You are almost there. The end of the school year is calling to you like a siren song. The problem is your students hear it too. You don’t want to waste your instructional time with “fun”, but keeping students engaged as summer approaches is no easy feat. Summer STEM challenges are the perfect answer. STEM […]
End of the School Year STEM Challenge: Drippin’ Dash Read More »
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! 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
Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Bean Bind Read More »
Carrot Carriage is a fan favorite STEM Challenge! Your students will use an unlikely set of materials to create a sweet, new ride for the Easter Bunny! (Read on for ways around the Easter connection!) Premise Working against a criteria & constraints list, students design a vehicle made primarily of carrots for the Easter Bunny. If
Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Carrot Carriage Read More »
I started my career teaching 5th grade in 2000. Any classroom teacher will tell you that first year is a killer. Hanging on for dear life, I decided not to pursue a master’s degree, or in fact any hobbies or social life outside of teaching; there simply wasn’t time. Fast-forward to 2008: Since I kept coming
How I Became a STEM Challenge Fanatic Read More »
Maybe Rome wasn’t built in a day, but New Earth City can be! This challenge is perfect for Earth Day, but it can really be used any time of the year. Fun fact: my master’s degree is in design-based learning, which shares many similarities with the engineering design process. This city-building challenge was my gateway
Earth Day STEM Challenge: New Earth City Read More »
Basket Bounce is another of my hybrid STEM / PE challenges. It was definitely designed with Easter in mind, but I’ve got a couple of ideas to get around that if you don’t want to (or aren’t allowed to) link it to Easter in your classroom. (?Note: I recently changed to a new platform for
Easter / Spring STEM Challenge: Basket Bounce Read More »
This STEM challenge is a classic egg drop, making it perfect for any time in spring, including — but not limited to — Easter! I fondly remember doing this challenge when I was in kindergarten — before “STEM Challenges” were a thing! I also recall the best design (not mine) used blown-up balloons to make
Spring / Easter STEM Challenge: Egg-hanced Read More »
This STEM challenge is a perfect Easter or spring activity! (?Note: I recently changed to a new platform for my website. This has caused some wonky formatting & spacing. I’m working on updating everything as quickly as possible. I know it’s looking a little crazy; thanks for your patience!?) Premise Working against a criteria
Spring STEM Challenge: Nice Nest Read More »
It’s fun to think about symbols of luck: heads-up pennies, four-leaf clovers, and horseshoes, but making your own luck is so much more empowering! This St. Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge is all about probability! Premise of Probability STEM Challenge: Limitless Luck Working against a criteria & constraints list, students create a four-leaf frisbee designed to
St. Patrick’s Day Activity: Limitless Luck Probability STEM Challenge Read More »
We’re using the legend behind the holiday for this St. Patrick’s Day activity STEM Challenge! Legend says St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland in the 5th century, though despite popular belief, no evidence suggests snakes were ever there. Celebrated on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day honors the patron saint and Irish culture globally. If
St. Patrick’s Day Activity: St. Pat’s Snake Snatcher STEM Challenge Read More »
