Helpful Resources for School Science Fairs

Treasure trove of pre-K-12 science resources of varying quality

Bottom Line: An easy-to-use resource for expanding teachers' science and science-adjacent curriculum options for all ages.

Big questions, kids' curiosity drive impressive science curriculum

Bottom Line: Powerful, quirky science units encourage inquiry and experimentation, inspiring students to ask and answer big questions.

Jam-packed resource site supports budding scientists' investigations

Bottom Line: Science Fair Central simplifies science fairs for students and teachers.

Engaging online community for relevant, hands-on science fieldwork

Bottom Line: Project Noah is a free and easy way to take part in biodiversity research with the support of a knowledgeable and global community.

A magic wand for those seeking science project support and success

Bottom Line: Take the jitters out of science or engineering projects and fairs; this remarkable site coaches and supports students, parents, and teachers.

Global citizen-science community for real-world research

Bottom Line: Teens can do hands-on nature research, but in a limited way.

Topical science news site offers sparse but high-quality resources

Bottom Line: It's an easy-to-recommend resource for adding timely science news stories and light science lessons to the classroom, but look elsewhere for depth.

Expert research and diverse, rich lessons inspire future scientists

Bottom Line: A perfect companion to (or substitute for) the Academy, this site delivers highly interactive resources and research with a lot of depth.

Cool STEM articles with learning supports make for fun, informative reading

Bottom Line: Free, fascinating articles make science relevant to students.

A weekly dose of curiosity for teachers and students alike

Bottom Line: For a weekly rejuvenation of scientific learning, Science Friday is a source of inspiration for both teachers and students.

Kids and scientists collaborate to create high-quality articles

Bottom Line: A well-designed site that keeps kids in mind without sacrificing educational integrity.

Awe-inspiring nature resource places importance on our planet's future

Bottom Line: For learning about how animals survive on a changing planet and about possible solutions to threatened ecosystems, bioGraphic is a stunning and informative place to start.

Excellent multimedia learning hub supports both teachers and students

Bottom Line: For those willing to dig around, the site is an exceptional place for both educators and students to find inspirational digital media resources.

Tons of climate change info from expert sources in one easy place

Bottom Line: This is a one-stop shop for climate change info, from basic intro content to practical guides and raw data; good for middle schoolers and up.

Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications

Bottom Line: Unparalleled science documentaries offer a window into real-world scientific topics in a high-interest way.

Useful science resource aggregator promotes diverse lessons

Bottom Line: Despite a few broken links, the site's easy and well-organized access to thousands of quality science activities is a valuable teacher resource.

STEM lessons creatively build off of NASA data and real space missions

Bottom Line: These hands-on lessons approximate the work of NASA scientists, engineers, and astronauts and make use of actual NASA satellite data.

Fun engineering problems encourage classroom competition, innovation

Bottom Line: Design Squad Global makes learning STEAM concepts fun through hands-on activities and easy-to-understand scientific explanations.

Design, build, and share new things offline and online

Bottom Line: DIY motivates kids to tackle a wide range of problems with independent and scientific thinking.

Engaging design challenges turn kids into actual science detectives

Bottom Line: A thorough, engaging way to weave some engineering into your middle school science lessons.

Projects inspire creativity; a place for kids' sharing would boost fun

Bottom Line: A go-to site for teachers looking for well-presented project ideas; kids will need opportunities to share work locally.

Family-focused site for learning AI well-suited to classrooms, too

Bottom Line: Makes artificial intelligence and machine learning accessible to students of many ages and abilities.

Science experiments and activities abound in this comprehensive resource

Bottom Line: A host of mostly at-home activities are available if kids stick to the Explore tab of online resources.

Endless collection of DIY projects; good for sharing and inspiration

Bottom Line: User-generated projects inspire sharing and learning, though more refined navigation would make it easier to sift through all the great ideas.

Fuel creative makers with project ideas, reviews, and community

Bottom Line: Excellent DIY resource that empowers kids to learn by making and experimenting.

Easy observation and measuring tool fun to use, has endless possibilities

Bottom Line: Using this science capturing and measuring tool is an easy, flexible way to expand your toolset and your science lesson options.

Drag and drop data to investigate nearly any subject

Bottom Line: A bit awkward to use, but far more engaging than traditional spreadsheet/graphing tools.

Turn your phone into a lab sensor to collect and analyze data

Bottom Line: Science Journal does a good job recording real-time motion, sound, and light data using phones.

Bring physics to life using lab sensors built right into your smartphone

Bottom Line: Use your smartphone to gather data and study speed, gravity, waves, and other physics concepts.

Turn anything with wheels into a handy motion sensor

Bottom Line: Pair your device with PocketLab sensors to gather position, velocity, and acceleration data on anything that rolls.

Elegant treasure trove of data could fuel lessons and projects

Bottom Line: An efficient research tool that makes it easier to incorporate stats into a host of lessons or projects focusing on the U.S.