It’s time for back to school– already! Because there has never been more pressure on teachers or students, you might feel a bit uneasy about opening that classroom door. ExploreLearning is here to help you find your spark again. ExploreLearning science solutions offer a collection of free back-to-school resources to support your planning and energize your STEM classroom. With engaging tools like Science4Us for early learners and Gizmos for grades 3–12, students are motivated to explore, experiment, and truly understand science and math concepts.
Find your spark this back-to-school season
Make this year sparkle with tips for planning and motivation that bring light to your back-to-school routine. Discover resources that help you build a strong classroom community from day one, with ideas that foster connection, collaboration, and curiosity. Whether you're looking for inspiration, organization tools, or ways to energize your students, we've gathered everything you need to start the year with confidence and creativity. Read on!
- Community Building in the Classroom- It’s important to create a classroom community. Find out why and how.
- Back-to-School Basics for Teachers and Families- Create a partnership with families from the first day of school.
- New and Not-so-New Teachers: Back-to-School Checklists- Veteran teachers and newbies, we have what you need to ease back-to-school stress.
- Success With Gizmos is Districtwide- Get inspired with a teaching success story!
Catch the creative spark with helpful resources
Back-to-school season can be overwhelming. We’ve got you covered with checklists and tips to streamline your process. Take a look! Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned STEM pro, you'll find back-to-school science resources designed to support every step of your journey. From classroom setup ideas to monthly STEM inspiration, these tools help you stay organized, energized, and ready to spark curiosity all year long.
- Back-to-School Checklist- Whether it’s your first year in the classroom or your twelfth, we compiled a checklist to kickstart your year in an organized way.
- Tips for First-Year Teachers- If you’re a brand new teacher, these tips are designed especially for you!
- Hello, I’m New Here! A guide to your new building, district, or grade-level- Changes can be intimidating. We’ve made it easier!
- Back-to-School Tips for Teachers to Share with Families- It’s a busy time of year. Take advantage of these tips to share with families.
- Celebrate STEM All Year- Do you wish there was one place with different STEM holidays and awareness days? We set it up for you!
- Science Teacher Tips- Science classrooms require some specific planning and preparation. Read on for tips.
It’s time to sparkle and shine with ExploreLearning for the best school year ever
Thoughtfully chosen classroom décor not only brightens your space. It also sets the tone for a welcoming, engaging environment where students feel inspired to learn. Visuals help reinforce key concepts, spark curiosity, and create a sense of community from the moment students walk through the door. Print and display these posters and catch that creative spark for teaching and learning this school year.
- Catch the Creative Spark poster- Here’s a downloadable poster that’s great for any classroom.
- Shine a Light on Science poster- Download to post and inspire your scientists.
- Teacher Affirmations tearaway poster- We all need positive reminders from time to time.
- Classroom Decor Ideas- Don’t feel overwhelmed with decorating your classroom. We’ve got tips and downloads for you!
Shine up your teaching tools with our help
Preparing students to become the innovators and inventors of tomorrow begins with outstanding STEM programs, and ExploreLearning has that covered. From kindergarten through 12th-grade, our science solutions work together to make learning that is engaging and effective. Take a look!
Gizmos, the world’s largest collection of math and science simulations (Grades 3-12)
Experiment with the best STEM learning tools for the classroom. With a library of over 550 virtual simulations, Gizmos gives everyone something to graph, measure, predict, and prove. Our STEM Cases put students in the role of STEM professionals tasked with solving real-world problems. That’s hundreds of experiences where students don’t just act like scientists and mathematicians. They are. Take out a trial and see for yourself!
Introducing Gizmos Investigations: Coming Fall 2025
It’s time for turnkey, scaffolded High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) that bring science to life. Launching this fall, Gizmos Investigations are fully guided lessons for grades 6–8 that wrap around one or more Gizmo simulations, helping students DO the DOING of science through interactive investigations, built-in questioning, and just-in-time feedback.
These ready-to-use, student-driven lessons support sensemaking at every level of understanding, bridging gaps in instruction while engaging students in solving real-world problems. With Gizmos Investigations on the horizon, there’s more to look forward to in your STEM classroom.
Science4Us, giving K-2 students a head start in STEM
Studies show that by kindergarten, kids who have not been exposed to science are already likely to fall behind—and stay behind. Designed just for K-2, Science4Us features 28 modules (covering topics in physical, life, and earth/space science) full of online and offline activities that take as little as ten minutes to complete. Give it a try!