Teacher Resources K-12

What to know

CDC's STEM lesson plans and teacher training programs can bring new energy to your classroom. Check out our CDC NERD Academy curriculum covering epidemiology and public health topics. Join us for training through the CDC Science Ambassador program.

A teacher with young students in a classroom.

CDC Resources for the Classroom

Teaching students using real-world public health problems can help improve their understanding of science. It allows them to apply knowledge and skills from a variety of STEM subjects. It can also help them develop essential career skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, and communication. Learning about public health can also help students develop new ideas for career paths.

CDC resources for K–12 teachers are designed to:

  • Teach key concepts in epidemiology and public health.
  • Align with core STEM concepts and approaches to learning.
  • Focus on problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
  • Emphasize innovation, collaboration, and communication.
  • Engage students through hands-on experiences and real-life scenarios.

Lean more about the CDC Science Ambassador Program

The CDC Science Ambassador program offers a fellowship and training for teachers. The fellowship focuses on learning how to write and teach lesson plans focused on epidemiology or public health. Other regional trainings are offered in U.S. cities focused on how to teach public health using CDC resources. This program has trained over 500 teachers who have taught over million students nationwide. Learn more at Science Ambassador Fellowship | CDC.