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RESOURCES
STEM Research and Learning Resources
This section brings together open access studies, reports, and teaching tools that support STEM learning for children and middle school students. These links offer helpful background for parents, educators, and anyone interested in the value of STEM education.
Research Studies on STEM Learning Ways of Thinking in STEM-Based Problem Solving (2023). This study explores how students use reasoning and analysis during STEM problem solving. It highlights how hands on tasks support stronger thinking skills.
Critical Thinking Development Through Early STEM Activities (2024). Research showing how early STEM activities help children build critical thinking skills through simple experiments and guided exploration.
Cognitive Development in Early STEM Education (2025 Systematic Review). A review of how early STEM learning supports cognitive growth, problem solving, and learning habits.
Middle School Critical Thinking in STEM Projects (2018). Research focused on middle school students and how project based STEM learning improves analysis and problem solving.
Inquiry-Based Science and Critical Thinking (2025). A study showing how inquiry based teaching methods support critical thinking in science classrooms.
Higher Order Thinking Tools for Middle and High School (2023). A paper examining classroom strategies that help older students build stronger thinking skills across STEM subjects.
STEM Equity in Informal Learning Settings (Libraries Report). A report highlighting how public libraries provide STEM access for children and teens through open learning spaces.
STEM Education Research Review (U.S. Overview). A broad review of STEM research in the United States that explains key trends and learning outcomes.
Teacher and Classroom STEM Resources
Middle School Critical Thinking in STEM Projects (2018). Research focused on middle school students and how project based STEM learning improves analysis and problem solving.
OER Commons. A large library of free teaching materials covering science, math, and engineering.
OpenSciEd Middle School Units. Free middle school science and computer science units built around real problems and investigations.
MIT Open Learning PK–12. Free STEM and STEAM activities from MIT, including coding, climate science, and engineering modules.
TeachEngineering. Engineering lessons and hands on projects for K–12 classrooms.
Atlantic Cape STEM OER Guide. A curated list of open STEM resources for educators.
Middle School Science Collection (OER Commons). A set of middle school science and engineering lessons ready for classroom use.
STEM Education OER Library Guide. A set of teaching tools, textbooks, and classroom materials for STEM instruction.
List of 57 Free STEM Resources. A wide list of free STEM apps, sites, and teaching tools for K–12.
National Science Digital Library (NSDL). A long standing open library of STEM materials and digital teaching tools.
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