Others used the fabric as a carpet rather than a roof so that they could all sit in it. Some groups used trees near them as support for their structure, others buried an end of their sticks in the ground for extra support. Groups were creative to find a way to use the materials so that a group member could sit in it. I love the fact that this STEM challenge is life size versus the small materials I typically use with STEM activities. Small groups also allowed the kids to help each other by holding the sticks as other group members attached them together. It was a great opportunity for kids to work together and share ideas and strategies. This activity does work best with small groups. At first conversations were about what worked before their structure fell, what they wanted to try and what wasn’t/was working. Groups did amazing! They all stuck with it for the whole period and a lot of great discussion happened. They leaned their wood against the fence and then built the tent around it.Īlthough this was not the intention, I also love that the kids used what they had available to them to come up with a solution. Some groups began using a near by fence to help keep their structure stable as well. The plastic clothes pins can be challenging to hold the wood pieces together, but the pipe cleaners can help stabilize the tents. Once groups started finding things that worked, their structures really started to take shape. Knowing that even I had to try several times, let them know that it was okay for them to do the same. Sometimes children knowing that I don’t expect them to be successful right away is important. The only other direction I gave children was that when I practiced and experimented with the materials at home with my kids, my structure fell down several times before I had something that worked! Try and try again and never give up! Therefore, I am planning more and more STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) lessons because they love it!Īlso, I feel that it is such an important subject(s) and I am really enjoying every lesson that we do! Watching how children work and solve problems during these periods has been very rewarding! I am finding that my kindergarten classes are constantly asking if we are going to be doing science. You can certainly do this STEM challenge inside, but if the weather is nice, it’s always a great chance to be outside. My students love building and creating, and they also love being outside. I teach kindergarten so I try to plan as many hands-on activities as possible. This was a great way to challenge my kids with a large scale hands-on STEM challenge, and this was perfect! I have been doing a lot of STEM activities and challenges with my children at home, and school, and they are really enjoying them. Finally we have beautiful weather! I have been waiting to do this activity for quite some time and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
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