STEAM / STEM

This is an integrated challenge — which asks student to utlize tools to engineer a cart that rolls and transports a stuffed animal (powered by a robot). It’s a one day challenge, packed with a lot of different skills: make…

Students begin programming robots in grade 4K. We use block based programming for grades 1st-5th and push button/color tiles/path drawing programming in grades 4K-Kindergarten. The first year we did this, I had grade levels assigned to the following robots: 4K:…

This is a yearly challenge. Each grade level works on a STEAM challenge, after reading a book! 4K: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom 5K: The Three Bears 1st: The Three Pigs 2nd: Muncha, Muncha, Muncha 3rd:…

Grab yourself a few black lights and black light reactive materials and you have yourself a GLOW Week in STEAM! You’d be surprised what in your room already glows under black lights. I did purchase a few things and have…

I purchased one of the Speedometry STEM Kits from Hot Wheels off of eBay, after realizing that Hot Wheels was no longer offering their grant program for them. It came with a lot of vehicles and several key accessories we…

Our shipment FINALLY arrived — three years in the making — these kits were hard to find and purchase in bulk at the price we desired! K’Nex kits come with a direction booklet, similar to how LEGO kits come with…

26 years in as an educator and I still vividly remember so many parts of my first year. I know now that I looked at teaching with rose colored glasses– with a skewed ideology of what it would be like….

The majority of our challenges have a heavy focus on engineering, with science, art, and technology support. The Physics Grade Level Challenges, though, spotlight science. I’ve had good responses from grade level teachers. We’ve worked with these challenges for every…

We utilize two LEGO kits for elementary students: LEGO WeDO 2.0 LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Students in grades 4K-5 work through a LEGO challenge. 4K uses just bricks, while Kindergarten – 5th grade use the robotics kits. Each grade level…

Circuitry standards don’t {officially} start until fourth grade, but that doesn’t stop us from exploring and applying what we’ve learned about circuitry into our projects in grades K-5. We work with a variety of circuits: littleBits Circuit Cubes Makey Makey…

Every three years we bring out the bots for a round or two of BattleBOTS. Students select a bot to work with, outfit it with tools capable of popping balloons, and then engage in battle. Creativity, critical thinking, communication, and…

I’m so glad we did this challenge — it was a lot of fun. Each grade level, 4K-5 participates. We feature the board games during Family STEAM Night and invite attendees to try them out! There are a few steps…

Apples, pumpkins, and gourds – OH MY! Each grade level works through a different challenge. 4K: Apple Containers & Pumpkin Towers K: Pumpkin Fences 1: Pulling Machines 2: Pedastals 3: Cantilevers 4: Fashion Hats 5: Wrecking Balls View or download…

Students in grades K-5 work with 3D printing. Each grade level works through a challenge. K: Magnets 1: Composed Shapes 2: Backpack Tags 3: Trinket Toys 4: Bubble Wands 5: Boats Project complexity for each grade level builds, so students…

These little Hexbugs are a neat addition to any STEAM/STEM program! We create mazes for them using scrap wood and pvc pipes. Teams also utilize chipboard, cardboard tubes, and tape. Click the download arrow below to access the Hex Bug…

This was our first exposure to Augmented Reality. I had my 5K-5th graders do the challenge and didn’t really make any modifications for my littles, other than demonstrate on the iPad while casting it to the SMARTboard. In a nutshell,…

Working with circuits in STEAM starts in Kindergarten, using easy-to-use-materials to create circuits that move, light up, and sound off. We use LittleBits, Circuit Cubes, and Squishy Circuits. Students in 4th and 5th grade also create circuits with foil and/or…

After purchasing way too many hot glue gun sticks last year, I was beginning to think my students thought hot glue guns were the answer to all their attachment needs. In an effort to equip my students with strategies and…

This is challenge presents six different scenarios to students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. Each grade level is tasked with a challenge to help someone stranded on a desert island. By the time my kindergarteners have moved on to…

Researching, brainstorming, planning, and creating golf course holes is the focus of this challenge. Students worked collaboratively as a team to develop one golf course hole, while meeting a list of criteria and constraints. Click the download arrow below to…