Required parts
- Project title
- Pathway and difficulty
- Estimated time
- Materials and tools
- What you make
- Step-by-step directions
ClassroomOS
Library
Where ideas become reality.
Room I
15 titles · Free to Read
STEAM Time-Traveler Library
Classic science fiction organized by the big idea each book planted in human imagination — long before the technology existed to make it real.
Verne imagined submarines — submarines were built. Wells imagined time travel — physicists started talking about spacetime. Science often begins as a story someone was brave enough to imagine. These books are not "English class stuff." They are the imagination engine that preceded real technology. Every one of them is free, legal to own, and waiting for you.
The Time Machine
⏱ Time Travel · H.G. Wells · 1895
The Time Machine
The first real time-travel novel. A Victorian inventor builds a machine that moves through time like a vehicle through space — introducing the idea that time itself is a fourth dimension.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Connecticut Yankee
⏱ Time Travel · Mark Twain · 1889
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
A 19th-century engineer is knocked unconscious and wakes up in medieval England. He immediately starts introducing modern technology — solar eclipses, gunpowder, factories — to a world that calls it magic.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Flatland
📐 Dimensions · Edwin Abbott · 1884
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
A two-dimensional square discovers the existence of a third dimension and struggles to explain it to his flat world. A perfect companion to geometry lessons — and a metaphor for how hard new ideas are to accept.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗⏱ Time Travel & Dimension
Journey to the Center
🌋 Early Sci-Fi · Jules Verne · 1864
Journey to the Center of the Earth
A geology professor follows a coded message into an extinct Icelandic volcano, descending into an underground world. A masterclass in scientific deduction, exploration, and the thrill of discovery.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗From Earth to Moon
🚀 Early Sci-Fi · Jules Verne · 1865
From the Earth to the Moon
Written 100 years before the Apollo missions, Verne calculated the escape velocity needed to reach the Moon with shockingly accurate numbers. The launch is from Florida. The capsule splashes down in the Pacific. He was not guessing.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗20,000 Leagues
🌊 Early Sci-Fi · Jules Verne · 1870
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo commands the Nautilus, an electric submarine exploring the ocean's depths decades before submarines were real. Verne accurately described electric motors, underwater harvesting, and pressure navigation.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗War of the Worlds
👾 Early Sci-Fi · H.G. Wells · 1898
The War of the Worlds
One of the first alien invasion stories — but really a sharp critique of colonialism, technology, and civilization's fragility. What happens when a more advanced civilization meets a less advanced one? Victorian England asks the question.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗🚀 Early Science Fiction
Mysterious Island
⚙️ Engineering · Jules Verne · 1874
The Mysterious Island
Five American prisoners escape a Civil War camp by balloon, crash-land on a deserted Pacific island, and use their engineering knowledge to build a complete civilization from scratch — bricks, iron, electricity, and all.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Swiss Family Robinson
⚙️ Engineering · J.D. Wyss · 1812
The Swiss Family Robinson
A family shipwrecked on a tropical island systematically builds shelter, farms, tools, and a home using observation, ingenuity, and whatever materials wash ashore. Survival engineering at its most inventive.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Robinson Crusoe
⚙️ Engineering · Daniel Defoe · 1719
Robinson Crusoe
The original "build civilization from scratch" story. Crusoe spends 28 years on a deserted island methodically solving every survival problem — shelter, food, tools, pottery, boats — using only what he can observe and make.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗⚙️ Invention & Engineering
First Men in Moon
🌕 Universe · H.G. Wells · 1901
The First Men in the Moon
An eccentric inventor creates a gravity-blocking substance called Cavorite and uses it to travel to the Moon, where an entire civilization lives underground. Early speculation about space travel, alien ecosystems, and what it means to be human.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Story of the Solar System
🔭 Universe · G.F. Chambers · 1895
The Story of the Solar System
A Victorian-era astronomy guide describing what scientists believed about the solar system in 1895. Reading it today is fascinating — some of it is shockingly accurate, some of it is beautifully wrong. Science in motion.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗Frankenstein
🧪 Weird Science · Mary Shelley · 1818
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
The original conversation about scientific responsibility. A brilliant scientist creates life — then abandons it. Written by a 19-year-old, it remains the most important question technology ever generated: just because you can build something, should you?
Read free on Gutenberg ↗The Invisible Man
🧪 Weird Science · H.G. Wells · 1897
The Invisible Man
A physicist discovers how to make himself invisible — and promptly loses his mind with power. Wells' sharpest question: what does a person do when there are no consequences? Brilliant science meeting terrible character.
Read free on Gutenberg ↗🔭 Wonder of the Universe · 🧪 Weird Science
The Egg
🌌 Identity · Andy Weir · 2009
The Egg
A two-minute short story that asks: what if every human who ever lived was the same soul, reincarnating until ready to become something greater? Written by the author of The Martian — deceptively simple, genuinely mind-bending.
Read free on eyeofmidas.com ↗🌌 Modern Short Fiction
📖 Titles 1–14 are public domain — free to read, download, and share legally. Best sources:
Project Gutenberg ·
Standard Ebooks.
The Egg by Andy Weir is freely available on the author's website.
Every title is free & legal — links open directly on Project Gutenberg
Room II
14 titles · NASA Public Domain · Free
NASA Resources
Activity books, coloring packs, and science e-books — released free by NASA for exactly this kind of classroom use.
Webb Fun Pad
NASA · Activity Book
Webb Telescope Fun Pad
Word games, mazes, and puzzles celebrating the James Webb Space Telescope and its deep-universe discoveries.
⬇ Download PDFSpace Place Explorer
NASA · Activity Book
Space Place Explorer Activity Book
Universe-themed brainteasers, puzzles, and activities designed to make space science hands-on for young explorers.
⬇ Download PDFSolar System Activities
NASA · Activity Book
Power Up With Solar System Activities
Sidewalk chalk art, planetary scale hunts, and hands-on build projects for exploring our solar neighborhood.
⬇ Download PDFHubble Workbook
NASA · Activity Book
Hubble Activity Workbook
Coloring pages, connect-the-dots, and word activities built around the stunning imagery captured by Hubble.
⬇ Download PDFExoplanet Coloring
NASA · Coloring Book
Exoplanet Travel Bureau Coloring Book
Creative coloring pages that imagine what it would feel like to visit worlds orbiting distant stars.
Read on NASA ↗NASA Coloring Pages
NASA · Coloring
NASA Coloring Pages
Printable coloring sheets featuring planets, moons, spacecraft, and astronauts — ready for class or home.
Read on NASA ↗🔭 Activity & Coloring Books
Black Holes: Vortex
NASA · Astrophysics
Black Holes: Into the Vortex
How the Hubble Space Telescope transformed our understanding of black holes — objects so massive that not even light can escape.
Read on NASA ↗Earth at Night
NASA · Earth Science
Earth at Night
A visual journey through how humans, cities, wildfires, and ocean bioluminescence light up the planet — as seen from orbit.
Read on NASA ↗Earth as Art
NASA · Earth Science
Earth as Art
75 breathtaking satellite images celebrating the unexpected beauty of Earth's surface — deserts, glaciers, deltas, and coastlines from above.
Read on NASA ↗Saturn: Cassini's Eyes
NASA · Planets
The Saturn System: Through Cassini's Eyes
Stunning imagery, science, and discoveries from Cassini's groundbreaking 13-year orbital mission around Saturn and its moons.
Read on NASA ↗Our Solar System
NASA · Planets
Our Amazing Solar System
Hubble telescope observations of planets, moons, rings, and smaller bodies — a tour of our entire solar neighborhood.
Read on NASA ↗Strange New Worlds
NASA · Exoplanets
Strange New Worlds
Hubble's contributions to detecting and studying exoplanets — alien worlds orbiting stars far beyond our own sun.
Read on NASA ↗Lives of Stars
NASA · Astrophysics
The Lives of Stars
The full lifecycle of stars — from swirling gas clouds to brilliant supernovae — documented across decades through Hubble's lens.
Read on NASA ↗Dark Universe
NASA · Astrophysics
Dark Universe
The latest findings on dark matter and dark energy — the invisible forces that account for most of the mass and energy in the universe.
Read on NASA ↗📡 Science & Astrophysics Reading
All titles link directly to free downloads or the NASA reading page
Room III
22 project recipes · Filter by pathway
Project Recipes
Hands-on builds across five pathways. Hover any spine for the full brief — what you make, how long it takes, and what you'll need.
Showing 22 recipes
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Maze Bot
Robots · Beginner · 45–60 min
LEGO Mindstorms Maze Bot
Build a robot that drives forward, detects walls with sensors, and turns its way out of a maze autonomously.
Needs: Mindstorms kit, distance sensor, laptopServo Radar
Robots · Intermediate · 60–75 min
Arduino Servo Radar
Sweep an ultrasonic sensor on a servo across a room and map object distances like a working mini radar station.
Needs: Arduino, servo, ultrasonic sensor, wiresCamera Rover
Robots · Advanced · 90+ min
Raspberry Pi Camera Rover
Combine motors, a Pi camera, and remote control into a rover that streams live video as it explores the room.
Needs: Raspberry Pi, camera, motor driver, batteryLine Follower
Robots · Intermediate · Tinkercad Build
Line-Following Robot (LM393)
Study a line-following robot build that uses LM393-style sensing to track a path, combining motors, sensors, and control logic into an autonomous robot system.
Open Project ↗🤖 Robots
Blink + Signal
Electronics · Beginner · 20–30 min
Blink + Signal Codes
Start with a blinking LED and evolve it into a programmable coded signal system — the perfect first electronics build.
Needs: Arduino, LED, resistor, breadboardSensor Station
Electronics · Intermediate · 45–60 min
Sensor Station
Read temperature, light, or distance data from real sensors and turn it into a live dashboard that reacts to the world around it.
Needs: Arduino, one sensor, breadboard, USBServo Arm
Electronics · Intermediate · 35–50 min
Servo Challenge Arm
Program a servo motor to sweep, pause, aim, and sort objects at precise angles — a hands-on intro to physical motion control.
Needs: Arduino, servo motor, jumper wiresSlot Machine
Electronics · Intermediate · Tinkercad Build
Arduino Slot Machine
Explore a working Arduino slot machine build to study circuit layout, programmed randomness, and how inputs and outputs combine into an interactive game.
Open Project ↗LCD Game
Electronics · Intermediate · Tinkercad Build
Arduino LCD Game
Open a complete Arduino LCD game project to study display wiring, button input, and the code structure behind a simple playable screen-based build.
Open Project ↗Kalman Radar
Electronics · Advanced · Tinkercad Build
Kalman-Enhanced Ultrasonic Radar
Explore an advanced ultrasonic radar build that combines distance sensing, scanning motion, and Kalman filtering to smooth noisy data into clearer readings.
Open Project ↗Solar Tracker
Electronics · Advanced · Tinkercad Build
Solar Tracker: Optimization of Solar Energy Capture
Study a solar-tracking system that combines sensors, motion control, and energy-focused design to keep a panel aligned for stronger light capture.
Open Project ↗Shared Build
Electronics · Intermediate · Tinkercad Build
Shared Tinkercad Circuit Build
Open a shared Tinkercad circuit build to inspect the component layout, wiring choices, and code, then remix it into your own improved version inside Tinkercad.
Open Project ↗⚡ Electronics
Clicker Prototype
Game Dev · Beginner · 25–40 min
Clicker Prototype
Build a simple game loop from scratch where clicks earn points, trigger upgrades, and create satisfying feedback loops.
Needs: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, text editorPlatformer Room
Game Dev · Intermediate · 60–75 min
Platformer Room
Design one tight platformer level with solid movement, hazards, collectibles, and a clear win state the player can actually reach.
Needs: Scratch, JavaScript, or a class engineBoss Fight
Game Dev · Advanced · 90+ min
Arcade Boss Fight
Design a full boss battle with attack phases, health systems, player telegraphing, and a polished victory screen.
Needs: Scratch, Godot, or JS canvas🎮 Game Dev
Low-Poly Desk
3D Design · Beginner · 40–55 min
Blender Low-Poly Desk Setup
Model a complete desk scene with monitor, keyboard, and lamp using only basic shapes — the perfect Blender starter project.
Needs: Blender, mouse, reference imageSimon Project
3D Design · Beginner · Tinkercad Build
Simon Successful Project
Study a completed Tinkercad build to see how a Simon-style project comes together through shapes, layout, and clean design choices.
Open Project ↗Character Turntable
3D Design · Intermediate · 60–80 min
Character Turntable
Design a stylized character or robot and render a clean 360° rotating showcase video — portfolio-ready from day one.
Needs: Blender, concept sketch, render settingsFuture Classroom
3D Design · Advanced · 90+ min
Challenge Scene: Future Classroom
Build a full 3D environment imagining what a future classroom looks like — with lighting, scale, and visual storytelling.
Needs: Blender, planning sketch, references📐 3D Design
Paper Tower Sprint
Challenges · Beginner · 20 min
Paper Tower Sprint
Build the tallest freestanding tower possible using only limited paper and a strict time constraint. Iteration required.
Needs: paper, scissors, timer, rulerRubber Band Racer
Challenges · Intermediate · 45–60 min
Rubber Band Vehicle Distance Test
Build a lightweight vehicle and race it for maximum distance using stored elastic energy. Alignment and friction are your enemies.
Needs: cardboard, axles, wheels, rubber band, tapeEgg Drop
Challenges · Advanced · 75–90 min
Egg Drop Engineering Brief
Protect an egg from a major drop using only approved materials and one design plan. Engineering at its most dramatic — and most delicious when wrong.
Needs: egg, cushioning materials, test plan🏆 Challenges
Hover a spine to preview the brief · Filter buttons above narrow the shelf
Room IV
18 titles · Official Documentation · Free
Software User Manuals
Official documentation for every tool used in this classroom — your first stop when you're stuck or ready to go deeper.
QLab
🎬 Stage Sound · Figure 53 · 2024
QLab User Manual
Cue-based control software for live shows, theatre, and events. Manage audio, video, lighting triggers, and timecode from one screen — used on Broadway, at concerts, and in this classroom.
Open Manual ↗HeavyM
📽 Projection · HeavyM · 2024
HeavyM Help Center
Real-time projection mapping software for walls, stages, and 3D objects. Create motion graphics that stick to irregular surfaces — no coding required. Set up, patch, and perform in minutes.
Open Manual ↗Ableton Live
🎛 Music · Ableton · 2024
Ableton Live Manual
Complete reference for Live — record, arrange, mix, and perform music in one application. Covers instruments, effects, MIDI, clips, warping, and the iconic Session View.
Open Manual ↗🎬 Stage & Sound
TinkerCAD
📦 3D Design · Autodesk · 2024
TinkerCAD Learning Center
Browser-based 3D modelling with drag-and-drop shapes, precision measurements, and direct export to 3D printing. The starting point for every CAD student in this classroom.
Open Manual ↗Fusion 360
⚙️ CAD/CAM · Autodesk · 2024
Fusion 360 Help
Professional parametric CAD, CAM, and simulation in one tool. Design parts, test stress, set up machining paths, and manage design history — the real engineering workflow.
Open Manual ↗Algodoo
🌊 Physics Sim · Algoryx · 2024
Algodoo Wiki
2D physics sandbox where you draw scenes and Algodoo simulates gravity, friction, water, electricity, and optics. Perfect for testing engineering hypotheses before building anything real.
Open Manual ↗📐 Design & Engineering
Arduino Uno
🔌 Electronics · Arduino · 2024
Arduino Uno R3 Documentation
Full reference for the Uno R3 — pinout diagram, power specs, digital and analogue I/O, communication protocols (SPI, I²C, UART), and the complete language reference.
Open Manual ↗Arduino Projects
🔌 Electronics Projects · Arduino · PDF
Arduino Projects Book
A full Arduino project guide packed with hands-on builds, wiring diagrams, code examples, and step-by-step activities that move from simple circuits into interactive inventions.
Open PDF ↗18 Arduino Projects
🔌 Electronics Projects · Arduino · PDF
18 Arduino Projects eBook
A compact Arduino eBook with multiple hands-on projects, diagrams, and build ideas that students can use for inspiration, practice, and extension challenges.
Open PDF ↗Simple Arduino
🔌 Electronics Projects · Arduino · PDF
Simple Arduino Projects
A concise collection of approachable Arduino projects designed to help students practice wiring, coding, and quick hands-on prototyping through simpler builds.
Open PDF ↗Arduino Sensors
🔌 Sensors & Modules · Arduino · PDF
Ultimate Guide Arduino Sensors Modules
A focused reference on Arduino sensors and modules, with wiring guidance, component explanations, and project-ready examples for building more capable interactive systems.
Open PDF ↗VS Code
💻 Code Editor · Microsoft · 2024
Visual Studio Code Docs
Complete documentation for the world's most used code editor — from first install through extensions, Git integration, the debugger, Live Share, and remote development.
Open Manual ↗Pivot Animator
🎞 Animation · Peter Bone · 2024
Pivot Stick Figure Animator
Free frame-by-frame stick figure animation tool. Create walk cycles, fight scenes, and physics-defying sequences by manipulating joints — then export as GIF or AVI.
Open Site ↗Scratch
🐱 Block Coding · MIT · 2024
Scratch Wiki
Comprehensive reference for every block, sprite, broadcast, variable, and list in Scratch — plus tutorials for games, animations, stories, and interactive art. The definitive guide to block-based coding.
Open Wiki ↗💻 Code & Create
Blender
🎨 3D Creation · Blender Foundation · 2024
Blender Manual
Complete reference for Blender's modelling, sculpting, rigging, animation, rendering, compositing, and video editing tools — the full creative pipeline in one free application.
Open Manual ↗Godot
🎮 Game Engine · Godot · 2024
Godot Engine Docs
Full reference for Godot's scene system, GDScript, nodes, signals, physics, shaders, and export pipeline. The open-source engine behind countless indie and student games.
Open Manual ↗GameMaker
🕹 Game Dev · YoYo Games · 2024
GameMaker Manual
Full reference for GameMaker's rooms, objects, events, GML code, shaders, and export tools. Built for 2D game development — from first project to commercial release.
Open Manual ↗Unity
🎮 Game Engine · Unity · 2024
Unity Manual
The complete reference for Unity's editor, GameObjects, components, physics, scripting, lighting, UI, animation, and build pipeline — the engine powering most of the world's games and real-time simulations.
Open Manual ↗🎮 Game Dev & 3D
Hover a spine to open the official manual link
Student Recipe Template
Use this structure when you submit a build idea so every project reads clearly for the next student.
Quality check
- One sentence hook at the top
- Short steps, not giant paragraphs
- Common mistakes to avoid
- One extension or challenge mode
- Photo, render, or example if possible
- Clear enough that another student could follow it