APRIL
FUN
The use of unconventional materials when building is an effective way to get our kids to think outside the box. Lego, K'nex, and other manufactured building sets are great, but they are also expensive, and often designed with a specific outcome in mind. (Follow the directions, assemble the pieces, and build what the box depicts.)
When I design STEM lessons for my students, there are many things that I take into consideration. One of those things is the question, "Can my students try this again on their own?"
The opportunity for students to reflect, modify their designs, and test multiple iterations is integral to any meaningful STEM activity. But time constraints often make this impossible -- at least at school. By using materials that most students have at home, there is the chance for them to continue exploration on their own.
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Before the Easter Bunny visits your students, show them that jelly beans are not just for eating! With a handful of jelly beans and toothpicks, let them explore building with beans!
Building with Beans!
April Showers bring...
DUCKS!
This STEM challenge is a great rainy day activity. After introducing my students to Danny (a duck that does NOT like rain!) I challenge them to keep this foul-weather fowl dry.
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For Danny, I use duck clipart wrapped around a TP tube, but a rubber duck would also work. The materials students may use include 12 connecting cubes, a 6-8" wide piece of aluminum foil, a 6-8" wide piece of wax paper, 2 coffee stirrers or Q-tips, and about 10 inches of masking tape. (I have found that coffee stirrers are exactly the right size for fitting through the holes in the plastic cubes!)
The only constraints for this challenge (other than time and materials) are 1) none of the materials can touch the duck and 2) no part of the structure can be taped to the building surface.
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To make it rain, I use a thumbtack to poke holes in the bottom of a water bottle, and squeeze.
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The kids absolutely love this activity, and the diversity of their designs is always fun to see. Got a gray sky? Here's the silver lining!
Got Junk?
Come on...you know you do!
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Whether you're studying insects or celebrating Earth Day, this is a super fun and very low-prep activity for students of all ages.
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Using a variety of "found materials" (i.e. junk), students design their own "litterbugs." Their creations can be as fanciful as their imaginations allow, but they must have three body parts and six legs.
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I did this activity in the makerspace and set out an assortment of building materials, but the students' eyes were quickly drawn to the shelves and bins. There were requests for buttons, bottle caps, coffee filters, and more. I love that they had ideas of their own and made good use of them!
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If you try this one, I'd love to see your students' creations! Please drop me an email and attach a picture or two!