Exposing More Students to STEM, Computer Science, and CTE
With Learning Blade you can easily integrate STEM, CS, and CTE concepts into a child’s education. Appropriate for grades 5-9, Learning Blade provides 13 “missions” that contextualize learning and engage all students, including underrepresented and special populations, while reinforcing academic standards. Each of our lessons and resources is indexed so you can see what state standards are being met.
With over 100 careers and 400 lessons in the specific contexts of science, math, English and social studies included, Learning Blade provides the perfect supplemental materials to integrate STEM, CS, and CTE into core courses or be used as a stand alone program (implemented before school, after school, through the counselors office, and more).
“We have found Learning Blade to be a strong career exploration tool for our middle school students. Its engaging and interactive activities, alignment with standards, and user-friendly design makes it an ideal tool for introducing students to STEM careers. This is a valuable resource.”
– Margie Vandeven, Commissioner of Education, Missouri
A Complete Toolbox Including
Interactive Lessons
Over 400 online lessons tied to academic standards
Challenge Projects
Hands-on, project-based lessons using common materials
Design Thinking
Solve complex problems with the 5-step creative thinking process
Parent Discussions
Handouts and easy experiments for at-home discussions
Career Videos
Introduce over 50 careers with real-life people
3D Printing Activities
Create objects that demonstrate science principles
Intro to Coding
20-hour middle school course providing robust coding experiences
Papercraft Figures
Students make origami-type figures of 100 careers and technologies
New Mission! Beneath the Waves: Building Submarines
Explore the cutting-edge world of Naval submarines and uncover the cool methods used to design and build these incredible machines. Curious about welding or casting? You’ll learn all about it! Meet experts like naval architects, marine engineers, and welders who bring submarines to life. Along the way, you’ll explore the latest technologies and refine your own designs to make submarines stealthier, stronger, and more efficient. By the end, you’ll have innovative ideas to share with the Navy’s top program directors. Ready to dive deep and become a young submariner? Let’s start this adventure!
Introduction to AI Module
From the wheel to the printing press and all the way to the internet, we can mark human history through some key innovations. There’s the world before and the world after. AI technologies are surely another one of those innovations, and the world isn’t going to be the same. But what exactly is Artificial Intelligence? Most of us have a vague sense, but that vague understanding isn’t going to prepare us for the many ways AI will affect our lives. In this course, students will take a walk through the world of AI. They’ll learn what it is, how it works, what it’s already doing for people, and where it will take us in the future.
Want to learn more? Tune in to our on-demand webinar, The Importance of Educating Students on the Impact of AI.
Introduction to Coding Module
This 20-hour course provides everything you need to introduce students to computer science and real, text-based computer programming for middle school.
Includes online lessons, group classroom activities, and complete lesson plans for guiding students through authentic coding experiences. Topics include:
- Computer hardware and software
- Simple algorithms and common statements
- Offline algorithm games
- Beginning programming
- Creating a simulated mobile app
- Concepts of cybersecurity and personal security
- Exploring common IT careers
“Computer Science was so foreign to me, but now I feel like I can do this thanks to my training on Learning Blade “Intro. to Coding” resources!”
-Nichelle Ruffin, 7th grade ELA Teacher, MNPS, Tennessee
Why Use Learning Blade?
Student Engagement
Introduce students to a wide range of STEM technologies and careers and engages students through an online, game-based platform.
Equitable Access
Motivate minorities, girls, rural and urban students to explore STEM and Computer Science fields.
Multiple Academic Subjects
Missions address multiple academic subjects, not just science but math, English, social studies and technology.
Aligned to State Standards
Lessons are indexed so you can analyze student skills according to academic state standards.
How It Works
Students can select a mission, or teachers can assign specific missions
Students operate missions from a mission dashboard
Interactive lessons introduce careers while reviewing academics
The system provides academic skills reports by class or student
Lessons are specifically aligned to state academic standards
Announcing Learning Blade 2023-24 Educators of the Year
National Educator of the Year: Elise Allred, Sycamore Community Schools
Alabama State Educator of the Year: John Hughes, Boaz City Schools
Arkansas State Educator of the Year: Julie Carver, Lake Hamilton School District
Florida State Educator of the Year: Dawn Foster, Manatee County Schools
Idaho State Educator of the Year: Fallon Horrocks, Highland Joint School District
Louisiana State Educator of the Year: Johnny Taylor, East Baton Rouge Schools
Missouri State Educator of the Year: Amber Southard, Miami R-1 School District
Ohio State Educator of the Year: Elise Allred, Sycamore Community Schools
Oklahoma State Educator of the Year: April Gustafson, Oklahoma City Public Schools
South Carolina State Educator of the Year: Alan Lominick, Lexington School District
Tennessee State Educator of the Year: Larry Dale Seals, Hamblen County Schools
Information about the Educator of the Year program can be found here.
Learning Blade is changing students’ conversations about careers. Take for example a Louisa Middle School student who is a wonderful artist and is very creative. Using Learning Blade’s STEM extension activity the student created a PowerPoint to persuade people to donate to a marine animal rescue center as part of the Dolphin Rescue Mission in Learning Blade. It was an assignment that they truly excelled at in a small group setting in which they felt comfortable. The student mentioned that they were now interested in pursuing a career in computer graphics someday.
Learning Blade Project Director for Ashland Community & Technical College, Kentucky
I love Learning Blade! The kids love that it has interactive elements. It is right on grade level and age-appropriate coding activities.
Gateway to Technology Teacher, Oakbrook Middle School, South Carolina
You can actually incorporate STEM lessons and activities into every single subject, Social Studies, ELA, Science and Mathematics. Not only that, it’s attached to standards for middle school, and it helps to show careers.
Project Coordinator, Region 5 STEM Center, Louisiana
I have learned about many different careers doing Learning Blade that seem like pretty cool jobs! I might not be interested in it but it helps me know what they are like. It teaches me how much you would get paid for that job, and what education you need for that specific job.
Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho
It is imperative that we are preparing students for the ever- advancing workforce needs. This needs to start early and Learning Blade is providing a way to help middle grade students and educators build that pipeline of a qualified workforce for our employers.
CEO, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tennessee