Putting the A in STEMReal standards. $14.99 a month.
Hands-on STEM + art projects for afterschool and homeschool, mapped to real education standards.
Standards
Mapped to real NGSS and state standards. See them on every project.
Price
$14.99/month unlocks the printable packs for the whole library.
Browsing is free. Create an account, then subscribe from Account.
Running a program instead of a single family? Talk to us about a site license.
How it works
Every level is a real, hands-on experience
Quick Start isn’t a lesser version — it’s the same immersive idea, right-sized for today.
Quick Start
The same real activity, stripped to its leanest form — minimal prep, materials you already have, done in one sitting.
Full Experience
The complete build, with real materials and a bit more setup — the fully realized version of the project.
Total Transformation
A full immersive event — the room becomes the world of the project, with props, roles to play, and a real audience for the showcase.
One project. Three ways to run it.
Real project, real numbers — this is exactly what changes when you pick a level for “Constellation Storytelling Lanterns.”
Constellation Storytelling Lanterns
Just black paper, push pins, and LED tea lights — punch the constellation, read the myth aloud, and you're done in one sitting.
Real standards. $14.99/month.
Browsing is free. Membership unlocks the printable packs and atmosphere kits for every standards-mapped project.
Become a member — $14.99/monthWhy not just use worksheets or a search engine?
| Generic worksheets | Generic craft kits | Random search results | Creative Dad Company | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standards-aligned (NGSS + state) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Hands-on materials included | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Blends art + storytelling, not just science | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Multiple difficulty levels for one idea | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Ready-to-buy shopping list | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
This isn’t just our opinion
Blending art into STEM is a real, studied approach — here’s what the research actually says.
Combining art with STEM instruction has been shown to increase engagement, improve access for groups underrepresented in STEM, and improve learning outcomes.
International Journal of STEM Education, 2022 ↗In a classroom study, leading with the art before the science produced significantly higher science learning gains than teaching the science first.
Discover Education (Springer Nature), 2024 ↗Arts-integrated STEM has been linked to higher student self-efficacy and STEM-specific interest — not just enjoyment of the activity itself.
Bridging Art and Science, SCIRP, 2023 ↗“The goal is to foster the true innovation that comes with combining the mind of a scientist with that of an artist or designer.”
Rhode Island School of Design, on why it started the STEM-to-STEAM movement ↗Questions? Answers.
Do I need a science background to run these?+
No. Every project comes with plain-language setup and activity steps, and the Quick Start version needs no special equipment or expertise — just common or recycled materials.
What if my budget is tight?+
Every project has a Quick Start version that is $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately. Full Experience and Total Transformation are priced per class, for a class of about 30 students in 6 groups. A Full Experience total over $25 per class is flagged on the project page. Those dollar amounts are materials costs, not the membership price.
Is this for classrooms, afterschool programs, or home?+
All three. It's built for afterschool programs and homeschool families, and classroom teachers use it too.
Do these actually count toward standards?+
Yes — every project in the library is tied to real NGSS or state standards you can see on its page. There's also a free Standards Checker tool if you want to check your own lesson idea.
What's actually free versus paid?+
Browsing the full library, every commitment level for every project, and the Standards Checker are free. Membership is $14.99/month and unlocks the printable packs and atmosphere kits. Create an account, then click Subscribe for $14.99/month on the Account page.
Where do the materials come from?+
Each project links to real products you can buy. Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.
Find your next STEM + art project
Search a growing library of projects that blend real science standards with art, music, history, and storytelling — built for afterschool programs and homeschoolers alike.
4 projects found
Autonomous Rover Mission
Students build a small rover that has to navigate a simple obstacle course on its own, using sensors for guidance and a plan for what happens when it gets stuck. It's a compact, high-energy intro to real robotics engineering.
Materials list · 3 itemsTrue-Crime Ethics Studio
Students produce a true-crime style podcast episode about a resolved case, working through how to handle real uncertainty and human tragedy without slipping into sensationalism. It's a thoughtful way to practice storytelling craft alongside media ethics.
Materials list · 3 itemsHaunted Attraction Engineering
Teens design a mini haunted house that has to actually work—timed lighting effects, sound cues, and a crowd of guests moving through without a bottleneck. It's spooky fun with real engineering constraints hiding underneath.
Materials list · 3 itemsDigital Forensics Investigation
Students reconstruct a timeline of events from an ethically-designed simulated case file—emails, timestamps, and photos—like a digital detective piecing together what really happened. Perfect for a teen who loves mysteries and paying close attention to detail.
Materials list · 3 items