July 10, 2025

As the school year kicks off, it's the perfect time to spark curiosity with free STEM resources for educators! Explore hands-on activities, lesson plans, and engaging videos designed to inspire young minds and make learning fun. Let’s make this school year one filled with discovery, creativity, and STEM excitement!

This summer, Jess Noffsinger, one of our talented lesson writers, traveled to Germany as part of the prestigious Transatlantic Outreach Program to explore how STEM is shaping the world beyond our borders.

During the two-week experience, Jess dove into contemporary issues facing Germany today—visiting cutting-edge science museums, exploring climate change at the Wadden Sea, and witnessing the Sustainable Development Goals in action. Highlights included a tour of the Volkswagen plant to learn about electric vehicle innovation, a visit to the energy-independent village of Feldheim and its wind farm, and engaging with Germany’s unique vocational education system through school visits.

Jess brings back global insights that will energize and enrich lessons in our X-STEM All Access series! Learn more about the Transatlantic Outreach Program here! 

ScIC15 is a full-day virtual event built for educators stepping into science for the first time—or looking for new ways to make it work. You’ll learn how to simplify standards, run hands-on activities with everyday materials, and build student curiosity—even if you don’t have a science background.

PocketLab will cover the essentials every science teacher should know, plus fresh techniques from veteran educators to help you feel more confident and prepared. Expect practical strategies, collaborative sessions, and a supportive, judgment-free space to observe, question, try, and repeat—just like a scientist. Because science isn’t just a subject—it’s a way of thinking. And with the right tools, every teacher can teach it.

Register now to attend live for PD credit — or to access the replay afterward.

Hear from Airbus helicopter pilot Esther Beckett as she discusses what it takes to thrive in the dynamic world of aviation! Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Learn about Capt. Ariel Knepper's role as an F-35 pilot in the U.S. Air Force! Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Check out our full Aviation playlist! 

COMING SOON! Stay tuned for an all-new episode premiering July 23, featuring microgravity chemist and materials scientist Dr. Jessica Frick. Learn how she's using microgravity as a tool to pioneer the manufacturing of semiconductors in space! Sign up to watch this episode here! 

Hear from NASA astronaut Zena Cardman and NASA planetary protection engineer Dr. Moogega Cooper for an exciting discussion on humanity’s return to the Moon! Watch the episode and explore free resources and lesson plans here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plans here and here in PocketLab for free!

Learn what it's like to be a space engineer and planetary defender at NASA with engineer Joan Melendez Misner. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Check out our full Space playlist! 

Join zookeeper and wildlife educator Jordan Veasley alongside tropical biologist and host of Discovery Channel’s Expedition X, Phil Torres, for an exciting exploration of their animal-filled careers. Watch the episode and explore free resources and lesson plans here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plans here and here in PocketLab for free! 

Atmospheric scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and primatologist and explorer Dr. Mireya Mayor discuss conservation and climate. Watch the episode and explore free resources and lesson plans here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plans here and here in PocketLab for free!

Check out our full Earth Science playlist! 

Did you know chemistry is behind so many everyday wonders? Discover how it shapes our world with The Classy Chemist, Dr. Yasmine Daniels. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Discover how Dr. Jamesa Stokes, a materials research engineer at NASA, is advancing technologies that impact not only space exploration but also how we travel here on Earth! Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Join Shanen Aranmor for a BONUS welding demonstration and some insight into the chemistry of bending metal.

Check out our full Chemistry playlist! 

COMING SOON! Stay tuned for an all-new episode premiering July 23, featuring nondestructive test inspector Muriel Magloire! Learn how she uses advanced technology and tools to evaluate critical equipment - like airplanes, bridges, and even amusement park rides - to prevent failures and keep people safe. Sign up to watch this episode here! 

Meet Dr. Alexis Vogt, optical engineer and professor. Discover how optics is all around us - and how this industry harnesses the power of light to drive innovation in STEM and everyday life. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!

Meet Jose Nazario, a mechanical engineer and CNC machining expert who brings engineering designs to life through the perfect fusion of technology, precision, and creativity in machine tooling. Watch the episode and explore free resources and the lesson plan here. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free!