Empower Your Learners
Access VoltED’s standards‑aligned curriculum, pacing guides, and instructor supports—all organized around our V.O.L.T. Cycle learning framework. Designed to align with NGSS and national college‑ and career‑ready expectations and adaptable to your state’s science and STEM standards.
- Engineering‑driven, standards‑aligned learning experiences grounded in real‑world challenges and constraints, designed to align with NGSS and state science standards.
- Clear facilitation instructions so you always know what’s next.
- Side‑by‑side learner experiences and instructor learning, from one easy-access LMS portal.
The V.O.L.T. Cycle: Our Tried & True Framework
VoltED learning experiences follow a consistent cycle in which learners encounter a real‑world problem, investigate and build ideas, apply them in hands‑on challenges, and reflect on how their thinking has changed. Across this cycle, learners repeatedly engage in key science and engineering practices—asking questions, developing and using models, analyzing data, and designing solutions—emphasized in NGSS and state science standards. This cycle repeats across lessons, so learners experience a familiar rhythm—experience, reflect, think, and act—even as the phenomena and engineering challenges evolve.
VoltED learning experiences follow a consistent cycle in which learners encounter a real‑world problem, investigate and build ideas, apply them in hands‑on challenges, and reflect on how their thinking has changed. Across this cycle, learners repeatedly engage in key science and engineering practices—asking questions, developing and using models, analyzing data, and designing solutions—emphasized in NGSS and state science standards. This cycle repeats across lessons, so learners experience a familiar rhythm—experience, reflect, think, and act—even as engineering challenges evolve.
V
Voyage Into The Solar
Vet the stage. Build excitement, connect to a prior lesson, and build anticipation.
- Journal or discussion prompts.
- Demo or short videos.
- Other short micro-inquiry learning activities.
O
Orient The Learning
Orient the learner. Discuss high-level topics for the day, share learning objectives, and provide context for how they relate to the larger challenge.
- Learners self-rate the learning objectives and grow.
- Discuss what learners already know about the subject.
- Activities such as think-pair-share or sticky note sorting.
L
Launch The Learning
Launch the learning. Activate and build contextual knowledge and skills. Apply knowledge through hands-on design.
- Hands-on data analysis and inquiry labs.
- Simulations and diagramming.
- Other knowledge application tasks to launch the learning.
T
Transfer And Track Growth
Track and transfer. Evaluate work, discuss what’s next, and connect to the next lesson with a larger picture.
- Learners self-rate the learning objectives and reflect,
- Learners see growth in their engineering notebook.
- Submit evidence of learning.
- Get feedback with a presentation or gallery walk.
Standards-Aligned Tools For Hands-On Learning
Whether you are a veteran instructor or new to the curriculum, you can explore a sample project below to see how VoltED aligns with NGSS and other college‑ and career‑ready frameworks, and how it can be mapped to your state’s science and STEM standards. Our team provides sample alignment documents and can work with you to customize mappings for states that use their own standards.
Teaching the Students
Find learner‑facing lessons and daily launch points for any classroom or group of learners.
Coordinating the Program
Discover helpful resources for pacing, logistics, and implementation guidance.
New and Exploring
Need a tour of how VoltED works? Our team is here to guide you.
Curriculum Scope & Sequence Overview
What the Learning Looks Like
Our curriculum is organized so key science and engineering ideas build from one learning experience to the next, rather than appearing as isolated projects. Each module bundles multiple performance expectations from NGSS and other national college‑ and career‑ready science frameworks and can be cross‑walked to your state’s standards.
“What does it mean to think like an engineer?”
Learners build community, explore everyday problems, and practice collaboration.
“How can we power what our community needs?”
Learners model energy transfer, analyze trade‑offs, and propose a solution to a locally relevant problem.
“How do we choose and test the best materials?”
Learners test, compare, and iterate on their very own designs using data.
“How can data help us improve systems?”
Learners gather data from simple devices and use the data to refine designs.
“How can we make a real impact?”
Learner teams design, iterate, and present a community‑focused solution that uses ideas from multiple lessons.
Instructor Support & Professional Learning
Support for Instructors
Alongside each learner lesson, VoltED includes professional learning experiences that mirror the same experiential learning cycle—experience, reflect, plan, and apply—so instructors build confidence with both content and pedagogy.
Modules are designed to be short, practice‑embedded, and connected to upcoming lessons, helping you anticipate misconceptions, adapt activities in context, and understand how each lesson connects to NGSS and your state standards.
- 10-20 minute learning bursts
- Modeled tasks you can use with your learners
- Pacing guides
- Material and prep lists
- Family and community letters
- Helpful program-level dashboards and reports
Questions About Getting Started?
For Partnership Opportunities, visit the Funding & Partnership Page
Our team is ready to support you with access, setup, or working together. Your message will go straight to the right person for your region or program.