This fall, the Khan Academy Science team traveled to Minneapolis to join thousands of educators at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conference to celebrate what science learning looks like when students engage with real-world phenomena through hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences.

If you weren’t able to attend NSTA, you can still bring that same spirit of science in action to your classroom. The middle and high school hands-on science activities we shared at the conference are available for free and designed to be classroom-ready using accessible materials and flexible-lesson structures that fit a range of instructional settings.

👉 Explore hands-on science activities.

Bringing three-dimensional science learning to life

At NSTA, we hosted interactive workshops focused on our middle and high school hands-on science activities. These sessions introduced teachers to the depth and breadth of Khan Academy’s science offerings. They also highlighted how our content supports three-dimensional learning, integrating science knowledge, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts to build deep understanding.

Teachers explored investigations across biology, chemistry, and physics, all centered on engaging phenomena that spark curiosity and invite students to ask questions, analyze data, and develop explanations.

These same activities are designed to be:

• NGSS-aligned
• Flexible for a single class period or extended units
• Adaptable to different classroom contexts

Browse hands-on investigations by subject

Stepping into student shoes—and back into teacher shoes

During each workshop, participants stepped into their “student shoes” to experience our hands-on activities firsthand. Using physical materials, they investigated, collaborated, and made sense of phenomena together—just as their students would. 

Participants then stepped back into their “teacher shoes” to reflect on what they noticed: moments of productive struggle, rich student discussion, and opportunities for deeper sensemaking. Many teachers shared how easy it was to imagine these same investigations coming to life in their own classrooms. 

You don’t need a conference workshop to try this with your students. Each hands-on activity includes teacher guidance and student-facing materials that support facilitation while leaving room for student thinking to drive the learning.

Try a hands-on science activity with your class

From conference energy to classroom practice

The room buzzed with conversation and experimentation. Teachers shared ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and imagined these investigations in their own classrooms. Many left feeling energized and excited to bring phenomenon-centered science learning to their students using Khan Academy’s free resources.

That same energy doesn’t have to stay at the conference.

As teachers bring these hands-on investigations into their classrooms, we’re inviting them to share what science in action looks like with their students.

Share science in action from your classroom

If you try a Khan Academy hands-on science activity this quarter, you can submit a classroom artifact for a chance to win a $100 gift card as part of our Celebrate Science in Action contest.

How to enter:

We’re looking for a photo of the science work itself—the results of students investigating, modeling, or making sense of a phenomenon.

To protect student privacy, submitted photos should show only the artifact, not the students who created it.

No polished lesson or perfect outcome required—just authentic learning.By sharing what happens in your classroom, you’ll help celebrate hands-on science learning and inspire other teachers to try it too. See giveaway rules here. The giveaway concludes March 31, 2026.

Try an activity. Submit an artifact. Enter the contest.

Science comes alive when students do science

Our time at NSTA reinforced what we deeply believe: science comes alive when learners actively do science. When students investigate real-world phenomena, collaborate with peers, and build explanations based on evidence, they’re not just learning science—they’re doing it.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re already experimenting with hands-on learning, we invite you to explore an activity, try it with your students, and share what unfolds.

Your classroom science story matters—and it could inspire classrooms far beyond your own.