Home Search
Search results for

"STEAM activities"

Announcements/Important DatesSTEM/STEAM

Activities for Celebrating STEM/STEAM Day

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

National STEM/STEAM Day falls on November 8. It’s the perfect day to help students focus on science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Creating an understanding of STEM and STEAM is extremely important. Therefore, on November 8, celebrate STEAM/STEM Day by encouraging your students to do a STEM or STEAM project!

Multiple studies have highlighted the importance of STEM education. STEM skills are more important now than ever because STEM enhances one’s capacity to innovate and use technology and science as a tool to solve problems. In addition,  STEM careers have increased by 79% since the 1990s and are projected to continue to grow by at least 13% into 2027.

STEM/STEAM Activities and Resources

There are many great ways for students to celebrate STEM/STEAM Day at home and in the classroom. Here are some activities and resources to help you get started.

Fun Stem Resources for High School Learners

Screenshot of a chart made by high school students about raising chickens

Discover a trove of STEM resources and ways to find even more. These will all work great with your high school students.

Gratitude Towers for Social Awareness and Stem

Did you know that students can explore SEL and STEM all in one project? Well, they can– by building gratitude towers!

Solo Cup Engineering Challenge

Instructions and supplies list for the Solo Cup STEM Engineering Challenge

The Solo Cup Engineering Challenge is perfect for team building. Students and adults love this activity for fun and learning.

Stem Activities and Challenges for Middle School Learners

If you’re looking to engage your middle school learners in new STEM activities and challenges, you’ll definitely want to try these out!

The Helping Harriet STEAM Challenge

The Helping Harriet STEAM Challenge

Looking for a fun STEAM activity for your classroom? Check out this blog entry, which features Harriet, a bald eagle watched by millions of people.

We Have to Save Fred!

We Have to Save Fred STEM challenge materials

Always a favorite, The Save Fred Challenge is great for team building. Plus, check out extension ideas to create a perfect day of learning.

Do you have any STEM/STEAM challenges that you love? Add them in the comments to let us know. And have a wonderful STEM/STEAM Day this November 8!

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
STEM/STEAM

STEAM-Powered Winter Activities

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Technology takes some of the sting out of winter. With modern heating, fabrics, insulation, snowblowers, plows, salt trucks, and more, the challenge that has traditionally faced humanity in the cold months has been greatly mitigated, at least for those with access to a roof under which to stay.

Along with the harshness of winter, however, there has also been a traditional sense of kinship, of warmth; a commitment to stay warm and dry, share and enjoy the fruits of a recent harvest, and rest until spring pushes us into a new cycle of work, like the buds of a perennial flower breaking through frosty ground. The pre-Romantic English poet and abolitionist William Cowper captured the feeling of winter well in his magnum opus, The Task:

O Winter! ruler of the inverted year,
I crown thee king of intimate delights,
Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness,
And all the comforts that the lowly roof
Of undisturb’d Retirement, and the hours
Of long uninterrupted evening, know.

William Cowper, The Task (1785), Book IV, line 120.

And while just about every educator is ready for a mid-winter break and some “undisturb’d Retirement,” they’ll also be back to teaching soon, with two more months of winter to go. 

In considering how to bring the themes and realities of winter into your teaching, it’s clear that nature is a key aspect. In this post, we’ll dig into some fun winter-themed ideas and activities to help build the critical, creative, cross-subject learning that’s central to STEAM education.

For Young Learners

Elementary students can build a keen awareness of seasonality and of nature during the winter months. 

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is a 115-member group of colleges and universities involved in earth science research. Their Center for Science Education hosts the  Winter Weather “Teaching Box” site, which includes standards-aligned science activities that help students engage with the nature of ice and snow, the shapes of snowflakes, and staying warm in the cold. 

The Little Bins for Little Hands blog has a number of fun winter science experiments for young learners that can be done at home and with everyday materials. In Scholastic Teacher, Audra Wallace shares some other simple winter science activities for Pre-K learners, also aligned with curriculum standards. Even more crafty activities can be found in this collection from STEM Education Guide. And kids learning at home will benefit from these 14 family-friendly activities from Highlights.

STEAM for All

While winter offers many wondrous activities for young children, winter weather and science can hook students of every age. Here are some resources and inspiration for teaching winter-themed STEAM lessons at many levels. 

To that end, the nonprofit Winter Wildlands Alliance has created the Snow Science Curriculum website. While they regularly host in-person, outdoor adventures to study snowy weather, they also host SnowSchool at Home, which includes videos and activities for every grade level.

Get some inspiration and useful links on teaching winter ecology on this page from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). They also share the Greening STEM Hub, with planning tools, case studies, and resources designed to help educators center the natural environment while learning about science, tech, engineering, and math. 

Through the Minnesota state Department of Natural Resources, science teachers Stanley Mikles and Mark Studer each share ten tips to teach science outdoors, when possible, and ways students can be primed to observe the natural world. 

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) shares free access to the journal article “The Joys of Teaching Ecology in K–12 and Informal Settings” with a focus on helping students imagine eco-careers. The ESA also provides a vast array of links and resources related to ecology education, from events to their own curricular framework, the Four Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework.

Looking to build more lasting ways to create ecological learning? Check out Project Learning Tree’s piece on the importance of ecological education, and important factors to consider. 

Need a few fun STEM activities? Check out 35+ Winter STEM Activities from Cool Hands-ON Learning.

Want to measure snowfall, make your own first, or teach students about how fast ice can melt? Head over to Resilient Educator’s Winter-Themed STEAM Activities for projects and more ideas.

How do you build STEM/STEAM learning in the winter months? Share your ideas and resources in the comments!

More from TechNotes

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Classroom ActivitiesFallSeasonal ActivitiesThanksgiving

Thanksgiving Activities for Your K-12 Classroom

by Macee Hall
written by Macee Hall

It’s November already, which means holidays like Thanksgiving are just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to start working some Thanksgiving activities into your lesson plan! Whether you teach first grade or freshman english, we’ve put together some fun and educational activities for you to use leading up to Thanksgiving break!

Looking for more fun fall crafts? Check out these previous blog posts:

Thanksgiving Activities for Elementary School Students

Make a Turkey Tail with Fall Leaves

If you live in a place where the leaves change color during the fall months, take advantage of the cooler weather by taking your little learners out on a fall walk! Have them collect leaves as you go, then have them help Tom the Turkey by creating a new tail made of colorful fall leaves once you get back to the classroom!

Click here to access our Fall Leaf Turkey Template.

Develop Your Own Traditions

Traditionally, many discussions about Thanksgiving traditions surround the type of foods we eat, but some students may be sensitive to this topic (especially in lower income or food-scarce areas). Instead of talking about food-specific traditions in your classroom, teach students how all traditions have to start somehow, and encourage them to come up with some ideas of their own! Ideas might include doing a special Thanksgiving dance with their family, or putting on a Thanksgiving play. Have students write a brief sentence or paragraph, depending on their age group, about why their idea would make a good tradition. Then, have the class participate in each other’s new holiday activities!

Here’s a My New Tradition worksheet to help get you started!

Get Corny and Celebrate the Harvest

If you’re looking to teach your students about the harvest season, have them make glass gem corn with craft beads! This colorful crop is (in my opinion!) one of nature’s most beautiful and unique creations. Prepare a lesson on how the Native Americans taught the Pilgrims to farm, then set out bead stations. Either have students glue their beads to a sheet of cardboard cut in the shape of a corn cob, or twist six to eight pipe cleaners together and have students thread an even number of beads on each one before twisting the free ends together!

Thanksgiving Activities for Middle School Students

Explore the History of Indigenous Peoples

A great way to engage middle school learners during the Thanksgiving season is to build upon the basic knowledge they have about the indigenous groups of North America. Explain to them how Thanksgiving represents how the pilgrims learned from Native Americans, then have them play around with native-land.ca, a hands-on software that allows you to search your address and learn about the native groups who have inhabited the land throughout history!

Fill a Gratitude Jar and Share with the Class

Middle school is tough for many students, simply because there’s so much change happening all at once. Bring a little peace and mindfulness to your students this Thanksgiving by passing out strips of paper (extra points if they’re in fall colors like orange and red!) and having students write what they’re most grateful for. Collect the slips in a jar and share them anonymously with the class. 

Complete Thanksgiving Themed Word Puzzles

Give students a brain break with a Thanksgiving puzzle, like a crossword or word search! Print off one of the several available Thanksgiving puzzles from puzzles-to-print.com or have students create their own with Discovery Education’s online Puzzlemaker and then swap them with other students’ to complete.

Thanksgiving Activities for High School Students

Complete a Creative Writing Assignment

A great way to get high school students engaged in the holiday fun is to assign a creative writing project in which they take on the persona of a historical figure and write a first-hand account of the first Thanksgiving. Students start by researching their historical figure, like William Bradford or Chief Massasoit (they could also be an attendee of the first thanksgiving, as opposed to a real, historical figure). Then, have them write out a 500 word story describing their experience surrounding the first Thanksgiving. 

Set Up a Thank You Card Station

There are a lot of people working behind the scenes to keep teens on-track during the holiday season. Set up a thank you card station where high schoolers can come between classes or during study hall to create customized thank you cards for the people in their life. Encourage them to make cards for other school staff like custodians, lunchroom workers, other teachers, coaches, and more! This is a great way to allow students to take responsibility for sharing their gratitude, while helping guide their thoughts surrounding being thankful for their community.

Download the supplies list and example messages for your Thank You Card Station here.

Throw it Back with Fun Crafts

High schoolers are still kids, after all. Take the pressure off and provide a brain break with some fun crafts, like our elementary school ideas at the top of this post, or with some of the literal thousands of Thanksgiving craft ideas found online! The opportunity to blow off some steam and focus on a fun craft instead of looming finals and deadlines might just become a core memory for some of your students.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving activities?

Share your ideas in the comments so other educators can use them, too!

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Access 7 read-to-use Story Bin STEM activities that combine literacy and science for fun, memorable learning.
ELARSTEM/STEAM

Seven Ready-to-Use Story Bin STEM Activities

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“Have you heard of STEM Bins?” Peggy Reimers said. “No, I haven’t,” I replied. In a moment, I’d fallen off the plank, submerged into a sea of learning. Like treasure chests filled with tools for creative imagineering, STEM Bins are fun. I like to think of them as Story Bins, because they turn stories into powerful learning opportunities. Let’s explore several practical ideas for elementary Story Bins.

Brooke Brown (follow her on Twitter for more exciting ideas!) gets credit for introducing me to the concept of STEAM/STEM Bins via this 2024 tweet by TCEA. Story Bins are just an adaptation of this. Here’s a video from Brooke sharing about STEM Bins. What an amazing idea to add to your repertoire!

What Are Story Bins?

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

Story Bins are containers filled with various materials. They start with a story, then provide a challenge. The challenge is to build something that helps a character in the story.

These are perfect for students in elementary grades. Meeting the challenge pushes students to think outside the bin. Even better, they can learn hands-on skills through their constructions.

Story Bin Resources made by TCEA
Access Story Bin Seven Activities + Resources (English and Spanish) at the End of the Article

Why Use Story Bins?

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

With these bins of imagination, treasure chests of creativity, students blend their learning. You can also incorporate critical thinking skills a la Engineering Design Process.

Example: Jack and the Beanstalk

Take this old favorite tale. How would you build a catapult to escape the giant? The goal is to help Jack, who has to flee from a giant. A question to ask is, “How can we engineer a catapult using materials like pipe cleaners, scissors, tape, and disposable cups to help Jack escape from the giant’s castle in the clouds?”

The hands-on aspect of Story Bins makes it easy to connect knowledge to the real-world. In developing solutions that work, students solve problems that feel real to them. Tapping into various modalities can assist students’ brain in remembering concepts.

Some more questions for different stories are available via this link. Stories include:

  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Cinderella
  • Hansel and Gretel
  • Jack and Jill
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Little Red Riding Hood
  • Pinocchio
  • Rapunzel
  • Rumpelstiltskin
  • Santa Claus
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • The Elves and the Shoemaker
  • The Lion and the Mouse
  • The Three Little Pigs
  • The Ugly Duckling
  • Three Billy Goats Gruff

An Example Story Bin Using the Engineering Design Process

In her blog entry, The Engineering Design Process for the Elementary Student, my colleague Peggy Reimers shares the Whirli-bots Engineering Design Process. Below, please find an adaptation of the Engineering Design Process. What if you ran one of the story bin challenges through this process?

Stages of the Engineering Design Process
Public View Link | Template Link

The result might be something like what appears below. Let’s focus on another “Jack and the Beanstalk” idea. What’s my fixation with “Jack and the Beanstalk”? This was one of the stories I first read in Spanish, then later in English when I was growing up.

Challenge: Create a parachute to safely transport Jack down the beanstalk.

Before beginning, you might first consider some guiding questions for the Engineering Design Process. Now that the challenge is set, let’s think through what it might look like in action.

1. Ask (Define the Problem)

  • Problem: Jack needs to escape from the giant’s castle safely.
  • Criteria: The parachute must slow Jack’s descent.
  • Constraints: Use available materials (pipe cleaners, scissors, tape, disposable cups).

2. Imagine (Brainstorm Solutions)

Ideas:

  • Use a large piece of lightweight material (e.g., tissue paper or plastic bag) as the parachute canopy.
  • Attach strings to the corners of the canopy and connect them to a small cup that represents Jack.
  • Ensure the parachute is large enough to create enough air resistance.

3. Plan (Develop the Solution)

Materials Needed:

  • Tissue paper or plastic bag
  • String
  • Disposable cup
  • Tape
  • Scissors

Design:

  • Cut a large square from the tissue paper or plastic bag.
  • Attach strings to the corners of the square.
  • Connect the other ends of the strings to the cup.

Steps:

  1. Cut the canopy material into a square.
  2. Reinforce the corners with tape and punch holes.
  3. Cut four equal lengths of string and tie them to the corners.
  4. Attach the other ends of the strings to the cup.

4. Create (Build, Modify, Test & Evaluate)

Build:

  • Assemble the parachute as planned.

Test:

  • Drop the parachute from a height and observe its performance.

Evaluate:

  • Check if the parachute slows the descent effectively.
  • Note any issues, such as the parachute not opening fully or the descent being too fast.

Modify:

  • Adjust the size of the canopy or the length of the strings if needed.
  • Test again to see if the modifications improve performance.

5. Improve (Share)

Learnings:

  • Document what worked well and what didn’t.
  • Share the design and test results with classmates or teachers.

Improvements:

  • Based on feedback, make further adjustments to the parachute design.
  • Consider using different materials. Or change the shape of the canopy for better results.

More Engineering Design Process Story Bin Ideas

Here’s another Engineering Design Process you might find useful for younger students. How would you do it?

StoryChallengeQuestionBrainstormPlanBuild (Test & Evaluate, Modify)Share
Jack and the BeanstalkCreate a device to propel Jack away from the giant’s castleWhat can we build to help Jack escape?Think of ways to make Jack move fast, like a slingshot or a rocket.Draw a picture of our idea and list what we need.Make our escape gadget, try it out, and change it if we need to.Show our friends and explain how it works.
Jack and the BeanstalkDesign a safe way for Jack to come down the beanstalkHow can Jack get down without falling?Imagine things that float down softly, like parachutes or balloons.Choose the best idea and plan how to make it.Create our parachute, drop it from up high, and make it better.Share our parachute and tell others how we made it safe for Jack.
Three Billy Goats GruffBuild a raft for the goats to cross the riverCan we make a raft that holds all three goats?Think of floaty things like logs or big tubes.Pick the floatiest idea and plan how to tie them together.Build our raft, test it in water, and fix anything that’s not right.Show our raft and tell the story of how the goats used it.
See MORE examples of the EDP in action in this Google Doc (Get a copy)

How Do Story Bins Enhance Education?

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Put Story Bins into the classroom to get the benefits for students. Those benefits include:

  • Have students who finish assignments early? Use Story Bins as a way to keep them involved and learning.
  • Need sponge activities for morning work or centers? Maybe you have a need to keep kids as a time-out/cool-down area engaged. Use Story Bins for that, too.
  • Focused on a particular story? Use Story Bins to explore various parts of the story.

Science is often under-utilized but processes like the Engineering Design Process (EDP) help. They model scientific thinking where students develop a hypothesis, gather evidence through prototyping. Then, they test their hypotheses to see if they are falsifiable (if the work or not).

Examples of STEAM Story Bin Challenges

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”- Albert Einstein

Here are a few ideas for Story Bins using common stories with a STEAM twist. You will find an AI-generated list of stories, challenges, and materials.

My colleague, Peggy Reimers, suggested the materials area include reusable materials, as well. Take a look at what’s available in your classroom, at home, and add to the list of one-time use materials, too.

StoryThe ChallengeOne-Time Use MaterialsSuggested Reusable Materials
Jack and the BeanstalkDesign a catapult to help Jack escape the giant.Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoonKeva Planks, rubber bands
Jack and the BeanstalkCreate a parachute to safely transport Jack down the beanstalk.Lightweight fabric or a plastic bag, string, small toy figureLightweight fabric, string, LEGO figurine
Three Billy Goats GruffBuild a raft to help the Billy Goats Gruff cross the river.Corks, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, small plastic figuresStrawbees, foam pieces, small LEGO figures
Jack and JillConstruct a pulley system to lift the pails for Jack and Jill.String, spools, paper cupsLEGO bricks, string, small buckets (LEGO pieces)
The Three Little PigsEngineer a stronger house for the Three Little Pigs using different materials.Straws, craft sticks, clay, cardboardLincoln Logs, LEGO bricks
The Three Little PigsDesign a trap to catch the Big Bad Wolf.Cardboard boxes, rubber bands, plastic bottle capsLEGO bricks, rubber bands
Three Billy Goats GruffBuild a bridge that can support the weight of the Troll.Popsicle sticks, glue, string, small weights like coinsKeva Planks, glue (if permanent), weights (coins or small stones)
Little Red Riding HoodCreate a zip line to help Little Red Riding Hood escape the woods quickly.String, straw, paper clip, small toy figureString, straw (from Strawbees), paper clip, LEGO figurine
Hansel and GretelConstruct a marble run for Hansel and Gretel to find their way out of the forest.Cardboard tubes, marbles, tapeKeva Planks, marbles
The Ugly DucklingBuild a boat that floats for The Ugly Duckling.Corks, plastic spoons, waterproof tapeStrawbees, waterproof material (cut from reusable shopping bags), small LEGO figure
RapunzelDesign a tower that won’t fall down for Rapunzel’s prince to climb.Cardboard, tape, paper tubesKeva Planks, LEGO bricks
The Elves and the ShoemakerCreate a simple machine to help the Elves make toys faster.Gears, wooden skewers, rubber bandsLEGO gears, wooden skewers, rubber bands
Santa ClausBuild a prototype of Santa’s sleigh with working runners.Ice pop sticks, cardboard, fabric scrapsKeva Planks, fabric scraps
The Elves and the ShoemakerEngineer a contraption to help the Shoemaker work more efficiently.Cardboard, scissors, glue, fabric scrapsLEGO bricks, gears
Sleeping BeautyDesign a device to help Sleeping Beauty’s fairy godmothers travel faster.Balloons, straws, rubber bands, small toy figuresBalloons, Strawbees, rubber bands, LEGO figures
CinderellaConstruct a vehicle powered by wind to transport Cinderella to the ball.Cardboard, paper, straws, balloonsLEGO bricks, paper (for sails), straws
The Lion and The MouseBuild a seesaw for the characters from The Lion and The Mouse.Popsicle sticks, plastic spoon, small toy figuresKeva Planks, plastic spoon (as a fulcrum), LEGO figures
PinocchioCreate a toy car for Pinocchio that moves using rubber bands.Cardboard, rubber bands, bottle caps for wheelsLEGO bricks, rubber bands, bottle caps (for wheels)
Alice in WonderlandDesign a contraption to help Alice get back up the rabbit hole.Cardboard tubes, string, pulleysKeva Planks, string, pulleys (LEGO or similar)
RumpelstiltskinBuild a spinning wheel that can wind up the golden thread.Cardboard, dowels, stringKeva Planks, dowels, string

Additional STEM Resources for Story Bins

You can find a wealth of resources for Story Bins online. Here are a few curated links for your consideration. They may ignite your own passion and learning, as they did me.

Which Story Bin activity will you try with your students? Have ideas for other Story Bin STEM activities? Leave us a comment so we can add it to the list!

Access Seven Story Bin Activities + Resources!
(English and Spanish included)
0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Deck the Halls with Holiday-Themed STEM
STEM/STEAM

Deck the Halls with Holiday-Themed STEM Activities

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

The holiday season is a wonderful time to incorporate some festive cheer into your classroom while still promoting learning and critical thinking. One fantastic way to achieve this is by including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities in your lesson plans. These hands-on and engaging activities not only spark curiosity but also encourage problem-solving skills among your students. Let’s’ explore a variety of holiday-themed STEM activities that you can incorporate into your classroom.

Build a Gingerbread House STEM Challenge

Turn the classic gingerbread house decorating activity into an engineering STEM challenge. Provide your students with various materials such as graham crackers, icing, and candies, and challenge them to construct a stable gingerbread house using engineering principles. Encourage them to think about structural stability, balance, and design. This activity encourages teamwork and creative problem-solving.

Santa’s Chimney STEM Challenge

A structure built with gumdrops and toothpicks for a holiday-themed STEM activity.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Little Bins for Little Hands, Santa’s Chimney STEM Challenge

The Santa’s Chimney STEM challenge is a fun and engaging activity where students are tasked with designing and building a chimney for Santa. For this challenge, you’ll need toothpicks, gumdrops, and a small house to build the chimney next to. Building structures is a wonderful opportunity for STEM learning. When they are making the chimney, ask your students to explain their building process. Have them examine their creation and tell you why their design did or did not work. They can use their observations to build an improved chimney. Make it a challenge by limiting the number of toothpicks and gumdrops they can use. This challenge incorporates elements of engineering, physics, and problem-solving.

Holiday Light Circuit Cards

Examples of student cards make with art supplies and light circuits.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: MyEdTechWorld, Paper Circuit Christmas Cards

Explore electrical circuits and engineering principles by creating holiday light circuit cards. Students can design their own holiday light circuits using batteries, wire, LEDs, copper tape, and craft supplies. They can experiment with different patterns and color combinations, effectively blending science and art. Makerspaces.com provides some free templates you can download. For more inspiration, check out these Holiday Cards and a paper circuit menorah. This STEM activity introduces basic electrical concepts while fostering creativity.

Holiday Coding Activities

Introduce coding through holiday coding activities. For example, in addition to tracking Santa on the Google Santa Tracker, students can complete holiday coding activities. On Code.org, they can learn to code with Anna and Elsa while creating snowflakes, exploring patterns, and more. They can also learn the binary alphabet while creating a holiday ornament. These coding activities will help students build logical thinking and computational skills while embracing the holiday spirit.

Racing Rudolph Balloon Game

STEAMPoweredFamily Rudolf Ballon Races holiday-themed STEM activity.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: STEAMPoweredFamily, Rudolf Balloon Races

This game is a fun experiment where students can learn about Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. This activity is simple enough. All you need is some string, straws, tape, balloons, clothespins, and some decorations (construction paper, poms, googly eyes, and glue). It’s a great way to teach students about physics and aerodynamics while getting into the holiday spirit.

By incorporating these holiday-themed STEM activities into your classroom, you can make learning fun and engaging for your students during the holiday season. These hands-on projects promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity while fostering a love for STEM. So, this holiday season, let your students explore, create, and learn through these exciting STEM activities. You can find even more holly jolly STEM activities here. Happy holidays and happy STEM-ing!

Try These Winter Activities

Eight Winter Activities and Games for the Classroom
Wonderful Winter-Themed Activities for All Ages
Two Brand New Winter Breakouts and Bonus Puzzle
STEAM Powered Winter Activities
Fun with a Holiday FlipHunt
Winter Resources for Elementary
Magical STEAM Project
Celebrate Season Holiday Websites
Holiday Website, Apps, and Extensions
Five Holiday Seesaw Activities
Merry Merry Breakout
Augment Your Holiday with These iOS Apps
Making It Mery (Animated GIFs)
Tips Tricks Tech Tidbits: Holiday Resources, REBUS

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
STEM/STEAM

Five Holly Jolly STEM Activities

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

It’s the perfect time of the year to incorporate some holiday STEM activities into your classroom. The weeks before a holiday break can be stressful, so why not have your students do some fun, hands-on activities while learning and practicing useful skills?

1. Candy Cane Building Challenge

Challenge your students to make their own candy cane creations in this fun STEM candy cane building challenge. You’ll need candy canes (regular-sized and mini) and a hot glue gun with glue sticks. Ask your students to build a 3D structure from the candy canes that can stand on its own. This is a perfect activity for teaching the Engineering Design Process since students will need to put their engineering skills to work.

Learn more about the challenge at Lemon Lime Adventures.

Image of a candy cane structure.

2. Gum Drop Building Challenge

This building challenge uses candy gumdrops and toothpicks. Students use their engineering skills, creativity, and imagination to create unique building structures. It is like the Marshmallow Engineering STEAM Building Challenge but uses gumdrops to celebrate the season.

Learn more about the challenge at Lemon Lime Adventures.

Image of a gumdrop tower.

3. Christmas Tree Cup Tower Challenge

This activity challenges students to build a Christmas tree using only cups. All you need is lots of cups. Students must use as many cups as possible to build their own Christmas tree. Allow your students to plan, build, and problem solve during this challenge. They can even decorate the cup tower with pompoms! This challenge reminds me of the Solo Cup Engineering Challenge.

Learn more about the Christmas Tree Cup Tower Challenge at Little Bins Little Hands.

Image of a Christmas tree built with cups.

4. Dissolving Candy Cane Experiment

Can candy canes dissolve? This experiment tests out which substances dissolve candy canes the fastest. For this experiment, you’ll need cups, water, sugar, salt, and candy canes. Fill the cups with different temperatures of water (hot, cold, room temperature) and place the candy canes in the cups. Set a timer and have students record their observations. You can even repeat this experiment using other liquids such as vinegar, dish soap, or soda.

Learn more about this experiment and download a free observation page at Little Bins Little Hands.

Image of candy canes dissolving in water.

5. Flying Reindeer

How can you get reindeer to fly? That is the question this STEM activity answers. Using basic household and craft supplies and a little imagination, your students will see flying reindeer this Christmas. Students will assemble a mini reindeer from toilet paper rolls, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. Using a flight path made of yarn, students will see if their reindeer can fly by attaching a balloon to the top of it.

Learn more at Team Cartwright.

Image of reindeer flying on a piece of yarn.

STEM is such a fantastic way to encourage your students to observe, question, and problem-solve. What are some STEM activities that you will do with your students this holiday season? Leave a comment below and let us know.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Content CreationEnglish Language ArtsGood TeachingMathScienceSTEM/STEAM

Wonderful Winter-Themed Activities for All Ages

by Emily Horn
written by Emily Horn

It’s that time of year. You know it all too well – the time just after Thanksgiving when everyone has had a taste of time off and is just itching for winter break. I feel antsy for it. Do you? How about your students? It’s not an easy time of year to keep everyone engaged, but here are several resources with winter activities for many different grade levels. You’ll find everything from English Language Arts and Google activities to Science, STEM, and more. Ready to find some good stuff? Let’s go!

40 of the Coolest Winter Science Experiments and Activities

Study snowflakes, grow the Grinch’s heart, make candy can slime, create an igloo and so much more with WeAreTeachers’ 40 fantastically fun wintery science experiments. Experiments for every age are offered, and these will work great at home or at school! I like these experiments because they reinforce core concepts and/or encourage creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking. Take a gander and try some out! If you’re a high school teacher in a K-12 school or near an elementary school, see if your students could lead some of these experiments for elementary students.

Winter Activities Middle School Students Will Love

Here you’ll find 25 activities on everything from probability to poetry, and they’re all geared toward middle school students. Among my favorites include poinsettia PH paper, a gumdrop structure challenge, a hot cocoa experiment, and probability with dreidels. There’s a lot here, and hopefully there’s something of interest for you and your students to try out!

Winter Read Aloud (Free Digital Winter Reading Activity)

This snow-themed reading activity on “The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder” by Jennifer Findley is best suited for grades 4 and 5. She includes free tasks cards for the story along with an answer sheet. Also, if you don’t have the book, she has a YouTube read aloud for you! The lesson focuses on questioning and includes “engaging and interesting topics like avalanches, snowboarding, ice fishing, extreme winter sports, snow globes, and more!” Sounds like something your students will love, right?

Googley Wintertime Activities for Kids

This blog post is from 2017, so some features within Google have probably changed, but I just LOVE these activities from Control Alt Achieve. Each one is linked to a blog tutorial with step-by-step instructions for you and your students. Some of the activities include video tutorials as well. In this article, you’ll get links to the following:

  1. Build a Snowman with Google Slides
  2. Decorate a Holiday Tree with Google Slides
  3. Wintertime Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings
  4. Holiday Greeting Cards with Google Drawings
  5. “12 Days of Christmas” Guided Google Sheets Math Activity
  6. Pixel Art Ornaments with Google Sheets
  7. Wintertime Emoji Rebus Stories with Google Docs
  8. Holiday Lights Writing with Google Docs

Five Winter Themed and Fun Holiday Classroom Activities

These activities do require you to sign up for a free Nearpod account if you’ve not already signed up with Nearpod. This article provides you with winter themes for your presentations, a virtual drag-and-drop snowman building activity, gamified winter activities, lessons on various holidays celebrated in winter, and some winter-ific core subject lessons. You’ll want to check these out! There is something for every grade level.

Winter Speaking Activity for Spanish Class

Students love “Guess Who,” and it’s a great way to reinforce vocabulary and get in some oral language practice as well. This free download from Srta Spanish will help you do just that with Spanish language learners. You do have to input your email address to recieve the download via email. You get a printable and a digital version which are both bilingual English/Spanish.

I hope you find something useful in these activities that will spark some winter fun no matter where you live, or what the weather’s like. If you try any of these out, let us know how it goes in the comments. Happy holidays!

Additional Winter Activity Resources from TechNotes

Two Brand New Winter Breakouts and Bonus Puzzle
STEAM Powered Winter Activities
Fun with a Holiday FlipHunt
Winter Resources for Elementary
Magical STEAM Project
Celebrate Season Holiday Websites
Holiday Website, Apps, and Extensions
Five Holiday Seesaw Activities
Merry Merry Breakout
Augment Your Holiday with These iOS Apps
Making It Mery (Animated GIFs)
Tips Tricks Tech Tidbits: Holiday Resources, REBUS

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
pi graphic
Content AreasGood TeachingMathSTEM/STEAM

Fun and Simple Pi Day Activities

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Happy soon-to-be Pi Day! I’ve gathered some fun ideas for you to consider using with your students as part of your Pi Day celebration. Because who doesn’t celebrate Pi Day, right? But first, let’s take a look at its origins.

When Was Pi Day First Celebrated?

Larry Shaw, a physicist at San Francisco Exploratorium, gets credit for having the earliest known official Pi Day celebration. In 1988, at a brainstorming retreat with co-workers, Larry had the initial idea for Pi Day. March 14, Larry and his wife served pies and tea on the museum floor to celebrate, and Pi Day has evolved since. On March 9, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives recognized March 14 as National Pi Day. Additionally, in November 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s General Conference designated Pi Day as the International Day of Mathematics.

What Is Pi?

Pi (π) has been around for about 4,000 years. In Euclidean geometry, pi is the circumference (C) of any circle divided by the diameter (d) of the circle, thus giving us the formula π=C/d. Regardless of the circle’s size, the ratio is always pi. And because pi is an irrational number, it has no ending, meaning that it continues forever without repeating.

History of Pi Calculations

Babylonians gave a rough calculation of pi as 3.125. The Rhind Papyrus from Egypt identified the calculation to be 3.1605. Next in line, Archimedes determined that it is between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. In 1610, it was calculated out to 35 digits, and later in 1789, it was calculated with an accuracy of 140 digits– with all calculations completed by hand. In 1949, the infamous ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator and Computer) calculated it to 2,037 decimals. And as of last year, it was calculated to 62.8 trillion decimal places.

Fun Pi Day Activities

Memory Challenge

Because pi is an irrational number, it has no ending. Challenge your students to see who can memorize the most consecutive digits and recite them by memory. Depending on your grade level, set a goal for the students to reach. Direct your students to One Million Digits of Pi as a reference. You can also refer to the YouTube video below to learn a song to help with memorizing 100 digits.

A Cut Above

Students can complete this activity on their own or with a partner. All you’ll need are some paper plates, string, and scissors.

  • Step 1: Measure the string around the edge of the paper plate. Cut it to the size of the circumference.
  • Step 2: Take the string, measure it across the diameter of the plate, and cut it to length.
  • Step 3: Check how many diameter-length strings make up the length of the circumference string. Each group should get a little over three diameter lengths (approximately 3/20th of the diameter).
  • Step 4: Redo the experiment, but allow students to use a compass and draw a circle of any size.
  • Step 5: Guess how many diameter stings will match the length of the circumference string for this new circle. Usually, students will guess more for larger circles and less for smaller circles.
  • Step 6: Follow steps one through three using the circle they drew with their compass. How many diameter strings make up the length of the circumference this time? (HINT: They will all get three).

Once they discover they all have similar outcomes (a little over three diameter-length strings), explain that they have discovered the constant pi. Regardless of the size of the circle, the circumference will always equal a little more than three times the diameter. NOTE: It is best to use string and not yarn since yarn is stretchy, but students will still have an “Aha!” moment if yarn is all you’ve got.

image of supplies needed

Write a Pi-Ku

What could make a haiku even more interesting? Writing one about pi. A haiku is a Japanese poem with 17 total syllables– five in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the third line. To give students some fodder to write about, consider reading one of the following:

Enjoy a YouTube Video

Watch one of the videos below about pi…while eating pie.

Paper Chain Pi

Students can create a paper chain with each link having a digit clearly written on it. Start by having students cut construction paper (or colored copy paper) into strips. Using a marker, a single digit is written on both sides of the strip. When students start assembling their pi chain, have them start with a link with the numeral 3 on it. Attach a link with a decimal on it. Then, continue adding links with the numbers accordingly. Students can tape, glue, or staple the paper to itself as they form each link.

Hang the pi chains in the hallway or an area where they can see and practice reciting the number as they go to various parts of the building. To help with memorization, make each numeral its own color. For example, all the ones are blue, twos are red, threes are green, etc. Have students make wristbands using this same strategy but with smaller paper strips.

Paper chain pi

Pi-scrapers

Create a scene of skyscrapers using the digits of pi. Students can use a spreadsheet to fill in the cells or create each skyscraper by gluing the specific number of squares going up. If the students are making their pi-scrapers with paper, have them draw windows every so often with something happening in the building. Each window could represent part of a story the students are reading or illustrate a particular mathematical symbol.

Pi-scraper

Math Fair

As mentioned above, UNESCO recognizes March 14 as International Day of Mathematics. So, why not hold a math fair? Similar to a science fair, a math fair highlights the importance of mathematics and allows students to demonstrate their favorite or interesting findings with math. This could be a great addition to parent-teacher conference night, where each class sets up a table outside their classroom with a math puzzle or information for the parent and other students to explore and read about. To get you started, here are a few math fair resources to check out if you have not hosted a math fair before.

Non-Math Activities

Even if you aren’t a math teacher, you can still participate. ELAR teachers can read and write stories about famous mathematicians. Social studies teachers can highlight mathematical geography or explore places of influence where different mathematicians lived. Art teachers can explore mathematics through the golden ratio, symmetry, or fractality. You can also highlight artists who were also great mathematical thinkers, such as Luca Pacioli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, and M. C. Escher.

Pi Day art activities

How Will You Celebrate Pi Day?

So, how will you celebrate? Do you have a lesson that you’ll be using? Share it with us in the comments to help other teachers. Will you be doing a particular STEM or STEAM project? If so, we’d love to hear about it.

1 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Content AreasDigital LiteracySTEM/STEAM

This Makerspace Career Challenge Puts the “R” in STEAM

by Dr. Jennifer Miller
written by Dr. Jennifer Miller

Maker experiences provide opportunities where students can contribute cultural funds of knowledge to the learning environment, creating more meaningful and memorable learning. As communities embrace makerspace across the world, educators now have the opportunity to use a culturally responsive approach while improving technology integration and enhancing the foundational components of literacy. This approach values diverse backgrounds through increased critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. 

STREAM Learning 

If you’ve not heard of STREAM, it adds reading to STEAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). Libraries and schools use makerspaces for three purposes: to explore, learn skills, and provide a space for teachers to implement project-based learning (PBL) activities that connect the real world to the curriculum. Makerspace research highlights the importance of taking a holistic approach to learning and using a range of activities and learning environments. Connecting maker education to the curriculum builds opportunities to improve fluency and encourages readers to think deeply about texts. 

A STEM Career Challenge

Miller’s (2018) makerspace project-based (PBL) process provides a visual for how a makerspace community can support the integration of reading and writing through creative approaches.

Miller’s (2018) makerspace project-based (PBL) process.

One example of how to use this approach is to have students complete a career challenge through the construction of an artifact serving one of four career roles: scientist, engineer, artist, and journalist. Through the art of making, students participate in problem solving and collaboration. Additionally, they use digital literacy skills and informational texts related to a content discipline. A final reflective writing or oral language component provides the opportunity for students to engage in academic writing, explaining to a larger community how to construct a similar artifact. Technology applications greatly support a three-step makerspace PBL process. Here are steps for integrating technology into this process for a career challenge. 

Step 1:  Research and Repeated Readings Using Digital Tools  

Educators can leverage applications to facilitate a KWHL activity using Padlet or Google Jamboard. This activity can ensure students have an understanding of text elements, sequencing, main idea, vocabulary, and more before participating in the makerspace challenge. Educators can also use this time to encourage and teach digital research and media literacy using a variety of databases and the school or public library. Using online applications with an audio component like Newsela, Epic, and Wonderopolus can allow for repeated readings to build background knowledge and fluency before the makerspace challenge. Newsela provides an audio version of articles, leveled articles, and Spanish language articles to support learners at every level.  

Newsela Articles

Step 2:  Create Four Makerspace Task Cards

You can then design four simple STEM challenges. Students are tasked with taking on the STEM career role of an artist, engineer, scientist, or journalist and creating an associated artifact. Layering a cultural component will improve connections to background knowledge and adding a digital component that aligns with ISTE standards will build digital skills. Working with a community museum and a local or school librarian can assist you in making both cultural and digital connections. These connections will significantly support learners and provide outside resources to enhance and enrich the challenge. 

makerspace journalist challenge
makerspace artist challenge
makerspace geologist challenge
makerspace engineer challenge

Middle school students in remote areas of Arizona and Texas used this approach to make a product after building background knowledge through the repeated reading exercise in step one. 

Step 3:  Sharing Makerspace Artifacts Digitally  

It is important to have students share their makerspace products in a way that values their native language and in English. Sharing their project with the school community and the larger community improves oral language by practicing academic vocabulary through speaking. In addition, using Flipgrid or Voicethread can provide an asynchronous method for oral presentations. These tools can also facilitate community feedback. After sharing makerspace products with a broader community, encourage students to write about the experiences. Reflective writing can significantly improve the long-term comprehension of content material. Learners can share their writing using blogs or portfolios, which will also improve motivation and engagement. Wix, SeeSaw, and Google’s Blogger provide platforms for learners to reflect and share digitally about the makerspace experience. 

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Announcements/Important DatesUncategorized

Valentine’s Day Activities Your Students Will Love

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

When I was teaching elementary school, according to district policy, classes could celebrate with three parties per year. And guess what? Valentine’s Day made the list! We played games, stuffed our faces with cupcakes, and opened up our valentines. It was a good day. And if I was teaching today, here are some activities that would definitely be on my list. 

1. Compare and Contrast

Created by the author

I do like to make resources for holidays, so here is my latest for Valentine’s Day. I created a compare and contrast activity in Google Slides. Match your students up to one of their classmates, and they can find and share four ways they are similar and 4 ways they are different. Or mix it up! Each student could choose a historical figure, celebrity, or their own personal hero for this activity. Make your own copy of my compare and contrast Google Slides deck to use.

TIP: I set up the first slide to automatically jump to each student’s slide when they click on their name. You can easily edit the names by clicking on each name box and selecting the pencil tool to edit the text. The link to each slide will not be lost if you edit the text only. Be sure to check out my colleague Katie’s and my example above. 

2. Paper Heart Sculpture

Screenshot by author

Use paper hearts to make a fun Valentine’s Day craft or a STEAM-building activity! Here is a template with instructions. This article also offers various STEAM challenges for the paper hearts related to structure building. It’s low cost and low prep which is always a plus. The whole activity should take about 30 to 45 minutes.

Materials:

  • Construction paper or cardstock (either pre-cut or available for students to cut)
  • Template
  • Glue sticks, glue dots, or q-tips dipped in glue
  • Scissors

Connections to STEAM

Talk about gravity and how it pulls an object to the earth unless there are supports to hold it in place. Explain the challenge to your students– to make a sculpture out of paper hearts that can stand completely on its own. They will need to make their sculptures balanced or they won’t be able to stand. Students can also make their sculptures as tall as possible without them tipping over. Then, you can measure the heights of each sculpture to see just how tall they are.

Melissa Motta shares, “I had a kinder who engineered hers with hearts upside down and backward at the base to create legs to help it stand.”

Melissa goes on to say how the student noticed her sculpture was too heavy, so it started to fall. Then she understood that she needed to strengthen it on one side.

“It was awesome to see her problem solve and articulate her thinking as she explained her design and what she did to improve it.”

3. Jamboards

Count and Graph Jamboard

Cristina Hutton provides two Valentine’s Day-themed Jamboards for early learners. Her Jamboards can be used for in-person or remote learning. 

Valentine Math Jamboard: This is a two-frame Jamboard that includes a Count and Graph activity and a Valentine Measurement activity.

Would You Rather Jamboard: Here’s another great Jamboard with two frames. The first is a polling frame for whether students would rather eat a cupcake or candy. The second frame is meant to encourage conversation and have students expand on their choice.

4. Heartfelt Hallway Messages

I found this wonderful idea on Twitter. Use construction paper hearts or heart doilies to leave a message for your principal, nurse, cafeteria staff, office staff, custodians, other teachers, bus drivers, and more. A little message goes a long way and will be remembered forever! 

5. Wordle

Created by author

Use Flippity’s Wordmaster (like Wordle) to enter your words and give a Valentine’s Day spin to this craze. For more Wordle information, check out this blog post. 

Here are a few words to use: candy, heart, party, Cupid, treat, cards, and friend.

6. Physical Movement with Phonics Man

Screenshot by author

I am very excited about this find. Whoever thought you could add jumping jacks and the running man to Valentine’s Day? PhonicsMan Fitness shares a “Would you Rather?” Valentine’s Day Edition Candy Workout. It is a seven-minute video that can be used for a brain break or after your Valentine’s Day class party. 

7. Scratch Lesson

Screenshot by author

Build a “Hearts & Arrows” game for Valentine’s Day. This free lesson from createcodeload.com includes an introduction video and three short, step-by-step animated tutorials. It’s a great way to get students to engage in coding while celebrating.

For even more Valentine’s Day fun, check out my 2021 V-Day blog post. There you will find my three favorite Valentine’s activities: Digital Breakout, Autodraw and Puns, and a Word Search. Do you have any activities that you love to do each year? Leave them in the comments, and happy Valentine’s Day!

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts