Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School (STCMS)
Science You Can Trust. Results You Can See.
Empowers students to investigate, design solutions, and develop the scientific literacy needed for success in middle school science and beyond. Hands-on, phenomenon-driven investigations built around coherent storylines that engage learners in exploring real scientific phenomena.
Coherent Storylines
Build lessons toward answering a question or solving a real problem
Deepen understanding through a clear, lesson‑to‑lesson conceptual progression
Spark curiosity and drive learning with purposeful Focus Questions
Proven Results
Improve achievement across science, reading, and math with research‑based instruction
Deliver integrated science and engineering learning at every grade level
Connect science and literacy through Smithsonian research, scientists, and world‑class collections
Teacher Support
Engage students with hands-on 3D investigations grounded in real phenomena and problem-solving
Assess learning with built-in 3D assessments, including formative, summative, and performance tasks with scoring rubrics
Teach with confidence using NGSS-aligned supports, including lesson correlations, misconception guidance, and point-of-use tips
Everything you need to teach–Kits, Print, and Digital
Flexible and all-inclusive options for complete kits, refurbishment materials, and individual components.
Kits contain all required materials—both consumable and non-consumable—to facilitate hands-on investigations lab activities for the entire class.
Kits are available for 1-use and 5-use.
Each STCMS™ kit includes a comprehensive Teacher Edition and the required Student Books, ensuring everything you need to get started is right at hand.
To support diverse learners, Student Guides are also offered in Spanish.
Need more copies? Additional Student Guides can be purchased, making it easy to outfit your entire class.
Carolina Science Online provides centralized access to all instructional resources, including videos, simulations, and multilingual text‑to‑speech supports.
Teacher access to Carolina Science Online is included with the purchase of curriculum kits.
Enhance students’ digital experience, while providing reporting to support instruction and administrative visibility, with student licenses.
Everything you need to teach–Kits, Print, and Digital
More About Kits
Flexible and all-inclusive options for complete kits, refurbishment materials, and individual components. Kits contain all required materials—both consumable and non-consumable—to facilitate hands-on investigations lab activities for the entire class. Kits are available for 1-use and 5-use.
More About Print
Each STCMS™ kit includes a comprehensive Teacher Edition and the required Student Books, ensuring everything you need to get started is right at hand.
To support diverse learners, Student Guides are also offered in Spanish.
Need more copies? Additional Student Guides can be purchased, making it easy to outfit your entire class.
More About Digital
Carolina Science Online provides centralized access to all instructional resources, including videos, simulations, and multilingual text‑to‑speech supports.
Teacher access to Carolina Science Online is included with the purchase of curriculum kits.
Enhance students’ digital experience, while providing reporting to support instruction and administrative visibility, with student licenses.
Professional Learning
Access Smithsonian’s STCMS™ Get Ready! professional learning on your schedule
with on‑demand videos designed to jump‑start implementation. Follow three clear steps
to quickly build confidence, streamline setup, and bring high‑quality, three‑dimensional
science learning to your classroom. Link
Revolutionizing the Future of Science Education
Curriculum Framework
A coherent NGSS‑designed framework that drives middle schoolers from curiosity to sensemaking through hands‑on investigations—powered by 12 flexible modules you can configure to fit any district model. Link to Learning Framework
Storylines
A coherent, grade‑level progression that turns big questions into purposeful exploration, guiding students through connected investigations that build real scientific understanding.
Proven Results
Backed by a five‑year LASER i3 study, STCMS delivers statistically significant gains in science—and boosts achievement in reading and math.
District and Teacher Resources
Teacher‑ready supports at every step—giving educators the tools, strategies, and confidence to bring 3D learning to life.
Explore Units
Awards and Recognition
