MAY
FUN
May the 4th be with you!
Thanks to Star Wars, May 4th is not just the day before Cinco de Mayo! It is now a day for sci-fi fans, young and old, to celebrate Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and the rest of the gang...including the beloved droids!
​
This super simple STEM challenge is low-cost, high-fun, and the kids absolutely love it!
​
Students "design a droid" using various household items, recyclables, and other "throwaways." They can be as creative as they'd like, but the bottom of the droid must be left open.
​
​
​
​
To create a ramp, set a flat surface like a large piece of cardboard (tri-fold size is great) on the floor. Elevate one side several inches, by placing a book or two underneath. (Helpful hint: You may want to place the lower side a foot or two from a wall to stop runaway marbles!)
When students are ready to test their droids, 2-3 marbles should be placed into the base of each droid. Cover the open bottom with a small piece of cardstock to hold the marbles in place, then set the droid at the top of the ramp. Remove the cardstock, and let the droids roll! Allow students to compare the speed of the droids with more or fewer marbles, or with a higher or lower ramp.
Celebrate Mother's Day
with Momma Birds
Mom's deserve to be celebrated, even the feathered ones! This STEM challenge is a great tie-in to a study on birds, or just a way to celebrate hard-working mothers everywhere!
​
I like to start by asking students what all birds have in common. As seen in the blackboard photo, this is a great way to check for background knowledge. Students usually know a lot about birds, but have not really considered the variety of purpose of different bird beaks.
By showing a variety of bird beaks (through drawings or actual photos), students gain the understanding that birds eat different foods and need a specific type of beak to do it. This is a perfect lead-in to the challenge.
​
Each team of 2-3 students is given the top 1/3 of a water bottle (baby bird beak) and the bottom 1/3 of the bottle filled with "bird food." (Rubber bands = worms, buttons and beads = bugs, dried bean/peas = seeds, etc.) Then they fashion a beak or two to effectively pick up the different foods and drop them into the baby bird's beak.
Using just some craft sticks, rubber bands, pipe cleaners, and plastic spoons, my students have been remarkably innovative in their beak designs. If you want to see a personal favorite, check out this video on my Facebook page!