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You are here: Home / Easter / Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Bean Bind

Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Bean Bind

April 6, 2017 by feelgoodteaching Filed Under: Easter, Spring

Bean Bind is a bean-sorting STEM Challenge. While it ties in perfectly with Easter, it can really be used any time of the year!
Spring or Easter STEM Challenge: In Bean Bind, students build a device to sort the jelly beans from other beans. Includes modifications for grades 2-8.

Premise

Working against a criteria & constraints list, students design a way to sort jelly beans from other types of beans. You can tell younger students the equipment at the bean factory malfunctioned, and they need to help the Easter Bunny sort it out! For older students, or if you don’t celebrate Easter, simply replace the Easter Bunny with the factory manager.You can do this as an individual, partner, or group challenge (individual or partners recommended).


Materials

 

Materials needed for this Easter or spring STEM Challenge

Note: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links. Find out more on the disclosure page.

 

For each class:

  • Jelly beans (1 – 2 bags)
  • Mix-in beans: black, pinto, etc. (1 – 2 bags)
  • Bowl/bucket to hold the mixed beans (1)

For each student or group:

  • Pipe cleaners (5 – 10)
  • Paper plates (1 – 4)
  • Coffee filters
  • Paper bags
  • Tape (12 – 24 in.)
  • Rubber bands (5 – 10)
  • Scissors
  • Design analysis handouts (included in resource)

Optional:

  • Plastic baggies
  • Single hole punch
  • Foil or foil pans
  • String/yarn
  • Craft sticks
  • Straws

Video Walk-through

If you’re familiar with me, you know I’ve been switching over to using video to explain the bulk of my challenges. It seems to be the best/fastest way to explain the important details: materials, set-up, tips, modifications, extensions, demonstrations, and more!  Who has time to read all that?!

Check out the video below to see Bean Bind in action:


Are There Other Easter & Spring STEM Challenges Like This?

Of course! I can’t help myself! I have created 5 challenges for Easter & spring (with plans for a few more coming soon)! You can find the overview of each on this blog post.
The images link to the resources in this store and the product pages have links out to TpT, if you prefer to purchase there.
Please reach out with any questions and tag me in photos of your students’ work on Facebook & Instagram.

PRINTABLE VERSION

PAPERLESS VERSION

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You can find even more STEM challenges in my Mega Bundle, on this blog, and on my YouTube channel!

Love STEM Challenges? Me too!! I've created a full year of adaptable STEM Challenges, covering all seasons and holidays. Combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for hands-on, engaging learning!

You can find even more STEM challenges in my Mega Bundle, on this blog, and on my YouTube channel!


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Spring or Easter STEM Challenge: In Bean Bind, students build a device to sort the jelly beans from other beans. Includes modifications for grades 2-8.

 

  • After being a classroom teacher for ten years (grades 2-8), I’m fortunate to now follow my passion to design lessons & share ideas that help teachers everywhere find more feel-good teaching moments in their own classrooms!

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