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TeachEngineering
By University of Colorado Boulder (with partner universities, funded by the National Science Foundation). Visit TeachEngineering
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A free digital library of more than 2,200 peer-reviewed engineering lessons and hands-on activities for K-12, aligned to science and math standards. Each activity lists grade level, time, materials and step-by-step procedures, with worksheets to download. Kids build things like mousetrap cars, test designs and explain their results. Made mainly for teachers, but homeschooling parents can use it too. Free training is offered for educators.
Our take: A great free source for teachers and homeschool families who want real engineering projects; kids looking for something to do alone online won't find it here.
Checked in a browser
A browser check on 2026-10-25: what loads, the ads and trackers we saw, and what a child meets first. Not a hands-on test.
| Child safety: 4 out of 5 | No ads or chat; links out to social media and the University of Colorado, plus a sign-up prompt aimed at teachers. |
|---|---|
| Data: 4 out of 5 | Only Google Analytics (with its stats.g.doubleclick.net beacon) and Tag Manager loaded; no ad networks. |
| Ease: 3 out of 5 | The page is written for teachers, with tidy 'Search & Browse' and 'Download & Teach' sections; a child would need an adult to find an activity. |
| Cost honesty: 5 out of 5 | Free curriculum, with no paid prompts seen. |
What we found
- 5 third-party sites contacted; Google Analytics and Tag Manager only (the doubleclick host is Google Analytics' stats beacon)
- 2 cookies set, none from third-party domains
- 0 ad frames; 6 outbound link sites (social media and cu.edu)
- Text addresses educators ('Free, Standards-Aligned Engineering Curriculum for K-12 Teachers')
From the test: A free, ad-free library of engineering activities that a parent or teacher picks from, with only Google Analytics running.
| Ages it suits | about 5-18 (grades K-12) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | The terms of use set no age. The privacy policy advises students to check with their parents or teachers before registering or giving any personal information. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free for educators and families; commercial use is not allowed (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Huge free library of tested lessons
- Hands-on building, not screen time
- Clear materials lists and procedures
- University-run, no ads
Watch for
- Written for teachers; parents must gather materials and lead
- Some activities need classroom supplies or space
- Quality varies across contributing universities
Data and privacy
The privacy policy says TeachEngineering does not sell, rent or share personal information, and keeps IP addresses in logs for overall usage statistics. Reviews and suggestions users post are public. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent outcome studies found. The maker says the curriculum is peer reviewed, began in 2001 with an NSF grant, and won a National Science Digital Library award in 2010.
In the Big Index
- On the list 20 best sites for STEM projects at home
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Where these facts come from
- https://www.teachengineering.org/
- https://www.teachengineering.org/policies/termsofuse
- https://www.teachengineering.org/policies/privacypolicy
- https://www.teachengineering.org/about
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.