Scientists coring sea ice - credit Marcel Nicolaus

Data Puzzles

Data Puzzles

Making Sense With Science

Scientists and students exploring

Are you looking for ways to bring authentic and relevant scientific data into your classroom? You've come to the right place! Data Puzzles combine classroom-friendly scientific datasets with the research-backed pedagogical practices of Ambitious Science Teaching to give your students the ultimate inquiry-based learning experience.

We believe that students should learn science the same way scientists do - through exploration, discovery, and sense-making grounded in observations of the natural world. In a way, science is like a puzzle - the bigger picture is revealed after hunting for and putting the pieces together. Our planet is full of exciting and intriguing phenomena - invite them into your science classroom today!

Visit the Data Puzzles Website

Browse the Data Puzzles Collection

Upcoming Events

Data Sensemaking Practices in the Not All Warming is Equal Data Puzzle lesson
Today

Calling all middle school science teachers to participate in a 2-part pilot webinar series focused on specific data sense-making practices. Engage with the Data Puzzles lesson Not All Warming is Equal using the Notice, Think, Wonder strategy.

Read More
Data Sensemaking Practices in the Megadrought Data Puzzle lesson

Calling all middle school science teachers to participate in a 2-part pilot webinar series focused on specific data sense-making practices. Engage with the Data Puzzles lesson Megadrought in the Colorado River Basin using the Notice, Think, Wonder strategy.

Read More
Data Puzzles Webinar: Balancing Act, the Changing Greenland Ice Sheet

Calling all middle and high school science teachers for a 2-day virtual workshop with CU Boulder curriculum developer, Alyse Thurber, on the Balancing Act Data Puzzles. Investigate the question "What factors have contributed to changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet in recent decades?"

Read More
Integrating Data Puzzle lessons into your curriculum: A case study using the Not All Warming is Equal lesson

Inviting all middle school science teachers to participate in a pilot webinar focused on cohesively integrating Data Puzzle lessons into your curriculum. Dive into the big science ideas embedded in the Not All Warming is Equal Data Puzzles lesson and collaboratively make connections between the lesson and the Essential Principles of Climate Science.

Read More

Publications

Upcoming Events

Mar - Apr
Tue - Thu
04 - 17
2025
5:00 pm MT
Data Sensemaking Practices in the Not All Warming is Equal Data Puzzle lesson

Calling all middle school science teachers to participate in a 2-part pilot webinar series focused on specific data sense-making practices. Engage with the Data Puzzles lesson Not All Warming is Equal using the Notice, Think, Wonder strategy.

Data Puzzles logo >
Mar - Apr
Tue - Thu
18 - 24
2025
4:00 pm MT
Data Sensemaking Practices in the Megadrought Data Puzzle lesson

Calling all middle school science teachers to participate in a 2-part pilot webinar series focused on specific data sense-making practices. Engage with the Data Puzzles lesson Megadrought in the Colorado River Basin using the Notice, Think, Wonder strategy.

Data puzzles logo >
Mar
Thu
20
2025
4:00 pm MT
Data Puzzles Webinar: Balancing Act, the Changing Greenland Ice Sheet

Calling all middle and high school science teachers for a 2-day virtual workshop with CU Boulder curriculum developer, Alyse Thurber, on the Balancing Act Data Puzzles. Investigate the question "What factors have contributed to changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet in recent decades?"

Data Puzzles logo >
Apr
Thu
03
2025
4:00 pm MT
Integrating Data Puzzle lessons into your curriculum: A case study using the Not All Warming is Equal lesson

Inviting all middle school science teachers to participate in a pilot webinar focused on cohesively integrating Data Puzzle lessons into your curriculum. Dive into the big science ideas embedded in the Not All Warming is Equal Data Puzzles lesson and collaboratively make connections between the lesson and the Essential Principles of Climate Science.

Data Puzzles Logo >
Illustration of two people high-fiving in a work environment

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