Build STEM Brains in Minutes a Day!
Introducing Short STEM Activities for Bell Ringers, Centers & Sub Plans!
A full year of short, brain-busting activities you can do with just a few minutes and ZERO building materials!
Here's Why You'll Love these STEM Activities
Low Prep
Activities require only paper & pencil -or go completely digital with the Google Slides™
Packs a Punch
Promotes creativity and critical thinking in fun, short bursts.
Versatile
Perfect for bell work, early finishers, centers, sub plans & students who need a materials break!
Use All Year
Over 44 weeks of engaging content for every day of the school year!
You deserve easy, ready-go-to activities that don't skimp on STEM learning!
Here's what teachers are saying:
What's Inside?
The Activities:
Activity 1: STEM Improv
The activity: Students create a design by selecting from three categories: object, function & material. Random combinations are provided by spinning video wheels or pulling printed cards from a stack. Then they’ll sketch designs and/or answer critical thinking questions to think through designs and get past any brain freeze.
The goal: Develop flexible, creative thinking and learn how to get unstuck in the planning phase of the engineering design process.
What’s Included: Six sets of STEM Improv including anytime options & seasonal — over 2,000 design combinations possible! Also contains a short introduction video to explain the activity to students and student response page/slide and extension options for early finishers.
Activity 2: See-Notice / Think-Wonder
The activity: Students will practice observing, thinking & questioning while viewing high-interest Life Science & Earth Science images.
The goal: To help students slow down, quiet, and focus the mind. The activity gives the time & mental space needed to develop curiosity & divergent thinking.
What’s Included: Eight sets with 50 Earth Science and 241 Life Science images (Plants, Mammals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles & Amphibians, Invertebrates), plus an observation page and sample introduction lesson.
Activity 3: Would You Rather
The activity: Students consider a mix of thought-provoking scenarios, from the perspective of the maker or the end-user.
The goal: To practice thinking like scientists and engineers and communicating positions verbally or in writing.
What’s Included: 2 sets; 60 cards split into Maker (20), End-User (20) and Technology Usefulness / Give Up Forever (20) categories. Plus, student response page/slide and extension options for early finishers.
Activity 4: Analyze This vs. That
The activity: Students will view 2-4 designs that solve a similar problem. Students will identify the problem solved, identify strengths & weaknesses of both designs and list potential research questions.
The goal: Develop scientific analysis skills with real-world designs & become better at analyzing their own iterative designs. This critical step of the EDP is often short-changed due to time constraints with their own designs, so the practice this activity provides is invaluable.
What’s Included: 54 images with design sets that solve a similar problem (34 sets comparing 2 designs, 10 sets of 3 designs, and 10 sets of 4 designs), student response page/slide and extension options for early finishers.
Activity 5: 8 Ways to Use...
The activity: Students are shown an image and have to come up with 8 different ways to use it. We encourage them to “vary the verb” in order to stretch their minds for unexpected uses.
The goal: To develop creative, flexible thinking. Learning to look at objects in a different way helps students learn to think outside the box.
What’s Included: 2 sets; 64 cards with student response page/slide and extension options for early finishers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the activities take?
As little as 3-5 minutes, but there are options to extend each activity for early finishers or for everyone when you have extra time.
What grade levels will this work with?
While I designed this with grades 3-6 in mind, I’ve received glowing feedback from teachers in grades 2-8.
Which formats are included?
- Printable task-cards (PDF)
- Digital Bell Work Slides (Google Slides™)
How Do I Purchase?
Option 1: Buy on My Site
Purchase through my shop if you don’t have a TPT account or if you are a teacher whose district blocks TPT .