Colorado State University

The Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center collaborates with CSU faculty, National Parks and citizen science programs to translate their current scientific research into unique STEM experiences for students.

What is a STEM Kit?

A STEM Kit is a box of activities and experiments designed specifically to teach Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science. Each kit is designed to be guided inquiry and is paired with the current research that happening at CSU or around the world!

How is a STEM Kit used in a classroom?

A classroom set is composed of 15 identical kits designed to be student-centered, guided inquiry explorations. Each kit is meant to be used by 2 students, for a total of 30 students at a time.

Paired students work at their own pace, while the teacher takes on the role of facilitator and guide. The students become the scientists, focusing on the scientific process, scientific illustration, data collection and analysis, and communication of results.

Each kit contains just about all of the materials needed (minus common things like water and paper towels) to explore some really interesting scientific research topics.

Topics and levels

Each kit listed below is ranked by level of facilitation needed by students and does not refer to the difficulty level of the kit content. The grade level range is indicated for each specific kit. More information about each kit is available on each kit’s web page. The Natural Science Education & Outreach Center has also identified the Disciplinary Core Ideas from the Next Generation Science Standards that each of the kits touch upon.

Level 1 Kits:

These kits require minor student-teacher interaction and can be checked out by any educator.

• Going Viral STEM Kit: Explore how a community can protect itself from a viral outbreak! (6th through 12th grades) ¡Disponible en español!
• Plankton to Plastic Pollution STEM Kit: Explore where plastic comes from and how it moves through the ocean ecosystem! (4th through 12th grades) ¡Disponible en español!
• Really Ancient Fossils STEM Kit: Explore how fossils are used to reconstruct a paleoenvironment and a paleoevent! (4th through 12th grades)
• Soils of Fire STEM Kit: Explore how the intensity of a wildfire affects where a tree’s carbon goes! (5th through 12th grades) ¡Disponible en español!

Level 2 Kits:

These kits require some student-teacher interaction and can be checked out by educators who have 1) attended a STEM Friday with their students; 2) attended an NSEOC Key Note featuring a STEM kit; OR 3) successfully borrowed and returned kits in the past.

• Anchialine Pools STEM Kit: Explore how overuse of groundwater affects culturally significant brackish pools that are unique to the islands of Hawaiʻi! (4th through 12th grades, local pick-up only)
• Bees Please! STEM Kit: Explore how we can increase bee biodiversity in our neighborhoods! (4th through 12th grades)
• Fossil Forests STEM Kit: Explore how fossil wood is used to determine the climate of Wyoming 50 million years ago! (6th through 12th grades)
• From Forests to Faucets STEM Kit: Explore the factors that affect the quality and quantity of water we drink in Colorado! (6th through 12th grades)
• Get Critical! STEM Kit: Explore how digital information travels around the world so quickly! (6th through 12th grade) ¡Disponible en español!
• Get Energized! STEM Kit: Explore how we systematically test different metals to make a better rechargeable battery! (4th grade through 12th grade) ¡Disponible en español!
• Solar Cars STEM Kit: Explore how the engineering design process is used to make a more efficient car! (4th through 12th grades)

Level 3 Kits:

These kits require quite a bit of vigilance and student-teacher interaction in order for all students to have success. They can be checked out only with EOC staff approval.

• High Tech Rocks! STEM Kit: Explore how natural mineral resources are optimized for high-tech electronic devices! (7th through 12th grades)
• Secrets of the Hibernators STEM Kit: Explore how studying hibernators could help people with osteoporosis! (7th through 12th grades)
• Vital Ice STEM Kit: Explore how glaciers record past atmospheric events and permafrost thawing affects people! (7th grade through 12th grades)
• Wonder of Wolves STEM Kit: Explore how scientists study wolves to learn about their pack dynamics and biology1 (6th through 12th grades) ¡Disponible en español!
• Hominid Skull Set: Explore how the physical characteristics of hominid skulls changed over time! (7th through 12th grades, local pick up only)
• GetWET Water Education**: Explore surface and groundwater outdoors and check for quality and quantity at the GetWET Observatory, located on CSU property along Spring Creek! **These can only be borrowed by teachers trained to use the GetWET backpacks. (9th through 12th grades)

Who can check out the STEM Kits?

These kits are available for teachers and informal educators in Colorado to check out for a duration of a week by submitting one of the following forms:

• Local Pick-Up Loan Application Form – for educators in the immediate area of Fort Collins (i.e.: Greeley, Loveland, Ault, Windsor, Johnstown, etc.)
• Delivery Loan Application Form – for educators in Colorado outside of the immediate Fort Collins area

The loan application forms require you to confirm your email address before it will be sent to the EOC – so once you click submit, check your email (including the junk folder)! You should also get a copy of the form for your records via email, if you don’t, please contact Jordan Conley (jordan.conley@colostate.edu).

Does checking out a STEM Kit have a cost?

Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation and generous donations from individuals and foundations we are able to make these resources available to educators at no cost.

Feedback Survey

• Teacher Feedback Survey – after using a STEM kit, teachers must provide the EOC with feedback in order to request another kit.