COVID-19 and Online Learning

In response to the spread of COVID-19, an increasing number of schools are temporarily closing their doors and turning to online learning. Our community of preK-12 education researchers offer the following activities (online curriculum, modules, and/or simulations), tools (apps and general resources), as well as tips to support remote student learning or teacher professional development.

In addition, we invite you to explore our Spotlights on STEM Topics and DRK-12 Research and Products for additional activities and resources.

(Last updated March 18, 2021)

  • A Medical Mystery

    A free middle school science program that supports teachers in the effective instruction of an NGSS-aligned, EQuIP-reviewed body systems curriculum unit. Includes the complete middle school science curriculum unit, a teacher’s guide, and an online professional learning course. Visit BSCS' collection of online resources. 
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Science, Curriculum, Professional Development

  • Analyzing Instruction in Math using the Teaching for Robust Understanding Framework (AIM-TRU)

    The Analyzing Instruction in Math using the Teaching for Robust Understanding Framework (AIM-TRU) learning cycle is the result of a research-practice partnership centered on using the analysis of videocases grounded in high-quality instructional materials for use as a resource for in-service and pre-service professional learning. For videos, materials, slidedecks and a facilitation guide, please visit our website (note: a free user name is necessary to access the materials).
    Grade Level(s): Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • COVID-19 Curriculum Materials

    Societal issues with important connections to science such as COVID-19 (and other challenges like climate change) are part of a broader class of problems known as Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI). In response to COVID-19, this set of learning activities was co-developed with several high school science teachers to create a set of SSI-based learning activities to help students learn about the science of coronavirus while engaging in epistemic practices.
    Grade Level(s): High
    Discipline(s): Biology, Science

  • Data Nuggets

    Data Nuggets are free classroom activities, co-designed by scientists and teachers, designed to bring contemporary research and authentic data into the classroom. Students are guided through the entire process of science, including identifying hypotheses and predictions, visualizing and interpreting data, making evidence based claims, and asking their own questions for future research.
    Grade Level(s): Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate
    Discipline(s): Mathematics, Science, Curriculum

  • Early Math with Gracie & Friends

    Play nine math learning apps and dozens of hands-on activities at home or in the classroom. A digital Teacher's Guide supports use in the classroom, and a digital Family Fun Guide provides activities to do at home.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K
    Discipline(s): Mathematics, Educational Technology

  • Early Science with Nico & Nor

    Explore six early science learning apps and dozens of hands-on activities. Use the digital Teacher's Guide to implement the technology-based science curriculum into preschool classrooms.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K
    Discipline(s): Science, Educational Technology

  • ecoXPT

    EcoXPT is an immersive simulation in which students use inquiry to learn how ecosystems work.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Science

  • eRebuild

    eRebuild is a math learning game for students in grades 6th-8th. The game focuses on teaching the concepts of geometery and ratios and proportions through gameplay.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • Exploring Infectious Diseases

    This site provides an engaging and scientifically accurate set of instructional materials and resources aimed at deepening high school students’ understanding of infectious diseases (including Ebola and COVID-19) and enhancing students’ skills in seeking out additional information they need to make informed decisions, and influence their behaviors in response to future outbreaks and epidemics that undoubtedly will occur.
    Grade Level(s): High
    Discipline(s): Biology, Science

  • Extended Reality Initiative: 360 Videos of Teaching/Learning Mathematics

    This website provides a growing repository of 360 videos of classroom instruction (currently focusing on elementary mathematics). We also have created and are disseminating tutorial videos for using or creating similar media.
    Grade Level(s): Other
    Discipline(s): Mathematics, Professional Development, Teacher Practice

  • Family Science Activities

    Each short video provides ideas for family science activities for preschool-grade 3 students that reinforce NGSS 3D learning.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary
    Discipline(s): Mathematics, Science

  • Flipgrid

    Promotes video responses and discussion around a topic.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Technology

  • High-Adventure Science

    High-Adventure Science brings several of the big unanswered questions in Earth and space science — think climate change, the availability of freshwater, land management and more — to middle and high school science classrooms. Each module includes interactive computer-based systems models and real-world data on unanswered questions scientists are facing today.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Hurricane Module V2: How will hurricane risks and impacts change over the next 100 years?

    Students will use the Hurricane Explorer model to explain and predict how the path and strength of a hurricane can change, investigate real-world case studies on the risk and impact of hurricanes, and explore the effect of rising global temperatures on hurricanes.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Climate Change, Earth Science, Science

  • Math Mapper

    A digital tool that offers compelling student middle grades math problems and provides students with assessment tools and a dynamic learning map.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • Model My Watershed

    Model My Watershed is a watershed-modeling web app that enables citizens, conservation practitioners, municipal decision-makers, educators, and students to analyze real land use and soil data in their neighborhoods and watersheds; model stormwater runoff and water-quality impacts using professional-grade models; and compare how different conservation or development scenarios could modify runoff and water quality.
    Grade Level(s): High
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Moon Phases & Eclipses

    Moon Phases & Eclipses is a free and innovative 3-day unit that provides interactive videos, hands-on activities, lesson plans, and student worksheets to explore why the Moon's phase changes.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Ocean Tracks

    Use the Ocean Tracks interactive map, curricular modules, and data analysis tools to explore and quantify patterns in the migratory tracks of marine animals in the northern Pacific Ocean and relate these behaviors to fluctuations and trends in physical oceanographic variables.
    Grade Level(s): High, Undergraduate
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Padlet

    Online tool students can post responses to that allows for multiple means of expression, representation.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Technology

  • PhET Interactive Simulations

    Collection of 158 free interactive math and science simulations from University of Colorado Boulder. Engage students in math and science practices, and virtual labs, during remote learning. Find over 2,000 sim-based lessons under teacher resources. 
    Grade Level(s): Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate
    Discipline(s): Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, Science

  • Plate Tectonics

    The Plate Tectonics module "What will Earth look like in 500 million years?" helps students build a systems view of plate tectonics through focused case studies and interactions with the Seismic Explorer and Tectonic Explorer models.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Earth Science, Science

  • Proportions Playground

    Proportions Playground is designed to build understandings of proportional reasoning.
    Grade Level(s): High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • Research Quest

    Research Quest is a series of science investigations designed to improve students’ critical thinking skills. Registration and use is free! Parents can also sign up free for Research Quest Live, hosted by a live museum education facilitator (https://nhmu.utah.edu/rq-live).
    Grade Level(s): Middle, Other
    Discipline(s): Science

  • SageModeler

    The SageModeler modeling tool allows students to construct dynamic models and validate their models by comparing outputs from their own models with data from one or more other sources, including national datasets, experimental data gathered from probes, or data generated by simulations.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Seasons

    Seasons is a free and innovative 8-day unit that provides interactive videos, hands-on activities, lesson plans, and student worksheets to explore the causes behind Earth’s seasons.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Earth Science, Science

  • Seismic Explorer

    Explore the pattern of earthquakes on Earth, including magnitude, depth, location, and frequency.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Earth Science, Science

  • SOLID Start K-2 Curriculum Materials

    SOLID Start (Science Oral Language and Literacy Development from the Start of School) curricula are guided by a driving question and puzzling phenomena that engage young students and elicit their natural curiosities. The units are designed to support young students’ science learning and oral language and literacy development.
    Grade Level(s): Elementary
    Discipline(s): Science

  • TEEMS Curriculum

    Transforming Engineering Education for Middle Schools (TEEMS) is a free engineering curriculum for gr. 6-8 learners.
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Engineering, Curriculum

  • ThingLink

    Way to promote multiple means of engagement around a topic.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Technology

  • Tip: Leveraging Your Networks

    If you are looking for online resources, many museums, universities, teacher networks, and educational organizations are curating lists. For example, the Exploratorium has created a Learning Toolbox featuring free materials addressing coronavirus science, as well as general science support for at-home learning.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Tips for Using Videos to Teach Math Remotely

    The Flipped Mathematics Study offers advice on how to use video to teach math remotely.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • Tools for Ambitious Science Teaching

    Choose from a series of videos that demonstrate ambitious teaching.
    Grade Level(s): Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Understanding Ebola

    This is a free resource to educate the public about Ebola. The website includes an interactive model that allows teachers, students, and community members to actively explore the factors that influence a disease’s spread and mortality rate. Visit BSCS' collection of online resources. 
    Grade Level(s): High, Undergraduate, Graduate
    Discipline(s): Science

  • Visual Access to Mathematics Resources

    In response to the COVID-19 pandemic school closures, the VAM project compiled example strategies, tasks, and apps for supporting students who are English learners (ELs) in mathematics, with information about how to adapt these examples to remote learning. Online workshops related to the resources and strategies were also offered for educators. 
    Grade Level(s): Middle
    Discipline(s): Mathematics

  • Voicethread

    Way to promote multiple means of engagement and express around a topic.
    Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High, Undergraduate, Graduate, Other
    Discipline(s): Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Technology

  • WISE: Web-based Inquiry Science Environment

    Free, standards-aligned, and research-based inquiry curricula that address NGSS 3D proficiency. Includes Interactive scientific models plus hands-on activities, personalized guidance, and rich embedded assessments. For teachers, WISE offers a a virtual workshop for customizing WISE units for distance learning.
    Grade Level(s): Middle, High
    Discipline(s): Biology, Earth Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Science, Technology
Thank you to our contributors: Allison Bradford, Pam Buffington, Kristen Butcher, Jere Confrey, Chris Dede, Libby Gerard, Amelia Gotwals, Jessica Hunt, Karl Kosko, Susan Kowalski, Ashley Lewis-Presser, Marcia Linn, Valerie Maltese, Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh, Johannah Nikula, Amy Pallant, Kathy Perkins, John Russel, Troy Sadler, Meetal Shah, Julie Yu, Korah Wiley, Tanya Wright, and WWT Ambassadors.