Fun National STEM Day Activities for Any Classroom
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math (and sometimes, we even add an “A” for art and get STEAM!). These disciplines help students apply what they learn to the real world, build critical thinking skills, and stretch their creativity when problem-solving and working through challenges. Each year, on November 8, educators recognize National STEM Day to promote STEM education and help students explore careers in these fields.
Looking for ways to bring STEM education to your classroom to join in the national celebration—or to work on STEM concepts all year? Check out some of the great content, lessons, and National STEM Day activities available with Newsela Science:
Invite students to get hands-on with seasonal STEAM projects
See how other teachers are bringing STEM into their classrooms
Encourage students to explore their favorite topics with STEM articles
Invite students to get hands-on with seasonal STEAM projects
Create a fall theme around your National STEM Day activities with these hands-on lessons for the changing season and holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Choose from projects like:
Looking for a different type of project? Browse our seasonal STEAM lessons for the entire year.
Try STEM module projects
Want an even more targeted or in-depth project to do with your students on National STEM Day? Try a STEM module project in one of the following areas:
Astronomy
Teach students about the study of the universe and space with activities like:
Chemistry
Get students interested in how matter and substances interact, combine, and change with our “Design the perfect pancake” project. Inside, you’ll find:
A recipe for rainbow pancakes.
An article about tapping trees to collect the ingredients to make maple syrup.
Articles about how online cooking shows help people learn new kitchen skills.
Conservation
Help students explore the importance of maintaining and protecting natural resources with STEM projects like:
Ecology
Teach students more about how living things interact with each other and their environments with ecology STEM activities like:
Geology
Discover more about earth’s makeup and the forces that act on it with geology STEM projects like:
Meteorology
Get students interested in our atmosphere and weather with our “Meteorologist for a day” STEM activity. Explore resources like:
A job profile for a meteorologist in charge.
An article about how the National Weather Service affects our lives.
An article that looks at how technology interacts with our atmosphere.
Physics
Explore forces, motion, energy, and other topics related to physics with STEM projects like:
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Technology
Help students discover inventive ways that technology can impact our everyday lives with STEM activities like:
Discover diversity in STEM careers
More than just exploring the fundamentals of different academic disciplines, National STEM Day is also an opportunity to recognize the contributions of influential people with careers in these fields. Add diverse perspectives to your lessons by exploring:
Black representation in STEM
Help students learn more about the inspiring Black inventors, creators, and problem-solvers in STEM with our Black Representation in STEM collection:
Meet inventors and scientists like Dr. Mae C. Jemison, Jim Gates, and Benjamin Banneker.
Discover what it takes to do interesting jobs like becoming an urban planner, doctor, or planetary geophysicist.
Advocate for health and medicine in the Black community on issues like cancer treatment, coronavirus, and depression.
AAPI representation in STEM
Bring more diverse voices into your STEM lessons with our Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Representation in STEM text set. Discover articles on topics like:
How a forest ecologist is turning regular Barbie dolls into scientist dolls.
How teenage scientist Gitanjali Rao became “Time” magazine’s first Kid of the Year.
Why an 82-year-old woman started coding her own apps.
Jewish representation in STEM
From pioneering research to transformative inventions, invite students to learn more about how Jewish innovators have influenced STEM. Explore content about:
Inventor and scientist Albert Einstein, one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century.
Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project and developed the atomic bomb.
Scientist Lise Meitner, who helped discover nuclear fission.
Women's representation in STEM
Though more common today, women have always played an important role in science, technology, engineering, and math. Teach students more about their contributions and the recognition of trailblazers with content like:
An article examining the history of women at NASA.
An article about a coloring book that shows jobs available for women scientists.
Biographies of scientists like Marie Curie, Maria Mitchell, and Grace Murray Hopper.
Even more representation in STEM
It can be difficult for students to visualize themselves working in STEM fields. But with more representation, it becomes easier. Show students how Hispanic, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ people have contributed to STEM with articles focusing on scientists like:
NASA astrophysicist Jane Rigby, who received the 2022 LGBTQIA+ Scientist of the Year award from Out to Innovate.
Astronaut Nicole Mann, the first Indigenous woman in space.
Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space and a former director of Johnson Space Center.
See how other teachers are bringing STEM into their classrooms
Want to know what other teachers like you are doing to bring more STEM lessons to their students? Explore some of our science text sets created by teachers in our Newsela Community on topics like:
Want even more lesson ideas, helpful tips, and educator support? Join the Newsela Community today!
Encourage students to explore their favorite topics with STEM articles
Don’t see your students’ favorite STEM topics covered in any of the suggested lessons? Let them do some independent reading by choosing their favorite STEM articles. They can explore stories about:
How esports may be a pathway to boosting diversity in STEM careers.
How the TV series “Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove” helps young students view STEM fields as viable career options for women.
How Olympic swimmer and gold-medalist Katie Ledecky used her platform to promote STEM education programs for students.
There’s more to explore with Newsela’s knowledge and skill-building products
National STEM Day happens just once a year, but teaching about STEM can happen in any class during any season. With Newsela Science, you can explore these and other great resources any time, when it makes the most sense to incorporate a STEM lesson.
Not a Newsela customer yet? Sign up for Newsela Lite to start your free 45-day trial of our premium products. You’ll get access to differentiated content, engaging activities, and real-time data that make teaching cross-curricular STEM lessons even easier!