6 STEM Projects Perfect For Elementary Teachers New To STEM
[[{“value”:”
Are you new to STEM Projects? If you are I have some perfect challenges for you. Each has low prep using materials that you already have. Each is full of problem-solving and opportunities to encourage teamwork.
STEM Projects at the beginning of the school year are always chaotic and stressful. Let me take some of those worries away with already planned STEM Challenges you will love. (Your students will, too!)
“In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog running!“
A Quick Overview of STEM Projects
I learned the hard way as a new STEM teacher to keep it simple. Mind you, I have tried plenty of multi-day projects that require unusual materials and time-consuming prep. But, when you are new to STEM, you need simple, simple, simple!
Easy and low prep
Detailed Teacher’s Guides
Photos of STEM projects
Challenging projects
Team building ideas
Variety of topics
The 6 STEM Projects I am sharing today have all those attributes! Let’s get started!
STEM Project 1 – Index Card Bridges
This fun little challenge one main material. You can add tape. We also test by adding weight to a tiny bowl or cup. (Pennies make great weights._
Teams begin by testing different ways of folding the index cards and discover folds that work and some that do not. The teacher’s guide will walk you through the testing.
Then you build a platform bridge. So simple, yet so challenging!
TIP: Save the index cards. I have bins of folded cars, cut cuts, and rolled cards. We reuse them!
STEM Project 2 – Design a Robot
Oh, so fun! This STEM Project features an invented robot using craft items and whatever you throw into the materials bin.
I literally grabbed things from my crafts and tools for students to try. The best materials= to have on hand is a cardboard tube.
To make this challenge more difficult I require teams to invent a reasonable function for their robot model. “Saving the galaxy” is not reasonable. A “Weed Pulling Robot” is reasonable!
TIP: Have parents save cardboard tubes for you and reuse them! Limit the amount of materials students can use. For this challenge I have an array of items but limited teams to 6 items.
STEM Project 3 – Classroom Rule Models
This one is PERFECT for all new teachers (and veterans)!
Teams build a model of one classroom rule and then teach it to the entire class! The model in the photo is my rule: “No food or drinks in the STEM Lab”.
TIP: You need a scrap box. Any paper left over after a challenge goes in the box. Our Rule Models were made of construction paper pieces, cups, and a few things like straws and craft sticks.
STEM Project 4 – Water Towers
This STEM Project is perfect because of the background knowledge. We learned so much about water towers. I include an informational page in the resource.
And of course, we built models of water towers – with water! I added some wacky rules to this one about the height of the tower and how the water bowl is balanced.
The original challenge was too easy!
TIP: Don’t be afraid to change the rules right in the middle of the work time. That’s what happened with the Water Tower Project. I had a team finish their tower is 4 minutes. So we all stopped and talked about how to add a rule that would make this challenge a challenge!
STEM Project 5 – Pom-Pom Launchers
This challenge was designed after I tried a Catapult challenge with 5th graders. My younger students really wanted to make a catapult device.
So, we invented this pom-pom launcher. It used simple materials and the projectile is a pom-pom. You would be surprised how well these meager materials work and how much students love this project.
TIP: We have rules for catapulting devices. We aim only at targets. I also have a rule that catapults or launchers cannot be hand-held. When students hold devices in their hands they tend to throw the projectile rather than launch it.
STEM Project 6 – Straw Mazes
To be honest, I never expected students to love making mazes as much as they do! It is always a winning project when we tackle one.
The Straw Maze is the easiest of the ones we have tried. We use straws and clear tape. We use a marble to roll through the paths. The base is a piece of foam board.
TIP: Use clear tape! Masking tape works but clear tape looks better on the finished maze. And get flexible straws. Those bendable parts are important!
I know you have some great ideas in mind for STEM Projects to start your school year! Have fun!
RELATED ARTICLES
10 Teacher Hacks You Need Right Now
Bargain Materials for Your STEM Class
How to Make Sure You Choose the Right STEM Resources
Perfect Picture Books for STEM
The post 6 STEM Projects Perfect For Elementary Teachers New To STEM first appeared on Teachers are Terrific.
“}]]