STEM Warm-Ups and Bell Ringers

It’s time for some STEM warm-ups!

Are you looking for STEM bell ringers? You’ve found them! Activate your students’ brains with these STEM critical thinking warm-ups. This download contains 16 tasks, 4 that focus on each of the aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

These warm-ups can be done independently (use the optional recording page) or as a whole class activity. You can even use them as sub activities in a pinch, and I’m sharing a sample of them with you for free (see below to grab your copy).

Why use STEM warm-ups?

These prompts set the stage for students to start thinking outside the box! Tap into the creative and problem-solving brain areas before diving into STEM challenges. It’s so important to warm up the brain and these tasks provide a simple but effective way to do that.

You wouldn’t go out and run a marathon without warming up and preparing for it, and you can’t expect your students to find success in STEM without warming up and practicing too! There are so many different ways to practice for STEM challenges, by doing things like science experiments, data analysis, brainstorming sessions, breakerspace activities, tinkering, and of course warm-ups!

I love using a variety of team-building, creative, and critical thinking warm-ups to get the brain going. Find team building activities for your students here or download a creative sketching warm-up activity here.

You don’t need a lot of materials or time to do these activities.

Materials Needed

• paper
• index cards
• a hole punch
• toothpicks

Now What?

Once you’ve completed the STEM warm-ups, make sure you have STEM challenges ready to go. My favorite STEM challenges for upper elementary all use simple materials but are always a hit.

Grab the Freebie (includes 8 critical thinking warm-ups)!

Looking for more ways to warm up the brain?

Warm up the Brain for STEM with these ideas