Helpful Links
Here you will find additional links that have come across our path that we have found to be helpful for educators. We hope they help spark an idea for you! Be sure to check out our Educational Resources for downloadable lessons, activities, and resources to use in your classroom.
There are also helpful links that we have curated for students. You will find links to helpful science resources, how to support the science process, activities to try out, an interactive periodic table, and more!
Educational Tools & Technology
Airtable - An all-in-one collaboration platform that works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. There is a free and basic plan that provides you with a lot of handy features!
Canva - An online design and publishing tool used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, and other visual content. The app includes templates for users to use. The platform is free to use and offers paid subscriptions like Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise for additional functionality.
Kahoot - Game-based learning platform where you can create quizzes and fun activities with your students! There is a free option for teachers/educators and you can easily incorporate CLS themes in there!
Kami - A digital classroom app that can transform your documents and presentations into interactive whiteboards with your students. Check out how it was used during one of our STEM Seminars! There is a free and basic plan.
Quizlet - Another fun game-based learning and study application where content can be included in quizzes, matching, flashcards, and more. There is a free option and tons of already made content you can connect to! Easily connect to science themes!
Thinglink - Coming from a veteran SotB teacher, we heard about this cool app! Thinglink allows you to embed pictures and links into an image and make an interactive image for your classroom website! There is a free plan for teachers!
Indigenous & Land-Based Resources
.caISES Outreach - AISES is the American Indian Science and and Engineering Society which is an organization focused on increasing representation of all Indigenous peoples of North America in STEM studies and careers. The Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (.caISES) has partnered with AISES to support STEM students and professionals through opportunities to gather, connect, and create long-lasting relationships. Our very own Bernie Petit, the CLS Education Coordinator for Indigenous Programs, has been involved with both organizations!
Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Visual Examples (University of Regina Open Textbook) - This textbook is available online as a free download and provides CREE equivalents of 176 mathematic terms and their definitions in English. The visual examples mainly contain Indigenous elements. The Dictionary was reviewed by Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Cree-speaking educators.
First Nation Profiles Interactive Map - Government of Canada Interactive Map showing the official name, location, population, tribal council info, links to their websites, and other relevant details on each of the First Nations Groups across what is now called Canada.
First Nation Protocol on Traditional Territory - From Canadian-based company out of British Columbia, this web page covers traditional protocol when going onto Indigenous traditional territory: how to begin the protocol, what to include, who says what, and more.
First Voices: Explore Languages - Stated on their website, they are "an online space for Indigenous communities to share and promote their language, oral culture, and linguistic history". The link takes you to various Indigenous languages where with a click, you can learn more about each group, hear their language, play games, and check out further resources!
FNMI Curriculum Database - Curated by staff of the University of Lethbridge, this database offers almost 1200 resources with FNMI focus or connections! There are tons of science ones. Check out the main web page for instructions on how to use their AirTable!
Indigenous History-Makers - Government of Canada website providing profiles about inspiring Indigenous peoples who have shaped the history of Canada. Profiles of artists, athletes, activists & advocates, and scientists and researchers!
IndigenousSTS - Indigenous Science, Technology, and Society is an international research and training hub whose goal is to build Indigenous scientific literacy and to produce science research rooted in Indigenous thought.
IndigeSTEAM - This organization looks at providing Indigenous-led and culturally-related programming in STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and art/architecture/agriculture). They have various programs for Indigenous youth, links to blogs, connection to .caISES, and volunteer opportunities!
Indigenous Knowledge Curriculum Project - PDF from the Whitefeather Forest Initiative that covers the background of this Indigenous Knowledge and Education project, based out of Ontario. This PDF provides a sense of how projects can be rooted in Indigenous Ways of Knowing and meet curricular needs.
iPortal (University of Saskatchewan Indigenous Studies Portal) - From the U of S comes this database of articles, resources, government publications, theses, and more, all focusing on various topics related to Indigenous Studies and Education. Everyone should have access!
National Science Laboratory Video Lessons for Aboriginal Youth - This project, put on by the First Nations University of Canada, involves an SotB teacher and his students! Check out their contribution to the project, on the main Facebook page, and learn a thing or two about science with their videos!
NCCIE Teaching Resource Centre - Coming from the Canadian National Centre for Collaboration is a collection of lesson plans with Indigenous perspectives for teaching land-based skills, knowledge, languages, and mainstream K-12 subjects. A must-see resource!
Pronunciation Guides for First Nations Groups in British Columbia - A web page providing the pronunciation of British Columbia First Nations. It is a great sign of respect when names are pronounced correctly. Take the time to review and practice with this web page!
Towards Reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to Natural Scientists Working in Canada Article - Canadian researchers reviewed the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and came up with 10 calls that can help "natural scientists to enable reconciliation in their work" (Wong et al., 2020). This article is a very helpful and meaningful way to bring reconciliation into science. We created a worksheet to help readers connect more with the article.
Whose Land? Lesson Plan - From the Taking IT Global website, which focuses on promoting awareness and engagement among global youth, comes this lesson plan aimed at Grades 10-12, on land acknowledgements. This is a great resource to see what students know about land acknowledgements and to facilitate an inquiry-project into this topic further.
STEM Organizations
A.S.L.E.E.P Initiative - A Saskatchewan founded initiative from one of our SotB Mentors and Professional Development speakers! This organization looks to supporting experiential learning and inquiry based science education with free, easy-to-use STEM equipment and resources. Check it out!
.caISES Outreach - AISES is the American Indian Science and and Engineering Society which is an organization focused on increasing representation of all Indigenous peoples of North America in STEM studies and careers. The Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (.caISES) has partnered with AISES to support STEM students and professionals through opportunities to gather, connect, and create long-lasting relationships. Our very own Bernie Petit, the CLS Education Coordinator for Indigenous Programs, has been involved with both organizations!
Future Energy Systems (From the University of Alberta) - Helping developing future technology and innovation in the energy sector, comes an outreach organization that develops videos on numerous science topics, targeting students across all ages! Need to learn about sustainability? Circuits? How balloons could power a car? Check out their YouTube Channel!
Ingenium - A collaborative space where three Canadian museums, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canada Science and Technology Museum, connect and collaborate to share amazing resources to youth and teachers across Canada! Ingenium has partnered with CLS to deliver teacher PD!
King's Centre for Visualization in Science - A research centre at the King's University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where they aim to improve global public understanding of science through research. They have peer-reviewed interactive electronic learning tools to see and understand science!
Let's Talk Science - A Canadian-wide organization that is committed to preparing Canadian youth for STEM-related future careers. They have tons of lessons, resources, and activities for youth and they have challenges throughout the year!
Nutrients for Life - An educational outreach organization that focuses in on soil and nutrients needed for plant growth. CLS Education has been fortunate enough to work with Nutrients for Life and we encourage you to check out their resources, activities, lesson plans, kits you can rent, their garden grants, and everything else they have to offer!
Ocean Sense - Through Ocean Networks Canada observatories, comes this education program that provides students the opportunities to do science, connects to Indigenous Knowledge, and has tons of educational resources! Explore the vast and varied area of the oceans!
Safe Water Drinking Foundation - An educational outreach organization that shares their knowledge on all things water! They have resources, lesson plans, kits you can buy/rent, grants, and much more! This is a good organization to check out if you are interested in water quality in your area as they have info from across Canada!
Science on Stage (Europe) - Not just limited to Europe, Science on Stage is a non-profit organization aimed at bringing STEM resources to teachers and students across the globe. A valuable resource to check out as you can find teaching materials, PD opportunities, teacher exchange programs, festivals you can join in, skill development, recordings, and so, so much more.
Scientists in School - A Canadian organization that facilitates STEM clubs and workshops for classrooms and schools! There are teacher resource packages, educational resources, videos, workshops, and this is also offered in French!
Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology - Like the name suggests, this organization looks to create an environment where women and girls in Canada can pursue careers in STEM without barriers. They have various programs, events, and resources worth exploring!
STEM Resources
Compound Chem - A site from a chemistry educator based in Cambridge, UK, where he uploads his easy-to-understand graphics on various topics related to chemistry... and shares them for free! These are really quick resources to add to a lesson as he not only provides the visuals, but the background info. Tons of topics to choose from!
FermiLab and Particle Physics at Home - FermiLab is a particle physics and accelerator laboratory and a pretty neat machine! Much like CLS! Take a look at their resources that cover a variety of aspects in physics (many of which are captured in videos!), virtual tours, fun quiz games, career connections, and lots more!
Hyper Physics Concept Maps - This interactive concept map, created by a developer out of the Georgia State University (USA), provides words connected to many of the common concepts related to physics. If you are looking to teach about light and vision, or electricity and magnetism, or astrophysics, take a look at what ideas are involved in those concepts and you can see a short explanation of each!
Largest Periodic Table from Recycled Material - Provided in both French and English comes this periodic table created by more than 2,000 students from Quebec and New Brunswick. In 2019, these students honoured the 150th anniversary of the creation of Dmitri Mendeleev's Periodic Table by recreating a life-size one!
PHET Interactive Science Simulations - Very cool science simulations covering a wide range of topics in physics, chemistry, math, earth science, and biology! Sign up for a free account and access their database of simulations and educational resources.
Questacon Teacher Resource - Hands On STEM Activities - A web page from the Questacon website, based out of the National Science and Technology Centre in Australia, with a running list of hands on STEM activities!
Science in School - A European journal for science teachers. It provides articles on what is new in science as well as articles to help you teach science in the classroom. A new issues comes out every 2 months!
STEM Teaching Tools - A website, based out of the University of Washington Institute for Science and Math Education, dedicated to providing useable tools to support STEM teaching. All the teaching tools are open source and be sure to check out their other affiliated sites!
STEM Women Career Posters - There are five posters that go over STEM Careers which include: STEM Careers in the Jewelry Industry, The Amazingly Enormous Careers Poster, Ten Types of Technologist Poster, Ten Types of Scientist Poster, Ada Lovelace Poster, and Mary Anning Poster. All of these can be downloaded and printed or bought at their e-shop.
Understanding Science - A website from the University of California Museum of Paleontology that covers a multitude of science topics, provides tips for teaching science in different grades, and downloadable teaching resources. This is a great place to start if you are new to teaching science.
Women in Their Elements: The Women Behind the Periodic Table - Science has been a mainly male-dominated field but more attention in the past decade has been drawn to the countless attributions women in STEM-related fields have made to the science community. Take a look at this web page that outlines female researchers who have made key break throughs in science!
Women in STEM Posters - From our friends at Ingenium comes this series of posters that highlight and share the stories of 45 Canadian Women and their contributions to the STEM field. Each poster can be downloaded for your own classroom hangings!