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While this summer slide affects all subject areas, STEM learning is particularly vulnerable, especially when students lack access to hands-on experiences or engaging resources.
Fortunately, a wide range of high-quality digital tools can help K-12 learners stay curious and build STEM skills throughout the summer months. These platforms are designed to be interactive, accessible, and aligned with educational standards, offering students the opportunity to explore STEM topics at their own pace–and often, while having fun.
Here are five online learning resources to support summer STEM learning:
1. Exploratorium: Science Snacks
The Exploratorium, a renowned museum of science, art, and human perception in San Francisco, offers Science Snacks–free, hands-on STEM activities designed for students in grades 3-12. These “snacks” are short, creative experiments that use easily accessible materials to teach key scientific principles.
From building mini solar ovens to exploring magnetism or water tension, each activity includes clear instructions, an explanation of the underlying science, and discussion prompts to extend learning. They’re ideal for families looking to combine creativity with STEM during summer downtime, and they work well for both independent learners and group activities.
2. NASA’s STEM Engagement Portal
NASA’s STEM Engagement Portal is a goldmine for students fascinated by space, engineering, and science. With grade-specific content from kindergarten through high school, this site features virtual tours, design challenges, DIY engineering activities, and live webinars with NASA scientists and engineers. Summer-themed projects like designing Mars rovers or building water filtration systems encourage students to apply physics, math, and problem-solving in real-world contexts.
For older students, NASA’s Artemis Student Challenges and coding lessons offer more advanced exploration of space missions and career pathways in aerospace. The platform also provides family resources and teacher toolkits for guided learning.
3. Mystery Science (free summer access)
Mystery Science offers ready-to-use, NGSS-aligned science lessons for elementary students that blend video storytelling with hands-on inquiry. During the summer months, the platform provides free access to a curated collection of mini-lessons designed to spark curiosity and critical thinking.
Each lesson poses a big question–like “Why do stars twinkle?” or “Can a tree grow without seeds?”–and guides students through engaging experiments using simple, everyday materials. The site’s “open-and-go” design makes it easy for families to integrate STEM learning into their summer routine without needing advanced science knowledge or extra prep.
STEMScopes offers a “Science at Home” section specifically designed to keep students engaged outside of the classroom. This platform provides free access to hands-on STEM activities, video lessons, and virtual experiments tailored to K–12 learners.
The activities are rooted in the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) and cover topics ranging from earth science and chemistry to engineering design. Many lessons are designed for minimal adult supervision and use household materials, making it a great resource for busy parents and caregivers. STEMScopes also offers printable guides and bilingual resources, expanding accessibility for more learners.
Brilliant.org is ideal for middle and high school students who want to deepen their understanding of STEM through problem-solving. Its bite-sized, interactive lessons cover topics such as logic, algebra, scientific thinking, data analysis, and physics—all presented through visual storytelling and real-world scenarios.
Unlike traditional textbooks, Brilliant’s courses emphasize exploration over memorization, encouraging students to reason through problems and build resilience in the face of challenging concepts. While full access requires a subscription, the platform offers a free tier with select courses that are perfect for summer enrichment.
Keeping the curiosity alive
Summer should be a time of exploration, not stagnation. These five online platforms help transform the break from school into a season of discovery. Whether students are building model rockets, designing their own video games, or unraveling the science behind weather patterns, STEM learning can be as exciting as it is educational.
Parents and caregivers don’t need to be STEM experts to help keep the momentum going–just a few minutes a day using these digital tools can make a big difference in preparing students for a strong return to school in the fall.
Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
