Spark Tank

A comprehensive teacher professional development and model lesson plan sequence. It equips educators with hands-on mineral testing protocols, inquiry-based (3D) NGSS teaching strategies, geological vocabulary support, and formative assessment tools for grades 4-8.

An immersive, 90-minute entrepreneurial challenge where teams collaborate to design, budget, and present a fully functional snack shack business while navigating real-world supply chain and staffing twists.

A 1-page printable sheet containing 6 highly detailed, print-and-cut "Midway Twist Cards" with dashed cut lines. Each card features a distinct real-world business conflict (staff shortages, supplier failures, budget cuts, inventory surges) to prompt team problem-solving.

A comprehensive elementary/middle school astronomy unit exploring the predictable patterns of Earth and sky. Students investigate why constellations change seasonally and decode the predictable cycle of lunar phases through hands-on models, observations, and guided inquiry.

A collection of visually engaging and highly structured career posters highlighting high-interest STEM occupations for upper elementary students. Each spotlight details key skills, education, salary stats, and real-world industries.

A 2-page business planning workbook for student teams. Combines scaffolded sentence starters with realistic workplace forms, including a branding planner, a custom concession menu with price charts, an employee shifts and duty roster, an equipment checklist, and a dedicated problem-solving section for the Midway Twist.

A hands-on, inquiry-based elementary science unit investigating the secrets of photosynthesis. Students act as 'Plant Power Detectives' conducting wet labs, including leaf chromatography and Elodea oxygen bubble experiments, to discover how plants capture light, make food, and produce oxygen.

An exemplar 3D science lesson exploring physical properties, mineral testing, and rock classification. It integrates hands-on inquiry with structured vocabulary acquisition and formative checks.

A retro diner-themed slide deck that guides teams through the Snack Shack Showdown. Includes clear steps for branding, menu creation, roles, supplies, the Midway Twist, and guidelines for pitch presentations with live role-play demonstrations.

A 7-week STEM and innovation program for kids ages 8-13 at Mattahunt. Youth participants lead peer-to-peer design challenges, develop teamwork skills, and build self-efficacy through hands-on leadership roles.

A themed, detective-style STEM unit on Japan's bullet trains (Shinkansen). Students act as Chief Investigators to solve the mystery of how bullet trains travel over 200 mph without flying off the tracks, combining science, reading, math, cooking, and writing.

A high-energy, sensory-friendly physical science unit designed specifically for 3rd-5th grade students in alternative settings. The curriculum uses high-movement stations, interactive visual presentations, and bite-sized printable worksheets to teach Magnets/Electricity, States of Matter, Forces/Motion, and Energy/Sound while incorporating positive behavior support structures.