Tech Tools for Teachers PODCAST

Exploring Science

November 10, 2025

Tech Tools for Teachers podcast graphic for Episode 221 titled “Exploring Science,” featuring host Shanna Martin smiling against a pink patterned background.

Looking to bring current science into your classroom and give students simple, hands-on ways to explore big ideas? This week we’re highlighting two fantastic, free resources: Science News Explores and Exploratorium. Between timely articles, vocabulary support, comics, experiments, and low-cost “science snacks,” you’ll have plenty to plug into lessons from elementary through high school.

Science News Explores

Science News Explores article list with images of coral reefs, a sea robin fish, and narwhals, accompanying headlines about coral sanctuaries, fish that can taste prey with their legs, and playful narwhals.Science News Explores “Cool Jobs” section featuring STEM professionals including a linguist, marine biologist, astronomer, and materials engineer, each pictured in their work environments.Homepage of Science News Explores showing featured science stories about black holes, human waste research, linguistics, and ancient mummies, with a large header image of scientists observing an experiment under a glass dome.Science News Explores “Scientists Say” article about the term “Artifact,” featuring an explanation of how artifacts are made or modified by humans and methods like radiocarbon dating for age determination.

Science News Explores delivers student-friendly science reporting that’s updated frequently, plus classroom-ready supports.

Why I like it:

  • Timely topics across life, earth, space, tech, and human/health science—with audio read-aloud on many articles.
  • Power Words & Word of the Week to build domain vocabulary (printable lists included).
  • Explainers that break down complex ideas with visuals and examples.
  • Experiments with clear objectives, materials lists, and under-$20 options.
  • Comics (yep!) that model how to communicate science concepts.
  • Cool Jobs profiles that connect content to STEM careers.

Classroom ideas:

  • Use an article + Power Words as a nonfiction reading mini-lesson.
  • Assign an Explainer before a lab to front-load concepts.
  • Let students pitch a 4-panel science comic to explain a phenomenon.
  • Grab an Experiment for a Friday station or at-home enrichment.

Exploratorium

Homepage of the Exploratorium museum with the tagline “Take your imagination out to play,” showing visitors interacting with a glowing light exhibit.Exploratorium activity search results showing biology lessons such as “Pea Sorter,” “Who’s Like You?,” and “Searching for Significant SNPs,” with a sidebar to filter by science subject areas.Exploratorium page titled “Tools for Teaching and Learning,” featuring colorful school supplies like scissors, rulers, and paper clips against a blue background.Exploratorium education resources grid featuring projects and teaching materials including Digital Teaching Boxes, Tinkering Studio Projects, and Teaching Climate Change Through Storytelling.

Exploratorium is an incredible science museum in San Francisco—and its website is packed with educator-friendly activities.

Why I like it:

  • Teach & Learn → Science Snacks: low-cost, teacher-tested activities with step-by-step instructions, “what’s going on,” and extensions.
  • Explore from Anywhere: filter activities by topic, NGSS, grade band (Pre-K–12), and type (DIY exhibit, digital, project, snack).
  • Print-friendly versions for quick handouts, plus safety/tool callouts where relevant.

Classroom ideas:

  • Run a snack like “Head Harp” (string + inquiry!) to introduce waves/sound.
  • Try “Parachute Plummet” for a mini-inquiry on forces and motion.
  • Pair a Snack with a short reflection: Notice, Wonder, Try, then connect to a standard.

Related Past Science Episodes

If you’re building a bigger science toolkit, check out Episode 31, Episode 90, and Episode 105 from our archives for more STEM resources.

Go educate and innovate.

— Shanna

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