Curriculum
Sharing and disseminating research based K-12 STEM curriculum and effective messaging for educators across Texas. Discover the different professional development opportunities we offer.
See our upcoming events!
TxGCP curriculum is typically delivered in 3 ways:
- Keynote presentations, workshops, trainings and sessions at conferences and meetings
- Stand-alone, in-person workshops, trainings and sessions hosted by TxGCP (with or without a partnering or hosting organization)
- Stand-alone, virtual workshops, trainings and sessions hosted by TxGCP (with or without a partnering or hosting organization)
Some workshops are available in a train-the-trainer format. Stand-alone workshops, trainings and sessions may have a cost associated with them depending on the curriculum, location, availability of trainers, etc.
SciGirls/Latina SciGirls
SciGirls is out to change how millions of tween girls think about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Educators attending SciGirls Educator Workshops learn the latest research for exciting and engaging girls (and boys) in STEM; experience hands-on STEM activities part of the PBS SciGirls curriculum; and have access to hands-on video enhanced STEM activities and PBS resources that put a creative twist on engaging both girls and boys in STEM. SciGirls Educator Workshops are offered in 1 hour, 2 hour and full-day sessions.
STEM Role Models Matter
STEM professionals are creative problem solvers essential to our health, happiness and safety and are important role models who create opportunities for girls (and all students) to envision careers in STEM. Prepare organization and business leaders, educators, STEM professionals and volunteers to increase and improve the quality of STEM outreach and education. Explore how to describe a STEM career and lead hands-on activities in a way that excites kids, college students, and the public about STEM. Learn the “Recipe for Role Model Success” and fabulous in-person and online resources to engage as a STEM role model in classrooms, after school programs and beyond.
Effective STEM Messaging to Engage All Kids in STEM
To change the demographics of engineers, scientists, and other STEM professions - to increase the diversity of those pursing STEM fields - the conversation must change. Explore research-based best practices and effective messaging, marketing and media that engage girls (and all learners) in STEM education and excite them about the possibilities of STEM careers. Learn how “create” is more effective than “build”, why images that include people and not just gadgets are important to engage all in STEM, and where to find best practices. Walk away with resources, research, and practical applications for the classroom and beyond.
Science Action Club
Science Action Club (SAC) is a high-impact STEM program for middle school youth in out-of-school time. Through hands-on games and projects, youth in SAC investigate their local environment and use citizen science to document discoveries, share data, and design strategies to protect our planet. Participating programs implement two (2) environmental science units: BUGS in Your Schoolyard and BIRDS in Your Schoolyard. Each guidebook includes lesson plans for 12 one-hour club sessions. Each kit contains tools and supplies for 20 youth and is valued at $500.
- Bug Safari
In this unit, youth search for bugs, collect specimens, and post discoveries to iNaturalist, a citizen science project and online social network for scientists and nature enthusiasts. Through iNaturalist, youth connect with biodiversity scientists and other SAC youth nationwide to identify species and investigate environmental issues - Bird Scouts
This unit explores feathers, flight, and the features that make birds unique. Using tools and technology, youth identify local birds and investigate environmental changes that impact bird behavior. The bird counts they submit to eBird – a citizen science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology – help scientists better understand these important species. - Cloud Quest
Cloud Quest explores the impact of clouds on weather and climate. Using the GLOBE Observer citizen science platform, youth identify sky conditions and report their discoveries to NASA. Researchers map these observations against satellite image data to study how clouds influence the flow of energy through Earth’s atmosphere.
From Hoop Gliders to Earthquake Towers - Where to Find TEKS-aligned Hands-on Activities
Test your skills at designing the farthest flying hoop glider and the safest tower. From Curious George to Cyberchase to Design Squad, explore free online science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) resources, hands-on activities, and videos to enhance teaching and learning experiences for your students in formal or informal classrooms and settings. You’ll learn about PBS offerings including nearly 4,000 STEM resources for grades K-12 and resources from Discover Engineering, Engineer Your Life, How to Smile and more. You’ll experience three STEM activities and will learn about initiatives such as the Texas Girls Collaborative Project that connect and support K-12 STEM outreach educators and supporters across Texas and beyond.
Texas STEM Connections: Engage with Industry & STEM Role Models
Make STEM connections across Texas with excited and interested STEM volunteers, role models and industry! Whether linking curriculum for real world application and career exposure or industry professionals mentoring and evaluating student projects, industry engagement bridges the gap between curriculum and real-world skills.
Learn how individual classrooms, schools and districts have opened up access to industry for their classrooms. Explore the new Texas statewide skills-based volunteer system - Texas STEM Connections - using the Nepris platform to help find and engage STEM role models and volunteers in your classrooms, after-school programs, science fairs and more. Gain a wealth of free resources including Nepris virtual classroom visit videos, Role Models Matter and HowtoSmile to support students and classroom lessons.
NASA Network of States
NASA Network of States is a collaborative activity among NASA’s centers, including the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. As described on the NASA website: "Each center has a wealth of formal education partners, including school districts serving populations underrepresented in STEM, higher education institutions, and informal education organizations and consortiums. Network of States will provide systemic, long-term support for NASA centers and partners by building strong regional networks for partner-delivered NASA educator professional development. Using the systemic structural design of a connected teaching model, NASA centers and partners will build a partnership network that aligns with national standards; integrated STEM content; learning theories that allow varied solutions in conceptual understanding for all students; and effective use of technology with outcomes to ensure that teachers have sufficient and necessary resources to enhance teaching practice."
WaterBotics is a National Science Foundation funded program based off the Build IT / WaterBotics curriculum developed by Stevens Institute of Technology’s “The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education.” The underwater LEGO robotics curriculum uses a variety of LEGO components and the LEGO Mindstorms software for middle and high school students to create robots that become increasingly complex and are able to complete sophisticated underwater real-world engineering challenges. The 2-day WaterBotics Educator Workshops empower formal and informal educators to use the technology and WaterBotics curriculum in their classrooms, programs, organizations and schools. Request a WaterBotics workshop today!
TxGCP also hosts Outreach Forums