a Scientist(link is external)”.  Learn about different scientists and their research.
  14. Listening to Waves – The Science of Music(link is external) (Middle School Grades 6-8)
    • Through sound exploration, students, families, and educators can engage in distance learning NGSS aligned lesson plans to inspire students and develop a deeper appreciation of both science and sound to transmit students sense of wonder to the sonic world. This is a NSF funded project with free Educator Access Lessons Plans.   (link is external) 
  15. Smithsonian Science How video webcast archives!(link is external)
    • Smithsonian experts are in every classroom with webcasts aligned with science standards. There are 52 shows about topics in Earth Science, Life Science, Paleontology, and Social Studies. These webcasts originally aired live from the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and you can access past programs. For a schedule of more upcoming free, interactive, live video webcasts with scientists visit Smithsonian Distance Learning(link is external) and find more free curriculum resources at the Smithsonian Science Education Center(link is external).
  16. ​NOVA(link is external)
    • Supports STEM education and engagement nationwide through the creation of resources from NOVA’s broadcast and digital productions.