From setup to support, HMH will ensure your back-to-school season runs smoothly. Let’s go.

Shaped

A community-driven blog supporting educators, building lifelong learners, and shaping the future of education.* 

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Featured Posts

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Closing the Gap Between Data and Decisions: From Scattered Data to One Clear Picture

Tier 1 instruction is where learning happens, but too often, data doesn’t translate into action. Discover how HMH Pulse turns assessment insights into clear, next-day instructional decisions teachers can trust.

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How to align multilingual instruction with the science of reading

Is AI improving learning—or just performance?

AI can make learning faster—but are we improving performance or deep thinking where it matters most?

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The Educator Confidence Report (ECR) Findings You Might Have Scrolled Past

We break down three data points from the 2026 ECR and what they mean for your AI strategy.

Brenda Iasevoli

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Ottawa ESD school

From Implementation to Impact: How Ottawa ESD Achieved Nearly 90% of a Year's Literacy Growth by Midyear

See how Ottawa ESD partnered with HMH to connect instruction, assessment, and data through HMH Performance Suite Into Reading, helping students achieve nearly a year's expected literacy growth by midyear.

Onalee Smith

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2026 Back-to-School Articles for Educators

Bookmark this page featuring our 2026 back-to-school articles for educators. It’s filled with the resources you need to start the school year off strong, from prepping for the first day, to classroom management strategies, and more.

Shaped Staff

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Latest Posts

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6 Fun Winter Solstice Classroom Activities & Lesson Plans

Discover fun winter solstice classroom activities that celebrate the shortest day of the year.

Christen Spehr
Shaped Editor

WF2396139 Shaped 2025 Blog Post National STEM STEAM Day Hero

7 2026 National STEM/STEAM Day Activities

Explore 7 National STEM/STEAM Day activities that provide students in all grades the opportunity to develop key skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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9 Back-to-School Science Activities for Elementary Students

Explore these back-to-school science activities and experiments for the first day of science class.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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10 Earth Day Activities and Games for Elementary Students

Honor our home planet with these 10 Earth Day activities and games for elementary students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Famous Female Scientists

Celebrating Famous Women in Science Who Have Impacted the World

Teach students about eight famous women in science by downloading these posters. These women have contributed to fields ranging from engineering to astronomy to chemistry.

Shaped Staff

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Grades 3–5 Science Activities: Great Outdoors

Explore a variety of learning activities to engage students in scientific exploration of the great outdoors.

Shaped Staff

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Grades 3-5 Remote Learning Summer Science Activities: Up in the Sky

Explore a variety of scientific learning activities to engage your child in objects in the sky.

Shaped Staff

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Grades 3–5 Science Activities: Conservation

Explore a variety of scientific learning activities to engage students in environmental conservation.

Shaped Staff

WF2045303 Shaped 2024 Blog Post Fall Science Experiments Hero

7 Fun Fall Science Experiments and Activities

Get into the spirit of the season with these 7 fun fall science experiments and activities for elementary school students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1517050 Shaped 2022 NTL Blog Post Math Activities Lesson Plans

Fun Science Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas for All Grades

Find engaging math lessons and activities for every grade level.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Elementary Science

Science Activities for Elementary Students

Get your kids developing hypotheses, performing experiments, and gathering evidence with these interactive science activities for elementary students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 3 5 Science

Free Science Activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

Explore science activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade that cover topics like nutrition, the changing seasons, space, and so much more!

Shaped Staff

Science Formative Assessment: Assessing with Purpose

Science Formative Assessment: Assessing with Purpose

Dynamic science formative assessment engages students and promotes their thinking; additionally, it informs instruction for educators.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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The Importance of Hands-On Science Activities: Learning by Doing

Learn more about the importance of learning by doing science through hands-on science activities. Plus, access engaging lessons to use in your classroom.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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8 Fun Summer Science Experiments and Activities

Keep the learning going throughout summer break with these 8 fun summer science experiments and activities.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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7 End-of-Year Science Activities to Celebrate the Start of Summer

These 7 end of year science activities will help teachers find projects and experiments suited to teaching science at the end of a school year.

Alexa Dowlen
Learning Experience Design, K–12 Science

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6 Elementary Grade Ideas for Science Centers in the Classroom

Introduce your students to the excitement of science with a physical space in the classroom dedicated to hands-on learning.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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The 5E Model of Science Instruction

Learn how to implement the 5E model of science instruction and download a 5E science lesson to use in your classroom.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

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Shorty Awards

Audience Honor, 2023, Shaped

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Digiday Content Marketing Awards

Finalist, 2023, Shaped

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People’s Choice Podcast Awards

Finalist, 2021 & 2023, Teachers in America

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.