Indigenous STEM: Free Classroom Activities for Grades 3-12
22 ready-to-use lesson plans from the AISES FIIRE program, blending traditional ecological knowledge with coding, robotics, and climate science.
Forward Education is honoured to partner with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) on the Fostering Indigenous Innovation in Robotics Education (FIIRE) program. FIIRE blends traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology, empowering students to explore robotics, coding, and climate science through a cultural lens using micro:bits and Climate Action Kits.
Each lesson introduces students to a specific Indigenous Nation, its language, cultural values, and the environmental challenges it faces. From sea level rise on the Quinault coast to water quality on Spokane rivers, from wildfire detection in Choctaw territory to sustainable farming with the Cherokee and 8 Northern Pueblos, these activities connect real communities with real problems students can help solve.
Why this matters in your classroom
Many tribal nations are among the most vocal leaders for protecting our environment, and often the communities most directly impacted by climate change. When students study these issues through the FIIRE program, they aren't learning about Indigenous communities from a distance. They're learning alongside them, combining traditional knowledge with coding and engineering skills to develop solutions.
The FIIRE program positions students as experts, fully capable of leading solutions. It gives them voice, confidence, and the opportunity to connect traditional knowledge with modern technology. These lessons work for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, because climate change is everyone's problem, and the values of community, stewardship, and collective action embedded in these resources benefit every learner.
Each activity below includes a free slide deck and student worksheet, spanning grades 3 through 10 across topics like data-driven farming, animal migration, ocean flood monitoring, water quality, and traditional medicine.
All resources featuring the FIIRE Indigenous Perspectives tag have been authored and reviewed by FIIRE educators to ensure they represent Indigenous knowledge systems respectfully and accurately. More lessons are being added regularly.
About AISES and the FIIRE program
AISES is a national nonprofit working to increase the representation of Indigenous peoples in STEM. Founded by American Indian scientists, engineers, and educators, AISES chapters span seven regions across Turtle Island, building connections among STEM, community, culture, and confidence.
The FIIRE initiative empowers K-12 public, private, and tribal schools to explore coding and robotics through renewable energy, sustainability, and traditional Indigenous knowledge. FIIRE pairs hands-on STEM learning with culturally relevant lessons, training, stipends, and ongoing support for educators.
Connected North
Connected North is a Canadian charity providing Northern and Indigenous communities with live, interactive learning experiences. Through this partnership, Forward Education's Career Profiles library features real video interviews with Indigenous professionals working across STEM fields. Students hear directly from role models about how they got started, what their day-to-day looks like, and how their cultural background shapes their work. These profiles pair naturally with the FIIRE lessons, giving students a window into where this learning can lead.
Explore the activities
We've organized 22 lesson plans below. Each one is tied to a specific Indigenous community and environmental topic. Pick a view that works for you:
Want to see where these communities are? Explore our interactive Indigenous Connections Map on the Forward Education learning platform. The map shows each community's location on Turtle Island with links to related lessons and career profiles.
How to use these resources
Each activity includes two downloadable Canva files. The slides walk students through the environmental context, the Indigenous community's connection to the issue, and the STEM concepts involved. The worksheets provide hands-on activities students complete during or after the lesson. Both are fully editable in Canva so you can adapt them to your classroom's needs.
These resources pair naturally with Forward Education's Climate Action Kit for hands-on micro:bit projects, but they also work as standalone lessons. Many teachers use them during Native American Heritage Month, Earth Day units, or integrated science/social studies blocks.
Want to go deeper?
Explore the full FIIRE lesson library on our learning platform, learn more about the FIIRE program through AISES, or become an AISES member to access additional resources and community support.
