Smithsonian Science for the Classroom Brings Engineering Modules to Elementary Grades

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom Brings Engineering Modules to Elementary Grades 

The Smithsonian Science Education Center has partnered with science curriculum developer Carolina Biological Supply Co. to launch new NGSS-aligned engineering modules in Smithsonian Science for the Classroom. The program is targeted toward grades 1 through 5.

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom is a print and digital resource that includes a teacher guide, student literacy materials and a hands-on learning kit for up to 32 students. Five separate engineering-focused titles will be available, one for each grade level. The titles for grades 1 and 2 are out now; the rest will be rolling out through the spring, with additional titles coving other STEM subjects coming through fall 2019. Engineering titles include:

  • Grade 1: How Can We Send a Message Using Sound?
  • Grade 2: How Can We Stop Soil from Washing Away?
  • Grade 3: How Can We Protect Animals When their Habitat Changes?
  • Grade 4: How Can We Provide Energy to People's Homes?
  • Grade 5: How Can We Provide Fresh Water to Those in Need?

Titles start at $899.95 for one grade level, with refurbished sets starting at $249. Further details can be found at carolina.com/smithsonians-science-program/.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • glowing golden coin surrounded by geometric lines, graphs, and stylized book icons, set against an abstract background with neutral tones, blue, and gold

    NEA Foundation 2025 Student Success Grants Application Window Opens Dec. 16

    Grants of up to $5,000 are available for educators to implement innovative and effective forms of learning.

  • a digital lock symbol is cracked and breaking apart into dollar signs

    Report: Ransomware Costs Schools Nearly $550,000 per Day of Downtime

    New data from cybersecurity research firm Comparitech quantifies the damage caused by ransomware attacks on K-12 and higher education institutions.

  • person signing a bill at a desk with a faint glow around the document. A tablet and laptop are subtly visible in the background, with soft colors and minimal digital elements

    California Governor Signs Off on AI Content Safeguard Laws

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed a series of landmark artificial intelligence bills into law, signaling the state’s latest efforts to regulate the burgeoning technology, particularly in response to the misuse of sexually explicit deepfakes. The legislation is aimed at mitigating the risks posed by AI-generated content, as concerns grow over the technology's potential to manipulate images, videos, and voices in ways that could cause significant harm.

  • futuristic VR goggles with blue LED accents, placed in front of a fantastical landscape featuring glowing hills, a shimmering river, and floating islands under a twilight sky

    Los Angeles Unified School District Adopts VR Learning Platform, Resources

    Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently announced a partnership with Avantis Education to bring educational virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) solution ClassVR to its students. A news release reports that the district has already deployed more than 16,000 ClassVR headsets as part of the Los Angeles Unified Instructional Technology Initiative.