Free Resources
Bring engaging, hands-on innovation to you!
Created by two passionate educators with nearly 30 years of combined experience, Dakota STEAM Learning makes preparing for a STEM- or STEAM-filled school year a breeze.
Enjoy our free STEAM Poster Sets!
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Whether you’re planning a schoolwide STEAM/STEM event, decorating your classroom, setting up a makerspace, or simply seeking a stress-free STEAM resource, these resources are here to support you.
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Questions About STEAM? We Are Happy to Help.
If you have questions about bringing STEAM to your South Dakota school or classroom, we are happy to talk through options with you. Whether you are looking for more free resources, considering a digital lesson purchase, or wondering if an in-person STEAM program is a fit for your school, just reach out.
Free STEAM Activities and Printables
These are the free activity resources we point teachers and families to first. Each one has been reviewed for quality, grade-level appropriateness, and actual usability in a K-5 classroom or home setting.
Smithsonian Science Education Center
The Smithsonian offers a library of free K-8 science and STEAM resources built around inquiry-based learning. The lesson plans are detailed, well-organized, and aligned to NGSS and Common Core. A strong starting point for any grade level.
PBS LearningMedia: STEAM Collection
PBS LearningMedia provides free classroom-ready STEAM content including video clips, lesson plans, interactive games, and printable activities. The collection is searchable by grade level and subject, which makes it easy to find something specific to your current unit.
Engineering is Elementary (EiE) Free Resources
EiE from the Boston Museum of Science offers free engineering storybooks, activity guides, and teacher resources designed for K-5. Their approach matches what we use in Dakota STEAM Learning sessions: real engineering challenges, no single right answer, and outcomes students can be proud of.
NASA STEM Engagement
NASA offers free educator guides, activity sheets, and digital resources across all STEAM subjects. The activities use real NASA missions and data as the context for engineering and science challenges. Students who find space exploration compelling will be naturally motivated by this content.
Free STEAM Curriculum and Lesson Planning Resources
For teachers who need resources that fit into an existing curriculum structure rather than standalone activities, these are the free options we have found most useful for K-5 grade levels.
ITEEA K-12 STEM Lesson Plans
The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association offers a searchable library of standards-aligned K-12 STEM lesson plans. Many are free with a basic registration. Particularly useful for teachers looking for engineering design challenges that fit a specific grade-level unit.
Khan Academy: Science and Engineering
Khan Academy’s free content covers science concepts across K-8 with videos, practice problems, and teacher tools. It is not a STEAM activity resource in the hands-on sense, but it is an excellent support tool for teachers who want students to engage with the science concepts behind an engineering challenge before or after the hands-on work.
CK-12 Flexbooks: STEM
CK-12 offers free, customizable digital textbooks and lessons across science, technology, engineering, and math. Teachers can use the existing books as-is or mix and match content to create a custom course. Particularly useful for homeschool educators building a structured STEAM curriculum.
Free Online STEAM Tools and Interactive Resources
These digital tools are free to use and work well as classroom centers, homework assignments, or at-home enrichment activities.
Tinkercad (Autodesk)
Tinkercad is a free browser-based 3D design and electronics tool used by educators worldwide. For K-5, it is most useful at the upper end of the grade band (3rd through 5th grade) for basic 3D modeling and simple circuit design. Autodesk Education provides free educator access with classroom management features.
Code.org
Code.org offers free K-12 computer science and programming activities, including the popular Hour of Code tutorials. The K-5 materials use familiar characters and game-based formats that make the technology component of STEAM genuinely accessible to young learners. No prior coding knowledge is required for teachers or students.
Mystery Science
Mystery Science offers standards-aligned K-5 science lessons in a video-plus-activity format. A rotating selection of lessons is available free. It is particularly good for teachers who want engaging science content that connects to everyday phenomena students recognize. We reference Mystery Science in our own Dakota STEAM Learning programs.
Ready to Go Beyond Free? Here Is What We Offer
Free resources are an excellent starting point. They let you explore STEAM with your students before committing to a curriculum purchase, and many of the tools above are ones we continue to reference in our own programs. When you are ready to go deeper, here is what Dakota STEAM Learning makes available:
Digital STEAM Lessons: ready-to-teach, same day.
Our digital lesson library includes hands-on STEAM challenges designed for K-5 classrooms and families. Every lesson includes a teacher guide, materials list, and student challenge brief. No prep time beyond what you already have. Browse the full library below.
STEAM Kits: everything in one box.
STEAM Kits include all the physical materials your students need to complete a hands-on engineering or art challenge. No supply hunting, no Amazon order, no prep time. Kits are available for South Dakota classrooms and families and ship anywhere in the state.
In-Person STEAM Schoolwide Programs: we come to you.
If you are a South Dakota K-5 school looking for an in-person STEAM program that gives your teachers real planning time, we travel directly to your school with all materials included. No lab, no sub plans, no prep required from your staff.
