The National Science Foundation's INSPIRE GK-12 Lesson Plan Database is now hosted on NGI Education & Outreach Website.
March 21, 2026
The National Science Foundation's INSPIRE GK-12 program was a national initiative that paired science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate students with K-12 teachers in elementary and secondary schools to enhance STEM education by bringing university research into classrooms, creating innovative lessons, and inspiring rural students in science. This initiative focused on effective science communication and hands-on learning to boost STEM interest.
INSPIRE GK12 has since concluded at a national level. The lesson plans created during this program are hosted here as a service to teachers in support of the NOAA Education & Outreach Mission.
About the INSPIRE GK12 Program
- Partnership: Placed graduate science/math students (fellows) into K-12 classrooms.
- Goal: Improve K-12 STEM learning, foster science communication, and increase student interest in STEM fields.
- Activities: Fellows developed and delivered engaging, research-based lessons (e.g., the Golden Ratio lesson plan).
- Resources: Created free, innovative STEM activities and resources for teachers, accessible online.
- Focus: Often involved partnerships with rural schools to bring advanced STEM concepts to underserved areas.
In short, INSPIRE GK12 was a successful model for bridging university research and K-12 education, supported by the NSF.
https://www.northerngulfinstitute.org/education_outreach/inspire/
