Why Do I Give Away Over 100 Free Middle & High School Science Resources?
- olivershearman
- Nov 11, 2025
- 6 min read
There’s a question I like to imagine I would get asked all the time (if more people knew about me and my teacher business) - “Oliver, why do you give away so many free science resources?” As The Teaching Astrophysicist, I’ve built a huge catalogue of teaching materials designed for middle and high school science teachers, homeschool parents, and curious learners alike. Over the years, this collection has grown to include over 1,670 paid resources - but alongside those, I’ve chosen to give away over 100 completely free science resources. Why? Because science education isn’t just about selling materials; it’s about building a thriving, inspired community of teachers and learners who share the same passion for discovery.
To find my new and updated independent store - please click here - The Teaching Astrophysicist Store
Giving back has always been part of what I do. These free resources aren’t just random worksheets, they’re full examples of my most engaging, ready-to-use teaching materials. I share them to help educators everywhere bring science to life, to make learning accessible, and to spark curiosity in classrooms across the world.
Sharing Knowledge With Purpose
When I started creating science teaching materials, my goal was simple: make science more engaging, accessible, and meaningful for students. But as my community of teachers grew, I realized something deeper. Many educators - especially new teachers, homeschool parents, and international educators - often don’t have the same access to quality resources or budgets for full teaching bundles. So, giving away free materials became a way to reach and support them too.
By offering more than 100 free downloads, I’m not just promoting my store - I’m giving teachers a chance to test, experience, and enjoy what thoughtful, creative science teaching can look like. These resources cover everything from astronomy and biology to chemistry, physics, and earth sciences. They’re my way of saying thank you to a teaching community that continuously shares ideas, gives feedback, and pushes me to make every new resource better than the last.
What You Can Find in My Free Science Resource Collection
These aren’t just sample pages or short previews, they’re full, ready-to-use classroom activities designed to enhance critical thinking, creativity, and engagement. Here are just some of the types of free materials I share, not all of them though, simply a selection of them:
🧠 Science Reading Passages with Comprehension Questions
From Where do dead things go? to glaciers and push and pull forces, these articles are designed to inform and inspire. Each one includes comprehension questions (and answer keys) that strengthen reading and reasoning skills while reinforcing key scientific ideas.
🔍 Research Project Templates (Science Webquests)
Students love structure, and teachers love flexibility. My research project templates give students a clear path for exploring a topic - whether it’s the concept of resuscitation, insects, or massive (big ol') stars. They include differentiated question sets, reflection prompts, and rubrics to support independent and guided research alike.
💭 Critical Thinking Frameworks
One of my favorite free offerings, these frameworks train students to think like scientists. Each framework includes multi-step processes to help learners analyze evidence, justify conclusions, evaluate pros and cons, and connect science to real-world issues. Whether the topic is mouth & teeth, black holes, or genetic pedigrees, these step-by-step guides teach logic, reasoning, and reflection. However, I only currently have one of these for free to show an example of this resource type - on tectonic plates critical thinking framework.
🔷 Hexagonal Thinking Templates
Perfect for group work or revision, these interactive templates let students connect scientific ideas, vocabulary terms, or phenomena visually. Teachers can adapt them for any topic - from atoms and isotopes to climate change - and students love the puzzle-like structure that encourages discussion and critical connections. I have one currently for free in the form of this resource on the topic of black holes hexagonal thinking resource.
🧬 Strange but True Facts + Two Truths and a Lie Activities
Science is filled with fascinating surprises and students remember best when they’re astonished! I create sets of “Strange but True” science facts and matching Two Truths and a Lie games that teachers can use as icebreakers, warm-ups, or critical thinking challenges. These spark debate and laughter while sneakily teaching real science. Some topics covered include magnets & mag-lev trains, musculoskeletal system and bacteria & viruses. Currently the only free version of this kind of resource is the space exploration strange but true facts.
✍️ Science Quotes & Jokes
Not every resource has to be serious. Science is also full of wonder and humor, so I regularly include collections of science quotes, teacher humor, and classroom jokes. They’re great for posters, warm-ups, or a quick morale boost during lessons. The free technology quotes are here and the free technology jokes can be found here.
📚 Science Stories
These narrative-based articles bring science alive by blending storytelling and factual accuracy. From Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments to the discovery of radioactivity, these stories help students see the human curiosity behind scientific breakthroughs. Each story includes questions that prompt students to think critically about cause, discovery, and innovation. The current free item of this kind of resource is on the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen.
Giving Back to a Community That Gives So Much
Teachers are, without a doubt, some of the most generous people I know. They give their time, their creativity, and their patience every day. I’ve always believed that if we expect to grow as educators, we should also be willing to give back. Sharing free science resources is my way of doing exactly that.
When I offer something free, I’m not just sharing a worksheet - I’m offering part of a collective effort to make teaching science more joyful and sustainable. These resources are being used in classrooms across dozens of countries, helping teachers who might not otherwise have access to structured materials.
And I receive so much in return: teachers’ feedback, success stories, and creative ideas for how they’ve adapted my materials in ways I never expected. That ongoing exchange keeps me motivated to keep creating—and to keep sharing freely.
Helping Teachers Save Time and Reignite Passion
Let’s be honest. Science teachers have a lot on their plates. Between lesson planning, grading, and managing labs, finding high-quality content can be time-consuming. My goal is to take some of that load off.
By providing free, polished resources, I hope teachers can spend less time building from scratch and more time doing what they love - teaching, inspiring, and connecting. Every free download is designed to be easy to use, visually appealing, and aligned with the way today’s students learn best - through reading, analyzing, connecting, and creating.
These materials also help homeschool parents who may not have formal training in science. My templates and articles include the scaffolding they need to confidently guide students through complex topics - from the periodic table to ecosystems, DNA, and astronomy.
Inspiring Students to Think, Explore, and Wonder
Ultimately, every free resource I share is designed to do one thing, make students love science. When students read about strange animal adaptations, solve critical thinking challenges, or debate Two Truths and a Lie about space exploration, they aren’t just learning facts—they’re developing a lifelong curiosity for how the world works.
By blending scientific accuracy with creativity and play, these free materials aim to build both understanding and wonder. Whether it’s a Critical Thinking Framework that teaches logical reasoning or a Science Story that shows how real scientists solved mysteries, each resource has the same goal: help students see themselves as scientists too.
The Balance Between Free and Premium
Yes, I also sell resources and it is over a thousand-five-hundred of them. These comprehensive sets allow me to keep creating, refining, and offering even more free content. But the free resources are the heart of what I do. They represent the philosophy behind The Teaching Astrophysicist: that sharing knowledge makes education stronger for everyone.
I view the free materials as a bridge between inspiration and depth. They let teachers try out ideas, see how I design resources, and discover tools that fit their classrooms - before deciding to explore larger bundles or premium units.
How to Access the Free Resources
You can find my growing library of over 100 free middle and high school science resources directly through The Teaching Astrophysicist store and blog. Each resource is designed to be easy to download and immediately classroom-ready.
All free. All created with teachers in mind.
Why It Matters
Sharing over 100 free resources isn’t just a gesture, it’s a statement about what education can be when collaboration outweighs competition. In a world where time and money are limited, giving teachers something of genuine value without a price tag is my way of helping keep the focus where it belongs: on students, learning, and the joy of discovery.
When I see a teacher use one of my research templates, or when a student laughs at a science joke in class, I’m reminded of why I started this journey which was to share the beauty of science in all its forms.
So, if you haven’t yet, explore my collection of free science resources. Use them, adapt them, share them. Whether you’re a teacher, a homeschool parent, or just a lifelong learner, these materials are for you - because science should never be limited by access.
Thanks for Reading
Cheers and Stay Curious
Oliver - The Teaching Astrophysicist
