YouTube and Google.org invest $2.5 million in Class CrunchLabs STEM curriculum

YouTube and Google.org have pledged a $2.5 million grant to Class CrunchLabs, a free STEM curriculum initiative founded by Mark Rober. The funding will help expand the program’s educational content, teacher resources, research, and translations. The curriculum, developed in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association, targets students in grades three through eight and is already available in 34 languages via YouTube.

The program integrates engaging videos featuring Rober, “Science Bob” Pflugfelder, guest presenters, and student co-hosts with hands-on classroom activities, teacher guides, and assessments. Topics cover electric and magnetic forces, kinetic energy, and thermal energy, all aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. One unit, Carnival of Collisions, uses physics principles from carnival games to encourage experimentation and design challenges.

The new funding aims to support the continued production of educational materials and increase global accessibility through additional translations. The program remains free for teachers and families and does not require schools to adopt new technology platforms.

Tara Graham, Executive Director of Class CrunchLabs, expressed excitement about reaching more students worldwide. Katie Kurtz, Global Head of Youth and Learning at YouTube, highlighted Mark Rober’s impact as an online science educator and the platform’s role in scaling his curriculum.