Hands-on science,
by teachers for teachers.
A growing library of the most effective and engaging activities for hands-on science learning — built and curated by a community of experienced educators. Free for every teacher, everywhere.
Earthquake! Where was it?
When a seismologist sees a trace on their seismograph, they know immediately there has been an earthquake. But where? In this activity, students use seismograph traces from real earthquakes and must collaborate with others to determine the location of the epicenter.
Purple Tea Acids and Bases
This activity is a quick introduction to identifying acids and bases using blue butterfly pea flower tea as a pH indicator, drawing particle diagrams, and an introduction to reversible reactions and equilibrium. Blue pea flower tea is in expensive, non-toxic, and easy to use. Coming soon: activities based on using purple pea flower tea as an acid base indicator Introduction to reversible reactions Respiration Introduction to acids and bases (partially complete below)
Measuring brightness with a grease spot photometer
A piece of white paper stained with oil or grease allows students to compare the intensity of light sources. The device takes seconds to make: just rub a small amount of oil or grease onto a piece of paper. Then place one light source on either side of the paper and observe whether the grease spot looks light or dark.
A free, open library of science that actually works in the classroom.
LoomLab collects the most effective and engaging hands-on activities for science learning — each one created, tested, and refined by experienced educators. No subscriptions, no paywalls. Just great science, ready for tomorrow's lesson.
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Classroom-tested
Every activity is vetted by educators and proven to engage real students — not just look good on paper.
Built by a community
Created and improved by experienced teachers who share what genuinely works in their own classrooms.
Free, forever
Open to every teacher, everywhere. No accounts required to start, no catches, no ads.
Bring LoomLab to your school.
A club or extracurricular program where student teams — with a teacher advisor and mentorship from LoomLab educators — help build the open library of hands-on science activities that teachers use everywhere.
Develop ideas
Your student team works with LoomLab educators to explore activity ideas — starting with testing and refining existing activities, growing into original designs.
Create and test
Students design experiments, run them in real classrooms, and collaborate with peer teams at other LoomLab Schools around the world.
Publish for free
Finished activities join the LoomLab library — free forever for teachers everywhere. Your students see their work being used by real classrooms.
For students
- ✓Meaningful work. Contribute to real teaching resources used by classrooms worldwide — not just a graded assignment.
- ✓Real skills. Open-ended problem solving, scientific practice, and one-on-one mentorship from working educators.
- ✓Portfolio-ready. Describe your work — and its impact — on college applications, interviews, and beyond.
- ✓Global network. Collaborate with student teams at other LoomLab Schools.
For the school and advisor
- ✓A distinctive program. Real deliverables that reach a real audience, with visible outputs on a live public library.
- ✓Advisor support. Direct mentorship from LoomLab educators — you're not designing the program alone.
- ✓Low startup cost. Begin with a small student team and a paid teacher advisor. No LoomLab fees — ever.
- ✓Purpose-driven science. Students learn deeply because their work matters outside the classroom.
We'll reach out to talk through what a program at your school could look like.
Find your next great lesson
Browse hundreds of classroom-tested activities by subject and grade — ready to teach tomorrow.
Browse the library →Share what works in your room
Join a community of educators building the open science library — and help teachers everywhere.
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