Free STEM Lesson Plans
STEM is an approach to educating students in four specific disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in an interdisciplinary and applied way. Rather than teach the four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEM integrates them into a coordinated curriculum based on real-world applications and hands-on student participation.
NanoSonic, Leidos Inc., and STEM teachers in Giles County, VA, have worked with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation through a “Small Business Innovative Research” (SBIR) program to develop these lesson plans. The lessons may be used as stand-alone projects or several of them may be taught in sequence during a semester-long after-school STEM program. Many of the lessons require small parts and supplies that you may already have in the classroom or at home. Others use commercially available science supplies and kits that can be purchased on-line.
The lessons use advanced transportation systems as a central theme, in part because transportation involves many of the subjects of greatest student interest in STEM programs – robotics, coding, math, electronics and communication systems. Several of the lessons combine activities in these areas to demonstrate “Intelligent Transportation Systems,” (ITS), “Connected Vehicles,” (CV), and “Automated Vehicles” (AV). Most of the lessons emphasize hands-on student activities and learning through experimentation.
If you have questions about the lessons, the SBIR program, or NanoSonic, please email us at STEM@nanosonic.com
