STEMply for Teachers

K–8 teachers often want to teach STEM and sustainability but may lack confidence: 

  • They’re asked to teach outside their specialty (e.g., elementary ed majors teaching life science). 

  • Tech and tools change fast, and training rarely keeps pace. 

  • Big topics can feel hard to make local, kid-friendly, and community-ready. 

STEMply: Build + Life + Move + Art to the rescue!

A STEMply module is an integrated STEM experience anchored in a real-world problem, framed through systems thinking and sustainability, and designed to develop transferable STEM skills. Every module engages with at least two of the four STEMply modes—Build + Life + Move + Art—to guide students to master concepts through problem-solving by design.

S3 Teacher Training

Sustainable STEM By-the-Sea offers two ways for teachers to learn how to incorporate the STEMply modes and module structure into their classroom:

  • CEU-certified online modules

  • Hands-on field based learning

With either option, teachers receive classroom-ready lesson plans, instructional tool kits, and virtual coaching support. Bonus: we cover the CEUs.

Do one or both! Scroll for more information.

Online Modules

Learn STEMply from the comfort of your home or office.

Who can attend: Anyone, anywhere!

CEUs available: .6 credits for the course for Mississippi teachers

Our online course consists of six hour long pre-recorded lessons:

  • Place-Based STEM Education – Best practices for integrating local environmental issues into instruction.

  • Coastal Ecosystems & Climate Science – Teaching students about marine and coastal resilience.

  • Hands-On Field-Based Learning – Strategies for leading outdoor investigations and experiments.

  • Engineering Solutions for Coastal Resilience – Implementing design challenges focused on sustainability.

  • Technology & Data Collection in Environmental Science – Utilizing CAD, GIS, environmental sensors, and other digital tools.

  • Developing Inquiry-Based STEM Lessons – Designing project-based activities aligned with NGSS and CTE standards.

These modules will come with classroom-ready lesson plans and virtual coaching from the S3 team. More importantly, attendees will gain confidence to develop STEM- aligned modules using the STEMply modes that fit their student population and local context, regardless of geographical location. 

Sign up for online training!

In-person Training

Spend a week practicing STEMply at S3 camps!

Six weeks throughout the year during intercession breaks, local teachers interested learning the STEMply model can join S3 camps as volunteer counselors.

Who can attend: Anyone in the region who wants to learn by doing.

CEUs available: ~3.5 per week

Camp dates: Session 1: March 30 - April 2; Session 2: June 29 - July 2; Session 3: July 20 - 24

Sign up for in-person training!

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime to S3@usm.edu. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.

Sign up for online training!

  • Anyone, anywhere interested in learning how to incorporate the STEMply model into their teaching efforts, whether in a traditional classroom, informal education setting, or home school.

  • While we recommend doing both, we understand that option is not available to everyone. Feel free to choose the type of training that works for you.

  • No, do whatever suits your schedule.

  • CEUs for Mississippi-licensed teachers are awarded through SRESA with us paying for the cost.

  • Sign up using the button for the program you are interested in.

Sign up for in-person training!