National Science Foundation RII Track-1 Project:Expanding Research, Education and Innovation in South Dakota
STEM Modules
Connecting Research to the Classroom
The SD EPSCoR STEM Modules offer free curriculum enhancement resources for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) teachers to help educators implement inquiry based learning experiences and spark interest in K-12 students to pursue STEM careers.
For Educators
Free curriculum modules for middle and high school teachers are available based on scientific research occurring in South Dakota. All curriculum modules are aligned with the new South Dakota Science Standards.
STEM Teacher Leaders
The curriculum modules were developed by a team of South Dakota STEM teacher leaders and have been tested in their classrooms. The modules provide lesson plans, activities, multi-media content, and the opportunity for you and your students to connect to the research scientists, companies, or organizations who are doing this work, through in-person or virtual visits.
We are always looking for teacher leaders to join our development team. If you are interested, please contact Anne Lewis.
SDSU Modules for K-12 Learning: Our partners at South Dakota State University have these modules to incorporate into K-12 classrooms. Agriculture, Lakota Ethnobotany for First Graders and for South Dakota Middle School Students, Soil Health, DNA Extractions from Fruits, and other areas are covered!
For Researchers
SD EPSCoR and the SD Discovery Center have teamed up to increase scientist-and-public engagement and encourage more students to consider STEM career paths.
We create curriculum modules with connection possibilities for middle and high school teachers based on your research. Join our efforts and help us feature your research as a lesson module in SD schools, connect with local students (in person or virtually) to talk about your work and what it is like to be a scientist in South Dakota. Take the first step by filling out an online form about your research here.
The SD Discovery Center offers Science Communication Workshops based on the NSF-funded Portal to the Public approach, that connects scientists with the public via informal science institutions.