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Educator Resources

This guide outlines services and resources for the teachers and educators in the community

Lightning Lessons

Image of students working with robotics. Text to the left says "Lightning Lessons" and the PPLD logo is in the top left corner.

Bring PPLD to your elementary classroom with a Lightning Lesson! No cost, all supplies provided. PPLD staff will present a lesson to your class that also includes a very brief introduction to PPLD. Lightning Lessons are based on STEM, art, literacy, and PPLD resources we bring to your classroom. Please allow 30 to 60 minutes for student engagement. Please read the guidelines. Please complete the Educator Support form and select "Lightning Lesson" under the Request Type section to book a visit. 

Lightning Lesson Visit Guidelines:
  1. Please allow two weeks to schedule a PPLD visit to your school. Please communicate with your team to avoid duplicate requests. If demand is high, we may need to limit the number of Lightning Lesson visits to a school with multiple requests.
  2. One Lightning Lesson topic per visit, please. These lessons work best with 30 or fewer students, but PPLD may do multiple sessions of the one lesson if the schedule allows.

Colorado History

Visit History Take-Out or History Colorado for more info. Choose one:

  • Moving Day — Six culture groups in early CO
  • Western Work — Six industries in early CO
  • Ute Knowledge — How the Ute people solved problems using STEM

For Grades 4-5 | 60 min. Students work in groups. CCSS Social Studies 4: History, Geography, Civics, and Economics.

Engineering Science: Keva Planks

Students will participate in group-building challenges. For Grades K- 5 | 45-60 min. NGSS 3 - 5: Engineering Design.

Physical Science: Solar Science

Simple discussion of the sun warming the Earth and the Keep it Cool challenge. *This is an outdoor activity only offered in the fall. Scheduling is subject to weather changes. For Grades - 5 | 45-60 min. CSS Standards: Physical Science.

Physical Science: Squishy Circuits

Overview of parallel circuits with hands-on circuit activities. For Grades K-5 | 30-60 min. NGSS 4: PS3 Energy; 3-5-ETS1 Engineering Design.

Robotics Science: Cubelets

Simple discussion of robotics and group experience with Cubelets challenges. For Grades 3-5 | 45 min. CSTA1B-AP-10: Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.

Robotics Science: Ozobots

Simple discussion of robotics and the creation of color-coding paths. For Grades 3-5 | 45-60 min. CSTA1B-AP-10: Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.

Research Tips: How to Use PPLD Resources for Research

Overview of PPPLD's top digital tools for elementary students. Tailored for your class, whether you have a research project or a book report due, we show students how to access educational resources. For Grades K-5 | 60 min. CAS 4-5 Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Research, Inquiry, and Design.

Stories and Activity

One or more fun stories read aloud to Kindergartners with a related art or STEM activity. Choose one:

  • Dot stories and Dot Art
  • Magnetic story with magnet activities
  • Ice stories with Ice activity
  • Robotic story and Cubelets activity

For Kindergarten | 35-45 min. CCSS Reading, Literature: K, 1.