STEM Education is too important to let these words bother you! There are projects that will work for you on a budget and work with your standards and subjects you teach! Let me share a few ideas!
The idea for this post came after I read an article about the reasons STEM is not a guarantee is some school systems. The two largest barriers seem to be the scarcity and cost of resources, and adhering to our state standards. Full disclosure: I started a STEM Lab with exactly ZERO resources. I had no curriculum, cabinets full of materials that were donated, and a background in elementary classrooms. And it worked out to be wildly successful. HOW did that happen?
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STEM Education and our Curriculum
This one seems to be the most important with our administrators. We must continue to teach those science and engineering standards! So, that is where I started. I poured through the grade level manuals I would be teaching and made notes about possible projects to support the science parameters. For 5th grade I needed topics about force and motion, for 4th grade I needed a project for desinging something out of unusual materials, and for 3rd grade I needed floating and sinking.
So those were the first challenges I tackled- We built Newton’s Cradles, boats, and wacky towers.
STEM and Newton’s Laws
This device was the perfect one to try. Students are fascinated with the clacking marbles and the way they move. We learned the meaning of Newton’s 3rd Law and then built our own models.
This turned out be a very engaging activity and students loved it! They talked about this one for months after we completed it. I kept their models on display for other students to see. It was very exciting to see their responses. Even better- our classroom teachers could check off the science standard for Newton’s Laws.
STEM and Floating
By far, this is the STEM activity students in third grade love the most. We use basic materials I already have in the cabinets. Teams choose their own materials based on a price list and a budget and then build their boats.
We try floating them in a pan of water and then add weight to see what will make them continue to float the best.
Easy prep, easy materials, math and science all in one.
STEM Education in Grade 4
This unique challenge was invented due to an engineering standard that asks students to use given materials in different ways to make a standing structure that also holds something aloft. I literally went though cabinets looking for objects to hold and use for the structure. I came away with boxes of tennis balls, straws, string, and a few more things.
Now, how did I make it relevant to the standard? Why would we need to make an device out of weird items to serve a purpose? Well, you need to read the story of Apollo 13! Astronauts did exactly this to save the capsule during its journey to the moon. They built an oxygen device to get the astronauts back safely. It was made of weird items they had on board the spacecraft.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Can challenges like these three be completed on a budget? Of course, choose items you already have. Get parents to donate. Ask your PTA to help with STEM Lab stocking events. Visit dollar stores. Send a newsletter to parents with lists of things they can send.
Back to the article I read…
Another point the article made about the problems with STEM is how to make it relevant to young students. How do you hold their attention, week after week, with “just building things”?
I have several ideas:
- One-day challenges are the ones my students like best. They have a new team and build something quickly, share it, take it apart, and move on to a new project the next week.
- Multi-day challenges- this is a way to complete more challenging activities. A good example is the Newton’s Cradle. That one takes my 5th graders 3 class sessions. When that project is finished I have them complete a 1-day challenge the following week. Variety is best!
- Research- Sometimes we add a research day prior to beginning the challenge. We learn more about the topic and then complete the event.
- Experiment- these are my favorites. I add an experiment to use the scientific method and we use our data from the experiment to inform our design later.
- ESCAPE ROOMS- this is the ONE that works for us. Students love completing a breakout and then having a STEM challenge as a grand finale. I have had so many students tell me the escape rooms are the favorite things we do! I agree!
Escape Rooms
Our escape rooms have students completing 3 tasks and opening locked boxes. Each box holds the activity to complete next.
After opening the third box students find the constraints card for the STEM Challenge that accompanies the breakout.
They love these events!
Don’t be fooled when you read headlines about barriers in STEM Education. Jump right in with materials you already have and use resources that satisfy your state’s standards. Students love STEM and that is what matters!
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