Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Bean Bind

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

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:

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.

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