Newsela STEM
Newsela STEM is a standards-aligned K-12 supplemental science solution combining Generation Genius video-based science and math lessons and DIY activities with Newsela’s authentic, leveled texts, exclusive datasets, and support for CER writing. Differentiated instruction supports students with diverse learning needs to deepen their science knowledge and skills through exploration of real-world applications. Newsela STEM empowers students to think critically, solve problems, and apply scientific concepts to current challenges. Students will build proficiency in STEM while strengthening their ability to interpret texts, analyze data, and make meaningful connections to their lives, communities, and future careers.
Newsela STEM features
Newsela STEM combines all of what Generation Genius and and all of what Newsela Science offers, plus additional Newsela STEM exclusive resources, in one cohesive product with a single access point. Newsela STEM features:
High-quality, standards-aligned Generation Genius K-8 science and math video lessons with DIY activities, lesson plans, teacher guides, reading materials, and ready-to-use assessments
Generation Genius video lessons anchored in phenomena to support student engagement and 5E lessons to support structured, inquiry-based learning
An extensive library of authentic, leveled texts feature science and math news, current events, and real-world connection articles available at five different reading levels, with Spanish translations, for inclusive, differentiated science instruction
Exclusive Tuva interactive datasets use real-world data about various topics for students to explore, manipulate, and analyze data
Engaging collections include Science in the News, Virtual Field Trips, Everyday Mysteries, Science Changemakers, and Scientists at Work
Write prompts and activities aligned to the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) framework
Embedded scaffolds with checks for understanding, shareable annotations, read-aloud mode, adjustable text size, and paragraph numbering for easy navigation.
Luna, your AI teaching assistant, supports lesson planning, activity design, editable graphic organizer, text translator, text leveler, and much more.
Explore Articles
Find individual texts across STEM categories like multimedia, math connections, and commonly taught topics.
From the Content Library
Click on 'Content Library' at the top menu.
Select 'Articles and texts' from the Explore content dropdown menu.
On the next page, select the Articles tab at the top (select another tab to view other types of content).
Utilize the filters on the left-hand to narrow down the display by language, reading levels, instructional features, reading skills, standards, and topics.
Here you can explore content selections that are ready for the STEM classroom.
Each article card will display the type of text it is (news, informational, fiction, etc.), the text’s recommended maturity level and reading level, as well as which reading skills checks are available within the article if applicable.
Click on any article card to access the full text and build your assignment. You can find grade level standards alignment on the article's Quiz.
From the STEM specific page
Click on 'STEM' at the top of any Newsela page.
Select a category from the left hand menu to be directed to that section, or scroll the page to locate it.
Click on a showcased collection or text set card to access it, or click on 'view more' at the bottom of the section to view all associated text sets and collections available within your account and click on your desired collection or text set card from there.
Utilize the categories menu on the left hand side to be directed to that section, or scroll the page to locate the category of your preference.
Click on a showcased article card to access it, or click on 'See more' at the bottom of the section to view all associated content available within your account and click on your desired article card from there.
Explore Collections
Text Sets and Collections are two ways that you’ll see articles organized on Newsela.
Text Sets: Groups of articles that share a common theme. You can create your own Text Sets or explore Text Sets created by other teachers and by Newsela editors.
Collections: Curriculum resources that contain content and instructional materials aligned with state science standards, and complete with instructional strategies to provide ideas for how to use the content to teach the standards, that have been purchased for your school or district.
Browse all Text Sets and Collections
Click on 'Content Library' at the top of the page
Select 'Text Sets' from the dropdown menu
Utilize the filters on the left hand side to narrow down the display by language, reading levels, instructional features, reading skills, standards, and topics.
Click on any text set or collection card to be taken to the its' landing page. Here you can read the overview, preview the sections or units, and locate instructional resources.
View Text Sets created by others
Click 'Content Library' at the top of the page
Select 'From my school' from the dropdown menu
Scroll the displayed page to locate Text Sets
Click on any text set or collection card to be taken to the its' landing page. Here you can read the overview, preview the sections or units, and locate instructional resources.
Using the Search Field
When you search on Newsela, Text Sets appear as one of the search tabs.
Enter a search term into the Search bar
Select the Text Sets tab above the search results
All Text Sets already curated by educators on that topic will be displayed
Utilize the filters on the left hand side to narrow down the display by language, reading levels, instructional features, reading skills, standards, and topics.
Click on any text set or collection card to be taken to the its' landing page. Here you can read the overview, preview the sections or units, and locate instructional resources.
From the STEM specific page
Click on 'STEM' at the top of any Newsela page.
Select a category from the left hand menu to be directed to that section, or scroll the page to locate it.
Click on a showcased collection or text set card to access it, or click on 'view more' at the bottom of the section to view all associated text sets and collections available within your account and click on your desired collection or text set card from there.
Click on any text set or collection card to be taken to the its' landing page. Here you can read the overview, preview the sections or units, and locate instructional resources.
Example Collections and Text Sets
Amplify Science Elementary Organized to align Newsela Science texts to compliment the Amplify Science Scope and Sequence.
Elementary NGSS Phenomena Content, strategies, and performance tasks to make the NGSS standards accessible and actionable for elementary teachers.
Elementary TEKS Aligns with the TEKS Science standards for Grade 3-5 and includes Tier 3 vocabulary terms, reflection questions, and a list of suggested resources.
Exploring Life Science Integrate literacy into your Life Science courses with texts that connect to phenomena and core ideas, complete with instructional resources, and a hands-on performance task.
FOSS Next Generation Connect FOSS hands-on investigations with Newsela Science reference texts and real-world connections.
High School Biology Aligned with the NGSS High School life science performance expectations and biology topics, containing phenomena and core idea texts, instructional resources, and a performance task.
Investigating Physical Science Integrate literacy into your Physical Science courses with texts that connect to phenomena and core ideas, complete with instructional resources, and a hands-on performance task.
Mystery Science Connect Mystery Science curriculum to Newsela Science texts to provide students with background information and real-world connections. Find texts aligned to each Mystery for grades 3-5, as well as Lesson Sparks resources that explain NGSS alignment.
Seasonal STEAM Cross-curricular collection of curated season and holiday STEAM activities with literacy integration.
Uncovering Earth Science Integrate literacy into your Earth Science courses with texts that connect to phenomena and core ideas, complete with instructional resources, and a hands-on performance task.
Search
Find articles across Newsela STEM categories by searching for keywords or subjects. To search, follow these steps:
Click into the Search field at the top left of any Newsela page.
Enter a keyword or subject. As you type, Newsela displays articles and Text Sets that match your search term(s).
Click on any of the suggestions to select it, or continue to type your own keyword then click Enter.
Use the tabs at the top of the page to narrow down your search results to a specific content type.
Utilize the filters on the left hand side to narrow down the display by language, reading levels, instructional features, reading skills, standards, and topics.
Newsela STEM Standards Alignment
All content on Newsela STEM is aligned to state standards. To explore standards alignment, follow these steps:
Use the search bar to enter the code of a specific standard like “Arizona grade 4 Science standard strand 4, Concept 4: PO-2”, or enter a keyword and then filter down the results page using the Standards filter on the left hand side.
Select any text and scroll underneath the image to view the standards to which the text is aligned.
Hover over the standard’s label to view the full text or click it to be taken to the standard details page to see more information about the standard and to view additional related content.
Activities
For text articles:
From the article page, expand the Assignment Builder on the right side of the screen and locate the article Quiz and Write prompt. Click 'View' next to an activity to review its' components. Checkmark the box next to an activity to add it to your assignment.
Multiple choice quizzes are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and assess student understanding and application of the science concepts covered in the content. Find Science quizzes by navigating to the “New! Science Supports on Articles” content row on the science homepage.
Customizable Writing prompts support science and engineering literacy skills, like argumentation from evidence.
For videos by Generation Genius:
From the video page, expand the Assignment Builder on the right side of the screen and locate the Formative section. Click on any of the Formative activities and you will be re-directed into the Formative platform where you can edit and assign the activities to your students.
Select an option from the My Content dropdown menu, under 'Content Library' at the top of any Newsela page, to locate your own saved content, original text sets, text sets created at your school and promoted content by your district.