In the Information Age, data literacy is literacy. Students see graphs everywhere in class, in the doctor’s office, when trying to make healthcare or financial decisions. Yet there are big gaps in the way students are prepared to make informed decisions and flourish in a flood of data.

One of the most important skills is learning how to read a graph. From elementary classrooms to high school and beyond, students need to be able to interpret graphs, analyze patterns, and make sense of data.

However, many students struggle with reading graphs and developing strong data interpretation skills. What students need is a clear, consistent process for what to do when they encounter a graph. 

This is where a simple data literacy framework can make all the difference.

What do students think of when they think of scientists or engineers? 

Stereotypes about the faces behind the research come from everywhere: popular media, teachers’ offhand comments, even the images in a science textbook. 

Together, these messages build an image in students’ minds of STEM professionals as a determined cog in a well-established machine – in other words, nothing like them.

That’s why culturally responsive STEM education is so important, especially in middle school STEM classrooms, while identity and confidence are developing. 

Join the 2025 #MySciJourney Challenge! We are looking for scientists at all stages to share videos of their journeys in science! Teachers: You and your students can help decide the winners!

Ever wondered what a bird song looks like, or how to visually understand the different frequencies in your favorite music? That's where SoundLab comes in! SoundLab is a free, web-based app designed to make sound visualization and analysis accessible to everyone.

Since founding Galactic Polymath (GP), one of my biggest surprises has been how we’ve all accepted the idea that knowledge should be paid for. We’ve bought the multibillion dollar education publishing industry’s pitch, hook, line, and sinker—