Science Literacy

Science literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, and use scientific information to make decisions in everyday life. A critical component of science literacy is understanding the scientific method — the process scientists follow to learn new information and make discoveries.

Whether you’re looking to teach science literacy skills, share scientific information in a way that’s easy for people to understand, or boost your own science literacy, these resources can help. Learn more about how to use the resources on this page.

Why Teach Science Literacy Skills?

Science touches nearly every aspect of our lives, including the technologies we use and our relationship to the environment. Science literacy skills can help people make informed decisions and engage in conversations about critical scientific issues facing our society. When people understand how scientific research works, they’re more likely to trust and follow guidance based on scientific evidence.

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Featured Resource

Building Data Literacy Through Community and Citizen Science Program

Created by SciStarter

SciStarter’s Building Data Literacy Through Community and Citizen Science program teaches people to contribute and interpret data through community and citizen science projects.

Learn more about the program

Ready-to-use Teaching Tools

Planning a lesson or program on science literacy? Check out our Teaching Information Literacy Skills toolkit. You'll find interactive lesson plans and worksheets that you can use to teach science literacy and other information literacy skills in your community, in your classroom, or at home. Explore the toolkit.

Explore More Science Literacy Resources

Science Literacy Basics

Looking for a basic introduction to science literacy? These resources are a great place to start.

Science Literacy: It’s Not Just for Kids

Created by WebJunction
A recorded webinar and resources on library programming to make science learning fun for adults

A group of 5 young kids sit along a windowsill.

Kids News — Science

Created by DOGOnews
News site with kid-friendly articles on science-related current events

Lessons

Use these lessons to teach key science literacy skills.

A cartoon trading card for Monsieur Kilogram.

The Measurement League

Created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Superhero-themed educational materials to help students learn about measurement units

Three elementary school aged children sit together and read a book.

Big Ideas in Literacy — Science

Created by Annenberg Learner
Series of lessons and videos for teaching science literacy skills

Games and Interactive Activities

Make science literacy fun with these games and activities.

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Generate: A Game of Energy Choices

Created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
An interactive game that teaches students about energy generation

A Black mother and father swing their small child between them and the mother holds her other daughter's hand.

Cooperative Extension System

Created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Nationwide network with education and learning activities for farmers, ranchers, communities, youth, and families

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Science Knowledge Quiz

Created by the Pew Research Center
Quiz on basic scientific facts and principles

Building Data Literacy Through Community and Citizen Science Program

Created by SciStarter
A program that teaches people to contribute and interpret data through community and citizen science projects

Communication Resources

Learn how to communicate scientific information in a way that’s easy for people to understand.

A woman with light brown skin and long, dark hair stands in front of a large digital display and presents several graphs and charts

Communicating Science Clearly

Created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Online course about communicating scientific information

Research and Data

Explore research on topics related to science literacy.

A group of 3 young people look at a museum exhibit of an animal skull.

Survey Explores Scientific Literacy

Created by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Results of a museum-sponsored survey on science literacy

Science Literacy in the Real World

Find out how libraries, museums, and educational institutions across the country are advancing science literacy.

A young Black woman wearing a light green hair wrap points to a series of 8 infographics taped to the wall.

Seeding Action

Created by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
Get evidence-based resources to help science center and museum professionals cultivate a culture of hope and action to improve community and planetary health

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STEM Literacy Project

Created by the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC)
Find out how the STEM Literacy Project provided Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) first grade students with books to enhance their reading skills and understanding of science

Evaluation Resources

Use these tools to evaluate the impact of science-related programs.

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Benchmarks for Science Literacy

Created by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Recommended benchmarks to assess students’ progress in science literacy learning

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Professional Competencies for the Informal STEM Learning Field

Created by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
Framework of professional competencies for informal STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) educators

Funding Opportunities

Check out these funding opportunities for science literacy initiatives.

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Environmental Literacy Program

Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program is the longest standing and most comprehensive national funding opportunity focused on environmental literacy

3 young adults sit at a long table of iMacs, working on the computers.

Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informed Institutions (TEAM II)

Funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
TEAM II provides funding for non-profit museums, planetariums, libraries, and other youth-serving institutions to implement NASA mission-inspired STEM projects for K-12 students