Informal Education Resources

Informal learning includes everyday experiences and experiences in designed settings, such as museums, zoos, and nature programs. They also include experiences in out-of-school programs, such as after-school clubs, programs, and citizen science.

Featured Resources

Out of School Engagements in Forensic Science on a College Campus

Out of school informal learning environments provide an excellent experience for students to develop scientific curiosity and critical thinking skills. Currently, there is a range of methods available for supporting STEM learning. As schools focus on...

Journal Article

What Are These Bugs Under the Log?

Blog Post

How Do We Know What Isopods Do?

Lesson Plan

Connected Science Learning January-March 2018

Volume 1, Issue 5 STEM Learning in Environmental Settings ...

Journal

Journal and Lesson Plans

Informal Science Journal

Lesson Plans

Latest Resources

Web Seminar

Innovations in Road Weather Science, February 19, 2026

Join us on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, to learn about road weather science....

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, October 14, 2025

Web Seminar

2025 Arctic Report Card Headlines, January 29, 2026

Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, to learn about the state of the Arctic environment....

Blog Post

PFAS Hazards and Safety Protocols for Science and STEM Instructional Spaces

Web Seminar

Mineral Resources for our Future, October 16, 2025

Critical minerals have been all over the news lately.  While we may be familiar with the mining of copper, coal, and gold, emerging resources like lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, and more have driven the search for a new generation of...

Web Seminar

Navigating NSTA 2025 Fall Conference: A Guide for First-Time Attendees, October 23, 2025

Are you a first-time NSTA conference attendee? Join us on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, as we guide you through what the NSTA National Conference in Minneapolis has to offer. This seminar is a great opportunity for first-ti...

Web Seminar

Making the Most of Attending an NSTA Conference - Minneapolis 2025, October 21, 2025

Join us on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, to learn how to make the most of attending the NSTA National Conference taking place in Minneapolis, MN, from November 12 - 15, 2025. In this web seminar participants will learn:...

Web Seminar

Archive: Reviewing Proposals for NSTA Conference in Anaheim, September 23, 2025

Are you interested in helping NSTA reviewing proposals for the National Conference in Anaheim? Join us on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM ET, to learn the process that NSTA follows to review conference proposals.  During th...

Web Seminar

Hubble's 36th Anniversary and Recent Science Highlights, April 23, 2026

Join us on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope’s launch into space.Max Mutchler from the Space Telescope Science Institute will present new images and recent science ...

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, August 26, 2025

Web Seminar

Archive: Science Update: Hubble Observations of Interstellar Objects, August 21, 2025

A team of astronomers has taken the sharpest-ever picture of the third interstellar object, known as 3I/ATLAS and resembling a comet, traveling at 130,000 miles per hour within our solar system using the crisp vision of Hubble. This breathtaking spri...

Reports Article

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, August 12, 2025

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