Research Experience for Teachers Curricular Materials

Welcome to our collection of dynamic curricular materials, crafted by passionate teachers who participated in the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program. These educators have immersed themselves in hands-on research and have transformed their experiences into engaging lesson plans and resources designed to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Our RET program empowers teachers to bridge the gap between academic research and classroom learning. The materials you’ll find here are not just lessons; they’re pathways to discovery. Each resource is designed to foster critical thinking, spark curiosity, and cultivate a love for engineering among students.

Blue Sky in a Cup

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Data Analysis & Probability, Earth/Space, Physics, and Reasoning & Proof
Teacher: Arianna Dial
School: Bagdad Elementary

Chromaful Art

Teacher: Stephanie Valenzuela
School: PhD Graduate Student, Chemistry Department at UT Austin

Crystallization of Sugar - Creation of homemade rock sugar candy

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics, Problem Solving, Reasoning & Proof, and Science & Technology
Teacher: Patricia González-Villaseñor
School: Bernice Hart Elementary

Color through Coding

Grade Level: 4th - 8th
Subject Area: Chemistry, Computer Science, and Science & Technology
Teacher: Ariel Kay and Cecilia Osornio
School: Govalle Elementary and Wilhelmina Delco Elementary School

Video Demo

CSI: Messy Classroom and Modeling Mass Spectrometry

Grade Level: 3rd - 8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Amanda Lengnick-Hall
School: Cunningham Elementary

Density Solutions

Grade Level: 5th Grade
Subject: Properties of Matter
Teacher: Elizabeth Schuster
School: Spicewood Elementary

Exploring Deposition through Art

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Earth/Space and Science & Technology
Teacher: Irene Hidalgo and Jennifer Sladek
School: Casey Elementary and Boone Elementary

Exploring the Properties of Everyday Hydrogels

Grade Level: 6th - 8th
Subject: Polymers and Hydrogels
Teacher: Danielle Washington
School: Salyers Elementary

Fashionable Metals

Grade Level: 5th - 8th
Subject Area: Data Analysis and Probability, Measurement, Physical Science, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Science & Technology
Teacher: Monica Sanchez
School: Bernice Hart ECP Elementary

Fizzy Water

Teacher: Stephanie Valenzuela
School: PhD Graduate Student, Chemistry Department at UT Austin

I’m at the end of my (aluminum) rope!

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Material Science
Teacher: Danielle Woods & Yvette Dodd
School: Deep Wood Elementary & Northwest Elementary School

Inflation Creation

Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Subject: Matter and energy, conservation of natural resources
Teacher: Amber Rivera
School: Dearing Elementary

Is Your Tool up to the Task

Grade Level: 3rd - 8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Becky Spillers
School: Purple Sage Elementary

Gel Engineering

Grade Level: 4th - 6th
Subject: Physical Science
Teacher: Elizabeth Schuster
School: Caldwell Elementary School

Leaf Chromatography

Grade Level: 4th Grade
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Melissa Saldana
School: Caldwell Heights Elementary School

Video Demo

Let's Save Our Clothes with Avocados!

Grade Level: 1st - 2nd
Subject: Structure and Properties of Matter
Teacher: Connie Rodriguez & Lisette Cruz
School: Dearing Elementary & Rodriguez Elementary

Lights! Camera! Action!

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Physical Science
Teacher: Zachary Wilborn
School: Ruth Barron Elementary

Kaleidoscopes and Refraction

Grade Level: 5th Grade
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Dara Reeder
School: Callison Elementary School

Liquid Crystal and Nanotechnology

Grade Level: 5th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Amanda Lengnick-Hall
School: Cunningham Elementary

Video Demo

Liquid Density

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Data Analysis & Probability, Chemistry, Physical Science, Problem Solving, and Reasoning & Proof
Teacher: Marianella Garza and Monica Sanchez
School: Mendez Elementary and Bernice Hart ECP Elementary

Living in a Metric World

Grade Level: 3rd - 8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Becky Spillers
School: Purple Sage Elementar

Video Demo

Like Sand through the Hourglass

Grade Level: 3rd - 8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Becky Spillers
School: Purple Sage Elementary

Video Demo

“Nothing Else Matters”...or does it?

Grade Level: 1st - 3rd
Subject: Physical Science and Problem Solving
Librarian: Catherine Jones
School: Purple Sage Elementary

Optical Obstacle Course

Grade Level: 4th - 6th
Subject Area: Physics
Teacher: Kathy Rogers
School: Wooldridge Elementary

Piano in A Box

Grade Level: 1st Grade
Subject: Physics
Teacher: Raianna Markham
School: Cunningham Elementary

Video Demo

Nature-Inspired Soap

Grade Level: 3rd-8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Olivia Barrow
School: Bernice Hart ECP Elementary

Solar Powered Insects

Grade Level:1st Grade
Subject: Science
Teacher: Wendilyn Ilund
School: Caldwell Heights Elementary School

Starlight, Star Bright, Which Light Will Turn My Paper White?

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Subject Area: Science & Technology
Teacher: Arianna Dial
School: Bagdad Elementary

Red Light, Green Light with Gummy Bears

Grade Level: 5th Grade
Subject: light energy, light characteristics
Teacher: Stephanie Escalante
School: Northwest Elementary

Real World Ratios: Viscosity Investigation

Grade: 4th - 8th
Subject: Science
Teacher: Ashika Ganguly
School: Mathews Elementary

What’s the Matter? Observing the properties of matter to decide on best material to make a book cover

Grade Level: Kinder - 2nd
Subject: Physical Science
Teacher: Diana Garcia
School: DeZavala Elementary

Design and Build a House

Grade Level: 2nd - 4th
Subject Area: Data Analysis and Probability, Geometry, Physical Science, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Science & Technology
Teacher: Olivia Barrow
School: Bernice Hart ECP Elementary

The Power of Produce: Powering Up with Fruits and Veggies

Grade Level: 4th
Subject: Forms of Energy
Teacher: Yvonne Rodriguez
School: Bowie Elementary

Scanning Probe Microscopy Design Challenge

Grade Level: 3rd - 8th
Subject Area: Science
Teacher: Becky Spillers
School: Purple Sage Elementary

Video Demo

Navigate Your World!

Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject Area: Earth/Space, Measurement, Problem Solving, Science & Technology
Teacher: Zachary Wilborn
School: Ruth Barron Elementary

What causes materials to break differently?

Grade Level: 1st - 3rd
Subject Area: Data Analysis and Probability, Geometry, Measurement, Physical Science, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof
Teacher: Connie Rodriguez
School: Ruth Barron Elementary

Ready, Set, Solar

Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Subject Area: Data Analysis and Probability, Measurement, Physical Science, Physics, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Science & Technology
Teacher: Catherine Jones
School: Purple Sage Elementary

Intermolecular forces behind the “swelling effect” of hydrogels

Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Subject Area: Data Analysis and Probability, Numbers and Operation, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Measurement, Science & Technology
Teacher: Patricia González-Villaseñor
School: Bernice Hart Elementary

Activity Title Drop the Ball: Learning about Material Physics, Motion and Quadratics through Sport Design

Grade Level: 9th - 12th
Subject Area: Algebra, Physical Science, Physics, Problem Solving
Teacher: Tanima Mukherjee & Faith Palombi
School: Vista Ridge High School & Cedar Ridge High School

Mines to Mobiles: Aqueous Solutions and Environmental Chemistry

Grade Level: 7th - 8th
Subject Area: Chemistry
Teacher: Elizabeth "Lizzy" Ademski
School: Henry Middle School

Cellular Symphony: Observing Osmosis in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Grade Level: 11th - 12th
Subject Area: Biology, Life Science, Reasoning & Proof, Science & Technology
Teacher: Sean O'Connor
School: Vista Ridge High School

Unraveling Rising Sea Levels: Exploring Density Through Mixtures and Solutions for Young Ocean Engineers!

Grade Level: 3rd
Subject Area: Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space, Problem Solving
Teacher: Yvette Dodd
School: Northwest Elementary

Elastic LEGO Car Crash Simulation

Grade Level: 5th
Subject Area: Data Analysis & Probability, Measurement, Physical Science, Physics, Problem Solving, Reasoning & Proof, Science & Technology
Teacher: Ryan Nittinger
School: Rodriguez Elementary

Surface Obstacle Course!

Grade Level: 1st
Subject Area: Science & Technology
Teacher: Lisette Perazzo
School: Rodriguez Elementary

Launching Into Learning: A Force Engineering Activity

Grade Level: 2nd - 5th
Subject Area: Geometry, Physical Science, Physics
Teacher: Nicole Hershey & Annie Porterfield
School: University of Texas Elementary

Lens to Equality: DIY Microscope Challenge

Grade Level: 4th - 5th with an extension to 6th
Subject Area: Biology, Measurement, Numbers & Operations, Physical Science, Physics, Problem-Solving, Science & Technology
Teacher: Masen Huddleston & Larry McKenzie
School: Henry Middle School & Harmony School of Innovation - Austin

Research Experience for Teachers Curricular Materials

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