The collaboration between JASON Learning and Region 4 ESC is designed to provide transformative benefits to educators, students, and the broader community. Through this partnership, we are creating a robust ecosystem that enhances STEM education across Texas and throughout the nation. Here’s what this exciting collaboration brings:
Region 4 ESC and JASON Learning
What This Partnership Brings
Comprehensive STEM Curriculum Access
Teachers can integrate JASON Learning’s interactive curriculum across grade levels, from early childhood through high school, ensuring students experience dynamic, real-world STEM learning.
Professional Development for Educators
Educators will benefit from targeted professional development sessions focused on integrating JASON Learning’s resources effectively in the classroom. These sessions provide the tools to engage students and enhance learning outcomes.
Hands-On, Project-Based Learning
The partnership brings a wealth of project-based learning opportunities to students. These hands-on experiences allow students to apply STEM concepts to solve real-world challenges. We are creating eight design thinking challenges that will focus on students using the engineering design process.
- Two design thinking challenges grades K-2
- Two design thinking challenges for grades 3-5
- Two design thinking challenges for grades 6-8
- Two design thinking challenges for grades 9-12
Increased Student Engagement and Success
With access to dynamic, interactive learning tools, students will be more engaged and inspired by their STEM education. The curriculum’s emphasis on exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving helps students connect abstract concepts to tangible, real-world applications, fostering deeper understanding and long-term success.
Why did we partner with JASON Learning?
Region 4 has long provided high-quality, print-based instructional materials developed by expert educators. To take that work even further, we partnered with JASON Learning to bring our curriculum to life in an engaging, digital format. This collaboration combines Region 4’s in-house expertise in publishing, editing, and printing with JASON Learning’s dynamic online platform—giving teachers and students interactive access to content anytime, anywhere. The result is a flexible, user-friendly digital experience designed to support effective teaching and meaningful learning in today’s classrooms.
Who can use these instructional materials?
Classroom teachers, students, instructional coaches and curriculum specialists that are looking for STEM resources to use campus and district wide. Supporting STEM instruction across the nation through campus and district STEM initiatives.
Is training available and/or required for educators to use the curriculum?
Yes. Because the Region 4 modules are grounded in the 5E Instructional Model—a widely used, research-based framework for teaching science—educators will benefit from understanding how to navigate and deliver instruction within this model. The 5E sequence includes Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, and is designed to support inquiry-based, student-centered learning.
How can I purchase access to the modules?
Access is just a click away! Explore our full collection of Region 4 ESC modules on JASON’s digital storefront—designed for quick, easy purchasing. Explore here: shop.jason.org/collections/region-4-esc
”This partnership with JASON Learning is just the beginning. By making Region 4’s trusted science resources more accessible, we’re opening the door to even greater opportunities for Texas educators and students. There’s so much more to come as we continue expanding and innovating, delivering even more engaging tools and experiences via JASON Learning to classrooms across the state.
Edrice BellDirector, Science/Social Studies and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Region 4 ESC
About Region 4 Educational Service Center
Region 4 Education Service Center (Region 4), located in Houston, Texas, is one of 20 regional education service centers established by the Texas Legislature in 1967. The purpose of the service centers, is to assist school districts in improving student performance, to enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically, and to implement initiatives assigned by the Texas Legislature or Commissioner of Education.
As the largest Texas education service center, Region 4 provides services to 47 school districts and 43 charter schools, representing more than 1.2 million students and 111,000 professional educators. Region 4 provides nationally recognized professional development; technical assistance services; and high-quality, economical products for school districts and charter schools.
The Region 4 Board of Directors and staff are committed to the continuous improvement of all services and programs to support customer district initiatives for student achievement.
Region 4 ESC and JASON Learning Content
From energy and water to engineering challenges and early science safety, our curriculum is designed to bring real-world STEM connections into the classroom. Whether you’re preparing students for state assessments, building foundational science skills, or fostering innovation through hands-on learning, these resources provide high-quality, standards-aligned content for educators everywhere. Click below to explore each module!
Gateways to Science
Gateways to Science Kindergarten – Region 4 is on a mission to make young learners safety experts, helping them unlock the “safety code” in science both inside and outside the classroom—and even on the bus!
The Safety module is designed specifically for kindergarten students, introducing them to essential safety practices in a fun and engaging way. Students will explore key safety concepts, emphasizing the “whys and hows” of safe behavior in various environments. This module helps foster a deeper understanding of safety rules and procedures while encouraging young learners to approach scientific activities with care and responsibility.
Energy Capital of the World
Texas is known as the Energy Capital of the World, not just for its oil and gas, but also for its leadership in clean energy. In this unit, students will explore how Texas is driving the future of energy through innovations in wind, solar, and hydrogen energy production. They’ll dive into the diverse energy sources that power homes, fuel industries, and create jobs across the state. From the oil fields to wind turbines and solar farms, this unit demonstrates how Texas is shaping the energy landscape for both today and tomorrow.
Key concepts include:
- Energy Concepts & Real-World Applications: Students explore key energy-related concepts and how they apply to real-world systems, particularly in Texas.
- Energy Infrastructure & Safety: Activities like analyzing Texas’s Electric Grid and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hydrocarbons help students understand energy infrastructure and workplace safety.
- Innovation & Conservation: Students examine energy efficiency, conservation, and modernization efforts to innovate Texas’s electric grid in response to challenges like climate change and natural disasters.
Water Matters
Water is essential for life, and this module focuses on how water supports public health, economic resilience, and innovation in Texas. Students will learn how water plays a key role in preventing diseases, supporting industries like seafood and maritime, and driving the state’s economy. As Texas faces challenges related to climate change and population growth, this unit also explores innovative water management solutions to ensure the state’s future water security.
Key concepts include:
- Water Quality & Public Health: Students will explore the composition of water and its connection to public health, understanding how water quality directly impacts communities.
- Economic & Environmental Impact: The module examines the interconnection between water resources, key industries like maritime and seafood, and environmental conservation efforts.
- Water Infrastructure & Urban Planning: Students will analyze water management and its role in shaping urban planning and sustainable communities in Texas.
Play Smart. Play Safe. - Engineering Design Challenge for High School
Engineer, innovate, and solve! In this high school science module, Play Smart. Play Safe. offers students the opportunity to engage in an immersive engineering design challenge that supports the development of critical STEM skills. This module scaffolds the Engineering Design Process (EDP), providing both students and teachers with guided facilitation questions, answer stems, and suggested time frames to ensure a structured learning experience.
Throughout the challenge, students will develop essential skills such as collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. The module is designed to connect classroom learning to real-world applications in science and engineering, helping students understand how these concepts are used in professional settings.
As they progress through the challenge, students will also hone time management, adaptability, and innovative thinking—key skills for success in any STEM career. By the end of the module, students will have a deeper understanding of the Engineering Design Process and its relevance to their future in science and engineering fields.
App for Class - Engineering Design Challenge for High School
Engineer, innovate, and solve! In this high school science module, students will engage in an immersive engineering design challenge that scaffolds the Engineering Design Process (EDP) for both students and teachers. With guided facilitation questions, answer stems, and suggested time frames; this module supports STEM fluency skills such as collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.
As students work through the challenge, they will develop essential skills in time management, adaptability, and innovative thinking—connecting classroom learning to real-world careers and applications in science and engineering.
STEM Conference
Beyond Science: An Event for Every Educator
It’s for math teachers building critical thinkers, CTE educators preparing students for the future, tech leaders championing digital innovation, fine arts educators blending creativity with design, RLA teachers guiding research and problem-solving, social studies educators exploring real-world applications, and even PE teachers incorporating movement and engineering concepts.
Let’s spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in every student, because STEM is for every student, every classroom.
Engineering Design Challenge
Ignite Creativity. Build Solutions. Shape the Future.
Get your student ready to design, build, and compete in Region 4’s hands-on Engineering Design Challenge! This exciting competition empowers students in grades 6–8 to tackle real-world problems with creativity and teamwork, sharpening their STEM skills along the way. Educators, bring your student teams and watch them engineer the future!
