#BackToSchool

Discover STEM resources from DOE to get the school year started off right!

DOE STEM

August 8, 2024

Discover STEM resources from DOE to get your school year started off right! 

Visit Search DOE STEM Resources and Search DOE STEM Opportunities to find a full list of STEM resources and opportunities for every learner level.

Students wearing matching blue t-shirts sit at a table with buzzer buttons. A mentor stands behind the students, glancing at them.

STEM Resources for K-12 Students & Educators

  • Discover free classroom resources developed by DOE to educate students and spark an interest in STEM!

    General STEM

    • SC WDTS STEM Resources K-12
      • The Office of Science Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) has compiled the STEM resources developed by the DOE laboratories for K-12 STEM educators for use in the classroom. Resources are searchable by resource type, STEM discipline, and grade level appropriateness.
    • STEM at Energy YouTube Playlist
      • The STEM at Energy playlist has over 500 videos from DOE and the national labs to inspire, educate, and spark an upwards trajectory to lifelong success through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

    Bioenergy

    • Educational Resources: Bioenergy in the Classroom
      • The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) provides these resources to help teachers and students learn about the value that bioenergy technologies can bring to a clean energy economy.
    • BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge
      • The DOE BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge is an engaging and fun way for students to use technology to learn about bioenergy in the classroom. In this activity, anyone can now explore one or more bioenergy research prompts and then communicate what they've learned in an infographic. BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge instructions, topic areas/prompts, print-ready tools, and activity ideas are provided.
    • Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES)
      • BRIDGES is a case study-based education curriculum that helps educators encourage students to embrace new ways of thinking while building confidence and critical thinking skills. The case studies can be taught in diverse settings, including high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities, and are designed to introduce students to exciting careers in the bioenergy industry.

    Building Sciences

    • Solar Decathlon Building Science Education Series
      • The Solar Decathlon Building Science Education series is designed to educate students and working professionals on building science principles that are paramount to the successful design of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. Instructional content is presented in modules, covering specific topics.

    Earth Sciences

    Geothermal Energy

    • Utah FORGE Educational Resources for Teachers & Students
      • DOE Geothermal Technologies Office-funded Utah FORGE projects provides educational resources for teachers and students, such as lesson plans, hands on learning modules, graphics, geoscience webinars, geothermal word of the day and informational videos.

    Marine Energy

    Nuclear Energy

    • Navigating Nuclear
      • Navigating Nuclear makes the complex world of nuclear science and technology easier to understand with resources that connect nuclear processes to real-world applications. Students will use nuclear science principles to explore energy, medicine, geology, astronomy, and more!
    • STEM Activity: Nuclear Energy and Smartphone Microscope
      • This activity will enable students to explore their world more closely using an innovative technology, the Smartphone Microscope. 

    Solar Energy

    • Solar Decathlon Pathways
      • Solar Decathlon Pathways connects Solar Decathlon alumni with high school classrooms and academic groups across the United States for STEM career talks exploring pathways to clean energy professions.

    Wind Energy

    • Wind Energy K-12 Resources and Curricula 
      • This page provides a list of wind energy curricula and teaching materials for K-12 students that can bring wind energy into the classroom, even for students at schools without a wind turbine installation.
    • Wind for Schools Curricula: K-12
      • The Wind for Schools curriculum resources section has lesson plans and related materials that are available to help educators learn and teach about wind power. Educators at all levels will find curricula, activities, and other tools that will help energize students around a wind-powered future and related concepts.

  • The DOE sponsors opportunities for individuals and institutions for STEM workforce training, learning, and professional development. See the competitive opportunities or K-12 learners below.

    • National Science Bowl (NSB)
      • The DOE NSB is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math.

  • These interactive career maps explore the network of energy-related occupations, illustrate potential career pathways, and identify education and training necessary for each career.

AAAS Fellows

STEM Resources for Postsecondary Students & Educators

Want to gain STEM experience with DOE? Find internships and fellowships on Search DOE STEM Opportunities.

  • Find free educational STEM resources related to DOE mission areas to deepen your STEM studies!

    • Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES)
      • BRIDGES is a case study-based education curriculum that helps educators encourage students to embrace new ways of thinking while building confidence and critical thinking skills. The case studies can be taught in diverse settings, including high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities, and are designed to introduce students to exciting careers in the bioenergy industry.
    • National Virtual Climate Laboratory
      • The National Virtual Climate Laboratory (NVCL) web portal provides access to DOE climate science, connecting users at research universities and other interested organizations to a wide range of experts, programs, projects, activities, and user facilities that are engaged in climate research across the national laboratory complex.
    • Office of Indian Energy and Policy Programs Online Curriculum
      • Tribal leaders and professionals can access online curriculum on developing and financing renewable energy projects on tribal lands below. The courses are available as webinars that can be watched at any time. They are presented by technical experts from DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and partnering organizations.
    • Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMRE) STEM Educational Resources
      • PRIMRE's STEM hub provides a compilation of educational videos, student guides, and teacher guides that focus on marine renewable energy, hydropower, and clean water.
    • Solar Decathlon Building Science Education Series
      • The Solar Decathlon Building Science Education series is designed to educate students and working professionals on building science principles that are paramount to the successful design of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. Instructional content is presented in modules, covering specific topics.
    • Tethys Marine Renewable Energy Educational Resources
      • Find educational resources to increase awareness and understanding of Marine Energy's environmental effects as well as support the future workforce.
    • Wind Energy Education and Training Programs Map
      • This map shows the location of wind energy education and training programs in the United States. Find programs at community colleges, universities, and other institutions.
    • Wind for Schools Curricula: College
      • The Wind for Schools curriculum resources section has lesson plans and related materials that are available to help educators learn and teach about wind power. Educators at all levels will find curricula, activities, and other tools that will help energize students around a wind-powered future and related concepts.

  • These interactive career maps explore the network of energy-related occupations, illustrate potential career pathways, and identify education and training necessary for each career.

  • Use the free repositories and databases below to conduct research using DOE-sponsored data and information.

    • Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) Search Tools
      • OSTI fulfills the DOE responsibility to collect, preserve, and disseminate research and development (R&D) results emanating from DOE funding. Through our search tools and services, we ensure the Department's R&D information is publicly available and also useful to the DOE research community.
    • Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMRE)
      • PRIMRE provides centralized access to a variety of marine renewable energy data and information, ranging from power performance data and environmental monitoring reports to device testing guidance and software code.
    • Public Reusable Research (PuRe) Data
      • PuRe Data Resources are data repositories, knowledge bases, and analysis platforms that are sponsored by the Office of Science. These resources aim to make data reusable and publicly available in order to advance scientific and technical knowledge.