Young children are naturally curious and full of imagination. Introduce challenges that include a familiar component: use building materials they already enjoy, engage them in a beloved story, or springboard off a favorite activity. At this stage, there is much exploration. Keep the challenges simple so that the children find success with minimal frustration. This is the time to spark a passion in young minds!
In upper elementary grades, students are ready to tackle more challenging activities. Critical thinking skills are honed, and students are able to start applying math and science concepts. With improved fine motor dexterity and the ability to plan details, they are able to create more elaborate designs. Failures will happen, but this is the time to employ a growth mindset to overcome design flaws.
The first couple of times you facilitate a STEM challenge, you’ll need to walk through the steps. I love to model the challenge and intentionally fail, asking for ideas from the students to improve the design. Many time what looks good in the design plan just doesn’t work in actuality, and that is why there is the important step of improving the design!
When you try more STEM activities that follow the same format, it will become clear what the steps are, what your expectations are, and whether or not the prototype meets the design criteria. Working through the steps on different projects helps the engineering design process become a habit of exploration.
Your students will gain confidence in their ability to follow the process and carry out the challenge more independently in time in a methodical way. They will be excited to share their ideas and present their solutions to their peers. Expect creative solutions and ideas from them!
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A STEM BUNDLE?
STEM Tales take a familiar fairy tale and introduce a new twist. Students will read the story and solve the problem presented by following the engineering design process.
STEM fairy tale booklets
Sample project images
Notes for the teacher
Coloring page
Rubric
Certificate of completion
STEM Mats use simple building bricks to explore a wide variety of building challenges. Students spin the design criteria and build their creations. Excellent for makerspaces and libraries.
Colorful STEM Mats
Sample project images
Recording pages
Mentor sentences
Decor items
Sorting Pages
These challenges are all designed to be easy to set up and implement. Explore various engineering disciplines: aeronautical, mechanical, software, civil, and industrial.
Sample project images
Word wall cards
Graphic Organizers
Key concepts
Differentiation options
Enhance your weather and nature explorations. You can even use objects found in nature to complete many of the challenges. Explore the aerodynamics of snowflakes or the buoyancy of a submersible craft.
Notes for the teacher
Sample completed projects
Recording pages to follow the design process
Task card options
“Fantastic resource that combines reading and science. My students LOVED that activities.” – Fairy Tale STEM Buyer
“This was AMAZING to use with my firsties as an intro to STEM. I loved watching all their curiosity and creativity unfold. IT WAS AWESOME! THANKS!!! ” – First Grade Teacher
“Used this for summer camp. The kids of all ages enjoyed the activities. Thanks. “
“Excellent resource we have STEM as a special each day and this saves me a great deal of planning time. Just what we needed. “
“GREAT resource for using legos as part of a building center or makerspace.”
“This is a great resource! Love the activity mats, spinners, and checklists. Thanks!”
“The challenges are well though [sic] out and organized. The summary pages are very helpful when preparing each lesson. “
“Beautiful, precise, and totally do-able. Love, love, LOVE this resource! Thanks! “
“A must have for any STEM classroom! “
“Takes an activity and helps make it a thorough learning process for the students. My classes have really enjoyed this set. Many of the activities go along great with our class themes as well!”
“What a great packet of STEM activities all together. Thanks for sharing it with us! “
“Bought this for our school maker cart – great ideas and the kiddos will love it! Thank you!”
“Awesome ideas and cannot wait to use a lot of this work. Thanks for putting this together. “
Most of the STEM challenges I have developed use easily found materials. For some, you may only need paper and tape. It helps to hang on to your own recyclables and to ask for recyclable donations from your school cafeteria or student caregivers.
STEM challenges are wonderful to send home as a family activity or to save for a STEM family night. I would also encourage you to try and block out an hour once a week to include STEM; because many of these activities are cross-curricular, your students will be practicing other core skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
If you have never facilitated STEM challenges before, you might not know what to expect. I have written several posts to help get you started:
Three STEM Challenges You Can Do Today
How to Run a STEM Tale Challenge
Want more info on the engineering design process?
Not ready to buy? Start with free STEM tasks.
As a thank you, receive a set of STEM challenge cards.
©2017 Meredith Anderson – Momgineer